Burnsville Restaurant to Host Gluten-free Expo

Celiac sufferers in the south metro are in for a treat—specifically pancakes, brownies and chocolate chip cookies, just like mom made (well, almost).

This week, Ernie's Pub & Grille in Burnsville will be hosting its first-ever Gluten Free Expo. The expo will showcase the latest offerings from both the restaurant itself and a number of national brands—all of which will be free of gluten, a pesky protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye that provokes an immune response in some people. 

Co-owner John Pleschourt said Ernie's debuted a gluten free menu about six to eight months ago, when the company bought a new fryer specifically for gluten-free diners and rearranged to kitchen to avoid cross contamination.

"It wasn't long after we introduced it that we realized the demand was growing so incredibly fast. We got a lot of regulars out of it," Pleschourt said. "Through those guests we found a ton of info."

One salient point? A gluten-free diet can be very, very expensive. Thus the expo, where guests can sample a number of gluten-free options—including a makeup line and Mike's Hard Lemonade—without having to pay full price for the pleasure. The expo will be especially delightful for children suffering from gluten sensitivity or Celiac disease, who are on a restrictive diet that rules out most childhood staples.

"More and more kids are being diagnosed and they miss out on the treats and snacks. A decent gluten-free chicken nugget, for instance, has just come out in the last six months," Pleschourt said.

Tickets to the expo are $3 for adults, and $1 for children. Whole families can get a special $7 package. The expo will run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. this Sunday at Ernie's, 14351 Nicollet Court in Burnsville. The restaurant is expecting 300 to 600 guests, so reservations are encouraged.