So much to say and so little space to write it! Candle 79 has officially made it onto my top 10 nobread FRIENDLIEST list and i don’t see it being displaced anytime soon. Prior to coming here for brunch, I asked management for their best gluten free options, and was thrilled at management’s enthusiasm at my visit and desire to make sure I had a fantastic nobread dining experience…
To start, I ordered the market plate consisting of sauteed greens, sauté broccoli and cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and polenta fries. Served with your choice of two dipping sauces, everything on the market plate was sauteed to perfection and incredibly flavorful, even without the sauces! The fried polenta is inherently gluten free; however, items not listed on the gluten free menu are cooked in a fryer that allows for cross contamination. All foods from the gluten free menu are cooked 100% separately and are not subject to any form of cross contamination. Thankfully, I’ve built up my tolerance over the years and I was able to indulge. Up next were the live stuffed zucchini blossoms filled with cashew-vegetable cheese (so good) and vegetables and served atop raw veggies mixed in an avocado puree. We also ordered the special of the day which was a zucchini pasta (more like a soup) served with broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, and other market veggies. All were delicious and nobread friendly, and lastly we were served Candle 79′s famous chocolate-peanut butter bliss. Everything was delicious. Other items i’d love to try: the guacamole timbale served with flax crackers (on the regular menu they are served with plantain chips but these are subject to cross contamination), the spiced chickpea cake (sans flour and baked, not fried), and the grilled kale salad.
I left feeling my favorite kind of full – a healthy full- and amazed at Candle 79′s devotion to accommodating patrons with food restrictions and dietary preferences. The managers were incredibly kind and even showed me a copy of their ingredient list that is kept at each station of the restaurant that explains what EXACTLY is in each dish. ALSO, all Candle 79 employees are required to take and pass periodic menu tests where they quizzed on entree ingredients and #nobread accommodations. I hope all restaurants do this!! 5 Stars for Candle 79.