ASHEVILLE – Sometimes it’s not just about what goes in a dish but what doesn’t.

At Posana, a diner may start off with ricotta gnocchi and end with an espresso and biscotti without knowing something is missing from the traditional ingredients list – gluten.

It’s a little well-known secret and often a surprise for diners that none of the dishes on the menu includes gluten.

In May 2009, Posana opened with a kitchen dedicated to gluten-free food. However, they didn’t tell anyone the dishes were gluten-free. The detail isn’t so much hidden as it is just not widely advertised so as to not deter guests.

“The biggest misconception about gluten-free food is that it’s going to taste bad and that psychologically you are not going to have a good experience with the food and dinner and dining because you’re missing out on something,” Pollay said. “All of a sudden, when you go off on that mindset, you’re just not going to have a good dining experience. That’s why we don’t tell people we’re gluten-free.”