Category: Drinks

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Restaurant Review: Rye, Louisville, Kentucky

Rye, Louisville, Kentucky
Rye, Louisville, Kentucky

Restaurant: Rye, Louisville, Kentucky

While Indy was in town this past week, we really wanted to treat her to a nice dinner, welcoming her in true foodie style, to the area.  It just so happens that while we were at Disneyland last September, she treated everyone to a tasting menu at the Chef’s Counter of Napa Rose…complete with wine pairings.  It still ranks up there as one of the most amazing meals I have ever had the opportunity to eat.  Disneyland’s chefs work really well around my dietary needs, and my meal was completely gluten-free and vegetarian…complete with the perfect wine to compliment each dish we were served.

Well, this gave us an idea…to treat her to a tasting menu at one of our local restaurant’s chef’s tables.  It happens that three local restaurants have a chef’s table.  And after a little debate…Cathy and I decided on a new hotspot in town, Rye.  Rye is located in the NULU region of Louisville…and it seemed right up our alley.  Cathy got in touch with the restaurant, speaking with PR and Events Coordinator, Erin MacDonaold, and made arrangements, explaining my dietary needs and that she and Indy would be up for anything.  But they had to stay within the perimeters of my diet for me.  The chef and the restaurant had no problem with that, so…it was set.  Friday night…we’d be treating Indy to a tasting menu with drink pairings at Rye.

The most difficult part was not telling Indy we were doing this.  The only instruction we gave her was to bring something nice to eat dinner out in on Friday night.  That was it.  That was all she got.  And we didn’t even give her the name of the restaurant until we were getting close to it, even though she asked because she wanted to look it up on Yelp.  We have our ways.  Anyway, once she knew which restaurant, she seemed pretty excited about that.  The chef’s counter, however, remained a surprise until we got inside and Cathy let them know our reservation.  As we were being walked back to the counter at the kitchen, Indy leaned in and said, “Did I hear chef’s counter.”  HAHAHA!!  Yes, my dearest foodie friend.  Yes…you did!

We were seated at the counter, facing into the kitchen, getting a first-hand view of the chefs at work.  I was soaking this in, just watching how they worked together, talked, and even put together each dish.  It was heaven to me.  I still have a dream of being a chef.  Maybe one day it will happen.  But this…was a treat and I was enjoying it.

At Rye, that evening, we were assigned to the caring hands of Chef Joe Banet, Bar Manager Doug Petry, and Alyssa, who was around for anything we might need or questions we might have.  Let me tell you, this team was amazing.  Doug had the drinks out to us just before the food was brought over by Chef Joe.  And Alyssa made sure we had everything we needed, from fresh silverware to full glasses of water.  It was incredible.  And, within a few minutes of looking over our menu that Chef Joe prepared, he came over to introduce himself and explain that he would have our first course up in no time.  Our first course…of what would be an 8 course tasting menu.

The only difference between my menu and those of Indy and Cathy was that mine was strictly vegetarian, so I was served a cooked vegetable instead of the protein they received.  My drink was different in a few occasions too, better paired with my vegetable than their meat.  Other than that…it was time to enjoy some good food and soak up the experience.

Rye's Radish with Whipped Butter and Black Salt, served with Dolin Blanc, Sugar, Meyer Lemon Bitters
Rye’s Radish with Whipped Butter and Black Salt, served with Dolin Blanc, Sugar, Meyer Lemon Bitters

And it was off to a good start.  Doug brought out our first drink, a Dolin Blanc with Sugar and Meyer Lemon Bitters.  This accompanied our first course, which arrived a moment later…Radish with Whipped Butter.  Granted, they had Caviar Butter with their Radish as well as a Potato Roll…but since I’m a gluten-free vegetarian…I received extra garnish on the radish with the whipped butter just beneath it with a hit of black salt.  The radish was bitter, as it should be…and it was a bit odd being served with butter…especially since I had no way of really eating the butter.  I put some on each bite of radish and it complimented the flavor well enough, the black salt cutting back on the bitterness by adding a little zing to each bite.  Still a bit bizarre, but delicious.  And that’s what mattered.  The pairing with the Dolin Blanc was brilliant.  The effervescence and lightness was a great way to start off the meal.

Rye's Beets with Lavendar-Mango Chutney, Labne, Hazelnut, Chervil, served with a Raspberry Lemonade
Rye’s Beets with Lavendar-Mango Chutney, Labne, Hazelnut, Chervil, served with a Raspberry Lemonade

Our plates were cleared and things were given time to settle.  But, after about 10 minutes our next drink was brought out.  It was a Strawberry Lemonade.  No alcohol in this one.  Just a sweet palate refresher.  Not but a moment later, Chef Joe appeared with three identical plates.  The second course was Beets with Lavender-Mango Chutney, Labne, Hazelnut and Chervil.  THIS…my dear friends, turned out to be my favorite course of the entire meal.  Yes…this one.  The roasted beets were fresh and fantastic.  Perfect, really.  And it paired so well with the labne (strained yogurt).  The lavender-mango chutney was light and fresh.  And topping it with toasted hazelnuts was a stroke of genius, as it gave a hit of texture when it was needed most.  The fruitiness of the raspberry lemonade paired and played well with the sweet, yet earthy flavor of the beets.  I was in foodie heaven with this one.  I could have eaten another plate of that and been a happy girl.

Plates were cleared again and we were once again given time to chat, watch the chefs at work (we were trying to figure out just how many

Rye's Asparagus with a Smoked Egg, Endive, and Pignoli, served with Chono Sauvignon Blanc
Rye’s Asparagus with a Smoked Egg, Endive, and Pignoli, served with Chono Sauvignon Blanc

oysters they shuck per night, because there was a lot of shucking over on our end of the counter!), observe some cooking techniques…and watch as the lights flickered and caused problems.  The owner came over to apologize for the technical difficulties with the lights over the pass and asked if it was going to bother us as they fixed it because he could move us.  We were content where we were, however.  (On a completely different line of though, the phrase ‘where we were’ is kind of interesting to type!)  Anyway, with that decision made, we were soon greeted by our third drink pairing prior to our entree.  Cathy and Indy received a Stillwater Classique beer.  This was a change from what was printed on the menu, so it took them by surprise.  Since I’m gluten-free, my drink stayed true to the menu that was created, and I was served a glass of Chono Sauvignon Blanc.  Cathy tasted her beer and didn’t like it much…but we still had food to pair with it.  And Chef Joe appeared soon after, serving up our third course.  This course was Asparagus with a Smoked Egg, Endive, and Pignoli (pine nuts).  First of all…a smoked egg is the most wonderful thing in the world.  It’s smokey and savory and rich and creamy and just made of complete yumminess.  Seriously…if I had a smoker I would do this every morning for breakfast.  In fact, I asked Chef Joe how to smoke an egg…and now I kind of feel like I need a smoker just to be able to do it.  Yes…this was a rich dish.  The smoked egg was velvety smooth and paired so well with the bitterness of the endive and the perfectly cooked white and green asparagus.  I savored each and every bite.  And because it was so rich, the wine pairing was perfect.  This course was comfort food to me.  For the record, Cathy never did really like the beer.

When plates were cleared, we all gazed down at our menus to see what was up next.  This is where dishes started to really get different.  Cathy and Indy were about to start getting their proteins.  Mine stuck to a tried and true vegetable replacement for said protein.  The rest of the dish would mirror each other.  And, on some occasions…the drinks would be different.

Rye's Sweet Potato Soup with Kaffir Lime Leaf, Coconut Milk, Cilantro, served with a Pineapple Shrub
Rye’s Sweet Potato Soup with Kaffir Lime Leaf, Coconut Milk, Cilantro, served with a Pineapple Shrub

Such was the case for the fourth course of the night.  This one was a light serving, which was what we needed after all the richness in the smoked egg and asparagus course.  Doug brought over our drink pairings for the upcoming course.  Cathy and Indy were given another beer, this time Stiegl Grapefruit Radler.  Cathy was pretty certain she’d hate it since she hates grapefruit, but this turned out to be one of her favorite drinks of the night.  Go figure.  As for me, Doug paired mine with a Pineapple Blush, which he described in great detail and all I remember about it is that it had vinegar in it.  That just seemed strange.  But I gave it a sip prior to the dish coming up and it actually had a refreshing taste.  The vinegar worked.  Chef Joe brought over soup bowls for us.  My soup was Sweet Potato in a broth made from Coconut Milk and flavored with Kaffir Lime Leaf and Cilantro.  The broth was the same for Cathy and Indy, but they had Crab and Clam in their soup, not sweet potato.  I loved how light this course was, and how refreshing.  I am a sucker for soups as it is, and this one was perfection.  Seriously.  The broth was creamy without being filling.  The sweet potatoes were soft and delicate and perfect.  The seasoning was spot on.  And who doesn’t love an amazing soup?  Fantastic.  And the drinks paired perfectly.  I enjoyed sipping my Pineapple Blush between tastes of my soup.  Delish.

