ALONG COMES MARY

Our family recently took a road trip to Utah. We stayed in St. George and visited Zion National Park. With its red rocks, endless valleys, and sunshine, I discovered another reason to love St. George: gluten-free food.

Having been gluten-free since 2008 (ish), it’s been great to see how evolved the diet has become. In most places I travel, I know I can eat without an issue. But it is still always refreshing to feel safe and find good food when traveling somewhere new. St. George passed the “test.”

We were gone for five days and spent two of those days hiking in Zion National Park. Just outside of the Zion entrance is the charming town of Springdale. It reminded me a bit of Carmel-by-the-Sea, yet by the desert.. During our time in Utah, we stayed for three nights in St. George, about an hour away from Zion. I was so pleased with the gluten-free choices in St. George as well as our brief stops in Springdale.

This is just a small offering of the gluten-free options in St. George. I hope to return and discover more.

Gluten-free in St. George

Benja’s Thai Garden and Sushi

We showed up at Benja’s very drained after a long day of driving. Thai food is always a go-to for us, so it seemed fitting to start our time in St. George here. The restaurant was bustling with a blend of locals and tourists. The menu is vast, and as common with Thai, most dishes can be made gluten-free.

The menu has clear markings next to plates that can be modified. Since I was surprised the noodle and rice dishes were not noted as GF, I inquired. They all could be, and I decided on the pineapple fried rice. Our server was so conscious of my gluten-free allergy. She even came back following our order to inform me that the cashews would cause a cross-contamination risk and to confirm removing them.

Mabel enjoyed her avocado sushi roll so much that we returned twice for a takeout order of it for her.

George’s Corner Restaurant

George’s was there for us on our wedding anniversary. We had plans to visit a fun brewery and pizza parlor at the corner with kids in tow. Turns out, you must be 21+ to enter. They told us George’s has a bar and is family-friendly. We made a bee line, and it was ideal for a laid-back, no frills celebratory libation with overstimulated babies.

The menu is classic American with burgers, sandwiches, and appetizers. Once again, I was so impressed at how patient and mindful our server was with a gluten-free allergy. Several items are available gluten-free, and they have a GF bun.

Aubergine Kitchen

If Aubergine Kitchen were local, we’d be here all the time. We even ate at their St. George location twice. Their menu offers nourishing, whole foods with an emphasis on protein, fruits, and veggies. The majority of the menu is gluten-free.

The protein bowls are hearty. I made sure to have room for their incredible cheese bread, which is gluten-free. In addition to protein bowls, sandwiches, and salads, they offer acai bowls, breakfast, smoothies, and baked goods. The only items they didn’t offer, which surprised me, were coffee drinks.

The Smoked Taco

At the Smoked Taco, I was once again blown away by the generous staff. Mabel was being extremely fussy after a day of hiking in Zion and swimming at the hotel. We had a “big feelings” moment attempting to order, and the associate was so kind and hospitable. She also made sure Mike’s and my dietary restrictions were handled accurately.

Our tacos burst with flavor, and you can order their famous churro fries gluten-free. The atmosphere made me feel at home in California with its vibrant interior and beach vibes. Several tacos, like the Memphis and the Bahn Fire, have BBQ smoked meats thus their namesake.

I’m so thankful for such fun family road trip memories and to now have some gluten-free favorites in Utah!