Leave it to a piss-poor attitude and a bit of bread envy to push me into trying the parbaked, vacuum-sealed, gluten-free bread that sits on a shelf at my local grocery store. I’ve seen it before. Glanced over the variety. Thought “How the hell can that be good?” and moved on. But I was making pasta for dinner one night, and my roommate had delicious homemade bread (my own that I did up for her) and I had nothing. And that little sting of jealousy was what pushed the envelope on this purchase.
Schär is a German company specializing in gluten-free products. A huge variety of them. I was told they make fantastic pastas. I haven’t tried them yet. They do make excellent snack cookies as my friend Tawn in California bought me one when I was visiting Los Angeles earlier in the year. But these little vacuum-sealed bread packets looked more like something dug out of a crime scene and packaged up for review at the lab.
But, looks can be deceiving, as I soon found out!
After purchasing a pack of the Schär gluten-free ciabatta rolls (there are 4 in a pack), I took them home to see how they fared. Prep was easy. Open sealed pack. Remove roll. Place on cooking sheet. Bake in oven for 10 minutes at 400°. Remove. Enjoy!
Yes…it really is that simple. I followed the instructions to bake up the ciabatta roll and plated it with my homemade (gluten-free) eggplant Parmesan. One bite and I loved it. I expected it to taste like cardboard or be hard and crunchy. But this had the look, the feel, the texture, and yes, even the taste of a ciabatta roll. And I dug in. Bite after bite, dipping it in my sauce, eating it on it’s own, piling bits of eggplant on it…any way I sliced it (or tore it, or bit it), it was a burst of bread-y goodness. The outside was toasty…crisp without being crunchy…and the inside a fluffy mass of delicious bread. The perfect ciabatta. All the way around…it didn’t get better than that.
Shocked. I was shocked. I bought it, expecting the worst, but discovered that what people have said about Schär’s products is true…they are fantastic. I can’t wait to try more of their variety of gluten-free breads. Or, at least the one’s my super market happens to have on hand. Amazing bread experience, after going so long without it.
Don’t let the packaging scare you off. Schär’s parbaked breads are definitely worth the try. Easy to prepare…and delicious.
Gluten-free goodness that’s toasted on the outside and soft on the inside.
Before reaching middle school, breakfast for my household was whatever cereal was in the cabinet. After that, my mom started preparing hot breakfasts so that we weren’t starving since I always got stuck with the late lunch period. But, cereal was a major part of my morning routine. Now that I’m on my own, that tradition continues.
Back in the day, it was Trix, Kix, Cheerios, Cookie Crisp, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, among others, in the pantry. My sister to this day still loves Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Trying to avoid high grocery bills after having to go to a gluten-free lifestyle, I was pointed in the direction of Chex. I reviewed the Chocolate Chex cereal in a previous post. Today…I’m here to talk to you about Cinnamon Chex…or as I like to call it…Cinnamon Toast Crunch for the gluten-free adult.
This cereal was a time warp back to my childhood! Straight up, flavor-wise, it’s Cinnamon Toast Crunch. It’s amazing. The cinnamon flavor is just right. Not too much spice. Just enough. The mix of cinnamon-coated rice Chex and the plain ones give the perfect morning balance in this cereal. I could eat it straight from the container (and have!) without hesitation…and without the unsweetened almond milk poured over it.
I love the crisp, cinnamon bite to this cereal. And each spoonful (or handful) is a delicious balance of cinnamon and rice flavor. I have daydreams of mixing these with the Chocolate Chex, mushing them together with Marshmallow Fluff, and creating a Smores type of dessert bar. I might have to give that a try, actually. Lord knows, I stock my pantry with Chex cereal, now that they offer 5 delicious gluten-free options. I love the new flavors. Cinnamon coming in second to chocolate only because I’m a choco-holic and chocolate always wins.
Healthy. Tasty. Sweet. Delicious. Gluten-free. Now that’s a balanced breakfast!
Okay…so I know I raved about the brown rice spaghetti noodles from Tinkyáda a couple entries back. But, now I was curious. And being the curious sort, I had to experiment a little with other pastas by this amazing company. And I was craving one of my mom’s famous recipes: her homemade baked macaroni and cheese.
