Gluten-free Travel: La Copine, California
My California daughter and fellow GF traveler recommended this restaurant and boy was I glad she did.
We drove four hours through Joshua Tree National Park to view the cactus-like Joshua Trees, which were taller than my 6 foot 4 inches husband. There were enormous smooth boulders set among the former habitat of indigenous people who would wisely leave the Coachella Valley in the summer for the cooler high desert.
Outside the park, we began to search for a place to eat, and the directions to La Copine (French for “girlfriend”) had us traveling down a two-lane highway, wondering if it was worth it, but my daughter’s rave review had us pressing onward. Finally, we spied a low diner-like building with a patio of diners out in front.
The menu had so many interesting combinations. Everything from a Cauliflower White Bean Soup, Gillette’s de Canard, Breakfast Sammy, and French Toast. I had the Rockfish Cakes which were naturally GF and DF, comprised of wild-caught Pacific rockfish, plantain, coconut milk, aji amarillo, avocado-tomatillo salad, tamarind, and micro cilantro.
You know a dish is good when it takes more than 10 words to describe it and if your mouth isn’t watering it should be. The flavor combinations were so insane I took a picture and posted it for my Les Dames d’Escoffier colleagues. Those ladies appreciate great food and I wanted to share this with the next traveler.
Being so amazed by the food I didn’t want to stop so I ordered Coconut Rice Pudding with Raspberries, Oranges, and Pepitas. Again, there was a genius in adding the Pepitas (shell-less pumpkin seeds) for a crunchy, salty texture.
This restaurant was truly on the memorable gastronomy list and I hope that you can experience it sometime. It’s worth the trip! https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=la+copine+california
