Last weekend I went to Sedona, Arizona to celebrate Non-GFBF’s birthday. I love Sedona, but I was especially looking forward to staying at L’Auberge de Sedona – one of the beautiful high-end resorts in the city. I saved up for this and was so excited to treat him to a great birthday scenic view and a meal fit for the birthday boy. I mean, check out these views!
As soon as we arrived and we set down our bags, we had the bright idea of checking out the creek. I had a great time and snapped a few photos of the beautiful Oak Creek. And then I tried to take a step down in my boots and fell. And dislocated my ankle – as in my ankle was flipped and turned out facing outside of my body. Thankfully the boots (and hopefully my ligaments helped) kept the ankle in and it quickly snapped back into regular bone formation. Not having dislocated my ankle before (although a champion at dislocating both my knees), I laid on the floor stunned. I knew what had happened, but the sheer feeling of having your bones dislocate and relocate again is enough for me to turn white. I swiftly had a vasovagal reaction and had to take off my jacket before I passed out. We eventually got up and could hike back to the cabin. Holy. Shit. My. Ankle. Hurt.
Non-GFBF, a trained wilderness boy, was quick to fetch ice, a bandana, and a compression garment. While we debated going home as soon as we checked in, I was determined to make my reservation for dinner. I know, I’m dumb, but determined. I took a ton of motrin and headed to the reservation in a wheelchair (that the front desk kindly provided). By this time my ankle was the size of half a baseball. Awesome.
Now, I was incredibly excited about this restaurant. It’s pretty high end – 2-course dinners staring at about $60 going all the way to $120 plus drinks. However, it’s so high end that the chef actually cares if you enjoy the food, takes special and individual preparation for the dish, and -best of all – offers gluten-free food. You can find whatever you need at L’Auberge’s website here. You don’t have to be a guest in order to eat at the restaurant in L’Auberge, but a reservation is recommended (and can be easily made via Open Table as well).
They were very accommodating to me and my poor ankle, as well as my celiac disease. They had noted that I said “gluten free” in the reservation and confirmed that when I checked in. I didn’t have any different menu, but the waiter went overboard to tell us that he could modify absolutely anything. In fact, he mentioned that he had just modified a dinner for a gluten-free diner (wheat allergy complete with epi-pen) in the other room. I felt very safe here, which is a plus.
They brought gluten-free bread out to the table with a delicious herb butter. Since we were at the chef’s table we had a full tasting menu – how awesome. They modified the chef’s tasting menu to all be gluten free for our needs. Now, none of this was dairy free by any means, but they can accommodate other allergies. The first one was shredded brussel sprouts and cabbage with duck confit. Mmmmm duck. Quack quack!
Next was the mixed green salads with mixed beets – just delicious! After that was a giant bowl of amazing lobster bisque. Other than being made of what I’m sure is a gallon of cream, I wanted to lie down and swim in this. The bottom was lined with pancetta and there were chunks of buttery lobster hiding inside. To die for. (Or to fart for, in my world).
Unfortunately the photos for the main courses just didn’t turn out. Non-GFBF had the pork osso bucco and I had the jidori chicken. It was fantastic – again all full of butter, but so mouthwatering to even think about it again! I was so full by the entree portion of the meal, but it was just too good not to eat. The asparagus had shaved butter and I think the chicken was sitting in a parsnip puree. We were too full for desert, but the chef came out and wanted us to try something she was working on – a lime pistachio peanut butter cheesecake. Now, to modify she put pistachio crumbles on top of the cheesecake. To the sides were raspberry with mint and rhubarb gelatin. So many flavors and textures but it was incredible. If this is put on the menu I highly recommend it.
After the meal, the server talked to me a little bit about how much they pride themselves in serving gluten-free guests. As I looked at my bill I noticed that they marked us a gluten-free table, and he said that all of our tickets were labeled gluten-free. Even the runners were trained to know what dishes were gluten-free or not – and to ask if they weren’t sure. It was remarkable service. I know I’m supposed to expect great service for the price, but it was well deserved. I highly recommend the restaurant at L’Auberge de Sedona. Why wouldn’t I give this 5 out of 5 wheat stalks?
[ratings wheat=”5″]
If you’ve been following my social media, you know the rest of the story. I went home and went directly to urgent care. Luckily, nothing was fractured or broken (thanks to hypermobility syndrome again, thankfully). However, it’s a bad sprain and I’m in a boot basically until the day I leave for Hawaii. UGH.
However, I would still highly recommend the restaurant at L’Auberge de Sedona, as well as the hotel (for a special treat). Just watch your footing on the creek. And wear ankle braces.
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