So, while I trust Tinkyáda noodles to make me an excellent, gluten-free, and delicious spaghetti, I wasn’t sure how the product would fare first being cooked via the stove top and then being transferred to the oven to bake for half an hour. But, this is why God created trial-and-error. I’d either get an amazing macaroni dish…or cheesy goop. Neither of which would be bad, except I prefer my pasta in macaroni to hold up to the melted cheese that coats it.
I pulled out the family recipe and set to it. I bought Tinkyáda’s Brown Rice Elbow Noodles for the occasion. I set them in boiling water on the stove to cook for a bit while I began working on the white sauce. Now, this was tricky. Normally, flour is used for this. I happened to have gluten-free multi-purpose flour in my pantry, so I substituted that and it worked like a charm. Instead of regular milk, I substituted unsweetened almond milk. But, with that in mind, I grated up real (and local) sharp cheddar cheese for the actual dish.
The pasta was nearing the point I would normally remove normal pasta from to bake it. So, I drained it well, ran it under cold water as instructed by the bag, and then dumped half of it into my casserole dish. Next came the cheese, the salt, the pepper (I like to use a touch of red pepper for some zing!). Then the next layer. Then, pour the thickened white sauce over it and stir until cheese melts.
Tinkyáda Brown Rice Elbow noodles after cooking
I was pleasantly surprised when the noodles held up to that alone. I had to stir for a while because I didn’t have enough sharp white cheddar and ended up adding Velveeta which didn’t melt as quickly. My noodles didn’t crumble or fall apart. They held their curved shape. So, with that done, into the oven it went, covered, for the first round of baking. I uncovered it for the next part, and when it came out…it looked perfect.
Scooping it out was easy. The noodles held. Even more surprising was the flavor. Once again, Tinkyáda created the perfect gluten-free noodle for one of my favorite dishes. Oh…I was pleased. I had to resist the urge to fill up my bowl again with more after I polished it off. Even with all the gooey cheese, the noodles were perfectly al dente, holding up not just to the initial cook on the stove, but the additional baking to finish off the dish. I liked it better than when I used to make it with whole wheat noodles. Perfect…bite-after-bite.
When it comes to gluten-free foods, you should stick with trusted brands. When it comes to pasta, I trust Tinkyáda to provide me with the perfect noodles for my dish. So far, they haven’t disappointed. Even if you don’t need to be on a gluten-free diet, I highly recommend these products. Look for them at your local super market. Try them. Enjoy them.
I am hooked.
Gluten-free Baked Macaroni & Cheese made with Tinkyáda Brown Rice Elbow Noodles
Just when I think I have had the best coffee anywhere…I find somewhere that does it better.
I’m growing quite fond of the myriad of different local coffee shops in our area here. I have known about Perkfection for awhile. After all, a lot of journalism majors at my university hung out there or held meetings there. But, I never quite ventured out that way. However, a Groupon came over my e-mail for half off drinks and food from this coffee shop and diner, and I was quite eager to purchase it and give it a try.
So that’s what I did.
The actual Groupon sat for months because of my busy schedule. Things had finally settled down and the expiration date was approaching…so my roommate and I headed down to Jeffersonville, Indiana to see about some morning caffeine.
The actual shop is quite open and very welcoming. Lots of natural light. We were greeted immediately by the barista behind the counter, who took a moment to explain a little bit about the drink menu. I guess we looked like newbies to this place. Then again, as a former barista, you do get to know your customers. New faces…new chance to impress.
So, orders in. My roommate got a tall (which is a medium here) mint mocha with skim milk and I ordered a tall sugar-free chocolate latte with soy milk. Simple enough decision. So, our lovely barista went to execute the orders. She did the mocha first, double-checking to make sure that whipped cream was wanted. When it comes to my roommate, whipped cream is not an option – it’s a necessity. That made, she went to pour my soy milk to steam it…and then realized that she didn’t have any soy milk in stock. It had been used up the night prior and no one told her. She asked if I could have milk at all. So, I took a lactase enzyme and said it would be fine with skim milk this time.
