Food – Page 64 – The Celiathlete

July 26, 2013

Katz Gluten Free once again sets the standard with moist, fluffy Sponge Cake

Product: Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake – $5.79

A long while back, I purchased a Gluten-Free Saver deal (sort of like Groupon for the gluten-free) that gave me more than half off a certain dollar amount of products ordered from Katz Gluten Free. If you have never tried Katz Gluten Free…get thee to their Web site now and order their sampler pack. It’s a great way to get introduced to their products. And if you don’t think that’s for you…trust me…order the doughnuts. Especially the powdered sugar and cinnamon ones. You can’t go wrong.

The thing is…I have yet to eat something that Katz shipped to me that I haven’t liked. There are some products I have liked better than others, but when it all comes down to it, Katz is honestly the top-of-the-line when it comes to baked goods. And, thanks to the magic of Internet ordering…you can have their amazing products shipped right to your door.

Well, as I said, awhile back I latched on to this deal. And as I was pressed for time, I gave my roomie carte blanche to log onto Katz Gluten Free and to go ahead and pick out some items for us. So…she went for a few of our favorites (hello doughnuts, doughnut holes, English muffins, and pizza crusts) and then put in a few surprises. One of these surprises was none other than…their newly introduced Gluten Free Sponge Cake.

I was elated when I received the box via UPS. But…as it goes in this apartment…there is always something else that needs to move out ahead of the item I’m dying to try. So, for months now, the Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake has sat in my freezer…just begging me to make something with it. To eat it. To just try it. It was silently vowing not to let me down.

Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake (unwrapped)

After a very busy winter and spring, the perfect opportunity to dig it out finally came around when our good friend, Greg, had space in his calendar to head this way and visit for the weekend. I had a plan…I’d make gluten-free baked ravioli with my gluten-free cheesy onion pull-apart bread…and then for dessert…I’d whip up some Vegan whipped topping, use some fresh blueberries provided to me by a good friend of mine, and put all of that over some of the Sponge Cake from Katz Gluten Free.

It sounded like a plan to me. Now…time to put it into action.

Dinner went well. The ravioli was a huge hit, but the bread still needs to be paired with the perfect cheese as it tends to get a little lost. But now I’m digressing. The fact was…dessert time was nigh.

While I do love cooking and baking and even just bringing out gluten-free goodies for guests, I always get nervous that they won’t like it. And this was a new product. I had no idea what it would be like. All I knew was that it was made by Katz Gluten Free. And, that was actually a relief. Because, if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a trillion times…I TRUST KATZ GLUTEN FREE!!

But…there are just some people you don’t know how they will take to something that they know is gluten-free. There are so many preconceived (and often correct) notions about gluten-free food. And when people are unfamiliar with it, they automatically assume that it will be heavy, dense, and probably taste like cardboard.

Let Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake prove all of that wrong. It was love at first slice. I mean, despite the fact that this loaf had been chilling in the freezer for months now…after I set it out to thaw, it didn’t dry up, nor did it become hard, brittle, or just fall apart. It was beautifully moist. My knife slid through the cake easily, and I could tell how soft it was with texture. Just like any moist sponge cake, I pressed my fingers against the center and it bounced back. Beautiful.

So…it was passing on texture and looks alone. I mean, beautiful golden crust with a gorgeous creamy white center that was moist, fluffy, soft…and just perfect to gaze upon. But…it was time for dessert. So, I sliced the three of us up a serving and topped it off with some of the vegan whipped topping. Then, fresh blueberries were scattered over the top and voila…dessert was served.

And…oh…it lived up to expectations. One bite and it was like eating a lightened up version of a shortcake. Airy, fresh, and just beautiful. It had this great flavor on top of it all…vanilla with a hit of citrus. It was a fluffy, filling dessert and one that I returned to in the nights following until the entire cake was used up. I even experimented with it slightly on a couple of nights, tossing the slice into the microwave for about 20 seconds and then topping it off with the vegan whip and berries. And, it was like taking a bite out of a freshly baked sponge cake. If you didn’t tell someone this was gluten-free, they would never know. Honestly.

Let’s talk nutrition on this baby, shall we? The Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake serves 8 people. One sizable slice will serve you up only 90 calories and 4 grams of fat! Loving those numbers so far, aren’t you? In addition, this fluffy cake will provide you with 40 mg of sodium, 7 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein. It’s a lightened up version of a regular sponge cake. And I’m loving these nutritional facts. You almost don’t feel guilty about indulging a little.

