I’ve been a full vegetarian for over a year now, and for some reason Lightlife products haven’t really made it onto my radar. I’ve used their vegetarian pepperoni on my Save The Piggy pizza and pepperoni pizza, but that really had been the extent of their products. I should have tried more sooner, because the pepperoni was amazing (and far better than Yves, which I had to pick off my pizza!).
So…here is to buying a clue.
My local grocery store does Manager’s Specials on products when they come in a little banged up. A box of Lightlife’s Spicy Sweet & Sour Smart Cutlets fell into this category one day when I was perusing the Natural Foods and Vegetarian section at the grocery store. The only thing wrong with it was that the box was a bit crushed. The product was in perfect condition. But, as the manager of the store explained, people won’t buy something if the packaging is crushed, so they mark it down to sell it. Brilliant!
And sold this was. I brought it home and put it in my fridge to cook up sometime during the week.
These little cutlets are so easy to prepare. And all I did was steam up a bit of white rice to accompany it. It had been a long day at the office, so the thought of cooking something from scratch was daunting. I opened up my fridge and spotted the cutlets. So I put some rice in the steamer and while that cooked up, I looked at how to best prepare the cutlets. It gives a couple of options: microwave or stove top. Since I was feeling lazy, I simply put a cutlet on a plate with the sauce over it and heated it up in the microwave. It was quick and easy. And then I put down a serving of rice with it and had a dinner ready in quick order.
First bite…and I immediately noticed the kick of spice in the sauce. The texture was perfect. It didn’t taste rubbery or soft, despite being microwaved. The flavor was spot-on. A delicious blend of sweetness with the kick of Asian spice. It was like eating at a Chinese restaurant, but right out of my kitchen. There is certainly a nice blend of Asian influence in the sauce that accompanies the cutlet.
All this did was solidify my belief that Lightlife does, indeed, make fantastic products. This was just the right level of savory and spicy. And I enjoyed every bite of it, then mopped up the extra sauce with my rice.
Truly delicious down to the last bite.
Lightlife's Spicy Sweet & Sour Smart Cutlets with white rice
I know…it’s another pub. But pubs are interesting, shady places and the atmosphere that you find inside them is as addicting as the drinks they pour. What is it about a crowded little dive that smells of booze, is loud, and at times full of soccer fans and rugby fans that continues to bring me back?
Pub grub. The food.
Healthy…more than likely not. But no one goes to a pub expecting low-calorie, low-fat goodness. You go to a pub to eat. Seriously eat. And sample a draft (or two or three or four) while you are there. And if you’re fortunate with your timing, you catch a match on the television and bond over who will win and lose with the other patrons and regulars.
Yes…pubs are their own little world and these imports from the Isles continue to lure me inside their doors, seat me at their dark tables, and serve me their food.
Piper’s Pub was a gem of a find. Ranked in the top 20 out of over 1000 restaurants on Trip Adviser, while in Pittsburgh for the U2 show, my roommate and I stopped in to get our last decent meal in before we endured the endless day of standing in the general admission line starting before most people would crawl out of their slumber. A good meal the night before makes that task a little easier.
Located among a row of various shops and restaurants, Piper’s Pub stands out simply with its black awnings and dark wood façade. It looks like a genuine pub, so right there, you already know what you’re getting into. You enter through the bar. The entire building is a narrow corridor, with a bar to your left, packed with people, as you enter. However, if you are looking to dine, continue past the bar to the hostess stand in middle, just as you reach a mass of tables and booths. The ambiance is pub-like…dimly lit and buzzing with chatter and the sound of drink glasses against the wood of the bar and tables. We were seated quickly and given time to peruse the menu.
Piper's Pub's House Salad with a Raspberry Vinaigrette
As with every pub, my roommate ordered up her usual fish and chips, but wet her appetite with a cup of the Gaelic Four Onion Soup. While there are quite a few different vegetarian options on the menu, I found one that was entirely gluten-free so nothing would have to be done to change it up. I started off with a House Salad, no croutons, with a raspberry vinaigrette and for my meal…I got the Vegetable Curry and went with it seasoned hot instead of medium. With the orders in, we took a moment to take in the actual surroundings and chat.
