Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Brownie Bites – $5.99+
Nothing is quite as indulgent, quite as sinful, quite as delicious as dark chocolate. It is, by far, my favorite type of chocolate. And a little can go a long way. Maybe that’s what I love about dark chocolate. It’s rich and decadent and bittersweet…so overindulging doesn’t really come into the equation.
A long time ago…no joke…I spotted Udi’s Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Brownie Bites in my grocer’s gluten-free freezer section. Being the chocoholic that I am…I had to have them. And, my roommate was feeling generous that day and offered to purchase them for me as a treat. I had just baked something for dessert that would last a week or so, so these went back into the freezer upon our return home that day. And there they sat. When I bought them, they were relatively new to the market and one of Udi’s new products. These…these are probably old news to much of the gluten-free world these days. But, seeing as I finally dug them out of the freezer yesterday…well…it’s my turn to taste and tell.
Udi’s Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Brownie Bites are beyond amazing. Each brownie is baked inside a mini cupcake wrapper and is about 2-bites per brownie. And these are rich and totally satisfying. I want to take smaller bites just to make them last longer, honestly. The dark chocolate brownie base is like a moist, soft cake. I loved it. And each brownie is infused with fudgy bits of dark chocolate, perfect to melt on your tongue as you savor each sweet bite. Do you realize how difficult it was for me to resist going back for more? If it weren’t for the fact that I know how many servings are in that plastic container, I’d probably be swiping some…constantly…because I love that delicious chocolate flavor. It’s just enough, in each bite, to wake up the palate and keep things interesting. Those dark chocolate chips that are baked into each one…are heaven when you find them. I was in brownie heaven last night. It’s not often I say nice things about pre-packaged brownies…but these were so incredibly moist, soft, decadent, and delicious. They needed to be raved about.
Honestly, I’ve come up with dessert ideas that revolve around these little bite-size brownies of awesomesauce!
We are talking a snack and sweet treat here, so nutritionally speaking…keep that in mind. A serving size is two of these little two-bite brownies. That will set you back 180 calories and 8 grams of fat. A serving also provides you with 100 mg sodium, 16 grams of sugar (it’s dessert…it’s dessert…it’s dessert), 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein.
Treat these brownie bites as they are intended…as a bite-size treat. The entire container doesn’t need to be consumed all in one or two sittings. It’s best to savor…or…expand on it with little touches of your own. A mini scoop of ice cream, some nuts, whatever your heart desires. Just know that when that chocolate craving hits…whether you are gluten-free or not…these are the little treats you should be consuming…because they are just that awesome. I wouldn’t lie. In fact, I can’t wait to get to dessert tonight. Four bites of heaven. I can’t wait.
That’s basically what I’ve been enjoying this week. I’m not even joking.
And why should I joke about such a thing. When my roomie ordered the Cinnamon Strip from Katz Gluten Free, she did so without my knowledge. You see, I gave her carte blanche to place an order for Katz goodies using a Groupon or Gluten Free Saver certificate that I bought…without me knowing what would be arriving. One of the items she chose was…the Cinnamon Strip.
I had no idea what the Cinnamon Strip was, honestly. No joke. When it arrived at my office and I unpacked it…it looked like a loaf of bread. I took it home that night, put it in the freezer…and there it remained. But, you see, summer is coming and I need room in my freezer for my ice cream maker. So, I’m making my way through the items I’ve stored in there. And this week…I thought something called a Cinnamon Strip might be a delicious idea for breakfast. I mean, it’s probably a cinnamon-y loaf of some sort, right?
Well…I was kind of right.
I took the Cinnamon Strip out of the freezer the night before and placed it in the fridge to thaw. The next morning, I wasn’t exactly sure what to do with it…but assuming it was a loaf of something, I thought…maybe making it into French toast. So, the Cinnamon Strip came out of the fridge and I heated up a skillet and cracked an egg and scrambled it up to dip it in. And then…only then…did I retrieve a cutting board and knife and actually slice into the Cinnamon Strip.
Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Strip
On Katz Gluten Free Web site, the Cinnamon Strip is simply described as being a great-tasting and decadent treat with rich layers of cinnamon filling. I didn’t read this nor look at a picture before deciding to make French toast from it. Obviously. Because when I sliced into the Cinnamon Strip…I was not expecting what I got. In fact…the Cinnamon Strip is less like a cake or a loaf of bread…and more like a cinnamon roll…before you actually slice them into rolls to bake. Since I already had the egg ready to go, I went ahead and did that day’s up as French toast…topping it off with a small amount of real maple syrup. It was delicious…but I wanted to eat this in the actual way it was meant to be eaten.
Sliced…warmed…and just rich with cinnamon flavor.
The next day, that’s exactly what I did. I retrieved the Cinnamon Strip from the fridge and sliced into it again. This time, I only intended to give it a few seconds (about 20 total) of warming in the microwave. The first slice went to my roommate. And as I was warming mine up, she was digging in. I asked her if she preferred this over my attempt to make it French toast. She said that it tasted like a cinnamon roll.
Well, we all know I have a deep love and appreciation…and addiction…to cinnamon rolls. If a gluten-free bakery is doing them…I want them. Well, this seems to be Katz Gluten Free’s answer to the cinnamon roll. That’s exactly what it smells like as it warms in the microwave. If I had some icing handy, I’d have spread it over the top. But I ran out of icing a little while ago. I checked. None was currently lurking in my freezer. Trust me…I hunted. That being said..when I settled in to taste this for myself…I couldn’t have agreed more. Like eating a a slice of cinnamon roll. It was sweet with a cinnamon and sugar crust on the outside, but soft on the inside, the cinnamon rolled between the dough giving that perfect sweetness to each bite…even the ones without that candied outside crust.
In other words…super yummy!
I admit…this is probably not the healthiest choice for breakfast, but, honestly, it’s like a smaller, lighter cinnamon roll. So…how bad can that be? I sliced up my Cinnamon Strip into 10 slices, because the servings per container said 9, and I hate odd numbers when there are two people in my apartment that eat something. So, these are already slightly less caloric than they would be had I sliced them into 9 servings, as directed. That being said, normally a slice of Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Strip would set you back 210 calories and 8 grams of fat. It is rather high on sugar, containing 17 grams, but it’s no different than eating a cinnamon roll, honestly. If you’re going sweet treat for breakfast…that sugar will be higher. Higher than I like…but I wasn’t sure what I was slicing into. This is probably meant to be a dessert…but for me…it’s a delicious breakfast treat this week.
Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Strip is made from their gluten-free flour blend (a mix of potato, tapioca, white rice, brown rice, and sorghum flours), sugar, canola oil, water, eggs, confection sugar, orange juice, vanilla sugar, dry yeast, cinnamon, xanthan gum, baking powder and salt. And what you get is this strip of cinnamon-sugary sweetness that is ideal for dessert, but perfectly works for breakfast as well. If you are a conneasuier of cinnamon rolls like I am…then you will want to devour this. It’s hard to keep it to just one slice when something as moist, delicious, and sweet emerges ready to eat. Toast it, warm it…or eat it straight. It’s delicious any way you slice it.
Katz Gluten Free just won me over with yet another product. They are on one sweet, sweet roll!
So, I got a little impulsive when I was at Annie May’s Sweet Café on Saturday morning. It happens. Especially after a good race. And even more so after having not been to the cafe for two weeks. Two long weeks. UGH! Way too long to be away from my favorite place to grab food that I know I can safely eat. But, I’m finally back in town for a little while and that means…I’m back to my routine.
After running a great 5K race in Louisville on Saturday, my roomie and I headed to Frankfort Avenue and pulled up (FINALLY!) into Annie May’s Sweet Café parking lot. It was breakfast sandwich time. And as we were sitting there noshing on our delicious breakfast (which also included an allergen-free doughnut…because…they are doughnuts and I love them!), Cathy spotted a bag of dinner rolls up on the top of the bakery case.
While we were polishing off breakfast, she asked if I wanted to get them to try. I gave her that, “Are you really asking me that?” look and nodded my head while happily stuffing my face with more of the allergen-free vegan breakfast sausage sandwich. With that decided and our breakfast consumed, we went to the bakery case (where I resisted ordering one of the amazing chocolate chip cookies…despite really, really wanting one) and just snagging up one of the two bags of the allergen-free dinner rolls. We went to the register, paid for them, and went on our way.
I had no idea what I was going to use them for at that point. But my roommate had suggested I make tzatziki with the cucumbers I got in my CSA bin. And I had these gluten-free and vegan pablano chickpea patties in my freezer so I thought…why not make sort of a mock falafel slider? These dinner rolls would definitely make the perfect slider buns. Saturday we indulged in both Annie May’s Sweet Café and then gluten-free crepes from Sweet ‘N Savory Food Truck at Louisville’s Buy Local Fair. So, we were pretty full upon returning home that day. But…that’s what Sunday’s are made for.
Sunday evening, I made up my homemade tzatziki and then got the poblano chickpea patties into the oven. While they were starting to cook, I got the bag of dinner rolls off the counter and undid the tie. I pulled out all six of the dinner rolls (carb happiness, yes?) and put them all on a baking sheet. When the chickpea patties were about halfway done, I slid the dinner rolls into the oven to toast for about 15 minutes at 350°F, just to get them golden crispy on the outside. I did make sure I watched them though, as I didn’t want them to burn. The chickpea patties and rolls finished at the same time. I let them both stand for a minute while I sliced up a leaf of romaine lettuce and pulled the tzatziki out of the fridge.
Annie May’s Sweet Cafe Allergen-Free Dinner Rolls
Now…the fun part. I sliced each of the dinner rolls in half. They were so soft and steamy on the inside. They looked absolutely fantastic. It was definitely food porn of the drool=worthy type. I placed a dollop of tzatziki on each bottom half of the dinner roll, added some lettuce, put 1/3 of each patty over the lettuce, topped it off with a little more tzatziki, then put the top of the dinner roll over it. BAM…instant mock falafel sliders. All gluten-free. LOVING it.
But, the real test would come with the dinner rolls. How would they hold up? How would they taste?
I should have known, given that these came from Annie May’s…that they would be epically awesome. I never doubted it for a moment, to be honest. One bite…and I knew that these little dinner rolls had to come to Thanksgiving with me this year. They were soft to begin with, but I wanted to be sure they could hold up to the sliders I was making. So, just that short time in the oven and they got this golden crispness on the outside, but remained soft on the inside. It was dinner roll perfection. And, they didn’t hollow out. You actually got an entire dinner roll. They were light and fluffy on their own, without skimping on the bread part on the inside. They tasted awesome. Perfect. And completely allergen-free.
Annie May’s Sweet Café lists the ingredients for these allergen-free dinner rolls as millet flour, sorghum flour, tapioca starch, quinoa flour, water, olive oil, egg replacer, agave nectar, apple cider vinegar, and xanthan gum. I recognize all of those ingredients and think that they have really hit the nail on the head when it comes to their bread mix. The flours they use just bake up beautifully. Light. Not dense. Not heavy. And perfect. I was in love with every bite. And I meant it when I said I would buy a dozen or so of these for Thanksgiving, which I am hosting this year and keeping gluten-free…because that’s how my kitchen is.
A big shout-out to my local gluten-free bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café for once again bringing me allergen-free perfection. This time…in the form of a simple dinner roll. Sometimes it’s these little things in life…these little kitchen miracles I bring home from your business…that make my gluten-free life so much more amazing. I love you…and can’t wait to try more of your goodies that I have yet to try. Until then…see you on Saturday for breakfast.
Mock Falafel Sliders made using Annie May’s Sweet Cafe Allergen-Free Dinner Rolls and Moo Moo’s Vegetarian Cuisine Vegan & Gluten-Free Poblano Chick(pea) Patties
There are times where I regret waiting so long to get to one of the restaurants or places of interest on my list when I visit a city. That was certainly the case when it comes to BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery in Eagan, Minnesota.
Live and learn!
So, let me set the scene. On Find Me Gluten-Free, Cathy discovered that the Minneapolis area was home to this gluten-free bakery. And it got rave reviews. This meant…I had to check it out. So it was placed on the list with the address to get to while in town. And…life got busy. And before I knew it…it was Tuesday morning, the morning of the day I was leaving. I had gone on a 6.26 mile run that morning. Cathy had some shops she wanted to check out in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Oh, and I had a date with a celebratory banana split after my fantastic race on Sunday morning. I always celebrate races with banana splits. But it was still early and I wasn’t quite ready for ice cream.
