Celiac-Safe Travel: Pasta Bella in Fredericksburg, TX
August 31, 2023
Hello and happy Wednesday! Welcome to another Celiac-safe travel review! Today’s spotlight is on Pasta Bella in Fredericksburg, TX. I highly recommend visiting this small town.
The myriad of attractions and events to participate in will surely appeal to each and every one. The farmer’s market during the summer is delightful and held on Thursdays from 4-7 pm and held at the Marktplatz at 126 W Main St; the fall market dates are Thursdays 4-6 pm from the last Thursday of September to the last Thursday of October and held at the Held at Pioneer Museum at 325 W main St. There is live music, a few food trucks, a variety of fresh produce, natural products (candles, bath items, oils/extracts), and homemade goods.
There are many shops and stores to explore, almost countless vineyards and wineries outside of town, and in early summer you can find fresh peaches being sold at every roadside fruit stand.
Pasta Bella is just down the street from Main Street, is family-owned, and the staff is well-educated on food substitutions and safety. Of chief importance to me is this: all of their gluten-free pasta is cooked separately in it’s own pot and water (NEVER shared with gluten-containing pasta) and their fail-safe way to ensure they are serving you gluten-free pasta is that the gluten-free pasta is ALWAYS short, spiral-shaped pasta. They never have any other options for the gluten-free pasta and their gluten-containing pastas are never short, spiral-shaped.
Since I am also dairy-free, the most safe option on the menu for me was the Pasta Bella Specialties #3 Original which is diced chicken, sundried tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, and spinach all sauteed in olive oil and tossed with the pasta.
The #2 is also a good choice if you’re looking for dairy-free options; it is tomatoes, basil, and garlic sauteed in olive oil and tossed with the pasta. This is a more simple dish if some of the above ingredients from #3 aren’t what you’re looking for.
There are no options for gluten-free bread and the desserts are not gluten-free (except maybe the chocolate mousse, but it’s doubtful as the waiter told me there were no gluten-free desserts). Available is cheesecake, chocolate lava cake, tiramisu, Italian creme cake, and chocolate mousse.
Of the appetizers, the only gluten-free item is the caprese salad. Everything else is breaded and fried.
There is a great variety of drinks available; most are beers (do your research since most beer is not gluten-free) but there many wines and non-alcoholic beverages to be had.
The atmosphere is busy, homey, and eclectic. I recommend visiting earlier in the evening (before 6) or you may find yourself waiting outside for 20-30 minutes until a table is ready.
The weather has always been so fine in Fredericksburg, TX that waiting outside really is a pleasure and a joy to witness and be a part of. My husband and I spent a wedding anniversary in Fredericksburg and ate at Pasta Bella for our special dinner. It was raining heavily and we sat outside on the benches in front of the restaurant and watched the rain drops and felt the breeze. Fredericksburg is an enchanting city and Pasta Bella truly makes one’s stay in the city even more enjoyable.
I trust this review on Celiac-safe travel assists you in making informed decisions regarding your travel and restaurant choices. Stay tuned for more reviews, recipes, and other posts!
