Restaurant: Annie May’s Sweet Café, Louisville, Kentucky
When I developed food allergies as an adult, I pretty much resigned myself to the fact that eating breakfast anywhere was going to mean a lot of egg dishes. And even then, I have to be careful about what goes into the egg dishes that I order while out. Interrogating the waitress over how things are prepared is not always something I want to do. But I have resigned myself to the fact that if I want to eat out safely…it’s something that has to be done.
Little did I know, until very recently, about a wonderful allergen-free bakery/café in Louisville, Kentucky…on Frankfort Road. And once I discovered it and tasted what they had to offer…I don’t want to go anywhere else.
You see, life can still be sweet, savory, and scrumptious thanks to the fantastic people at Annie May’s Sweet Café. Honestly. When someone like me can walk in and safely order a delicious waffle and a doughnut (seriously…why choose?) because I have a gluten intolerance…it makes me feel happy. Because I can’t do that anywhere else in this area. No one has really fallen into that niche yet…but Annie May’s stands here to fill that void. But…here’s the best part. My roommate was with me. She is neither a vegetarian nor does she have a gluten intolerance. She also got one of the waffles…and a doughnut as well. She can eat whatever she wants to at other breakfast/brunch/food establishments. Including regular waffles and regular doughnuts. So…she’s the real test. I eat like this because I have to…but that’s not the case with Cathy.
We placed our orders. Annie May’s offered three different varieties of waffles today. A regular allergen-free waffle served with your choice of maple syrup or agave syrup and your choice of butter or Earth Balance. Also a regular allergen-free waffle served with a blueberry compote. And finally a regular waffle with whipped cream and strawberries (gluten-free, but not vegan). Both Cathy and I were feeling the first option. So, I ordered a regular waffle with maple syrup and Earth Balance ($7.99), while Cathy opted for a regular waffle with maple syrup and butter ($7.99). Then, we had to get the delicious pumpkin doughnuts that are currently being baked up there. LOVE this time of year for pumpkin…everything. I previously had the cinnamon & sugar pumpkin doughnut, so this time I went with the allergen-free maple glazed pumpkin doughnut ($2.49). Cathy stuck with the one she had previously (because, let’s face it…chocolate = epic yumminess) and got the pumpkin doughnut with a chocolate ganache ($2.49).
We paid for our orders and went to have a seat at one of the tables inside the little café. It’s a quaint, very homey setting that just makes you feel comfortable. I could tell our waffles were done to order because it took some time to arrive at our table. But that was okay. Cathy and I sat there and just discussed a few things from my run (11 miles) and her trail hike this morning, to what we needed to get at the round of grocery stores we hit up while in Louisville. Before we knew it, our plates arrived with our breakfast goodies on them and we could hardly wait to dig in.
I spread my Earth Balance across one section of the waffle, then began to slice into it. This was waffle perfection. Not only was it a beautiful golden color, but it was crisp on the outside, with that perfect amount of softness on the inside. Not doughy softness, but waffle-softness. All you waffle fanatics know what I’m talking about. That bread-y delicious center that sops up all that syrupy goodness that you drizzle or dip it in. Yeah…waffle perfection. I was totally satisfied at first bite. The flavor was buttery good. It wasn’t dry. It wasn’t mushy. It was that right level of waffle crisp that I want…with every bite. Yes…even as I worked my way through it, it didn’t get mushy or soggy. The syrup was rich and sweet and the perfect complement to the waffle itself.
I already knew that Annie May’s made a killer pumpkin doughnut. I mean, I had one a couple weekends ago. But since then…I had been craving more. And thankfully they had some baked up and ready. The maple glazed pumpkin doughnut went perfect with my waffle. Honestly. Okay, so I was carb loading post-11 mile run. But…mmmmmmm…can you blame me? The doughnut was soft, rich, cake-y and light. It isn’t a heavy doughnut so you don’t feel guilty about eating it (not that I ever do when I get to indulge in gluten-free doughnuts!). Fresh baked are always better than the frozen ones I usually get to eat. And the evidence is clear with the first bite. Atop of today’s pumpkin doughnut was a sweet, amazing maple glaze. It reminded me of autumn on the first bite. Seriously. What better way to take a bite out of October and the new cooler weather than with an allergen-free pumpkin doughnut with a sweet maple glaze. It was love at first bite.
Nothing caps off an 11 mile run in the morning like a fantastic breakfast. Thanks to Annie May’s Sweet Café in Louisville, Kentucky…I can do that without having to question what is going into my food. Peace of mind makes me want to continue to frequent there whenever possible. In fact, I stated today that whenever we’re in town, Saturday breakfast needed to be at Annie May’s. Why not? I love supporting local businesses…and a local business that fits into my dietary restrictions is even more amazing.
But…take it from someone like Cathy, who doesn’t need to eat allergen/gluten-free…who devoured her doughnut and her waffle with sweet abandon. She raved about the taste, the texture, the flavors…and that chocolate ganache, which she loves to say is “to die for.” And…trust me…it is really that good.
We both walked out of there completely satisfied and happily full. And every bite of it was savored, enjoyed, and devoured with gusto. Even if you aren’t vegan or someone with food allergies…trust me…you’ll still love the food and sweet treats that Annie May’s has to offer. So, head over to Frankfort Avenue and take a bite of one of their allergen-free, gluten-free, and/or vegan offerings. Everything there is gluten-free…but you wouldn’t even know it. Don’t take my word for it though…go on and show your support for a local business and try something new or out of the norm. You’ll be hooked.
I guarantee it.
The Celiathlete 