Our starters arrived soon after. The salad was beautiful. Everything had such bright and vibrant colors in it. And this salad had a bit of a twist: capers. You read that right. And I am not even a fan of capers, but the flavor blended so perfectly with the tomato, sweet cherry pepper, cucumber, red onion the bed of greens all of that topped. The raspberry vinaigrette was the right level of tart and tangy. Perfect for a vinaigrette. The produce was fresh. The greens had that crisp snap when you bit into them. The red onion offered up the perfect bite. And all the rest just made up a delicious salad that I really enjoyed working my way through.
After our starters were done, the entrees were brought out. I was quite interested in how a pub specializing in British, Scottish and Irish food would do with a curry. It looked absolutely fantastic. It was a balance of eggplant, portabella mushroom and zucchini, cooked in their spicy Vindaloo curry sauce and served over half-mashed redskin potatoes. When it was set down in front of me, I could smell the heat from the curry. I knew this was going to be amazing.
First bite…I wanted all the flavors…the vegetables and the potato with the curry. Scooping it up on my fork, I took a bite and was treated to a spicy burst of flavor. It was the perfect level of curry hotness. Enough to spark the fire without burning the lining of my stomach. And the vegetables were cooked to perfection. They weren’t underdone and spilling wet juice everywhere. And they weren’t overcooked and rock hard. They were soft, easy to cut through with a fork, and paired so well with the redskin potato mash that each bite tasted even more fantastic. And it was just as satisfying if I only gathered up one of the vegetables or a bit of potato, as it was when everything mingled on the fork. One of my favorite things I’ve ever eaten at a pub…hands down.
I was quite pleased with the experience at Piper’s Pub while I was in Pittsburgh. I wouldn’t hesitate to stop in again. Nor would I hesitate to order that Vegetable Curry from their menu again. When flavors and textures mix and mingle in perfect harmony not only on the plate but in my mouth, I’m forever in love. This meal was fantastic and I think I might be hard-pressed to find another pub that does up a vegetarian and gluten-free plate to this standard.
Trust the reviews…and trust me. Piper’s Pub may seem like a small little dive in the center of town, but in Pittsburgh, it’s top of my list and reviewer’s lists on places to go to eat. Give it a try. And go off the beaten path…try something you normally wouldn’t. I did. And now I just want more!
Italian food. Spaghetti, lasagna, ziti…you name it and I’m a fan. Spaghetti has forever been one of my favorite meals and something that I would usually request to have on my birthday for dinner.
And then…I had to go gluten-free. I was on Facebook soon after making the switch and ranting a bit about the cost of gluten-free products. Looking for tips and tricks. And an old high school classmate of mine, who had to be gluten-free for awhile, mentioned Tinkyáda pasta, saying it was the best. She said it tasted so much like regular pasta, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
So, with that in mind, I went searching in my local grocery stores. Sure enough…they carried a few varieties. But it was a little more than I was willing to pay at the time. So, instead, I caved and got the DeBoles rice pasta and was very disappointed. The noodles just got limp and soggy. I wasn’t a fan.
While on vacation this past month, I was visiting family and went grocery shopping for things I could eat and found the Tinkyáda Brown Rice Spaghetti noodles and decided to purchase them and give them a try. My family was eating pasta that night, so this meant I could have pasta as well. Perfect. And…it wasn’t as expensive in Minnesota as it is in Indiana…so it was the ample opportunity to give it a shot.
I was actually quite excited to cook up these noodles. As I set the water on the stove to boil, I read a bit of the packaging so I knew how long I needed to cook them and then got to work on my gluten-free vegetarian spaghetti sauce to pour over it. Since these noodles were so highly recommended by someone I know and who had to do her own searching for delicious gluten-free products, I wasn’t the slightest bit concerned with the taste. I just could tell, even as I put the dry noodles into the boiling water, that these were going to be good.
