Entree – Page 4 – The Celiathlete

May 21, 2016

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Unicorn Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Unicorn Bagels – $9.99

You didn’t think they existed…but they do. You thought they were a myth…but they are not. Yes…the infamous Rainbow Bagel gets a gluten-free makeover thanks to the crazy bagelers at Sweet Note Bakery.

God, I love them!

Just before…and I mean…right before…as in DAYS before I went to New York City back in March, the big article about the Rainbow Bagel that The Bagel Store in NYC was offering hit the mass media…and it was…insane. I felt a little pang of judgement (okay…okay…resentment) because I, myself, could not have one. And they looked so, so pretty! And delicious. Pretty delicious too!

So, my bagel experience in NYC was left up to the gluten free offerings at Tompkins Square Bagels…which was fine…but it wasn’t a true NY-style bagel…and it just didn’t seem perfect to me. And…the Rainbow Bagel was out there. Sometimes schmeared with birthday cake cream cheese.

Life wasn’t fair.

But then the rain lifted and the sun came out, and the amazing ladies over at Sweet Note Bakery said, “You know what? Celiacs shouldn’t have to miss out on tasting the rainbow. Skittles got nothing on us.” And so, a little while after my return from NYC…I saw a prototype of their own rainbow bagel on their Instagram feed.

And I coveted it. I said if they put it out on the market, I’d buy it. I needed it. No, I wanted it! They had asked if people would be interested in buying it…and that they were going to look into more natural food dyes as well (although their first attempt was with natural food dye and it baked out)…before offering it on the Web site. I immediately chimed in with my calm, cool and collected, “I would buy them”…which…the more times the Rainbow Bagel appeared on their feed…the more this became…”OMG I NEED THESE IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW!”

Well, last week…it happened. They aren’t using natural food dies yet…but those crazy baglers have made their version of the Rainbow Bagel…called the Unicorn Bagel (don’t you love it??!) available as an Online Exclusive purchase in their store. So…yes…for now, you can only order these online.

So…I threw more money at these wonderful people and put in my order.

Here’s the thing…I have been a collector of unicorn things since I was a child. No joke. Then, when I became a runner and qualified for the Boston Marathon…unicorns returned to the forefront of my obsessions. So…you give me a swirly breakfast bread of wonderment in fun colors and call it a “Unicorn Bagel”…my money is coming at you and these are finding a way into my life. No doubt about it. And that, my friends, is how I wound up with the new Unicorn Bagel in my freezer…which lasted all but 15 hours before they were out and being thawed in the microwave and toasted in my oven.

It’s important. Because…NEW GLUTEN FREE BAGEL. Because…COLORS! Because…UNICORN. And because it’s a RACE WEEKEND. So the unicorn theme should be good luck, yes? Good omen, yes? Oh…I hope so.

I think I’ve told you enough about Sweet Note Bakery…their origins and the like in all the past blogs I’ve done about them. If you are just now tuning in…you can read about their history here. If you want to know why size always matters, especially in certain important matters like…bagel size…read all about it here. Seriously…if you want authentic New York-style bagels…that are both vegan and gluten-free…NOTHING beats Sweet Note Bakery! Their bagels are phenomenal. Feel free to go back to all the past entries (and I still have 1 more of their new flavors to review!) and see what every flavor is like. Trust me…I grew up in New York. Bagels and I are BFFs.

Just really quickly though, I will revisit the proper way (or at least the best way) to evenly thaw out the frozen bagels. DO NOT thaw these on the counter. It’s easy. It only takes 60 seconds out of your daily routine. Simply place a bagel on a plate and place in the microwave. Microwave on HIGH for 30 seconds. Then, flip the bagel completely over and turn it about 180°. Microwave for another 30 seconds. Let it sit for a few seconds and then slice in half. Place each half in a toaster oven or on a baking sheet and in the oven and let it toast up for about 15-20 minutes. This is normally about the time I leave the kitchen to shower and let my roommate make sure that if she smells smoke to shut off the oven. But I’m always done before anything gets burned.

Sweet Note Gluten Free Unicorn Bagel with a schmear of Kite Hill vegan cream cheese and rainbow sprinkles

I can’t even begin to tell you how giddy these bagels made me. Seriously. They were swirly and rainbow-y and just plain fun! I pulled them out of the oven when they reached that perfect level of toasty. I mean…perfect crispy outer crust with the dense and chewy dough in the middle. Bagel perfection. I gave each half a schmear of vegan cream cheese from Kite Hill. And then, because, I’m eating the rainbow here…I gave the cream cheese a smattering of rainbow sprinkles.

DUH! You can’t eat a Unicorn Bagel without rainbow sprinkles. And with that…breakfast was served.

Who doesn’t love fun food, right? The more fun, the more exciting breakfast is. I loved eating a colorful breakfast. They say to eat the rainbow…well…they may not have had a Unicorn Bagel in mind when they said that…but…I successfully ate the rainbow today. HAHA! And it was tasty. I get it…it’s a plain bagel with all the dressings of a sparkly soul, but it somehow makes it fabulous, you know? It tasted sweet, but I don’t know how much of that was the bagel and how much of that was the little sprinkles of rainbow goodness I topped the cream cheese with. Nevertheless…this bagel is made of complete awesomeness. You can top it off without whatever floats your boat. Frosting would have been pretty epic. I mean, you’re devouring a breakfast bread that is dyed to every amazing color in the color spectrum…have frosting and sprinkless…or whatever…whatever makes you feel like a kid at heart. Or a Boston Marathoner. Or a lover of unicorns. Or just…a lover of bagels. Or rainbows. Or all of the above.

So, let’s discuss what goes into each of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Unicorn Bagels. Each bagel is made from love (because all rainbow-type food is made with love…and unicorn tears), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flower, sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, salt, food coloring (red 40, red 3, yellow 5, yellow 6, blue 1, blue 1, titanium dioxide, modified corn starch, vegetable gum, citric acid, and less than 1/10 of 1% sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate). They are still experimenting with natural food dyes that won’t fade…and I have every faith that they will find something that works. But…for now…if food dyes don’t bother you, these are totally epic and worth a try. As always when it comes to Sweet Note’s bagels, these bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free. Made with love, indeed!!

As far as nutrition goes for the Sweet Note Gluten Free Unicorn Bagels…well…here are the magical facts. A serving size is one (1) bagel, which is about 4.5 oz (128 grams). There are 4 servings per package. Each bagel will deliver 280 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 320 mg sodium, 60 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 7 grams sugars, and 4 grams protein. The mythical morning hunger pangs remained at bay…this was delicious and filling. Loving the rainbow.

Breakfast should be fun. After all, it is the most important meal of the day. You might as well color it up, top it off, and eat it with a smile. That’s the magic that is inside the Unicorn Bagels. They are simple…but simply wonderful. Just because you have to eat gluten-free doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun bagels for breakfast. Sweet Note Bakery is taking the standard bagel and making it for the gluten-free and vegan bagel lovers. No limits. No boundaries. Anything goes. Like rainbow unicorn bagels. The Unicorn Bagel will totally win you over.

Maybe it will make me run faster.

Maybe.

I’ll go for my run…and you go ahead and run over to the Sweet Note Bakery online store and purchase a pack or five of the Gluten Free Unicorn Bagel!

May 17, 2016

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagels – $9.99

To a former New Yorker…love is a good gluten-free bagel. And when I say good, I mean that it has to actually be NY-style bagel quality. For the longest time, this is exactly what every single gluten-free bagel I tried wasn’t. Not to say the big corporation names that have placed gluten-free bagels in the freezers of grocery stores and natural food stores didn’t put out a quality product. In fact, I’ve been smitten by both Udi’s Gluten Free Bagels and the Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Bagels (EVERY. SINGLE. VARIETY). But then…

…the ultimate gluten-free bagel tweeted its way into my life. This is not a joke. It literally tweeted its way into my life.

I’m talking about Sweet Note Bakery and their amazing, gluten-free, vegan, delicious NY-style bagels! Sweet Note saw my link to my blog on the Canyon Bakehouse bagels and challenged me to try their bagels. While I was hesitant at first, I finally decided that it was actually worth a try. Their Web site intrigued me. The bagels looked phenomenal…and they made traditional NY-style bagels. Not these giant monstrosities the other gluten-free bagel manufacturers were producing…but dense, thick, and perfect NY-style bagels. Size does matter when it comes to bagels. An authentic bagel should be about 3 inches in diameter, have a crunchy crust and a chewy, dense center. And this…this is what Sweet Note recreated to perfection.