As for the ingredients used to make this amazing dessert…it’s a combination of Katz Gluten Free Four (a mix of white rice flour, corn flour, and tapioca flour), sugar, eggs, canola oil, orange juice, water, baking powder, xanthan gum, and vanilla. That’s it. And the end result is one of the finest, softest, lightest sponge cakes you will find out there. I’d stack it against any regular sponge cake and still believe this one would come out on top.

Katz Gluten Free puts quality at the head of their business and it honestly shows with their products. I’m proud to say that I would be more than happy to order this from Katz again. And I intend to. In the very, very near future.

Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake (topped with vegan whipped topping and fresh blueberries)

July 26, 2013

Arctic Zero Mint Chocolate Cookie another epic frozen dessert fail

Product: Arctic Zero Mint Chocolate Cookie Frozen Dessert – $4.99+

You know, when I first heard about Arctic Zero, I was elated. I mean, how could you not like the idea of eating an entire pint of “ice cream” for 150 calories. Yep. One pint…150 calories. It sounded too good to be true. And when I finally started to see it crop up on shelves at various local grocery stores that I frequent, I couldn’t wait to work it into the budget and try it.

I think, at first, the hype got to me. Because when I first reviewed the Chocolate Peanut Butter variety, I was all about it. Thinking back, I realize it really wasn’t all I made it out to be. Even worse…it only went downhill from there.

Welcome to the land of epic frozen dessert fails.

In concept, it’s great. Especially if you are dieting and still want a little sweet, cold, ice cream-like treats in your food regimen. However…I want you to know cast aside any preconceived notions of just how amazing this dessert could be…because the fact of the matter is…it’s not. It’s not amazing at all. It’s a little…sickening actually.

First of all, it’s sickening that I bought three pints of three different flavors without first trying it and making sure it was…you know…actually consumable. That means I was out over $15. Live and learn, I suppose. Secondly, it is sickening because it just doesn’t pan out. It doesn’t work. It isn’t what it seems. Not at all. The flavor…the texture…the taste…the mouthfeel…it’s just all wrong. COMPLETELY WRONG!

I understand that Arctic Zero is not ice cream. When heavy cream is not in your ingredients, you really can’t call yourself ice cream, right? Right. And they don’t. They call themselves a frozen dessert. But the look, the packaging…it all equates in your mind as…ice cream. So…it should at least be close…oh so close to that. Yes? Of course.

First of all…you have to let this thaw for about 10 minutes before even dreaming of being able to get a decent scoop out of this container. That’s fine. I’m sort of used to that, being that I eat a lot of non-dairy based, ice cream-like frozen desserts. No problem. But once it gets beyond that…that’s where the trouble begins…and never seems to end.

Let’s talk flavor first. Once it’s scooped and in your bowl…ready to eat…you take a bite. And…YES…you actually get the flavors of chocolate and mint. It’s amazing. It’s as advertised. It’s not quite like eating a Thin Mint cookie…but…it might be close. It just might be.

But once it starts to melt…it all goes terribly wrong. Already you’ve let the Arctic Zero frozen dessert thaw to be able to scoop. You’ll probably notice this frothy film forming on the product. You ignore it, thinking it’s just the melting ice cream. No product should froth…and here’s why…

Arctic Zero Mint Chocolate Cookie frozen dessert begins to take on this slimy consistency. And it’s not just in the bowl. It’s in your mouth. Even if you are eating the more solid parts of this dessert, the moment it hits your tongue and starts to melt, you get this slimy film. It’s unappetizing. It’s disgusting. And no amount of mint or chocolate flavor can keep that texture away. It’s unappealing to look at and even more so to taste. It really turned me off. I had so many high hopes for Arctic Zero’s frozen desserts, but none of them have been any good. They’ve had issues with flavor. Texture. Taste. And now…SLIME! I’m sorry, but no dessert should be slimy. No food should ever be slimy. While this one might have won me over with the flavor…the rest of it was so unappealing and such a turn off, eating the 1/2 cup serving was hard enough to stomach.

So let’s talk about the ingredients and nutrition for a moment. A serving size of Arctic Zero Mint Chocolate Cookie Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup. From this serving, you will be taking in only 37 calories. You will also be ingesting 80 mg of sodium and 5 grams of sugar. You will also be consuming 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. This dessert is fat free, safe for the lactose intolerant, and gluten-free. The ingredients include purified water, whey protein concentrate organic cane sugar, chicory root, dutch processed cocoa powder with alkali, guar gum, xantham gum, natural flavors, sea salt, and monk fruit concentrate. It all looks good in print…

…but once you taste it…you’ll wish you had just splurged on an actual dessert that tastes good.

