Gluten Freebird

The Freebird flew the coop on Saturday for a gluten-free trip to Charlottesville. For such a small town, the eating is world-class and so much of it is celiac-friendly.

For starters, everyone should have it as good as the shoppers at the Saturday farmers market. If you can eat gluten, the market has made-to-order donuts, breakfast burritos with local eggs and sausage, and pies galore. If you’re gluten-free, there are loads of fresh strawberries, stalls brewing locally roasted coffee, and a place to get all sorts of hummus and salsa. We bought sausage and spare ribs from Double H Farms and donated money to the goat cheese people. Luckily for the gluten-free crowds, the Baker’s Palette (which has the stall with donuts) operates from a nearby storefront and has gluten-free biscotti, two different muffins and a scone. They’re made once a week and stored in a freezer, so I bought one of each muffin with a report to come later. Why didn’t I eat them as soon as I could? Because I found something better.
The Flat is a creperie just down from the market.
There’s something about crepes that screams vacation. When I think crepes, I think Paris and then of jetlagged pre-dawn breakfasts back home when I would make crepes to extend the glow of vacation. I also think of them as being glutenous and off-limits.

Soo, back to The Flat. It offers sweet and savory crepes to please carnivores, vegetarians, and vegans.

But the best thing of all is that The Flat serves buckwheat crepes, which are totally gluten-free. I jumped on that opportunity and opted for a ham, Jarlsberg, and avocado version while the gluten-eaters got butter, sugar, and lemon on a regular crepe. I have to say that mine was divine. Melting cheese, perfectly ripe avocado and salty ham all wrapped in the nutty buckwheat. I would eat there each day if I could. The Flat offers monthly specialties, incorporating treats like asparagus and strawberries. The packaging is biodegradable, the food is delicious, and there is outdoor seating. Just like a vacation.

Stay tuned for more from the ‘ville.