Our bowls were taken away and we watched as more food was prepared, put up at the pass, looked over by the expediter, and then sent out to

Rye's Cauliflower with Harissa, Almond, Arugula, Cucumber, served with a Gin, with Lemon, Sugar, Cucumber Sea Foam
Rye’s Cauliflower with Harissa, Almond, Arugula, Cucumber, served with a Gin, with Lemon, Sugar, Cucumber Sea Foam

tables.  It was so awesome watching the kitchen work while we ate.  Doug returned with three glasses of identical drinks.  We were each served one and he explained that we were about to taste a Gin that was done up with Lemon, Sugar and topped off with a Cucumber Sea Foam.  I figured this one would be interesting because I’m not a big fan of gin…at all…but the cucumber sea foam sounded A-MAZ-ING!  I took a sip, and while it did taste a little gin-y…the cucumber sea foam gave it this refreshing taste.  I actually found myself liking this one.  And, on cue, Chef Joe came over with our course.  The fifth course of the night, for me, was a fantastically grilled Cauliflower with Harissa, Almond, Arugula and Cucumber.  Ah…a match to that cucumber sea foam.  Cathy and Indy were served Monkfish instead of the cauliflower.  First of all, the harissa was amazing.  This chili pepper paste was a nice play against the refreshing cucumber and the warm cauliflower.  In fact, I was trying to get a little harissa in each bite because I loved how it worked with everything on the plate.  The almonds added a nice hit of texture.  Yeah…this one was so good.  Now I want harissa in my kitchen to use on my own cauliflower when I cook it.  Cathy fell in love with the monkfish, but Indy wasn’t as sold on it.

Rye's Broccoli Rabe with Ramps, Hon-Shemeji Mushroom, Yellow Grits, Lovange, served with Leese-Fitch Zinfandel
Rye’s Broccoli Rabe with Ramps, Hon-Shemeji Mushroom, Yellow Grits, Lovange, served with Leese-Fitch Zinfandel

Another plate clearing and more time to let things settle.  We were starting to get full, but we were over the halfway point.  And thankfully these were small plates.  This time, our food beat the drink to our counter.  So, Chef Joe went ahead and described our sixth course to us.  For me, I was given Broccoli Rabe with Ramps, Hon-Shemeji Mushrooms, Yellow Grits, and Lovange.  Cathy and Indy were served Rabbit with their ramps, mushrooms, grits and lovange.  We waited for a moment and a minute later, Doug was at our sides giving us each a glass of Leese-Fitch Zinfandel.  We now felt ready to dig in.  I sipped the wine first, finding that bitterness that I often find with red wine.  But it was good.  And when I took a bite of the broccoli rabe with the ramps (onions) and the earthy mushroom…it was a perfect pairing.  My favorite part, however, was the grits.  And as I lived in Alabama for six years and never liked grits, this totally surprised me.  I couldn’t say enough good things about these grits.  This was a fantastic course and we all polished it off.  Indy much preferred the rabbit over the monkfish, saying that the cuter your food is, the better it tastes.  Veggies must be really cute, because my food was really good.

Rye's Fennel with Parsnip, Black Garlic, Red Watercress, Pistachio, Orange-Mustard Jus, served with Angeline Reserve Pinot Noir
Rye’s Fennel with Parsnip, Black Garlic, Red Watercress, Pistachio, Orange-Mustard Jus, served with Angeline Reserve Pinot Noir

And so…our plates were cleared once more and we waited, talking about how the impending food wall was approaching.  But we didn’t care.  The food was some of the most amazing I had in a long time.  This was definitely a treat.  Doug appeared at our sides with a glass of Angeline Reserve Pinot Noir and talked about how it would pair well with our next course.  Chef Joe arrived with our plates.  I was given Fennel with Parsnip, Black Garlic, Red Watercress, Pistachio, and an Orange-Mustard Jus.  Cathy and Indy had Duck instead of the fennel.  Wow.  I loved how the Fennel was grilled and cooked down to perfection.  The parsnip puree was perfect.  It wasn’t gritty at all.  The black garlic paired well with everything, seasoning it perfectly.  I loved how the pistachio gave it some texture.  And, surprisingly, the orange-mustard jus was delicious and just amped up the flavor of the dish.  Cathy and Indy definitely seemed happy with the duck.  And when we were done eating, we were all eying the menu.  One course to go…and it was dessert.  I always have room for dessert.

Rye's Lemon Curd with Macadamia Brittle, Pink Peppercorn Meringue, served with Gerard Bertrand Cremant de Limoux
Rye’s Lemon Curd with Macadamia Brittle, Pink Peppercorn Meringue, served with Gerard Bertrand Cremant de Limoux

Gone were our dishes and Cathy was really, really looking forward to our dessert.  Why?  It was lemon.  And we are both huge fans of anything lemon.  Seriously.  Even better, the chef changed the way it was made so we could all have the same dish and it could be kept gluten-free.  This made me a happy, happy girl.  Doug appeared with our final drink pairing of the night.  This was a Gerard Bertrand Cremant de Limoux.  I love dessert wines.  LOVE.  If I could drink dessert wine all the time, I would totally do it.  Pure perfection.  This was light and crisp and just…delicious.  I had to remind myself to save some for the dessert.  Chef Joe brought out the most amazing looking dessert of all time.  Seriously.  It was Lemon Curd with Macadamia Brittle and a Pink Peppercorn Meringue.  First of all…salty and sweet.  Second of all…LEMON!!  This was a fantastic and light dessert.  And I wanted to devour it quickly because it was so delicious…but I managed to keep my  sweet tooth under control and really savor each bite.  The lemon flavor was spot on.  Not too much.  Just right.  And the pink peppercorn meringue was fantastic.  Light.  Fluffy.  Topped with the macadamia brittle that just tied everything together and gave it a crunch, which was needed in an otherwise soft dessert.  This was love in dessert form.  Lemon-y, nutty, meringue-y love.  And I had to make sure I got a bit of everything in each bite.

Rye really, really outdid themselves.  Not only were we treated well from the start, but the food they served up was beyond anything I could have imagined.  They were more than happy to work with and around my food allergies and dietary needs.  Sitting at the chef’s counter was an amazing treat that was worth every bit of money we poured into that meal.  This was more than a dinner out with my foodie friends…this was a foodie experience.

If you haven’t checked out Rye yet…you should.  Their menu sounds amazing and they are very good with dietary restrictions.  Their kitchen is clean and kept that way.  Their staff is knowledgeable.  And I can’t wait to go back again and try some food off their standard menu.

Thank you, Rye…for such a treat that night.

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Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk

So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk
So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk – $5.99+

Do you know what love is?

Love is…a new and fabulous product from a company who prides itself on good quality products.  And, lucky me…I had the opportunity to test drive a few of these new products from So Delicious!!  I have not been disappointed.

One of the new products out there from So Delicious Dairy Free is their 16 ounce containers of Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk.  They have two varieties of the unsweetened ones…plain and vanilla.  And let me tell you…these do not disappoint.

I am a huge smoothie fan.  And, for Christmas, I was given a personal blender.  So smoothie making is SO much easier now.  They are great for pre-run and post-run fueling and nutrition…as long as you use the right ingredients.  Well, I’m not running much right now due to a severely sprained ankle.  But…smoothies are still one of the best things in life.  So…this week, I broke out a tub of the So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk.

It was brilliant.  I put 1 cup of the Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk into my blender, then added 1/4 cup pineapple juice, 1 tablespoon of flaxseed, and then a tropical fruit mixture of frozen fruit (mangoes, pineapple, strawberries, and peaches)…gave it a whirl…and viola.  Smoothie.

Let me tell you…this makes a smooth, rich and creamy smoothie without adding sugar to the mix.  There is plenty of sugar via the fruit that is used.  I love having that option as I am trying to cut back a bit on the sugar I consume.  This is one of my new favorite products from So Delicious.  And it is so versatile.  I used one of the plain ones in a very…very different manner and I’ll post about that in a bit.  The fact of the matter remains, the vanilla doesn’t overpower or overwhelm.  The cultured coconut milk is creamy and dreamy.  It makes this velvety smooth, low sugar smoothie and it is fantastic.  Every last bit of it.  Fantastic.  Slurp that smoothie down…it’s good for you.  The bit of coconut flavor really played well with my tropical fruit blend.  So much love.

This product is nutritionally sound too!  A serving size is 4 ounces, or about 1/2 cup.  This serving will dish you up 60 calories and 3.5 grams of fat.  You will also be taking in 95 mg sodium and only 1 gram of sugar.  LOVE IT!  This product has no protein in it, but you do get 4 grams of filling fiber.  If you need a protein boost…use a good and trusty protein powder.  This product is cholesterol free, gluten-free, and vegan.