As the sauce and noodles cooked, I decided to make up my own version of garlic bread as well, so as to be able to have something to mop up the sauce with. While out on the same grocery expedition, I purchased my favorite gluten-free sandwich bread: Udi’s Whole Grain Bread. Placing it on a pan, I brushed a little olive oil and seasoned it lightly with a few herbs from the cabinet. As the noodles were getting closer to finishing, I popped it in an over at 425° for about 7 minutes to get crisp and toasted.
Tinkyáda Brown Rice Spaghetti Noodles (cooked)
While that was baking, I drained the noodles and gave them a quick rinse in cold water, as the package suggested. Then, with a dab of sauce in the bottom of a bowl, I placed the noodles on top. Then, more sauce was added. Presto…the perfect spaghetti dinner. I pulled out the bread from the oven and set it on the edge of the bowl and went to sit down and enjoy my gluten-free dinner.
First taste and I knew there were no other spaghetti noodles for me. No more skimping and buying DeBoles. Never again. This had the right al dente pasta texture. It really, really tasted like spaghetti should. Nothing limp, or soggy. Perfect noodles. I’ve had them again a couple of times since this experience and they’ve been amazing each time. I’m planning on cooking up another meal with the small Brown Rice Shells in the next few days and just know I can trust them to hold up to the casserole that it’s going in.
When it comes to gluten-free foods…there are times you really do need to splurge. If Tinkyáda noodles are available in your grocery store, do not hesitate to purchase them. Do not try to take the cheaper route, because you will be disappointed. You will be amazed at the texture and taste of Tinkyáda’s products. I rave about them every chance I get. My roommate LOVES them, and as stated before, she doesn’t even need to eat gluten-free foods. I’m the chef here, though, so she eats what I make and sometimes she’s the guinea pig for a new recipe or product.
Even if you don’t need to eat gluten-free, give Tinkyáda’s Brown Rice Noodles…or any of their pasta noodles…a try. I’ll never go back to using any other brand. Top of the line gluten-free pasta perfection. Nothing less than al dente goodness in every twirl of the fork.
Oh…and as for my impromptu garlic bread…that rocked my world too! The perfect meal thanks to the perfect gluten-free products.
Tinkyáda Brown Rice Spaghetti in a gluten-free vegetarian spaghetti sauce with homemade Udi's garlic bread
Nuts On Clark, Chicago Midway Airport, Chicago, Illinois
There’s popcorn in Chicago and then there is popcorn. There is something special about the popcorn in the Windy City. After a disappointing meal at Chicago Midway Airport, I was looking for something else to carry me through until supper time. Since I love popcorn like it’s going out of style…I thought it might be a good snack before boarding the plane.
Chicago O’Hare has a couple of Garrett Gourmet Popcorn in their terminals. Not so much at Midway. What they do have is a little popcorn and nuts place called Nuts On Clark.
Well…it was better than nothing.
Since no one should have to choose between caramel and cheese popcorn, I got the standard mix of both…something Chicago is known for according to Garrett shops. Just a small bag would do. And along with it, since it was on sale, I snagged a bag of dark chocolate covered cashews. Because a little salty and sweet never hurt anyone. In fact…it only makes life better!
Nuts On Clark's bag of Dark Chocolate Covered Cashews
With popcorn and dark chocolate cashews in hand, I hurried down to my gate and settled in for a little snack. I started with the chocolate because I’m female and chocolate helps to calm the inner beast. Since I was still fuming over my lackluster lunch, I figured a little chocolate might do me some good.
Nuts On Clark's Dark Chocolate Covered Cashews
I popped a cashew into my mouth…and all I got was chocolate. I thought I had the weird anomaly of the bag. Just a hunk of dark chocolate. So, I grabbed a bigger one, which was shaped like a cashew and tried again. Same reaction. There was no salty with sweet. There was just sweet. Now, I love dark chocolate more than anything else in the world…but I wanted to taste the cashew too. And with ever one I tried…I just wasn’t getting the hit of salty nut flavor that I was craving. Disappointed, I folded up the remaining in the bag, tucked it away into my carry-on and turned my attention to the bag of popcorn.
