The Celiathlete

March 24, 2013

Rodes City Run 10K – Louisville, KY (March 23, 2013)

Me crossing the finish line of the Rodes City Run 10K - Louisville, Kentucky — Me crossing the finish line of the Rodes City Run 10K – Louisville, Kentucky

Race: Rodes City Run 10K

Place: Louisville, Kentucky

Date: March 23, 2013

Time: 47:40

Breathing is highly overrated. Not really. But this race just went to prove how important breath control is when you are running. I’m battling bronchitis…and on the morning of the Rodes City Run 10K…the last thing I really felt like doing was running. Every breath I took was a rattling, wheezing mess in my lungs. My nose was stuffed. My body was just tired and worn out, fighting off this nasty bug. The sheer act of climbing out of bed was enough to make me want to climb back in and take a long, long nap.

I felt like death.

No really. I felt…like death. Sort of looked like death too.

It was enough to think that all my attempts the previous night to feel better were a waste of time and money.

After picking up my packet at Louisville Slugger Field after work on Friday, my roommate and I headed out to Oxmoor Mall…for my prerequisite night-before-the-big-race gluten-free pizza. I still had money on a gift card for BJ’s Brewhouse, and since they have gluten-free pizza…it was a logical choice. We kept the toppings easy…cheese, mushrooms, roasted red peppers. And then, as a treat for making it through the week, and because I wasn’t feeling good, we also split one of their gluten-free chocolate chip Pizookies. Which, while calorie content might be insane, I didn’t care…because the cookie was warm, gooey, delicious, and the vanilla ice cream was melty and creamy and…oh…so good. Hey, sometimes you just have to treat yourself, right?

As I was not feeling good, my roommate hauled me over to Teavnana in the mall and had them brew me up a cup of Sick Tea. Which was really good and just what my body needed. Afterwards, we made a few stops at some of our grocery stores while we were out on Shelbyville Road, so we could avoid it on Saturday. I bought a tea specifically for colds at Whole Foods. Then, I hit up Walgreens for Vaporub, Mucinex, and Halls, and hoped my self-medication would knock this out of me overnight so I could at least have a good run.

That was wishful thinking. As I mentioned, despite downing tea, Mucinex, and slathering my chest and feet (yes…my feet!) in Vaporub, I woke up with a deeper rattle in my chest that was a bit more persistent than the day before. My nose was still stuffed. And I felt…like death. Have I mentioned that before?

That being said, I went ahead and got cereal into bowls for breakfast, grabbed a few protein bars for pre-race snacks, and started the coffee maker. While the coffee was running, I went ahead and brewed more of the tea for colds and let it steep. Which meant I had time to drink that down just as my roommate was waking up. So, cereal, I sip of water, and then coffee followed. I didn’t take my Mucinex in the morning because I was reading online that taking cold medicine before a race isn’t the best idea. I decided to slog it out without any and take some immediately following the race. I tucked a bunch of tissues into my shirt sleeves and more into my jacket for pre-race, and we got into the car to head into downtown Louisville to find parking.

That wasn’t as difficult as we anticipated and we ended up parking in an open lot a short walk from the start in front of the Brown Hotel. And…extra bonus…it was only $3.50 to park. NICE! So, we tossed our stuff into the trunk and started hiking in the cold morning air toward where the start of the race was.

We were so early…the start line wasn’t even up yet. And, because this race is held in the midst of downtown…there really was nowhere we could duck into to keep warm. That was something I didn’t need to worry about the year prior, as it was quite warm for that race. I remember being really hot at the finish line. Standing around outside last year was awesome. No problem. This year…I was shivering and fighting my need to stretch. Cold weather means you best be good about your stretching. Get those muscles warm and keep them warm. But I couldn’t get myself warm. So…thirty minutes before the race, I at my No Gii Protein Bar and did a few lunges, stretches, high knees, butt kickers, knee circles and some hip circles.

As I was warming up, a photographer from Brightroom came over, noticing the sign that Cathy has at every race. He said that he sees that sign at every local race and looked at me and asked if I was Karen. I nodded and said I was and he asked if he could get a picture. Of course. So we posed with the sign. And then he reminded me he needed to see my race number, so the warm fleece jacket was unzipped and pictures retaken. The legendary sign does it again. After that…I ended up shucking the jacket and hoodie I had layered over my cold weather running top (I think if I hadn’t been sick…the running skirt and short sleeves would have been on regardless) and removed an extra tissue and a cough drop.

With the start line up, people were already filling the starting area, so I gave Cathy a hug and she wished me luck and told me to have a good race. I looked at her, and practically in tears, I said, “It will be slow.” I, to this very moment, can’t believe how much it pained me to say that. Probably because I have been feeling so good about this race series. I’ve been training through the winter, getting stronger at racing, and just loving the runs. I was loving nothing about running this morning. Fighting back tears, I folded a tissue into my hand and went to find a spot to stand for the start of the race. I found a little pocket that was about 30 feet back from the start line and tucked in there. Lots of people were talking…discussing the race and their strategy to run it. I was just hoping not to die from lack of oxygen.

The National Anthem was sung and we all fell silent and paid due respect to our flag. A minute before the official start, the four wheelchair racers were sent off on the course. It was almost time to go. I popped the cough drop into my mouth in hopes that it might ward off any coughing fits like those I’d been experiencing in my training runs for my upcoming half marathon. The starting area snugged up and then we were sent off with the air horn. At least…I think an air horn sent us off. Because most everything is a foggy memory to me…damn bronchitis.

The crowd I was standing in began the starting line shuffle…slowly moving toward the actual starting gate. It took me less than a minute, I think, to reach the line…and I was off. I started my Garmin and darted over the sensors at the start. I spotted Cathy with the sign and gave a wave, but she didn’t see me. I could tell. And…off I went.

The race starts on East Broadway, which we basically run all the way down until we hit Grinstead. This is a good stretch of downtown Louisville. And…this also had the wind blowing right at us for the first couple miles of the race. You just suck it up and go. Or in my case, wheeze through it. I was running slower than I like…but not taking it easy either. I knew I wasn’t hitting my normal race pace, but I had to push myself a little. It’s race after all. Not that I enter the Triple Crown of Running to win anything. I am not that fast of a runner at all. I enter it because it is one of the best race series in this area and I had SO much fun with it the year before. That being said, even with bronchitis, I felt that while taking it easy I still needed to challenge myself. I told myself I’d listen to my body…and my body was still sounding a lot like Pumba rustling through the African desert for grubs. UGH! Stupid lungs!

I survived the first mile, which was an accomplishment all its own in the cold air. My body was fighting every breath. I was struggling. I could tell my legs were fighting each time I pushed off the pavement. I was pretty certain a lot of that had to do with the fact that it was a struggle to just draw breath…and breathing is integral to running. So…color me screwed!

Mile 2 was up next and I was thankful to have made it this far. I navigated the water stop and continued on my way. The turn onto Grinstead to take the road around Cave Hill Cemetery was ahead. And I remembered that path from the previous year I ran. Little bits and piece of the course were filtering into my head. I guess it was one way to keep my mind off the rattle in my lungs and the chesty cough that I let out every now and again.

Mile 3 meant we were past the “hilly” portion of the race and what remained was virtually flat. Awesome. And I was running through that halfway point before I knew it. I made no attempt to glance at clocks or my watch…because I didn’t want to know. I just wanted to run my race and make it to the finish line. It was the only goal I set considering how I felt.

