Restaurant: Husson’s Pizza, Huntington, West Virginia
It was the night before a marathon and I was in Huntington, West Virginia. Trust me…when it comes to dining gluten-free, Huntington, West Virginia is not where you’d want to find yourself. Why? There just aren’t a lot of options out there.
But…it’s tradition.
Race = fuel = gluten-free pizza.
Thankfully, before he left the running group and the state to move to Dayton, Ohio, my good friend Keith mentioned this place called Husson’s…not far from Marshall University. As this was the Marshall University Marathon…I was going to be in that area anyway. So Husson’s Pizza was kept in the back of my mind. And I recalled it as the date of the race grew closer and I traveled from Louisville to Huntington.
After a very busy day of traveling and race related stuff…I was ready to tuck into my gluten-free pizza around 5 p.m. My roomie and I had planned on splitting one of the 10 inch gluten-free pizzas. So when we drove down to Husson’s Pizza on Hal Greer Boulevard, we parked the car, and headed toward the establishment. Huntington, West Virginia is a mix of really beautiful buildings and some that are run down. Husson’s was definitely one of the ones that looked down. And if I had been traveling through, without the recommendation from my friend Keith, I probably never would have stopped there to eat. At all.
But, looks can be deceiving.
We stepped inside, and while the place definitely looks dated, you can’t argue with the affordability of their food. We already had an idea of what we wanted to eat…so we stepped up to the counter. We were greeted by a very friendly guy working the register who was ready to take our order. Cathy inquired about the gluten-free crust and they confirmed they did have it. So, as it was the day before a marathon…we kept the flavors simple.
A gluten-free pizza with tomatoes and pineapple ($10.99). YUM! It’s great because you can actually choose up to 5 toppings for the pizza without being charged extra for it. And a $10.99 gluten-free pizza is awesome. What a great price. With our order in, Cathy and I settled in at one of the tables and awaited our food.
A short while later, our pizza arrived.
It smelled absolutely fantastic. It looked a mess…but…if it was as good as it smelled we were certainly in for a treat. I snapped a picture for the blog…and we each took our first slices.
So, the pizza is really nothing to right home about. Which was more than disappointing. The gluten-free crust was a simple cracker crust. Not much flavor. And it crumbled. It crumbled under the sauce, cheese, and our two toppings. I had no silverware to eat my pizza with (and I normally eat pizza with a fork and knife), so as the pizza would fall apart, I would have to scoop it up with my fingers. The sauce, however, was awesome. It was definitely the star of the entire pizza. I loved the smokey, rich flavor that came with this simple red sauce. It was fantastic. I could have eaten an entire jar of the sauce. I loved how the pineapple and tomatoes were chopped up small…but they were just casually thrown onto the top…so it was a bit…uneven with the toppings on the 8 slices. Like I said…decent enough pizza…but nothing that really made me want to go back for more.
While I appreciate a decent, affordable, gluten-free meal as much as the next person, I was truly hoping for an epic pizza experience. As it was, with the exception of the sauce, this was a complete let down. Not bad. And if I were back in town, I would probably head here for food again…because I know they have gluten-free food I can eat. I just…wish it had been more spectacular than it was.
When you eat a lot of gluten-free pizza…and I do…you just need a bit more than a cracker crust and a splash of sauce and a dusting of toppings. I want my taste buds to be wowed and my stomach to be full. This pizza didn’t accomplish that at all. Again, it wasn’t horrible or bad…it just wasn’t what I had anticipated. I’ve been spoiled by too many really damn good gluten-free pizzas that when I get something like this…it’s a complete let-down.
At least tradition remained thanks to Husson’s Pizza.
Husson’s Pizza’s Gluten-Free Pizza with Tomatoes and Pineapple
A couple weeks ago…I tried O’Doughs Gluten-Free Original Flavor Bagel Thins and was just…wowed by them. Sure, this bagel-lover enjoys that soft, chewy inside of a bagel as much as the next one…but sometimes, even with gluten-free bagels, it can be a bit much. So, the fact that gluten-free bagel thins existed made me very, very happy.
And my local grocery store just started to carry these little gluten-free gems in their freezer section. You do not know happy until you’ve seen me settle in at breakfast with a fantastic bagel with a schmear of some variety of cream cheese (often vegan). I was raised in New York…the bagel capital of the universe. No exaggeration. New Yorkers love a good bagel.
And when I had to go gluten-free…I feared that the bagel would be out of my life forever. I tried a few varieties out on the market and hated them. I fell in love with Udi’s…but they can be really filling at times. Sometimes…you just want something light…but bagel-y. Yes…that’s a word…now. And thanks to O’Doughs…this has become a reality.
O’Doughs Gluten-Free Sprouted Whole Grain Flax Bagel Thins are these thin little slabs of bagel, which I actually had to slice in half this time. The original were pre-sliced. I don’t know if this was a fluke or what…but…I managed. Without destroying them in the process too, I might add. God love a good serrated knife. WOOHOO! Anyway, these bagel thins are made up of filtered water, potato starch, tapioca starch, chickpea flour, sprouted flax flour, soya flour, rice flour, evaporated cane juice, cellulose gum, glycerine, sunflower oil, yeast, salt, xanthan gum, cinnamon, algal oil, baking powder, baking soda, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds.
I am wagering a guess that this is really their attempt at an Anything Bagel…which is a definite New York staple.
So…after giving them a toast…and a schmear of a pumpkin spice cream cheese…how did they work out?
Deliciously wonderful. This variety of O’Doughs Gluten-Free Bagel Thins actually have this fantastic rustic and nutty flavor to them. The top of the bagels themselves have this amazing sprinkling of seeds (sesame and poppy). I loved that, as they toasted up with the bagels themselves and really penetrated the dough of the bagel thins…giving them amazing flavor and texture. And…you won’t overfill your stomach with these thin little bagels of awesomeness. Not only does O’Doughs provide these amazing Sprouted Whole Grain Flax Bagel Thins free of trans-fat and eggs, they are also non-GMO, kosher, and a healthy and delicious source of fiber.
Now comes the point in the blog where I talk about the nutritional value of the product I ate. Well, the O’Doughs Gluten-Free Sprouted Whole Grain Flax Bagel Thins are made with all-natural ingredients and no preservatives. A serving is 1 bagel thin, which gives you 100 calories and 1.5 grams of at. One of these tasty gluten-free bagel thins provide 300 mg of sodium and 2 grams of sugar. Not too bad at all. And you will also be consuming 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein.
As I stated in the blog about the Original Flavor Bagel Thins by O’Doughs…if you spot these…snatch up a bag of them and give them a try. They are some of the best bagels I have ever tasted. All that bagel flavor…not too filling…not too fattening. Just right. And with so many varieties of toppings to choose from with bagels…get creative and put your own spin on them. The Gluten-Free Sprouted Whole Grain Flax Bagel Thins are delicious, fantastic, and healthy. Not to mention…just plain awesome.
