The Celiathlete

August 3, 2011

Airport not easy to navigate with food allergies…and Luigi Stefani’s falls short on food options

Ah…the airport! It can be a nightmare to navigate on its own as it is. Try finding a lunch while being a vegetarian and having food allergies. Lunch becomes nigh on impossible. Sure, some airports are easier than others. I admit that…

But Chicago Midway can be a nightmare! It’s a nice airport, sure. And the food court does offer up a plethora of dining options…as long as you can have foods containing gluten and/or eat meat. Since I can do neither, my lunch experience here had my blood pressure on the rise, my stomach rumbling and had me on the verge of tears since I was starving and had little actual food I could enjoy.

You’d think I’d be used to that by now. And I am…but when I’m hungry, I’m hungry and those little shops with the unhealthy and overpriced snacks aren’t going to cut it. Overpriced actual airport food was what I needed.

My roommate decided she was going to get a slice of pizza at Luigi Stefani’s Pizzaria in Midway. So, while she was in line, she spotted their salad bar. Okay…a salad is better than nothing, so I hiked over there to take a look at it. It looked okay…so I got into the long line, waiting through the people ordering pizza and bread sticks…and finally placed my order for a Caprese Salad.

I admit…I really wasn’t feeling a salad at that moment. But I had no other options. So, after paying an ungodly amount of money for a small salad, I was handed a tiny bowl with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls, drenched in a vinaigrette. No greens. Just tomatoes and cheese. I know that’s what caprese is…but usually if I order a caprese salad, I at least get it on a bed of greens.

So, I took my little bowl of tomatoes and cheese and unhappily sulked back to the table my roommate was sitting at, enjoying her slice of pizza. I wasn’t impressed with the salad at all. The tomatoes were okay, but not really ripe enough. The cheese was good. But, to be honest, what I was eating was just not what I wanted. It was one of the most miserable meals I sat down to. The food was okay, but it didn’t blow me away. And a small serving of tomatoes and balls of mozzarella wasn’t going to hold me until dinner much later that evening.

I can’t speak about their pizzas and pastas, but I wasn’t blown away with their salad options, portions, or presentation. Perhaps I’m just nitpicking now, but, even if food isn’t what I want (I’ve had to make substitutions at restaurants before…and not get my fries), I usually don’t let it get to me. But this bothered me for some reason. Perhaps it was the lack of greens. Or the fact that tomatoes and cheese does not a meal make. Or that it took so long to find something for an food-allergic vegetarian to eat while at the airport. Any way you slice it, I was not a happy foodie that day.

So…a word to any airport managers or higher ups…at Midway or other airports around the country…please, with the rise in food allergies, open up a few more options in the food courts. Sitting down at a restaurant is good if you have the time, but we didn’t so after already being limited, I was even further limited on food choices.

Nothing against Luigi Stefani’s…but I could have had that same food anywhere and probably had it done better. Maybe it was the airport. Or maybe it was the service and food. Whatever it was…it didn’t blow me away. In fact, it left me hungry for something else. So, after eating something I could have made at home…I went in search of something that would satisfy me.

Meals are big deals. This was worse than bland. This was forgettable.

August 2, 2011

Double Chocolate and delicious – Udi’s wins again!

Udi's Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Muffins

Muffins are delicious. And granted, they get a bad reputation due to being so high in calories. But when treated as a treat (especially when buying prepackaged instead of homemade), muffins are a tasty treat that can be substituted for a dessert or…yes…even an on-the-go breakfast.

For me, I like to eat my muffins for dessert. When I had to go gluten-free, I had to give up the muffin mini’s I used to make to have on hand for breakfast. I’m sure there are plenty of gluten-free recipes out there, but the flour is so expensive so I just gave them up. You know what that means, right? I began to crave!

That’s when Udi’s once again stepped in to prove that gluten-free food tastes amazing. I was in Minnesota for my grandfather’s 90th birthday party. I knew that the desserts would be cake and cookies, both of which this gluten-free girl could not indulge in. So, while out at the grocery store, I spotted Udi’s Double Chocolate Muffins in the freezer section. I figured that these could easily double as my desserts while there AND I could appear to be eating a cake while the guests at the party enjoy the actual birthday cake.