Around the cemetery I went with a large group of runners and then Mile 4 clicked by. Two more to go…plus the added .2 for the 10K mark and I was home free. I wheezed, I coughed, I gave my all and pressed on through the next mile. One more to go. When I made the turn onto East Main Street, I knew that it was a straight shot down toward Slugger Field, around a corner, and then onward to the finish line at the waterfront. The last mile had me at least entertained by a couple of guys who started singing Wham songs. I don’t know why…they did. And it was what I needed to take my mind off my rough breathing and just laugh (or cough, in my case) a little.

I made the turn and could see that finish line ahead. So, with whatever reserve power I could find, I made the final turn onto the straightaway to the finish line and just…powered as much as I could toward that gate. I ran as fast and as hard as I dared and could manage. My body was just tired and worn out. It was fighting bronchitis. It was fighting the cold. But I really just needed to hit that finish line. I did. I threw my arms up in the air, then gave a wave to Cathy before stopping my Garmin.

And somehow…even with bronchitis…even with feeling like death…I pulled off a new PR, beating my previous 10K time by 4 minutes. I was shocked. I was surprised. I am still trying to figure out how I managed it.

That being said, upon spotting Cathy in the finish area, I walked over to her, saying, “I…I can’t breathe. I…I can’t…I can’t breathe.” I couldn’t. Each breath was a rattle and a gasp. She told me to head down toward the water and she’d meet me there. So, I slowly began to walk that way. I grabbed a cup of water and slowly sipped on it, feeling how fast my heart was beating, how hard it was to even draw in a single breath. I coughed hard a few times. Finished up the water and spotted Cathy as I grabbed one more cup.

I asked her for my jacket…which is something I never do after a race. Even on the coldest race mornings, after running I’m usually too warm to even want my jacket back, even if the temperature is cold. But I was chilled to the bone, and all I wanted was to be warm. As we were standing around, another runner came over and congratulated me on a good race. She said she spotted me at Mile 4 and used me as a pacer for her. We stood around and talked for awhile about races and sparkle skirts (she was wearing one and is good friends with the creators) and all that crazy stuff. We congratulated each other again, then I went to grab a small banana to split with Cathy as we made our way back toward the car. No hanging around this time…I wanted some breakfast and to get warm.

Even though I felt like death, bronchitis didn't keep me from a new PR at the Rodes City Run 10K - Louisville, Kentucky — Even though I felt like death, bronchitis didn’t keep me from a new PR at the Rodes City Run 10K – Louisville, Kentucky

As we were walking to the car, I woman runner noticed the sign and asked who was running the Chicago Marathon. I told her I was and that sparked a conversation as we all walked through downtown toward our respective parking areas about marathons. She ran Boston a couple years back and said that while everyone talks about Heartbreak Hill…the entire course is hilly. This made me laugh…and cough.

I love my fellow runners. We said goodbye to downtown by piling into my car and making our way to Annie May’s Sweet Café for gluten-free donuts and a gluten-free/allergen-free/vegan breakfast sausage and “cheese” sandwich. I changed clothes before eating and did my best to warm up with a good breakfast post-race. It was a good day…and I was actually surprised…and quite proud of my accomplishment. I wonder what I could have pulled off had I been feeling 100%. Maybe I can figure that out next year.

So, as it stands, the official results for the Rodes City Run 10K are that I finished in 47:40. It was a new 10K PR for me, despite being sick! Wow. I was the 523/6572 finisher overall and the 97/3694 woman to cross the finish line. And I was 25/609 in my age division. Not too shabby for a girl running while having a hard time breathing and battling bronchitis. I’ll take that.

Next year…Rodes City Run 10K…I intend to take you on stronger and much, much healthier. But…good race. I might have felt like death that morning, but the race definitely put a little life into me.

March 21, 2013

Wheezing my way into the Rodes City Run 10K

Drastic weather changes suck.

No. For real. They do.

Let me explain why. Last week, Saturday morning offered up gorgeous 60°F weather. I went out to Seneca Park in Louisville, Kentucky, and ran an easy six miles for training. It was gorgeous out. So gorgeous that I enjoyed that run in shorts and a t-shirt. No need to layer. No compression gear necessary. Leave that winter gear at home. It was the perfect morning for a run. It got up to 72°F that day and I was out in it as much as possible.

That night…rain rolled in. Rain and cold. And when I woke up the next morning, the cold, damp blech was still falling from the skies. A check of the weather showed that it was going to be with us all day. And I had a race to run that evening in Frankfort, Kentucky. And errands to run that afternoon once places began opening for their Sunday hours. So, out into the cold blech I went. And I can say that, because at one point, we had the cold air, the rain, the snow, and sleet all falling from the sky at once, making road and sidewalk conditions rather…treacherous. Not. A. Fan.

I also was not a fan of being inside and then back out into the mess of the world that day…time-after-time. I’d finally get some warmth back into my bones and it was time to scurry through the pouring rain back to the car. And…remember…the high the day before was 40 degrees warmer than it currently was.

I ran my race in just the cold. The rain stopped moments before the run, and started up again about the time my booty hit the seat of my car to drive back to Louisville. I was thankful for that. But…the crazy weather took it’s toll…

Here I sit…with this upper respiratory…THING. I am NOT a happy runner. A happy runner wouldn’t have to fight for each breath. A happy runner wouldn’t have a coughing fit in the middle of a run. A happy runner wouldn’t have to carry a pack of tissues. A happy runner would be in shorts and not layered still. It’s the end of March. Last year I was in shorts and t-shirts by this point. This year, I’m sucking in cold air and my lungs just aren’t handling that very well.

The worst part is…I have a race on Saturday. Not just any race, where I feel like I could plod along and be okay with my finishing time. It’s not “just another” little 5K race to run to work on, maybe, getting a little faster. Nope. This is the second race in the Louisville Triple Crown of Running. The Rodes City Run 10K. And last year I ran my heart out in this race. And I’ve only since gotten faster.

Coming into the Triple Crown this year, I was definitely feeling that I could improve on all of my times from last year. And I definitely did that in the Anthem 5K, with my first sub-23 minute 5K race time and my new 5K PR. So, that made me feel good about the 10K this weekend. Until the mega blahs hit. When breathing becomes difficult, running becomes even more difficult.

Needless to say, the best I can do now on Saturday is hope I just run the best race I can. Not worry about my pace, my time, who might be ahead of me. Breathing…that’s the key. Maintaining a pace where I can still attempt to breathe is far more important than blitzing the hell out of the streets of Louisville in search of a new PR. There will be other 10K events and other Triple Crown years ahead of me. No need to do something crazy and make a bad situation worse.

I won’t lie…I am beyond disappointed. I’m angry. I’m upset. But, these are the cards I have been dealt. At least I can still get out there and move. At least I can still run. Albeit it, my training runs have been less than enjoyable…slower than usual…and have involved quite a few moments of labored breathing…lots of gasping…even more coughing. I think I sound like a warthog in search of something to eat while I’m out at 4 a.m. getting my training run logged. That is no lie.

So, I suppose…Saturday I’ll just get my Pumba on…run the best race I can in the condition I am in…and just enjoy it. That’s what it’s all about for me anyway…doing something I love. Even if it sounds like I should be out nosing through the African savannah in search of grubs…the Rodes City Run 10K will be finished by me.

