Happy New Year, you guys! I’m so happy to begin a new year of gluten-free blogging. I’m looking forward to everything that’s in the works for One Bite Gluten-Free over the next few months!

My boyfriend and I began 2020 with a weekend getaway. For our anniversary, we took a road trip to Portland, Maine - a cute little city neither of us had been to before despite living only two hours away in Massachusetts. Of course, I got sick a few days before - but we made the most of our weekend and explored anyway!

For anyone interested in visiting Portland, (or if you just want to look at delicious food), keep reading for my gluten-free guide to Portland!

You gotta plan ahead for this one. Find Me Gluten-Free boasts dozens of 5-star reviews for this tiny brunch spot in Portland. We had a reservation for 11:30 am but weren’t seated until noon. It’s so tight - we had to wait in our car! But, it was WELL worth the wait. Boasting an extensive menu, most of which can be made gluten-free, you will be sure to find something you’ll love. Sinful Kitchen has everything from typical breakfast foods like eggs, to french toast, and ghost pepper sausage - all gluten-free. Bonus? $5 mimosas. You can’t go wrong!

The chef has celiac, so you can be sure your food is being prepared with love - and caution.

I got Huevos Rancheros, and it was phenomenal! Left so satisfied, but not feeling disgustingly full like I often do after eating brunch out. This is a must-try!

Another spot to try for brunch is LB Kitchen. Very different, but so worth it! They have healthier options - sandwiches, bowls, some eggs. They have vegan options, too! Try everything from your normal coffees and lattes to “wellness" lattes - for example, matcha or turmeric. There’s something for everyone - including beer, cider, and mimosas!

Note: LB Kitchen does have pancakes made with gluten-free flour, and they will cook on a clean pan for celiac. But a very kind woman checked packaging for me, and the oats used are not acceptable for celiac. So, choose something else to eat!

I tried the Harissa Hash and had a matcha latte. It was so yummy!

Do donuts count as breakfast? I’m not sure, but this is definitely a must-see spot. Their donuts are made from Maine potatoes, and boy are they incredible! Not all of their donuts are gluten-free - but they are very clearly labeled, and are prepared and cooked with their own equipment and materials prior to any gluten ingredients being used every morning.

We tried the toasted coconut and the lemon. My boyfriend loved the lemon, and I loved the toasted coconut. Definitely stop by the Holy Donut - you won’t regret it!

Unfortunately, we didn’t make it here on our weekend trip. But, I feel inclined to include it anyway! Bam Bam Bakery is a dedicated gluten-free facility and has everything from bread to cakes and coffee. It’s a super-safe option, and their food looks incredible! I can’t wait to go back to Portland so I can stop by.

In the meantime, stop by for me :)

We had a reservation for dinner at Tiqa Friday night, and really enjoyed it! They have food from different countries around Europe and the Middle East - all menu items are labeled with the country it’s from. It was a quiet environment, with a modern atmosphere.

For appetizers, we had Fried Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts. They have a dedicated fryer! The Brussel sprouts were incredible! I had Salmon for my entree, which was cooked perfectly and filling.

If you’re looking for a special date night, this is a good option!

We were our way to Empire for lunch - but unfortunately, they were closed for a few days following the holidays. We crossed the street and headed into Otto, a pizza company! There’s one in Boston, and I had heard great things.

Otto has great options for pizza. Gluten-free crust, dairy-free cheese… tons of vegetable options, as well as meat for anyone who’s into that. All pizzas can be made gluten-free with the exception of one.

We split a pepperoni pizza and a buffalo cauliflower pizza. For me, there wasn’t enough buffalo - but the pepperoni was great! The crust was thicker than most gluten-free crust, and tasted great!

We had reservations for an anniversary dinner at Vinland, but because I was sick we ended up canceling the reservations earlier in the day in case I wasn’t up for it. Vinland is a 100% local, organic, and gluten-free restaurant in Portland. Their food looks absolutely incredible, and it’s definitely on the list for the next trip to Portland.

It’s a bit pricy, but they have amazing options. Make sure to check out Vinland, and let me know what you think!

The night we were supposed to go to Vinland, we ended up heading to Boda for an early dinner. They don’t take reservations, and open at 5 - we stepped in a few minutes later, and the tables were already full! We sat at the bar.

Boda is a Thai restaurant serving street-style Thai food. It’s more upscale than most Thai restaurants I’ve been to, and the atmosphere is great!

We tried to order the Brussel Sprouts as an appetizer - and the bartender asked if I was celiac. I said yes, and he said they’re fried in a shared fryer despite being labeled gluten-free. So, make sure to ask questions! He said everything else is fully gluten-free when it’s labeled GF, and suggested bok choy as an appetizer. It was completely gluten-free, and tasted great!

We ended up ordering shrimp skewers to share, and it came with an incredible spicy sauce and they were cooked perfectly. Definitely recommend!

For an entree, I ordered shrimp pad thai, and Shane had green curry. The food came out so quickly and were both great entrees. I’ve never seen pad thai that looks like it before!

Great food, great service, and great cocktails. Highly recommend - but make sure to arrive early!

Note: they only serve dinner, not lunch!

Empire was HIGHLY recommended to me for gluten-free Chinese food prior to our trip. I was so excited to try it! Unfortunately, they were closed for a few days following the holidays when we were there.

We were disappointed to miss out on what everyone described as the “best GF Chinese food” they’ve ever had - but it’s an excuse to visit again!

If you check it out, let me know what you think!

If you’re looking for a sports bar with American food, this is your spot. We stopped here for lunch before heading home, and they have all the American sports-bar staples you could ever want - gluten-free.

We had french fries and buffalo chicken nachos. They have a “celiac fryer” so make sure to tell them you have celiac disease when you order.

Portland is the home of sooo many breweries. Most of which we can’t drink at. I’m dating a beer lover, and like to lovingly say that I have been to more breweries than most people who can actually drink the beer. This is your chance! Drag your beer-loving boyfriend/friends/husband to Urban Farm Fermentory.

You guys, you can have a flight. That’s gluten-free. They have everything from beer (that’s NOT gluten-free, but that’s the only thing that isn’t) to kombucha, to cider, to mead and jun. I didn’t even know what mead and jun were before stopping here!

Their drinks are fresh, clean, and so much better than ciders/kombuchas you would find in the store. Plus, it’s a must-see - hang out, have a drink or two (or a flight!), and play some card games.

Unfortunately, Cellardoor Winery was closed for inventory when we stopped by. But the wine looks great - another place to stop by to have a glass or two! There are a brewery and a distillery in the same plaza, too. Something for everyone!

Looking forward to visiting next time!

We didn’t make it here, either. But the wine looks so good, and the owner has an interesting story. Their tasting room is open Friday-Sunday - definitely stop by if you’re a wine lover!

So, this is another brewery, but hear me out. They serve cider! They have a few different options to choose from. I’m not a huge cider fan in general, but I love that they have an option for those who don’t, or can’t, drink beer. It’s more inclusive - and you can hang out and watch football, or play games… and have something to sip on. Great option as far as breweries go!

Cold River is a little outside Portland, in Freeport. But this is a must-see! For those who don’t know, Cold River is a fully gluten-free distillery and they make gluten-free gin and vodka. Visit their tasting room, try their incredible products, and learn so much! They also have some amazing cocktails made from only their own products.

Fun fact, we stumbled upon Cold River on our way to (guess?) a brewery. It’s a must-see, and I’m so thrilled we found it!