Sweet Note began in 2012, when founder and president, Michelle MacDonald, stepped up to a challenge. She had been baking ever since she was a child and was very passionate about it. When her grandfather and sister were diagnosed with Celiac Disease, she took the first steps on her entrepreneurial journey. Her family really missed a good New York Style bagel. (Hey…I can’t blame them…I know this feeling all too well). So with a lot of experimentation and trial and error, MacDonald perfected the recipe, getting huge approval from her family (also bagel lovers). Gluten-free bagels that taste good?! It was a reality. Sweet Note Bakery’s vision is to make gluten-free options more readily accessible. Those of us who live with Celiac understand how isolating this disease can be, when you can’t have a meal while out with friends and family, be it at a restaurant or a ballpark, or wherever your adventures take you. MacDonald wanted to change that…one gluten-free bagel at a time.

And she did…and now she’s delivering these bagels, one step at a time, to the gluten-free (and even the non-gluten-free community). Seriously, purchasing (and continuing to purchase so that my freezer is never without bagels) bagels from Sweet Note was one of the best gluten-free food decisions I have made…in the history of ever!

I know that I recently reported on the latest four flavors (three of which were online exclusive), but Sweet Note has been busy prepping new flavors and have released three more!! YES!! And, for the record…YES…I bought them. Like…the day that they were announced. I am not ashamed. I proudly wave my gluten-free bagel lovin’ flag. A happy freezer contains a package of some sort of Sweet Note’s amazing bagels.

Well, the three new flavors are actually quite playful and fun. They introduced the French Toast Bagel, the Sunrise Swirl Bagel, and the Unicorn Bagel (aka: Rainbow Bagel). My Unicorn Bagels are on the way, but the freezer has been happily cradling my packages of the French Toast Bagel and Sunrise Swirl Bagel…up until yesterday when breakfast rolled around.

I came home from spin class that morning and asked my roommate, who had emerged from her room and was shambling toward the couch, which bagel she’d like to try today. I won’t lie…I also have the Tomato Basil in the freezer…as they make amazing Bagel Pizzas. HA! She immediately said, “Sunrise Swirl.” Okay…it might have been sort of sleepily slurred (she hadn’t had coffee yet), but I pulled out the bagels that were beautifully swirled with reds and oranges and yellows and set about the usual prep on a Sweet Note Bagel.

My current thawing method seems to be perfect. So, you can always give this a go too, because I expect you to order at least ONE variety of their bagels. You won’t be disappointed. Anyway…my currrent method for perfect defrosting in the microwave…30 seconds on one side, then flip it over for another 30 seconds. Let it sit for a moment and then slice in half. If you’re not into toasting (like a true New Yorker), then go ahead and schmear this bagel up with whatever goodness you like. If you are a true New Yorker (or not) but love a toasted bagel (like me!)…toast it up. If you have a toaster…go to town. If you, like me, don’t own a toaster, simply put these beauties on a baking sheet and into an oven heated to 350°F for about 15-20 minutes. I left them to toast while I showered and changed…and emerged in enough time to get my breakfast chef skills on.

An Egg & "Cheese" Bagel Sammie made with the Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagels — An Egg & “Cheese” Bagel Sammie made with the Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagels

Deciding to do something a little different, I (*GASP*) skipped the cream cheese schmearing this particular morning and instead, dug out my little egg pan and cracked an egg into it, frying it to perfection. While the egg was working, I pulled some Daiya Cheddar-Style Slices out of the fridge and placed them on the bottom half of the bagels as they finished up their toasting time in the oven. This gave the cheese some time to melt (as well as vegan cheese melts). Afterwards, I placed fried eggs on each bagel and topped it off with the top half. Breakfast sammies…DONE!

Even better…gorgeous breakfast sammies at that. The colors were amazing and bright and just…beautiful in the Sunrise Swirl Bagels. What makes that even better is that the colors (that smattering of sunshine) are added naturally to their original plain bagel recipe by using spices such as paprika, annatto, and turmeric. Yep. No fake chemicals, dyes, or bad stuff. Don’t you love it?

Needless to say…the bagels are not only colorful and uplifting to your spirit on an early morning…but they taste good too. This was the first time I stuck a fried egg between a Sweet Note bagel…but it certainly won’t be the last. The Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagels taste like an ordinary bagel, but they are extraordinary. You’ll love how it will perk up your breakfast, whether you schmear it with butter, cream cheese, jam, nut butter…whatever floats your breakfast boat, right? OR…go ahead and use it as a vehicle for a fried egg, or some (vegan) bacon or (vegan) sausage…layer it with (vegan) mayo and stick some tomato and greens in there. The gorgeously swirled carb-loaded disk of goodness is your canvas…so accessorize it however you want.

Let’s discuss what goes into Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagels, shall we? These bagels are made from love (yep…actual ingredient that is…and one that makes ALL the difference), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, salt, paprika coloring, annatto coloring, and turmeric coloring. As with all of Sweet Note’s bagel offerings, these are completely gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free.

As for nutritional information, Sweet Note really stacks up when it comes to fueling and providing for your body. These stats are equal to if not better than standard bagels out on the market. A serving size of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagels is 4.5 ounces (128 grams) and there are four (4) servings per package. One bagel will provide you with 290 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 320 mg sodium, 170 mg potassium, 62 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 8 grams sugars, and 5 grams of protein. The higher protein and fiber definitely helps keep you feeling full throughout the day.

Here’s something all those big corporation gluten-free bagel producers aren’t doing…they aren’t stepping outside of the box when it comes to bagels. But Sweet Note is not only thinking outside the box, but they are stepping up and really taking charge of the gluten-free bagel market out there. Where else will you be able to find a gluten-free bagel that is gorgeously swirled with colors…no where. While they do offer the standards as well, Sweet Note has really stepped up and created bagels that you normally could only get in a glutenous form at a bagel shop, probably in New York City. The Sunrise Swirl Bagel is a definite example of that. And it is not only a joy to look at, but also to eat. It will brighten up your morning for sure.

The Sweet Note Gluten Free Sunrise Swirl Bagel is an Online Exclusive offering, so hop on over to their Bagel Shop and place and order ASAP. While you’re at it, try out a few of their other flavors, standard, or artisan…it doesn’t matter. I swear, you won’t be disappointed.

May 2, 2016

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagels

005 — Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagels – $7.25

Oh yeah…Sweet Note Bakery is back with some brand new flavors in their online store…and this just means morning are bagelicous again. Bagelicious is a word, for the record. I used it in a sentence. HA!

The moment the announcement of the store carrying their new Online Exclusive flavor on Sweet Note Bakery’s social media sights, I was heading over there to make a purchase? Because…that is how much I love these bagels. No other gluten-free bagels live up to the amazing flavor, texture, taste, and size of these bagels. And I don’t mean bagels as big as your head, either.

If you have looked at past reviews of other Sweet Note Gluten Free Bagels that I have written, you will know that they developed a gluten-free (and vegan) New York-style bagel for all of us to enjoy. There is no law that says you have to be on a gluten-free or vegan diet to want to devour these at each setting. My roommate is neither of those things, and she eats these faster than I do at times. Anyway, what sets the Crazy Bagelers at Sweet Note apart from the other gluten-free bagels on the market is that they are true to New York-style, creating a smaller, thicker, denser bagel. When toasted, it has this amazing crunchy crust and a chewy center. That’s bagel perfection. BAGEL PERFECTION. Other gluten-free bagels on the market are light as air, packed with chemicals, and gigantic. They aren’t as filling and they just don’t have that true bagel mouthfeel. This is where Sweet Note hits the sweet spot. Authentic bagels are made with real ingredients and in real size…not super-mega-jumbo. And I’m okay with that. I love a good authentic bagel…size, texture, feel…the whole carby package.

Those Crazy Bagel Ladies sure do make this former New York-er, who had to go gluten-free after a Celiac diagnosis 5 years ago, one happy girl. But I am not alone. There is an entire community…nationwide…of crazy bagelers who are also in love with ALL THE BAGELS!! Sweet Note has definitely hit a sweet note with those who are daring enough to try.

So, they have released a few new flavors…at a variety of times, these past few weeks. But the first of these was none other than…ONION!

