It isn't that anyone actually wants to have celiac disease.
(That's when you must avoid gluten, a protein found in foods containing wheat, barley, rye, and sometimes oats.)
It's just that eating -- and drinking -- gluten-free turns out to be a fairly healthy thing to do.
In fact, gluten is climbing right up there with dairy and nuts when it comes to allergies that restaurants are asked to accommodate in order to suit their customers' dietary needs and requests.
Take Om, a restaurant and lounge in Cambridge that serves an American-Asian fusion menu.
They've gotten the request for gluten-free items so frequently that they now offer a special à la carte menu (including entrées and desserts) just for the gluten-intolerant.
But what about when it comes to what to drink?
Wine is, of course, an option since it's made from grapes rather than grain. About 10% of Om's wine list is also organic.
While beer isn't an option (it's made from grains), you could explore the cocktail menu for distilled alcohols, which are gluten-free. Om, for example, uses organic gin and vodka.
It's a good place to start, whether you're gluten-free by necessity or by choice.
WHAT: Special Menu Items for Gluten-Intolerant Diners
WHERE: Om Restaurant and Lounge, 92 Winthrop Street, Cambridge
WHEN: Now.
MENU: Check it out.
DAILY TIDBIT:
Although some foods that are common allergens -- such as milk, eggs and fish -- are used as fining and clarifying agents in the winemaking process, industry research indicates that finished wines do not contain these allergens in quantities that would cause severe reactions.