As we were heading out toward some of the bookstores that Cathy wanted to hit up, we were driving by the Cliff Road exit. And she remembered…we had the gluten-free bakery to stop into. I’m glad she remembered. I would have cried had I not made it in there. We set the Garmin for the address she had written down and soon we were pulling into this little strip mall. The bakery was open, and it looked like the door was getting repaired as a large piece of wood covered it. No matter…they were open and that was what mattered.
We stepped inside and were greeted immediately. We were asked if they could help us and we mentioned that we were from out of town, that I was a Celiac, and that the very fact that this bakery existed was enough to make me happy. The man behind the counter said he would give us some time to look around and he’d be back in a moment.
The bake case was filled with amazing looking bread loaves, cookies, bars, and the like. The counter top had different gluten-free mixes and even some gluten-free hamburger buns (that I am now kicking myself for not purchasing!). We scoured the case and decided that we would buy one of the half loaves of the Gluten-Free Banana Walnut Bread, a Gluten-Free Lemon Bar (which we would split), and then we each decided we would try one of the various cookies that the bakery made. We were rejoined by the nice gentleman behind the counter where I placed a gorgeous half loaf of the Gluten-Free Banana Walnut Bread. I asked about getting one of the amazing looking lemon bars, and then I chose to have the Monster Cookie and Cathy chose the Lemon Zinger Cookie. He wrapped up the cookies, and placed the lemon bar and half loaf of bread into a bag. We talked about being from Louisville, Kentucky, and he mentioned having been at the 2011 gluten-free expo in Carmel, Indiana. He said so much has changed over the years…and that BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery had been open for nine years now and was still going strong. This spoke very highly to me of their quality and their products…but I had to judge that for myself.
BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery’s Lemon Zinger Cookie and Monster Cookie
After climbing back into the car, Cathy and I decided we would make our cookies an amuse bouche. I mean, what better lead-in to a banana split than cookies, right? So, she grabbed her Gluten-Free Lemon Zinger Cookie ($1.48) and took a bite of it. Immediately she was elated, saying it reminded her of the Lemon Blossoms my friend Jenn and I make, but in cookie form. I snagged a piece and she couldn’t have been more spot on. The Lemon Zinger cookie was refreshing and zippy. Honestly. I love lemon flavored stuff anyway…and this was awesome. The Lemon Zinger is also a dairy free cookie at this bakery. The other ingredients include white rice flour, sugar, soy shortening, tapioca flour, lemon juice, lemon zest, eggs, aluminum free baking powder, sea salt and xanthan gum. The icing that was zigzagged over the top was a combination of powdered sugar and lemon juice. Just really amazing.
The Gluten-Free Monster Cookie ($1.20) intrigued me immediately. It looked like it had a little bit of everything…and all ingredients that I love. And I couldn’t have been happier when I took my first bite. It was sweet, savory, and just amazing and full of flavor. A party in this cookie monster’s mouth, for sure. This cookie really does have it all. It’s a perfect blend of peanut butter, gluten-free oats, brown sugar, sugar, eggs, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, raisins, butter, corn syrup, and baking soda. So, it was like getting a peanut butter-chocolate chip- oatmeal raisin- butterscotch cookie all in one. Amazing. Sweet…without being too sweet. I gave Cathy a piece of mine and she thought it was mighty tasty herself. LOVED this cookie. I sort of want to make some for myself. Just…yummy. And as a runner, my love of peanut butter and that salty-sweet combo really was matched with every bite of this cookie. YUM!
Bittersweet Gluten Free Bakery’s Half Loaf of Banana Walnut Bread
The rest of the goods sat in the car all day and then made the long flight home from Minneapolis. That following morning, being that we had no groceries in the fridge, meant that I’d simply slice up some of the half loaf of Gluten-Free Banana Walnut Bread ($4.25). First of all…bananas…walnuts…bread. This was going to have to be good. When I opened up the bag that the loaf was in, I could smell the mouth-watering aroma of the banana bread…almost as if I had just pulled it out of my oven. I sliced off two 1/2 inch slices, one for me and one for my roommate. I threw each one into the microwave to warm it up slightly, then kept it simple with a light schmear of Smart Balance and a drizzle of honey.
A slice of BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery’s Banana Walnut Bread
Bread…perfection. Honestly. This bread is super moist, despite being a couple of days old at this point. We had it this morning for breakfast as well. Still moist. And we’re polishing off the loaf tomorrow morning for breakfast. I just checked…it is still moist. Soft. Delicious. Filled with banana flavor that is only enhanced by the addition of the walnuts. This bread is awesome. I can’t emphasize this enough. Gluten-free bread, when done right, tastes just like any other bread. Regular bread. The kind anyone could eat. If you put this loaf down in front of someone who could eat any type of bread…and had them eat it…they wouldn’t know the difference. I promise you that. This is one of my favorite gluten-free breads I have ever eaten. Just…super yummy!! Super flavorful. Super moist. And super banana-y. This bread is love.
And, last night for dinner, while it was still fresh…Cathy and I decided that we would give that lemon bar a taste at dessert. So, after we ate our gluten-free grilled avocado and vegan cheese sandwiches, I got out the plastic container that held the lemon bar and pulled it open. And that…was where I realized that the flight and the car ride weren’t too kind to the lemon bar. The icing came off with the lid. Whoops. No matter…I could fix that.
BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery’s Lemon Bar
The Gluten-Free Lemon Bar ($3.05) is actually a light, airy lemon cake. I sliced it in half and placed one piece on a plate. I then scraped the icing off the lid and began to attempt to reapply it the best I could to the lemon bar itself. This was…a slight success. You work with what you have. I took the first slice out to Cathy and she immediately dove in. Before I even had icing on mine, she was raving about it. So, this was happy news to me. I put my slice on a plate, reapplied the icing to the top and went out to enjoy.
Cathy was so right. The light cakey base made this unlike the other gluten-free lemon bars that I have had in the past. I absolutely loved this take on this treat. The cake itself was very light, not heavy and dense. The icing…wow…that icing. Just like the icing on Cathy’s Lemon Zinger cookie, the frosting was simply a combination of powdered sugar and lemon juice. As for the light, delicious cake…that was simply eggs, sugar canola oil, white rice flour, potato starch flour, tapioca flour, lemon juice, lemon peel and xanthan gum. I loved how different this lemon bar was compared to the others I have tried from other gluten-free bakeries. The ingredients all worked well together well and baked up lemon perfection. Happiness in every tart lemon bite.
I was so happy with everything that I got from BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery that it has been decided that next time I’m in the Twin Cities…I immediately head to BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery and buy items to feast on the entire visit. This must happen. This WILL happen.