I can’t say enough good things about this product.  I am over the moon for it.  And I can’t wait to share what I did with the plain unsweetened either.  Although the vanilla would have worked just as well too.  I don’t think my fridge will ever be without this now.  I am, above all else, hooked.  Loving it!  I promise…you will too!

Tropical Smoothie made with So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk
Tropical Smoothie made with So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk
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What I Ate in Colorado

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
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
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
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
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
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
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!

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What I Ate in California – Part 2

I dedicate this entry to, honestly, the best meal I have ever consumed in my life.  No joke.  Sorry mom…but it’s true.  Never before have I been treated to such an exciting and taste-defying tasting menu, all of it done by the chef’s whim.  And yes…all of it done to suit any food allergies at the table.  For me…being a gluten-free vegetarian.  For my friend Tawn…no shrimp.

What am I talking about?

Disneyland.

Napa Rose.

Chef’s Table.

OMGTHEFOODWASAWESOME!

Okay…now that I got that out of my system…kind of…let me explain…

You see, Disneyland has a lot of nice treasures inside its gates.  And, after running the Disneyland Half Marathon, Indy wanted to treat all of us, plus her hubby and her dad, to a nice meal out…which would be our Christmas and Birthday gifts.  She chose Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa as the scene of this adventure.  After a long day, the four ladies got all dressed up and met up with Evan (Indy’s hubby) for a ride over to the restaurant.  Her dad was staying there so he’d meet us there.

A few drinks in the lounge and two Joey Fatone (from *NSYNC) sightings later, we were making our way to the Dessert Counter and being seated, napkins placed on our laps, and about to be treated to one of the finest, most epic, amazing meals of our lives…complete with wine tasting.  All of this…completely at the whim of the chef.

So…let’s get started:

Amuse-Bouche: Plum with Grape Relish and Gluten-Free Flatbread

Amuse-Bouche: Plum with Grape Relish and Vegan & Gluten-Free Flatbread
Amuse-Bouche: Plum with Grape Relish and Vegan & Gluten-Free Flatbread

The rest of the counter was treated to a Panna Cotta with Great Relish…but not this girl.  The chef kept is simple, elegant, and instead of the panna cotta, served me up an amazing warm Plum with Grape Relish on top.  The plum was sweet, pairing beautifully with the slightly sour tones of the chopped grapes.  It was the perfect way to wake up the palate and prepare it for the rest of what was to come that night.

In addition, while the rest of the counter got to share this large basket of various breads, a basket of vegan and gluten-free flatbread was delivered to me.  This bread had a fresh herbiness to it.  It was crispy, yet still soft.  And when it was fresh and warm…there was nothing like it in the world.  It was a nice change from the gluten-free rolls I am so used to getting.  It’s not everyday this girl gets to indulge in flatbread.  And indulge I did.  Because I just couldn’t stop eating it!!

First Course: Cauliflower Tower

Cauliflower Tower
Cauliflower Tower

What…you may ask…is a Cauliflower Tower.  Simply what it sounds like.  Cauliflower…in a tower.  But…it is really so much more than that.  In fact, while the base of this dish was, in fact, a cauliflower mash, it was blended with couscous, raisins, pistachios, and was drizzled with a blood orange sauce.  I love cauliflower, so using it as a base for this meal was sheer brilliance.  The couscous gave it a bit more body.  Toss in the sweet raisins with the salty nature and crunch of the pistachios and you have a meal made in heaven.  Seriously.  Angels eat this when they picnic on the clouds.  I swear.  The blood orange sauce just sealed the deal.  It gave this savory dish a little zing.  It was fantastic.  Down to the very last bite.  If this was any indication of what was left to come, I was all in.  I didn’t record the type of wine any of my meals were paired with…but I loved them.  All of them.

Second Course: Grilled Peach Salad with Green Beans and a Peach Yogurt Sauce

Grilled Peach Salad with Green Beans and a Peach Yogurt Sauce
Grilled Peach Salad with Green Beans and a Peach Yogurt Sauce

 The usual version of this dish is served with roasted duck.  But, being that I was the sole vegetarian at the table, the chef made one with duck, which Indy received, and made mine without it.  But this made me want to grill peaches ALL the time.  ALL the peaches.  And then consume ALL the peaches with ALL the food that I could think would pair well with them.  I will say this…I never would have paired peaches with green beans.  But…this worked.  This worked remarkably well.  The peaches had this rich sweetness to them, the green beans were cooked perfectly, so they had that crispiness to them.  And that yogurt sauce just tied everything together.  This was fantastic.  I could have eaten plate after plate of this and been one happy girl.  But more goodness was still ahead.

Third Course: Heirloom Tomatoes with Golden Tomato Essence with Fava Beans and Parmesan

Heirloom Tomatoes with Golden Tomato Essence with Fava Beans and Parmesan
Heirloom Tomatoes with Golden Tomato Essence with Fava Beans and Parmesan

 I do believe either Tawn or Cathy made the Silence of the Lambs reference when I was served this beautiful, rainbow dish.  I mean, the colors on this dish just popped.  The sweet tomato essence was what really made this dish so savory.  The beautiful heirloom tomatoes were ripe, gorgeous, juicy and the flavors danced across my taste buds with the first bite.  The fava beans added a little body…and some texture.  And to top it all off…shaved Parmesan cheese, which gave the dish that big of salty seasoning that just brought it all together in the end.  Rich, succulent…and fantastic.  Each dish was topping the last…

Fourth Course: Chef’s Creation – Vegetarian Mushroom and Tomato Plate

Chef's Creation - Vegetarian Mushroom and Tomato Plate
Chef’s Creation – Vegetarian Mushroom and Tomato Plate

 Be jealous.  Because the chef made this one specifically for me.  His gluten-free, vegetarian diner.  What exactly was it?  Savory goodness, that’s what it was.  Honestly…this was fantastic.  From the first bite he reigned me in with perfectly cooked mushrooms, beautifully seasoned and topped with gorgeous heirloom tomatoes and greens.  I wanted to hoover this dish so much, but I sat there like the lady I am and ate it like the sophisticated foodie I see on television and dream about becoming.  No…really.  I savored this dish.  Every bite of it.  And I never wanted it to end.  But…my fork fell onto the last slice and soon it too was gone.

Dessert: Meyer Lemon Crème Brûlée with Blueberries and Mint

Meyer Lemon Crème Brûlée with Blueberries and Mint
Meyer Lemon Crème Brûlée with Blueberries and Mint

 Without even knowing anything about me save for my food allergies and preferences, the chef sent out the most perfect dessert for me.  It involved lemon and blueberries…and that pairing is, by far, one of my absolute favorites.  So, without even knowing it…the chef capped off the perfect evening with the perfect dessert.  His Meyer Lemon Crème Brûlée with Blueberries and Mint was a stunning plate to start with.  The crust on the crème brûlée was brilliant.  And that lemon flavor was just enough without overpowering the entire dessert.  Toss in the blueberries (one of my favorite berries) and the hint of mint and I was in a delicious, tasty food coma.  Seriously.  I dug right into this dessert and savored it as long as I could.  I even ate the drizzle of chocolate letters around the plate wishing me an early happy birthday.  Yes…I enjoyed it…for real…down to the very last bit.  But, I’m a dessert girl…and this was one hell of a dessert.

My hat is off to Indy, for this fantastic food experience.  If I were to choose my last meal on Earth…it would be this.  I would want to be at Napa Rose…at the Chef’s Counter…once again receiving the dishes of his choosing for me.  I loved being surprised and not knowing what to expect when my plate was carried out and placed in front of me.  The company was the best I could ever be with at this venue.  The food was outstanding.  I’ve been spoiled.  No other meal has come close to equaling this one…and I am starting to wonder if one ever will.

My food hat is off to the chef of Napa Rose…the food that is served there…the wine it is paired with (SO GOOD!)…and the good friends I shared the experience with.  If any of you find yourself at Disneyland…do try to experience this for yourself.  It isn’t cheap…I can tell you that…but the food and the experience is worth every dollar you put towards this meal.  I promise.

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What I Ate in California – Part 1

Between Disneyland and the little out-of-the-way places that we ducked into for food and anything else…I was well-fed and felt very safe in my food choices while visiting friends in California.  In fact, Indy and her hubby, Evan, even went out to Whole Foods and picked up gluten-free cookies and some gluten-free crackers for me to have while staying with them.  They are, honestly, the best.  Nice to have people take my food allergies and everything else in stride and not totally panic.  Best hosts…EVER!

So, I spent a total of three days at Disneyland and then one full day seeing bits and pieces of California.  All the while…taking in food and enjoying every single bite.  I’m breaking this posting down into two separate posts because…well…the dinner I had at Napa Rose needs its own little post.  Honestly.  Because it was the best meal I have ever had.  (Sorry, Mom…but it’s true!).