Do NOT waste your money on these products. None of the three flavors have impressed me at all with flavor, with taste, with texture…and I’m now out over $15 that I could have spent on something much more appetizing. It’s dessert. Spurge and get something worth treating yourself to eating. Don’t waste it on a product that gets everything wrong. Trust me. DO NOT BUY THESE!

July 23, 2013July 26, 2013

A healthy, sweet and savory snack made possible by The Good Bean’s Sweet Cinnamon chickpea snacks

Product: The Good Bean Sweet Cinnamon Chickpea Snacks – $2.99+

I love snacking. No really…I do. And, it can be done in a healthy manner too. Oh yes. Snacks don’t have to mean chocolate and chips…not all the time. In fact, one of my favorite snacks these days come in these little 2-serving pouches. They are nothing more than roasted chickpeas. Yep. Roasted chickpeas. You read that right. Made by The Good Bean, these snacks have a lot going for them. And I was not the least bit hesitant to snatch up a couple of different flavors this last time…because the Sea Salt variety I tried a month or so again rocked my world. I was prepared to once again be wowed.

You see, I’m moving into a Clean Eating diet, prescribed by my sports nutritionist. Less processed food, more natural food. It’s an easy balance to strike for me, as I much prefer fresh produce and and fresh ingredients. I don’t even mind making my own snacks. In the past I have baked up my own granola bars and the like. Currently, however, the problem is I don’t have a lot of extra time…between working full time, training, and everything else I’m already trying to squeeze into the time I am awake to the time I go to sleep…well…I’m out of hours before even I know it.

Sometimes…you just have to find the cleanest, healthiest choice out on the market.

When it comes to following a Clean Eating lifestyle, I have discovered that The Good Bean’s products fit the bill. In fact, on their Web site, The Good Bean points out the fact that they use clean ingredients, meaning their products contain ingredients that are non-GMO, Hexane-free, fair trade, and follow good manufacturing practices…so that cross-contamination is not an issue with their products. It’s a snack food I can trust from a company that has high standards and actually cares about the quality of the product they are putting out on the shelves.

With the success I had with The Good Bean Sea Salt chickpea snacks, I was very excited to be giving their Sweet Cinnamon vareity a taste on Friday. After all, everyone benefits not just from the healthy aspect of the chickpeas, but the added health qualities of cinnamon. Nutritionally speaking, this snack is a powerhouse of awesome ingredients that are beneficial to everyone. A serving size is 1/4 cup (or 35 grams if you weigh your food like I do), which is exactly half of the contents of the pouch. In this serving you will be getting 140 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. Not bad for a snack, right? It gets better. This serving also only sets you back 160 mg of sodium and 6 grams of sugar. But, because these are made from actual chickpeas, you get a healthy 6 grams of fiber and a protein punch of 6 grams in each serving.

As for ingredients…it’s so easy and basic…no wonder these are clean eating. All that go into The Good Bean Sweet Cinnamon chickpea snacks are roasted chickpeas, brown rice syrup, Sumatra cinnamon, vanilla, coarse salt, gum arabic, and non-GMO expeller-pressed canola oil. Seven ingredients definitely falls into the clean eating profile. All of which are ingredients I recognize and don’t question. Nothing fake. Nothing processed. Just a whole lot of flavor and good ingredients in one small package.

So…how about taste?

Crunchy. Sweet. Savory. It’s everything packed in one very healthy 1/4 cup. Tons of flavor. And it hits every note on the flavor palate. It’s what the ultimate snack should be. Great crunch, fantastic texture, sweet but not too sweet, with the savory note of the chickpeas themselves. It’s like eating cinnamon toast without having to toast, butter, and dust the bread. This snack basically captures the very essence of cinnamon toast, but leaves out the fat, the white flour, the unnecessary carbs, the calories, the gluten, the sugar, and yes…the butter. This low-fat, gluten-free, high in filling fiber, and have less fat than nuts. How can you not like that? Every crunchy bite leaves me reaching for more. As much as I’d love to savor them…they just beg you to keep popping them. Better than popcorn and chips…The Good Bean totally wins with their chickpea snacks. Even more…the sweet cinnamon is a tasty, sweet, but sinless treat that will leaving you returning to your serving and devouring until the very last one is gone.