Besides, it was a name I have come to trust. Udi’s makes the best gluten-free bread and bagels I have ever had and I refuse to purchase anything else. I’m not just paying for the brand, I’m paying for delicious quality. So, I didn’t even hesitate to snatch these up. I had tried the blueberry muffins (pre-blog days) and loved them, so I was confident I was in for a chocolatey good treat.

That night at dinner, I decided while people passed around some cookies I would eat one of my muffins for desserts. I pulled it out of the packaging and tossed it into the microwave for a few seconds to warm it up. Then I sliced it into quarters and took my first bite.

It melted away in my mouth. Just rich with flavor and fantastic texture. These didn’t feel too dense. It was just the right amount for a dessert (albeit, the calories are a bit disconcerting, but its dessert, so they don’t count, right?). Not too heavy. Not too rich. But bursting with chocolate. These chocolate muffins are spotted with chocolate chips, giving it the double chocolate appeal. Yes…rich and melt-in-your-mouth good. I was so glad I had three more of them in the package because I was going to savor these.

I shared. With my roommate and cousin, both of whom do not need to eat gluten-free. And they loved it. I even had one left when I had to fly out of Minnesota, so I left it with my mom, who might also be gluten-intolerant. She tried it and texted me immediately to praise the flavor. Thumbs way up for these muffins.

Udi’s has yet to dish me out something I didn’t like. This might be brand loyalty, but when a brand earns it, well, I will continue to praise it. Thanks to Udi’s gluten-free breads, bagels and muffins are winning me over one item at a time.

If you love muffins, chocolate, more chocolate, and want to see if what I say is true…or if you are gluten-free and have yet to try these…go to the grocery store and find Udi’s Double Chocolate muffins. Take a bite. It may seem sinful, but it’s a godsend for gluten-free foodies like me.

August 2, 2011

Healthy and allergen-safe spread great alternative to peanut butter

It looks like peanut butter. It smells like peanut butter. It even tastes like peanut butter. The trick here is…there is not one nut in this spread!

Nuts seem to be one of the things I’m not allergic to when it comes to food. Thank goodness. I don’t know what I’d eat if I couldn’t have my peanut butter (or my preferred almond butter!). But I tend to buy those organic and that can mean a lot of money for one small jar.

Then, my mom texted me one day and told me about a gluten-free brand of nut-free “peanut butter” that actually tastes like peanut butter despite the fact there are no nuts in it. I was intrigued and sought it out.

I.M. Healthy Soy Nut Butter is the product. And I was quite leery about purchasing it at first. After all, I can have most peanut butters as long as they are gluten-free. But, my mom raved about it…and I was visiting somewhere that would have kids around with peanut allergies. Just in case one got into the pantry, I didn’t want to be responsible for them having a serious allergic reaction to peanut butter. So, I.M. Healthy Soy Nut Butter came home with me.

I bought the chunky kind, although it does come in a wide variety: creamy, chunky, honey, unsweetened, and chocolate. But I have a soft spot in my heart for chunky peanut butter so, I went with the chunky variety here. One morning, I spread a bit of it across my Udi’s gluten free bagel and had a taste.

My mom was absolutely correct! It tasted just like peanut butter! I was really impressed. The texture was awesome. The flavor was amazing. And if I had done this in a blind testing, I never would have pegged this as not having nuts in it.

I.M. Healthy Soy Nut Butters have absolutely no peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, dairy, egg, wheat (gluten), or shellfish. And the product is manufactured in a plant that does not house any of these products so there is no cross-contamination. That’s awesome. What this product is made from is soybeans. And in this particular kind, the chunks are roasted soybeans that add a bit of a crisp texture to the spread.

It was so much better than I expected. In fact, since departing from the home I was visiting, I now have the creamy variety in my pantry. And, depending on where I shop for it…much cheaper than my organic peanut butter and almond butter.

No peanuts? No worries. You can’t even tell. Even if you don’t have a food allergy, I recommend giving these a try. They are far and away the closest thing to peanut butter without actually having peanuts in them. Kudos to a company for taking a common food allergy and bringing around a product that is so close to the real thing…if you didn’t know better…you’d swear it was.

