A Day of Gluten-Free Dining in Jackson
I now understand why people love Jackson Hole, move out there and never want to return. I never could grasp why, after college, people would transport their lives to Jackson, and support themselves by waiting tables, working at a wine shoe or being a bell hop. Now I get it, and I don’t even like to ski. I love Atlanta, but I have to confess, I would stay in Jackson if I could. No shortage of outdoor activities, with great options for GF food in between activities. What more could you want?
For those of you who have never been to the great state of Wyoming, I thought I would give you a taste of “A Day in Jackson:” 
In a post last week, I went on and on about Lotus Café, but Lotus is not the only Jackson spot that makes gluten-free dining easy and enjoyable. Another wonderful discovery in Jackson Hole was J.H. Organics, an organic café and health food store. In close proximity to our hotel, we enjoyed walking over for a leisurely breakfast. J.H.Organics offers a variety of gluten-free options. It was at J.H.Organics that I was first introduced to “quinoa before noon.” Their quinoa porridge was so yummy and the perfect hardy breakfast before a day full of activity. The combination of blueberries, strawberries, cinnamon and raw honey gave it great flavor, making it taste so different from the salty/savory quinoa dishes I’m used to making in my own kitchen.
J.H.Organics also sells homemade gluten-free sandwich bread and some yummy, sweet treats. I bought a chocolate peanut butter brownie that was so big, it lasted me a few days. Definitely a good purchase!
Are those two cowboys? Nope, it's the Metcalves.
My warm quinoa was the perfect breakfast to keep me energized for our busy day. After a lazy start to the day at JH Organics, we then went horseback riding, along the Snake River with friends. When we finished up our ride, It was nearly 2:00, and we were ravenous, so we didn’t feel like dealing with a sit-down restaurant. Instead we went to the The Jackson Whole Grocer, where they offer a great salad and soup bar, as well as foods to order. Their salad bar is relatively simple so there aren’t too many gluten items out to contaminate the veggies, cheese, beans, etc. Also, Whole Grocer’s soups are labeled gluten-free, vegetarian, etc. And they also sell homemade GF cookies. I didn’t purchase any because I was still working on my peanut butter brownie. I also stocked up on yogurts, cereal, and other snacks at the Whole Grocer, since our hotel room had a fridge and kitchenette. (Always a plus when traveling!)
We devoured our lunches while sitting in our rental car and then headed to the Teton Village to check out the tram that takes you to the top of “The Mountain.” The 2-mile tram ride was beautiful and worth the trip, despite some obnoxious tourists that accompanied us. Once at the top, we decided we couldn’t deal with any more “tacky tourists” (and we like to think we’re better than those people), so we hiked the 7-mile trail down the mountain. While yes, this was a downhill hike, it was still hard and long. Major blisters from this hike, but it broke our feet in for the hiking we would do for the remainder of the trip.
The tram we took to the top of "The Mountain."
The path we took down "The Mountain."
As we neared the bottom of the mountain, we talked to our friend Beanie, who met us at the Snake River, for a late afternoon fishing lesson. It doesn’t get much better than that. And I caught my first fish. I had no idea catching a fish could be so exciting.
The student (me) learning from my wise guide (Beanie).
After a few hours casting our fly, we were all starving so we reconvened at Teton Thai for dinner. Beanie was eager to show us Teton Thai because their menu lists every item that can be made gluten free. I love Jackson! Of course I ordered chicken pad Thai, my favorite.
Teton Thai's Helpful Menu
My pad thai. (Apologies: photo taken outside, in the dark, on the iPhone.)
Delicious! The noodles were thinner than I’m used to, but it was yummy with a kick of spice. If you’re in Jackson, gluten-free or not, I highly recommend Teton Thai. In a town that thrives on its tourist industry, Teton Thai feels like a local spot. The only seating is outdoors and it’s BYOB, which always saves money on your meal. Prepare to wait a little while for your table. We went at 9:00 and we still had a bit of a wait. A great place to wind down and enjoy people watching, good food and drink after a day full of action.
David's dinner: Also GF!
Are you convinced yet that you need to book your ticket out west?