This was my first time sampling the Chicago blend of caramel and cheese popcorn mixed together. So, I was intrigued to give it a try. The popcorn was…okay. The caramel really stood out as opposed to the rather blah cheese flavor. But…I’ve had Garrett Gourmet Popcorn prior to this and this didn’t equal up to the delicious bite and flavor they offer. Garrett popcorn is bursting with caramel flavor. It mixes in nuts of your choice if you want, or you can have it plain. It keeps fresh in the bags long after you open it. Nuts On Clark tries. And I guess if you really need some popcorn, they are the place to hit up. But, a word of warning to those who do venture that way. Unlike Garrett popcorn…if you start eating this stuff, finish it. It doesn’t keep well. I brought it to the U2 General Admission line the following morning and ate it as a mid-day snack…to find it stale and the cheese quite rancid. I wasn’t a fan.
If you really want to get gourmet popcorn, go to Garrett if possible while in Chicago. Skip Nuts On Clark. Just…trust me on this. Neither of their products I purchased blew me away. Disappointing for the high airport snack price I paid for them. If you need a crunchy popcorn hit…find a shop at Midway and buy the pre-packaged stuff. I’d skip this and hold out for Garrett’s next time I find myself in Chicago.
Luigi Stefani's Pizzaria at Chicago Midway Airport, Chicago, Illinois
Ah…the airport! It can be a nightmare to navigate on its own as it is. Try finding a lunch while being a vegetarian and having food allergies. Lunch becomes nigh on impossible. Sure, some airports are easier than others. I admit that…
But Chicago Midway can be a nightmare! It’s a nice airport, sure. And the food court does offer up a plethora of dining options…as long as you can have foods containing gluten and/or eat meat. Since I can do neither, my lunch experience here had my blood pressure on the rise, my stomach rumbling and had me on the verge of tears since I was starving and had little actual food I could enjoy.
You’d think I’d be used to that by now. And I am…but when I’m hungry, I’m hungry and those little shops with the unhealthy and overpriced snacks aren’t going to cut it. Overpriced actual airport food was what I needed.
My roommate decided she was going to get a slice of pizza at Luigi Stefani’s Pizzaria in Midway. So, while she was in line, she spotted their salad bar. Okay…a salad is better than nothing, so I hiked over there to take a look at it. It looked okay…so I got into the long line, waiting through the people ordering pizza and bread sticks…and finally placed my order for a Caprese Salad.
I admit…I really wasn’t feeling a salad at that moment. But I had no other options. So, after paying an ungodly amount of money for a small salad, I was handed a tiny bowl with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls, drenched in a vinaigrette. No greens. Just tomatoes and cheese. I know that’s what caprese is…but usually if I order a caprese salad, I at least get it on a bed of greens.
So, I took my little bowl of tomatoes and cheese and unhappily sulked back to the table my roommate was sitting at, enjoying her slice of pizza. I wasn’t impressed with the salad at all. The tomatoes were okay, but not really ripe enough. The cheese was good. But, to be honest, what I was eating was just not what I wanted. It was one of the most miserable meals I sat down to. The food was okay, but it didn’t blow me away. And a small serving of tomatoes and balls of mozzarella wasn’t going to hold me until dinner much later that evening.
I can’t speak about their pizzas and pastas, but I wasn’t blown away with their salad options, portions, or presentation. Perhaps I’m just nitpicking now, but, even if food isn’t what I want (I’ve had to make substitutions at restaurants before…and not get my fries), I usually don’t let it get to me. But this bothered me for some reason. Perhaps it was the lack of greens. Or the fact that tomatoes and cheese does not a meal make. Or that it took so long to find something for an food-allergic vegetarian to eat while at the airport. Any way you slice it, I was not a happy foodie that day.