So…go and buy some and toast up some gluten-free bagel-y goodness today. Or tomorrow morning. But do it!
Okay…with me it happens all the time…but let’s ignore that fact for a moment here.
Picture walking through the frozen food section of your local natural foods store (this was Whole Foods, in case you were wondering) and catching just a quick glimpse of an interesting sounding product. That’s what happened here. I normally never would have thought twice about this little green bag of sliced apples…but…the fact that they were frozen apple fries…that got my attention. Baking apple strips and making them into a healthy alternative to potato fries. BRILLIANT!
So…I bought them. I had to. I needed to give these a try.
The brand is Peas of Mind, and they tout all-natural eats for growing children.
Kid food. Kids sometimes get the best food. And the fact that these were all-natural, non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, fat-free, egg-free, soy-free and vegan…well…they were definitely safe for me to eat. I didn’t care that these were intended for children. This kind of food was good for all ages. That’s how I figured it.
Peas of Mind makes a variety of healthy eats for kids. And their veggie fries come in a few different flavors, including carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and apple. YUM! But the apple ones were the ones that caught my eye…so those were the ones making the trip to my freezer.
And, as with most things…I bought these and then kept forgetting to cook them up. Until the last time I prepared my gluten-free veggie burgers. I figured a side of fries would go nicely. But instead of slicing up a sweet potato or potato and baking them up in the oven…I pulled these out of the freezer and prepared a baking sheet to get them cooking. I have to say…they were a lot thicker than I anticipated…not the gorgeous fry-shape that is shown on the packaging. But…my food doesn’t have to look like the package. It just has to taste good.
Before we get to that, however, let’s hit up the ingredients and nutritional information. The Peas of Mind Baked Apple Fries are made up of apple, dehydrated potato, water, canola oil, cinnamon, sea salt, and baking powder. One serving is 57 grams (or about 14 fries). In this serving, you will be consuming 70 calories and 0 grams of fat. Remember…fat free! You also get served 50 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. These will not be very filling as that serving has only 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. Each bag provides 6 servings of fruit. Definitely healthy. Definitely different.
So…how were they?
Different. They were…different. In fact, I’d venture to say they were slightly on the bland side. I felt that they needed a dip of some sort. Peas of Mind recommends (on the packaging) ketchup or honey. I’m not a fan of honey on its own nor am I fan of apples in ketchup. So…I ate them without. Although now I”m tempted to do up a whipped agave dip for the next time I make these. Hmmm.
Anyway…the apple flavor is barely there…and they seem to need more cinnamon, quite honestly. The dehydrated potato sort of gave them this odd…blandness. If it were just apple strips, these would have been amazing. But the added flakes of potato just subtract from that sweet apple flavor. So, they were definitely a disappointment. I think next time I bake up a round from my bag in the freezer, I might sprinkle with a bit more cinnamon and try to draw out more flavor.
So, they weren’t bad…but they didn’t wow me either. Next time…I might just slice an apple into slices and give them a good bake in the oven and see how that goes. I wasn’t blown away, but I am definitely curious enough to try the other veggie varieties to see if they work out better than this fruity version.
Peas of Mind has definitely drawn me in…even though this first product I sampled from them didn’t really thrill me, I am eager to see what else they have to offer. I love healthy alternatives to foods. And this was definitely a healthy choice…just not one that was as delicious as it was healthy. I hope that changes as I give the other versions of the veggie fries a chance in the future.
Da Luciano – Pizza, Pasta & Catering, River Grove, Illinois
Restaurant: Da Luciano – Pasta, Pizza& Catering, River Grove, Illinois
This…was an important dining choice to make when I was coming to Chicago, Illinois. I mean…for real. This was a big…heap…deal.
Why?
Because I was in town for the Chicago Marathon. I needed a safe meal…one that would guarantee that I would have no stomach issues…and…being that I was running on Sunday morning…this needed to include gluten-free pizza. It HADto be gluten-free pizza. That is my stipulation when it comes to the night before a big run. If it’s a half marathon or marathon…it has to be gluten-free, vegetarian pizza. It just works for me. Some down pasta…not this girl. This girl indulges in a few epic slices of (hopefully) amazing pizza. Gluten-free pizza isn’t tasteless cardboard, you know. When done right…it is a culinary work of art.
And I’ve eaten good and bad gluten-free pizzas…as they are well documented in this blog.
But there was something special about Da Luciano, which is one of the reasons, despite meaning a car ride outside of downtown Chicago, that I felt I needed to eat there the night before the Chicago Marathon.
What was so special about this place?
They understand Celiac Disease. They totally get me. They totally know how to handle and prepare my food so that I won’t get sick from eating there. And how do I know this? Well, as stated on their Web site, the owners, Luciano and Rosalia, were first introduced to the gluten-free world when four of of their seven children were diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Being an Italian family, bread and pasta were daily staples in their diets. Rosalia set out on a mission to find quality gluten-free bread and pasta for her children, but found that her options were limited. So, she began to experiment with her own recipes, succeeding in making gluten-free bread, pasta, pizza, and desserts that satisfied all of her children. When Da Luciano Pizza, Pasta & Catering opened the following year, they decided to offer their customers a gluten-free menu featuring Rosalia’s amazing recipes. The response from the gluten-free community was huge.
So…as you can see…this place won me over right from the start. And, upon arriving at the restaurant, we were immediately asked if anyone needed a gluten-free menu. I didn’t have to request one. I didn’t have to ask if one even existed. The hostess just flat-out asked. And so, when we were seated, I was given their rather extensive (no one sheet of paper here…but a true menu, my friends!) gluten-free menu to peruse.
So many of the dishes sounded awesome. And part of me wanted to do the gluten-free bruschetta for an appetizer…but we had all decided that dessert was happening…so the appetizer went to the wayside…this time. The gluten-free menu at Da Luciano is about as big as the regular menu. So many of the dishes are offered as a gluten-free option. From the dishes with meat (as I’m a vegetarian, I didn’t look at the extensive seafood, chicken, and veal offerings), but there were many amazing sounding pasta dishes. BUT…I never change up the night before a race…and it was one of their individual gluten-free pizzas for me.
When our waitress returned to the table to take our orders…we were all settled on what we wanted. Heather is not big on carbs, so she went with one of the chicken entrees. Her choice – Chicken Scaloppine ($14.95), which was thinly sliced chicken served in what looked like a tomato and mushroom sauce. Cathy opted for the Rigatoni Porcini ($11.95), which was rigatoni pasta cooked with porcini mushrooms in a light cream sauce. Jenn went with the Gnocchi al Pesto ($11.95), which was delicious looking gnocchi served in a creamy (probably) basil pesto sauce. It looked fantastic.