As for you, BitterSweet Bakery…you are amazing and completely delicious. Just the four items that my roommate and I purchased and enjoyed were enough to make me want to continue to go back for more…as often as possible…every time I’m in Minnesota. BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery…this out-of-towner can’t wait to get back into town to visit you again.
Your food is love. And I’m head-over-heels for you!
BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery’s Lemon Bar (with reassembled icing of awesome!)
French Meadow Bakery & Cafe, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Restaurant: French Meadow Bakery & Cafe, Minneapolis, Minnesota
You’ve probably seen some of their goods in your grocers freezer. I know I have. They have quite a great selection of gluten-free frozen goodies that I have yet to try yet…although I have actually had one of their products. Back in October 2011, just as I was starting to get the hang of this gluten-free stuff…I bought a box of 4 of their Gluten-Free Yellow Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting. I was lukewarm on the review…being that I dislike frosting and that it had been frozen prior to consumption.
Of course, I had forgotten all of that up until a moment ago when I began this blog.
Here’s how we wound up here. I was gearing up for a trip to Minnesota and Cathy, the infamous roomie, had said she really wanted to go back to The Bad Waitress to eat while we were there. However, as she was scouting through recent reviews, it turns out The Bad Waitress had been cited for health concerns…so we nixed that immediately. This meant searching a little bit for somewhere new to eat.
Enter the savior of the moment, my aunt Jan, who had been messaging me back and forth on Facebook leading up to my trip. She said some colleagues at the hospital (she’s a surgical nurse) she works in mentioned a great place called French Meadow Bakery & Cafe. She must have been talking about my impending visit and the fact that I am a gluten-free vegetarian, because they mentioned to her the plethora of gluten-free options available…not to mention the gobs of vegetarian offerings. She mentioned this in the message. I looked it up. I sent the link to Cathy. We approved. And Jan said we would definitely go there one day while I was in town.
That day just happened to be Monday. Jan had the day off from work. The cold weather had given way to a beautiful, sunny 78 degree day. And we were out and about in Minneapolis, doing a bit of shopping and whatever else we felt like. Our only plan…be outside and soak up the sun and gorgeous weather. With that agenda in mind, we did a lot of our indoor stuff (like hitting bookstores and the like) that morning. And when lunchtime rolled around, we headed into Minneapolis and down to Lyndale Avenue South, hoping to grab a bite to eat at the French Meadow Bakery & Cafe. We arrived, parking around the corner on the street to the brilliant yellow building. A short walk later and we were entering the premises…greeted by towering black boards that held the menu, written in chalk. It was fantastic and…overwhelming…but awesome.
We gawked for a long moment at the boards, figuring out what we wanted to eat for lunch. Although there are still breakfast items as well…including a gluten-free waffle which was…SO tempting. We got it sorted just in time, because we were up next to order. Jan went first, ordering the California Wrap with a side of the Mixed Greens ($9.50). Cathy went for the Incredible Grilled Cheese Sandwich with a side of the Chips and Salsa ($7.50). Actually, I was expecting her to be a bit more adventurous than that when we ate here. That’s so…typical. As for me, I opted for the Roasted Vegetable Sandwich on Gluten-Free Multigrain Bread with a side of the Mixed Greens ($9.00). I was given the option, I feel I should mention, of either gluten-free white, multigrain, or cinnamon raisin bread. I HAD A CHOICE!! That made me so stupidly happy.
We were given our table placard, a big card of Edith Piaf, and we went to seek out some dining outside on the side patio. We spotted a table in the sun, but this made Cathy frown. So while Cathy and I made a run to the bathroom, Jan shifted us to a table with an umbrella and put Cathy out of the sunlight. She and I were shaded but still able to soak in the vitamin D. A happy medium.
We were able to sit around and talk while waiting on food. While I had been inside, I snagged a little chipotle hot sauce to add to my sandwich. I mean…we all know I like thing spicy…and with my race run…I could now spice things up as much as I liked or dared. WOOT!
A few moments later and our plates were being delivered. Everything looked fantastic. All of our sandwiches were loaded with ingredients (all fresh and organic, mind you!) and busting at the crusts. I eagerly snapped a picture of my Roasted Vegetable Sandwich with my mixed greens, then sliced that sandwich in half, added some hot sauce and took a bite.
The Roasted Vegetable Sandwich is just what it sounds like. Roasted vegetables. But what all do you get? Let me fill you in. This sandwich is packed full of goodness. Starting with beautifully roasted portabella mushrooms, roasted garlic, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, organic spinach, and then topped off with some chevre goat cheese. Oh yeah…it smelled divine. But even better was the taste.
This has got to be one of the best sandwiches I have ever eaten. Honestly. The roasted vegetables only elevate the flavor, and the portabella mushrooms were done to perfection. They weren’t soggy and wet and making my bread to sponge up the fluid and fall apart. On the contrary, all of these vegetables meshed so well with the caramelized onion and the strong flavor of (my favorite) goat cheese. I was in sandwich heaven. And it took every bit of willpower in me not to just devour it on contact. I savored. I even ate the salad of mixed greens, which were lightly dressed in some sort of vinaigrette. Very tasty and the perfect accent to my sandwich, honestly.
This was certainly one of my favorite places in Minneapolis that I have eaten so far. The food was awesome. All of us were so happy with our orders and ate what we wanted. If we hadn’t been so stuffed, I probably would have opted for one of their gluten-free dessert options. Maybe next time. What am I saying? DEFINITELY next time.
With lunch polished off, the three of us continued our day out by taking the light rail down to Nicolette Mall and walking some of our food off. The flavor of that sandwich still resonates with me. I hope to get back to French Meadow Bakery & Cafe the next time I hit up the Twin Cities. It is certainly worth the visit and the trip. The food and service is out of this world. And you can tell they do take great pride in their variety and numerous options for different dietary needs. I know that I totally appreciate it.
Dear French Meadow Bakery…I LOVE YOU. I promise to come back soon. Promise!
French Meadow Bakery & Cafe’s Gluten-Free Roasted Vegetable Sandwich with Mixed Greens
Ah…Dayton, Ohio. I have so many things to thank you for. First and foremost…Sinfully Gluten Free. I can’t go to Dayton and not stop in there for a treat, or lunch, or dinner. It is one of my favorite things in your city.