So…I guess we’ll start at the very beginning…

Flo’s V8 Cafe – Cars Land – Disney California Adventure Park

Flo's V8 Café, Cars Land, Disney's California Adventure Park
Flo’s V8 Café, Cars Land, Disney’s California Adventure Park


You know…I give Disney props.  Both theme parks on each coast do their best to work with people with specific diets and specific food allergies.  And this was incredibly clear when I sat down to eat a “light” lunch (I was getting pizza later that evening) while out and about in California Adventure on Saturday.  I hadn’t yet made it to the race expo, but I knew I needed a small bite to get through until it was time to eat my required pre-race gluten-free pizza.  We were in Cars Land at the moment, so we stepped into Flo’s V8 Café and took a look at the menu board.  When we got up to the register, my traveling party (Cathy, Indy & Tawn) all decided they were going to eat elsewhere…which made me not want to eat here…but…I wasn’t sure what there would be outside that would be nutritious and still filling.  At the register, I mentioned that I was a gluten-free vegetarian so the cashier went to go and retrieve the chef.  The chef came out a couple of moments later and I reiterated that I was a gluten-free vegetarian.  She said it wasn’t a problem and mentioned the items I could get, including the Citrus Turkey Salad, sans turkey.  Actually, none of it sounded like anything I wanted…the side dishes were just…eh…meh.  And the salad was…well…a salad.  But, I needed something…so I said I would give the Citrus Turkey Salad ($11.49), no turkey, a go!

I paid the cashier and took the receipt up to the counter.  And my salad came up…gluten-free roll…but…UGH…the turkey had been placed on the salad.  I mentioned that my salad wasn’t supposed to have turkey on it, so the worker at the counter sent it back to the kitchen and spoke with the chef.  It took a few minutes, but my new salad came up, gluten-free roll, little dish of dressing, GODZILLA-sized salad, which was a basic mix of mixed greens, carrots, cucumbers, and yellow peppers.  It came with a citrus-tarragon dressing.  And trust me…this salad was HUGE.  I knew I wouldn’t be able to finish it.  But, if anything was certain, I was going to devour that roll.  The roll, by the way, looks like the Udi’s gluten-free rolls I can buy at specialty stores around here.  I think they were Udi’s.  I loved the roll.  I loved it to pieces…and pieces…and pieces until it was all gone.

The salad itself was fresh and crisp.  And the dressing made a nice flavor addition to the raw vegetables.  It was…a general salad, just taken to extreme proportion.  I ate about 3/4 of it before I called it quits.  It was just a lot of food.  The vegetables were fresh and crisp, the dressing was served on the side instead of just being poured over the salad, and perhaps drowning the vegetables.  It was good.  But…let’s face it…it’s a salad I could have made at home for a lot cheaper.

Redd Rocket’s Pizza Port – Tomorrowland – Disneyland Park

Redd Rocket's Pizza Port, Tomorrowland, Disneyland Park
Redd Rocket’s Pizza Port, Tomorrowland, Disneyland Park

 

It was the evening before the Disneyland Half Marathon, and Indy and I were in desperate need of some carbs.  And it is a requirement…I mean one of those dead-set superstitious athlete requirements for me to eat gluten-free pizza the night before a big race.  It has to happen.  If it doesn’t happen…I make it happen.  Somehow.

Indy knew that this was a must coming into the trip, so she asked around at Disneyland about good places to get a gluten-free pizza.  She was directed to Redd Rocket’s Pizza Port, which is a cafeteria-style, quick service joint in Tomorrowland.  We got there just before a flood of people and we spoke to one of the people manning the counters about gluten-free and vegetarian options.  She said she would go and fetch the chef.  I ended up standing there for around 10-15 minutes waiting on the chef, long enough for a couple of employees to ask if I needed help.  Indy and Tawn had already gotten their pastas and were now waiting with me.  Cathy was waiting because we weren’t sure if this was going to be a personal pizza or one we’d need to split.  You just never know.

After the wait continued, I told Indy and Tawn to go and pay and eat while their food was still hot.  I didn’t want them to settle in with cold pasta.  Gross!  So, they finally agreed, and just after they walked away…the chef finally emerged to talk to me.  I told him that I was a gluten-free vegetarian, and he said I had two options…a gluten-free personal cheese pizza…or gluten-free rice noodles with a tomato marinara.  Night before the race…it has to be pizza.  So, I put in my order for gluten-free cheese pizza ($8.99).  I was told it would take 10 minutes so to go ahead and pay and then come back to the counter in about 10 minutes.  I did just that, grabbed some plastic dinnerware, napkins, and some crushed red pepper packets and went to join my friends.  Cathy had gotten one of the pizza slices and some breadsticks and joined them in eating.  And I watched them eat for about 5 minutes as it took me awhile to pay.  When 10 minutes was up, I got up from my table and made my way back to the counter to, hopefully, get my food.  But my pizza wasn’t up yet.  There was a group of four ahead of me.  And that took about 5 minutes for them to get their gluten-free pizzas served to them.  Then…it took another 3-5 minutes waiting on mine.  By now Indy and Cathy were done eating.  When my pizza was sliced and finally put on a plate…I went to rejoin my friends and only Tawn was still nomming on her pasta.

The pizza was nothing to write home about.  It was the same gluten-free cheese pizza I ended up getting while at Disney World in February.  Just a small, personal-size pizza on a gluten-free crust (at least the crust was fluffy), with tomato sauce and cheese.  It was…okay.  I mean, I have definitely had worse…but I have most definitely had better.  I seasoned it with some red pepper flakes and just wolfed it down.  At that point I was starving and we had World of Color Fast Passes and the clock was ticking.  Nothing to write home about.  Just…pizza.  Eh.  Not impressed.

Hungry Bear Restaurant – Critter Country – Disneyland Park

Hungry Bear Restaurant, Critter Country, Disneyland Park
Hungry Bear Restaurant, Critter Country, Disneyland Park

 

It was the afternoon after I ran 13.1 miles through Disneyland and Anaheim, California.  It was just three of us.  Indy, who also ran, said she needed to rest and recover.  Poor thing.  So this meant our new guide for the day was the great, the epic, TAWN!!  And she knew all the places to hit.  We had a busy and very stressful morning…between race logistics, running, cheering, and finishing…then heading out to the park…

We rode rides and soon we knew we needed to eat something small before we hit the hotel early to rotate through showers and start getting ready for the most epic meal of our lives…courtesy of Indy.  But…that gets it’s own post.  For now…we focus on what I ate for “lunch” the day of the Disneyland Half Marathon.

I had heard tales and rumors that Hungry Bear Restaurant did gluten-free sweet potato fries.  Sweet potato fries are one of my most favorite things in the world.  Honestly.  Sure, fries probably aren’t the best recovery meal…but they were what I wanted.  That was it.  It was all I needed.  Tawn walked me over to Hungry Bear and I headed up to go place my order.  I reached the cashier and told her I heard they could do gluten-free sweet potato fries.  She confirmed this and said she’d go and get the chef.

The chef emerged a few minutes later and said that fries could certainly be done gluten-free.  I said that was all I wanted and went ahead and put in the order – gluten-free sweet potato fries ($3.99).  I was sent up to the counter and I passed off the receipt and was told it would be a few minutes.  I politely stepped aside, knowing this would be the case.  But a few minutes turned into 5.  Then 10.  Soon the staff was shouting back to the kitchen about the gluten-free sweet potato fries because it had been on order for 15 minutes.  The manager came out to apologize to me, saying that there had been a mix-up in the kitchen and it would be a few more minutes.  He offered me a free dessert, but none of their desserts were gluten-free so I passed.  After just over 20 minutes, my one little serving of sweet potato fries came up and I snagged them, went to grab some ketchup and finally went back down to meet Tawn.  She had been waiting a long time.  We had left Cathy at a table with her lunch, and it was long gone by the time we returned.  Tawn went off to find herself something to eat and I finally dug in.

To their credit…the sweet potato fries were perfect.  Crispy on the outside, soft in the center.  Warm.  Hot.  Seasoned well.  And just what I wanted.  They were phenomenal.  Definitely better than the oven baked ones that I make at home.  I mean, I love making my own, but there is something so fantastic about sweet potato strips that are literally fried to perfection, seasoned well, and served up piping hot and fresh.  So, while I think I aged a little standing in line waiting on an order the kitchen at Hungry Bear Restaurant forgot about…it was well worth the wait.

Tiki Juice Bar – Adventureland – Disneyland Park

The Tiki Hut, Adventureland, Disneyland Park
Tiki Juice Bar, Adventureland, Disneyland Park

 

DOLE. WHIP.  Need I say more?  Let me say it one more time.  DOLE WHIP!  I love Dole Whip and ended up coming to the Tiki Juice Bar twice during my 3-day stay in Disneyland.