So…a word to any airport managers or higher ups…at Midway or other airports around the country…please, with the rise in food allergies, open up a few more options in the food courts. Sitting down at a restaurant is good if you have the time, but we didn’t so after already being limited, I was even further limited on food choices.
Nothing against Luigi Stefani’s…but I could have had that same food anywhere and probably had it done better. Maybe it was the airport. Or maybe it was the service and food. Whatever it was…it didn’t blow me away. In fact, it left me hungry for something else. So, after eating something I could have made at home…I went in search of something that would satisfy me.
Meals are big deals. This was worse than bland. This was forgettable.
Muffins are delicious. And granted, they get a bad reputation due to being so high in calories. But when treated as a treat (especially when buying prepackaged instead of homemade), muffins are a tasty treat that can be substituted for a dessert or…yes…even an on-the-go breakfast.
For me, I like to eat my muffins for dessert. When I had to go gluten-free, I had to give up the muffin mini’s I used to make to have on hand for breakfast. I’m sure there are plenty of gluten-free recipes out there, but the flour is so expensive so I just gave them up. You know what that means, right? I began to crave!
That’s when Udi’s once again stepped in to prove that gluten-free food tastes amazing. I was in Minnesota for my grandfather’s 90th birthday party. I knew that the desserts would be cake and cookies, both of which this gluten-free girl could not indulge in. So, while out at the grocery store, I spotted Udi’s Double Chocolate Muffins in the freezer section. I figured that these could easily double as my desserts while there AND I could appear to be eating a cake while the guests at the party enjoy the actual birthday cake.
Besides, it was a name I have come to trust. Udi’s makes the best gluten-free bread and bagels I have ever had and I refuse to purchase anything else. I’m not just paying for the brand, I’m paying for delicious quality. So, I didn’t even hesitate to snatch these up. I had tried the blueberry muffins (pre-blog days) and loved them, so I was confident I was in for a chocolatey good treat.
That night at dinner, I decided while people passed around some cookies I would eat one of my muffins for desserts. I pulled it out of the packaging and tossed it into the microwave for a few seconds to warm it up. Then I sliced it into quarters and took my first bite.
It melted away in my mouth. Just rich with flavor and fantastic texture. These didn’t feel too dense. It was just the right amount for a dessert (albeit, the calories are a bit disconcerting, but its dessert, so they don’t count, right?). Not too heavy. Not too rich. But bursting with chocolate. These chocolate muffins are spotted with chocolate chips, giving it the double chocolate appeal. Yes…rich and melt-in-your-mouth good. I was so glad I had three more of them in the package because I was going to savor these.
I shared. With my roommate and cousin, both of whom do not need to eat gluten-free. And they loved it. I even had one left when I had to fly out of Minnesota, so I left it with my mom, who might also be gluten-intolerant. She tried it and texted me immediately to praise the flavor. Thumbs way up for these muffins.
Udi’s has yet to dish me out something I didn’t like. This might be brand loyalty, but when a brand earns it, well, I will continue to praise it. Thanks to Udi’s gluten-free breads, bagels and muffins are winning me over one item at a time.
If you love muffins, chocolate, more chocolate, and want to see if what I say is true…or if you are gluten-free and have yet to try these…go to the grocery store and find Udi’s Double Chocolate muffins. Take a bite. It may seem sinful, but it’s a godsend for gluten-free foodies like me.
It looks like peanut butter. It smells like peanut butter. It even tastes like peanut butter. The trick here is…there is not one nut in this spread!
Nuts seem to be one of the things I’m not allergic to when it comes to food. Thank goodness. I don’t know what I’d eat if I couldn’t have my peanut butter (or my preferred almond butter!). But I tend to buy those organic and that can mean a lot of money for one small jar.
Then, my mom texted me one day and told me about a gluten-free brand of nut-free “peanut butter” that actually tastes like peanut butter despite the fact there are no nuts in it. I was intrigued and sought it out.