Hakuna Matata – no worries. There’s always next year…

March 21, 2013

Udi’s creates lightest, softest whole grain dinner rolls…from freezer to oven to table

Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Seeded Whole Grain Dinner Rolls – $8.99+

It’s amazing how you never realize how much you miss something until you no longer have the option of having it. Like…a dinner roll. Something that simple. And at first, maybe you just say…”I don’t need that anyway. I don’t need those calories…” But after awhile…when everyone else at the table has something to scoop up their sauces with…you sort of miss having the option.

Maybe not to the extent of being jealous. But sometimes…the social binder that is the bread basket at dinner on the holidays or at gatherings does leave a void…when you are a Celiac or gluten intolerant.

But…that’s all about to change.

Awhile back, Udi’s introduced a couple of new bread products to their line-up. Among them were a gluten-free French baguette, classic French dinner rolls and seeded whole grain dinner rolls. All of which I had been dying to try…but never quite allowed myself to purchase when on my strict grocery budget. But…a Groupon happened to come around for a local natural foods store…and I purchased it. As the expiration date was swiftly approaching, my roommate and I ducked in there this past weekend (during the chaos of a Vegetarian Tasting Fair) to get some products we really wanted to try.

One of the first products that was overwhelmingly decided on were…Udi’s Gluten-Free Seeded Whole Grain Dinner Rolls.

My usual mojo is that items end up sitting in my freezer or pantry for awhile as I use up other items that came before it. But I had nothing quite like these…and I really, really, really wanted to test them out. As I was making a pasta dish for dinner the other night, it would be the perfect side dish to accompany the meal.

Udi's Gluten-Free Seeded Whole Grain Dinner Rolls (toasted and fresh from the oven) — Udi’s Gluten-Free Seeded Whole Grain Dinner Rolls (toasted and fresh from the oven)

Nothing could be simpler. Open bag of frozen dinner rolls, remove, place on a baking sheet, and warm in an oven at for about 10-15 minutes…and they are ready to serve. Yes…really that easy.

Before I get into the taste, let’s start with the basics. The serving size is one roll. Yep. One roll. These rolls are about 2.5 inches in length and about 2 inches in circumferance, so they are a very good size. You only really need one. Each roll is 100 calories (not bad for bread!), 4 grams of fat, 3 grams of fiber, and 4 grams of protein. It’s pretty much a powerhouse. Where does all that protein come from? Simple. Udi’s makes their Seeded Whole Grain Dinner Rolls with healthy chia, sunflower, and flax seeds. Right there is a healthy combination that you wouldn’t get with regular bread. They are even healthier than Udi’s own Gluten-Free Classic French Dinner Rolls. How about that?!

Now…I’ve utilized these in two ways…

Udi's Gluten-Free Seeded Whole Grain Dinner Roll (sliced in half with a schmear of vegan butter) — Udi’s Gluten-Free Seeded Whole Grain Dinner Roll (sliced in half with a schmear of vegan butter)

The first two times I ate them, I ate them just as a side dish. This was the perfect side for my pasta dish. And then, last night, my roomie and I each had a roll with my Chickpea Teriyaki over Steamed Spinach. I simply toasted these in the oven, sliced each roll in half, and gave them a light schmear of vegan butter. It was perfect like that for each dish. What was the best part of eating the rolls like that was that I truly got to taste the bread. My pasta didn’t have a sauce with it (I coated it with vegan butter and Parmesan), so again…I could taste the bread.

My roommate found that it tasted a lot like a honey wheat bread. She loved it…and she can have regular rolls!! She isn’t the one that has to eat gluten-free. She does…because I have to. We both agreed…these got a nice crispy crust on the outside in the oven…but were so soft and fluffy on the inside. They aren’t heavy or dense at all. Amazing. I probably could have eaten another one each time…but resistance was futile.

And the reason for that being…tonight I took the last four rolls and made each of us gluten-free and vegetarian “meatball” mini-subs. OH. MY. GLUTEN. FREE. GOODNESS. No…for real. This was probably one of the best ideas I came up with. I simply threw some marinara sauce into a pan on the stove while my oven warmed up. In went the vegetarian meatballs (I used Franklin Farms Veggieballs) to heat through while the sauce simmered. Then, I placed the rolls on the baking sheet and put them in the oven for 5 minutes at 400°F. When 5 minutes were up, my sauce was simmering and the veggieballs were heated through. Perfect timing. I pulled the pan from the oven and turned on the broiler. Then, I sliced each roll down the center, making sure I kept the bottom in tact. I opened it up (sort of like a baked potato) and spooned two veggieballs inside, coating them with some of the remaining sauce. I threw some Daiya vegan mozzarella shreds on top, tossed the mini sub rolls under the broiler for about a minute…just long enough for the cheese to get a good melt on it, and BAM. Dinner was served. And these rolls made the best mini sub rolls I could have asked for. Honestly. Still light with the crusty outside, it made holding them and eating the sandwich easy and less messy. Texture is important and these were spot-on. For real.

I’m already putting these on my grocery list this week because now I can’t imagine not having a bag in my freezer. They are super delicious. Super easy to prepare. And best of all…good for you. Especially where gluten-free breads are concerned.

Hunt these down in your local grocery stores. Find them. And try them. I guarantee you…you’ll fall in love with them too.

Gluten-Free and Vegetarian “Meatball” Mini Subs made with Udi’s Gluten-Free Seeded Whole Grain Dinner Rolls (also used: Franklin Farms Veggieballs and Daiya Mozzarella Shreds)

March 21, 2013

Run For The Gold 3K – Frankfort, KY (March 17, 2013)

Me crossing the finish line of the Run For The Gold 3K - Frankfort, Kentucky — Me crossing the finish line of the Run For The Gold 3K – Frankfort, Kentucky

Race: Run For The Gold 3K

Place: Frankfort, Kentucky

Date: March 17, 2013

Time: 13:02

Take that…last year’s time. I just beat you by 2 minutes and 21 seconds. HA!

And I did it…when I really, really, really didn’t want to.

As I stated in my previous blog…the weather…got ugly. Very, very ugly. And it turned in a blink of an eye. No warning. No gradual recession back into the winter blues. It went from 72 degrees and sunny on Saturday to a gross, wintery mix of snow, sleet, rain, and cold all at once…the following day. That day…was St. Patrick’s Day. And I was to head to Frankfort, Kentucky that evening…to run.

Also, as we all have come to find out…if I run in Frankfort, Kentucky…it will rain. Whether it does so before a race, during a race, or following a race…there hasn’t been a run in Frankfort that I have attended where it hasn’t rained. I. AM. NOT. JOKING.

Well, it seemed evident on Sunday that rain was happening. Why? Because starting really early in the morning, before the sun even came up, the rain began to fall. Not a sprinkle…no…downpour. It really soured my mood that morning. After glancing at the radar, it looked like the rain was with us the entire day. Here in Louisville, and certainly there in Frankfort.

*SIGH*

Well, you can’t change the weather…you just make the most of it. And it’s not like I haven’t run in the cold and wet before. I just…wasn’t feeling it that morning. I didn’t want to do it. I said as much to my roommate that morning as we were packing up my running bag with my running clothes to change into, as we were going to spend a good lot of the day in Louisville before heading to Frankfort. There would be no return trip home. So pack and go. We’d get the required pre-race gluten-free pizza from Uncle Maddio’s for lunch. And then…we’d do a bit of shopping and walking around at the malls. Anything to stay inside as much as possible and out of the cold wet. I decided I didn’t pack an appropriate top for the run, with this sort of weather, so we ended up heading to Dick’s where we spent, probably 45 minutes trying to find something that wasn’t expensive and would keep me warm in the cold wetness. I found something. And bought it. As much as I didn’t want to.