Yes…the ever popular, Onion Bagel! The Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagel is amazing. Seriously. I prepared this as I normally do any Sweet Note Bagel. I pulled it out of the freezer this morning after a short run and a spin class and microwaved two bagels…one at a time…for 30 seconds. Then, flipped it over and hit it up for another 30 seconds. I then sliced each bagel in half and placed it on a baking sheet. You all know by now that I don’t own a toaster or a toaster oven, so I put these into the oven and left them in the mindful watch of my roommate while I went to shower off and get ready for work. About 15-20 minutes later, the amazing aroma of roasted onion wafted through the apartment and I was pulling the baking sheet out of the oven and making goo-goo eyes at the golden bagels that now awaited a schmear of some sort of topping.

Today…Daiya Vegan Cream Cheese.

006 — Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagel with a schmear of Daiya Cream Cheese

It just made sense. And, technically…was all I had in my fridge for this bagel. Although…mashed avocado…ooooh…I know what I’m doing on Wednesday…

So, now properly schmeared with some cream cheese, I delivered one bagel to my roommate and went to pour myself some (very important) coffee before settling in with my own bagel while the news droned on over the presidential campaign and such nonsense. Ignoring the news, I turned my full attention to my bagel. My roommate had already devoured one of her halves…so I had a good feeling about this. I drew in a breath…inhaled that sweet onion smell…and took a bite.

OH YES! Layers (onions…layers…get it?) of flavor. Seriously. I thought that this bagel might have reached bagel perfection. You have that bitter/sweet/caramelized flavor of the bagels that sit atop the upper half of the bagel. You have this flavor penetrating all the way through the dough, the chewy center, the crisp crust…all of it…infused with this great, but not overpowering, onion flavor. The flakes of onion on the surface were a nice touch. I saw my roommate making sure she swiped up any bit of onion that might have fallen away from the bagel itself. Nothing goes to waste. That is the sign of a winner-winner-bagel dinner! If you’re an onion lover, these are sure to make you tear up (I did it again…onions…tears…HA! I’m punny!). With joy. Tear up with joy.

So, let’s discuss what goes into each Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagel, shall we? These bagels are made from: Love (yes, that is an ingredient!), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, brown sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, onion, and salt. As with all their bagels, the Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free. Made with love, indeed!!

As for nutritional information for the Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagels…you’ll eat this up! They really do stack up to the competition. Since they are made with real ingredients, every bite of these bagels are better for you and your body. A serving size is 4.5 ounces (128 grams), or one (1) bagel. ONE FULL ONION-Y BAGEL! One bagel will serve you up 290 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 320 mg sodium, 62 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 8 grams sugars, and 5 grams of protein. With the higher fiber and protein counts, these bagels will keep you feeling full all morning. Gotta love that!

Your search for the perfect bagel has come to an end. Sweet Note Bakery definitely has the top of the line bagels…and you would never guess that these are vegan and gluten-free…unless you were told or read their packaging. That being said, they really nail the bagel…and make it for everyone to love and enjoy. The new Sweet Note Gluten Free Onion Bagel packs a great onion flavor, but won’t overwhelm your palate either. Top these off however you like…and feast on them often. They would make the perfect vehicle for a burger or sandwich as well. So. Much. Love.

I urge you to check your local stores for Sweet Note Bagels as soon as you can. Their products are carried here at Whole Foods and in CVS stores. But their online exclusive flavors are NOT to be missed.

Go on…place an order. You’ll thank me!

April 24, 2016

Working Hard for a Weekend of Hard Work

Ah, it’s Sunday. A day to rest and relax right? RIGHT?!

HA…never!! Today, I’ve done countless loads of laundry, prepped and cooked all the meals for the coming week, took recycle to the store, took care of a cat, did some necessary shopping, mailed off a package, finished up (much-needed) grocery shopping, organized the pantry, and polished off a book. I’ve blogged on my race on Friday night, made up lunches/snacks for tomorrow, and have even changed sheets on the bed. And showered. Important.

This has been a chaotic and crazy week. I got back into town from a relaxing (ie: NON-RACE) weekend in Orlando, Florida. Sure, the Star Wars Half Marathon was running at Disney World that very weekend…but I was not quick enough on making a decision to run, and by the time I was certain I was going to be able to do it, registration had closed. Instead, the day before I headed out to get to Florida, I did my long run. On a Tuesday night. On tired legs. But it was done and I didn’t have to do it alone…or in Orlando, where I had no idea where I could safely and effectively go running. As it was, I found a park where I managed 5 miles, and I did 5 miles back and forth on this 0.20 mile boardwalk on Cocoa Beach while I was away. But that was it for the running. The rest of the time I was exploring…but we’ll get to that momentarily.

With a couple of days away from the office, I was overloaded with work, so I ended up doing something I hate doing. I brought work home and put in some time away from the office. It had to be done…or I’d still be buried. This made my week even more stressful because I was trying to fit in all my normal stuff while having to do some work at home. It meant…the normalcy took a lot longer to get around to. And grocery shopping never happened. So, my roommate and I were living out of the pantry/freezer/fridge for this week.

So…with all that being said…some good stuff has been going down these past two weeks…so let’s take a look at some of the highlights!

1. Universal Studios Florida

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It’s Marvel Superheroes, it’s Harry Potter, it’s rides, rides, rides. And I had an absolute blast. I met Captain America (he told me I had beautiful green eyes!), which had to happen as he is the favorite superhero of my nephew, Chace. I flirted with the driver of the Knight Bus at Diagon Alley in Universal as well. SO MUCH FUN. That being said, I vastly prefer Disney to Universal, but it was actually nice to step away from the Disney monster and do something I’ve been wanting to do, but couldn’t pull myself away from Disney. HA! And thank goodness for my friend, Jenn, who was willing to go on the thrill rides with me. Cathy refuses. She’s a big baby. OH…and I bought a wand. I have my own Harry Potter type of wand. It’s Ivy…with a Unicorn Hair core. And I loved it because I was able to cast magical spells at both of the Harry Potter lands at each Universal Studios theme park in Florida. It takes so little to make me happy.

2. Toasted

Eating out with me can be…difficult at times. Thank you Celiac disease and lactose intolerance. That being said, while I was in Orlando, thanks to my Find Me Gluten Free app, I found the most perfect place to dine. In fact, we (Jenn, Cathy & myself) ended up having dinner there three times. The place is called Toasted, and it specializes in Crafted Grilled Cheese & Burgers. And…they have gluten-free buns, bread, and veggie burgers. They also have vegan cheese. This…was my happy place. To top all of that off…they had gluten-free fries. And, let me tell you, the Truffle Oil & Rosemary fries were to die for. We learned, after our first visit, that one order of fries would do for the three of us. Amazing sandwiches. I had a different one each night…never got sick. Let’s hear it for gluten-free dining done right. If you find yourself in the Winter Park area of Orlando…go and check them out.

3. Gluten Free Snack Cakes

Okay…I admit it. I love my desserts. I have tried, for ages, to give them up. But the sweet tooth reigns supreme. For sure. And, after getting my roommate a little tipsy on her birthday, I took her grocery shopping. And bought a bunch of stuff I didn’t need but wanted to try. And, despite trying to be a little better about my choices…I discovered a new product from Schär‘s Sch’nacks! These delightful little treats are simply a gluten-free, unrolled version of a Swiss Roll. They are little single serve cakes that are filled with cream and dipped in German chocolate. And they are light, and amazing. I have to resist buying them too often…but a treat every now and again is always fine. There are 10 cakes per package…and I only have one after dinner each night. Seriously…a worthy investment for an every-now-and-again treat. Back to some fruits and vegan yogurts after this. And I’m back to cooking real food…and not just living out of the fridge/freezer/pantry…which is also a plus.

4. Road Bike Shoes

Today, I meandered over to Schwinn in Clarksville, Indiana, and purchased a pair of road bike shoes. Now that I have a road bike, I figured I needed to get the clip-in shoes so I could ride it. They are very nice at Schwinn and even discounted the price of the shoes and put the cleats in for me. YAY!! I hope to get fitted to my bike next weekend, time permitting! Crossing my fingers. Then, I get to practice clipping in and out…and probably taking a few spills during said process. It’s actually…kind of exciting. Not the falling part, but getting the necessary gear and stuff done to get out onto my bike.

5. Running my fastest mile at my favorite 5K

Tim, Ruth, Amber, Becca, Me, and Linda after the Pro.Active For Life 5K…all sporting our bling!

My Garmin says this is the fastest mile I have ever run!!