BUT…that’s not all. I also feel the need to thank you for this little grocery store chain called Dorothy Lane Market. If you are unfamiliar with Dorothy Lane Market, you are not alone. The only reason I took note was that, while driving through Dayton for a chocolate festival, we saw a few of them along the way. My friend Jenn and I were intrigued, and as lunch was not yet being served at Sinfully Gluten Free, we thought to drop in and check it out.
Dorothy Lane Market is a grocery store that sort of specializes in hard-to-find items and products. NICE!! I mean, it has your general produce and brands, but it had a lot of things I had never seen before. Evidence by the fact that I walked out of there with quite a few gluten-free goodies that were not available in my area. So much for just checking it out, right?
One very interesting fact was that they had this amazing gluten-free aisle. And while I was perusing it, an employee came over to talk about the gluten-free items and the fact that a gluten-free tasting fair was coming up. I would have loved to come back for it, but it happened on the weekend I was going to be running in Hershey, Pennsylvania. No good. But I was totally interested in some of the products she was highlighting.
Out in the asile, there was a tray of sample gluten-free bread. The one that happened to be cut up was the Cranberry Walnut Bread from Eban Bakery. She mentioned that Dorothy Lane Market often sells products from local businesses, and they had items from Sinfully Gluten Free as well as Tina’s Sweet Treats, among others. I was overjoyed with the fresh baked items from local bakeries…and ended up picking up a few items. Nothing from Sinfully Gluten Free, as I was going to do that when I got to the bakery itself. But, some Sub Rolls from Tina’s Sweet Treats and a loaf of the bread I sampled, Eban Bakery Gluten-Free Cranberry Walnut Bread, did make the cut.
With that purchase made, we headed out to eat at Sinfully Gluten Free, enjoy the chocolate festival, and then drive back to Columbus, Ohio.
When it came time to leave Ohio and head back to Indiana, I packed up the cooler with all the gluten-free goodness that I bought from Dorothy Lane Market and Sinfully Gluten Free. And it came home with me. And it got cozy…in my freezer. While the sub rolls were used rather quickly, a loaf of bread sometimes takes some getting around to eating. And, sadly, this one got buried under a lot of other stuff in my freezer. It happens.
Until I cleaned it the other day and organized it. And I knew immediately what to do with this bread.
French Toast.
Oh. Hell. Yes.
But first…it had been so long since I had sampled this bread, I needed to have it on its own. Just to see what all the hype was when I snagged it from the shelf.
Eban Bakery Gluten-Free Cranberry Walnut Bread is awesome. It is a bit dense and heavy, but a lot of gluten-free breads are. It is just something I have come to expect. However, slice it up, and the slices feel light. They are certainly filling. But the best part is the flavor. The bread is sweet, with the bits of cranberry scattered throughout. In addition, the walnuts bring a saltiness to it, as well as add something to the texture of the bread itself. It is delicious. And I knew it was going to make really amazing gluten-free French toast.
I sliced four pieces of the bread from the loaf and began to prep the egg with some vanilla and cinnamon. I even added a touch of nutmeg. I beat all of that together, then dipped the bread into the egg mixture. The great thing about this bread was that it absorbed the egg without becoming soggy and falling apart. Onto the griddle the slices of bread went to brown and crisp up like French toast should.
In the meantime, I warmed up some gluten-free real maple syrup and mixed together some cinnamon and sugar to dust over the top of the finished product. I flipped the bread over to toast the other side and before I knew it…breakfast was served. Maple syrup and cinnamon and sugar topped it all off.
I settled in with my roommate for breakfast. She was halfway through her French toast before I managed my first bite. She was raving about how yummy it was, so that was a good sign. She was right.
This bread worked fantastic as a base for French toast. Being that it was sturdier than regular sandwich bread, the egg wash didn’t make it crumble or become soggy. Instead it just absorbed it and made it toast up golden and beautiful. The flavor of the walnuts and cranberries took on a caramelized and toasted flavor which only elevated it to the next level. It was phenomenal.
On its own or dressed up, Eban Bakery really blew me away with the flavor, taste, and texture of their gluten-free bread. The Gluten-Free Cranberry Walnut Bread is definitely a welcome addition to my kitchen any day.
Eban Bakery is a gluten-free bakery based out of Ohio that specializes in breads, baked goods and sweet treats in small batches that use all natural and organic ingredients, free of gluten, preservatives, and additives. In other words…no bad stuff goes into their goods. Ever. And that is evident with how delicious and amazing their products taste. Love at first bite. When I next find myself anywhere with Eban Bakery goods, I’ll definitely purchase some more. Very impressed.
And thanks to Dorothy Lane Market…I now know of this otherwise unknown gluten-free bakery. Eban Bakery…you’ve definitely won the heart of this Indiana girl. When I next find myself in Ohio, I’m seeking out more of your products and going on a tasting frenzy. The Gluten-Free Cranberry Walnut Bread was certainly a great place to start.
French Toast made from Eban Bakery Gluten-Free Cranberry Walnut Bread
Restaurant: The Pfunky Griddle, Nashville, Tennessee
As a gluten-free vegetarian, sometimes eating while on the road can be a challenge. Fast food joints don’t work for me. And I’ve never been big on fast food regardless. This often means, especially when I travel to visit my family, that finding a restaurant to stop and eat is a priority. Thankfully…in this brave new world of smart phone apps, there is an app for that.
Find Me Gluten Free.
If you have not put this app on your phone…do so now and then continue reading this blog. I’ll wait.
…
Okay…congratulations! Your dining life just got a lot easier. Trust me.
The midway point between my home and my parents home is…Nashville, Tennessee. There is no shortage of places to eat in Nashville. There are also plenty of places that have gluten-free options. Normally, we’d probably make it easy and stop off at Taco Mamacita or even go to McCreary’s Pub in Franklin, Tennessee. But…while I know there are things I could eat at either one of those places (McCreary’s does not have a gluten-free menu, FYI, but Taco Mamacita does), I just wasn’t feeling the usual haunts. So this necessitated a search.
And naturally…I find a place that specializes is…breakfast and brunch.
When breakfast is your favorite meal of the day…this is one hell of a find. It had brilliant ratings on Find Me Gluten Free, so my roommate and I decided we would stop there on the way home and dine on some pancakes for lunch. Breakfast for lunch. Yep…my favorite way to eat.