By early afternoon, the rain had turned into sleet and snow. Big, wet flakes were falling to the ground. My mood was getting worse. It was cold. It was wet. And I was still NOT feeling it.

So, what do I do? I go get ice cream. Now…I am lactose intolerant, and while I can take something to help with digestion, eating ice cream before a race is generally not something I would do. But, as I told my roomie…I didn’t care at this point. So, ice cream it was. I ate my mint chocolate chip ice cream, which I topped off with hot fudge, before ducking into the bathroom at the ice cream parlor to change. And that was when I realized…I had no sports bra. I forgot to pack one.

Mood…just got worse.

We left the ice cream place and hopped back into the car to drive home, on precarious roads, so that I could get into proper chest-holding gear. As I was gingerly walking across the slick pavement at my apartment, I asked my roomie if, perhaps, I needed to bring my YakTrax. Why? Because here the pavement was coated in slick slush. I didn’t know what it might be like in Frankfort. She agreed it would be a good idea to at least have them on hand. So, after I changed into my sports bra, my new top, and threw the tech shirt I originally planned to wear over that…we were back in the car and now making our way through the driving rain and weather to…Frankfort, Kentucky.

We had rain the entire way. Much suckage.

As always, we arrived in Frankfort with time to spare. So, we parked in our usual parking garage and climbed the stairs to make our way over to where packet pick-up was happening. I ducked inside and got my packet, which always comes in a reusable bag, complete with race bib, goodies, and my t-shirt.

Normally on St. Patrick’s Day there would be quite a festival going on, however, with the rain…that wasn’t happening this year. Nothing was open. Nothing. Except the local coffee shop. So, after we dropped a few items back over at the car and made our way through the cold rain, we stopped inside the coffee shop and took a seat in a corner. At least it was warm and dry in there. Cathy went to get us some water to wash down our pre-race protein bars with and returned with that…and a banana to split after the race.

As she was making said purchases, two very nice ladies came and sat down opposite us. They were just really fun girls and I was glad that they were there to keep us amused and talk about crazy stuff with. Seriously. Some of the topics of conversation were…very different.

With about 30 minutes before the race, I finally was able to eat my protein bar. Usually for this short of a race, I would split the bar, but technically…this and the half a banana would be dinner. So…the entire bar was eaten. I also normally would have done that further away from start time, but the line for drinks was long. It took Cathy a lot longer to get through for the water and banana than anticipated. So…I finished my bar, drank my water, and sat there for a little longer.

The rain suddenly…stopped.

It was still cold as heck out there, but it was no longer raining. Were the weather gods finally smiling upon me? Perhaps?

With ten minutes to go before the race, Cathy and I stepped outside with our new friends (this was their first race, btw). Already people were lining up in pace groups, so Cathy gave me a hug, wished me luck, and I went to find a spot in between the 6 minute mile and 8 minute mile pace groups.

I mean…this race wasn’t even 2 miles…so it would be a quick one regardless. No sooner had I found a spot in the small sea of humanity…that the starting pistol was fired.

Holy hell…the race was starting…and it was a little early.

Thankfully, my Garmin had found its satellites at that point because I hit it as I pushed over the start line and hit the course with the rest of the pack. I guess I should just be thankful that we didn’t decide to linger a little longer. This meant, however, I did absolutely no stretching to loosen up my muscles, which, I remind you, really dislike cold and wet…especially together.

Frankfort is a really great place to run, and I think that’s why I keep going back there for different races throughout the year. The Frankfort Trifecta, however, is one of my favorite racing series to do. And the Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K is the race that kicks it all off. For the second year in a row, under very different circumstances, I now found myself running through the streets once again in this sprint out and back race.

Last year, it was about 74°F out during this run. This year…it was 34°F…with a crazy cold wind. It was SO chilly. So, we’re talking a 40 degree difference between the past two years. That’s crazy.

But…enough of that…I’m running here…

This is a very fast course, mind you. It winds through downtown Frankfort, taking you up towards the Governor’s Mansion, but not around it as most races there tend to take us. We turned around before making that loop. It was a rather quiet run. Thanks to the weather, there weren’t the normal crowds lining the streets that most of these races see. The volunteers were out, and there were a few spectators shouting words of encouragement…but most people stayed nestled in their homes…and I couldn’t blame them.

The cold air was wreaking havoc on my lungs. I could feel this rattling wheeze with each breath. I was not liking that…but I needed to keep pushing. I reached the bridge and ran down the hill, taking the roads back through the town, rounding the corner, and spotting that finish line up ahead.

I ran…I ran with everything I could find in me to cross that finish line. It felt great, seeing the time on the clock, knowing that even though I was not really feeling this race…and with my mood and choice of ice cream before hand, lack of stretching, and just…general BLAH over the entire day…I just accomplished a new PR on this distance and race. Awesome. It actually felt great.

Soon after crossing the finish line…Cathy and I scurried back to the coffee shop to get hot apple cider before they closed. Then we went to wait at the finish line and see if our new friends we made in the coffee shop crossed the finish. They did. And we went and congratulated them on a good race.

Me with my award for winning 2nd in my division (F 30-39) at the Run For The Gold 3K in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Results were being posted as we were hanging around…so we went to get the official results and…I placed in my division. Second in my division. Second…behind someone who finished 2 minutes behind me the previous year. WHAT?! Ah well…some people get faster…some people get even faster than the people who were faster than them last year. Such is the life of a runner. This now meant we got to hang out in the cold even longer now…for the awards ceremony. I pulled my jackets out of the bag and finally got back into them to stay warm…and Cathy and I finally split that banana. The awards were handed out…and I was in the 30-39 group. Which…placing second in an age division that goes up by 10 years is beyond amazing. I accepted that award quite proudly. Maybe all I needed was a fast little run to lift my spirits.

Anyway, the official results of the Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K are that I finished in 13:02. I was 38/423 finishers overall. I was 2/69 in my division. And the 30-39 women’s division was the largest overall for the race. So…this felt good. I didn’t think it would…but it did.

After receiving my medal, Cathy and I decided it was time to make the drive home. No sooner had we gotten into the car, the skies opened up and the rain poured down again. Good timing. It stopped just long enough for the race. Couldn’t have asked for anything more.

Except maybe a little warmer temperature.

Maybe next year…

Because, trust me…I’ll be running this one again next year!

March 20, 2013

Angie’s Uncommonly Salted Caramel Popcorn uncommonly lightens up snack time

Product: Angie’s Uncommonly Salted Caramel Popcorn – $3.99+

Two of my favorite words.

Salted. Caramel.

It doesn’t get much better than that salty-sweet richness of caramel speckled with flakes of salt. There is just something so tantalizing, mouthwatering, and sinfully delicious about anything that remotely involves something salty and caramely…especially when mixed together. That is heaven. Heaven in whatever salted caramel form said delicacy takes. Pure and simple.

Over the holidays, my friend Shana, directed me to Target in search of this amazing sounding (and it was super yum, btw) holiday popcorn – Holidrizzle Dark Chocolatier Sea Salt Popcorn by Angie’s. I searched, I hunted, I discovered, I took home and devoured. Seriously epic. My coworker bought the other Holidrizzle flavor – White Chocolatier Peppermint and it was super delish as well. It made for good eats while at the office. Trust me.