I.M. Healthy Soy Nut Butter is the product. And I was quite leery about purchasing it at first. After all, I can have most peanut butters as long as they are gluten-free. But, my mom raved about it…and I was visiting somewhere that would have kids around with peanut allergies. Just in case one got into the pantry, I didn’t want to be responsible for them having a serious allergic reaction to peanut butter. So, I.M. Healthy Soy Nut Butter came home with me.
I bought the chunky kind, although it does come in a wide variety: creamy, chunky, honey, unsweetened, and chocolate. But I have a soft spot in my heart for chunky peanut butter so, I went with the chunky variety here. One morning, I spread a bit of it across my Udi’s gluten free bagel and had a taste.
My mom was absolutely correct! It tasted just like peanut butter! I was really impressed. The texture was awesome. The flavor was amazing. And if I had done this in a blind testing, I never would have pegged this as not having nuts in it.
I.M. Healthy Soy Nut Butters have absolutely no peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, dairy, egg, wheat (gluten), or shellfish. And the product is manufactured in a plant that does not house any of these products so there is no cross-contamination. That’s awesome. What this product is made from is soybeans. And in this particular kind, the chunks are roasted soybeans that add a bit of a crisp texture to the spread.
It was so much better than I expected. In fact, since departing from the home I was visiting, I now have the creamy variety in my pantry. And, depending on where I shop for it…much cheaper than my organic peanut butter and almond butter.
No peanuts? No worries. You can’t even tell. Even if you don’t have a food allergy, I recommend giving these a try. They are far and away the closest thing to peanut butter without actually having peanuts in them. Kudos to a company for taking a common food allergy and bringing around a product that is so close to the real thing…if you didn’t know better…you’d swear it was.
There is a reason that Udi’s Gluten Free Foods are top-of-the-line. When I had to go gluten-free, their bread won my heart immediately. I mean, finally…something that tasted like bread. Granted, it’s about half the size of a normal slice, but…it tastes like real bread. Beggars can’t be choosers, right?
For followers of my blog, last month I blogged about two different types of bagels I tried in search of the perfect bagel. After all, I was raised in New York…home of the most amazing bagels on Earth. No lie. But when I had to give up foods with gluten, that meant my bagels had to fall to the wayside. And the Enjoy Life Cinnamon Raisin bagels (blech!) and the Kinnikinnick Tapioca Rice New York Style Plain Bagels (ehhhhh) just weren’t up to standard with what a bagel, to me, should taste like. Size, texture, flavor…all of it was wrong. Although Kinnikinnick came closer of the two brands to what a bagel should be.
But then…then I picked up a bag of Udi’s Gluten-Free Plain Bagels. The first thing I noticed, from the packaging alone, was that the size was perfect. Finally…a gluten-free bagel that was the actual size of a real bagel. Thank you, Udi’s! I split it in half and popped it in the toaster and allowed it to toast up as I would any other bagel. And when it popped up…I was pleasantly surprised. The texture, just by touch, seemed right. It was crispy from the toasting, but soft on the inside. I was already getting psyched to take my first bite.
I put a spread of peanut butter across the top and broke off a bit of it. I noticed the texture again as I pulled it apart. Soft. And then…the moment of truth…I popped the bit into my mouth.
I almost cried. Tears of joy. Because Udi’s did what other company’s haven’t managed to do yet. They created a bagel that was soft, chewy, and delicious. They were the size of a bagel, not a doughnut. The texture was perfect. They weren’t too dense. And they honestly tasted like a bagel you’d get from a bakery. I had to sit back for a moment and let it all process because this was a true moment of enlightenment. Much like their sandwich bread, Udi’s outdid all their competition and created a product that tastes so much like the real thing it was frightening. My roommate (who doesn’t have to eat gluten-free) tried a piece and was blown away as well.
