As most of you know, Paloma Blanca in San Antonio has had a celiac menu on the back of their dinner menu for quite some time now. The latest news is that they have increased the number of choices for celiacs, and we are getting our own printed menu! Be sure you tell the person seating you that you will need the celiac menu before you are seated, and they will be sure to seat you where there is a “celiac experienced” wait person.

I went over the complete menu with Nelly Mendoza, who is the manager there. Almost everything is made fresh and is very well prepared. They take great pride in their menu. We spent two hours in the kitchen with the head cook, going over the different ingredients to determine which ones are safe. One key matter involved a certain kind of base they use to make some of their dishes. It is hard to tell by assuming that since one thing is okay, then a similar one is okay too, so do order from the celiac menu.

Most of the meals at lunch and dinner are served with Spanish rice, borracho (whole) beans, and handmade corn or flour tortillas. Be sure that you have them substitute poblano corn white rice instead of Spanish rice. (The base used for the Spanish rice has wheat in it.) You can ask to substitute a green salad or cooked vegetables instead of the beans if you prefer. The refried and borracho beans are safe for us.

There are several different kinds of gravies or crèmas that we must avoid. Some of the dishes come with a choice of the crèma you choose, but the wheat based ones will not be listed on the celiac menu. The crèma cilantro or crèma chipotle are both safe. Crèma poblano is not safe.

As before, you can have certain enchiladas, but be sure they are served without the meat gravy. Remind them to steam the tortillas instead of dipping them in the oil.

The fajita plates are safe except for the beef. Chicken or shrimp are fine.

Almost all of the soups are safe, but they need to omit the fried corn chips that garnish them. The only soup that is off limits is crèma de Aguacate.

There are still certain things we cannot safely order. Items that are cooked in the hot oil will possibly be contaminated by breaded things that are cooked in the same container. This eliminates things like tostadas, chalupas, and flautas.

When you receive your corn tortillas, ask to be sure they are not warmed or served in the same container as the wheat tortillas. They should come to the table in a different kind of serving container.

Another improvement is that there are prices listed for each menu selection, whereas before you had to look back at the regular menu to compare the prices. This makes it easier to decide and to order.

Many of their bar menu items are okay for celiacs. I checked out the margaritas because that is what interested me. I suggest you order the “Heights,” “the 09”, or “the Frida.” These are made with fresh ingredients, and there are no mixes in them.

Go often and enjoy yourselves. (AB August 2004)