August 1, 2011August 1, 2011

Udi’s bagels are so close to the real thing…they might even be better

There is a reason that Udi’s Gluten Free Foods are top-of-the-line. When I had to go gluten-free, their bread won my heart immediately. I mean, finally…something that tasted like bread. Granted, it’s about half the size of a normal slice, but…it tastes like real bread. Beggars can’t be choosers, right?

For followers of my blog, last month I blogged about two different types of bagels I tried in search of the perfect bagel. After all, I was raised in New York…home of the most amazing bagels on Earth. No lie. But when I had to give up foods with gluten, that meant my bagels had to fall to the wayside. And the Enjoy Life Cinnamon Raisin bagels (blech!) and the Kinnikinnick Tapioca Rice New York Style Plain Bagels (ehhhhh) just weren’t up to standard with what a bagel, to me, should taste like. Size, texture, flavor…all of it was wrong. Although Kinnikinnick came closer of the two brands to what a bagel should be.

But then…then I picked up a bag of Udi’s Gluten-Free Plain Bagels. The first thing I noticed, from the packaging alone, was that the size was perfect. Finally…a gluten-free bagel that was the actual size of a real bagel. Thank you, Udi’s! I split it in half and popped it in the toaster and allowed it to toast up as I would any other bagel. And when it popped up…I was pleasantly surprised. The texture, just by touch, seemed right. It was crispy from the toasting, but soft on the inside. I was already getting psyched to take my first bite.

I put a spread of peanut butter across the top and broke off a bit of it. I noticed the texture again as I pulled it apart. Soft. And then…the moment of truth…I popped the bit into my mouth.

I almost cried. Tears of joy. Because Udi’s did what other company’s haven’t managed to do yet. They created a bagel that was soft, chewy, and delicious. They were the size of a bagel, not a doughnut. The texture was perfect. They weren’t too dense. And they honestly tasted like a bagel you’d get from a bakery. I had to sit back for a moment and let it all process because this was a true moment of enlightenment. Much like their sandwich bread, Udi’s outdid all their competition and created a product that tastes so much like the real thing it was frightening. My roommate (who doesn’t have to eat gluten-free) tried a piece and was blown away as well.

And this is why Udi’s dominates the gluten-free food market. And yes…this is why I pay $5.99 for sandwich bread and why I wouldn’t flinch to put down another $5.99 on a bag of 4 Udi’s gluten-free bagels again. I am continuously blown away by this brand and, when I can afford it, I buy up their products. They still have many I am eager to try, but I’m working my way through them. The problem I run into is the grocery stores in my area aren’t carrying Udi’s products. But I think a few letters to the store managers might help fix that.

Until then, my search for the perfect gluten-free bagel has come to a triumphant close. Udi’s won that battle and now I refuse to look any further. You can’t get better than perfection. And Udi’s serves up gluten-free perfection each time.

So grab a bagel and your favorite gluten-free topping and enjoy a bagel for breakfast again in all it’s gluten-free glory! Udi’s makes it simple and delicious. Trust me. It might even be better than the real thing!

August 1, 2011August 2, 2011

The 5-8 Club serves up “juicy” Minneapolis original and vegetarian burger options

I blame Adam Richman of Travel Channel’s Man v. Food. No. Seriously.

If not for his stop in Minneapolis one season, I never would have even known or thought to look up a restaurant known as the 5-8 Club. Now, being a vegetarian, this meat-heavy menu normally wouldn’t appeal to me at all. But unlike some restaurants, this one-time speakeasy can prepare all but their two signature burgers (the Juicy Lucy and the Saucy Sally) as a veggie burger. WIN!

Make sure if you plan to eat at the 5-8 Club, you plan ahead. Because it gets busy…and stays busy! This is not a bad thing, unless you are absolutely starving. Granted, while the wait we had wasn’t too bad, the place was packed. So, my aunt held the spot for snagging a table and my roommate, my cousin and I all ventured outside to the nearby park to relax before being called to sit down for dinner.

The 5-8 Club, Home of the Juicy Lucy, Minneapolis, Minnesota

This place is known for their burgers. The Juicy Lucy being the prime one that is featured on Travel Channel’s Man v. Food and Food Wars. One other establishment that claims to have invented the burger is Matt’s Bar, which has an alternative spelling as well (Jucy Lucy). So…the battle began over whether this burger was born at the hands of the owners of the 5-8 Club or Matt’s Bar. But after simply watching an episode of Man v. Food, the burger at the 5-8 Club looked much better than Matt’s…plus it used proper spelling (always a plus with this journalism major!)…so…decision made.