Upon discovering this epic popcorn, however, I needed more of it. I got online and looked up Angie’s Web site. And there I found a plethora of flavors just awaiting my discovery. The only problem was…finding the regular flavors. I couldn’t. Not anywhere.

Until the New Year rolled around and I was in Columbus, Ohio visiting my friend Jenn. We all piled into the car one snowy morning and took a road trip down to Cincinnati to visit Jungle Jim’s…the most epic grocery store in the world. Seriously…foodie heaven. No joke. And the gluten-free section. HA. The gluten-free section was HUGE!! No joke. And waiting for me on a few shelves…were a variety of flavors of Angie’s Popcorn.

OH. MY. POPCORN. GODDESS!

I knew my pantry was already stocked, so I settled on one flavor…and only one flavor…this time. And the winner of said luck-of-the-popcorn-draw: Angie’s Uncommonly Salted Caramel Popcorn.

I had a few (okay…a lot) of products to work through before I could get to this popcorn. And it sat in my pantry up until yesterday…mocking me. Begging me to open it up…take a taste…fall in love. I behaved. I resisted. But I polished off the protein bars that were nearing their sell by date and this was the next item up on my pantry list. I couldn’t have been more excited. I might have squeed in anticipation.

I dished up a serving of the popcorn, which is 1-3/4 cup (or if you weigh your servings like I do…28 grams). I packed it up to haul to work with me and then had to eagerly wait for my 3 p.m. snack time to roll around. I was ready for it when it did, and out of my drawer this popcorn came. I opened it up, grabbed a light, fluffy kernel, and popped it in my mouth.

Amazing. It is sweet, without being too sweet. The saltiness isn’t overwhelming at all. In fact, it’s more sweet than salty. The darker bits of popcorn is where the flavor magic happens. Those are the popped kernels that are harboring the golden caramel flavor with that burst of saltiness. It is fantastic. It’s much lighter than you would expect caramel corn to be. And I found that the sweet and salty flavors were rather balanced…more sweet than anything. The interesting part of this popcorn is that you will feel satisfied after eating a serving, but you won’t feel like you gorged on something bad. No kidding when I say how light this popcorn is…even when coated with that golden caramel.

A serving of this popcorn will set you back 140 calories and 8 grams of fat. The fat content seems a little high…but this is caramel corn, right? Let’s not dwell on that. A serving of Angie’s Uncommonly Salted Caramel Popcorn has only 70 mgs of sodium, 2 grams of fiber, and 1 gram of protein. As for the sugar content – only 8 grams. Not too bad for a sweet treat, yes?

And the ingredient list is so recognizable it’s craziness. Popcorn, sunflower oil, evaporated cane crystals, invert cane syrup, natural flavor, sea salt, caramel, and annatto (a seed used in South America for cooking and body paint), which is added for colors. LOVE that. This popcorn is also made from whole grains. It is all-natural, non-GMO, vegan, kosher, gluten-free, cholesterol free, contains no trans-fat, and no high fructose corn syrup. AWESOME!

What you get from Angie’s popcorn is a natural goodness. Bite-for-bite you will fall in love with the amazing flavor, the lightness of the popcorn, and just how delicious it is. I recommend you portion it out into serving sizes, less you risk eating the entire bag in one sitting. It really is that good. There is nothing uncommon about Angie’s Uncommonly Salted Caramel Popcorn. The only anomaly here is that you have yet to try it. Go. Find it. Eat it. Enjoy it. Devour. Start again.

Oh yeah…I’ve fallen hard for popcorn. And Angie’s fits my taste profile perfectly.

March 20, 2013

The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) a protein bar worth biting into

Product: The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bar – $1.99+

My friend Jenn loves me. No…really she does. Every now and again when I go to visit her, she drops a product that she found while out and about on the table for me. This protein bar is one of those little Jenn surprises.

I had never actually heard of The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) before she handed me one. She had spotted them at her local Meijer and thought of me (Awwww!) and decided to pick one up for me to try. After all, I often down protein bars prior to runs and I often visit her and drag her to my early morning races…so she is very well aware of this fact. But, while I had never heard of this brand before, The GFB came into existence back in 2010. The creaters were on a mission to create the world’s best gluten-free protein bar, focusing on ingredients and taste.

Jenn picked up The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar for me. And why not? I love peanut butter and chocolate! And she is very, very, very aware of this fact. So, this has been in my snack drawer for a little while…but after working through the bars that came before it, this one got it’s chance to shine this past Sunday evening.

I was at a race in Frankfort, Kentucky. There aren’t a lot of places I can safely eat in Frankfort…so my roommate and I each packed protein bars to enjoy prior to the race. I grabbed The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bar from my drawer and tossed it into my race day bag and headed out…in the cold, rainy weather.

We arrived in Frankfort, Kentucky and after killing some time with race packet pick-up, we ducked into the local coffee shop and took a seat in the corner. It was about 30 minutes before the race and we figured that it was time to eat something. We each pulled out our respective bars (she had a Luna Bar as she is not gluten-free) and I prepared to take my first taste of this latest protein bar in my collection.

The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bar looks like a flattened Lärabar, honestly. Upon unwrapping it, I could easily make out the peanuts, brown rice, chocolate chips and flaxseed, all stuffed into the binding, which looks to be made up of dates, and sweetened with agave nectar. So, in a lot of respects, it is exactly like a Lärabar…but with a few more ingredients.

And…that’s what these tasted like too. If you like Lärabar’s, you’ll probably enjoy The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) as well. The Peanut Butter Chocolate one doesn’t exactly taste like peanut butter and chocolate…so if you are expecting something as amazing as a Reese’s…think again. My roommate tried a piece of it and said it reminded her of the treats she fed her horse when she used to ride.

I don’t know what that means…or what that says about her eating horse treats…but to me, these had a good texture. They were sturdy, but not solid. They were chewy without being too soft. And the flavors were like a mild Lärabar…perhaps with a little less date flavor. I liked being able to see some of the ingredients in the bar itself. And I love looking at ingredients on the bar and recognizing all of them.

But that was the point. The creators of The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) wanted to create a great-tasting product that people would look forward to eating and that didn’t pump you full of chemicals. You have to appreciate that sort of dedication. So, using simple ingredients, they provide a simple protein bar that you can feel good about eating and provides you with energy.

The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar is 2.05 ounces of protein packed goodness. It is gluten-free, wheat-free, casein-free, dairy-free, all natural, vegan, low-sodium, and cholesterol free. These bars have no additives and no preservatives. There are no trans fats. They are a fantastic source of protein and Omega-3. The entire bar is 240 calories and has 10 grams of fat, mostly from nuts, so at least it is the healthy kind of fat. Unfortunately, this bar, probably due to the inclusion of chocolate, packs 14.5 grams of sugar. I try to keep my sugar consumption lower…so, this seems high for such a small bar. However, on the flip side, you are provided with 2.5 grams of fiber and 12 grams of protein. So, that will help you feel fuller longer.

And it did do it’s job. After eating the bar, I wasn’t hungry…even after the race. So, it succeeded in doing its job. Perfect fuel for the haul, that’s for sure. The flavor…isn’t the best I have ever tried, but it isn’t at the bottom of the list either. Would I purchase this again…yeah…I probably would at some point. But, while they set out to create the best tasting protein bar…it falls short when compared to other gluten-free options out there.