Da Luciano’s Gluten-Free Pizza with Mushrooms, Onions, and Roasted Red Peppers
But for me…I went with the Gluten-Free Pizza ($8.50) topped off with mushrooms, onion, and roasted red pepper ($0.75 each). I couldn’t wait to get a taste of this pizza. And…I wanted to make sure that Heather got a bite as well, because she suffered through the disaster of Pizza Ranch in Minnesota with me…and I wanted her to know good gluten-free pizza was out there. If we had been in Louisville…I’d take her to Annie May’s Sweet Café and split one of those amazing pizzas with her…but when in Chicago…you find a place that works.
We had a little wait, but soon our food was arriving at the table. And it all looked and smelled amazing! I photographed every dish…especially my pizza. And it was time to dig in.
So…
WINNING!! Granted, I still like my local bakery’s crust better…but this definitely is one of the best crusts I’ve had on a gluten-free pizza. Cooked to golden perfection, so it was crispy, without being burnt or overdone. And it still had that nice doughy texture with it as well. The sauce was amazing. The cheese…was more than I would have liked…but…it starts off as a cheese pizza. The other toppings get added. The star of the toppings, however, were the roasted red peppers. OMG…YES! Packed with flavor. Mild…but with that right amount of kick to keep the palate interested. The onions didn’t overpower anything. And the mushrooms were done to perfection. Nothing watery. Nothing disappointing. And, as I cut off pieces for my friends to try, the rest of it was mine. All mine. And yes…I devoured it all. Every slice. I might have licked the plate clean. It was delicious…and I needed to top off the tanks for the marathon the next morning. This was the key.
And, as I mentioned earlier…dessert was going to happen. I had 6 options to choose from on the gluten-free dessert menu. And while they all sounded fantastic, I was down to three choices…the cream puffs, the tiramisu, and the cannoli. It took a lot of pondering, internal debate, and deliberation with myself to pick between them. I rarely have so many options for a dessert…so choosing one was not easy. The cream puffs almost won, but I wasn’t sure how big they were and it came with two on the plate. The tiramisu was SO tempting. I haven’t had tiramisu in a long, long time. I wanted it. But…ultimately…I settled on the Gluten-Free Cannoli ($4.95). Both Jenn and Cathy opted for the regular Cannoli ($3.95) and Heather went with the regular Tiramisu ($3.95).
I was so excited when our desserts emerged from the kitchen and at our table. My cannoli definitely looked different from Cathy & Jenn’s…but it was the color and thickness of the shell. That was the only difference. Heather’s tiramisu looked absolutely amazing. Next time…(and there will be a next time!)…I’ll get the gluten-free tiramisu. It looked fluffy and amazing.
So…how was the gluten-free cannoli? SO SO SO good. SO GOOD!! MMMMMMMM….GOOD! OMG…GOOOOOOOOOD! The cannoli cream was amazing. Sweet, but not overly sweet. Creamy. Amazing. Delicious. It had bits of chocolate chips and fruit. There was a candied orange peel on each end. And the shell…sugary-sweet goodness. The crunch that it had with each bite was satisfying. And it all just blended together. It worked. And I devoured my dessert happily.
With that…I went and purchased a few bags of their gluten-free pasta, available at the register, and we paid our bill. As we were leaving, I overheard the restaurant manager explaining to a customer that the way the manage no cross-contamination is that all the gluten-free dishes are prepared in the kitchen upstairs at the restaurant…and the regular menu items are all done in the kitchen downstairs. Brilliant. And so safe for Celiacs. I loved learning that about Da Luciano’s. It’s nice to know I had nothing to worry about when eating there…which is good because the last thing you want before running 26.2 miles is tummy troubles.
We had to head back downtown…after dropping Heather off at a train station to head back to her hotel. We had plans for when she would arrive at The Hilton Chicago to meet up with us before the the marathon the following morning. We were all satisfied and happy with the meal we ate at Da Luciano. I will be back the next time I find myself in Chicago…which I hope is soon.
Speaking of which…the gluten-free pizza worked its magic as always…I had a fantastic marathon. Thank you, Da Luciano…for giving me my pre-race carbs in my favorite form. I can’t wait to come back and try more of your amazing menu.
So, if you find yourself in the Chicago area, make a point to head to River Grove and eat at the fantastic Da Luciano – Pasta, Pizza & Catering. It’s worth the short drive because the food is simply that amazing.
It is because of Katz Gluten Free that I have been introduced to the awesomeness of rugelech. I had never heard of rugelech before, let alone ever tried it…until I was received some from Katz Gluten Free. My life…my foodie world…changed.
For those of you who may be like me and have been in the dark as to what rugelech is…well…read on.
Rugelech is a traditional Jewish pastry that is eaten year-round, but particularly on holidays. It is made of rolled up dough and a sweet, fruity filling.
These little rolled cookies are life changing. Honestly. I had the chocolate ones first as part of the sample pack I ordered from Katz when I first went gluten-free. The cinnamon flavor I ordered on my own…and they were like eating miniature cinnamon rolls. My personal favorite. During a special, I ordered enough product to get a free pack of rugelech from Katz Gluten Free. I requested the vanilla because it was the only one I had yet to try.
Wise choice.
Katz Gluten Free has yet to really let me down on a product. I trust them and their food. And the Gluten-Free Vanilla Rugelech is just as amazing as I thought it would be. These moutwatering treats are perfect as a palate cleanser after dinner. But…they are really good anytime. In fact, I like to give mine a little 15 second warm in the microwave so they taste like they are fresh out of the oven. The Vanilla Rugelech taste like a cinnamon roll…if it were made with vanilla instead. Amazing flavor. The sweetness tingles across the tongue with each bite. It’s just…so delicious. I savor mine, nu-spiriling them in little pieces and nipping them so that the time I am enjoying them lasts a little longer. You can’t blame me. Once you try them, you’ll want the moment to last as well. These are fantastic. And I am going to be sure to stock up on more of them…very soon!
When it comes to ingredients, I know what everything is that Katz Gluten Free uses in their products. For the Vanilla Rugelech…it’s a mix of their gluten-free flour (potato, tapioca, white rice, brown rice, sorghum, corn), sugar, canola oil, eggs, orange juice, water, dry yeast, baking powder, xanthan gum, salt, and pure vanilla.
Looking at it nutritionally speaking…these are cookies…little pastries of delicious gluten-free joy. Treat them as a treat. But do enjoy them. Do try them. A serving of the Gluten Free Vanilla Rugelech is 1 cookie. This one cookie provides you with 90 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. One cookie also serves up 30 mg sodium and 6 grams of sugar. The Vanilla Rugelech also will provide you with 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. It’s not awful…not at all. I usually eat two of them though…so whoops!
Ah well…the goodness and the great flavor makes the splurge worth it. These are delicious and amazing and I would buy them again in a heartbeat. Any of the three flavors that Katz offers, actually. I’m a huge fan. now, of rugelech. And you will understand why when you give these a try to. You can order them from Katz off their Web site, or check with your local natural foods stores. Many carry a few of Katz products, and I most often see their rugelech.
I feel as though I may have stumbled into an anomaly…or perhaps some alternate universe. Why?
Because I managed to find a new product before many other places had it. And in this area, that is a rare and unnatural thing.