And this is why Udi’s dominates the gluten-free food market. And yes…this is why I pay $5.99 for sandwich bread and why I wouldn’t flinch to put down another $5.99 on a bag of 4 Udi’s gluten-free bagels again. I am continuously blown away by this brand and, when I can afford it, I buy up their products. They still have many I am eager to try, but I’m working my way through them. The problem I run into is the grocery stores in my area aren’t carrying Udi’s products. But I think a few letters to the store managers might help fix that.
Until then, my search for the perfect gluten-free bagel has come to a triumphant close. Udi’s won that battle and now I refuse to look any further. You can’t get better than perfection. And Udi’s serves up gluten-free perfection each time.
So grab a bagel and your favorite gluten-free topping and enjoy a bagel for breakfast again in all it’s gluten-free glory! Udi’s makes it simple and delicious. Trust me. It might even be better than the real thing!
I blame Adam Richman of Travel Channel’s Man v. Food. No. Seriously.
If not for his stop in Minneapolis one season, I never would have even known or thought to look up a restaurant known as the 5-8 Club. Now, being a vegetarian, this meat-heavy menu normally wouldn’t appeal to me at all. But unlike some restaurants, this one-time speakeasy can prepare all but their two signature burgers (the Juicy Lucy and the Saucy Sally) as a veggie burger. WIN!
Make sure if you plan to eat at the 5-8 Club, you plan ahead. Because it gets busy…and stays busy! This is not a bad thing, unless you are absolutely starving. Granted, while the wait we had wasn’t too bad, the place was packed. So, my aunt held the spot for snagging a table and my roommate, my cousin and I all ventured outside to the nearby park to relax before being called to sit down for dinner.
The 5-8 Club, Home of the Juicy Lucy, Minneapolis, Minnesota
This place is known for their burgers. The Juicy Lucy being the prime one that is featured on Travel Channel’s Man v. Food and Food Wars. One other establishment that claims to have invented the burger is Matt’s Bar, which has an alternative spelling as well (Jucy Lucy). So…the battle began over whether this burger was born at the hands of the owners of the 5-8 Club or Matt’s Bar. But after simply watching an episode of Man v. Food, the burger at the 5-8 Club looked much better than Matt’s…plus it used proper spelling (always a plus with this journalism major!)…so…decision made.
We did have a couple try to persuade us to go to Matt’s instead. They claimed Matt’s had the better version of the Juicy Lucy…but we were set on the 5-8 Club. And I’m glad we stuck to our guns on this one.
After finally snagging a table in the bustling restaurant, we looked over the menus and made our decisions. I was getting the Mushroom Swiss Veggie Burger (no bun) with fries. My aunt got the California Burger with fries. My cousin, Natalie, got the Juicy Lucy with American cheese and fries. And my roommate…she got the Juicy Lucy with American cheese and onion rings.
So…what is a Juicy Lucy? After all that set-up, I suppose I should at least explain the signature dish. Well, it’s simple, really. The Juicy Lucy is a half-pound burger that is stuffed with cheese. That’s right, the burger is folded around the cheese. And at the 5-8 Club, you get your choice of either American, Swiss or Blue cheese for the center of your burger. The magic is when you cut the burger in half…which you’ll want to do to avoid scalding. You see, the burger is then grilled up, so that the meat is still juicy, but that the cheese that is inside melts down. When you cut it in half to cool it off, the cheese oozes out of the burger. It’s meaty, cheesy magic and people eat it up (literally!).
The 5-8 Club's Juicy Lucy (with side of onion rings)
Most burgers at the 5-8 club are quarter pounders. However, the Juicy Lucy and the Saucy Sally are both half a pound. So…come with an appetite. They also don’t skimp on the sides. I had more fries than I knew what to do with, as did both my aunt and cousin. And my roommate…well…after eating her entire Juicy Lucy, she still tackled her fries and only left one behind. What a foodie trooper!!
But the whole purpose of my blog isn’t to showcase meat. I mean, I don’t even eat it. So, what about my meal?
