Kitchen On Common - Belmont, MA

A friend of mine recently had a small soiree for her birthday at Kitchen On Common located in Cushing Square, Belmont, MA. This was my second visit to Kitchen On Common and it was no less delightful than the first. This gem of a place is tiny, but delivers big time on flavor. Some bonuses: 1. Chef Jon Kokubo's seasonal menus offer local, fresh ingredients. 2. The food is prepared to order, so if you have any allergy, it seems that Chef Kokubo can handle it. 3. It's BYOB and if you forget that, there's a wine shop right next door (quite convenient!)

Onto the food...

For starters I ordered a salad of roasted ruby beets, radish, baby spinach, crispy shallots, sweet candied pecans, and a crazy-good vinaigrette. The flavors were fresh and earthy and paired well with my Albarino (bought next door). I could have eaten a bowl full of this and called it a day. That being said, my entree was so good that I was happy I did not further indulge. The half chicken is pan roasted as it is ordered, so it takes a little while. The wait is worth it for the perfectly crisped skin and the juicy chicken that follows. Nicely cooked and seasoned chicken is one of life's best delights. Wanting my meal to be both gluten free and dairy free, I kept the brussel sprouts but subbed maple roasted carrots for the potatoes that come with the chicken. I was a big fan of the roasted brussel sprouts and I did like the carrots, though I found it difficult to taste the maple.

This is a great place for an intimate dinner party and a cute place for a date. It's perfect for four ladies wanting to enjoy great food alongside great company, without the fear of having to be slighted because of an allergy.

My only complaint: the Chef's wife had made these awesome GF chocolate peanut butter cookies the last time I was there and they were sold out this time around! Kitchen On Common is definitely a great find for gluten free and dairy free diners.

Four starts out of five.

Fellow Glutards Unite!

If you're one of the lucky kids on the block who can't digest gluten or simply happen to be intolerant to all the different grains (wheat, rye, barley, sometimes oats), if you're a celiac, or if you eat gluten free for other reasons, this blog is for you.  I affectionately refer to myself as a "Glutard" or "The Glutard" and occasionally, "the problem child" of eating.

The goals:
1. Rating gluten free alternative products so that you don't buy the gross ones I already had the pleasure of spitting out...and so that you can demand the goods that are tasty in a non-cardboard-type way in a grocery store near you.
2. Review establishments that offer gluten free or accommodate us glutards so that other GF people can enjoy the sweet successes I've had.
3. Share good gluten free recipes that I've found, developed myself, or adapted.
4. Other ideas? If you'd like to see something, message or comment.