Food Brings People Together.
No matter where we come from or what our values are, we can all gather to chow down on some delicious treats, and this includes people with certain dietary restrictions or preferences.
This is why, whenever you’re looking for some delectable lunch catering in Pittsburgh, you should take into account people in your party who may suffer from gluten intolerances or allergies, and also consider a caterer that can offer such gluten-free options.
But, what is gluten? It’s a protein family that is present in certain grains like wheat, barley, rye, and oats.
People with gluten intolerance may experience uncomfortable symptoms that can last over several hours and days after consuming gluten, while some may even undergo permanent damage to their stomachs, and in serious cases, may go into life-threatening anaphylaxis.
So, here’s everything you need to inform your caterer to include at your next gluten-free lunch get-together that is just as filling, nutritious, and tasty.
Salads and Fruit Platters
It doesn’t matter if you’re gluten-free or not, everyone needs a good, hearty salad to give them the nutrients they need for the day.
Since fruits and vegetables are all naturally gluten-free, you can ask your caterer to whip up some healthy lunch catering menu options that take advantage of this fact.
This could look a little like this:
- Chickpea salad: This is a great salad that is packed with protein and also happens to be vegetarian and gluten-free. The simple combination of chickpeas with a citrus dressing, cucumber, and bell peppers—or anything else you like—can give you a colorful, fresh, crowd-favorite dish.
- Greek salad: The traditional greek salad is made without lettuce greens and combines cucumber, onion, and tomatoes with olives, feta cheese, pepperoncini peppers, and pepperoni or salami, finally topped off with a good salad dressing.
- Fruit platter: There aren’t any real rules to a fruit platter apart from laying out a good variety of fresh fruit.
Mains
When it comes to providing gluten-free mains, the order of the day is variety.
Gone are the days when gluten-free diets consisted of crackers and bad-tasting bread. Nowadays, you can get some great dishes that appeal to all guests.
This offers your gluten-free lunch catering in Pittsburgh the potential to be much more adventurous. Simply talk to your caterer about what options they have available.
In the meantime, here are a few suggestions you can consider:
Gluten-free Bread Dishes
You can go for options that include gluten-free bread with regular fillings.
Some potential options include:
- A classic grilled cheese sandwich
- An avocado egg salad sandwich
- A bacon tomato melt
- A caramelized onion and turkey sandwich
- A roast beef panini
Meat Dishes
Alternatively, you can opt for foods that are naturally gluten-free, like fresh meats, fish, and poultry.
Consider including:
- Chicken skewers
- Rosemary roast lamb chops
- Spicy roast beef
- Smoked haddock
- Baked sea bass with lemon
Rice-based Dishes
Rice is also a naturally gluten-free starch and can offer a lot of different catering options. This can also be a great pick to bring in cuisines from all over the world.
You can include Dishes like:
- Chicken fried rice
- Mushroom rice pilaf
- Paella
- Jollof rice
- Jambalaya
Desserts
There are a lot of great desserts that you can enjoy while sticking to a gluten-free diet (thankfully, chocolate is entirely gluten-free).
Here are some options you can consider:
- Chocolate tart
- Lemon cheesecake
- Stuffed strawberries
- Gluten-free cakes
- Vanilla crème brulée
Finding a good Gluten-Free Caterer
When you’re looking for a good caterer that offers gluten-free lunch catering in Pittsburgh, you should ensure that they are equipped to provide you with a tasty variety of meals.
Ensure that they have the right measures in place when they prepare gluten-free foods, like the gluten-free foods being cooked in separate cookware and gluten-free ingredients being stored separately from regular ingredients.
You can ask the caterers you’re considering how they deal with cross-contamination in the kitchen and during service.
It’s also a good idea to taste samples of the gluten-free foods they offer so that you can make sure that the food is up to standard.
Getting the Best Gluten-Free Lunch Catering in Pittsburgh
When looking for gluten-free lunch catering in Pittsburgh, make sure you properly vet your catering service for their gluten-free practices while ensuring that they provide foods that are just as delicious as their gluten offerings.
