Brunch down the Road in Chapel Hill, Weathervane-Restaurant Review

This weekend some friends  and  I traveled the short distance down 15-501 to Chapel Hill for brunch at Weathervane Restaurant which is located in A Southern Season Store.  It had been several years since I had eaten at Weathervane and was happy to see that their brunch menu denoted items that were gluten free with the GF symbol. They also note dairy free DF, Vegetarian V and Vegan V+ options. .

My gluten free options  for the Saturday brunch menu were limited to the salads and soups available on the menu.  I selected the combo salad platter for 12.99 and chose the almond chicken salad, the black bean-corn salad and the Asian glass noodle salad.  BUT please note after further conversation with my server I learned that the Asian Glass noodle salad actually has regular soy sauce as one of it's ingredients and thus is REALLY NOT GLUTEN FREE.  Instead I chose a gluten free tomato soup option.  This was just another reminder that those of us who need to follow a strict gluten free diet, must still ask those necessary questions even when something is labeled gluten free. My meal was great and I would recommend eating at Weathervane; I think perhaps they just had their menus printed too quickly and then realized that "aha most soy sauces actually contain wheat" and they have not updated their brunch menu to reflect this.  A look at the lunch and dinner menus also offer a variety of other gluten free options available for patrons. 

 A Southern Season is a well known specialty store that carries gourmet food items, wine, housewares, as well as some gluten free goodies.  A quick walk through the store and you spot: gluten free pasta, gluten free cookies and various baking mixes .  A  Southern Season also offers various cooking schools, and may offer some opportunities for gluten free cooking or baking classes. 

Store Information:

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
8am - 9pm / Monday - Thursday
8am - 10pm / Friday

Brunch & Dinner
8am - 10pm / Saturday
10am - 9pm / Sunday

University Mall
201 S. Estes Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
919.929.9466

Support for Following a Gluten Free Diet

It has been awhile since I have completed a blog post.  I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease six years ago and have been blogging about living GF in Durham for the last three years.  Since my diagnosis there has been an information explosion in print, internet and other media related to gluten free living. The frequency of my blog posts have slowed as I have hit many highlights about gluten free options in Durham.  GF living for me has become second nature.  I stopped to ask myself am I running out of things to say?  Are these posts helpful to others?  Well I recently received an email from a reader, who reminded me how important support and accurate information is when trying to navigate a gluten free diet.

 Following is part of this email:

 I just wanted to quickly say how amazing this blog is. I just started dating a girl couple months ago who is both gluten and dairy intolerant, and other than cooking for her, I had no clue what kind of restaurants would be able to cater to her enjoyably. I just took a shot in the dark and typed in gluten free restaurants in durham and your blog came up. It has been more than helpful and informative, and I plan on taking her to curryblossom tonight. Thank you again! You are a life-saver.(used with permission)

What a reminder this was to me about my original search for information six years ago.  I looked everywhere and read everything and even talked to strangers on the phone that would share tips with me about how they lived with their Celiac Disease.    I work as a certified health and wellness coach and one thing I always ask my clients who are getting ready to make a change is "who or what is going to support you in the process?"  Support is key to a successful lifestyle change and is much needed in managing a chronic condition like Celiac Disease or navigating a strict gluten free diet due to gluten intolerance. It gives me great satisfaction that my blog posts have offered support to others and I thank a reader for taking the time to send me this email.  It has given me the inspiration to continue to post knowing that this could be a form of support for others.  I would also like to direct readers to other forms of support that are available in our area:

Greater North Raleigh Celiac Support Group-Meets Rex Hospital Dining Room

Website: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/WakeCeliacSupport/

Email :  Lpberger@bellsouth.net   Pat Berger contact

Raleigh Cel-Kids Support Group-Helping Children cope with Celiac Disease

Website: http://www.raleighcelkids.com/

Email: Raleigh.celkids@gmail.com

NC Faces Support Group (Food Allergic Children Excelling Safely)

Website: http://www.ncfaces.org/

Email: info@ncfaces.org

Other Resources:

Find Me Gluten Free-free application for smart phones; locates gf restaurants

Website: http://www.findmeglutenfree.com/

Gluten-Free in the Triangle Meet Up Group

Website: http://www.meetup.com/Gluten-free-in-the-Triangle/

Gluten Free Week at Camp Kanata

Overnight YMCA camp in Wake Forest, North Carolina scheduled for August 2012

Contact:  http://gluten.net/     http://www.campkanata.org/