Gluten Freebird

Like any Washingtonian, I both love and hate the National Mall.

It’s a grand time-killer for a budget-strapped afternoon and a great way to unload visitors, but when it comes time to eat…..Well, I wouldn’t want to go down in history as the person in charge of creating that meal plan.

For years, we griped about flaccid hot dogs, flavorless pizza, and the Mcsandwiches at the Air and Space Museum. Now, gluten makes even the most palatable options inedible.

So thank god for Mitsitam. Even before I was diagnosed with a gluten allergy, this was a favorite place. The little cafeteria inside the National Museum of the American Indian offers several different stations representing food options for different regional Indian delicacies.

And they don’t just phone it in. They use unique, unfamiliar ingredients like ramps, nettles, and fiddlehead ferns. Some popular mains include plank-cooked salmon, tamales, and bison burgers. The spring menu has turtle soup with pickled ramps, guava tapioca pudding, and cornmeal-crusted frog legs.

I hadn’t been in a while, so I was excited to get there last weekend and notice their attention to gluten intolerance. Each gluten-free option had a clear label. They also had notices for vegan/vegetarian dishes.

I ended up with quite a feast of tacos, beans, tamales, and a fiddlehead fern, asparagus, and corn salad. We piled our trays to the max and ended up with heaps of extra food at the end. It was creative and delicious.

FYI, we didn’t try the turtle chowder.