A decent protein bar though, when all is said and done. Not bad. Not bad at all. I would definitely be interested in trying the other flavors from The GFB (Gluten Free Bar).

The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)

March 19, 2013

Recipe: Gluten-Free Grasshopper Pancakes

Ah, St. Patrick’s Day. It brings out a little Irish in all of us. And, for some reason…it makes me want to make green food. And not just green food…minty green food. I can’t explain it. It just happens. It’s one of those things.

Well, originally, my plan for St. Patrick’s Day breakfast was going to be some elaborate Irish breakfast of sorts…done vegetarian and gluten-free, of course. But, then my roommate woke up much earlier than expected so I executed Plan B.

Which was…pancakes.

But…how to do Irish pancakes? I mean, aside from potato pancakes (or boxty…which I could have made…but didn’t…), how can you get your Irish flap-jack on?

Minty-green pancakes, of course.

Below is my recipe for these exciting, duel colored pancakes. This is a super-easy recipe to make. And you can use any baking and pancake mix for the batter. As I am gluten-free…I do that.

So, give this a go…and enjoy!

Recipe: Gluten-Free Grasshopper Pancakes

Servings: 4
Time: Prep 20 minutes; Bake 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 c baking and pancake mix (I used Pamela’s Products Gluten-Free)
1 tablespoon sugar (I used Truvia)
1.5 tablespoons baking powder (this is NOT a typo…not teaspoons…tablespoons!)
Pinch of salt
1 cup milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
2 tablespoons organic pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon Mexican vanilla (or any vanilla extract)
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
green food coloring (optional…but fun!)
1/3 cup Nestle’s dark chocolate and mint morsels
3 tablespoons cocoa powder

Directions:

Turn griddle to medium heat.

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl, excluding the cocoa powder and the dark chocolate and mint morsels.

In a separate bowl, combine the wet, excluding the peppermint extract, and then add them to the dry.

Stir until just combined and no large lumps remain.

Split the batter into two bowls.

Add another splash of milk and the cocoa powder to one.

And add several drops of green food coloring and the peppermint extract to the other.

Split the dark chocolate and mint morsels between the two bowls and gently fold them into the batter.

Spoon about 1/4 cup of each batter onto the greased griddle. Carefully flip when bubbles appear on top or the edges look dry, then cook for 1-2 minutes more.

Top with extra dark chocolate and mint morsels and maple syrup.

Serve and enjoy!

~*~*~

I loved the play of colors in these pancakes. The only difference in my recipe is that in the chocolate pancake batter I folded in Guittard’s green mint chips and in the minty green batter I folded in Hershey’s Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips. Only because I had them in my pantry. Otherwise, they would have gotten the Nestle’s Dark Chocolate & Mint Morsels in each batter. I did, however, use the dark chocolate and mint morsels to top off each serving of pancakes that morning.

And these were a huge success. Minty, fresh, hot, and chocolatey all at once. It made for a great breakfast. And I was very happy with the way the pancakes fluffed up, even without eggs, and how light they were. The flavors were definitely spot-on for a fun St. Patrick’s Day breakfast. But, why just do this for St. Patrick’s Day? There is something so amazing and delicious about mint and chocolate…these are honestly good any time.

Nothing could be easier…and oh…so delish.

March 19, 2013

Something fishy this way comes when Sophie’s Kitchen bakes up gluten-free and vegan breaded fish filets

Sophie's Kitchen Breaded Vegan Fish Filets (Gluten-Free) — Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Fish Filets (Gluten-Free)

Product: Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Fish Filets – $5.99+

Wait.

Hold the phone.

Vegan.

Gluten-Free.

FISH FILETS??!!

That, my dearest friends, is not a typo. Not at all. And to blame for this discovery is none other than grocery store heaven, Jungle Jim’s in Cincinnati, Ohio. Because it was as I was perusing the freezer section that this box jumped up and flagged me down.

But…but…vegan seafood?

Oh…it has been done before. Yves put out a Shrimp Scampi that I tried years ago…and couldn’t eat. It was disgusting. But this…this looked absolutely mouthwatering on the box. Which, I know is the entire point of marketing said items…but…really…

And since going vegetarian and then gluten-free…breaded fish filets with…I don’t know…maybe some hand cut fries…they were just a dream. A memory. A figment of my past.

NOT ANYMORE! You better believe upon spotting this box it made it’s way into my shopping basket, to the register, and then to my freezer. And for quite a few incidents, I had plans to cook them up for dinner for my roommate and I. But then…found something else to do. Something that wouldn’t require writing up a review. So, instead, I choose one of my busiest weeks to give these a try. But why not? I busted these precious little filets out in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. It was time for some oven-baked fish and chips. Good ol’ Irish fare if I do say so myself.

And I do.

So…after slicing up (by hand…no mandolin slicer here) some fingerling potatoes into shoestring fries, I got those working in the oven and pulled out this box from the freezer.

Sophie's Kitchen Breaded Vegan Fish Filets (frozen) — Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Fish Filets (frozen)

Sophie’s Kitchen. Apparently, Sophie’s Kitchen has a wide variety of vegan seafood options out there, most of which are also gluten-free. So, if this was actually edible…maybe even delicious…then perhaps I could indulge a little more. I’ve found two stores in the area that carry Sophie’s Kitchen products…and of which at least half in the freezer are gluten-free and vegan. YAY!!

These were actually really simple to prepare. Place filets on baking sheet. Put in oven set for 375°F. Bake for about 10-15 minutes, or until the filets are a golden brown on top. Nothing could be easier. And I couldn’t believe when I took two of the four patties in the package out…how much they truly resembled fish filets. Very reminiscent of my seafood days.

I can tell you this as well…they smelled amazing as they baked up in the oven too. It was amazing. I was actually anticipating eating these. It was the first time since the Yves incident that something vegan seafood-ish actually appealed to me.

After 15 minutes, the filets were a beautiful golden color, so I removed them from the oven, along with my shoestring fries. I plated each item on two plates, one for myself, and one for my roomie, and dinner was served. She took the first bite…and I couldn’t tell what she made of the actual filet itself. So, I took my own bite.

It’s…different. Stringy at times. The taste is really good, but the texture is…well…it reminded both my roommate and I of those cheap fish sticks you eat growing up as a kid, not really noticing the odd texture because, they’re fish sticks…they’re fun…and you can drown them in ketchup. That’s what these reminded us of. And yes…we ate them with ketchup.

Needless to say, I wasn’t exactly jumping up and down with delight over these…but they weren’t bad either. If you can get past the texture of it, then you’re golden. Flavor-wise…these are awesome. No strange fishy flavor. The breading is light, and the “fish” is basically TVP (textured vegetable protein)…which is something I’ve wanted to try now for awhile. These filets are also composed of canola oil, potato starch, organic agave nectar, sea salt, rice flakes, turmeric, white pepper, ginger, powdered cellulose and konjac powder. It actually is more appetizing than it sounds.

Nutritionally speaking, one filet will only set you back 180 calories and 8 grams of fat. Each filet packs an 8 gram protein punch and serves up 3 grams of fiber. These are also very low in sodium and totally cholesterol free. You can’t argue with those numbers.

Sophie’s Kitchen totally is ruling the vegan seafood market. Trust me. While these did have an odd texture, it was actually very nice to sit down for a meal of “fish” and chips for St. Patrick’s Day. I even made it again for dinner tonight. So, as you can see, it wasn’t overly offensive. The seasoning helps and the texture isn’t bad…it’s just…different. Stringy rather than flaky like seafood.

