I am drafting this post to you as I sit in Redifer Commons, munching on a meal from “Bowls @ South.” This is a safe and convenient choice for gluten-free diners at Penn State, but it has its limitations.
According to Penn State Dining, “Bowls @ South features acai bowls and overnight oats with fresh fruit and a variety of toppings.” A special element about Bowls @ South is their online ordering. This is a relief for gluten-free ordering because I am able to confirm the safety of each ingredient beforehand.
However, because I am ordering online and retrieving my ready bowl, there is no way for gluten-free customers to confirm the safety from cross-contamination during preparation. At other eateries, such as Choolaah for example, I am able to watch the server take each ingredient and see what touches my food before I ingest it. At Bowls @ South, I am trusting the server to take my allergy notification seriously and avoid using shared utensils that had interacted with gluten-containing ingredients.
This allergy notification is a positive feature for ordering from Bowls @ South. Before submitting my request,I am able to indicate that I have a gluten allergy. I assume this means that the servers are especially careful and aware of the concerns with cross-contamination and using only the correct ingredients. This also means when I fetch my bowl, it is ready for me in a separate part of the pick-up area, far from other orders. This brings comfort to me as a gluten-free eater, knowing my meal is isolated from allergens.
It is not possible to review this dining location without mentioning the menu. Gluten-free eaters are quite limited. The acai and granola are not certified gluten-free, meaning the only safe option is customizing a personalized bowl of exclusively overnight oats. Aside from the granola, all other toppings are safe, but the base is limited to overnight oats. There is not much variety available.
Due to the limited options and secrecy in preparation, but the convenient allergy indication, I award Bowls @ South a 2.5 star GF rating.
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