Your son's girlfriend is not by any means alone: An estimated one in 133 Americans has celiacs disease, but only about 17 percent of them have been (correctly) diagnosed with the disease, leaving some 2.5 million people suffering from a potentially serious autoimmune disorder without realizing it.
An inherited disease that causes damage to the small intestine when gluten is ingested, the symptoms of celiacs disease include skin, respiratory, and gastrointestinal problems, while in severe cases the condition can lead to other serious consequences, including infertility, reduced bone density, neurological disorders, some cancers, and other autoimmune diseases.
In less extreme instances, a person may be gluten-intolerant without suffering from celiacs disease, while increasing numbers of people are choosing to adopt a gluten-free diet as a healthy lifestyle choice. And while up until a few years ago, living a gluten-free life could be a real chore that turned dining out into a potential game of Russian Roulette, in recent years the restaurant industry has rapidly become far more aware of and informed about various food allergies and is a lot more accommodating to the many diners who have special-diet needs.
In terms of what foods need to be avoided in a gluten-free diet, the list is long and includes many staples, including cereals and granola, pastas, dumplings, noodles, couscous, bread, pastries, tortillas, baked goods, breading and coating mixes, many sauces (where flour is added as a thickening agent), brewer's yeast, and beer. And for those with an acute allergy, it only takes the lightest undetected dusting of flour on that grilled fish you ordered to ruin an entire vacation, or worse.
Luckily, Las Vegas' rise as a dining destination has gone hand-in-hand with a general raising of awareness and a new breed of savvy chefs in the kitchen, so today many Sin City eateries, across a spectrum of ethnicities and price points, either serve guaranteed gluten-free dishes for every course, or offer an entirely stand-alone gluten-free menu. We have been monitoring the scene for several years now, and you'll find an entire listing of gluten-free dining options in our "Restaurant" section. However, the food scene here changes so fast, and we're in the midst of a major dining update that is still a work in progress, so don't take our list as definitive. If there's a restaurant you like that isn't on there, check their website or better still, give them a call and it's very possible that they'll be willing and able to accommodate you.
Also, if you check out the "Additional Recommendations" section in the second half of the 2016 edition of Eating Las Vegas, you'll find a dedicated "Special Diet" section, that lists not only establishments that cater to the gluten-intolerant, but also a selection of vegetarian/vegan picks, sugar-free options for diabetics, Kosher and halal restaurants, and more, so pick up a copy from our store (where you'll get an exclusive 25%-off publisher's discount!).