Friday was not only Earth Day, it was the running of the Pro.Active For Life 5K in Frankfort, Kentucky. I go to Frankfort quite often for the races, and while 5K races are one of my least favorite distances, this just happens to be my favorite 5K race. It’s not just the race itself, but the people. Frankfort, honestly, some of the best people in that running community. I can’t say it enough. Not only did I win my age division this year, but I pulled off a 6:53 mile. Shocking myself. Even more shocking…the entire run was pain-free. And…I was only 6 seconds off my PR (also set at this race). Stronger every day. Trying to be really smart when it comes to my training.

6. A long, solo, pain-free Saturday morning run

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So, Friday night I churn out a speedy 5K (even if my finishing picture looks like I’m just cruising, LOL!), knowing that Saturday, I was on my own for my longest run since…forever. I am signed up for (although still not 100% sure I’ll be running) a marathon in June. Bib transfer can only happen through May 1, leaving this Saturday the only chance I had for attempting a long marathon-training type run. And, I had to do it solo, as everyone I know is either recovering from Boston, running Big Sur, running London, running Derby or running Flying Pig. So, they are either recovering, out of town, or tapering. So, Saturday morning, I laced up, still feeling good, and went out for 20 miles in my area. No crossing the river (it was Thunder Over Louisville day anyway…so this was probably better in the long run…ha…I made a punny). So, I just sort of went. I never pushed my pace…I ran comfortably and just sort of made the route up. The last 5 miles, however, I decided to make the toughest. I don’t know why. I’m sadistic like that. So I hit up the Fast Freddie route…which is HILLS FOR DAYS!…and came out of it better than I even expected. Once again…no pain. And 20 miles done. Alone. And way better than I dreamed. WITHOUT ANY PAIN! I spent the rest of the day out and about, doing some grocery shopping and regular shopping and eating good food for recovery and fuel. This…was the type of run I mentally needed. And while it does make me feel better, I still don’t know if I’ll run in June. I’m pondering for one more day before making that call.

7. Game Of Thrones

The new season of GoT starts tonight, and unlike last year, I’m set. HBO Now was downloaded this morning and I’m set to watch this season as it airs, instead of getting spoiled. I know I read the books, but the show has gone away from how the books actually worked out, so it’s nice that I won’t have to attempt (and fail) to avoid spoilers this time around. It’s the little things in life. SO…YAY!! It’s the little things in life…like Season 6 of Game of Thrones.

8. Caramelized Honey Latte at Starbucks

They keep selling out of it, but when I went to Florida this past week, I was introduced to Starbucks latest (and greatest) drink. It’s the Caramelized Honey Latte and it is AMAZING. It reminds me a lot of The Bee Sting, one of Ha Coffee’s signature drinks in Kauai (I miss Hawaii!). I get mine with coconut milk and it is…OMG…to die for. I had it hot and iced while in Florida. The Starbucks at Universal Studios City Walk sold out of them…and the one here in our local Target sold out too. I think this drink is quite popular. And it should be. It is made of super YUM!! If you haven’t tried it…RUN, do NOT WALK, to Starbucks and give it a try. You’ll thank me for it.

So, there are some of the highlights these past couple of weeks. Here’s to hoping for a bit more relaxed and easier week ahead. And I hope everyone had a great week and enjoyed a beautiful weekend. And for anyone racing this coming weekend…good luck!!

April 18, 2016

Restaurant Review: Mythos Restaurant, Orlando, Florida

090 — Mythos Restaurant, Orlando, Florida

Restaurant: Mythos Restaurant, Orlando, Florida

Twas the first time since coming to Orlando that my breakfast (the final bagel, it was cinnamon raisin from Erin McKenna’s in Disney Springs) wore off long before I thought it would. That usually is okay, except my dinner reservation yesterday was actually a late lunch reservation. So, when my stomach apparently wanted elevensies…I was nowhere ready to pop a protein bar for fear of not being hungry for the best and big meal of the day.

Cathy, Jenn and I all shared a cup of watermelon and hoped for the best…but the 12:45 reservation couldn’t come soon enough. At 12:30, we went in, hoping that perhaps they could seat us early.

No such luck. We were told our names would be called around our reservation time. I wasn’t too surprised though. Mythos Restaurant, after all, is one of the hottest and most sought over reservations in all of Universal Studios Islands of Adventures theme park. No joke. Mythos Restaurant was voted the Best Theme Park Restaurant from 2003-2009, came in third in 2010…and who knows what happened after that. The thing was…the place was hopping. There was a 35 minute wait for people/groups that didn’t make reservations…and that wait time quickly escalated.

What makes Mythos Restaurant such hot spot? Well, it’s located in a prime spot, carved into the side of towering rock formations, cascading waterfalls and ancient figures. So, you sort of know you’re in for quite a treat as you approach the restaurant itself. It is known for its exceptional cuisine. And the setting and friendly staff do make for an exceptional, contemporary dining setting.

About 12:55, we were finally called for our seating and led through the restaurant to a nice corner booth near the open kitchen. I sat on the side facing the kitchen with hopes of being able to watch the chefs, but the booth was too tall for me to really see. Ah well.

Our server, Lindsey, was an absolute doll. And totally hilarious. I loved that she immediately made us feel welcome by calling us “her friends.” That continued throughout the entire meal, mind you. I love making new friends. Anyway, it took her a moment to come back around to us, but she eventually got there and made us feel immediately welcome all over again. She asked about where we were from, what all we had been doing, and through in some fun Harry Potter references, because she’s awesome like that. She took our drink order…a Diet Coke ($3.19) for Cathy, a Unsweetend Iced Tea ($3.19) for me, and Water (FREE!) for Jenn. We were given some time to look over the menu, which had clear markings for things that could be made vegan and gluten free…not always the same, but some dishes could be both. This left me with two very good sounding options…the Pad Thai and/or the Seasonal Risotto. AH…decisions!!

After a spill that Lindsey had to clean up, she came over to the table again to get our orders. She apologized for the delay and since I was the difficult one, she started with me. I asked her which she would get if she was a vegetarian and gluten free…and she said that most vegan and gluten-free guests LOVE the risotto, but she is a huge fan of the Pad Thai for that sweet and sour sauce they put on it…that being said, she pairs it with meat and wasn’t sure how it would mix with just vegetables. So, she highly recommended the Seasonal Risotto. I went with that per her suggestion. Cathy went with the Mythos Signature Burger with Lamb and the Parmesan Fries. Jenn went with the Crab Cake Sliders, subbing the potato salad for the Parmesan Fries. Orders in.

094 — Mythos Restaurant’s Gluten Free Bread (cut up gluten free hamburger buns)

It took awhile for our meals to come out, which was fine. I was starving, but I love knowing that food is being prepared to order. In fact, Lindsey explained that everything, save for two (2) of the dishes on the menu are made to order. The two that are prepped ahead are the Mediterranean Chicken Salad Wrap and the Pressed Porchetta Panini, due to the volume of orders they get for those. Interesting trivia. She delivered some bread and butter to the table…and then said that they had some gluten-free bread if I was interested. I always am. She returned a few minutes later with some warm bread…which looked like their gluten free hamburger buns chopped up. Hey…it worked. I loved having the option.

But food came out, hot, fresh, gorgeous, and…amazing.

Mythos Restaurant's Signature Burger with Lamb and Parmesan Fries — Mythos Restaurant’s Signature Burger with Lamb and Parmesan Fries

Cathy’s Mythos Signature Burger with Lamb ($14.99) with the Parmesan Fries (+ $0.50) looked fantastic and perfectly cooked. The bun was huge, encompassing the burger and all the toppings that came on it. This included grilled onion, shredded lettuce and fresh tomato topped with feta-olive aioli. She was nervous about the feta-olive aioli, but loved it. She found the burger to be a little dry (NOT LAMB!), but it was well cooked and full of flavor. While the patty was thick, it was way smaller than the bun. To this day, though, she raves about the “killer” feta-olive aioli. She almost missed out on it as she doesn’t love olives at all…but it worked. And now, I think she’s smitten. She ate every bit of that burger. And the Parmesan fries were “good.” she said. The cheese, both of my dining compatriots said, needed to be melted so that they stuck to the fries rather than just sprinkled on top. Otherwise, the cheese fell off the fries.