We did have a couple try to persuade us to go to Matt’s instead. They claimed Matt’s had the better version of the Juicy Lucy…but we were set on the 5-8 Club. And I’m glad we stuck to our guns on this one.

After finally snagging a table in the bustling restaurant, we looked over the menus and made our decisions. I was getting the Mushroom Swiss Veggie Burger (no bun) with fries. My aunt got the California Burger with fries. My cousin, Natalie, got the Juicy Lucy with American cheese and fries. And my roommate…she got the Juicy Lucy with American cheese and onion rings.

So…what is a Juicy Lucy? After all that set-up, I suppose I should at least explain the signature dish. Well, it’s simple, really. The Juicy Lucy is a half-pound burger that is stuffed with cheese. That’s right, the burger is folded around the cheese. And at the 5-8 Club, you get your choice of either American, Swiss or Blue cheese for the center of your burger. The magic is when you cut the burger in half…which you’ll want to do to avoid scalding. You see, the burger is then grilled up, so that the meat is still juicy, but that the cheese that is inside melts down. When you cut it in half to cool it off, the cheese oozes out of the burger. It’s meaty, cheesy magic and people eat it up (literally!).

Most burgers at the 5-8 club are quarter pounders. However, the Juicy Lucy and the Saucy Sally are both half a pound. So…come with an appetite. They also don’t skimp on the sides. I had more fries than I knew what to do with, as did both my aunt and cousin. And my roommate…well…after eating her entire Juicy Lucy, she still tackled her fries and only left one behind. What a foodie trooper!!

But the whole purpose of my blog isn’t to showcase meat. I mean, I don’t even eat it. So, what about my meal?

The Mushroom Swiss Veggie Burger was a veggie burger patty, topped with sauteed mushrooms and melted swiss cheese. Basic. Simple. But still…bursting with flavor. The veggie burger is actually packed with real vegetables. It was nice to slice into the vegetarian patty and see the fresh ingredients that were part of it. And the cheese was melted to gooey perfection over a bed of perfectly seasoned and sauteed mushrooms.

The fries were AMAZING! Most people recommend this establishment’s Jojo Fries…but I’m not a fan of wedge fries, so I went with the standard ones and was very impressed. They weren’t over-salted. Seasoned, yes…but not overdone. And crisp on the outside with the perfect mash of potato on the inside. Yes…these people have been cooking up delicious food for decades and it shows with the quality of the food they put out. When people say the 5-8 Club has the best burgers in town, it’s probably true. I can at least say I enjoyed one of the best veggie burgers I have ever had the pleasure of eating. And my carnivorous dining partners all praised the burgers that they had.

If you are headed up to Minneapolis and want to try out an interesting, eclectic place with a fascinating history and fierce competition within its city…hit up the 5-8 Club. Even if you are a vegetarian like me, you still get an amazing burger at a great price. And the atmosphere and history just make the experience all the better. Best burgers in town? They have the awards on the wall to prove it, but I suggest going in and trying it for yourself. I got the vegetarian option and was blown away!

The 5-8 Club Mushroom Swiss Veggie Burger (no bun) with a side of fries

August 1, 2011

Pamela’s Products hits peanut-buttery high with delicious cookies

Pamela's Peanut Butter Cookies — Pamela's Products Peanut Butter Cookies

It may be evident that I have a great love for sweet treats. And one of my favorite things to nosh on when I need something sweet is cookies. They are fast. They are convenient. They are portable. Oh…and they won’t melt if you leave half of one for later.

Having to enter the gluten-free world…sweet treats were a little more of a complication for me. Thank God for Pamela’s Products. Everything I have tried out of this product line has been amazing. I only wish I had this blog before so I could rave about this stuff. Don’t worry…I’ll revisit those products.

For now, however, let me introduce you to one of the most palate-pleasing things I have ever had the honor of tasting: Pamela’s Peanut Butter Cookies.

First of all…I was expecting a hard cookie. Surprise…these are chewy, just like peanut butter cookies should be. Not only that, the texture is as though they were just taken out of the oven. Seriously, I was so impressed with these that I couldn’t stop at just one. And really…who can anyway? Not only were these soft and chewy…they were so good!