You see, I was in my Whole Foods just browsing. I had to just browse because the food budget purse strings had been tightened. There were so many things I wanted to try, but the roomie said, “Not this week…next week.” Which is code for…NEVER. Or so it seems. Because whenever I am told that…it seems like forever until I actually get to have said product that caught my attention. But…the budget was tight coming back from my epic vacation…so I guess never it will be.
That was…until I spotted something I had never seen before on the top shelf of the gluten-free bread area in my store. I pointed to them…”What is that?” I asked. My roommate looked up…looked at me and sighed. “Want them?” As if she had to ask. The product I am speaking about is the Udi’s Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins. And you better believe those were put in the cart and immediately shuttled to the register for ringing up before she changed her mind.
Then the week from hell happened and these delicious muffins remained untouched in my fridge for the whole of the week. Until Friday morning.
Friday morning I was going to be working from home. So, I allowed myself to get up later, go for a 5 mile walk, go into work to drop off a few items and pick a few more up, then head home. The roommate was up after a rough week of being in the hospital…and she was ready for breakfast. She didn’t even bother to pour herself any cereal…so that’s what she got started off with. Next time, she can manage that on her own. But I needed a main course for our brekkies that morning and these muffins were quick and easy and would allow me to get myself logged into work and getting my job done a lot sooner. So…out came the muffins. I warmed one up for her and one up for me…and breakfast was done.
These scream fall flavor. Pumpkin flavored everything is everywhere and I eat it up. I love pumpkin. I love the taste and flavor of pumpkin. The only time I do not like pumpkin is pumpkin pie. I’ve never liked pumpkin pie. Pumpkin anything else and…DING DING DING…we have a winner. I’m weird…I know.
So, how were the Udi’s Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins?
Let me put it this way…the first day of fall is coming…and this was like the flavor of fall in one amazing and delicious bite. Honestly. The Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins actually do taste like pumpkin. It’s not just a name for the product. It doesn’t overpower, but strikes that right balance. The muffin itself is light and fluffy. I always heat mine up in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds and it’s like taking them fresh from the oven. Soft, springy, and warm all the way through. I loved the addition of pumpkin seeds throughout the muffins themselves. It really added to the pumpkin experience. The hints of cinnamon and nutmeg were so warming…just what you want in anything that includes pumpkin. After all, the weather is getting cooler…the food should definitely make you feel warm and cozy. These muffins are, probably, my second favorite thing in the Udi’s line-up. My favorite being the Harvest Crunch Muffins…these probably are tied with Blueberry Muffins for second. Yeah…they’re that good.
I think my only comlaint would be how uneven the muffins were. My batch looked like they were set on their side when they baked. But, you know…at least they tasted amazing.
So, let’s take a look at what Udi’s puts into these muffins, shall we? Ingredients include dried cane syrup, eggs, pumpkin, brown rice flour, tapioca starch, water, palm oil, canola oil, dry molasses, pumpkin seeds, salt, cinnamon, orange zest, caramel color, xanthan gum, ground ginger, nutmeg, and baking soda. So…yes…the first ingredient is basically sugar…but…it is a muffin. And, let’s face it, muffins are sweet.
Nutritionally speaking, these aren’t a complete waistline buster. One muffin is the serving size. And with that one muffin, you will be consuming 260 calories (which isn’t the best for a muffin, but not bad either!) and 10 grams of fat. While there are 200 mg of sodium in these muffins, the high 19 grams of sugar is a bit of a shock. Yikes. That’s over half the sugar I am actually allotted each day. Well, as long as it’s not an every day thing…right? In addition, one muffin also provides 1 gram of fiber and 3 grams of protein. So with that sugar level and the lower levels of fiber and protein, don’t expect this muffin to keep you full through lunch. It’s not happening.
Be that as it may…they are super-duper delicious. If you love the flavor of fall…the flavor of pumpkin…you’ll definitely want to pick up these if you can find them in your area. I haven’t seen these since, so I’m glad I splurged that week and picked them up. And now, naturally, I just want more of them.
Guess that’s how it works.
Keep an eye out this holiday season for Udi’s Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins. You’ll fall in love at first bite.
If I am out of town or at the gym, that is my preferred station. I might be a gluten-free vegetarian, but I love food. And I love to learn about food. And, even more, I love to learn new ways to cook food. Lucky for me HULU airs a few Food Network shows, and one evening my roommate and I tuned into an episode of The Barefoot Contessa. I know, a lot of people don’t like Ina that much, but sometimes the things she does with food is awesome. And on this particular episode…she was making risotto. The difference was, she was not going to stand over a pan on a stove, stirring and stirring and stirring as the rice worked its way to the perfect texture.
Nope. She was going to bake it.
BAKED RISOTTO!! Who would have thought that would work?
I changed up the original recipe to be vegetarian and make use of what I had in the kitchen, which meant I even (God forbid) took out the use of the white wine. I didn’t have any on hand. I include some sauteed fresh portobello mushrooms as well.
Recipe: Baked Parmesan Risotto with Peas and Portobello Mushrooms
Baked Parmesan Risotto with Peas and Portobello Mushrooms
Place the rice and 4 cups of the vegetable broth in a Dutch oven.
Cover and bake for 45 minutes, until most of the liquid is absorbed and the rice is al dente.
While it bakes, clean and chop your portobello mushrooms (if using). Place a pan over medium heat and add olive oil. When the olive oil is heated, add the portobello mushrooms and a dash of salt and saute until the mushrooms are lightly browned on each side. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Remove the risotto from the oven, add the remaining cup of vegetable broth, the Parmesan, butter, salt, and pepper.
Stir vigorously for 2 to 3 minutes, until the rice is thick and creamy. Add the peas and mushrooms and stir until heated through.
Serve hot.
~*~*~
I couldn’t believe how beautifully this actually worked out. Honestly. It was amazing. The rice was fluffy and soft. The risotto itself had that thick risotto feel to it. The cheese melted beautifully and really helped give it that added bit of creaminess. I didn’t even miss the wine. And by sauteing up the mushrooms, I gave the risotto a little meatiness. The seasoning was good, but if you are using a good Parmesan cheese, I recommend maybe cutting back slightly on the salt that is added.
My roomie loved this dish and was so happy we had leftovers. I even took a serving in to a co-worker because I had mentioned I was making it for dinner, and he had been having a rough week. When I saw him later that day, he said it was SO good. It made me happy.
So, if you love risotto but don’t want to slave over a hot stove to make it…give this recipe for baked risotto a try. I think you’ll be more than pleased with the results. As for me…I think I will forever bake my risotto in the future. So much easier and much better results.
Product: O’Doughs Gluten-Free Original Flavor Bagel Thins – $3.99+
I am a bagel zombie.
Mmmmm…bagel…bagel…mmmmm….nom nom nom.
