Gluten Free, R U?: Caruso’s Souderton PA

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Caruso’s Souderton PA

I have been wanting to go back to Caruso’s Brick Oven Trattoria in Souderton PA for a little bit now. Last Saturday finally presented the opportunity. We almost couldn’t get a seat, so I suggest making a reservation if you are indeed going to go there for dinner... especially before a show at Montgomery Theater.

It took a little while for our server to come to our table but once she did, she was attentive and helpful when it came to gluten free options and offering her thoughts on different foods to try. We started with the nightly appetizer special that was naturally gluten free... if you order the up charged gluten free bread (worth every penny). It was a smoked mozzarella ball over broccoli rabe and pea sauce (which was incredible) with capicola and the gluten free bread. I was grateful they put the capicola on its own plate as I am not a fan of it. The gluten free bread also came out on its own plate and it was basically a pizza crust. It was de.lic.ous! Writing about this appetizer right now is making my mouth water. It was so good that I don’t even have a photo except of the left overs we took home (sorry).

Then I chose to get the gluten free version of their chicken parmesan. It is grilled chicken with fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce with a side of very interesting gluten free pasta. There were two breasts of chicken and no joke the meal turned into 3 servings for me and it was only $15!! There is no up charge for gluten free meals, just the bread. This is the only place where I have had that experience of not paying more for gluten free pasta, etc. A nice change.

My husband chose to get a gluten free pizza. It was the same “bread” that we had for the appetizer and it was topped with so many things. It tasted good but it was a little “soggy” and not easily eaten like a pizza. I think just sauce and cheese would work best for the crust and maybe not all the toppings he had.

Then for dessert they only have creme brûlée as the gluten free option, lucky me that I LOVE it and am trying to become an expert at trying it every where I go. It was more like a thick pudding but it was excellent. They even topped it with powered sugar which enhanced the sweetness and was a great ending to an excellent meal.

I can not vouch for if this is a celiac friendly place as I did not inquire about how all the food was made but I can tell you I did not get ill or for that matter even get a little tummy upset from the onions or garlic which is pretty common for me. I can’t wait to go back and after writing this post, I am ready to go back right now.

I highly recommend this place but please inquire for your specific needs for gluten free. Also remember to make a reservation to insure you get in and do not have to wait or even worse be turned away.

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My gluten free history

When I turned 30 years old, I started to gain weight that I couldn't lose and I was getting back to back colds. The final straw was I got bronchitis and I had to take an antibiotic to help me get better. The side effect for 4% of people on this antibiotic was gastrointestinal issues. Yes, I was part of that 4%. The medicine basically stripped away whatever had been protecting me through my first 30 years of life. You see I have always had gastrointestinal issues since I can remember. My father also had the same issues and my paternal grandmother too. I was so sick from the medicine (or so I thought) that I had to go back to the doctor and do a series of tests. During this time I was following the BRAT diet (Banana, rice, a, toast). Saltines and toast were my go to comfort, little did I know they were NOT what I should be eating. My co-worker gave me an article about food allergies and there was a quiz. You only needed to answer 4 of the 8 questions with yes to fall under their designation and I had answered 6 of the 8 with yes. I was on my way. My husband and I cleaned out all our cabinets of the 7 allergens… all that was left was rice. After a few weeks, I was feeling somewhat better when I stayed at a home where they told me to eat whatever was in the fridge. I saw the rice and started eating. Within a hour I was violently ill. I couldn't understand. I took the rice with me to work the next day and when I told my other co-worker about my issue she asked to see the rice. It was orzo… pasta… gluten/wheat filled pasta! I had my first allergen to check off the list as being an issue. It turned out at the time dairy and eggs were also triggers but I have since been able to add them back. My husband and I went on a full gluten free diet and within a few months I had lost my weight, stopped living in my bathroom, looked healthy and was not terrified to eat things any more. Now it has been 15 years and while I have gained some weight back (darn those yummy gluten free cookies and pretzels) my issues are still in check and I couldn't be happier to figure out what was wrong with my body and be able to fix it.