What I love about peanut butter cookies is not only the sweetness but also the salty kick. Sweet and salty is a deadly combination for me and these cookies hit the mark and hit it hard. It’s like homemade nutty goodness in a package. Skip turning on the oven on a hot day and find these in your grocery store. Trust me…you can’t tell the difference. They really are THAT good.

Pamela’s Products prides itself on delicious gluten-free foods. And they have delivered each and every time. I wish more of their products were available in the area I live in. But if my selection is limited, I’m sure glad these are on the shelves here. I can’t wait to tear into another box and take another bite of a moist, chewy, delicious peanut butter cookie.

Cookie win. Nutty goodness. Chewy. Addictive. Perfect.

Pamela’s Perfection. You can’t go wrong.

Splurge. Take a bite of chewy, nutty goodness and savor each one. Because you’ll find these cookies will disappear…fast!

August 1, 2011

Almond Breeze almond milk – how (un)sweet it is!

Unsweetened Almond Breeze — Blue Diamond's Unsweetened Original Almond Breeze Almond Milk

At the beginning of the year, I discovered that I had become lactose intolerant. This was heartbreaking to me, because I am a huge dairy girl. Skim milk, chocolate milk, ice cream…you name it. If it was a dairy product, I was probably gobbling it down. So…what now?

One of the first things I tried when substituting milk was almond milk. I was hooked…immediately.

What I really liked about the Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Milk was the flavor. Naturally flavored with just the sweetness of the almonds without any added sugars, this delicious beverage adds twice the calcium of regular milk at only half the calories of skim milk. Hello! Best of all, it tastes great. I don’t need to have the added sugars because the almonds are sweet enough on their own. The almond milk has a different, nutty tastes to it, but I like that.

And, given as an alternative to soy milk (which, when you have a gluten intolerance is one of those grey areas when it comes to lactose-free beverages), I’d choose almond milk every time.

Compared to other unsweetened almond milk products out there, Blue Diamond’s Almond Breeze has a delicious flavor to it. It doesn’t takes bland or leave an odd taste in your mouth. But, when it’s done by a company that prides itself on nuts (Blue Diamond), it should be done right. The company hit it out of the park with their almond milk.

I poured mine over cereal and drank it on its own. Over cereal, it added a hint of sweetness, which I enjoyed. It wasn’t bland like dairy milk is. Instead, it adds to the flavor of what you are eating. Sort of like an added bonus you wouldn’t normally get. And on its own, or mixed into coffee, this was a nice, smooth flavor that didn’t leave me wrinkling up my nose. The delicate flavor was just what I wanted in an almond milk.

Blue Diamond hit the mark with this unsweetened variety of almond milk. If you are looking for a dairy and soy alternative, I highly recommend this brand. It can be a little pricier than other brands out there, but you are paying for quality. Even if you don’t have to give up dairy, I recommend trying this as an alternative. You might be swayed. And with the added bonus of extra calcium and fewer calories, you might consider giving up your dairy milk completely.

August 1, 2011

Chocolate take on classic cereal Chex in and wins

One of the most inexpensive (and delicious) gluten-free breakfast cereals in the grocery store these days is, believe it or not, Chex. Yes…that cereal you grew up using in a party mix or even as breakfast. But here’s the best part. You are no longer limited to the three classic flavors. And if you can’t have gluten…it’s not just the rice and corn flavors.

Since the wheat and multi-bran are not options for me, I was pretty certain I was stuck with the usual Rice Chex and Corn Chex. And then I hit up the grocery store and discovered that General Mills had created a whole new line of flavors for Chex cereal. And among them…something no woman can resist…

Chocolate Chex.

I am a chocolate fiend. Honestly. If it’s around, I cannot resist it’s power. This is probably why this box of cereal immediately grabbed my attention in the grocery aisle. My chocolate radar kicked in and I could not resist snagging this off the shelf.

I bought one box and took it home, eager to give it a try. Upon first pour, it’s like a checkerboard of Chocolate and Rice Chex. Actually, the product is just Rice Chex with a chunk of the squares dusted in real cocoa powder. I popped one of the chocolate squares on its own into my mouth and knew right then and there that I had found the most amazing treat for breakfast.