Seriously. I’m a New York girl and I grew up enjoying the carby awesomeness of bagels. Give it a schmear of cream cheese and happiness could be found in each bite. As I got older…my love for bagels continued…but I started to watch the waistline. Bagel thins came out. And I fell in love with the thin, crispy goodness that these offered. All the taste of bagels without all the bread. Nice.
And then…Celiac.
I sampled so many gluten-free bagels at first, having given up even finding something close to a bagel. Most of the ones I tried were shaped like donuts, not bagels. Small, bready, and just all wrong texture-wise. And then…Udi’s came out with bagels that rocked my world. Seriously…amazing.
And then…while out grocery shopping one day at our local Earth Fare, I spotted O’Doughs Gluten-Free Bagel Thins. I did a double-take. I backed up, snatched them from the cooler, and tossed them into my shopping cart. No questions asked…these were coming home with me. I was so thrilled with this discovery without even having tried them yet. I had a great company for bagels…now maybe it was time to let the bagel thins shine.
I hadn’t had anything from O’Doughs yet. So, this was going to be the first product I sampled from this company. I stored these in my freezer for over week while I was out of town, but then…then it was time to have these for breakfast…because I came back into town with little groceries in my fridge and freezer and was trying to make do with what I did have on hand.
O’Doughs Gluten-Free Original Flavor Bagel Thins
That morning, I turned on my oven and put two bagel thins on the pan and let them toast up gently in the oven. You could totally do this in a toaster, but I got rid of mine when I was diagnosed with Celiac, wanting to eliminate any potential for cross-contamination. Now that my roommate eats only gluten-free bread too (for my sake!) I could totally get a new toaster now. I just have nowhere in my kitchen for one at the moment.
Anyway, these bagel thins toasted up beautifully in the oven. Because these are bagel thins…not bagels…I kept a close eye on them to keep them from burning. After removing the golden toasty bagel thins from the oven, I gave each half a schmear of gluten-free and vegan cream cheese. Served them up with some fruit that morning and VIOLA…breakfast was served.
One bite and I knew O’Doughs got these bagel thins right. I was amazed. The Original Flavour variety tastes just like a regular bagel. The outside gets that nice crispness to it, and the thin innards toast to a beautiful golden color and still maintain a bit of that chewy texture you want with a bagel. What this means is that the thin texture provides a base for any topping you want to top it with. Nothing takes away from anything else. The toppings compliment the bagel and vice versa!
So, now that you know they are amazing…let’s talk shop.
These bagel thins are composed of filtered water, soya flour, tapioca starch, chickpea flour, whole grain rice flour, cellulose fiber, glycerine, yeast, sunflower oil, salt, organic evaporated cane juice, xanthan gum, baking powder, and baking soda.
Not too bad as far as ingredients go. Not exactly clean eating…but…better than some other options out there, yes? Yes!
Nutritionally speaking, a serving is one bagel thin. And one bagel thin only contains 100 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. Consuming one bagel thin also means you will be taking in 300 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. These bagel thins contain no cholesterol, no trans-fat, no eggs, are non-GMO, and are kosher. One bagel thin also gives you 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein.
And yeah…they are really amazing. O’Doughs makes three varieties of bagel thins. Original, Sprouted Whole Grain Flax, and Apple Cranberry. I finally have found the Sprouted Whole Grain Flax at my local grocery store…but have yet to find the Apple Cranberry out in the wild.
But, if you should spot O’Doughs Gluten-Free Original Flavor Bagel Thins…grab them. Toast them. Top them. And enjoy them. Trust me…you’d never guess it was gluten-free. They taste like the regular thing. Perhaps even better. I am in love.
O’Doughs Gluten-Free Original Flavor Bagel Thins with Daiya Vegan Cream Cheese
It’s an important day. And not just because it’s International Talk Like A Pirate Day.
It’s important…because it’s my birthday.
And this year I was turning the big double 3. Yes. I don’t mind my birthday or getting older. It’s one of my favorite days…even though most of the time I do nothing really to commemorate it. But this year…I decided to enjoy the delicious offerings of two of my favorite, local, gluten-free businesses, both of whom went above and beyond to make the occasion more than special.
It all started on the day before my birthday when my roommate and I took a longer lunch from the office and headed down to Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky to pick up the birthday cake we ordered from Annie May’s Sweet Café. Now…by now most of you know that my local running store nicknamed me Wonder Woman last year. It’s stuck. And I mean…stuck! I get called Wonder Woman more than I care to admit. It’s flattering. I love it. Wouldn’t change it for the world.
Well, back when Annie May’s Sweet Café started showing off some of their custom cakes they were making, I told them they were definitely doing a special cake for my birthday this year. They replied on their Facebook page…”How about a Wonder Woman cake?” (See…my reputation precedes me). I was totally all about it. They actually made a simple birthday cake for me last year too (strawberry cake with a vegan chocolate ganache), which is how I found out about them…and how they won me over in the first place (that and the apple cider donuts we bought when we picked up the cake…just sayin’.). The cake was amazing. So, naturally, as it is my belief that no matter how much you love to cook and bake…you should never have to make your own birthday cake…we hit them up again this year. And, per their suggestion via their Facebook page months and months ago…I thought…I think I should have a Wonder Woman cake.
As we are in Annie May’s Sweet Café every Saturday morning if we are in town for their delicious breakfast offerings…that Saturday we went ahead and placed the cake order (and a soft pretzel order for Soft Pretzel Wednesday) to pick up on Wednesday around lunch time. My roommate asked what kind of cake I wanted. I’m not big on cake…and I like simple. So…this year I went with a vegan vanilla cake with vegan vanilla icing. And yes…WONDER WOMAN!
On Wednesday, when we showed up to pick it up, I was blown away. Kenna does the cake decorating and she did fantastic. I made sure I told Annie May that whenever possible (and I told Kenna when I saw her the following Saturday morning!). Seriously…I couldn’t have been happier with the way it turned out. The Wonder Woman logo was PERFECTION!! I mean, Kenna nailed it!! And the cake…SO delicious. The flavors were vibrant. The icing was sweet and meshed well with the vegan vanilla cake layers. Four layers…of cake-y goodness. And this from a girl who isn’t big on frosting or cake. How about that? I was SO happy with this cake. It was a 6-inch round cake that we got 12 good-sized portions from. I was in sugar-rush heaven. And happy to devour it all. Well, I had some help from Cathy (the roomie), Harry, and Laura.
But…here is the cake in all it’s gluten-free and vegan wonder (woman):
Honestly…I have yet to have anything I didn’t like from Annie May’s Sweet Café. So…even if you don’t have food allergies…get over there. My friend Greg (not food allergic at all) would definitely direct you to their gluten-free Double Fudge Brownies. Me? I say…their allergen-free Chocolate Chip Cookies. Or…honestly…EVERYTHING!! Support local businesses!! I will continue to support this one.
HUGE thanks going out to Annie May, Kenna, and the rest of the staff who continue to show the world (or at least the Louisville area) just how good and delicious gluten-free can be!!
But…the birthday celebrations didn’t stop with a cake. Nope. Not for 33. Not ever.