The Pfunky Griddle is located on Bransford Avenue in Nashville, Tennessee. This is a quaint neighborhood with houses done up into businesses and offices. My kind of area. Parking, however, was a nightmare. We arrived sometime just after noon and there were already parties of people standing around outside. No parking was available in the lot, so Cathy dropped me off to go check on the wait time and she went to circle around and see if she could find somewhere to park. I ducked into the building and stood in a short line at the front where the coffee drinks were being made. I asked about wait time for a party of 2 and was told it would be about 25 to 30 minutes. That wasn’t unreasonable, so I put my name in and went to go see if I could find Cathy and tell her. She had just managed to find a parking spot, so we stood around outside for a moment before I asked if she’d like some coffee while we waited.
The Pfunky Griddle’s Honey Child Latte with Almond Milk
Caffeine while on the road is never a bad thing. And…The Pfunky Griddle has almond milk. Could I love this place any more already? Is it possible? After giving it a little bit of thought, Cathy agreed that caffeine might be a good idea (DUH!) so I told her I would treat us to our café order. She went with a Peppermint Mocha with skim milk ($3.75). As for me…I went with something that I couldn’t get anywhere else. Not that I’m aware of, anyway. Stepping away from my order of a Cafe Au Lait for a moment, I opted for what they call a Honey Child Latte with almond milk ($3.75). The Honey Child Latte is a double shot of espresso, combined with honey, cinnamon, vanilla and your steamed milk of choice. Never heard of anything like it…but it sounded epically delicious. So, I had to have one. Besides, I can get cafe au laits anywhere. This was something I had only seen here. Why not go for it?
The coffee orders were backed up, so it took around five minutes to get our actual drinks. No worries though, Cathy and I weren’t in any hurry. And it gave both of us time to stand in line to use the bathroom before getting seated. Her peppermint mocha was up first, and she commented on how awesome it smelled when I passed it off to her. My Honey Child Latte was up next and when I received it…I couldn’t wait to try it. Photos first…then the taste test.
One sip and I was in love. The combination of the rich espresso worked so well with the spice from the cinnamon, the sweetness of the honey, and the smooth vanilla after tones. It all just meshed so well. Love at first sip. I even made Cathy try it and even she commented on how delicious it was. Smooth, dreamy, and sweet. Just how I like it!
Dedicated gluten-free griddle (placed over the one built into the table) at The Pfunky Griddle
I was about halfway through my latte when my name was called. We eagerly followed the hostess to our table in the back room near the window. The table was outfitted with a griddle in the middle because at the Pfunky Griddle…you flip your own pancakes, bitches! Sorry…but it’s a really, really awesome concept. As we were handed menus, I looked at Cathy and said, “I don’t know what they are going to do, but I need this hot griddle completely cleaned…or I can’t eat on it. Cross contamination.” She nodded and went back to the menu…and lo and behold…there at the bottom was a note that said if you were a Celiac, a special griddle would be provided for you.
I admit…I smiled. I smiled a lot. I was already feeling better about the situation. Our waitress came over to take out drink orders. As we both still were downing or pre-game coffee drinks, we opted for water. Cathy went ahead and told her that I was a Celiac…so the waitress said she would send someone out with a new griddle for us. A few moments later, one of the other employees was flipping off the griddle in the center of the table and putting a new griddle across our table. He had it wiped down and left it there. I felt a whole lot better.
And, when eating at The Pfunky Griddle…you get something you put on that griddle. Cathy and I already had our mind made up. They have an all-you-can-eat pancake deal going. So, we opted for that. We got the gluten-free pancakes ($6.99 per adult per person, including 1 topping each). Cathy chose chocolate chips for her included topping and added walnuts for another option ($0.75). For my included topping, I went with blueberries, then added bananas for an additional choice ($0.75). As we were really hungry, we each got a side with our pancake order. Cathy opted for the 2 biscuits ($1.00), which came with butter and jam. As for me, as it was labeled gluten-free, I stuck with the potatoes ($3.00). Order in.
I noted that our griddle wasn’t turned on, so I went ahead and turned it on, giving it some juice. I wasn’t sure how high to set it to cook, so I opted for around 300 degrees, because I didn’t want to burn anything, so I figured a little extra time on the griddle wouldn’t hurt anyone. Not one bit. Our waitress came out with a a bowl that had packets of ketchup and hot sauce in it. And soon…or food followed.
We received a pitcher of gluten-free pancake batter and little plastic containers that contained our toppings of choice. The waitress set this heaping bowl of potatoes down in front of me and told me to cook them for three minutes on each side. I could handle that. With that…we were left to our own devices to cook up our meal at our table. FUN!
Cathy poured her first pancake and went to sprinkle just her chocolate chips over the top. I would have thrown the nuts in too, but she kept them to just sprinkle over the top after her pancake was plated. I got a couple of spoonfuls of potato working on the griddle then poured my own pancake. I poured way more than I expected and had this monster to start off with. I went ahead and tossed some blueberries and banana slices onto it and let it sit to brown on the one side. The heat was definitely too low as both the pancakes and my potatoes were taking awhile to cook. Cathy went ahead and dived into eating her biscuits, really enjoying the flaky, lightness of them. I turned the heat up slightly, which helped. Soon I found myself flipping her pancake and my own because her first attempt was pretty much a fail. But, I cook pancakes on a griddle at home…so I’m sort of a master.
Gluten-Free pancakes and potatoes on the dedicated gluten-free griddle at The Pfunky Griddle
With the other side working, I went ahead and tried the potatoes.
Oh. My. GOD! No, these were honestly some of the most amazing breakfast potatoes ever. Laced with a delicious garlic flavor, these mashed up spuds were crispy from the griddle on the outside, soft on the inside…and really freakin’ fantastic. The flavor was awesome. I told Cathy she had to try some, and she said she intended to. She went ahead and scooped some up for herself to get it working on the griddle while I plated our first pancakes and poured more batter for our next round. We threw on toppings and then settled in for our first taste.
The batter cooks up beautifully. We each achieved this gorgeous golden color on our pancakes. My bananas even caramelized after I flipped my pancake over and the toppings began to work into the pancake itself. I love a light pancake. Nothing is worse than eating one pancake and feeling stuffed. And here, you can make them as big or as small as you want. You can add one topping, both, or more. Whatever your whim…it’s yours to create. And these pancakes really hit the spot. They were sweet, without being overly sweet. And thin. And light. And just plain delicious. The batter wasn’t heavy at all, making the pancakes almost as light as air when I removed them from the griddle and onto our respective plates. And those potatoes. Oh…hell yes!! Those potatoes were one of my favorite thing. Cathy and I both enjoyed them, getting them golden on each side then moving them to the plate. I added hot sauce to mine, just a dab, which only enhanced the amazing flavor. All together…a carby, delicous, amazing, happy dining experience. One of the best gluten-free pancakes I have ever tasted…and I eat a lot of gluten-free pancakes.