With both drinks made she rang us up…and we were just under the total on the coupon. But this is also a diner…and there were cookies. I couldn’t have one, but my roommate saw the chocolate chip goodness in the case and said she’d love a cookie. We were now over by $0.13, but the barista told us not to worry about it, handed over the cookie and the drinks and we were on our way.
Now, while I do love my coffee…my roommate is a little harder to please. She actually got in a sip of her drink before I managed with mine, and immediately declared this to be “The Best Coffee Ever.” Strange words coming from her, but not ones to be taken lightly. I took a sip of my own and what I noticed was the blend of flavors. It played on my palate. The roast of espresso had a nutty tang to it, which meshed perfectly with my sugar-free chocolate syrup. The entire drink was smooth, and heated to perfection: not too hot so immediate gratification could be met.
I dislike that Perkfection entails a drive to Jeffersonville, but with coffee this amazing…I do want to go back. I do want to try other things there. And I do want to support a local business. Speaking of supporting a local business…their coffee is local as well.
And as for that cookie…my roommate saved it for later as a snack. But it was gone as quickly as she had unwrapped it from the wax paper. She actually said, “Damn…their cookies are amazing too.” I will only have to take her word on that, unless they start getting (or baking) gluten-free treats.
Jeffersonville has a gem of a coffee shop downtown in Perfections. Great service. Great coffee. Great experience. Great prices! Enough to win me over and declare that we would have to go back as soon as possible for more. And I intend to hold to that.
Local business. Local roast. Local coffee. Nothing short of Perkfection, indeed!
Betty Crocker. It’s becoming a name I know I can trust. Especially since having to step into a gluten-free lifestyle, finding products that actual “WOW” my palate has been a trick. Even more…finding affordable products that fit my budget has been one challenge after another. So, when a sale hits on gluten-free goodies, I usually snatch them up quickly.
Betty Crocker’s gluten-free bake mixes were a part of an “on-sale budget splurge” one day while grocery shopping. I filled up a basket just on these things because…I finally could. I already reviewed her brownies, which I loved…so now…it was time to get my Cookie Monster on.
I love sweet things as much as the next person, but cake isn’t one of my favorite things in the world. So, growing up, I was all about my mom’s homemade cookies, brownies, dessert bars and fudge. And she was one hell of a baker, let me tell you. The best part was when you got to taste one fresh out of the oven. I still love to sneak a treat as it comes out of the oven, still soft and hot and melting as you attempt to cool it off by blowing across it, juggling from hand to hand so as not to burn yourself, and still get that “fresh from the oven” taste.
That was what I was hoping for with Betty Crocker’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies. The preparation is easy. One stick of softened butter. One egg. Mix with the boxed mix until a crumbly dough forms. Like I said…easy! One thing I did notice was there was an ample amount of chocolate chips. A lot of mixes skimp on their chocolate chip to dough ratio when it comes to these pre-packaged delights. But not Betty Crocker. I’d have plenty of chocolate chips in each cookie. And this made me stupidly happy.
I preheated the oven and got to spooning out the dough onto cookie sheets. Nothing could be simpler. And I even got the proper amount of servings from the dough. All 40 cookies present and accounted for…for now.
As they baked in the oven, they smelled amazing. The entire aroma of cookies flooded my apartment. It was like what it was like growing up, when my mom would randomly bake up a batch of cookies for my friends and I while we played and call us up as they were finishing up in the oven. That’s what these reminded me of. And when something can bring me back to my childhood with a simple whiff, then something is definitely right.
They baked for the allotted time and I pulled them out of the oven, letting them sit for only a moment on the sheet before moving them over to a cooling rack. Only a couple crumbled on the way, but those would be the fresh testers anyway. So, once they were baked moved, my roommate and I gathered up the crumbled cookies and took a taste.
They were fantastic. Just like homemade cookies from scratch. Not only that, you couldn’t even tell that they are gluten-free. No one would be the wiser unless you told them. They melted in your mouth as any fresh cookie should. Bursting with chocolate chip flavor and that buttery taste of cookie dough…so delicious! I had to grab another one and I didn’t feel bad doing it either.