It was sweet, and the cocoa powder melted away as I chewed it. It was like popping a chocolate wafer into my mouth and having it melt away. So delicious. So, I poured a little unsweetened almond milk into my bowl and took an entire spoonful. Bursting with chocolate flavor, this cereal is like a treat. You don’t feel like you’re eating kiddie cereals when you eat these. This isn’t Cocoa Pebbles (which are also gluten-free, mind you!)…this is chocolate cereal for adults (and kids, too!). You aren’t buying a box with a cartoon character on it. You’re getting full-out flavor in a cereal you’d buy for yourself even if you didn’t have to eat gluten-free.

And here’s the best part…this cereal is amazing with milk or just dry. It can be breakfast or a snack or even a dessert. It works either way because of the hit of sweet cocoa. I’ve eaten it as a snack while on the road or dry just before running in a race. It tastes good either way. But one little treat you get with adding milk is that it flavors the milk chocolate, so you are certain to scoop all of that up too. It’s an added bonus to an already tantalizing breakfast experience.

Chocolate cereal that is not only good for you…it tastes good too. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy a sweet treat in the morning (or afternoon, or evening). And thanks to Chex cereal…you don’t have to be! So have chocolate for breakfast (and second-breakfast, lunch, noonsies, snack, dinner, dessert)…and go back for an extra handful once you’re done. It’s okay…I won’t tell anyone. I do it too.

July 29, 2011

Going crazy over Enjoy Life’s Cocoa Loco bars

You may have noticed…but I live my life on the go. I am never in one place too long. And I love to travel and take in new experiences. Whether it’s halfway across the world or in my own backyard, I never linger too long in one place. It’s a big world out there and it has plenty to offer me.

As someone who is constantly away from home, I like to save money where I can and pack grab-and-go snacks that I can tuck into my purse or pocket for when my stomach starts rumbling. I admit…I am a snacker. I eat constantly and my stomach lets me know when it needs a little something to get to the next meal.

For the past month, I’ve lived a good chunk of my days standing in the General Admission line for various U2 shows across the country. Snacks are what you live off of in these lines. You want easy to transport, small, and nothing that will melt…because we are in the heat of the summer, after all. And that was when I discovered yet another Enjoy Life product at my grocery store: Cocoa Loco Snack Bars.

Not only are these bars gluten-free and dairy-free…they are also vegan and free of all of the ingredients in the top 8 food allergies. Bonus! So, I took a chance and bought a box of them for the line. At half the calories gluten-free protein bars come with, I was feeling really happy with my decision. My only concern was…what if they didn’t taste good?

It was on a sweltering hot day in St. Louis while I was sitting in the line of U2 fans that I broke out my first Enjoy Life Cocoa Loco Snack Bar. I opened up the package…not impressed by the presentation. It did look like sweet chocolate-y goodness though. So, breaking off a piece, I popped it in my mouth and took a taste.

SO good. The texture was a little denser than most snack bars, but it was sweet and filled any craving I might have had for chocolate. It was delicious. Like eating a brownie. Dessert without the guilt…that’s how I’d describe it. The flavor was fantastic. I gave a piece to my roommate and she also loved it (and she doesn’t have food allergies!). So, this was the perfect snack for living life on the go. Sweet, savory, and just the right hit of chocolate. I can’t wait to try their other flavors now.

Enjoy Life once again put out an amazing product that not only tastes delicious…but makes you feel like you are getting more than a snack…only without the guilt.

Go crazy…go loco…get Cocoa Loco!

July 29, 2011

Food allergies not on point at Eagles Point Diner

There are restaurants that get it…and restaurants that don’t. Food allergies are everywhere these days. More and more people are being affected with an intolerance to food items, and at various ages and stages in their lives. Any restaurant worth its salt should have a working knowledge of the most common food allergies and have items that can compensate or be easily substituted for those patrons that may have an issue with the food on the menu.

While in St. Louis, Missouri, on a recent trip, my roommate’s family decided to do dinner at a local restaurant known as Eagles Point Diner, located in Grafton, Illinois. I love to eat out (obviously), but let’s face it…being a vegetarian with a gluten intolerance isn’t always the easiest thing to work around. Double that level of difficulty when the restaurant you go to is one of those “good ol’ home cooking” kind of joints.