This may be a new go-to place in the near future when passing through Nashville. Very happy. I never felt like I needed to worry about my food. The spatulas were rubber, not the metal ones other tables got, so I am certain they were for gluten-free foods only. I felt completely safe, and completely satisfied with my experience there. I’d go back and stuff myself silly with more of their gluten-free pancakes and potatoes.
For the record, they also have gluten-free bread, so you could have one of their sandwiches, or even French toast if your little heart desired it. The point is…this is a business doing gluten-free right. And I am forever thankful for them. And I’m also glad we stopped in and ate here. On the way out, I even purchased a bag of their gluten-free pancake mix for $5.50. So now I can make some at home too.
My gluten-free joy knows no bounds. Doing flips over everything at The Pfunky Griddle.
Love in brunch form!
My Gluten-Free Blueberry and Banana Pancake with Gluten-Free Potatoes that I safely prepared at The Pfunky Griddle
Special Delivery of Udi’s Gluten-Free Goodies – including brand new products!
A couple of weeks ago, I was the proud recipient of a box of goodies from Udi’s Gluten-Free, one of the first gluten-free companies to really wow me with their products. This two year journey into the gluten-free world was a struggle at first, and then…I discovered the wonder of Udi’s. First bread I liked. First cinnamon rolls I had after going gluten-free. First muffins that tasted like they were fresh out of the oven at a corner bakery. Yep…I had a deep love affair with Udi’s, which continues to this very day. I have yet to meet one of their products that I don’t love.
Case in point…
Last week, my mornings were hectic and stressful. I was pulling extra hours at the office, trying to fit in my training runs, and still make it to the gym every other day. It meant that cooking something for breakfast was near impossible. I didn’t have time for that. At all. Thankfully, this box came along at the perfect time…and with it…brought perfect breakfast bliss.
Back in January of last year, I blogged on the epic tastiness that are Udi’s Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins. What I said back then still applies today. And let me tell you, I have devoured the blueberry muffins on more than one occasion. My mom tends to buy some sort of muffin from Udi’s lineup when I come home for Christmas to visit. This past holiday…blueberry. Yep. Love. Every morning was full of blueberry love. A simple warming in the microwave and it was like it was hot out of the oven. They are soft and moist, and you would never, ever guess that they were frozen or refrigerated prior to consumption. That’s how good Udi’s is with these products. That’s how much care they put into their food. It doesn’t taste manufactured. My favorite part of the blueberry muffins, aside from the sweet berries and moist cakey muffin part…is the crystal sugar that is dusted over the top. It puts a little crunch into the product, which is already flavored with lemon and vanilla. Blueberry muffin bliss…every time. These have never disappointed. And, as long as Udi’s keeps this tradition alive…they never will.
In my mind then…nothing could ever top the Udi’s Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins.
What might this product be? Well…muffins for starters, duh!
But, these were nothing like what I expected.
Enter…Udi’s Gluten-Free Harvest Crunch Muffins.
What in the world are Harvest Crunch Muffins? Well, I can elaborate for you.
Udi’s Gluten-Free Harvest Crunch Muffins are everything you want a muffin to be…and then some. Not only do they pack a nutritious punch with each muffin, being that they are filled with healthy ingredients that are rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals…but they are just sheer awesomeness baked in muffin form. Allow me to elaborate.
Harvest Crunch Muffins are a Udi’s take on a more savory, yet still sweet, muffin, making these ideal for any time…but I devoured mine at breakfast. And when I say devour…I mean devour. What made them so nom-worthy? Well, for one thing, they combine the sweetness of cranberries, with the salty (and texture-giving) pepitas (pumpkin seeds), along with sweet potato and quinoa flour. What emerges is this rich, sweet and savory flavor that is so satisfying to the palate, you’ll find yourself digging in for more. I hope my area gets these muffins soon (we tend to run a year behind on new products in the gluten-free market), because these were crazy-good. Stupid-good. Amazing.
And, as I mentioned a bit earlier…nutritious too.
A serving is one muffin. These come in a pack of four. And with one muffin, you are served 250 calories and 10 grams of fat. That’s really, really good when it comes to muffins. Regular muffins can sometimes be twice that for an entire muffin. I am SO impressed. In addition, you get 4 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein in each serving. LOVING it. These are also low in sodium as well. And I love that the ingredients are all real food that I recognize and don’t need to hit up a dictionary to know what it is I am consuming.
Blueberry muffins will always be one of my favorites, but I really think Udi’s outdid itself with the texture, flavor, taste, and just sheer awesome nutritiounal powerhouse with those Harvest Crunch Muffins. Look for them. Buy them. DEVOUR!! Trust me…you won’t just eat them…you honestly will devour them.
But that’s okay…
Gluten-free goodness can still be hard to come by. Thanks to Udi’s…it’s a given.
Wholesome Cravings Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Protein Snack Cake Mix
Product: Wholesome Cravings Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Protein Snack Cake Mix – $4.99+
Thank you, Wholesome Cravings, for teaching me an important lesson when it comes to new products.
What lesson might that be?
No matter what, always try the new product out while at home. Do NOT think that just because it smells amazing while baking that it will taste good too.
That was my mistake I made when I baked up this Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Protein Cake from Wholesome Cravings this past weekend to use for breakfast on gym mornings this work week. Streamline. Make something that can be eaten throughout the week. Perfect. And, hello, cake…for breakfast. Sounds like a dream come true. And an apple cake at that. I love apples!
I also loved how easy this cake was to make. Simply mix together 3 eggs, 1/4 cup of zero calorie sweetener, and 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce, then add the mix to the other ingredients, make sure they are blended well, and pour into a cake pan. Bake as directed at 330°F.
Simple. Efficient. And, I wasn’t lying when I said that this cake smelled fantastic as it baked.
But…scents can apparently be very deceiving. I know this now.
