When we decided to vacation at South Padre Island (SPI) this summer, I knew from past questions that there was not a celiac support group there to give me any ideas about where to eat gluten free. I remembered meeting Lisa Krawczynski, a celiac from Los Fresnos, last December when she and her family stayed with us at Chicken Paradise Bed and Breakfast. I contacted Lisa and asked for any suggestions. She very kindly made up a list which I am sharing with you. These places do not have gluten-free menus, and if you go to any of them, you will need to ask all the questions for yourself. I will first list the places that I visited, and then I will tell you Lisa’s other recommendations.

• Zeste Gourmet Café and Market. SPI. 956-761-5555. Review
• Naturally’s Health Food Store & Café. SPI. 956-761-5332. Review
• South Padre Island Brewing Company. SPI. 956-761-9585. Ask for the manager, Jose, to be sure your meal is prepared safely. I have safely eaten boiled shrimp with a salad.
• Scampi’s. SPI. 956-761-1755. Older restaurant, good reputation.
• Sea Ranch. SPI. 956-761-1314. Has been around for a long time.
• The Radisson. SPI. 956-761-6511. Has a great view of the ocean. They have a breakfast bar and will make omelets as you watch.
• Grapevine Café. SPI. 956-761-8463. Is open from 7 am to 2 pm for breakfast and lunch. They make their own flour tortillas, so I was concerned about the flour in the air.
• There is an H-E-B in Port Isabel. It has better prices than the Blue Marlin Supermarket on the island. Port Isabel also has a Super Wal-Mart, but don’t buy fish at any of these.

• Zeste Gourmet Café and Market. SPI. 956-761-5555. Review: http://www.acddlspizeste.html
• Naturally’s Health Food Store & Café. SPI. 956-761-5332. Review: http://www.acddlspinaturallys.html
• South Padre Island Brewing Company. SPI. 956-761-9585. Ask for the manager, Jose, to be sure your meal is prepared safely. I have safely eaten boiled shrimp with a salad.
• Scampi’s. SPI. 956-761-1755. Older restaurant, good reputation.
• Sea Ranch. SPI. 956-761-1314. Has been around for a long time.
• The Radisson. SPI. 956-761-6511. Has a great view of the ocean. They have a breakfast bar and will make omelets as you watch.
• Grapevine Café. SPI. 956-761-8463. Is open from 7 am to 2 pm for breakfast and lunch. They make their own flour tortillas, so I was concerned about the flour in the air.
• There is an H-E-B in Port Isabel. It has better prices than the Blue Marlin Supermarket on the island. Port Isabel also has a Super Wal-Mart, but don’t buy fish at any of these.

Here are fresh fish options:

• Cuevas Seafood Market. 401 Hwy 100. Port Isabel. 956-943-4600.
• Reyes Seafood Products. Laguna Heights. 956-943-9551.
• Gulf Seafoods & Oyster Bar. Port Isabel. 956-943-4501.

This should get you started. First though, I suggest you book one of the many choices of condos or beachhouses. There are many listings online. We happened to use Beach House Vacation Rentals, spi, inc. because there were eight of us, and they allowed us to bring two very nice dogs with us. You can see their listings or call them at 956-761-8750 for more information. If it were just Joe and me, we would probably stay at South Beach Inn. This is an old-fashioned place, one of the oldest on the island, and it reminds me of a place I might have stayed as a child. We passed it each day as we walked to the beach. They have a full kitchen in each efficiency and very reasonable prices. Web site. 956-761-2471.

This should get you started. First though, I suggest you book one of the many choices of condos or beachhouses. There are many listings online. We happened to use Beach House Vacation Rentals, spi, inc. because there were eight of us, and they allowed us to bring two very nice dogs with us. You can see their listings at www.padrebeachhouses.com/ or call them at 956-761-8750 for more information. If it were just Joe and me, we would probably stay at South Beach Inn. This is an old-fashioned place, one of the oldest on the island, and it reminds me of a place I might have stayed as a child. We passed it each day as we walked to the beach. They have a full kitchen in each efficiency and very reasonable prices. www.southbeachtexas.com. 956-761-2471.

Enjoy the beach. My crew is ready to go back! (AB July 2008)