Dairy free + me are two things I NEVER thought I’d put in the same sentence. After all, I have always joked that my last meal on death row would be bread, cheese, and wine. But, unfortunately, my body now has other ideas about what makes it happy so I oblige by searching for gluten and dairy free goodies whenever we are out and about. Here are a few winners we have uncovered along the picturesque northern Oregon coast.
Cannon Beach –
Crêpe Neptune – Sure, their traditional crêpes are delicious but what caught my attention was that they had buckwheat DAIRY FREE options. While (gluten-free) buckwheat crêpes are traditional in some parts of France, dairy-free is not. I was super excited to give these a try and I wasn’t disappointed! Silky, soft but firm texture enveloped the perfect fillings. I chose the Fort Stevens (without cream cheese) and it was a well balanced burst of flavors with the salty smoky salmon, tangy dill-mustard sauce and crunchy spinach. They offered to add tomatoes which was a thoughtful and tasty substitution for the cream cheese. The rest of the family gave exuberant thumbs ups to the Arcadia (strawberry, powdered sugar, and whipped cream), the Goonies (chocolate, crushed graham crackers, and marshmallow), Neah-Kah-Nie (Brie, fresh apple, spinach, balsamic glaze), and Cannon Beach (Prosciutto, goat cheese, fig, and honey). The stand was happy to accommodate food restrictions and double checked ingredients with me. A great, light lunch or quick snack when out and about in Cannon Beach.
Mi Corazon – Mexican for Easter? Why not!? This refined yet homey restaurant packed the perfectly balanced margaritas with their to-go order. Gluten free? Dairy free? No problem! Their homemade corn tortillas round out any of their options. And they are happy to recommend items that suit your dietary needs. We reveled in their carne asada, mole, and the Mi Corazon Haystack Plate (mixed seafood). Delicious, while pricey, it was worth it and we will visit again.
Rockaway Beach –
Kelly’s Brighton Marina – You can’t get any fresher or simpler than this! This family-friendly locale is right on the marina and rents boats, crab pots, you name it for you to catch your own seafood. If luck isn’t on your side, or you don’t have the time, they also sell and cook up fresh seafood on the spot for you! We have ordered their crabs both times we visited and were blown away by them. If you haven’t ever tasted the buttery goodness of a crab heart, this is the place to do it! Boiled only in saltwater, the crabs are packed with flavor and melt in your mouth.
Clatskanie (along the Columbia between Astoria and Portland) –
Bundy’s Cafe Drive-In – As all good vacations come to an end, it doesn’t hurt to break up the road trip with a well-spotted burger drive-in. We are always on the lookout for small, home grown dives like this while traveling. They rarely disappoint and almost always dish up a mean burger. It is harder to find places that can accommodate gluten and dairy allergies so I definitely want to spread the word when I find one. They had gluten-free buns (tasty, too) and were able to avoid dairy in the burger prep. Their “Bundy Sauce” is some sort of relish and definitely dairy-free as well. However, their fries are cooked in a shared fryer so I passed on those. (I did add a slice of my own VioLife cheese I had with us to round it out). The burgers hit the spot, and satisfied everyone for the last stretch of our drive home!
I was pleasantly surprised with the options we discovered on this trip. No stomach problems, and all happy, full bellies! We already loved the beauty of the Oregon Coast and are looking forward to both the scenery and food on the next trip!
Hop, Skip & Voyage Away 