Post-holiday gluttony seemed like the perfect motivation to revisit my gluten-free diet. After weeks of stuffing, cookies, pies, and all manner of wheaty delights, I felt like a giant, tired dumpling.

Five years ago, I embarked on a year-long gluten-free diet. I headed straight from my naturopath appointment to New Seasons without a clue of what I was doing. I wandered the aisles with my empty shopping cart save for one pitiful package of rice cakes.

During my restricted diet, I found rewards to offset the sacrifices. I had more energy, a clearer complexion, and no stomach problems. I had to do a lot more preparation, plan ahead with my snacks, and gently educate my friends and family about my new way of eating. My husband was supportive and ate my experiments without (much) complaint.

I've discovered-much to my delight-that even since 2004, the product selection, restaurant menus, and cookbook titles have exploded in number and availability. Here are some of my favorite Portland resources for people interested in a gluten-free diet.

Restaurants offering gluten-free menus or items:

Corbett Fish House, 5901 SW Corbett Avenue and Hawthorne Fish House, 4343 SE Hawthorne- Oh, yes, you can still have your fish and chips. You can even wash them down with one of their three selections of gluten-free beers. They carry Red Bridge and Green's labels. They use a rice-flour batter for their fish, and offer gluten-free sauces, dressings, and desserts. They kind of like the Green Bay Packers too.

Grolla Restaurant and Wine Bar, 2930 NE Killingsworth Street - This is the place to go when you want to enjoy an entire menu of gluten-free fine dining. They feature a menu of Pacific Northwest cuisine and their chefs are experienced in accommodating any restrictive diet. And, of course, wine is always gluten-free!

Piece of Cake, 8306 SE 17th Avenue - This quirky bakery whips out gluten-free cakes to serve 2 to 200 in flavors of Chocolate Raspberry, Lemon Pineapple Ginger, Pumpkin, and "Mahvelous" Carrot Cake. You'll be able to enjoy their impressive collection of antique "Easy-Bake Ovens" until 9 pm on the weekends. Their menu includes other cake varieties available for most restricted diets.

New Cascadia Traditional Gluten-Free Bakery, 1700 SE 6th Avenue - Sourdough, foccacia, and Bavarian pretzels are only a few of the breads to satisfy your carbohydrate cravings. "We wanted to raise the bar as far as what a designated gluten-free bakery could be," explains co-owner Teresa Atkins. They have a quaint little kiosk located next to Sammy's Flowers. Also, look for them at the PSU and Eastbank Farmers Markets. Their web site offers helpful advice on how to store and refresh their breads.

Grocery Stores with gluten-free resources and products:

Bob's Red Mill, 13521 SE Pheasant Ct. - You'll have to head toward Milwaukie to experience the abundance of options in this grocery store. They sell gluten-free flours, snacks, and baking mixes in 1 lb. packages or in bulk bins. Gluten-free baking can be expensive as it requires small amounts of many ingredients. I found the bulk bins allowed me to purchase only what I needed and save my money for new cookbooks from their huge selection of titles.

New Seasons, Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods offer lists of gluten-free products. Many items are also marked with a special shelf tag. Check their websites or ask the customer service desks for updated lists. Also, major grocery store chains have begun to designate special sections for gluten-free brands.

Going gluten-free in '09 has sure been a lot easier and tastier than it was five years ago. We're lucky to live in a city with such adventuresome palettes and innovative chefs who are only too glad to satisfy them.

Photo courtesy of the New Cascadia web site.