The second time I contemplated getting a Dole Whip Float…but wasn’t sure I had enough money for one.  So, both times I ended up getting the standard Soft Serve Dole Whip ($3.69).  LOVE.

It’s pineapple goodness in a cup.  One that I will always take time to indulge in whenever I roam at Disney.  Yeah…Dole Whip is an experience.  One that shouldn’t be missed.  EVER!

Carnation Café – Main Street, U.S.A. – Disneyland Park

Carnation Café, Main Street, U.S.A., Disneyland Park
Carnation Café, Main Street, U.S.A., Disneyland Park

 

The only other request that I made for while the four of us were all at Disneyland was simple.  I needed gluten-free Mickey waffles in my life.  So, Indy, as always being the rockstar, sought out a place that served them.  She’s awesome like that.  So, after a late night and an early morning (for me…as I went running for 7 miles for my marathon training), we headed into Disneyland for our last meal together as a group of four.  Tawn was leaving that afternoon to head back to Fresno.

We arrived at Carnation Café just ahead of our reservation time.  We were asked if we wanted to sit outside or inside.  It was such a gorgeous morning that day that we chose to sit outside, as long as we were somewhere shady.  The hostess found us the perfect spot and we all settled in and started to look at the menu.

When our waitress came over to the table, she explained that we actually had a different server, but he was on his break so she’d be taking care of us until he returned.  We went ahead and told her that I couldn’t have gluten, something they were already aware of because Indy mentioned this when she made the reservation.  Of course none of this was an issue.  She said she’d go to get the chef and he would go over some options with me.  He did emerge a few minutes later and asked what I was interested in having for breakfast.  I gave him the hopeful eyes…Mickey waffles?  He said he wasn’t sure they could make gluten-free Mickey waffles due to the surface they were cooked on…but he might be able to do regular pancakes (not Mickey shaped).  But he said he’d go double check.  He returned after everyone else placed their orders and said that he could make me gluten-free mini Mickey waffles safely.  I was a happy girl, because I really, really wanted Mickey waffles while at Disneyland.  Dreams really do come true.

I went ahead and ordered gluten-free Mickey waffles ($10.49) with fresh fruit instead of the sausage or bacon side…since I am vegetarian.  They were happy to make that substitution for me.  I also had this with fresh brewed Joffrey’s Coffee ($2.99).

The coffee was really good.  Not too bitter.  I sweetened it with real sugar…as my coconut sugar was left back in Indiana.  After a short wait…out came our food.  Only Tawn and I kept with the plan to get waffles.  Indy ended up getting the Huevos Rancheros and Cathy got the All-American Breakfast.

My mini waffles were…delicious.  Definitely not the golden crispy goodness that Tawn got out of her Mickey head waffle.  But…the miniature Mickey waffles tasted amazing.  I poured a little pure maple syrup over them and dug right in.  I was given four Mickey waffle heads and ate all four of them without any shame or guilt.  The fruit was gone in a flash.  I am a fruit monster.  They were able to accommodate me and get me the item on the menu that I truly wanted.  Carnation Café was made of win.

So were the waffles…for the record.  Epic…gluten-free…WIN!

Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar – Disneyland Resort Area – Disneyland Hotel

Trader Sam's Enchanted Bar, Disneyland Resort Area, Disneyland Hotel
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, Disneyland Resort Area, Disneyland Hotel

 

Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar is like no other bar you have ever experienced.  The food they serve is unique bar food.  The drinks they serve are fun.  The manner in which some drinks are served are SUPER fun and invoke chanting and lights flashing, ships going down, all of that.  It’s a place you have to go to grab a drink.  And, as this was our final day in Disneyland…we chose to do just that.

Food choices, for me, were rather limited.  But, Indy was telling me about this amazing Green Papaya Salad ($?.??) that they served.  We inquired with the bar tender about the ingredients and he went to check with the chef to see whether it was gluten-free and vegetarian.  Turns out…it was.  So, while Cathy and Indy split the Panko-Crusted Chinese Long Beans, I was served up a refreshing and quite delicious Green Papaya Salad.

No trip to Trader Sam’s is complete without having one of their famous drinks.  As I’m always iffy and careful with alcohol…I decided to go with one of the non-alcoholic beverage specials served at the bar.  My choice of Sam’s No Booze Brews was the Jungle River Sunset ($4.49) which is a mix of orange juice, falernum, and hibiscus grenadine, all topped off with soda water.  And, yes…I ate my garnish.

Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta – Paradise Pier – Disney California Adventure Park

Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, Paradise Pier, Disney's California Adventure Park
Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, Paradise Pier, Disney California Adventure Park

 

It was getting late and our plan to see Fantasmic that night was about to be put into action.  That being said, our appetizers from Trader Sam’s were long gone and we were definitely ready to eat some food.  We ended up coming to Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta…because we were just really wanting Italian or something.  Because originally I was going to get something else, but when they kept mentioning the pizza and pasta place…it just sounded better.

So, we entered Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta and it was another counter service sort of thing.  I went up and mentioned that I was a gluten-free vegetarian and they sent for the chef.  He was out in no time.  Honestly.  And when I told him I was a gluten-free vegetarian, he immediately mentioned the two standbys that the Italian restaurants have on hand at Disneyland…a personal-size gluten-free cheese pizza or rice noodles with a tomato marinara sauce.  I’ve done the pizza.  It’s the same as always…and not really worth the repeat.  So, I went with the Gluten-Free Rice Pasta with the Tomato Marinara ($9.49).  He said it would take about 10 minutes.  And when he went back behind the counter, he immediately changed his gloves to start preparing my food.  I breathed a sigh of relief.  Cathy ordered a regular Spaghetti With Meatballs and Indy went with the Five Cheese Ravioli.  They were both made to order, but Cathy’s came up way ahead of ours.  We sent her outside to get us a seat.  About 5 minutes later, my spaghetti arrived.  And this serving was HUGE.  We’re talking the King Kong of spaghetti dishes.  Holy crap!!  I figured I’d get maybe halfway through it and be done.  Indy’s was the last to come up…so she was the last to join us at the table.  Cathy had already started eating…I was just starting…so we had timing.  At least none of us were left without food when all was said and done.

The rice pasta was really al dente.  Not bad…but not as soft as normally rice pasta would be.  The tomato sauce was rich and delicious and really made the dish, in my opinion.  The spaghetti really would have been lackluster and disappointing without it.  I sprinkled a bit of crushed red pepper onto the pasta to give it that slight kick that I like.  Me and spicy food make for a loving relationship.  Honestly.  I like it hot.  So, the spaghetti, like the quick service pizza, was…just okay.  Nothing to really write home about…or go on any longer in this blog.

Indy’s Egg Scramble of Awesome

Indy's Egg Scramble of Awesome
Indy’s Egg Scramble of Awesome

 

When you have fresh ingredients in your garden…what happens?  You make your husband and your friends one of the most epic egg scrambles ever.  Honestly…this was amazing.  So delicious.  So yummy.  I still think about it.  That’s why a homemade dish is being put into my blog.  None of you, unless you also know Indy, will be able to taste this dish.  None of you will get to enjoy it for the low cost of FREE…at her kitchen table…while drinking fresh and really delicious coffee.  It’s just not going to happen.

She cooked and diced and sauteed potatoes in coconut oil, added fresh vegetables from her garden, and then scrambled up some eggs.  Simple…but highly, highly delicious.  One of my favorite breakfasts I’ve ever consumed.  And it was filling.  Perfect way to start off a day that took us to many glorious sandy locations!

The Local Peasant – Sherman Oaks, California

The Local Peasant, Sherman Oaks, California
The Local Peasant, Sherman Oaks, California

 

This gastropub has no sign hanging up outside.  There is no neon flashing the name of the pub.  This is one of those places that if you didn’t know it was there, you would walk right on past it.  Thankfully, it turned up on Find Me Gluten Free…and it just happens to be one of Indy and Evan’s favorite dining spots in their area.  And I picked it.  All by myself!

It was our last night in Los Angeles, and it was also Indy’s birthday.  So, we went out to eat…although she told me to find somewhere.  I was mainly focused on finding Cathy a place to have some fish and chips, so I focused on that first.  The menu for The Local Peasant had not only vegan options marked, but also gluten-free options marked.  And my requirement to eat something with avocado while in California would definitely be fulfilled.

It was a special night, so I went against my usual abstaining from alcohol for training purposes…mostly because it was Indy’s birthday and we were celebrating.  But, they also had Green’s Quest Gluten-Free Triple Ale ($15.00).  I’m not a beer drinker…at all…but it was a celebration.  And, besides, Micky Dolenz of The Monkees was at the table next to ours.  I needed something to take the fangirl edge off.

