PUERTO VALLARTA - A GOURMAND’S DREAM

Food & Drink in Puerto Vallarta

Second only to Mexico City as the country’s food mecca, Puerto Vallarta offers more culinary delights than you could possibly experience in one visit. From tasty taco stands and beach vendors selling grilled shrimp and fish on sticks, to glamourous five-star restaurants that offer unparalleled views of the Bay of Banderas, visitors to these sunny shores will not want for a good meal.

In fact, food is such a big deal here that every November the area’s leading restaurateurs host a 10-day culinary extravaganza called the International Gourmet Festival. Award-winning chefs from around the world join forces with local gastronomic gurus to demonstrate and create tantalizing dishes. There are gala dinners, cooking schools, and wine and tequila tastings too.

For our forever growing list of GF offerings in the Puerto Vallarta area, please visit Restaurants & Cafes and Grocers & Markets pages. 

Thanks to Cinthia Aguilar for making this photo available freely on @unsplash

Mexican Cuisine vs Gluten-Free Eating

Since Mexican cuisine is based on rice and corn, perfect substitutes for people on a gluten-free diet, its specialties are often safe for gluten intolerant people.

However, it is always worth being vigilant - not every tortilla is made of harina mass, i.e. corn flour, and often of wheat flour (or at least with the addition of this type of flour).

Here are some essential tips for safer Gluten-Free Dining from the specialists at the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. 

There are many ways to make your dining out experiences safe and enjoyable. Remember to always understand the menu, make special requests, and ask the wait staff questions.

When dining out in Mexican restaurants, what are some common menu items and how can you order them gluten-free?

Nachos: Fried tortilla chips topped with cheese, refried beans, chili, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, salsa, olives, sour cream, and guacamole (see next item). Request 100% corn chips (preferably labeled gluten-free) from a dedicated gluten-free fryer or bring your own gluten-free chips. Avoid chili if thickened with flour; avoid refried beans if thickened with flour and ask for plain pinto or black beans. Avoid guacamole if it is thickened with flour.

Guacamole: Mashed avocado with chopped onions, tomato, garlic, spices and seasonings, served as a topping or a dip for tortilla chips. Avoid spices and seasonings with wheat or wheat flour added to prevent caking. Ask for 100% corn chips (preferably labeled gluten-free) from a dedicated gluten-free fryer or bring your own gluten-free chips.

Enchilada: Soft corn tortilla filled with cooked beef, chicken, or cheese, topped with tomato sauce  Ask for 100% corn tortilla (preferably labeled gluten-free) and plain (unmarinated) grilled or baked chicken breast slices. If tomato sauce is thickened with flour, substitute salsa. Avoid spices and seasonings with wheat or wheat flour added to prevent caking.

Quesadilla: Fried or toasted flour tortilla with melted cheese, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole (see above), and salsa. Ask for a 100% corn tortilla (preferably labeled gluten-free) to be toasted in tin foil.

Taco: Folded corn tortilla filled with spicy ground cooked chicken or beef, beans, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes. Ask for a 100% corn tortilla (preferably labeled gluten-free) to be toasted in tin foil. Ask for plain ground cooked chicken or beef. Make sure beans are not thickened with flour.

  

Fajita: Grilled chicken, lean beef, shrimp, or combination with grilled onions and peppers, served with lettuce, tomato, and salsa. Ask for a very well cleaned fajita skillet or an alternative cooking method, such as broiling.  Avoid spices and seasonings with wheat or wheat flour added to prevent caking.

Chiles rellenos: Green peppers stuffed with cheese, tomatoes, and chilies and fried or baked  Request that it is baked in tin foil. Avoid spices and seasonings with wheat or wheat flour added to prevent caking.

Thanks to @SrCharlss for making this photo available freely on @unsplash 

Huevos rancheros: Fried tortillas topped with fried eggs, salsa, and cheese. Request a 100% corn tortilla (preferably labeled gluten-free) to be heated in tin foil or fried in a dedicated gluten-free fryer. Request poached (in water only) or scrambled eggs or eggs fried in their own pan.

Taco Salad: Served on tortilla chips filled with lettuce, tomato, onions, cooked spicy chicken, beef or chili, topped with cheese, olives, sour cream, guacamole (see above) and salsa. Request 100% corn tortilla chips (preferably labeled gluten-free) heated in tin foil or fried in a dedicated gluten-free fryer). Avoid chili if it contains wheat flour or other gluten containing ingredients. Avoid spices and seasonings with wheat or wheat flour added to prevent caking.

Refried Beans and Mexican Rice: Pureed or mashed pinto beans, fried in lard or vegetable oil with white rice, browned and cooked with sautéed onions, tomatoes, garlic, peppers, and seasonings. Ensure beans are not thickened with flour. Ask for plain rice (not pilaf). Avoid spices and seasonings with wheat or wheat flour added to prevent caking.

Dishes/Ingredients to Avoid or Request a Gluten-Free Substitution:

Request 100% corn chips and corn tortillas (preferably labeled gluten-free) fried in a dedicated gluten-free fryer, heated in tin foil, warmed in a clean pan, or bring your own. Ensure that 100% corn chips are not dusted with flour. Avoid taco salad shells (made from wheat tortillas), and burritos (choose a “burrito bowl” without the flour tortilla). Ensure sauces are not thickened with wheat flour; substitute lime juice, salsa, or guacamole.

Always identify your needs. Consider carrying a gluten-free restaurant card in Spanish or English. 

Bring your own salad dressing, soya sauce or dessert with you to the restaurant.

If a utensil, preparation area, or cooking surface is used for foods that must be avoided, ask for it to be cleaned before cooking your meal. To be safe, ask staff to use disposable tin foil.