Sunday, May 2, 2010

Road trip - South Beach Grill, Wrightsville Beach

With the hot weather, thoughts turn east to the beach, but if you're like us, you may have heard about a supposed dearth of gluten-free choices in the Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach area.

We've only been gluten-free since January when our daughter was diagnosed with celiac disease, so even a short trip to the coast induces a mild panic about how to handle meals. Which is why I am so excited to tell you about South Beach Grill on Wrightsville Beach. It's right next door to Wings.

We ate at South Beach Grill a number of times during our pre-GF days (those halcyon days of yore) and always loved the combination of great cuisine and casual atmosphere, so on Saturday afternoon I stopped in and spoke with Chef James "Firetruck" Rivenbark to see if he would be able to accommodate us that evening. With assurances that the Grill made it a priority to safely serve people with food intolerances, we were able to enjoy the afternoon without worrying about dinner.

South Beach Grill does not have a specific gluten-free menu (yet), but many offerings can be prepared gluten-free upon request. Chef Rivenbark recommended the sage chicken for our daughter, which was delicious. It's a boneless breast prepared with boursin cheese, mushroom, sundried tomatoes, and basil stuffing. The chicken is ordinarily dipped in flour before pan searing, so it's imperative that you speak with your server and specify gluten-free.

If you are interested in learning more about South Beach Grill, check out their website or Fish N Pickles a blog written by the Grill's general manager, Chris Kronenwetter.

South Beach Grill
100 South Lumina Avenue
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
(910) 256-4646
Open for lunch and dinner starting at 11:00 am

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