Jenn’s Crab Cake Sliders ($12.99) dish was her favorite meal of this entire trip. Nothing overpowered the taste of the crab. It wasn’t overseasoned. The remoulade sauce wasn’t drowning the sliders…they had the perfect amount. While the buns were thick, they were soft and squished down. She absolutely LOVED this meal. Like I said, of the 4 days we have been in Florida, this topped her list. The Crab Cake Sliders were served on mini rolls with lettuce and remoulade sauce. She subbed the Potato Salad for the Parmesan Fries (+ $0.50) and liked them, but also felt that the cheese needed to be melted on there so it didn’t just tumble off, leaving regular fries. She didn’t touch the watermelon-tomato medley that was served on the side…it was probably delicious though!

Mythos Restaurant's Gluten Free and Vegan Seasonal Risotto (beet risotto with sauteed mushrooms and spinach) — Mythos Restaurant’s Gluten Free and Vegan Seasonal Risotto (beet risotto with sauteed mushrooms and spinach)

This comes to me. I ended up ordering the Seasonal Risotto ($15.99), done gluten-free and vegan. The risotto of the day was a Beet Risotto, which normally would be served with beef on top, but thanks to being practically vegan, that was left off. This dish was served with sauteed mushrooms and baby spinach on top. And it was seasoned to perfection. It was creamy and earthy and just…amazing. I loved the richness of the beets infused into the creamy rice. The sauteed vegetables on top added some great texture and bright flavors. It was really good. I had to work hard not to inhale it. But, in the end…gone. And I was one happy girl.

While Lindsey exercised her Slytherin tendencies and gave us dessert menus, we opted out this time. We paid the bill and headed out to get over to Hogsmede to wrap up our time at Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios. Happy bellies and all.

There is a reason that Mythos is a hot ticket at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure. The atmosphere is really great…the service is phenomenal…and the food was delicious. Also, serving sizes weren’t ridiculous either. We were full, but not stuffed. And after a bit of shopping for sweets at the candy store in Hogsmede, we rode rides and all.

Yeah…Mythos was a nice way to treat ourselves that day after a long morning of wandering the parks and riding rides. It was great food…and a great experience.

April 16, 2016

Restaurant Review: Emeril’s Restaurant Orlando, Orlando, Florida

088 — Emeril’s Restaurant Orlando, Orlando, Florida

Restaurant: Emeril’s Restaurant Orlando, Orlando, Florida

I am a foodie. Hard to believe with all my food allergies and intolerance…and the fact that I am a vegetarian…that this is a true statement. But I LOVE food. I love to eat food. I love to enjoy food. And I love to cook food. I love to share food. Food is love. And, as an athlete, food is also fuel.

I am on a nice vacation at the moment, enjoying myself and my time away from the stresses of life. And, as is the way me and my traveling compatriots do vacations…we work in one nice meal out. And, as we were enjoying some time at Universal Studios today, we opted to eat on the Universal Studios Citywalk…at Emeril’s Restaurant Orlando.

Now, I have loved Emeril Lagasse for a long time. He is, not only, one of the most recognizable and quotable chef’s (“BAM!”)…he is just awesome. His food is simple, pure, cajun goodness!! He is pure Louisiana. And that’s what we went there for.

We were in for a treat. White tablecloths. Chairs were pulled out for us. Napkins were dropped into our laps. I sort of felt under dressed with my roller-coaster windblown hair and my Wonder Woman t-shirt. But, none of the staff minded. We were greeted soon after by our waiter for the night…which was actually going to be three people seeing to us. Our waiters were amazing and funny and extremely helpful. We were given the menu to look over and I mentioned that I was a gluten free vegetarian…and after some witty bantering…he pointed out the Chef’s Creative Vegetable Plate of the Day (which changes from day to day) and explained to me that it was a noodless lasagna…where the chef layers squash, zucchini, eggplant and roasted red peppers, all seasoned with amazing herbs, and makes them into the noodles. They could even make it vegan for me. They let us peruse the menu and I noticed the special as well being a Roasted Cauliflower in a tomato broth with crispy kale that sounded SO good. I needed to ask about it being gluten free. Cathy had settled on the Grilled Double Cut Pork Chop and Jenn said she was getting the Shrimp and Grits (I had a feeling all the veggies would be tossed aside…LOL!). But then, after checking with the chef about the gluten-free status of the cauliflower special (it was), and answering Jenn’s question as to what an étouffée was (all the veggies)…he went on to say that the Shrimp and Grits was the best dish on the menu. So…Jenn was sold. He also went on to say that the other dishes he considers the best served there were the Scallops and the Short Rib.

So now Cathy was undecided. And I still was torn between the special and the menu special. Both were special. LOL! But…both were different enough that I knew that I couldn’t get them anywhere else. So, once Cathy decided on the Scallops instead, I was still torn. And my dinner buddies weren’t making the decision any easier. Back to our waiter for his opinion…and with his help, I opted for the Vegan version of the Chef’s Creative Vegetable Plate of the Day. This meant none of the cheese or alfredo would be added to the dish. Gluten free and vegan vegetable goodness.

090 — Emeril’s Cast Iron Corn Bread with Honey Butter and Bacon Jam

As we were going to have a little wait while our food was prepared, Jenn and Cathy decided they were going to split an appetizer. They ordered the Cast Iron Skillet Corn Bread with Honey Butter and Bacon Jam ($8.00). The cornbread looked fantastic. They said it was light and fluffy and just soft and amazing. Cathy was a big, big, big fan of the Bacon Jam (pork belly cooked in butter with brown sugar and reduced). Jenn said she could take it or leave it…but the honey butter at the bottom was just soaking into the bread. I thought it was just…awesome looking. But, alas, so not something I could eat.

Before too long, our entrees were being served. They had Cathy and Jenn’s backwards, but that was easily fixed. The plates were changed out and we were ready to dive in.

Jenn ordered the Shrimp + Grits, which was Louisiana shrimp, étouffée, Anson Mills rice grits, and local cherry tomatoes ($30.00). She said the shrimp was nailed to the perfect cook. The grits were smooth and creamy. I looked at them. I thought it was rice at first…with all the cheese. Much of the étouffée was cast aside, as she is not a cooked vegetable person, but the rest of it was devoured. I really do think it was a 1/1 ratio of cheese to grits…but it looked awesome. Her only qualm…the tails were left on the shrimp. It’s kind of hard to be classy in a nice restaurant when you have to use your fingers to remove the tails.

Cathy went with the Blackened Diver Scallops, which was served with a Creamy Corn Moque Choux, Wilted Greens, and Local Tomato Jam ($32.00). It looked GORGEOUS!! The corn sauce fascinated her. She said it was almost like a corn chowder. The greens were cooked perfectly. They weren’t mushy or overly done. She said the tomato jam was sweet and paired beautifully with everything. But the star…the scallops. They were tender and buttery and had a perfect sear. She said they were the best scallops she ever had.

093 — Emeril’s Chef’s Creative Vegetable Plate of the Day – Noodleless Lasagna (tightly stacked slices of eggplant, zucchini, squash and roasted red pepper) with a marinara sauce and greens

So…my perfectly gluten-free and vegan dish is now up. As I stated, I ordered the Chef’s Creative Vegetable Plate of the Day ($23.00). This was a noodleless lasagna, where the noodles were stacked slices of eggplant, zucchini, squash, and roasted red pepper. The seasonings were crazy good. And all of this was topped off with an amazingly rich marinara and greens. I could hardly make out the noodles, and I didn’t want to destroy the dish to get a picture. So, trust me…there are tightly stacked veggies under there. OMG. The tomato sauce, for starters, was killer. Just mouth watering, savory, amazing flavor. The vegetables were cooked perfectly…not limp and wet, but perfect, with still a little crisp to them, but tender to bite into. Almost like real noodles. I didn’t miss the cheese or the heavy Alfredo. This was pure perfection. Why go back to noodles when you can do this to have lasagna?! Seriously…so glad the waiter talked me into this one. I was one happy girl.

And while we were all rather full from dinner…we decided we had to do dinner. The waiter had tempted me with a Flourless (and Gluten Free) Chocolate Torte earlier that evening. And I had been on the fence. He did deliver dessert menus to us, to let the Cathy and Jenn choose what they might want to have…and then said the sorbets (strawberry lemonade, coconut, and passionfruit tonight) were another option for me.

094 — Emeril’s Flourless Decadent Chocolate Torte with Butter Pecan Sauce

In the end, we decided to split the Flourless Decadent Chocolate Torte with a Butter Pecan Sauce ($10.00) between the three of us. I am so glad we did. While the slice of torte isn’t as huge as say, a slice of Emeril’s famous Banana Cream Pie…it was rich. Smooth, perfect, rich, creamy, amazing, sinful, decadent, chocolatey goodness. Pure sinful goodness in each bite. And that butter pecan sauce…oh yeah…that just tied it all together. Cathy and Jenn split the whipped cream. I ate the strawberry. This…was a perfect end to a perfect meal.