If you are looking for the most amazing pre-packaged, gluten-free chocolate chip cookies…give these a whirl. I promise, you won’t be disappointed. And it saves you time mixing together different flours to get the texture and taste just right. Betty Crocker does all that for you, packaging it with gluten-free love, and serving it to those of us who definitely need a delicious hit of chocolate chip deliciousness.
Go crazy…dip it in almond milk or put some Cool Whip between two cookies for a cookie sandwich. Or eat them as they are. Because…any way you serve them up, they are incredible. Hot from the oven or straight from the cookie jar, Betty Crocker serves up so-close-to-homemade chocolate chip cookies that you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference.
I’ve been a full vegetarian for over a year now, and for some reason Lightlife products haven’t really made it onto my radar. I’ve used their vegetarian pepperoni on my Save The Piggy pizza and pepperoni pizza, but that really had been the extent of their products. I should have tried more sooner, because the pepperoni was amazing (and far better than Yves, which I had to pick off my pizza!).
So…here is to buying a clue.
My local grocery store does Manager’s Specials on products when they come in a little banged up. A box of Lightlife’s Spicy Sweet & Sour Smart Cutlets fell into this category one day when I was perusing the Natural Foods and Vegetarian section at the grocery store. The only thing wrong with it was that the box was a bit crushed. The product was in perfect condition. But, as the manager of the store explained, people won’t buy something if the packaging is crushed, so they mark it down to sell it. Brilliant!
And sold this was. I brought it home and put it in my fridge to cook up sometime during the week.
These little cutlets are so easy to prepare. And all I did was steam up a bit of white rice to accompany it. It had been a long day at the office, so the thought of cooking something from scratch was daunting. I opened up my fridge and spotted the cutlets. So I put some rice in the steamer and while that cooked up, I looked at how to best prepare the cutlets. It gives a couple of options: microwave or stove top. Since I was feeling lazy, I simply put a cutlet on a plate with the sauce over it and heated it up in the microwave. It was quick and easy. And then I put down a serving of rice with it and had a dinner ready in quick order.
First bite…and I immediately noticed the kick of spice in the sauce. The texture was perfect. It didn’t taste rubbery or soft, despite being microwaved. The flavor was spot-on. A delicious blend of sweetness with the kick of Asian spice. It was like eating at a Chinese restaurant, but right out of my kitchen. There is certainly a nice blend of Asian influence in the sauce that accompanies the cutlet.
All this did was solidify my belief that Lightlife does, indeed, make fantastic products. This was just the right level of savory and spicy. And I enjoyed every bite of it, then mopped up the extra sauce with my rice.
Truly delicious down to the last bite.
Lightlife's Spicy Sweet & Sour Smart Cutlets with white rice
I’d like to thank my local grocery store for running a huge sale on Betty Crocker gluten-free cake, cookie, and brownie mixes a couple weeks ago. It was because of that sale that my pantry got stocked with dessert goodness that I have been slowly making my way through.
I know Betty Crocker is a name I can trust when it comes to dessert mixes. Before I was gluten-free it was one of the ones I would go-to for a quick dessert to bake up without doing it all from scratch. When I had to make the switch to a gluten-free diet…I was elated to see these on the shelves. One of my best friend’s from childhood had to go gluten-free as well and she really recommended the Betty Crocker mixes. When something comes with that much of a recommendation from someone I trust…well…then I don’t need to think twice about making the purchase.
I was in the mood for chocolate, so the other night I grabbed a box of Betty Crocker’s Gluten-Free Brownie Mix out of the pantry. It was so easy to mix together. Just the mix, half a stick of butter, and two eggs. How easy is that? Mix it together and pour it in the pan. Then bake according to the instructions on the box.
Then comes the excruciating part. Waiting. Because your entire house will smell like chocolate! They smell amazing as they bake up. So, when the timer went off and I pulled them out to cool, I couldn’t wait to give them a try. I allowed them to cool and then cut them up into sixteen squares per the serving size recommendation on the box.