Very randomly, about two weeks out from my birthday, I went over to the Facebook page of my favorite local (and gluten-free) food truck, Sweet ‘N’ Savory, and commented that I would love them forever if around my birthday, at one of their outings, if they could offer a Crepe Suzette, as it has always been one of my favorite types of crepes. I was told that they would be happy to cater a private event for me, featuring a 3-course meal, for only $20/person. I needed to make sure that I would have a decent enough crowd for them, and started asking my closest friends if anyone was interested. Most everyone I knew was free on the Sunday, September 22, and said they would be happy to come and celebrate with good eats. I was thrilled. And I went ahead and set it up with Richard and Ashley, the fantastic owners of the food truck.
They found a location, at Louisville’s The Beer Store in NULU. This turned out to be a perfect setting as they had a patio for seating and the side door was opened so we could trek out to the food truck to place our orders, return our plates, and all that good stuff. Guests could also imbibe in beers of any kind (SO MANY) or sodas or water…or whatever else they could find inside. It was a hit. I ended up having 10 of the 12 guests show up to the shindig, so that wasn’t bad at all. Very pleased. Although totally missed the ones who were unable to make it.
It was a very diverse crowd, but they all came hungry and they all socialized and blended well. YAY!!
So, what did Sweet ‘N’ Savory cook up for my special day? An amazing menu that every guest raved about and devoured. No one left hungry. In fact, we were all completely stuffed. But it was a good kind of stuffed. Trust me.
The menu, as I mentioned, was 3 courses: appetizer, entree, dessert (like Chopped…but without the surprise basket of ingredients!).
For the appetizer round, Sweet ‘N’ Savory prepared two of my favorite gluten-free vegetarian crepes: Caprese and Veggie Caponata. You could either get one large one of your choice, or one of each in a mini-crepe form. I totally forgot to take a picture of mine, but I went with one of each in the mini-form. What a way to start out. Everyone raved about them…especially the Veggie Caponata. That seemed to be the crowd favorite (and mine as well!!). It was the perfect way to start off the feast that day. We were given plates and a ticket and when we were done with the appetizer, all we needed to do was walk the plates and ticket back out to the truck, hand them over, and they would get to work on the entree.
The entree…is super special. Awhile back, Sweet ‘N’ Savory took part in a food truck event called Cluster Trucked. Each truck served up food that wasn’t their normal fare. For the event, Sweet ‘N’ Savory did gluten-free ravioli. And I fell in love with them all over again. For my event, they were dishing up two different varieties of ravoili. Once again, you could either get a full serving of one version, or split the difference and try both. The options: Butternut Squash, Ricotta, and Sage Ravioli topped with a Brown-Butter Sage Sauce or Four-Cheese Ravioli topped with a Red-Pepper Cream Sauce. When I was at Cluster Trucked, I had the Four-Cheese with Red Pepper Cream Sauce. I am in LOVE with that red-pepper cream sauce. I want to beg for the recipe. Seriously. But at my party, I was all about the Butternut Squash, Ricotta and Sage Ravioli with the Brown-Butter Sage Sauce. They had told me all about this one prior to the event and that was all I wanted. Observe:
Sweet ‘N’ Savory’s Gluten-Free Butternut Squash, Ricotta and Sage Ravioli with a Brown Butter Sage Sauce
I made a fantastic choice. The ravioli was so rich and creamy. The pasta itself was melt-in-your-mouth good. The sauce…so much flavor. The filling…it doesn’t get better than butternut squash (a personal favorite) with ricotta and sage. Honestly. I fell in love with the way this entire dish just danced across my taste buds. Savory. Rich. Delicious. I was in food heaven. I think I might have hoovered this up and licked the plate. It’s possible. For real. For being a gluten-free crepe food truck, they totally rock the ravioli. That is NO joke!
Following the dinner portion of the meal…naturally is something that hits that sweet tooth. And, per my request, Sweet ‘N’ Savory offered up a Crepe Suzette. What is a Crepe Suzette? It’s a crepe with sugar that has Grand Marnier poured over it, and then is ignited. Flaming food! The alcohol in the liqueur evaporates and what emerges is a thick, caramelized sauce. I first had a Crepe Suzette in Denver, Colorado a couple years back and I fell in love with it. So it was nice that they took an extra step to provide this for me at my request. Along with the crepe, they offered some of their famous and delicious gluten-free gelato…either (my personal favorite) Salted Caramel or Vanilla.
They attempted to light the crepes tableside, but the wind wasn’t cooperating. Points for trying!! That being said…CREPE SUZETTE FTW!! There is a reason this is one of my favorite sweet crepes to devour…er…eat. It’s sweet…it has brilliant flavor to it…and it’s still light. So it isn’t too much. I, naturally, paired mine with the Salted Caramel gelato. Best choice ever!! It paired so well with the Crepe Suzette. So, while this is not something that usually graces their menu, I was so glad when they offered this just for my little event. Heaven was in the form an amazing dessert crepe that day. Topped off with delicious gelato. YUM!
Sweet ‘N’ Savory’s Gluten-Free Crepe Suzette
I am eternally grateful for both Annie May’s Sweet Café and Sweet ‘N’ Savory Food Truck for helping to make my birthday so special this year. Everything they gave me was awesome. And no one would have guessed any of it was gluten-free. Because these places make food that is just that amazing. No one was disappointed and everyone commented on how good everything was.
Birthday win. Done with a little local flair.
And check out these beautiful people who came out to celebrate and enjoy good food, good conversation, and good times. I love them all!
Me & My Gang (from left and looping around to right): Kelsie, Cathy, Harry, Harold, Michael, Judi, Natalie, Me, Justin (Not pictured: Greg (he’s taking the photo) and Maureen (who hid from the camera))
With our California girls needing to return to work…and since we were sort of already out that way…and sort of missed out on our usual journey to Denver, Colorado in April due to my roomie’s teammate…Cathy and I decided that we would take that journey to Colorado. I admit, for much of the planning stages, tacking on the Denver portion was a nightmare…but we got it all worked out. And with that, we got to spend Wednesday through Sunday in beautiful Colorado.
There is so much to do and see in Colorado…and we’ve been here enough times that we have our favorites that we wouldn’t miss out on…ever. But, we also had our sights on some new adventures, both with friends and with food.
So…here’s how a gluten-free vegetarian eats while in Colorado!
Zamparelli’s Italian Bistro – Lafayette, Colorado
Zamparelli’s Italian Bistro, Lafayette, Colorado
It was our first day in Colorado. After landing at the Denver airport and getting our rental car (free upgrade to the Toyota Prius), we hit the road for our drive up to the Boulder, Colorado area. We were staying at the Boulder Twin Lake Inn, where many a famous runner has spent the night. I was thrilled. I was hoping maybe I was in the room Shalane Flanagan stayed in so that I could channel some of her speed. The inn is actually owned by runners, which is why it is popular with runners. Well, after getting checked in, we were starving…so Cathy and I made a short little drive to Lafayette, Colorado. Our Find Me Gluten-Free app had directed us toward a place called Zaparelli’s Italian Bistro…and it had many gluten-free options. Including…gluten-free pizza. Which, mind you, I was thrilled about, as I was doing my long run the following morning around the area the inn was located in…a full 12.5 mile run. Pizza was just the thing I needed.