I was beyond impressed with the service, setting, and food that we received at Emeril’s Restaurant Orlando. They were so good at working with me and my dietary needs. Didn’t even bat an eye. Immediately knew what to ask about and explained to me what I could eat and what was delicious. Our waiter was awesome. He made me laugh, he made me feel so good about the food that was going to be made for me, and he even helped me make a decision on my dinner that night.

If only more restaurants turned out a meal and an experience like this one did. Emeril is an amazing chef…and his restaurant didn’t let me down. This was a meal I will be talking about for a very long time.

April 15, 2016

Restaurant Review: Toasted, Orlando, Florida

Restaurant: Toasted, Orlando, Florida

Sometimes I find food places to try in the most peculiar and unexpected places. As I was prepping to head out to Orlando, I was sitting on my couch at home, scrolling through my Instagram feed…when I spotted an amazing looking photo on #NationalGrilledCheeseDay from someone that I follow on there.

And it just happened to be in Orlando.

And it also just happened to feature grilled cheese and…FRIES.

Fries. I rarely get to eat fries when I go out to eat. And it’s potato. And potato is one of my favorite things in life. So, naturally, I had to check them out.

The place was called Toasted. And I suddenly needed to know more…like…was there more than just gluten free fries that I could eat there? Like…did they have…vegan cheese??!! Was it possible??!!

I went to Toasted’s Web site..and lo and behold…they had a regular menu, a vegan menu, and a gluten free menu…and they were all interchangeable. They even have a gluten-free vegan burger if I wanted to do burger rather than sandwich. And as tempting as a burger was…GRILLED CHEESE! Hello!!

I was handed the gluten free menu first and was looking it over…and when I asked about vegan options, I was handed that menu as well. And the first thing that caught my eye was a sandwich that involved all the spicy goodness that I love. Sriracha, jalapeno, and then…random tomatoes. Mmmm. That was easy.

So, my traveling brigade and I decided to get our orders in because we had been on the go pretty much all day (since downing bagels from Erin McKenna’s at Disney Springs around 10 am.

Jenn ordered the Truffle Melt ($6.25), which is a sammie made from Havarti, truffle oil, arugula, and fresh ground pepper. Mmmm…cheese-y goodness. She got the Truffle Fries ($2.50) as her side.

026 — The As Gouda As It Gets with Rosemary Truffle Fries from Toasted, Orlando, Florida

Cathy ordered the As Gouda As It Gets ($6.75), which is a sammie made with Smoked Gouda, pulled chicken, roasted red peppers, and garlic spinach. She also got the Truffle Fries ($2.50) as her side.

As for me…as I said…I saw some spicy goodness listed on the vegan menu. So, I ordered the Vegan Fireball ($5.75) done Gluten Free (+1.25). This was gluten free bread with Housemade Vegan Cheese with jalapeno, sriracha, and tomato. And I went for broke and ordered the Vegan Truffle Cheese Fries ($3.50)…which was a happy accident, as I really just wanted the Truffle Fries. Oh well.

We were given one of the signs, which contained a code from their Periodic Table of Cheese. We had Gr (Gruyere). It was a short weight…long enough to listen to a woman having a loud conversation on her cell phone and discuss how excited we were about dinner. Maybe about 10 minutes later, our food arrived. This was when I realized I had somehow got the Vegan Truffle Cheese Fries. Like I said…happy accident. I was ready to dive in. I needed to slice my sandwich in half and it made for a gooey (yes…GOOEY VEGAN CHEESE!) sandwich mess. And I loved it. Usually vegan cheese doesn’t melt to the point of epic gooeyness. This one…this one did! God bless amazing housemade vegan cheese.

027 — The Gluten Free Vegan Fireball Sandwich with Vegan Truffle Cheese Fries from Toasted, Orlando, Florida

One bite…and I no longer want Tom + Chee or….well…that’s really the only place I’ve been able to have a gluten free and vegan grilled cheese. And they don’t get gooey runny vegan cheese in theirs. THIS WAS LIFE CHANGING!! I loved that it was spicy, without being too spicy. It had a nice balance with the warm, melty, messy cheese (YAY!), the jalapeno slices, the cooling tomato, and just the right hit of sriracha. SO good. I was seriously dredging the crusts of the bread through the cheese puddle on my plate. And the fries…oh…those were good. I was sort of disappointed at first because I’m such a huge fan of ketchup, but the vegan cheese was delicious with the truffle and rosemary flavors. The only downside…was when the cheese got a bit cool. Nevertheless, despite saying I wouldn’t be able to eat them all…I did. Happily.

12967518_999787697381_4212866128158657404_o — Look at the GOOEY vegan cheese in the Gluten Free Vegan Fireball from Toasted, Orlando, Florida

Cathy loved the fries…and thought they were amazing. She liked her sandwich, but despite being a fan of Gouda, she felt the sandwich needed a stronger cheese to pair with the boldness of the garlic spinach. But she LOVED it. She also stole some of my Vegan Truffle Cheese Fries and thought the vegan cheese was awesome. Nice smokey flavor.

Jenn gives two thumbs up to her sandwich and fries. Wouldn’t change a thing. We all just hoovered and loved every moment of our culinary sandwich and fries.

Yeah…Toasted is just that good. It’s simple, easy, but crafted and amazing grilled cheese sandwiches. If you aren’t into sandwiches (and if not…what is wrong with you) they have burger options (also available gluten-free and vegan), salads, amazing side dishes, and even a kids menu.

If you are going through Orlando, Florida…not doing the whole Disney thing where you pretty much just stay on Disney property and don’t leave until you are forced to go to the airport…check out Toasted! They have two locations in Orlando – Winter Park and Lake Nona.

Seriously, I’d go back to eat here in a heartbeat. When you give me one of my favorite comfort foods and do it up beyond my expectations…you have my full and undivided attention. Toasted…thank you! I am one happy gluten-free, dairy-free girl!

April 4, 2016April 4, 2016

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Garlic Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Garlic Bagels – $7.25

I. LOVE. BAGELS.

I come by it honestly. As I’ve stated before, I was raised in New York. New York is the birthplace of the bagel, I’m pretty certain. New York is the land of these carby rounds of delicious bread-y goodness. I have loved them for as long as I can remember being alive. And that’s a damn long time.

One of the hardest things for me when I was diagnosed with Celiac was to say goodbye to my bagels. Sure, there were plenty of gluten-free versions out there…but nothing like a classic New York bagel. Some were small like a doughnut. Some were light and fluffy. Some were just…wrong. All wrong. Some were close or came close…close enough at least in flavor. But what I truly missed was that dense, small round that was schmeared with some variety of cream cheese and devoured while on-the-go or at the table or wherever.

That is…until Sweet Note Bakery found me.

Yes…they found me. Through Twitter. And they told me I needed to try their bagels. I shrugged it off the first time, but they came back…and so…I decided to blindly place an order.

It was the best decision of my life.

And today…until they release a new flavor or put that Gluten Free Rainbow Bagel up in their online store…I devoured the last of their four (4) new flavors they released earlier last month. Hey…new bagels means I get out my credit card and buy, buy, buy. With all that being said, I sense that it’s time to place a new order. I don’t like my freezer to be empty of these. It’s nice to have some on hand. So, the four flavors that they released were Tomato Basil, Garlic & Herbs, Salt and Garlic.

Today…was all about Garlic!

I grew up in a family of garlic lovers. Perhaps that’s why we always seem to carry mints with us. Like…all of us. HAHA! Anyway, if my mom was making garlic bread…it was butter and garlic for days. Just heaped on there. And we loved it that way. There is no such thing as too much garlic. So…garlic bagels…right up my alley.

I was both excited and sad to return from spin class this morning and pull the last package of bagels out of my freezer. Sweet Note…be forewarned…an order is coming your way. *cough* Anyway…

GARLIC!!