Where there is beer…there is also food.  Our waitress just happened to also be gluten-free (in fact, her entire family is)…so she was a huge help.  But…as I said…I had my heart set on something with avocado in it.  I had to eat avocado while in California.  It had to happen.  So, when it came to dinner, my choice was obvious…the Edamame Vegetable Salad ($11.00).  Why was that obvious?  Because this salad was composed of edamame, corn, jicama, green beans, roasted peppers, avocado, toasted pepitas, and cashews with a rosemary and ginger vinaigrette.

It sounded like no salad I have had anywhere else.  It had avocado on it, and really…it just sounded awesome.  When it arrived, it was in a huge bowl…and I happily dug in.  The vegetables were so fresh and awesome.  I loved the texture the cashews and pepitas gave the entire dish.  The green beans still had that nice, fresh crispness to them.  The edamame is always one of my favorite things…and it was super good.  Loved the depth the roasted peppers gave.  The avocado, however, gave it this amazing creaminess.  It was topped off with that really flavorful vinaigrette that really just brought everything together.  It was the meal I needed to have.  It was the last thing I would eat in California.  It was…fantastic.

I’d go back to this gastropub in a heartbeat.  And I hope to…the next time I find myself in California!

~*~*~

So…there it is.  What I ate in California.  I didn’t blog about the fries from In-N-Out Burger…because I did that back in 2011.  But I did go there…and their frier is dedicated to just potatoes and makes their fries completely safe for me to eat.  Part 2 will be all about the fantastic dinner that Indy treated our party to at Napa Rose.  Trust me…that was a dining experience I wish I could relive over and over again.  But you’ll read about that in the next blog…

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Product: So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk

So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk
So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk

Product: So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk – $2.49+

You know…I’ve found that even if I could drink it…I have lost my appetite for cow’s milk.  Seriously.  I have no real urge to pour a glass and down it.  That being said…I have been drawn in and become hooked on unsweetened non-dairy milks…such as those made from nuts or coconut.  Honestly.  It doesn’t get much better than your morning cereal swimming in a pool of unsweetened almond milk…does it?  It’s one of my little joys in life.  And I’m not ashamed.

Well, I think the minds at Turtle Mountain, makers of the So Delicious Dairy Free products, have introduced a new line of dairy-free beverages.  From the company that makes, honestly, some of the best coconut milk, some of the best almond milk…and some of the best other products that utilize those…So Delicious Dairy Free has brought Cashew Milk to the market.

Yes.

Cashew.  Milk.

Why this hasn’t been done before, I don’t know.

I mean, I’ve downed soy milk, rice milk, hazelnut milk, almond milk, coconut milk…I even did one of those nut-milk blends that was made from almonds, hazelnuts, and cashews.  But never, ever…just cashew.  Which is sad…because it is my favorite nut.  It’s also the most popular nut in America, with 31% of people naming it their top choice (almonds came in at 16%).  Cashews have a delicate flavor, but are quite rich.  And they are a great source of iron, phosphorus, selenium, magnesium, and zinc.  They also contain high levels of antioxidants that can help lower the risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease.

Cashews are not just delicious…but little powerhouses in their own right!

Currently, So Delicious offers two varieties of their Cashew Milk.  Both of which are unsweetened.  One is the original flavor the other…vanilla.  I’d love to try vanilla, I just have to find it first.  As it was, this was tucked away on the bottom shelf at my local Whole Foods.  I didn’t see it, but my roommate spotted it and I commenced with yet another happy dance in the aisles of Whole Foods.  Their Christmas video of goofy customers will be filled with me this year, I swear.  So, as the only available option is the Unsweetened Original Cashew Milk…that’s what I bought.

This morning…it made its debut.  Actually, I opened it up last night to pour into my Maple Raspberry Overnight Oats, but…I didn’t taste the milk.  My roommate did…and said it tasted like almond milk.  That’s her palate for you.

So, I’m working on polishing off a box of Vanilla Chex…so this morning, my cereal got a nice, healthy dash of So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk.  I found it to have a bit more body to it than unsweetened almond milk, meaning it was a bit thicker…more like cow’s milk.  I tasted it…and found that it had a very smooth and light flavor.  I liked it.  Maybe not as much as my unsweetened almond milk…but I liked it.  I liked it enough to slurp it up by the spoonful with my cereal.  Now…lunch today, I retrieved my Refrigerator Oats and sat down to devour it.  The cashew milk was SO good in that.  I mean, it had a thicker consistency, so it wasn’t as soupy as it usually is.  It really softened up the gluten-free oats, mixed well with my dairy-free yogurt, my pure maple syrup, and the raspberries I added for flavor.  It was fantastic.  I’d use the So Delicious Cashew Milk in that every single time I make it…if I could.  I was blown away.  And I think I ate them faster than I ever had before.  I loved that both varieties that are out are unsweetened.  I only buy unsweetened almond milk, so that was how I wanted my cashew milk.  It has a bit of a richer texture and flavor…and I liked it.  As a cashew lover…well…that’s a good thing.

Let’s talk ingredients now…because I have been cutting certain additives out of my diet wherever possible.  I was so happy to see that So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk did not have carrageenan listed.  Total win.  What this milk is made up of includes: cashew milk (filtered water and cashews), non-GMO canola oil, calcium phosphate, magnesium, magnesium phosphate, locust bean gum, gellan gum, guar gum, vitamin A acetate, sea salt, vitamin D-3, L-Selenmoethionine (selenium) zinc oxide, folic acid, and vitamin B-12.

As for the nutritional information I like to pass on…keep in mind that this is milk derived from a nut.  Therefore…it is going to have more fat than other non-dairy products.  And…this one actually has a lot of fat in it.  A serving of 1 cup will only serve you up 35 calories, but 30 of those calories are calories from fat.  Yeah…that’s…a lot.  One cup will also provide you with 3.5 grams of fat and 85 mg sodium.  This beverage has no fiber, no protein, no cholesterol, and no sugar.  I’m bummed about the protein part.  At least I get 1 gram with almond milk.

So…overall…a delightfully tasty beverage from So Delicious.  The Unsweetened Cashew Milk is just as good as it sounds.  I hope to track down the vanilla version of it sometime because I love my unsweetened vanilla almond milk and treat myself to it every now and again.

So Delicious…you are definitely living up to your name…as you tend to do.  Thank you for introducing my favorite nut to milk form and livening up my breakfast and lunch.  SO DELISH!

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The jury is in…Louisville’s Sidebar pays special attention to dietary needs

Sidebar at Whiskey Row, Louisville, Kentucky
Sidebar at Whiskey Row, Louisville, Kentucky

Restaurant: Sidebar at Whiskey Row, Louisville, Kentucky

I love eating out with friends.  I really, really do.  Especially when it’s a fellow co-worker who is as much a foodie as my roommate and I.  I mean, how can you say “NO” to trying out new spots right in your own backyard?  I can’t.  I love trying out new restaurants.  But, with my food allergies, this sometimes means an extra level of difficulty, or sometimes…me bringing my own food to eat while they order and dine from the establishment itself.  And…yes…I am okay with that.  It has never bothered me at all.  It bothers the people I dine with at times, but I’m perfectly fine eating one of my protein bars and then grabbing something that is safe for me to eat at home.

It’s my body…so it’s my choice, right?  Right!

Anyway, one of our IT guys at work had gone to this local burger spot in Louisville, Kentucky that he was over the moon for their food.  He’d gone there a couple of times and said that they never gave him something he didn’t like.  Not only was their bourbon amazing, but their burgers were to die for.

It sounded like something Cathy needed to try out…because that girl loves her burgers.  I did note that they made a vegetarian burger as well, so took it upon myself to post on their Facebook page as to what, if any, gluten-free options Sidebar at Whiskey Row had to offer.  What happened next was one of the most amazing and wonderful things any restaurant establishment can do for someone who wishes to dine with them, but has certain dietary needs.  I had a quick response from Jason Pierce, Sidebar’s Assistant General Manager and the Culinary Director providing his e-mail address so that I could contact him about my visit on Friday evening.  I immediately sent him an e-mail to which he said that all salads are prepared in a manner that would be safe for me to eat, being that they are properly handled, washed, and plated so that there would be no cross-contamination.  He also said that if I wanted to, I could bring in my own salad dressing that he could dress the salad with as well.  I appreciated that suggestion immensely.  And, finally, he said that they could prepare the Mushroom Edamame Burger (the vegetarian option) without the gluten ingredients.  I told him I was fine with a salad, and that I really appreciated the burger option, but with it needing to be cooked on a separate, and clean, surface…the salad would probably be easiest.

A few back and forth messages via e-mail and Jason ensured me that he would make sure I had a fantastic dining experience on Friday.