Wanting to try something we couldn’t get anywhere else, we decided to get a Gluten-Free Johnny V’s Vegan Pie ($15.00). It just sounded intriguing…and, as I said, the toppings were different from anything we’d been able to get out anywhere else. Order in. At Zamparelli’s…the gluten-free crust is a $2.00 upcharge, but when you have to eat gluten-free, what are you going to do? The gluten-free pizza is a 12-inch pizza crust…and in this case…it is topped off with a garlicky white bean spread, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, sauteed spinach, roasted mushrooms, artichoke hearts, and a spicy salsa rosa. Is your mouth watering yet? Mine was just reading the description. I liked that it was vegan…no cheese to upset my delicate stomach as it sometimes does. Also important with that long run looming.
The pizza was delivered and boy…did it look and smell amazing. It tasted just as good as it looked too. The white bean spread acted as the base, instead of a tomato sauce. The roasted red peppers elevated a lot of the flavor, especially when paired with the caramelized onion. Sweet and savory. Very delicious. But the star, believe it or not, were the artichoke hearts. That just brought all the other toppings together. Fantastic. The crust was really good. Not undercooked, but done to perfection. It was a thin crust without being a cracker crust, which I appreciated. I was quite happy with this meal and my roommate and I walked out of there satisfied, full, and quite happy.
The Buff Restaurant – Boulder, Colorado
The Buff Restaurant, Boulder, Colorado
I first heard about The Buff Restaurant on Man vs. Food. They are best known for their “Saddlebags” which are pancakes that are stuffed with either bacon, sausage or ham, and then topped off with two eggs. They are massive, mind you. Like…steering wheel size. So much more of the menu now has a gluten-free option available (including the Saddlebags…except being vegetarian…not for me)…but I had just done a 12.5 mile run and I was wanting some protein.
I ended up getting one of the omelettes. In fact, I went with the Veggie Omelette ($9.50). This thing is, honestly, the size of my head. But…full of delicious veggie goodness. This particular omelette comes packed with broccoli, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach and onions, with a touch of blended cheddar. Along with this massive egg-splosion of goodness (see what I did there?), you get a side of their potatoes…or you can upgrade to the fruit for just $1.00 more. I wanted my carbs…so I stuck with the potatoes. And, with it came a slice of gluten-free toast. YUM! As I was in need of some caffeine, I ordered a Café Au Lait with almond milk ($3.50). It was just the hit I needed, especially since the cup it came out in was, again, the size of my head. I think I was wired for much the rest of the day. But it was good.
So was the food for that matter, but I already knew that. I’ve been eating at The Buff for three years now. I make a trip to Boulder specifically to eat there and go to the Celestial Seasonings factory. Honestly. I do. It’s the truth. The eggs are always done to perfection. The toast is crispy and never burned. I love it with their homemade jam. SO delicious. And the potatoes…they are my favorite way to consume carbs. Seasoned to perfection. Done with that bit of crisp on the outside and that soft center. I ate mine with hot sauce. The omelette too. HEAVEN…on a plate. Which I demolished, mind you. I ate every last piece. I was full for the rest of the day.
St. Bon’s Café – Highlands Ranch, Colorado
St. Bon’s Café, Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Around 5 p.m. after my massive breakfast, however, the tummy was starting to get a case of the rumblies. And my roommate had researched the perfect solution for said problem. We were now down in Denver for the remainder of our stay and it just so happened that Denver is the home of a 100% gluten-free deli and bakery. Seriously.
St. Bon’s Café was an absolute nightmare to get to. And we were getting hungry and cranky as we made our way through rush hour traffic on a Thursday night. Our GPS got us down to the right area, but had so much trouble actually getting us to the store. I finally looked it up on my iPhone and managed to get us there. But it was about 30 minutes before they were going to close. It was a good thing we already had an idea of what we wanted to eat…because we were cutting it close.
That being said, the owner, Kurt Fulwider, was behind the counter and ready to take our orders. He told us not to worry about it. He had a meeting he needed to get to across town and already called to say it wasn’t happening and that he would be late. So…we ordered…not just dinner…but a dessert to split. More on that after I tell you about our sandwiches.
For me…I wanted The 3 Wisemen Panini on the house made Rosemary Thyme Focaccia ($7.99). The 3 Wisemen is a basic caprese sandwich. It’s freshly sliced tomatoes, basil leaves and mozzarella. Cathy went with her favorite…something cheesy…opting for The Trinity Panini on the house made Basil Garlic Focaccia ($7.99). This sandwich is stuffed full of three different cheeses…creamy havarti, sharp white cheddar, and smooth meunster. We decided we could split a dessert and I had my heart already set on the Blasphemous Bread Pudding ($3.99), which was a gluten-free bread putting with a delicious custard and dark chocolate. With our orders now paid for, we settled at a table until they were ready.
Let me tell you…the wait wasn’t bad…and the food was fantastic. Absolutely FANTASTIC! I fell in love with the rosemary thyme focaccia. The flavors meshed so well with the fixings in my sandwich. The basil was so fresh and so fragrant. The mozarella was melt-in-your sammie good. And the tomatoes were ripe, and didn’t bleed juice all over my bread. The focaccia was toasted in the panini press to perfection, giving that nice golden crispiness to each bite. I was in love with this sandwich. Cathy tried a piece and said while she loved hers…she really loved the bread on mine.
As for that sinful dessert…oh…yeah. It was rich…creamy…and beyond blasphemous. This was a sin to eat. The custard was rich and creamy, but not overly heavy. The dark chocolate…melt my heart to pieces…so good. It paired so well with the custard. I was so happy when eating this. So very happy. I sort of want to recreate it for myself. If possible. It’s worth a try. Yep…that good. Mouth watering…sinfully…satisfyingly…perfect for when you are PMS-ing or any other time because you just need some chocolate dammit…good!! I hope I can get back here when I’m in Denver in May. It must happen.
Coquette’s Bistro and Bakery – Colorado Springs, Colorado
Coquette’s Bistro & Bakery, Colorado Springs, Colorado
I love crepes. LOVE them. With the exception of my local food truck, I normally can’t have them. I don’t have a good crepe pan to do them myself…nor would they come close to what Sweet ‘N’ Savory can cook up for me in their food truck. Normally when I am in Colorado, I would go to La Creperie Cafe in Denver. But…they closed. THEY CLOSED!! I was saddened by this, but started doing some research. What I did run across though was a little cafe that does only 100% gluten-free food. The catch was…it was in Colorado Springs. The best thing is…that doesn’t phase Cathy. We hopped in the car on Friday morning and took a little drive down to Colorado Springs.