Here’s what I loved about the appearance. They looked like regular brownies. They felt like regular brownies. They had chocolate chips in the batter, only adding to the chocolate flavor. First bite…and Betty Crocker scored. These were rich without being too heavy. Every bite was moist and filled with the taste of dark chocolate. And I love, love, LOVE dark chocolate.
Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Brownie
I played around with these each night after dinner. I’d drizzle or dollop different toppings on them and try out different combinations. The winner, however, was the night I placed a dollop of Chocolate Cool Whip on top, drizzled it with melted Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate (72% Cacao), and sprinkled it with brownie crumbs from the pan. Talk about going into a dark chocolate coma. It was one of the most amazing dessert experiences.
For easy brownies that are rich in flavor, full of chocolate, and gluten-free…turn to Betty Crocker. Amazing flavor, texture, and dress them up however you like or just eat them as they are. Either way you prefer them, however you want them…they are a treat worth making. So make them often. And share.
Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Brownie topped with Chocolate Cool Whip, melted Ghiradelli Intense Dark Chocolate and topped with brownie crumbs
I know…it’s another pub. But pubs are interesting, shady places and the atmosphere that you find inside them is as addicting as the drinks they pour. What is it about a crowded little dive that smells of booze, is loud, and at times full of soccer fans and rugby fans that continues to bring me back?
Pub grub. The food.
Healthy…more than likely not. But no one goes to a pub expecting low-calorie, low-fat goodness. You go to a pub to eat. Seriously eat. And sample a draft (or two or three or four) while you are there. And if you’re fortunate with your timing, you catch a match on the television and bond over who will win and lose with the other patrons and regulars.
Yes…pubs are their own little world and these imports from the Isles continue to lure me inside their doors, seat me at their dark tables, and serve me their food.
Piper’s Pub was a gem of a find. Ranked in the top 20 out of over 1000 restaurants on Trip Adviser, while in Pittsburgh for the U2 show, my roommate and I stopped in to get our last decent meal in before we endured the endless day of standing in the general admission line starting before most people would crawl out of their slumber. A good meal the night before makes that task a little easier.
Located among a row of various shops and restaurants, Piper’s Pub stands out simply with its black awnings and dark wood façade. It looks like a genuine pub, so right there, you already know what you’re getting into. You enter through the bar. The entire building is a narrow corridor, with a bar to your left, packed with people, as you enter. However, if you are looking to dine, continue past the bar to the hostess stand in middle, just as you reach a mass of tables and booths. The ambiance is pub-like…dimly lit and buzzing with chatter and the sound of drink glasses against the wood of the bar and tables. We were seated quickly and given time to peruse the menu.
Piper's Pub's House Salad with a Raspberry Vinaigrette
As with every pub, my roommate ordered up her usual fish and chips, but wet her appetite with a cup of the Gaelic Four Onion Soup. While there are quite a few different vegetarian options on the menu, I found one that was entirely gluten-free so nothing would have to be done to change it up. I started off with a House Salad, no croutons, with a raspberry vinaigrette and for my meal…I got the Vegetable Curry and went with it seasoned hot instead of medium. With the orders in, we took a moment to take in the actual surroundings and chat.
Our starters arrived soon after. The salad was beautiful. Everything had such bright and vibrant colors in it. And this salad had a bit of a twist: capers. You read that right. And I am not even a fan of capers, but the flavor blended so perfectly with the tomato, sweet cherry pepper, cucumber, red onion the bed of greens all of that topped. The raspberry vinaigrette was the right level of tart and tangy. Perfect for a vinaigrette. The produce was fresh. The greens had that crisp snap when you bit into them. The red onion offered up the perfect bite. And all the rest just made up a delicious salad that I really enjoyed working my way through.
After our starters were done, the entrees were brought out. I was quite interested in how a pub specializing in British, Scottish and Irish food would do with a curry. It looked absolutely fantastic. It was a balance of eggplant, portabella mushroom and zucchini, cooked in their spicy Vindaloo curry sauce and served over half-mashed redskin potatoes. When it was set down in front of me, I could smell the heat from the curry. I knew this was going to be amazing.
