Weekend Sailing Trip – Gluten-free? Totally.

So, last weekend I went on a sailing trip to Catalina Island, which is right off the coast of Southern California. This was my first time really being on a boat for an extended period of time, so admittedly I was a little nervous. It’s sort of like the most extreme dinner party ever when it comes to eating what other people prepare for you. Fortunately, though the host couple, the ones who actually knew what they were doing sailing wise, were super considerate when sending out the “Meal Assignment” email before the trip to the group and mentioned that there would be a Gluten-Free person in their midst.

Lindsay, the lady half of the host couple, brought along some Udi’s bread. Now how thoughtful is that? And, this is a somewhat shameful moment in my gluten-free life, but I actually hadn’t ever had it. I’m sure all you new gluten-free eaters out there know ALL about it, though and if you don’t well now you know. Udi bread is delicious.

I actually gave up on gluten-free bread YEARS ago. It’s just not that tasty. Plus, it’s kind of fattening for something that isn’t that tasty, so I found alternatives that suited my taste buds which we’ll talk about in my next post. For now, though I just want to repeat that I am now a reformed eater of gluten-free bread, specifically Udi’s.

On another note, the weekend sailing was amazing. My group left on Friday morning, but I had to work so I joined them via the Catalina Express from San Pedro in the evening. While waiting to board, I got my mini-vacay started off right with a glass of Murphy-Goode Chardonnay, which was perfect for the hot September evening.

Once it was time to board, I hopped on the fairy and enjoyed the sun setting behind these massive transformer looking things.

When I arrived to the boat, I was greeted with smiles and a yummy bowl of Chicken Chili (gluten-free), of course.  After dinner and a couple more glasses of wine, we all hit the hay for a big day of sailing, swimming, snorkeling, and eating the next day. Udi’s Bread aside, the trick to eating on this trip was sticking to simple meals like scrambled eggs for breakfast, meats & cheeses for lunch, and 1 pot type meals for dinner.  It was a beautiful time. Yummy food, good company, and stunning scenery!