Nestled at the foot of Pike’s Peak, Coquette’s Bistro and Bakery has the perfect location to entertain visitors and locals alike. The place and the food has won numerous awards over the four years it has been open. And it claims that the food is so amazing, you’d never guess it was gluten-free. This little restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, espresso, and cocktails. There is a little bit for everyone.
But Cathy and I made the journey for…yep…crepes. None of their savory crepes are vegetarian. That was fine for Cathy, and she ended up ordering the Rise and Dine ($11.00), which is a crepe that is stuffed full (and I mean full) with two scrambled eggs, ham, red onions, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese. The crepe is then topped off with hollandaise. It came with a side of fruit or their truffled potatoes. She went potatoes. I swiped one. OMG. Amazing. I swiped more than one after that. I think she welcomed the help as her crepe was HUGE. I would have gone savory had there been a vegetarian option…but I was okay going sweet. Most of the offerings were what I could get from my local gluten-free crepe food truck…so I went with the one that I hadn’t been served by my local go-to gluten-free crepe place. And that was the Bananas Fosters Crepe ($8.50). This dessert crepe (hey…dessert for breakfast is allowed on vacation!) is a delicious crepe that is topped off with banana and a rum brown sugar flambé. The crepe is served with some house made whipped cream on the side. My crepe was definitely the size of my plate, but being a dessert crepe, it is usually dusted with cinnamon and sugar on the inside and then topped off with the goodness on the outside. Much less to navigate through. But…let me tell you…this was one fantastic crepe. I loved the rum brown sugar sauce. The whipped cream was a nice touch. And the banana, being one of my favorite fruits in this world, made it all taste a little like heaven. I devoured it. Like…completely. Cathy had a good portion of her crepe remaining. Not me. I went all vegetarian piggy on that plate. Worth it. YUM! I am making this a required stop from now on. It must happen. It is that good. And I feel safe eating there.
Baker Street Pub & Grill – Denver, Colorado
Baker Street Pub & Grill, Denver, Colorado
It’s no secret…my roommate and I are completely obsessed with Sherlock Holmes. For real. No…seriously. And when we discovered that just a short walk from our hotel room at the Denver DTC was one of Colorado’s four Baker Street Pub & Grill locations, well, you better believe we knew what we were doing for dinner after hiking around Colorado Springs and the Garden of the Gods. Hey…you work up an appetite doing that.
We walked over to Baker Street Pub & Grill from the hotel on Friday evening. I loved how you got to seat yourself. Our server, a bubbly and enthusiastic woman came over to see about drinks. I was sticking with water. But Cathy decided to take in Happy Hour and went with a Baker Street Brown Ale ($4.25). And with that…her usual pub fare…a half portion of the Fish & Chips ($7.99). As for me…I went with the Baby Spinach and Feta Cheese Salad ($9.99), which I added avocado slices to ($1.49) with a side of the Serrano Coleslaw ($1.99). Our waitress put in our order and we sort of geeked out over Sherlock Holmes until it arrived.
My salad was MASSIVE!! And it looked absolutely amazing to top it off. This salad was a blend of baby spinach, feta cheese, gala apples, red onions, candied pecans (they didn’t candy mine), and red grapes. All of this was tossed in a fantastic raspberry vinaigrette dressing. And let’s not forget my deep love of avocado…which topped off my salad nicely and gave it this rich creaminess that I truly love in a salad. The flavors really, really worked together. I loved the way the fruit played well with the vegetables and how the sweet, yet savory vinaigrette just brought it all together. The avocado…if you order a salad…always top it with avocado…trust me!! As for the coleslaw…eh…it was coleslaw. With the wording of Serrano Coleslaw, I expected something with some heat behind it…but it just tasted like your run-of-the-mill coleslaw. Probably my only disappointment. The rest…so good!
Cathy was very impressed with her fish. In fact, we both enjoyed our food so much we came back on Saturday night, our last night in town. The manager on duty rustled up some can coozies for us and let us get in the big phone booth outside and took a picture. It was epic. We ordered the same thing…minus the coleslaw and rounded out the perfect stay in Colorado at one of our new favorite places in Denver…just a short walk from our hotel. Perfection.
Udi’s Café and Bar – Denver Airport – Denver, Colorado
Udi’s Café & Bar, Denver Airport, Denver, Colorado
I had every intention of making it out of Denver without eating at the airport. I figured Cathy and I would grab something in Atlanta. It’s a good thing she talked me out of that because we had no time for food in Atlanta as it turned out. So, her plan to eat something in Denver before heading to our gate for the first leg of our journey back to Louisville was a stroke of sheer genius.
And to our delight, Terminal B at the Denver Airport has an Udi’s Café and Bar. Udi’s is one of the major names in gluten-free breads and other products on the market. And…they are based in Denver. So the fact that the airport has one of these cafés shouldn’t be a surprise. I was so happy they did.
We settled in at a table and a waitress came over to give us menus and let us look them over. We had a vague idea of what we wanted to eat…sandwiches…with fries. Filling. Which is exactly what we needed, honestly.
Cathy went with the BLTA ($9.35), which is a bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado sandwich with chipotle aioli and served on ciabatta bread. She got hers with the standard fries that come with the sandwich. As for me…I went with the Gluten-Free Caprese Sandwich ($9.95) and substituted the regular fries for Sweet Potato Fries ($2.00). Gluten-free sweet potato fries. Pardon my dance of joy and glee. This was the second time this trip I was getting sweet potato fries. This is me…being happy.
It was a little bit of a wait, but Cathy and I soon received our plates full of food. The sandwiches were huge. The fries…a big portion. But this was our meal for the day…so while we weren’t starving…we dove in.
My fries were FANTASTIC! Better than the ones I waited forever for at Disneyland. They were crispy, fried to perfection. I was in love with them. In fact, I saved them for the last bite because I wanted to remember those fries. As for the sandwich…epic win. Served on Udi’s bread (of course), this sandwich was stuffed with mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes, and a pesto aioli. And the flavors just popped. I have been eating a lot of caprese things since going gluten-free and this was one of the best sandwiches put together. Simple flavors…executed perfectly. And served with SWEET POTATO FRIES!! I was thrilled to actually be able to eat something other than a fruit cup, a salad, or some unhealthy snack at the airport. Seriously. This was my happy that day.
~*~*~
So…there you have it. I find eating gluten-free in Colorado to be so easy. Both Rudi’s Gluten-Free and Udi’s Gluten-Free are based out of Colorado (one in Boulder…the other in Denver). Granted, on Saturday when we went up into the mountains to Rocky Mountain State Park…my lunch was a banana, some yogurt, and some Boulder chips…but…I’m in the mountains. I will cut them some slack.
This was one of my best foodie trips to date. Both California and Colorado offered me so many options and such delicious food. I wasn’t really disappointed with any of the restaurants that we chose to dine in. And that…is amazing!!
Colorado…see you in May. I hope my favorite places to eat will be ready for me again!
The Celiathlete 