Wholesome Cravings Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Protein Snack Cake
The following morning, I sliced two pieces of this cake and packed it into a container to take to the office for my roommate and I to enjoy after working out at the gym. We had a great workout…and when we were done, we were both famished and ready for some food. We headed over to the office and I went into the kitchen to peel some blood oranges and throw a slice of the cake into the microwave to warm up for our cake-for-breakfast pleasure. It still smelled amazing.
I took my roomie her slice first, and then went to warm mine up. As I walked back toward my desk, I stopped by hers and asked what she thought of the cake. She gave me an unenthusiastic, “Eh, it’s okay…I mean…I’ll eat it.” That is never a good sign. I thought perhaps she was exaggerating. So, I went and settled in at my desk and took my first bite of the cake.
First of all, the texture is rather spongy. Yep. Spongy. I really didn’t like that at all. It really didn’t sit well on my taste buds. I mean, food needs to have a pleasing texture, so when it feels like you are gnawing on a sponge, something is definitely wrong. The flavor…chemically. The apple tasted fake and the caramel flavor was rather nonexistent. I was not impressed. In fact, I messaged my roommate and told her that I would eat this slice because I was hungry, but when I got home, the rest of the cake was going into the garbage. I didn’t like it at all. I think I disliked it more than her because I didn’t even want to eat it. The things exercise induced hunger drive you to.
Totally unimpressed.
Totally disgusted by it too. It certainly doesn’t make me want to try any of the other cake offerings from Wholesome Cravings.
In case you like fake apple-flavored spongy cakes, though, the nutritional breakdown is this.
A serving is 1/7 of the cake. Who cuts a cake into 7 pieces? I made it 8. The calories per serving once prepared (and done in 8 servings) are 118 calories per slice and only 4 grams of fat. That’s not bad for a cake, right? Right. Too bad it tastes so awful. Also of note, each slice of cake serves up a healthy dose of protein, in this case, 12 grams. And you also get 2 grams of fiber. This cake made of 100% whole grains, contains zero trans fats, has no preservatives or artificial sweeteners, and is 100% all natural.
But none of that can save it from the fact that it is just…bizarre, in flavor and in texture. I was not a fan. And I really don’t recommend anyone wasting their money on this product. I’m more than a little upset that I did…because I feel cheated out of what should have been a delicious breakfast cake. Perfect, with the protein content, for post workout eats. But…instead…I got one of the more disgusting gluten-free products I have tried yet.
Disappointed? You have no idea.
A slice of Wholesome Cravings Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Protein Snack Cake
You might have realized that I spend a lot of time at my local allergen-free bakery. There is a reason for that. Not only do they provide some of the best food in Louisville, Kentucky, but owners Annie May and Kenna put a lot of time, care, and love into the products they serve up. And it’s not just cakes, cookies, cupcakes, and the like. Nope. They provide lunches and even breakfast every Saturday morning. Oh yes…this is more than your average bakery.
One of my favorite things to get when I head into Annie May’s Sweet Café every Saturday is their Allergen-Free Vegan Breakfast Sandwich, which consists of a vegan and gluten-free sausage, made by Louisville’s own Grind (a food truck!), Daiya cheese, and all of it goes on this amazing roll. Ever since I first had one of these breakfast sausages, I had been trying to figure out what they use for the bread.
And, after browsing about the case inside the shop on Saturday morning…it all became clear. It appears they toast up and use their very own allergen-free (gluten-free and vegan) hamburger buns. With this incredible revelation, I had to have some for myself. After all, I had tons of fresh produce to use, so I figured I could do up some of my homemade vegan and gluten-free black bean and soy chorizo burgers and make use of the amazing and very light hamburger buns.
So…yes…I purchased them.
I mean…they were one of my favorite parts of the breakfast sandwich. I had to have some for my own use. So, yes…I brought home a pack of four. And tonight, I mixed up the ingredients for my burgers and prepped all the veggies, some hand-cut shoestring fries from organic russet potatoes, and then sauteed up some shallots and white button mushrooms for these burgers as well. One thing I did have every intention of doing, however, was toasting those buns like they do at the café for their breakfast sandwiches. So, after unwrapping two of them, I gave each a light spritz with olive oil, then placed them on the skillet to get a light toasting on them.
With the burgers on the skillet, and the buns getting a light toasting, I got everything ready to plate. And with the homemade fries fresh and crisp from the oven, I started to stack them on the plate. I took one half of each bun and set it on each plate. Bibb lettuce was the next addition, followed by the vegan and gluten-free black bean and soy chorizo burger I mixed up. I melted some cheese over each patty and then stacked some shallots, mushrooms, sliced cherry tomato, and avocado on top. It then got a light spread of vegan sriracha sour cream. Then…the top of the bun was placed over the entire burger, completing the package.
Dinner was served.
And…yes…these hamburger buns are exactly what they use on Saturday mornings for those amazing breakfast sandwiches. Oh. My. God. I was so thrilled to be able to have these in the comfort of my own home this evening with my dinner. They are so light, fluffy, and delicious. They have this subtle buttery flavor to them, which just makes them taste all the more amazing. And they hold up, even with all the layers and textures going on in my homemade veggie burgers. That’s the best part. These buns didn’t flake or wilt or grow soggy. They remained in one piece and, despite being so light in texture, they are sturdy.
The remaining two will be used tomorrow when I toast up the other two homemade veggie burger patties I have already prepared.
Annie May’s Sweet Café is one of those little gems that Louisville should realize how fortunate it is to have in the city. I would be lost without my allergen-friendly bakery. I have enjoyed not only the sweet treats, but also the savory pieces I have picked up from there, eaten there, and purchased to take home for later. Everything is made with great care, and the owners pour their heart and soul into every product they put out for the public.
With the onset of summer, I am hoping hours will be extended once again so I can make it over there for dinners sometimes. Their daily specials always sound so intriguing, but I work in Indiana and don’t get out of work in time to make it over there currently to enjoy their specials. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert…all in one place.
And, you can easily purchase their baked goods, including their hamburger buns, right there at the shop. So head over to Frankfort Avenue and give their products a try. You’ll never guess that all of them are gluten-free…and most are also allergen-free. And all of it…super delicious.
These hamburger buns, especially, make a nice addition to the dinner table. Don’t take my word for it though. Go in there and purchase some for yourself. They’ll beat out any store-bought brand from the freezer any day!
My homemade gluten-free and vegan black bean and soy chorizo burger sandwiched between Annie May’s Sweet Café Allergen-Free Hamburger Buns (shown with homemade hand-cut shoestring fries)
The Celiathlete 