ALL THE GARLIC!! These bagels have a nice coating of garlic right on top of it, so be cautious of the bagels beneath the one you are removing…and be sure to leave some garlic on them. Mine pulled apart just fine, without stealing any of the garlic-y goodness. I used my current method for perfect defrosting in the microwave…30 seconds on one side, then flip it over for another 30 seconds. Let it sit for a moment and then slice in half. If you’re not into toasting (like a true New Yorker), then go ahead and schmear this bagel up with whatever goodness you like. If you are a true New Yorker (or not) but love a toasted bagel (like me!)…toast it up. If you have a toaster…go to town. If you, like me, don’t own a toaster, simply put these beauties on a baking sheet and into an oven heated to 350°F for about 15-20 minutes. Since my roomie was awake at this point, I went to shower while our breakfast was toasting up. By the time I was dressed and out of the bathroom…it was time to pull them out.

The apartment smelled SO GOOD!! I was practically drooling as I pulled the pan out of the oven and then schmeared some vegan cream cheese over the tops of each half. I served one bagel to my (gluten-eating) roommate and I took the other one. And grabbed coffee…because…I need to be human. HA!

Sweet Note Gluten Free Garlic Bagels with a schmear of Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese and Coffee!!

My roomie was already digging in, so I asked what she thought. She muttered something incoherent as she took another bite. So, I took that as a good thing. This was the flavor she had been waiting for…and somehow managed to save for last. I think she was beyond happy with it. And with that…I took a bite.

Oh…yes. Even with the nice coating of garlic on the top of the bagel, this does not overwhelm or overpower. It is a nice balance, especially with the dense bread of the bagel. This would totally make a great base for a bagel pizza…but it’s all about breakfast for me this time. And this…was heaven. I’m contemplating a bagel sammie with the other ones in the freezer…a nice fried egg on the inside…mmmm…

When I’m daydreaming about the next time I eat a product, you know it’s a winner. I loved the crispy crust and soft insides of this bagel. The bread is chewy and perfect, right at that perfect bagel consistancy. This isn’t your average gluten-free bagel. This feels and tastes just like a “normal” bagel…a “regular” bagel. You know…the kind you buy from a corner bagel shop in NYC. There are plenty to choose from. No other bagels on the market live up to that…and I don’t think any others will. Sweet Note Bakery has the magic touch…and the perfect recipe for the ultimate Garlic Bagel. I might have devoured this faster than I intended today.

Record time. The coffee had to wait.

One of the things that sets Sweet Note Gluten Free Bagels apart from others on them market is the old-school style that these gluten-free bagels are produced in. They hit that traditional New York Style, not only in size, but in texture too! And, yes, I am 100% certain these are gluten free!! You wouldn’t believe it to taste it for yourself, but it’s on the packaging and a big part of the business. The authentic nature of all of the gluten-free bagels from Sweet Note Bakery is that they take you back to the classic 3-inch size of the traditional bagel. No mega-bagel here. You don’t need it. Instead of a 6-inch monstrosity, you’re chowing down on real, natural ingredients that will leave you feeling full and content. Trust me. And, with the way these are constructed, you get an amazing crispy outer crust and that warm, chewy middle that New York bagels are known for. Bagel perfection.

In this case…Garlic Bagel perfection. HA!

Let’s talk about what goes into Sweet Note Gluten Free Garlic Bagels, shall we? These bagels are made with love (yep…real ingredient!), white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, brown sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, garlic, and salt. As always when it comes to Sweet Note’s bagels, these bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free. Made with love, indeed!!

As far as the nutritional information goes, these bagels really do stack up to the competition. In fact, with real ingredients, it makes every bit of these even better for you. A serving size is 4.5 ounces (128 grams), or one bagel!! Yep…one full bagel. YAY! This one bagel will serve up 280 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 330 mg sodium, 62 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 7 grams sugars, and 4 grams of protein. This bagel kept me full all morning, thanks to that high protein and fiber count. YES! Loving it.

If you have been hunting for the perfect gluten-free bagel…or just bagel…you need to turn your attention to Sweet Note Bakery. Their bagels (every single flavor…and I have tried them all) has been amazing. They all are packed with flavor, taste amazing, and give you a true texture and mouthfeel of an authentic bagel. Life is so good…thanks to Sweet Note. Don’t just read my blog though…try it for yourself. If your local natural food stores don’t carry Sweet Note Gluten Free Bagels…hop over to their Web site and order from the shop. Keep in mind that the Garlic Bagels, as well as the Garlic and Herb, and the Salt are online exclusive…so get them while you can.

And love breakfast again!

March 31, 2016

Product Review: Buen Sabor Picadillo De Garbanzos Y Camote (Chickpea & Sweet Potato Picadillo)

001 — Buen Sabor Picadillo De Garbanzos Y Camote (Chickpeas & Sweet Potato Picadillo)

Product: Buen Sabor Picadillo De Garbanzos Y Camote (Chickpea & Sweet Potato Picadillo) – $4.99+

I love discovering products I might have not seen, might be new, or just may not have noticed in the past when I go grocery shopping. Such is the tale of me and a line of frozen entrees by the company Buen Sabor.

Whole Foods. Freezer section. At least, that was the beginning of this tale for me. Grocery shopping on a budget isn’t easy…but sometimes you just have to make exceptions to the budget rule. Especially when you have events to be at every Tuesday evening (running event) by 6 p.m. I don’t like to turn up late, because then I feel like I need to try to catch up to everyone, and with the current day-to-day status of the injured hip…I just don’t like to take risks.

Taking risks with food that fits into my kind of restrictive diet…that is sometimes worth splurging on and taking a risk.

So, yes…Buen Sabor.

Buen Sabor was created by Sarah, who grew up on an organic farm in Maine. With the help of her mother, she used to cure, can, freeze, and dehydrate almost everything they ate. The family freezer became an invaluable asset to a busy family that wanted to enjoy humble foods that tasted great. When Sarah became a new mom in 2008, she delved into the quest to solve the “busy persons” food dilemma once again. And, with all that she learned growing up on the farm, she harnessed that knowledge and started Buen Sabor. The team at Buen Sabor is passionate about offering simple, crave-worthy foods that…yes…come from the freezer.

In fact, Buen Sabor actually wants you to become a “freezer believer.” One thing freezer meals have going for it is convenience. But another thing is…given the right ingredients…they can actually be a clean eat. Buen Sabor is deeply committed to creating the best possible (and super convenient) food. All of the sauces are made from scratch, their vegetables are picked and cooked at the height of their freshness, and the proteins are cooked just right and then frozen immediately to preserve the dishes most naturally. Don’t knock delicious frozen meals…simply put, freezing food is nature’s pause button…it is, literally, the most natural preservative there is. Frozen foods are nutritious, have real nutritional value, are convenient, and naturally preserves foods.

Buen Sabor aims to build a business that creates as many happy customers possible, who are able to spend more time doing the things they love. They want their products to exceed all expectations as far as quality, focusing on freshness, flavor, and nutritional value.

But do they achieve this?

Well, I picked up one of their vegan and gluten-free meals at Whole Foods that afternoon, to keep in my freezer for those rushed, hurried, “I need to go run hill repeats” Tuesday nights. Leave work, rush home, eat, change, out the door to drive over the river to meet with a group who simply…runs up a hill…jogs down…repeats it for some set amount of time. It means Tuesdays are rather stressful and rushed. So I grabbed the Buen Sabor Picadillo De Garbanzos Y Camote (Chickpea & Sweet Potato Picadillo) for me and my roomie opted for one of the meaty dishes…the Arroz Con Queso Y Trocitos De Chorizo (Savory Chorizo-Seasoned Rice With Cheese).

Super easy to warm up. I made Cathy’s first, simply by cutting a slit into the plastic on top of the tray and warming it up for 5 minutes. It sits for 1 minute and then…ready to eat. It doesn’t LOOK amazing like it does on the box…but it smelled good. And when Cathy ate it, she said it was good…for a frozen meal.

Okay…

So, needless to say, I wasn’t feeling too optimistic about the Buen Sabor Picadillo De Garbanzos Y Camote (Chickpea & Sweet Potato Picadillo). Just like with the meaty one, the vegan one also had the plastic film sliced through to allow everything to steam. Into the microwave for about 4-5 minutes. I let it go for 5, because I have an old microwave. Peel back the film and stir, letting it stand for one minute.

And…much like Cathy’s…upon taking it out of the microwave and pulling back the plastic, the meal really doesn’t look appetizing. It looks…like a frozen microwave meal. The picture on the box is GORGEOUS…but this is just sort of…one tone…one note…brownish. LOL! Over rice. That being said, once I stirred it up, it looked…slightly more appetizing.

