Happy Thanksgiving!

A roundup of links for the holidays and beyond

It’s Thanksgiving Week in the US, which means that I’ll be on the road again — though there won’t be much gluten-free dining research involved, since I’ll be visiting with family and friends. Because people are heading in different directions over the next few weeks, it seemed like the perfect time to share some recent news stories with recommendations for where to dine gluten-free in various US cities.

“Going Gluten-Free? Here’s a Guide to Some of the Best Places to Eat and Drink in Charlotte.” I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting Charlotte, North Carolina, but this thoughtful guide to gluten-free dining there by Jenny Matz in the Charlotte Observer makes me want to go. Split into sections by meal times and interests — breakfast/brunch, lunch/dinner, desserts, breweries — there are plenty of options for everyone.

“A Guide to All of the Gluten-Free Restaurants at Flamingo Crossings.” Did you know there’s a magazine dedicated to Walt Disney World? You do now — and that’s where I found this article by Cathy Salustri about where to dine gluten-free near the Orlando theme park.

While we’re talking about Florida… a new, dedicated gluten-free bakery has just opened in St. Petersburg. Debra Cooper, the owner, has celiac disease and has been selling gluten-free bread, bagels, and other baked goods out of her home for the past three years. Her new store is called Adieu-glu — for goodbye, gluten — and is in soft-launch mode with limited hours at the moment. But Cooper plans to fully launch in January.

“12 Gluten-Free-Friendly Restaurants in the Magic City.” There’s a lot going on in Birmingham, Alabama, on the gluten-free front. This article by Carter Matthews and Sarah Gronberg in Bham Now includes a diverse array of eateries. I bet I won’t be the only one craving a gluten-free grilled-cheese sandwich after reading about MELT.

“Kansas City Is Rich With Award-Winning Chocolate Shops and Candy Makers. Here's a Taste.” Produced by Shannon Carpenter at NPR’s Kansas City affiliate, what caught my eye in this piece was Cedar Street Toffee. If you’re a toffee aficionado, you know that traditional toffees are often made with flour, but Cedar Street Toffee’s is gluten-free (though the facility is not a dedicated gluten-free one). Yes, they deliver!*

“A Slice of Denver's Top Pie Shops and Bakeries to Satisfy Your Holiday Cravings.” Personally, I appreciate when mainstream outlets like the Denver Gazette include gluten-free options in mainstream coverage, as reporter Marco Cummings does here. There are two celiac-friendly bakeries in the listings: Mile High Pie Co. and Deby’s Gluten Free.

“Need a Thanksgiving Gluten-Free or Vegan Pie? Here's Where to Buy One (or Many) in LA.” Los Angeles, this one’s for you. Melanie Lockert’s roundup for LAist is a mouthwatering one. Note that not every bakery mentioned in it has gluten-free options, but most do. (Erin McKenna’s will already be familiar to Gluten-Free Guidebook readers.)

Wishing everyone who’s celebrating the holiday a great Thanksgiving! And safe travels to everyone hitting the road. See you next week!

*Corrected to reflect the fact that Cedar Street Toffee is not a dedicated gluten-free facility.