Category: Food

Italian food.  It is one of my favorite things to eat.  And, with the recent gluten-free diet, something I don’t get to enjoy out that often.  On a recent visit to Birmingham, Alabama to visit my family…I asked my dad to pick a place to eat out, since we always eat at The Depot (which, we had for lunch that day, mind you!) and Joe’s Italian (reviewed earlier in this blog!).  My dad, being a connoisseur of Italian food as well, chose Lucia’s Italian in Helena, Alabama.  As I was on vacation, I let the gluten-free thing slide a little because sometimes good food is worth it.  And my dad really, really, really wanted to try this place out.

Upon entering the restaurant, we were seated at a table and awaited the arrival of our waiter.  He arrived a short time later to take drink orders and allow us to flip through our menus.  The first thing I noticed while perusing the menu was that many of the items had been blacked out.  Sad, as the restaurant hadn’t been open that long.  And one item I really wanted to have…the Manicotti (stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach and topped with sauce), was one of the ones that was now blacked out.  I was surprised, being so new, seeing so many items already taken from the menu.  After much debate, I settled on the Cheese Tortellini alla Panna, cheese tortellini in a garlic cream sauce.  With it I got a cup of the tomato basil soup.

Our drinks arrived,  and so did the baskets of bread.  They were set out and then our waiter disappeared, without pouring the oil for dipping.  Taking matters into my own hands, I began to do it…and that was when the manager came over to assist.  She explained that they were short-handed that day and apologized.  We also pointed out that my four-year-old nephew, who was to get apple juice, didn’t receive his drink yet.  We were told they were out of juice.  So, my sister asked about getting him milk instead, but was informed they were out of that as well.  So…he ended up with water, and voiced his dissatisfaction about not having juice like promised.  I mean, he’s four.  He lives for his juice.  And after we began receiving soups and salads, my sister pointed out he still didn’t have his water.  The waiter finally went to get it.

I hadn’t been able to share in the bread, but everyone who did eat it (that would have been everyone else at the table) loved it.  Raved about it.  Ate more than they probably should have before receiving their food, but didn’t seem to care.  I have to admit, the bread did look good.  So, I was extremely excited when my tomato basil soup arrived.  One bite and I was in heaven.  Definitely worth the wait.  It tasted fresh.  It was warm without being too hot to eat.  And the flavor was an explosion of tomato and herbs, perfectly blended, perfectly made.  Perfect.  It tasted like a marinara sauce.  Soup love.  If this was a taste of what was to come with the entree, well…the slow service and the very limited menu might be worth it.

With the soup polished off, I was already anticipating the main dish.  When it arrived, I could already tell that it was going to be good.  The portion size was just right, although knowing I was having dessert, I didn’t polish it off.  But the tortellini was cooked to absolute perfection.  It didn’t fall apart when I cut into it.  The creamy sauce that it was in was was seasoned just right.  It wasn’t heavy, like most cream sauces are.  It was very light and complimented the pasta, rather than overwhelm it.  It was, in a word, perfect.  Deliciously perfect.

As is my biggest downfall when it comes to these restaurants, the dessert case called our names.  And we all got something different to share and eat.  My roommate got her usual, a cannoli, which she enjoyed (but she said it still hasn’t topped Adrienne’s in Jeffersonville, Indiana).  My sister and her husband split the Neapolitan cake, a layered cake of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, iced in chocolate.  They liked it well enough, but said the chocolate part was a bit dry.  I sampled a bit of it…and agreed.  But the strawberry cake was heaven.  Which is what my little four-year-old nephew got.  Strawberry cake.  A gigantic slice, which he nibbled off of and we packed the rest away for another time.  The strawberry cake was heads and tales above everything else.  My dad got a giant slice (seriously, these are meant to share…they are practically an entire cake all their own) of the  chocolate cake.  My mom and I split a bigger-than-my-head tiramisu.

The tiramisu was delicious.  Tasting of the right amount of cocoa, coffee, liquor and mascarpone…it was light, despite it’s intimidating size.  Between the two of us, my mom and I polished it off without reducing ourselves to licking the plate.  It was good.  As was the other desserts I snitched tastes of here and there.

We walked out of Lucia’s satisfied with the food, at least.  The service left a little to be desired.  And the menu…well, I hope the expand on it because the food is amazing.  And the menu should reflect that.  And if an item is removed, don’t just mark it out with a marker.  It’s a bit of a put-off for a first-time diner, especially when the restaurant is so new to begin with.