First bite…I wanted all the flavors…the vegetables and the potato with the curry. Scooping it up on my fork, I took a bite and was treated to a spicy burst of flavor. It was the perfect level of curry hotness. Enough to spark the fire without burning the lining of my stomach. And the vegetables were cooked to perfection. They weren’t underdone and spilling wet juice everywhere. And they weren’t overcooked and rock hard. They were soft, easy to cut through with a fork, and paired so well with the redskin potato mash that each bite tasted even more fantastic. And it was just as satisfying if I only gathered up one of the vegetables or a bit of potato, as it was when everything mingled on the fork. One of my favorite things I’ve ever eaten at a pub…hands down.
I was quite pleased with the experience at Piper’s Pub while I was in Pittsburgh. I wouldn’t hesitate to stop in again. Nor would I hesitate to order that Vegetable Curry from their menu again. When flavors and textures mix and mingle in perfect harmony not only on the plate but in my mouth, I’m forever in love. This meal was fantastic and I think I might be hard-pressed to find another pub that does up a vegetarian and gluten-free plate to this standard.
Trust the reviews…and trust me. Piper’s Pub may seem like a small little dive in the center of town, but in Pittsburgh, it’s top of my list and reviewer’s lists on places to go to eat. Give it a try. And go off the beaten path…try something you normally wouldn’t. I did. And now I just want more!
Italian food. Spaghetti, lasagna, ziti…you name it and I’m a fan. Spaghetti has forever been one of my favorite meals and something that I would usually request to have on my birthday for dinner.
And then…I had to go gluten-free. I was on Facebook soon after making the switch and ranting a bit about the cost of gluten-free products. Looking for tips and tricks. And an old high school classmate of mine, who had to be gluten-free for awhile, mentioned Tinkyáda pasta, saying it was the best. She said it tasted so much like regular pasta, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
So, with that in mind, I went searching in my local grocery stores. Sure enough…they carried a few varieties. But it was a little more than I was willing to pay at the time. So, instead, I caved and got the DeBoles rice pasta and was very disappointed. The noodles just got limp and soggy. I wasn’t a fan.
While on vacation this past month, I was visiting family and went grocery shopping for things I could eat and found the Tinkyáda Brown Rice Spaghetti noodles and decided to purchase them and give them a try. My family was eating pasta that night, so this meant I could have pasta as well. Perfect. And…it wasn’t as expensive in Minnesota as it is in Indiana…so it was the ample opportunity to give it a shot.
I was actually quite excited to cook up these noodles. As I set the water on the stove to boil, I read a bit of the packaging so I knew how long I needed to cook them and then got to work on my gluten-free vegetarian spaghetti sauce to pour over it. Since these noodles were so highly recommended by someone I know and who had to do her own searching for delicious gluten-free products, I wasn’t the slightest bit concerned with the taste. I just could tell, even as I put the dry noodles into the boiling water, that these were going to be good.
As the sauce and noodles cooked, I decided to make up my own version of garlic bread as well, so as to be able to have something to mop up the sauce with. While out on the same grocery expedition, I purchased my favorite gluten-free sandwich bread: Udi’s Whole Grain Bread. Placing it on a pan, I brushed a little olive oil and seasoned it lightly with a few herbs from the cabinet. As the noodles were getting closer to finishing, I popped it in an over at 425° for about 7 minutes to get crisp and toasted.
Tinkyáda Brown Rice Spaghetti Noodles (cooked)
While that was baking, I drained the noodles and gave them a quick rinse in cold water, as the package suggested. Then, with a dab of sauce in the bottom of a bowl, I placed the noodles on top. Then, more sauce was added. Presto…the perfect spaghetti dinner. I pulled out the bread from the oven and set it on the edge of the bowl and went to sit down and enjoy my gluten-free dinner.
First taste and I knew there were no other spaghetti noodles for me. No more skimping and buying DeBoles. Never again. This had the right al dente pasta texture. It really, really tasted like spaghetti should. Nothing limp, or soggy. Perfect noodles. I’ve had them again a couple of times since this experience and they’ve been amazing each time. I’m planning on cooking up another meal with the small Brown Rice Shells in the next few days and just know I can trust them to hold up to the casserole that it’s going in.