I am so impressed so far with the two flavors of The Good Bean chickpea snacks. I absolutely fell in love with the Sweet Cinnamon. The spice of the cinnamon and allspice with the sweetness of the vanilla makes this snack everything your taste buds could ask for. Trust me. I’m ready to rush out to the store and buy more.

July 22, 2013May 11, 2015

Enjoy Life’s Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch bar a melt-in-your-mouth, crispy, sweet treat

Product: Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch Chocolate Bar – $1.99+

Dear Enjoy Life:

You really do make life enjoyable. When food allergies strike…there you are…waving a white flag of sweet goodness. Just when we think we have to eliminate something from our life…you step in with an allergen-free version that makes is okay for people like me to indulge every now and again. You bring products so close to things I used to eat…that I don’t ever have to stare longingly at something in a grocery aisle and remember the days when I could simply snatch it up without a care in the world.

In other words…you take my life that was turned upside down when food allergies and intolerance happened…and you set it right again.

I will always be thankful to have you in my trusted gluten-free brands.

Especially when it comes to…vegan chocolate!

Yes, fellow readers, you read that right. VEGAN. CHOCOLATE. Not only that…but chocolate that is free of the top 8 allergens. Yes. This chocolate bar is gluten-free, wheat free, dairy free, peanut free, tree nut free, egg free, soy free, fish free, and shellfish free.

Loving it.

Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)

So…remember Nestle Crunch bars? Remember? That sweet taste of chocolate combined with the crispy rice crunch that you got with each bite? This was my second favorite Nestle chocolate bar growing up (Mr. Goodbar being my favorite). And while Nestle doesn’t list gluten in their Crunch bars, the fact that it does have crisped rice and is made on equipment that it shares with other products that do have gluten…it means I have steered clear of this bar for a long while now. It’s sad…but necessary.

And then, while on sale one day, I spotted the gluten-free equivalent…or so I hoped. It was on the top shelf of my local grocery store’s gluten-free section. And it called to me…beckoning to me to try it out. See if it compared. So…for the sake of science, of course, one happened into my shopping cart, was paid for at the register, and taken home.

Last week…it became my 2 p.m. chocolate hit.

Last week…I discovered I no longer have to miss Nestle Crunch bars.

Because Enjoy Life’s Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch is everything a Nestle Crunch bar was…if not even better. Trust me on this one. This candy bar is packed with crispy rice and made with non-dairy rice milk. What this means is you get this great combination of crunchy, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth goodness. And trust me…that’s exactly what this chocolate treat offers. The rice milk is sweet and a great replacement for dairy. You can’t even tell the difference. This bar is sweet and has that savory crunch in each bite thanks to the gluten-free crispy rice that is prominent throughout the entire bar. It looks just like a Nestle Crunch…but it tastes even better than Nestle’s version.

So how does this allergen-friendly chocolate bar stack up in the nutrition department? Really well. A serving is the entire bar, which would give you 170 calories and 10 grams of fat. It is a candy bar, after all. I ended up breaking mine up and spreading it out over four days, cutting that calorie and fat down to 43 calories and 3 grams of fat. I only needed a square for a snack, not the entire bar, after all. But…given that the serving size is the entire bar, the rest of that nutrition info is that you also are getting 25 mg of sodium and 14 grams of sugar. Remember…this is a candy bar after all. The entire bar also gives you just 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein as well.

As far as ingredients go, Enjoy Life seeks out some of the safest and allergen-friendly ingredients out there. It starts with evaporated cane juice for the sweetness. To that it adds non-dairy cocoa butter, natural chocolate liquor (non-alcoholic), rice crisps (rice flour, rice bran, raisin juice concentrate, honey, salt), rice milk powder, and salt. I love that I recognize every ingredient that is listed. No guess work as to what anything might be that is put into this chocolate bar. I love that.

And I love the crispy bite that comes with each nibble I gave to this bar. It’s perfectly sweet. It’s perfectly crunchy. And it truly did melt-in-your mouth with this heavenly sweetness. It invites further indulgence…but it gives enough that it leaves you satisfied after just one little square. This was really good. Normally I prefer a dark chocolate…but the rice milk really meshed perfectly with the crispy rice. It was a perfect bite each time.

Enjoy Life definitely makes sweets that make life enjoyable…for everyone.

