Can You Find Gluten-Free Food in New Orleans on a Food Tour?

Yes, you can find gluten-free food in New Orleans on a Tastebud Tours experience, but not on every tour. The regular walking food tours do not offer gluten-free food swaps. If you need to avoid gluten, two food tour options at Briquette may work better.

They are the Bubbles and Bourbon Brunch and The Briquette Craft Cocktail Class and Luncheon. Both are two-hour experiences, where you can request a gluten-free option when you book. So, if gluten-free food is important to you, make sure you mention it from the start.

Gluten-Free Food in New Orleans: What Does Tastebud Tours Offer?

At Tastebud Tours, we offer a few different ways to enjoy New Orleans food. But our food options are not the same on every tour. Our regular walking food tours follow a set tasting plan. Because of this, we cannot provide gluten-free food substitutions on these tours.

We do have two Briquette experiences that work a little differently. Both are seated food and cocktail experiences. We can provide a gluten-free option when you tell us about your dietary needs while booking.

So, if you are looking for a walking tour with gluten-free tastings at every stop, our regular walking tours may not be the right fit. If you are happy to sit down, enjoy a full meal, and take part in a cocktail experience, our two Briquette tours are worth a look.

Bubbles and Bourbon Brunch at Briquette

Want brunch instead of a regular food tour? The Bubbles and Bourbon Brunch at Briquette is one option to consider. It runs for two hours and includes a three-course brunch along with a craft cocktail class. Guests must be 21 or older. 

The menu includes a welcome cocktail, salad, a main dish, dessert, and cocktails. More importantly, a gluten-free option can be provided if you mention it when booking. Pork-free and vegetarian options are also available with advance notice.

What to know:

• Location: Briquette
• Length: 2 hours
• Format: Three-course brunch + cocktail class
• Gluten-free: Available with advance notice
• Other options: Pork-free and vegetarian
• Age: 21+
• Best for: A relaxed brunch with food and cocktails

Craft Cocktail Class and Luncheon at Briquette

If you would rather have lunch, check out Tastebud Tours‘ Craft Cocktail Class and Luncheon at Briquette. It is another two-hour experience, with a four-course lunch and a cocktail class. It is also open to guests aged 21 and over. 

The current menu includes dishes such as shrimp remoulade, chicken and sausage gumbo, trout amandine, green beans, and king cake with Creole cream cheese ice cream. Menus can change, so it is worth checking the latest details before you go. You can request a gluten-free option when booking. Pork-free and vegetarian options are available too. 

What to know:

• Location: Briquette
• Length: 2 hours
• Format: Four-course lunch + cocktail class
• Gluten-free: Available with advance notice
• Other options: Pork-free and vegetarian
• Age: 21+
• Best for: A full lunch with cocktails and local food

Which Tastebud Tour Experience Should You Pick?

Once you know both Briquette experiences can offer a gluten-free option, the choice becomes much easier.

Pick the brunch if you want a daytime outing built around brunch and cocktails. Pick the luncheon if you would rather have a full lunch and a longer food-focused meal.

There is no need to overthink the choice. The bigger decision is whether you want a seated Briquette experience or a walking food tour. If gluten-free food is non-negotiable, that decision is already pretty clear.

What Should You Tell Tastebud When You Book?

If you need gluten-free food because of celiac disease or an allergy, don’t simply write “gluten-free preferred.” Explain that you need a gluten-free option and ask what can be provided. We specifically ask guests to notify us during booking for the gluten-free option at Briquette.

Before your tour, it is worth checking a few things:

• Tell us about the restriction when you book.
• Allow us to confirm the gluten-free option.
• Check the current menu before your visit.
• If anything is unclear, ask before the tour date.

A gluten-free option and a completely gluten-free kitchen are not the same thing. If even small amounts of gluten can cause a serious reaction, you should ask what food-preparation steps are possible for your needs.

Is a Food Tour a Good Idea If You Need Gluten-Free Food?

It can be, but the format matters more than it might seem. A New Orleans food tour sounds simple when you first picture it. Walk around, stop for food, hear a few stories, then move on. For someone with a strict diet, though, every tasting stop can raise another question.

What is in it? Can they change it? How is it prepared? With the Briquette experiences, you have a different setup. You know the restaurant ahead of time. You can tell us about your dietary needs during booking. Then you sit down for a meal instead of trying to solve the same problem at several different stops.

You also still get the part that makes a food experience fun: learning about New Orleans food, trying local flavors, and hearing the stories behind what is on the table.

Looking for the Best Gluten-Free Food in New Orleans?

You may have started your search by looking for the best gluten-free food in New Orleans. If so, there is an important difference between finding a restaurant on your own and booking a guided food experience.

A restaurant gives you a meal. A guided experience gives you a meal plus the story around it. You get someone who knows the local food scene, a planned experience, and less work to do yourself. For gluten-free diners, the key is choosing an experience that actually fits your needs.

At Tastebud Tours, our two Briquette experiences give you that option. Just remember to mention the gluten-free request while booking. The regular walking food tours are a different story and do not offer gluten-free substitutions. New Orleans is best explored on foot, with good food, local stories, and a little curiosity along the way.