But, if you do like delicious Italian food and happen to be in the Helena, Alabama area…Lucia’s food is worth it.  Perhaps the staff will be in better order and their stock in full supply.  Go for the food and you won’t be disappointed.

Whenever I go to Denver, Colorado…ever since a friend of mine took me here three years ago, each trip must include a dinner at the Elephant Bar Restaurant.  Why?  Because the food is damn good and I can’t get this in my own backyard.  While there are quite a few locations for the Elephant Bar Restaurant…the closest one to me is not close, located in Toledo, Ohio.  So, this is a treat for me whenever heading out west.  And what makes this place so great is not only the ambiance and flair of the restaurant…but also the food.

The Elephant Bar Restaurant serves up a menu that intermingles flavors from around the world.  There is your traditional American cuisine, for the less venturesome, but also European and Asian dishes as well.  Everything…I say again…EVERYTHING I have ever eaten here has been beyond amazing.  And that’s why I insist on going back time and time again.

On this particular visit, I was eating out with two friends of mine and my roommate.  We all got something different, which is always a good thing.  My roommate even branched out a little with her meal, which is always an exciting moment.  We ordered the Sweet Potato Fries as an appetizer and shared them amongst each other as we talked and waited on our entrees.

For me…I was all about the Bangkok Pad Thai with Vegetables.  Do you know what I loved most about this dish?  The tofu that was in it.  It is, quite honestly, some of the best tofu I have ever had.  And trust me…I eat a lot of tofu as a vegetarian.  This was cooked to perfection and it really mixed well with the stir-fried vegetables and rice noodles.  The sauce was to die for.  The portion…huge.  But every bite offered such an explosion of Asian flavor that I devoured it in no time.

Stuffed to the point of exploding, the waitress mentioned dessert.  I was going to pass…but, this was vacation…live it up.  Thankfully, the Elephant Bar Restaurant just added a new dessert to the menu.  It was a flourless chocolate cake and ice cream dish…gluten-free, the waitress assured us.  After the Katie Mullen’s incident the night before, I was definitely going to do my best to make it out of dinner without feeling sick.  This dessert was perfect for me.  We ordered one that my roommate and I split, while the other two enjoyed a red velvet cupcake dessert.

The Chocolate Indulgence arrived…a flourless chocolate lava cake with ice cream and whipped cream, topped off with a sprinkling of nuts.  It melted in your mouth.  I love that hot meets cold taste on my palate and this delivered in each gooey bite.  We polished off the dessert and were happy to sit in a food coma for the rest of the night.If you happen to be around an area with an Elephant Bar Restaurant nearby…go.  Trust me.  Go.  Wacky decor aside, the place is warm, inviting, friendly, and the food is to die for.  Go ahead…splurge and have dessert.  Even if you’re full.  I’ll never regret my decision to do that here.

A year ago, while walking the 16th Street Mall in Denver, Colorado, my roommate and I spotted an Irish pub that intrigued us…because we love pub grub.  At the time, we had plans already to introduce a friend of ours to the ways of the Hard Rock Café (Anthony Bourdain…don’t kill me.  I know it’s a chain, but you at least know the food will be edible, LOL!).  We vowed the next year that would be where we at lunch when we venture downtown.

Fast forward to a year later and we find ourselves in downtown Denver, walking through the 16th Street Mall.  After a good deal of walking that morning, we were hungry and decided to follow through on the plan and go to that pub we spotted a year earlier.

The pub in question: Katie Mullen’s Irish Pub and Restaurant.

Our first taste of what was likely to befall us on this visit should have been quite evident in the attitude of the staff.  We were greeted quickly enough, but the manager that day was far more interested in the soccer match (Manchester United was playing) than the actual restaurant.  Our waitress was very nice and gave me some added time to look over the menu because, let’s face it, most pubs are not the easiest thing for a vegetarian to find food at…let alone a vegetarian with food allergies.

My initial instinct was to go with the Portobello Mushroom Sandwich…which is my usual go-to at a pub.  But…my roommate pointed out the Portobello Mushroom and Vegetable Boxty and I decided to go with that…as a change from my pub standard.  The boxty was to include grilled Portobello mushrooms with mixed vegetables, swiss cheese, and a roasted red pepper aioli.  Sounded delicious enough.  With it I got an order of sweet potato fries.  My roommate…her usual pub fare…Mullen’s Fish & Chips…with the hand-cut chips as opposed to the skinny fries, upon the recommendation of our waitress.