The crispy view of Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)

July 22, 2013

Freedom Foods sweetens up breakfast naturally with Maple Crunch cereal

Product: Freedom Foods Maple Crunch Cereal – $2.99+

Eating clean…is not always easy. Especially on those busy, busy, busy mornings when you have a limited amount of time and breakfast has to happen. I am a firm believer in breakfast. Skipping breakfast is, honestly, one of the worst things you can do to your body. It kick starts your metabolism and it gives your body your first real boost in energy.

The difficult part is making sure you make smart decisions when it comes to what you eat for breakfast.

On gym mornings, I start off with just a bowl of cereal. After hitting the gym, I have my main breakfast (usually a breakfast banana split these days) at the office. The key to my cereal these days, however, is less sugar, more natural ingredients. When it comes to cereal…this can be tricky. Even more so when you have to eat a gluten-free cereal. So often the gluten-free products are laden with sugars and fats to compensate for being gluten-free and lacking some natural grains.

Thankfully, Freedom Foods has made its way to the shelves of my local Whole Foods store.

Why does this make me happy? Because, as I stated when I reviewed their TropicO’s cereal, Freedom Foods sets a high standard for themselves. They aim to create delicious food that is free from the “stuff” that your body doesn’t need. Why? Because they believe your body can work better without it. Basically, their goal is to make it easier to eat better food by making their customers more aware of what is actually in the food they are eating. They focus a lot on nutrition, using nothing artificial in their products. Yes…you read that right. Nothing artificial. The company took on the task of crating food that eliminates the bad stuff found in most pre-packaged and processed products. They keep their products free from gluten, free from artificial stuff, free from artificial colors and flavors, using less sugar and salt…which in turns, makes for a healthier, better feeling body. It’s science…and they do it deliciously well.

With my sports nutritionist putting a strong emphasis on moving me more toward Clean Eating…I wanted to find a cereal that would fit the bill. Immediately I thought of Freedom Foods. Their TropicO’s cereal impressed me and I knew my Whole Foods carried other varieties of their cereal. This time…I went with the Maple Crunch.

Let’s start with nutrition. This cereal, living up to their promise, is made with all-natural ingredients. These ingredients include a gluten-free flour mix (containing rice, whole grain sorghum, and non-GMO corn flour), cane sugar, apple juice concentrate, psyllium, salt, palm oil, tricalcium phosphate, natural flavors (maple and butterscotch), as well as natural vitamins from their ingredients. That’s…not too bad on the ingredients although the tricalcium phosphate is a bit…eh…chemical sounding. But it is actually a natural mineral. Believe it or not.

Aside from that, a serving of Freedom Foods is a cup of this cereal. This serving will provide you with 170 calories and only 1 gram of fat. Loving this already. This cereal only contains 120 mg of sodium, which is very low. In addition, there is only 7 grams of sugar per serving of this cereal as well. This cup of Maple Crunch also provides a filling 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

So…how does it taste? Really amazing. No, honestly. It sort of reminds me of a maple-y Alphabets Cereal. Remember Alphabets Cereal? I ate the hell out of that as a child. I love that the maple crunch isn’t overly infested with salt. Freedom Foods attests that they only ever put a pinch of salt in their Maple Crunch cereal. The quality of the ingredients they choose really shows because the texture and flavor are spot on. This cereal has a great crunch and that perfect level of sweetness, so that you feel like you are eating a cereal…without it feeling like a sugar-fest. I love the focus they put on their products, because the fact that this cereal tastes amazing, sweet, and crunchy says a lot about the level of focus they put on their products.

It’s like their box says…these days it’s not enough to be health conscious, people also need to be allergen-conscious. And for twenty years, Freedom Foods, based out of Australia, has been amking great-tasting, nutritious, and allergen-free foods. If you say something is gluten-free…immediately people assume that it is going to taste bad. I can say, from experience, this isn’t true. And it is far from true when it comes to Freedom Foods Maple Crunch cereal. In fact, this cereal isn’t just gluten-free, it is also free from soy, lactose, dairy and egg. The psyllium adds a great source of fiber. It’s sweet. It’s tasty. It’s just a really healthy and non-guilt inducing cereal to start off your day.

I’m hooked.

And, for the very near future, it looks like Freedom Foods may be my go-to company for cereal that suits my new eating style. It’s honestly good food that makes quality a top priority. And when you cater to the food allergic…this sort of attention really should be applauded.

I’m offering my round of applause now. Go to Whole Foods. Try Freedom Foods for yourself. The Maple Crunch gives that sweet, healthy start to your day…naturally. After all…who wants to fill their body with chemicals and processed junk when you can get proper nutrition from amazing natural ingredients. Thank you Freedom Foods!

