Trip to Minnesota (Twin Cities area)

cardine45 · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 141 Location: Kalamazoo, MI

I'm going to be going to Minnesota August 2nd through... hmm I don't know yet when I'm coming back (I think the following Thursday). I haven't done much research yet because I kept thinking of it as a family trip, and I planned on eating at relatives houses mostly. Quite a few of my old high school friends got wind of the trip and want to go out, so now I'm forced to research. I know they'll understand my need to pick a place to go, but I doubt they'd understand me wanting to cook our meal in their homes.

I'll mainly be in the Twin Cities area (Chaska, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, Bloomington, and of course Minneapolis and St. Paul), but I'll also probably make a quick trip down to Albert Lea. I'm mainly looking for safe restaurants to eat at where I won't have to make a huge deal about my food.

I would also love tips on some stores out that way to get some great GF stuff to stock up on. I'll be driving, and my boyfriend said he'd watch my dogs (he's staying home), so I can pack the car full if I want to. Anything along the way could be helpful too. I'll be heading out of Kalamazoo,MI on I-94, following that or I-90 through Chicago, I-90 towards and into Wisconsin, getting back on I-94 just past Madison and following that into Minnesota. There are obviously a few slightly alternate routes I can take such as I-94 the whole way to go through Milwaukee, or following I-90 towards La Crosse, WI. Those aren't too out of the way, and I have friends in both areas that I wouldn't mind seeing, especially if there's a great GF place along the way.

The Twin Cities is a big area, and I'm well aware it's not nearly like Chicago, but there has got to be a lot more choices than I'm used to here. This is the first time I'm "leaving home" since going GF, so I'm a bit nervous, but I have all of you to thank for tips like the "food case," which will be going with me in case of emergency.

GFPolarBear · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 279 Location: WI

Hi, and have a safe trip! Here are some thoughts:

I see you'll be near Madison; if you have time, the Silly Yak Bakery (www.sillyyakbakery.com) is a great place to visit. Their GF bake days are Tuesdays and Saturdays, and they sell frozen GF goods all week. The Red Robin on the Beltline in Monona (read: Not far from the Interstate) has a dedicated frier (or did last time I was there), so fries are a possibility. Smile

Biaggi's (farther west on the 12/18/14 Madison Beltline) has a phenomenal GF menu, and of course there's the requisite Outback Steakhouse (I've had good experiences at both of them), etc.

If you'll be in Eagan, check out the Bittersweet ( http://www.bittersweetgf.com/ ). I never made it to Eagan when I lived there, but a good friend loves the place and visits every time he goes to visit family. I also had an excellent experience, of all places, at the Tony Roma's in the Mall of America. THey will bake your potato skins for you rather than frying them; just ask a manager. Smile

If I see my friend with family in the Cities today, I'll ask him to refresh my memory on more local motion so you aren't stuck with all chains and post it here. Smile

cardine45 · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 141 Location: Kalamazoo, MI

Thank you so much. I'm sure I'll be starving by time I get to Madison, so that's the perfect place to stop mid-trip. I've always wanted to check out Silly Yak's too (I can't remember where I first heard about it).
I have a lot of family in Eagan, so I'll probably be there a lot too. Is Bittersweet a store or restaurant?
My friends always prefer to meet up at the Mall of America because it's kind of in the middle of everyone, so I'm glad to know Tony Roma's is ok.

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8607 Location: WI, USA

Red Robin change their statement on their seasoning. They said it was GF, but now they say it's not. I've read the ingredients - it's that same as it was. Best to play it safe.

Madison does have a Whole Foods and and Trader Joes

Whole Foods
3313 University Ave
Madison, Wisconsin 53705

Phone: 608.233.9566
Fax: 608.233.8066

Trader Joes
1810 Monroe St
Madison, WI 53711
Phone: (608) 257-1916
Trading Hours: 9 am - 9 pm

Outback
Madison - East Towne Blvd.
(608) 241-0851
4520 East Towne Blvd., Madison WI 53704
Proprietor: Kane Drugg

Monday: 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday: 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday: 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Thursday: 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Friday: 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Saturday: 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM

My experience at this Outback has been very good. They have a clue there.

Mall of America does have a Bubba Gump. You might send an email to this contact person and ask about their GF menu options. They had a Salmon skillet and a Mahi Mahi skillet that was GF in IL.

Also at MOA there's a higher end restaurant that was very willing to work with me and knew of CD. This was several years ago, but it's worth checking into. Here it is: http://www.napavalleygrille.com/bloomington/about.php You might call or send an email to them. I can't remember what I had there, I do remember that it was good!

Checkout this link: GF in Madison, WI
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

GFPolarBear · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 279 Location: WI

The Edifying Conscience · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 2442

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8607 Location: WI, USA

Here's some more options...

http://northlandceliacs.fastmail.fm/dining.html
http://northlandceliacs.fastmail.fm/shopping.html
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

GFPolarBear · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 279 Location: WI

Franiver · Joined: 22 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

I highly recommend http://www.cooqiglutenfree.com/. If you go there on Sundays, they make fantastic donuts!!!

GFPolarBear · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 279 Location: WI

cardine45 · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 141 Location: Kalamazoo, MI

A big thank you to everyone for your help. I'm starting to have a few things fall into place after your help and some research. Any additional tips would be greatly appreciated. I leave in less than a week now, but I've fully prepared myself by buying a GPS so I can find these places without getting lost, and I got a new laptop so if I get stuck somewhere, I can find a wifi hotspot, log on, and look some things up. The best part about the GPS unit is I can put in "outback steakhouse," (or another restaurant) and it will show me the closest one (no computer needed). This came in handy last night when I went to pick up the computer an hour away after 8 hours of shopping and I was starving.

I'd still like a few more places in the Twin Cities area besides Outback if possible. Are there any specifically GF restaurants around there?

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8607 Location: WI, USA

I would highly recommend a GPS. Once you get the address - punch it in and let it works it's magic! You can find deals on them for around 100 bucks now. I got a TomTom from Amazon for about 140.00.

Have you checked this page? http://northlandceliacs.fastmail.fm/dining.html

It has lots of places to check out.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

cardine45 · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 141 Location: Kalamazoo, MI

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8607 Location: WI, USA

ahhhh I misread your post... Embarassed

Good luck on your trip. Please let us know how it goes!
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

cardine45 · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 141 Location: Kalamazoo, MI

Ok, I'm leaving in the morning. Any last minute tips would be much appreciated.