Fast forward to Friday.  The three of us left work and headed down to Sidebar at Whiskey Row immediately, not really knowing what the traffic situation in Louisville would be like.  It wasn’t too bad and we were parked and heading into Sidebar by 5 p.m.  We were greeted warmly and shown to a table in the corner.  The three of us settled in and all ordered waters (I was sticking with water as I had a 12 mile run the next morning).  Justin already knew he was getting an Old Fashioned ($10.00), which is sugar and bitters topped with whiskey and then touched off with a twist of citrus rind.  He told Cathy that it was one of his favorite drinks there, especially since Sidebar is known for their barrel-aged cocktails.  You see, Sidebar at Whiskey Row mixes all the shelf-stable components of a cocktail and ages the mixture in a charred barrel.  How’s that for unique.  And you won’t find these cocktails on any other menu in the area.  Anyway…that was all Cathy had to hear, apparently…

Sidebar's Old Fashioned cocktail
Sidebar’s Old Fashioned cocktail

My two carnivorous friends put in their orders after our drinks arrived.  Justin decided to go for the Ambulance Chaser ($12.00), which is a Certified Angus Beef burger topped with smoky BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, smoked bacon, tomato jam and tobacco onions.  He opted for the Truffle-Parm fries ($2.00) with his burger.  Cathy decided on the Court Reporter ($12.00), which is a Certified Angus Beef burger topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, honey-chipotle aioli, and roasted red pepper relish.  She opted for the sweet potato fries with her burger($2.00).  And…she went ahead and decided to try an Old Fashioned without sampling Justin’s…so that was put in as well.

I mentioned to our waitress before ordering that I had been talking to Jason Pierce about my meal.  She said she would go to the kitchen and talk to him, so when she returned she said that Jason recommended the Kale Salad ($8.00), without the Parmesan cheese and without the toasted almonds.  I said that sounded great.  After all…I love, love, LOVE kale.  I was super excited.

With the orders in, Cathy and Justin decided to enjoy their cocktails while we sat around, took in the ambiance of the restaurant itself, and had good conversation.  First of all, you might notice a courtroom theme for Sidebar.  You are very observant.  That was entirely the point.  Not to mention, the restaurant itself is located in a grand 19th-Century building next to the Second Street Bridge, and boasts lofty ceilings, towering windows, a beautiful bar, and comfortable seating.  It’s simply a stunning place to dine.  Another thing that Sidebar is quite proud of is that they created their own unique hamburger blend, which is a mix of certified Angus beef, chuck, brisket, and short rib, creating a burger that uses no trimmings, added fats, fillers, or binders.  So, for you carnivores or people with friends who love a good burger…this might be a great place to take them.

It wasn’t too long before our food arrived at the table.  Everything looked amazing.  My salad was a work of art.  Honestly.  A bed of finely shredded kale, piled high with carrots, greens, carrots, and served with a citrus vinaigrette.  Rimming the edge of it was gorgeous heirloom tomatoes and fresh cucumber.  It was not the described kale salad from the menu, but something that Jason did up special for me.  No sooner had the waitress left but Jason comes to the table to introduce himself and tell me a little bit about what he put together for me.  I shook his hand and thanked him for his help and for everything.  This salad was going to be epic…I could already tell.  Jason returned to the kitchen and I dug in.

HOLY COW!  This is definitely one of the best salads I have ever had the honor of eating.  And I’m not just saying that.  First of all, it’s not your typical green salad that most restaurants would give you.  I loved the way the kale was shredded, making it the bed of the salad, and not difficult to eat, nor clunky.  The green onion, carrots, and cucumber made fantastic green vegetables to serve with it.  And those heirloom tomatoes…they were juicy, fresh, and just melted in my mouth.  The citrus vinaigrette was out-of-this-world and made for the perfect pairing with every component of this salad.  It was a nice hit of sweetness that matched the earthy flavors of the vegetables to perfection.  I almost didn’t want to dive into it, because it just looked gorgeous, but I was hungry and I definitely wanted to see what Jason’s salad creation tasted like.  If heaven was a salad bar, then this would be the salad it would serve every day.  I would never get tired of eating this.  It worked.  It worked well.  And I couldn’t stop eating it even if I tried.

Cathy and Justin devoured their burgers and fries and polished off their cocktails.  Everyone was satisfied and happy with their meals.  Cathy and I already decided this is definitely a place we need to take our friend Greg, who LOVES a good burger.  I think he would love what this place served up.

I really wanted to once again express my appreciation to Sidebar and to Jason Pierce, specifically, for not only addressing my dietary needs, but for exceeding all expectations when it came to my dinner choice that evening.  I was blown away and can’t wait to return again for another round of that amazing Kale Salad.  I have been bragging to everyone, my running group included (because we ran by the restaurant on Saturday morning) about the food, the service, and the attention that is given to every aspect of customer service and customer satisfaction at Sidebar.  I was beyond impressed.

Louisville is certainly lucky to have such a great gourmet burger establishment.  Not just because of the value of the food produced, but also the attention to detail and the personal touches that are given…without even being asked.  I will forever recommend Sidebar to people, simply because they took good care of me, someone with special dietary needs, and they did it very well.  Going above and beyond…that’s what they do.

Congratulations, Sidebar…you definitely passed the bar!!  In fact, you just set the bar higher for every other local restaurant!

Sidebar's Kale Salad (done gluten-free)
Sidebar’s Kale Salad (done gluten-free)
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Ripped Cream adds a burst of Lean Vanilla Bean and added protein to my morning cup o’ joe

Ripped Cream Lean Vanilla Bean Protein Coffee Creamer
Ripped Cream Lean Vanilla Bean Protein Coffee Creamer

Product: Ripped Cream Lean Vanilla Bean Coffee Creamer – $11.99+

Last month, I was overjoyed to actually win a contest that I entered online.  It was one of those…”Sure…I’ll enter it.  I’m interested in the product, so it would be awesome to win…but if not, I’m not out anything…”  And so, I put my name in and I was one of two people selected by random draw to receive an exciting product.

What was it?

Ripped Cream.

Don’t you just love that name?

What is it?  Coffee Creamer.  Yes…coffee creamer that is gluten-free, all-natural, and high-protein.

In other words…it’s a coffee creamer that was made for me, yes?  You betcha!

So, yeah…I was overjoyed.  We were asked to choose which flavor we preferred, as Ripped Cream comes in two different varieties: Lean Vanilla Bean and Chizzled Chocolate.  It was on a first response basis, meaning whoever replied first got first choice of the flavor.  I was sort of late getting that e-mail, but I put in for the Chizzled Chocolate.  The other winner beat me to the punch, because when my package arrived…the Lean Vanilla Bean was waiting for me.  No big deal.  I was just thrilled to be trying out this product.

Now, you are all rather aware of my sports nutritionist moving me more towards a clean eating diet.  I’m thrilled to be heading that direction.  So, how does this fit in?  Well, I will never be able to drink my coffee black.  And as we are aiming for around an 80% clean eating as far as my food goes…so this would definitely move into the 20% that isn’t heading that way…but we all make those decisions on our own, yes?  It’s not that this creamer is horribly bad.  It’s not . The ingredients really are all-natural.  But…most people would say…drink the coffee black.  NEVER!

Well, as I was working the artificial sweeteners…including the flavored syrup…out of the kitchen…and I had used up my So Delicious Coconut Creamer…this was up.  Time to give it a try.

Let’s start with what this coffee creamer adds to the coffee itself.  A serving size of Ripped Cream is 2 tablespoons, although I just drop 1 tablespoon in the coffee in the morning.  It’s all it needs.  A serving, however of Ripped Cream Lean Vanilla Bean adds only 90 calories to your coffee and only 2.5 grams of fat.  Aside from that, you get 8 grams of sugar in a serving.  But you also receive 5 grams of powerful protein.  This coffee creamer also serves up a nice dose of Vitamin D.  You feel good about drinking it.  As someone who often struggles to meet their daily protein allotment, this creamer is amazing.  According to Ripped Cream’s Web site, experts recommend consuming protein within 30 minutes of waking up each morning as a way to promote optimum healthy.  This makes this creamer a great addition to the morning routine as it contains as much protein as an egg.

So…how does this all work in the coffee itself?

It’s delicious.  No.  Really.  It is.  I’m actually glad I ended up with the Lean Vanilla Bean variety from Ripped Cream.  It ranks right up there with other vanilla creamers I have had in the past.  The only difference is…this one is actually quite good for you.  I mean…just compare them.  I am a huge fan of the flavor.  I love how quickly it blends into the coffee…nothing lumpy left swimming in my morning wake-up mug.  And it’s refreshing.  It just heightens the other flavors in the coffee.   When your product does all of that, plus adds a bit of nutrition to the mix…you better believe I’m on satisfied customer.

So, thank you to Rather Be Runnin’ for your blog on Ripped Cream.  It caught my attention for sure.  And, more thanks to Ripped Cream, for making a product that beefs up the morning brew and makes it a healthier choice for flavor.  Goodbye bitter coffee…I’m getting ripped every morning.