Looks aside, I decided it was time to test the frozen meal waters myself. And, you know what? I was actually really surprised. I mean, packed with flavors. Just loaded with a hint of spice, fresh vegetables, and rice that ended up cooking to perfection. I was expecting something bland, perhaps tasting as unappetizing as it looked. But I was blown away by the flavors. The chickpeas and potato reheated gorgeously. Nothing got mushy And I love that quinoa is included for a bit more of a protein boost. Picadillo translates into “little (savory-yummy) chopped things. And the aim of Buen Sabor with the Buen Sabor Picadillo De Garbanzos Y Camote (Chickpea & Sweet Potato Picadillo) was to deliver “a delightful dance of flavors with roots in the Caribbean and Spain.” I might have devoured mine long before Cathy (who had a headstart on hers) finished hers. A little spicy, but I have an iron stomach for the most part, and I knew this wouldn’t bother me while running hard up some hills in a local park. SO tasty. So good. And really good for you too! I loved the spice and the bit of heat that each bite brought. And I love that brown rice is used instead of white. YES!! This company is speaking my language. None of the vegetables were mushy or soft. Everything had great texture and heated through perfectly. All-in-all…a dinner win! A convenient, easy dinner win.

Speaking of being really good for you, let’s take a look at the ingredients that Buen Sabor puts into the Picadillo De Garbanzos Y Camote (Chickpeas & Sweet Potato Picadillo)! One thing that Buen Sabor prides itself on is that they don’t add any hormones, antibiotics or preservatives to their food. Their products are 100% natural. Pure and simple goodness. The Buen Sabor Picadillo De Garbanzos Y Camote (Chickpeas & Sweet Potato Picadillo) is made from brown rice, onions, quinoa, chickpeas, water, sweet potato, tomatoes, red peppers, poblano chili peppers, olive oil, spice, sea salt, garlic, corn starch, and smoked sweet paprika. All real ingredients. Nothing fake. Nothing that has me questioning my dietary choices. I love that. This particular meal is gluten-free, vegan, contains no added sugar, and has no trans fat.

Now, let’s discuss nutrition, shall we? A serving of the Buen Sabor Picadillo De Garbanzos Y Camote (Chickpeas & Sweet Potato Picadillo) is 1 cup (159 grams) and there are 2 servings per container. Except, if you’re making it an actual meal…you’ll eat the entire thing like I did. No worries, nothing bad or outrageous with these stats. For one (1) serving, however, you will be taking in 160 calories, 5 grams fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 570 mg sodium, 25 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams dietary fiber, 3 grams sugar, and 5 grams protein. LOVE IT. Even after running 8 miles of hill repeats, I still felt full. And the heat didn’t bother my system at all. Good food to fuel a tough run that day.

Check your local natural foods stores for the Buen Sabor products. Honestly, you won’t regret it. Freezer section. Good stuff. Very good stuff. I think I might have to pick up a few more…at least until this group stops meeting…which, sadly, happens in a couple of weeks. But, it’s always good to have a quick meal on hand…because you never know when time might get away from you or something might come up! Buen Sabor…has your back!

March 28, 2016

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Salt Bagels

001 — Sweet Note Gluten Free Salt Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Salt Bagels – $7.25

It was just over a year ago when I was in NYC, not able to run the New York City Half Marathon, and hurting pretty much with every step I took. I was bummed, but I was going to enjoy my trip regardless. And that meant hitting up all the gluten-free bakeries I could manage in the weekend.

Believe it or not, one of the first places I made it to was Jennifer’s Way Bakery, which is owned and operated by Jennifer Esposito. She makes bagels there. And the morning that my roommate and I wandered in, we were hoping there would be bagels. None were currently out, but they had just opened. And when we inquired…we were told they were in the oven and if we didn’t mind waiting 10 minutes, she’d have them out to us (not Esposito, but the nice lady working the counter, LOL!).

Of course I was willing to wait for a fresh bagel. They had a few options as far as flavors went. My roommate got the Garlic Bagel and I went with the Salt. Because I wasn’t feeling plain or anything else that day. We waited and they were brought out to us. Not your standard fat and fluffy, dense bagels…but more like the way mine turn out when I make them from hand. A little flat and really impossible to cut in half. Regardless…the Gluten Free Salt Bagel was amazing and delicious. And I don’t think I blogged on it…because I can’t seem to find it anywhere…

Anyway…it was my first ever Salt Bagel…and I loved it. I’m usually more of a sweet person (hence why Cinnamon Raisin is often my favorite thing when it comes to bagels) but this was a nice change of pace.

SO…you can only imagine my glee when Sweet Note Bakery announced that they were releasing four (4) new flavors. I ordered all of them right away. And I’ve already given my thoughts on the Garlic & Herb and the Tomato Basil varieties. Well, my friends…we have come to the Salt variety now!

Do you remember what an amazing soft pretzel tastes like. All dense and chewy and salty and amazing, yes? Well…that’s pretty much what a Salt Bagel is. And Sweet Note is doing it absolutely perfectly.

002 — Sweet Note Gluten Free Salt Bagel with a Schmear of Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese (and coffee).

Prepping one of Sweet Note Bakery’s amazing New York-style bagels is super easy. Always keep this precious cargo frozen. Do not thaw it to room temperature. They advise against it. I advise against it. Just simply pull from freezer, place in microwave for 1 minute (I go 3o seconds on one side, and then flip it over for 30 seconds on the other side), and then cut in half. A true New Yorker would stop there…because real New Yorkers don’t eat bagels toasted. I am a real New Yorker, but I prefer to toast my bagel, thank you very much! As you know by now, I do not own a toaster anymore. I toast everything in my oven. So I preheated the oven to 350°F and popped the bagels in this morning. I had just gotten in from my first (of 2) spin classes for the day, so I went and hopped in the shower while the bagels lightly toasted. When I returned to the kitchen, they were ready for a schmear of…something. Today, I opted for the Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese that was hanging out on the shelf of my fridge.

I served one to my roomie…and I took care of the other one. And by take care, I mean I settled in, bagel in one hand, coffee in the other, morning news on TV, and began to take my first bite.

YES! Nailed it!! The outside of the bagel, when toasted, gets slightly crispy, but that center remains all doughy and dense and chewy and…awesome. But with the Sweet Note Gluten Free Salt Bagel…you also get the added bonus of a hit of salt. Or, as their Web site says, an “a-salt on your taste buds.” Puns are funny. Bagels are delicious. There you have it. If you love a little kick of salt with each bite, or if you are a fan of soft pretzels…then this bagel variety is for you. 100% guarantee that you will be hooked from the first bite. My roommate wasn’t too sure about these, wanting to go right to the Garlic (which she has been eager to try)…but I had my heart set on Salt. And I’m glad we went that way. It’s the best of the breakfast and snack worlds…combined into one sweet, or in this case, salty bite. A good schmear of anything, really…be it nut butter or chocolate, or butter, or jelly, or frosting…or even cream cheese (vegan or not)…works with this sort of a flavor. You want salty and sweet…Nutella or Smudge or some chocolate nut spread. Oh yeah…now we’re talking. Or, keep it real and simple with cream cheese. With the Sweet Note Gluten Free Salt Bagel…you have an open canvas and plenty of options.

But trust me…you’ll hoover this down like it’s going out of style.

So, let’s talk about what ingredients the crazy bagelers at Sweet Note put into their Gluten Free Salt Bagels, shall we? These bagels are made with love (yep…that’s a listed ingredient!), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, brown sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, yeast, and salt. The Sweet Note Gluten Free Salt Pretzels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free. LOVE IT!! Vegan & Gluten Free bagels are now ready to be delivered right to your doorstep! And when it comes to the Salt variety of the Sweet Note bagels…you can only get them online.

As far as nutritional information goes, you’ll want to eat these up. A serving size of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Salt Bagels is one (1) bagel (4.5 ounces (128 grams)), and there are four (4) bagels per pack. This serving will provide you with 300 calories, 4.5 grams fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 530 mg sodium, 62 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 7 grams sugars, and 4 grams protein. With the high fiber and protein, you’ll feel full and satisfied long after your bagel is gone.

Real ingredients, amazing nutritional facts, amazing bagels. Happiness is round and salty and gluten-free. Trust me, you’ll love to love Sweet Note Gluten Free Salt Bagels.

But, as I mentioned, these are on online exclusive, so if you want to try them out yourself, head over to their online store and place an order!

You won’t regret it. Order one of everything while you’re at it. You’ll thank me later!