But…I could totally look past that.

I give major props to Sophie’s Kitchen for stepping into a niche that definitely needed some help. I can promise you this…they were successful in filling it. I hope to seek out more of their gluten-free and vegan products very soon.

Sophie's Kitchen Breaded Vegan Fish Filets (oven baked and served with hand cut shoestring fries and organic ketchup) — Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Fish Filets (oven baked and served with hand cut shoestring fries and organic ketchup)

March 17, 2013

Flavors all there in KIND Nuts & Spices Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt snack bar, but lacking in texture

Product: KIND Nuts & Spices Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt Snack Bar – $1.99+

You can’t even imagine how disappointed I was with this KIND Bar. It had all the making of being something epic. Something that I would rank among my favorites. It was dark chocolate. It was nuts. It was salty and sweet. Right there…epic.

Yet…it just came out wrong. Not to the point of being bad. Not at all. This bar was in no ways disgusting or offensive. It just…lacked something. Something vital. And only after munching through my half of the bar did I come up with what it was…

Something chewy to bind it all together.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of nuts and dark chocolate. HUGE. But…that’s all this bar was. There was no filler to help give it that chewy texture I prefer when it comes to snack bars. This one was just nuts drizzled in dark chocolate, making it very crunchy, very brittle…and somewhat of a disappointment. But only texturally speaking.

Flavor-wise, this bar was on point! I mean, who doesn’t love decadent dark chocolate and the combination of sea salt and a variety of nuts? It’s salty meets sweet…which is, by far, my favorite type of snack to eat. This bar is packed with a blend of almonds, peanuts and walnuts. They are drizzled in dark chocolate, as well as having the bottom layer of the bar completely dark chocolate. It is then touched off with a smattering of sea salt.

EPIC.

Epic in flavor…but I just like something to chew. I don’t want a brittle snack bar. I want something that I can sink my teeth into and put a little effort into eating. Nuts and chocolate…perfect combination. But give me something else with it. Give me a binder of some sort that makes this more of a snack bar instead of a chocolate drizzled clump of nuts.

It seems nit-picky, I know…but this is just how I felt about it. I could make this at home…and be just as satisfied. I was hoping for the world…and ended up with a continent. Or something like that.

Nuts and dark chocolate…killer combo. Add that sea salt (unless, like my roommate you get a large chunk of it in a bite)…and it’s magical. But put them together without some sort of soft binder…and it just doesn’t work for me. Flavor and taste are awesome. Texture is lacking. For me.

This bar, nutritionally speaking, offers 200 calories to your diet. It will set you back 13 grams of fat for the day, but that’s mostly the healthy fat from the nuts. So, don’t panic. You get 7 grams of filling fiber and 5 grams of protein in each bar. This bar is gluten-free and cholesterol free as well. Not bad for a snack/protein bar. Not bad at all. My roommate and I split this and each had a bowl of cereal. And we headed out to the park so I could run for about 45 minutes while she walked. We were still full even after that workout. So…it does its job, that’s for sure. Even if you split it with someone.

So, while I did not, in fact, dislike this bar…it just wasn’t one of my favorite ones like I assumed it would be. A bit of a let down…yes. But…loved the flavor of each bite. Just wish it had a little bit more to it. That’s all.

KIND Nuts & Spices Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt Snack Bar (unwrapped)

March 17, 2013

No passport needed to have a safe and delicious meal at Habana Blues Tapas Restaurant

Restaurant: Habana Blues Tapas Restaurant – New Albany, Indiana

Habana Blues Tapas Restaurant is definitely one of the little gems tucked away here in New Albany, Indiana. I can say that for sure now that I have spent some time there and had one of the most amazing dining experiences to date. And this all happened…by dumb luck and pure chance.

Allow me to explain…

You see, March 13th is my roommate’s birthday. As part of her birthday gift, I told her to pick a restaurant she always wanted to try out…not to worry about if I could eat anything there or not…because I could bring a protein bar and then eat something at home. So many times we don’t get to restaurants where she wants to eat because of my dietary restrictions. I’m done with that. I will forever have a back-up plan. It’s not fair…but apparently, it doesn’t really bother her because even with those set rules laid out…she contacted a few places to find out if there were items on the menu that I could eat as well. Part of me thinks she doesn’t want to be seen with someone munching on a protein bar while she eats dinner. No need for embarrassment…that’s just how it works at times. If anything, I would be the one making the “scene” if you will, and I’m not ashamed. No one else should be either.

Her original choice was a gastropub here in New Albany called The New Albany Exchange. She had looked at the menu online and spotted a couple of salads that might work for me. She was eying their fish and chips, of course. I got on their Facebook page and sent a message to them about what a gluten-free vegetarian might eat. This was two days before I was actually set to dine there. And not a word was ever heard back. The day before we were to dine there, my roommate sent an e-mail inquiring about food options for me…and never heard back. Then, just before we left the office for the day on Friday, the dinner day, she called and no one answered. Needless to say…she was the one who nixed eating there. I told her we could still go…as part of the roommate birthday agreement she was to choose somewhere she wanted to eat. She simply shrugged and said she would look at other options.

Her next choice was the Bank Street Brewhouse. But upon browsing the menu, she said nothing really excited her.

And then, after a quick Trip Adviser search…she came across Habana Blues Tapas Restaurant. It was getting amazing ratings on trip adviser and after a glance at the menu, she figured there would be options for me. Plus, she took it as a good sign that the restaurant has a nicely laid out and beautiful Web site, as well as a menu that, upon first glance, had her mouth watering.

Decision made. Habana Blues Tapas Restaurant for dinner it was…

After I went for my training run that day, I changed back into proper dining attire, jeans and my concert t-shirt from the Bon Jovi show the night before (LOL!), and we took a short stroll from the gym to Habana Blues Tapas Restaurant, located on the corner of Market Street and Bank Street in New Albany. When I first moved here, this was Jimmy’s Music Store…which has moved to a different location up the way. A few restaurants have been in and out…but when Habana Blues opened in 2010…it had some staying power.

And yes…this restaurant has been here since 2010 and I didn’t visit there to eat until now. I am so ashamed.

Habana Blues Tapas Restaurant is a New Albany’s only restaurant to offer Cuban food. Yes…Cuban food. I love seeing something different on these streets in this area. This upscale Cuban cuisine is authentically prepared and presented in tapas style, that is small plates, or a variety of appetizer dishes. You can either get for yourself or share among the table. Tapas can be prepared warm or cold, and the menu at Habana Blues offers both types. The entire point of tapas is to encourage more talk and socializing at the table so that the diner isn’t as focused on the food…but more the company. What a great concept.

We entered the brightly colored restaurant and were seated immediately by the hostess. She placed menus and a drink menu down for each of us to peruse while we waited on our server. I was expecting a dark-haired, olive complexioned waitress…but we got the blond-haired, blue-eyed Wes…who was simply AMAZING! He had this cute little country twang in his voice and his eyes lit up when he spoke about the food and options. We went ahead and told him that I was a gluten-free vegetarian. He pointed out some vegetarian courses that are highly regarded there and said he would go ahead and check on the gluten-free part of each one.

He was gone for a good while, and I could hear him consulting with others over the entire menu. And when he returned, he had options for me written down and began to present them…along with any changes that could be made to the dish to make it safe for me to eat. Fantastic. He left for a few more minutes to give me some time to think about it…and after a little bit of discussion, my roommate and I came to a decision on the food we wanted to eat that night.

