<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Hello!

Thanks to everybody who gave me hints for shops and restaurants in SLO and
Covina. You helped me a lot.

Here is the summary:

San Luis Obispo:
Stores
- Foods For the Family
  in SLO and also in Santa Maria, about 30 minutes south of San Luis Obispo
  It's also on the way to Los Angeles.
- New Frontiers
  "I recommned New Frontiers because it has a deli, and has more in general."
- Frontier Market.  It is a huge health food store with many gf items.

"But as I have found to be the case in almost all health food stores,
 everything is laced with wheat, and there isn't anything GF in the bakery
 section either. But if you are cooking for yourself, they have alot of Gf
 flours, and pastas, cereals and things of that sort."

restaurants
- McClintocks is the place where everyone goes to get steak.
  Call first to see if they would be willing to grill meat without alot of
  their spices. There is a small McClintocks directly in SLO, but the
  McClintocks where most people go is in Pismo Beach and that would be
  about 10-12 miles south of SLO.
- Taco de Mexico (just around the corner of Frontier Market) you must go
  to for their carne asada tacos(very tasty), and their refried beans are
  the best!

Covina:
stores
- Wild Oat's.  It's a health food store and it's a chain. There's one in
  Pasadena, which isn't too far from Covina.  It's just about 20 minutes
  west of Covina on the 210.
  http://www.wildoats.com/markets/CA/calif.html
- Covina Vita Foods at 173 E. Rowland St., Covina
  1-626-966-9615 carries a lot of rice pastas, breads, waffles and cookies.
  Also rice and tapioca flours.
- Trader Joes in San Dimas (only about a mile from Covina)
  in the Target shopping center at Arrow Hwy and a little past Lone Hill.
  They have a web site that lists all of their gluten free products and
  they have quite a variety.  Very good source.  Great Biscotti!!
- A super Italian restaurant in Glendora (again only about a mile or two
  from Covina) Femino's Trattoria at 765 W. Alosta Ave., Glendora 1-
  626-963-4588 serves great food and they will make you a pizza that is gluten
  free or you can bring your rice pasta to them and they will cook it
  seperately for you.  Ask for the owner, Minno Femino or his wife Paula
  and tell them Barb from the School District sent you and they will know
  what restrictions you have.  Not a cheap place but worth the trip.

Los Angeles area:
stores
- Whole foods-  LA - Brentwood 11737 San Vincente Blvd.
  310-826-4433 or 310-826-6653
  West LA 11666 National Blvd. -310-996-8840 or 310-996-9510 (fax)
  http://www.wholefoods.com/company/locations/body/californ.html

restaurants
- Outback steakhouse-several- excellent recommendation
- TGIFriday
- Stewart Anderson's
- Marie Callendar's

The American Celiac association provides what is known as a 'Restaurant Card."
This card lists all the various food items that are considered 'unsafe' for
celiacs. One hands this card to the server in a restaurant before ordering a
meal. It is my experience that they (the restaurants, hotels, etc.) are very
cooperative in this matter.


Maria Kugelmann, Germany
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