Let’s be real: gluten is delicious, and we all love to indulge in some doughy, fluffy bread, pastries, and pasta. But as many of us sadly know, wheat flour in the United States is overly processed, grown with pesticides, and often bleached, which is definitely not ideal, and if consumed in excess it can be linked to increased symptoms of inflammation and digestive distress. Whether you want to experiment with eliminating gluten here and there, have an intolerance, or have been diagnosed with Celiac’s Disease, The Glow Files is here to guide you through eating gluten-free in Newport Beach.

To start off a sunny day in Newport Beach, breakfast is a must. For a scenic option on the water, Zinque is a local favorite with outside tables overlooking the marina in the quaint Lido Village. Any meal at Zinque is recommended, but breakfast and brunch are definitely the best. The menu has elevated classics, with each dish offering some sort of European twist. The Le Breakfast Bowl is a great gluten-free option, also the Soft Scramble, the Crispy Sunny Eggs with Prosciutto, and the Chia Seed Pudding with a side of fresh fruit. Zinque also offers pastries for the breakfast crowd, and the banana bread and the carrot cake with raisins and walnuts are both gluten-free. If you happen to be visiting Newport Beach on the weekend, my favorite brunch is at True Food Kitchen. Although this popular, healthy restaurant chain is not unique to Newport, the location at the iconic Fashion Island mall is in the perfect spot to start off a day by the beach. Between gluten-free pancakes, huevos rancheros, their Farmer’s Market Scramble with pasture-raised eggs from Vital Farms, fresh-pressed juices, and organic coffee, it’s hard to not order the whole entire menu. This location has both indoor seating, and a large patio for outdoor seating with a view of one the busiest and most popular areas in Newport Beach.

After a long and sandy day at the beach, lunch is a must. A perfect, casual spot worth visiting is Zinc Cafe in Corona del Mar, a small, upscale neighborhood in Newport Beach. Zinc Cafe is the cutest little local spot, and they stay open for the late lunch crowd until 3 pm. All of their pizzas can be prepared on gluten-free crust for a dollar up charge, their sandwiches can be made on gluten-free bread, all of their burgers can also be modified to be gluten-free, and they have plenty of gluten-free salads and dressing options to choose from. Within close walking distance is my favorite smoothie and juice spot, also located in Corona del Mar. Sejuiced Organic Juice Bar is perfect for any health-conscious foodie needing a little pick-me-up. Sejuiced offers delicious and filling smoothies with the most creative mix of ingredients. My favorite is their Coco Therapy with coconut water, coconut meat, almond butter, dates, and I always request to add a banana. They also offer açaí bowls with housemade gluten-free granola, pitaya bowls, salads, and sandwiches. They only serve handmade, artisan gluten-free bread, and they offer plenty of gluten-free treats and desserts made from scratch.

While in Newport Beach, don’t forget to stop by Balboa Island to check out all of the adorable local stores and boutiques, and then make a stop at the Balboa Fun Zone. The day cannot be complete, however, without arguably the best meal of all: dinner. My absolute go-to restaurant in all of Newport Beach is Foretti’s, also located in the Corona del Mar neighborhood. Almost the entire menu either comes gluten-free, or can easily be made gluten-free with modifications. They use a certified traditional Napoletana oven with olive wood to bake their pizzas (which can all be made with gluten-free crust), all of their pastas can also be made gluten-free (and are delicious), and they have amazing salads with organic produce. Most of the fish that they serve is wild-caught, and their chicken is organic. My go-to dishes are their Cioppino soup (it is gluten-free as long as you ask for them to omit the garlic bread), and I also love their seafood salad. This restaurant is always really busy and is a big favorite among locals, so definitely make reservations ahead of time to avoid the wait!

To finish off the night strong, dessert will need to be in order. There is a Salt & Straw that opened in Newport Beach about a year ago. This popular ice cream company is known for their unique and interesting flavors, and many of them are also gluten-free. To support more of a small, local business, Stella Jean’s is an ice cream shop just a few minutes away, and they are always offering new seasonal flavors for the ice cream connoisseur, along with their longstanding main-stay flavors that are always on the menu. Many of their flavors are gluten-free, and they also offer vegan flavors made from coconut milk. My favorite flavor is the strawberry oat crumble (gluten-free, course), and I love that they make their own gluten-free waffle cones. They do sellout of their cones quickly, so make sure not to cut it too close to their closing time to make sure you secure one!

Between the amazing beaches, a beautiful coastline, great shopping, and lots of gluten-free options to choose from, a visit to Newport Beach is always a good choice.

Xx,

The Glow Files.