It took a L-O-N-G time for the food to arrive.  Thankfully my roommate had ordered a Magners with her meal so that kept her occupied.  As did the wrap-up of the soccer match.  We both had time to venture all the way to the back of the restaurant and use the bathroom and still sit and converse before food even began to get to us.

With food finally on the table, we settled in to eat.  And this is where it all went horribly wrong.  This is also why I adopted a new rule about eating at restaurants…if the food isn’t good or if it might set off an allergy…SEND IT BACK!  Which is what we both should have done with the food we ate here.

The boxty wasn’t what I expected.  Usually boxty is potato cakes…but this seemed more like the mushrooms and vegetables were encased in a tortilla.  It was unlike anything I had ever seen.  But, I cut into it and took a bite.  It was…okay.  Not at all what I expected.  But edible at least…and I was starving.  But…I should have stopped after that first bite.  Honestly.  There must have been flour used to make the “tortilla of gastro-doom!” because my gluten allergy kicked in big time soon after.

As for the sweet potato fries…they looked like they had come out of a bag of Alexia frozen produce.  Sweet potato waffle fries (I have these in my freezer, seriously!)…and worst of all…they were cold!  I don’t know how many of you like sweet potato fries, but they are best while warm and horrible when they get cold.  These came out cold.  And I realize now I should have flagged down the waitress (who we saw very little of while we ate) and sent it back.  But I didn’t.  And I just ate them…cold.

Lesson learned.

As for my roommate’s food…a pub standard…fish and chips.  Well, she said the saving grace was the fish.  It was delicious.  The hand-cut fries that came recommended by the waitress, however, she hated.  Normally one to polish off the meal, she left more fries than I had ever seen…because they were horrible.

You know, the Irish catch a lot of crap for bland food.  But this food wasn’t bland.  It was just bad.  And for the rest of the day, I was miserable…suffering from pains brought on from my meal.  I have never felt as horrible and sick as I did after eating at Katie Mullen’s.  And that is why I will never go back.  As for the locals I know there…they’ve been warned and won’t be going there either.

For an Irish pub…they certainly struck out on the food and the service.  At least I learned a lesson from eating here…and that is to send the food back if it isn’t right or if it’s cold.  In the end, it’s a far better option.

If hungry while out in downtown Denver and if you happen to be around the 16th Street Mall…go elsewhere.  Even the chain restaurants like Hard Rock Café offer better food than Katie Mullen’s did.  And if you really must have Irish pub grub…find a different one.  One that gives a damn about the food and the customers.  This may mean a drive…but trust me, in the end, anything is better than eating at Katie Mullen’s.  Anything!

The Buff.  I never would have given it a second glance if it hadn’t been featured on The Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food.  Adam Richman went there when featuring Boulder, Colorado to sample their signature item…the saddlebags.  The place was interesting enough on television, so when I found myself in Boulder, I knew this was one place I definitely needed to dine.

On first glance, The Buff doesn’t look like anything special.  In fact, it is located in front of an old, run-down looking Best Western.  Like I said…if not for being featured, I never would have given it a second glance.  Outward appearances aside, The Buff is a fantastic place and a must-go-to for anyone who loves food.  Especially breakfast food.  And trust me…come hungry!

Due to food allergies and, well, vegetarianism…the saddlebags (pancakes filled with your choice of diced bacon, sliced sausage, or diced ham and topped with two eggs) were not an option for me.  But I was given ample time to peruse the menu while my Diet Coke arrived…in a mason jar.  Not kidding.  Drinks are served in mason jars!  I loved it.  Those are the little touches that really make a restaurant stand out.

After a little debating, I finally settled on the Veggie Omelet, made from egg whites, with potatoes and gluten-free toast.  Yes…my fellow gluten-intolerant readers…Colorado seems to be on top of this gluten-free thing (Udi’s is manufactured out of Denver), so I could even have bread with my eggs and potatoes.  This place was winning over more and more of my heart!

When the food arrived it looked amazing.  It smelled awesome.  And the taste…well, despite having had food at Celestial Seasonings that morning and a mocha not long before that…I polished off the plate.  Down to the last bite.  All of it…hoovered up because it was amazing.  This was the first time I had Udi’s bread and I immediately knew I could eat it.  It was great.  The potatoes were cooked to perfection and delicious with a bit of ketchup for dipping.  And the egg white veggie omelet was outstanding.  Cooked to perfection.  The veggies (a mix of broccoli, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, onions, and cheddar cheese) all worked together so well.  I ate it with a touch of hot sauce (as all eggs should be eaten) and raved about every bite.