I had attempted a little research into the diner prior to going to eat there. There wasn’t much to be found. No Website for the actual restaurant. All I could find were a mix of reviews on Trip Adviser and Yelp. A couple were favorable, but I also stumbled across a few that were written by people who have or were there with someone with some sort of food allergy. There was a strong leaning on how the staff was unable to really help them and the owner/chef was less than responsive to the issue. This didn’t make me feel very confident about the evening’s meal. But trying to find another place to eat with an iPhone on a limited battery is no easy task. So, in the end, after a few alternative suggestions…we ended up going to Eagles Point regardless.

Upon entering and seeing the specials on the board, I could tell this was going to be an interesting…and difficult…dining experience. We were seated at a table and given the menu to look over. Most items were pasta, or fried…which a gluten sensitivity negates immediately. Other dishes were all meat…which doesn’t work for a vegetarian. I was more than a little flustered. When the waitress arrived at the table, we informed her that I was a vegetarian and told her of my food allergy to which we were asked…”What is gluten?” Alright, it’s a pretty common allergy these days, but I explained it and she said that she would go check with the chef to see what they can do for me. What she came back with shocked me. She inquired if I liked tomatoes. I do. She said the chef said he could stuff tomatoes with a bit of cheese and breadcrumbs…

And the gluten alarms go off. Breadcrumbs…not a good option. I explain this again and just wave the waitress off, saying that I’ll just find something. So, my roommate and I begin to look over the menu for safe options for me to have. I was so aggravated at this point and really not feeling confident about eating here but…what can you do? Everyone else was set to order and waiting on me. So, after a little consulting, we came up with an option.

Salad. And double potatoes. Yeah…I wasn’t happy about it either.

Eagles Point's House Salad (no croutons or cheese)

Our starters arrived. The entire table did salads, and I emphasized, as did my roommate…no croutons or cheese on mine. They got that right. They didn’t have a vinaigrette dressing, so I got the oil and vinegar to put over my salad. It was…a typical house salad. The vegetables were fresh, but I was disappointed in their choices of salad dressings. I don’t mind oil and vinegar, but a balsamic vinaigrette does wonders for flavor! So, the house salad was…good, but nothing amazing. And I’ve had some pretty amazing salads in my lifetime.

Our entrees arrived. And the first thing that struck me was the size (or lack thereof) of them. My roommate got the fried shrimp plate with a baked potato. She received five pieces of shrimp. The bowl of cocktail sauce was larger than her food portion. I was shocked. And this was a $14 meal she got. Not the best value there.

My double potatoes were a baked potato and the sweet potato fries. The baked potato was rather small and a bit overdone, I think. It didn’t just crumble apart when I sliced into it. I had to fight a bit with the skin and ended up leaving most of that (despite it being one of my favorite parts of a baked potato!). So, I moved on to one of my favorite things in the world…the sweet potato fries.

First of all, country-style cooking must mean they make sweet potato fries up to mimic a sweet potato casserole. Mine were coated in cinnamon. Which is okay…but I like to dip mine in ketchup. So…I had to brush off the sweet topping and make them a bit more to my liking. They were a bit soft, not having that crisp bite on the outside that I like in good sweet potato fries. At least they were edible. I wasn’t a fan of the cinnamon seasoning, so did my best to brush that off and mask it with ketchup. So the food…was okay. Nothing really made any of us go, “WOW!” It was your basic sub-par, overpriced food…

No dessert for any of us that night. We paid and left.

Needless to say, while the staff did make an attempt to accommodate my diet, they were clueless when it came to preparing a “safe” meal for someone with a food sensitivity/allergy. I was disappointed with the chef not having a good back-up for someone who can’t have meat, or anything fried, or pasta…as well as his own lack of knowledge of what someone who can’t have gluten can and cannot have. I wasn’t blown away by the food selection on the menu…so if you are a vegetarian…this may not be a good choice for you either. And the value of the portion size you receive is definitely not there.

In the end, the time with my roommate’s mom and aunts was worth it…but a different venue would have been preferred. If home-cooking meat and potatoes are your thing, then this is your place. But if you are a vegetarian and would like something other than a small house salad…or if you have food allergies…I recommend shopping around for a different dining option. Eagles Point Diner is definitely a quaint, home-cooking kind of place, but the value and the risk for some isn’t worth the trip.