The Mushroom Swiss Veggie Burger was a veggie burger patty, topped with sauteed mushrooms and melted swiss cheese. Basic. Simple. But still…bursting with flavor. The veggie burger is actually packed with real vegetables. It was nice to slice into the vegetarian patty and see the fresh ingredients that were part of it. And the cheese was melted to gooey perfection over a bed of perfectly seasoned and sauteed mushrooms.
The fries were AMAZING! Most people recommend this establishment’s Jojo Fries…but I’m not a fan of wedge fries, so I went with the standard ones and was very impressed. They weren’t over-salted. Seasoned, yes…but not overdone. And crisp on the outside with the perfect mash of potato on the inside. Yes…these people have been cooking up delicious food for decades and it shows with the quality of the food they put out. When people say the 5-8 Club has the best burgers in town, it’s probably true. I can at least say I enjoyed one of the best veggie burgers I have ever had the pleasure of eating. And my carnivorous dining partners all praised the burgers that they had.
If you are headed up to Minneapolis and want to try out an interesting, eclectic place with a fascinating history and fierce competition within its city…hit up the 5-8 Club. Even if you are a vegetarian like me, you still get an amazing burger at a great price. And the atmosphere and history just make the experience all the better. Best burgers in town? They have the awards on the wall to prove it, but I suggest going in and trying it for yourself. I got the vegetarian option and was blown away!
The 5-8 Club Mushroom Swiss Veggie Burger (no bun) with a side of fries
One of the most inexpensive (and delicious) gluten-free breakfast cereals in the grocery store these days is, believe it or not, Chex. Yes…that cereal you grew up using in a party mix or even as breakfast. But here’s the best part. You are no longer limited to the three classic flavors. And if you can’t have gluten…it’s not just the rice and corn flavors.
Since the wheat and multi-bran are not options for me, I was pretty certain I was stuck with the usual Rice Chex and Corn Chex. And then I hit up the grocery store and discovered that General Mills had created a whole new line of flavors for Chex cereal. And among them…something no woman can resist…
Chocolate Chex.
I am a chocolate fiend. Honestly. If it’s around, I cannot resist it’s power. This is probably why this box of cereal immediately grabbed my attention in the grocery aisle. My chocolate radar kicked in and I could not resist snagging this off the shelf.
I bought one box and took it home, eager to give it a try. Upon first pour, it’s like a checkerboard of Chocolate and Rice Chex. Actually, the product is just Rice Chex with a chunk of the squares dusted in real cocoa powder. I popped one of the chocolate squares on its own into my mouth and knew right then and there that I had found the most amazing treat for breakfast.
It was sweet, and the cocoa powder melted away as I chewed it. It was like popping a chocolate wafer into my mouth and having it melt away. So delicious. So, I poured a little unsweetened almond milk into my bowl and took an entire spoonful. Bursting with chocolate flavor, this cereal is like a treat. You don’t feel like you’re eating kiddie cereals when you eat these. This isn’t Cocoa Pebbles (which are also gluten-free, mind you!)…this is chocolate cereal for adults (and kids, too!). You aren’t buying a box with a cartoon character on it. You’re getting full-out flavor in a cereal you’d buy for yourself even if you didn’t have to eat gluten-free.
And here’s the best part…this cereal is amazing with milk or just dry. It can be breakfast or a snack or even a dessert. It works either way because of the hit of sweet cocoa. I’ve eaten it as a snack while on the road or dry just before running in a race. It tastes good either way. But one little treat you get with adding milk is that it flavors the milk chocolate, so you are certain to scoop all of that up too. It’s an added bonus to an already tantalizing breakfast experience.
Chocolate cereal that is not only good for you…it tastes good too. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy a sweet treat in the morning (or afternoon, or evening). And thanks to Chex cereal…you don’t have to be! So have chocolate for breakfast (and second-breakfast, lunch, noonsies, snack, dinner, dessert)…and go back for an extra handful once you’re done. It’s okay…I won’t tell anyone. I do it too.
The Celiathlete 