There is a reason this place has been featured on The Travel Channel…the ambiance and the food are worth the buzz.  If I lived in Boulder, I would be eating in The Buff at least once a week.  It won this foodie’s heart and I know I will be back the next time I am in town.

Sandwiches, cereals, breakfast and more…you can find it all here.  So, go on!  What are you waiting for?  Eat in The Buff.  You’ll like it.  You’ll really like it!

When I mention Colorado…what do you think of?  The Rocky Mountains?  Skiing?  Perhaps even chocolate?

What if I said crepes?  No?  Well, change your way of thinking, my friends.  On a recent trip to Denver, Colorado, I enjoyed one of my most favorite pastimes.  Breakfast…for dinner.

It’s not an unusual concept, but seeing as more and more people skip the most important meal of the day, it seems breakfast is a dying fad…something only a few people still enjoy.  I am all about breakfast food.  I can eat breakfast food all day and be one happy woman.  So, upon arriving in Denver, my roommate and I set out to nearby Aurora, Colorado and the Southlands Shopping Center.

Okay…so now you’re thinking…dining in a shopping center?  Another one of those strip mall joints?  Well…outdoor shopping center is more like it.  Beautiful even.  And that was where we found our destination: Le Creperie Café.

I had been craving crepes for a long while…but where I live no one offers an option that I can eat.  With my gluten intolerance, it makes dining out a lot more challenging than it used to be.  However, Le Creperie Café had me covered.  We arrived to an empty restaurant, and during our time there had only three other people join us for dinner.  But it was also a Thursday night.  And with the food and service we received at this restaurant…I can only imagine it is hopping on the weekends.

We were seated immediately upon entering and the server left us with menus while he fetched our drink order.  After having flown across the country, we were starving…so an appetizer sounded like a good idea.  When the server returned, we went over the menu briefly, as it was our first time there, and we mentioned my food allergy.  Le Creperie Café, however, does make crepes with buckwheat flour, a gluten-free option for people like me.  I was in love.

Our appetizer of choice was going to be to split the Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip…but the server immediately informed us that he believed it was made with flour, which would definitely not sit right with me.  He double-checked with the chef, and sure enough…that was the case.  Instead, my roommate opted for a bowl of the tomato bisque soup and I went for the Cucumber Tomato Salad…a towering plate of fresh roma tomatos, cucumbers, feta cheese, red onion, and dill…drizzled with olive oil and balsamic.  It was fresh and delicious.  A great way to start off the meal.

And because this was vacation, we decided to do sweet crepes over the savory ones.   My roommate had never had a crepe before, so she got the very basic Nutella crepe, which, mind you, is served with homemade, fresh whipped cream on the side.  I wanted a little more sweetness in my crepe, so I got the gluten-free (buckwheat flour) Crepe avec Bananes et Fraises, or a Nutella-filled crepe with bananas and strawberries, also served with the homemade whipped cream on the side.

Interesting note here…all orders are made when you order them to guarantee freshness at this restaurant.  This means food takes a little bit of time to reach you…but the wait is worth it.  I promise.

The crepes arrived shortly after we finished our appetizers and they looked amazing.  More amazing than any crepe I had ever had.  I took my first bite and remembered every reason why I loved crepes in the first place.  Rich, fruity, and delicious.  The Nutella complimented the fruit stuffing.  And my roommate compared the buckwheat crepe with her regular one and said she couldn’t even tell the difference.  Gluten-free…done oh so right!  I polished it off with the whipped cream and mopped up every bit of Nutella on the plate.  Nothing went to waste because it was really that amazing.

Not only did the staff at La Creperie Café know the menu, they were very knowledgeable about the ingredients.  This is a place that takes pride in the food it serves, as well as concern for their customers.  The fact that they offer gluten-free options is a step in the right direction and one I wish more restaurants would take since it is a growing food allergy.  The food was delicious.  The service was spectacular.  And I will return the next time I go to Denver because they made every bite worth my while.

Breakfast for dinner.  Savory or sweet.  Your choice.  But for a taste of something delicious…make it a crepe.  And do it right…go to Le Creperie Café if you are in the Denver area.  You will fall in love with breakfast all over again.

When someone mentions a pub, that’s usually synonymous with either the Irish or the English.  But at Digger & Finch Pub in Dublin, Ohio, Scottish cuisine is on the menu.