Habana Blues' Guacamole con Chicharritas — Habana Blues’ Guacamole con Chicharritas

First up…we had heard such fantastic things about their Guacamole con Chicharritas ($8.25), that we decided we would split that. Yes…it is exactly what it sounds like. Guacamole. But instead of the Mexican version where you eat the blend of avocados, tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeños, lime juice and red onion with tortilla chips, Habana Blues serves their guacamole with house prepared plaintain chips. And yes…they are gluten-free.

There is just something so amazing about a fresh guacamole. When the avocado is ripe and sweet and blends so well with the mild tomatoes, the bite of onion, the spice of the peppers and cilantro…and the acidity from the lime juice…when executed just right…magic happens. This was a happy plate for me. The plantain chips were vibrant and crunchy and looked amazing standing out next to the bright, fresh, green color of the guacamole. It reminded me a lot of the guacamole that I make at home. In fact, all the ingredients are the same, save I use serrano peppers in mine, as a preference of my roommate. But this…this was lively and fresh and not too spicy. Perfect for a started. The plantain chips added a nice hint of sweetness to each bite. They were sliced thin and fried to perfection. I love a good crunch with my chip and this definitely provided it. Honestly…this selection didn’t last long at all.

Cathy had her two plates she wanted to try ready to order. Her final decision was that this time while we dined here, she would try the Chimichurri Steak ($8.50), which is a grilled skirt steak that is served with a chimichurri sauce (she has been intrigued by what chimichurri was since we started watching a lot of cooking shows and a lot of chefs make it) and a side of sweet potato fries, which come with a smoked honey butter to dip them into. She ordered her steak medium, and it came out perfectly cooked. She enjoyed every bite of it, raving about the spiciness of the chimichurri and the delicious flavor of the smoked honey butter for the sweet potato fries.

Her other plate choice was the Queso Fundido ($5.75), which is a bowl of melted Spanish Tetilla cheese, topped off with crispy chorizo and served with bread. She loves cheese. She loves bread. It was no surprise when she loved this. The nature of the cheese made it one that paired well with the bread. By the end of the meal, it was no longer stretchy and gooey, but she could cut it up and place it over the grilled slices of bread and still enjoy every bite. Which she did.

The birthday girl was pleased.

Habana Blues' Champinoes al Ajillo (no bread) — Habana Blues’ Champinoes al Ajillo (no bread)

But enough about the carnivore in the group…what about my options?

My first plate of choice was the highly recommended Champinoes al Ajillo ($6.50). Normally this dish would be served with bread, but they said they would just leave that off. No big deal. Awesome. The Championoes al Ajillo are cremini mushrooms that are sauteed in olive oil with garlic, red pepper flakes, and some lemon juice. This came out in a little bowl for me…and it looked awesome. I can see how this would be a great topper for bread…but in my mind I was already creating a pasta dish around it (using gluten-free pasta of course). The mushrooms were sauteed to perfection. The olive oil bath they were sitting in had just the right amount of heat from the red pepper. And the garlic…wow…the garlic was awesome. I gave a squirt of the provided lemon to the top of the dish and…bam. It was delicious. I didn’t even miss the bread. On its own, this dish was a definite stand out!

The other vegetarian and gluten-free dish that I opted for was the first one Wes recommended, the Pincho de Vegetales ($7.50), also known as vegetable skewers. No adjustments had to be made to this dish. I got what any other patron of the restaurant would have received had they ordered this. It’s a simple skewer that is packed full of grilled yellow squash, bell peppers, red onions, zucchini, and cremini mushrooms that have all been basted with mojo sauce. On the side, these are served with this super, fantastic chili mayonnaise. OH. MY. GOD. This was amazing. Each bite was a different burst of flavor. The vegetables were done to perfection. They were grilled just perfectly. And that chili mayonnaise was killer. I mean…it just livened up each bite of those vegetables. I told my roommate not to judge me as I scooped out the last of the mayo onto my fork and ate it without any vegetables, as I had clearly already devoured those.

Habana Blues' Pincho de Vegetales — Habana Blues’ Pincho de Vegetales

We were full. Oh…small plates for sure…but we were full. However, we both felt that as we were out for a special occasion, that being Cathy’s birthday, we should have dessert. We took a peek at the menu and her eyes immediately fixed on the Churros con Chocolate ($4.75), or Spanish donuts served with a chocolate ganache. Come on. It involved the words donuts and chocolate. Of course she was going to be there.

In most cases, the flan is a safe choice for me, but I inquired with Wes regarding the status of gluten-free options. He said he believed that the flan would be safe for me, however, he was going to double check with the chef. He came back a few moments later and said that the chef indeed indicated the flan was gluten-free. Had it not been, they offer some ice creams I would have been more than happy trying.

But with the chef’s assurance, I waffled between the two varieties of flan offered, vanilla and coconut, finally choosing to order the Flan de Vanilla ($4.99), which is a traditional Cuban vanilla custard. I had the flan at a Mexican restaurant in Indianapolis after I ran a half marathon…and it was okay. Not heavenly. But okay. So, I was a bit nervous about this one. And when it came out, sadly, it was adorned with a cookie, which should have been left out. I pointed that out to Wes, and he quickly removed the plate from in front of me, apologizing and saying he had told them to leave the cookie off…and took it away. After a small wait, a new plate arrived in front of me with a fresh flan, no whipped cream (thank goodness!), no cookie, only a tiny drizzle of strawberry syrup, and adorned with a blue (yes, a blue!) cherry. Soon after, Cathy’s churros arrived and we were diving into dessert deliciousness.

The first thing I did was eat that blue cherry. It intrigued me. And it…tasted blue. It didn’t taste like a normal cherry would. It just tasted…blue. There is no better description for it. Trust me. As for the flan itself…rich, creamy, and melt-in-your-mouth good. Oh. My. God. I should have taken a lactase before diving into a custard…something that I noted after I was well through most of it. But…this…was so amazing and good I didn’t even stop then to take one. I mean…it just slid down my throat. The vanilla flavor was amazing and perfect. Not overkill. It didn’t take away from the creamy texture or the richness of the dessert. I felt every spoonful was pure heaven. This…was the perfect way to wrap up the meal.

As for Cathy’s churros…she enjoyed them to the fullest. And, shocked me by having chocolate ganache left over. I would have devoured that in a heartbeat. Silly, roomie. Wasting chocolate.

We were both so impressed with not just the service and attention to my dietary restrictions that Habana Blues gave us…but the food was out-of-this-world. I can’t stop raving about it. I’m already making plans to go back and eat again. Maybe try a few other suggestions that were recommended for a gluten-free vegetarian. Maybe get the same meal again, sans the dessert. Or…keep the dessert. Or…try one of the ice creams. Order a take-out of their Paella de Vegetales to take home and split with the roommate on a busy night when cooking just doesn’t seem feasible. Oh…I have plans alright. I have plans to return. And it will be in the very near future. Maybe next week.

If you are in the New Albany, Indiana region…or even in Louisville, Kentucky, as they have a branch open on Hurstbourne Lane, give some Cuban tapas a try. Stop in at Habana Blues. Feel welcome. Talk. Enjoy. Dine. Feast. Make your palate happy. And…don’t spend a fortune doing it. At this restaurant, the food is spectacular and the prices are affordable. And that…is a winning combination!

Habana Blues' Flan de Vanilla — Habana Blues’ Flan de Vanilla