Ripped Cream Lean Vanilla Bean Protein Coffee Creamer...in coffee
Ripped Cream Lean Vanilla Bean Protein Coffee Creamer…in coffee
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Martini Italian Bistro gives Louisville a taste of made-to-order Italian awesomesauce

Martini Italian Bistro, Louisville, Kentucky
Martini Italian Bistro, Louisville, Kentucky

Restaurant: Martini Italian Bistro, Louisville, Kentucky

I love businesses that do whatever they can to cater to people who normally wouldn’t be able to eat there. Take, for example, Martini Italian Bistro in Louisville, Kentucky. This cozy bistro at The Summit off of Summit Plaza Drive is definitely worth checking out. I had been meaning to dine here long before now, but I will say this…their menu is a bit on the pricey side, so I wasn’t going to spend that much money on a lunch.

I think I might change that policy now that I have officially dined here.

Yes…I ate at an Italian restaurant. And you know what else? I came out of there without any signs of any cross-contamination. They were very specific when I spoke to them about being a Celiac and assured me that all the food was made-to-order…nothing was just sitting around…everything was fresh…and they would take good care of me.

I admit, I was a little apprehensive about eating there. With restaurants…the knowledge of the chef and staff when it comes to gluten intolerance can sometimes be next to nothing. And at Italian restaurants, especially, the danger can elevate. So, there were definitely some heart palpitations as I gazed at the menu, searching for some gluten-free and vegetarian options.

There were quite a few, believe it or not.

It was Father’s Day, of all days, and my roommate and I were treating her mother to lunch as her Mother’s Day gift. Yes…while everyone else is celebrating Father’s Day…leave it to us to treat mom to dinner. It was an early dinner too…the 3:00 hour, just after they stopped serving brunch at the real menu was brought out. Perfection. Cathy and I had every intention of taking her mom here…because it was a nice place, but not one that you had to get totally dressed up for. It was that right blend of business casual. Jeans and a nice shirt is what we all were wearing. And so was a majority of the crowd.

Our waiter came over to see if we would like anything to drink. As much as their specialty martini’s enticed, all three of us stuck to water that afternoon. Probably for the best. We alerted him that I was a Celiac and he gave me the run-down that all the pastas can be prepared gluten-free and that there were quite a few vegetarian options for me as well. He assured me that my food would be safe because everything was made as it was ordered. And…I actually felt okay after talking with him. He gave us a couple of minutes and when he returned…we were all ready to order.

Cathy went with the classic standby on which she judges all Italian restaurants…the Spaghetti and Meatballs ($14.99). This dish had three large hand-rolled meatballs in a tomato sauce, all laying atop a bed of garlic butter noodles. She said the meatballs just came apart beautifully and tasted so rich and delicious. That’s always a good thing. Classic Italian dish…winning with my roomie. Cathy’s mom chose to go with the Shrimp Garganelli ($16.99). This pasta dish was a mix of pasta, topped with jumbo Gulf shrimp with crushed red pepper (so it has a bit of a kick and some heat to it), topped off with a white wine garlic sauce, oven roasted tomatoes, spinach and a touch of goat cheese. It looked fantastic. She said it was right at her heat tolerance, so that was a good thing. Hey…a little spice is good for that metabolism!

As for me…I had a couple of options but finally decided on the one that the waiter suggested, as it is one of their most popular dishes. I ordered the Mediterranean Penne, done gluten-free ($14.49…regular $12.99 with a $1.50 charge for gluten-free). What this consisted of is a gluten-free fusilli, not penne, pasta, that is topped off with a very light, highly flavorful white wine garlic sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, toasted pine nuts, and a scattering of feta cheese. It sounded heavenly.

With our orders in, and everything made to order, this gave us some time to talk, look at the martini menu, and Cathy and her mom both enjoyed the focaccia bread with the dipping oil. Cathy said the bread had some heat to it. So, that means I would have found it mild…but I am the breadless wonder at Italian places as most do not have a gluten-free bread option. Only two places I have dined at have, Piazza Sorrento in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and Mama Melrose’s at Disney World. The no bread thing doesn’t even bother me.

Our food arrived, fresh and piping hot from the kitchen. When mine was placed in front of me, the waitress who carried it out even made a point of reiterating that it was, in fact, the Gluten-Free Mediterranean Penne. That was a nice touch. When all the plates were down, the waiter asked if we needed anything further, but we were just ready to dig in. I snapped a picture for this blog…then eagerly picked up my fork and speared a little of every component in the dish.

Mouthgasm of wonderful gluten-free Italian goodness. For real!! First of all, the gluten-free pasta was cooked to perfection. It wasn’t gummy, nor was it mushy. In fact, it was at that perfect al dente that is so difficult to achieve with a rice pasta. But they did it. Spot on. Gluten-free pasta cooking perfection. My compliments to the chef. As for the toppings…Oh mio Dio…I am going to replicate this at home if at all possible. Honest to God…this was one of the most fantastic pasta dishes I have ever eaten. The feta cheese gave a hit of salty, rich flavor to the sauteed vegetables. And I am a sucker for sun-dried tomatoes. And I loved that they didn’t overkill the plate with them. A little goes a long way and the chef totally grasped that concept. There was the perfect balance of each component on this plate…and the sauce was light and full of flavor. I was in heaven. In fact, I devoured every bit of it. Down to the last noodle. Of the three of us…I was the only one who created a happy plate (which means…I ate everything on there). No regrets either. That was gluten-free Italian awesomesauce.

I encourage anyone in the Louisville area, whether you are just passing through or are a resident of this city, to stop in to Martini Italian Bistro and give their food and perhaps their signature drinks a try. The price of the dishes is worth it. You definitely get what you pay for. And the quality…the quality is hard to beat. I can’t wait to go back. I already have an idea of what I want to eat next time. And I won’t even scoff at the prices because I’d pay that again in a heartbeat. Yes…the food, the service, the atmosphere…it is all worth it. I encourage anyone and everyone to go there at least once and see if they win you over like they did for me. Even Cathy and her mom were impressed.

We left full, but happy, all discussing how wonderful our food was. That is always a good sign.

I appreciate the care, the service, and the reassurance I received at Martini Italian Bistro that helped make my dining experience one I will never forget. And now…I’m craving that gluten-free pasta again…

Martini Italian Bistro's Gluten-Free Mediterranean Penne (Fusilli)
Martini Italian Bistro’s Gluten-Free Mediterranean Penne (Fusilli)
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Dream Blends Unsweetened Original Almond, Cashew and Hazelnut Drink a not so nutty non-dairy option

Dream Blends Original Unsweetened Almond, Cashew & Hazelnut Drink
Dream Blends Original Unsweetened Almond, Cashew & Hazelnut Drink

Product: Dream Blends Unsweetened Original Almond, Cashew and Hazelnut Drink – $4.19+

From the company that brings you Almond Dream, Rice Dream, Soy Dream, and Chocolate Dream non-dairy beverages comes an interesting blend of nuts in what is being called…Dream Blends.

I’m going to be honest, the moment I saw this sitting on the shelf of my local Earth Fare grocery store, I wanted to try it.  But I didn’t snag it right away.  Why?  Because I live on a budget.  I totally waited for a sale, which came about a week later…and that was when I picked up one of these shelf-stable boxes.

I was almost through the last of my unsweetened almond milk, so my cereal would soon be swimming in an unsweetened blend of almond, cashew and hazelnut milks.  Sounds delicious, yes?  I thought so.

And it was…except…when I first tasted it, I pretty much expected for there to be more of a nutty flavor to it.  I found it rather bland on its own.  Which was surprising.  With all that nuttiness going in, even if this was unsweetened (cutting down on the sugars, you see), I thought it would taste more nuttier than almond milk (and I love almond milk).

But…it didn’t.  And, believe it or not, that disappointed me.  Honestly.

Now, don’t get me wrong…this blend isn’t bad at all.  I found it rather pleasing to the pallet and it definitely mixed well with my gluten-free peanut butter puff cereal and my gluten-free frosted flakes cereal.  I used this in gluten-free carrot cake pancakes as well as gluten-free carrot cake scones.  And it cooked up well in those goodies.  On its own…just in a glass…it was a disappointment.

But when mixed with something else, or incorporated into a recipe…it was magic.

Along with being a blend of three of my favorite nuts, I also enjoyed that this beverage is a good source of fiber, low in fat, enriched with antioxidant Vitamin E and Vitamins A, B12, D and Calcium.  It is also dairy-free, lactose-free, and cholesterol free.

Would I consider this a dream blend…yes.  And perhaps the original variety has a stronger flavor than the unsweetened.  I didn’t dislike this…I just expected a little more bang from the flavor.  But, I would definitely buy it again if the price was right.

Looking for a good dairy alternative and want to try some of your favorite nut milks all in one place…then Dream Blends Almond, Cashew, and Hazelnut Drink is for you.  All you have to do is decide if you want the original blend or the unsweetened original blend.  The choice is yours.