I’ll be honest, I have been to Scotland, and much like the food of the UK, it didn’t thrill me.  So, in choosing a place to eat after attending a Major League Soccer match in the freezing cold of Columbus, Ohio, Scottish food would not have been my first choice.  But we were in the market for pub grub on a Saturday night…and anything else in the area would have been packed.

What we found at Digger & Finch Pub was a very warm atmosphere.  There were still flat-screen televisions with March Madness playing throughout the restaurant, but there was also a fire-place with a real fire burning, beautiful windows and views, and just a comforting setting to settle into, relax, enjoy a pint or two, and some food.

Really good food too, mind you.  If, like me, you have traveled to Scotland and not been blown away by the fare…give this place its fair shake.  Digger & Finch offers a versatile menu which includes favorites such as shepherd’s pie, bangers & mash, and my roomie’s favorite – fish & chips (which she ordered, by the way!).  In addition, some more modern and American foods appear too, like pork chops, ribs, and even grilled cheese.

I admit…I toyed with getting the grilled cheese.  I mean, it included three different kinds of cheeses (but mine would come without the bacon & ham rashers, mind you!).  Ultimately, however, I settled on the Portobello Mushroom Sandwich, consisting of a grilled Portobello cap on focaccia bread with mixed greens, roasted red peppers, and Pepper Jack cheese.  I am still getting used to this gluten-intolerance thing, so I was a bit shy to ask for it without bread.  In fact…that would have basically made it a sandwich.

Food arrived and we dove in.  And every bit of it was delicious.  I had expected the bread to be crisper, but what I ended up with was the mushroom and veggie filling between two very soft and delicious slices of focaccia bread.  Very good!  And their fries were delicious too.  Granted, afterwards I felt the effect of eating the bread, but that wasn’t the restaurants fault…it was mine for ignoring my new food allergies.  And let’s face it…it was delicious regardless.

Afterwards, my two friends and I split a dessert…the aptly named Chocolate Explosion, chocolate brownie served with vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate sauce and whipped cream.  Every bite of it was sinfully, melt in your mouth, chocolatey goodness.  It was sex on a plate.  Delicious.  Warm.  Melty.  CHOCOLATE!  Need I say more?  I stuck mostly to the ice cream though since I already was feeling the effects of the bread…but took a couple small bites of the brownie.  Oh yeah…next time forget the entree…just give me dessert!

Digger & Finch Pub was the perfect place to go after a cold, soccer match.  We were not rushed out.  We were given time to enjoy our food.  And everything about the place just made me feel like I was visiting with good friends, sitting in their living room, having a good time.  It’s not the typical pub…but then again, it doesn’t need to be.

And now…Scottish food sounds appetizing again! 

There is a desparate need for Irish pubs in the United States that do not pride itself on displays of clovers and leprechauns.  It seems pubs in the States are all about Irish gimics instead of being, well, Irish.  Mo’s, however, is not one of those places.  In fact, Mo’s does Irish right and does it proud.

My first experience at a Mo’s was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin a couple years back when I was in town with my roommate and her mom to see Billy Joel.  We chose the pub as a place to eat dinner…fell in love with the ambiance, the drinks, the food…and the famous Mo’s Cookie (but more on that later!).

So, when one opened up in Nobelsville, Indiana…it was close enough to warrant giving the place another shot since Wisconsin’s was so great.  What I found, and appreciated, at Mo’s was not only a couple of vegetarian options, but also a gluten-free menu.  Since I recently had to go gluten-free, this was a blessing!  Even the chips (aka: fries, for those of you who don’t know the lingo), are made gluten-free.  This made for one very happy pub connoisseur!

While my roommate opted for her usual pub fare…fish and chips, and our friend Julia went for the soup and grilled cheese, I got a little creative with my order.  I ended up with a mish-mash of various items on the menu.  I ordered the Caprese Salad, a delicious mix of grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette.  It was SO good.  Along with that, I got a basket of fries, for the carbs (of course!), and their fresh fruit.  Every bit of it was delicious.  And I enjoyed the salad and fruit down to the last bite.  I left quite a few of the fries, but it was an entire basket of golden potato-y goodness that I enjoyed in moderation!

But the most imporant part of the meal came at the end.  Ignoring my need to be gluten-free in honor of my roommate’s birthday, the three of us split the famous (and sinfully delicious) Mo’s Cookie…which consists of  a freshly baked (so it is hot and gooey) jumbo chocolate chip cookie topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup.  Oh yeah…it was worth every calorie and everything I had to deal with as a result of food allergies.  Yeah…it is thatgood, my friends!  Sometimes a splurge is worth it and this was one of those times!