Big Orange goes gluten free

Way out west in the land of upscale strip malls, there’s a magical respite called Big Orange. It’s the stuff of lore — thick juicy patties, truffle oil fries and succulent milkshakes — heralded by herbivores and carnivores alike. And now, with the introduction of a new bun that essentially transforms the entire menu to gluten-free, Big Orange is inviting celiacs to join the party. Tonight Big Orange will debut Dempsey Bakery’s Hearty Italian buns, made of rice flour, potato starch, olive oil, millet, flax, maple syrup and arrowroot. For an additional $1.25, any Dempsy burger can go gluten-free, and most veggie burgers can go vegan, since it’s been the bun holding them back all along. (Not to denigrate the fluffy, buttery house buns, you understand…) Fans of Dempsey Bakery, where all the offerings are gluten-free, may recognize the buns as a variation on the Hearty Italian baguette or loaf bread sold in-house. Matt Beachboard, the Big Orange manager, describes the bun as a gluten-free focaccia. Paula Dempsey, of Dempsey, said the bun is fluffy with a white bread texture, but it’s not quite as large as the normal Big Orange bun. “In my experience, gluten-free people don’t like a lot of bread,” she explained.

Tonight the Big Orange cheese dip with corn tortillas is a featured appetizer, in honor of all things gluten-free. And if you are the first to upload a picture of yourself eating a gluten free burger to the Big Orange Facebook page, you win a $10 Big Orange gift-card. Happy wheat-shunning, folks!