When it comes to gluten-free foods…there are times you really do need to splurge. If Tinkyáda noodles are available in your grocery store, do not hesitate to purchase them. Do not try to take the cheaper route, because you will be disappointed. You will be amazed at the texture and taste of Tinkyáda’s products. I rave about them every chance I get. My roommate LOVES them, and as stated before, she doesn’t even need to eat gluten-free foods. I’m the chef here, though, so she eats what I make and sometimes she’s the guinea pig for a new recipe or product.
Even if you don’t need to eat gluten-free, give Tinkyáda’s Brown Rice Noodles…or any of their pasta noodles…a try. I’ll never go back to using any other brand. Top of the line gluten-free pasta perfection. Nothing less than al dente goodness in every twirl of the fork.
Oh…and as for my impromptu garlic bread…that rocked my world too! The perfect meal thanks to the perfect gluten-free products.
Tinkyáda Brown Rice Spaghetti in a gluten-free vegetarian spaghetti sauce with homemade Udi's garlic bread
Nuts On Clark, Chicago Midway Airport, Chicago, Illinois
There’s popcorn in Chicago and then there is popcorn. There is something special about the popcorn in the Windy City. After a disappointing meal at Chicago Midway Airport, I was looking for something else to carry me through until supper time. Since I love popcorn like it’s going out of style…I thought it might be a good snack before boarding the plane.
Chicago O’Hare has a couple of Garrett Gourmet Popcorn in their terminals. Not so much at Midway. What they do have is a little popcorn and nuts place called Nuts On Clark.
Well…it was better than nothing.
Since no one should have to choose between caramel and cheese popcorn, I got the standard mix of both…something Chicago is known for according to Garrett shops. Just a small bag would do. And along with it, since it was on sale, I snagged a bag of dark chocolate covered cashews. Because a little salty and sweet never hurt anyone. In fact…it only makes life better!
Nuts On Clark's bag of Dark Chocolate Covered Cashews
With popcorn and dark chocolate cashews in hand, I hurried down to my gate and settled in for a little snack. I started with the chocolate because I’m female and chocolate helps to calm the inner beast. Since I was still fuming over my lackluster lunch, I figured a little chocolate might do me some good.
Nuts On Clark's Dark Chocolate Covered Cashews
I popped a cashew into my mouth…and all I got was chocolate. I thought I had the weird anomaly of the bag. Just a hunk of dark chocolate. So, I grabbed a bigger one, which was shaped like a cashew and tried again. Same reaction. There was no salty with sweet. There was just sweet. Now, I love dark chocolate more than anything else in the world…but I wanted to taste the cashew too. And with ever one I tried…I just wasn’t getting the hit of salty nut flavor that I was craving. Disappointed, I folded up the remaining in the bag, tucked it away into my carry-on and turned my attention to the bag of popcorn.
This was my first time sampling the Chicago blend of caramel and cheese popcorn mixed together. So, I was intrigued to give it a try. The popcorn was…okay. The caramel really stood out as opposed to the rather blah cheese flavor. But…I’ve had Garrett Gourmet Popcorn prior to this and this didn’t equal up to the delicious bite and flavor they offer. Garrett popcorn is bursting with caramel flavor. It mixes in nuts of your choice if you want, or you can have it plain. It keeps fresh in the bags long after you open it. Nuts On Clark tries. And I guess if you really need some popcorn, they are the place to hit up. But, a word of warning to those who do venture that way. Unlike Garrett popcorn…if you start eating this stuff, finish it. It doesn’t keep well. I brought it to the U2 General Admission line the following morning and ate it as a mid-day snack…to find it stale and the cheese quite rancid. I wasn’t a fan.
If you really want to get gourmet popcorn, go to Garrett if possible while in Chicago. Skip Nuts On Clark. Just…trust me on this. Neither of their products I purchased blew me away. Disappointing for the high airport snack price I paid for them. If you need a crunchy popcorn hit…find a shop at Midway and buy the pre-packaged stuff. I’d skip this and hold out for Garrett’s next time I find myself in Chicago.
The Celiathlete 