July 19, 2013

Gluten-free sandwich making a work of at in Erie, Pennsylvania at Picasso’s

Restaurant: Picasso’s, Erie, Pennsylvania

I can only survive so long on protein bars, bananas, Greek yogurt, and ice cream. Although if I could live forever on ice cream, I’d probably do that. But, alas…it is not possible.

And when hitting the road, it’s not easy for me to just grab fast food. I mean…I’m a gluten-free vegetarian. That more than limits the field of places I truly can eat. And eat safely for that matter. After visiting my home town, as brief as it was, and driving back toward Columbus, Ohio…my partners in crime and I figured we best find somewhere to grab some actual food for dinner. We were all basically living off the snacks and ice cream we consumed earlier in the day. I consulted my Find Me Gluten Free app for the cities we would be passing through, and the one with the most options was also the furthest one away.

Erie, Pennsylvania.

After listing off what the app directed us toward, the three of us decided that sandwiches sounded really, really good. And the app was having us head toward Picasso’s. Picasso’s is Erie, Pennsylvania’s first and only truly gourmet sandwich shop. Their sandwiches range from one that has Twinkies on it with cheese and ham, to vegetarian offerings. The kicker, however, was that they offered gluten-free bread. YES!! We attempted to find the place on our own, but soon enlisted the help of the GPS on my phone. And Jenn and I spotted it just outside the ring road that circled the mall there in Erie. We directed Cathy up that way and eagerly got out of the car. Because, yes…we were hungry and ready to eat!

Upon stepping inside the place, I already liked the vibe. The lady behind the counter was very friendly and very nice. She greeted us immediately and we said we were traveling from out of town…and that I was a Celiac. She assured me that they change gloves and take special precautions to prevent cross-contamination. THEY KNEW WHAT CROSS CONTAMINATION WAS!! I felt better about this already. The difficult part now was deciding on what sandwiches to order. After all, these would see us from Erie all the way back to Columbus, Ohio.

After some menu perusal, we all came to our decisions.

Cathy went with Raphael, which consisted of cheese ravioli, baby spinach and mozzarella cheese on sourdough bread ($6.99). Jenn went with The Thinker, which basically has the customer choose three cheeses. I can’t remember exactly what she went with, but I believe it was provolone, mozzarella, and the cheese ravioli ($5.49). Yes…cheese ravioli is considered cheese there at Picasso’s. You gotta love that. And, honestly, where else have you ever seen ravioli on a sandwich? It was an interesting concept and one that intrigued both of them.

My table art at Picasso's — My table art at Picasso’s

As for me…I went with the Gluten-Free Venus De Milo ($8.49 – $6.49 sandwich with a $2.00 up-charge for gluten-free). My sandwich consisted of hummus, onion, shredded carrots, baby spinach, muffalata, tomato, avocado and roasted red pepper mayo on Schär gluten-free bread. Instead of going into a panini press like Cathy and Jenn’s sandwiches, mine was toasted and cooked to perfection in an oven…definitely eliminating the possibility of cross-contamination. They changed gloves and made my sandwich first, before working on my friends. I appreciated everything they were doing to ensure I would not get sick from eating there.

We took a seat with our drinks to wait for our food. What is really awesome is that the tables are painted black and on each one is a little metal bucket that contained sidewalk chalk. See where this is headed? While waiting on food, customers can make some art on these tables, draw, write, play games…whatever. It’s a fun little concept and the three of us put our artistic (or lack thereof) skills to work. Cathy drew what we call a “anorexic Thor” which got us laughing for a good long while.

But soon, food was arriving. Jenn’s sandwich first. Then Cathy’s. As mine was being toasted in an oven, it was taking a little longer. I told Cathy and Jenn to go ahead and eat their sandwiches while they were still warm. Both of them unwrapped their food and began to nosh. And just after their initial bites, my sandwich arrived, wrapped and ready for me to eat.

I can’t speak for them, but both Cathy and Jenn were quite impressed with how well ravioli on a sandwich worked. Why we never thought of this before…is way beyond me! These sandwiches must have been good because all three of us have been lamenting not having a Picasso’s near us. Sadness.

My Gluten-Free Venus De Milo Sandwich (wrapped)

As for my sandwich…well, to start…this was my first time having Schär’s sandwich bread. And it was awesome. Seriously. With gluten-free bread, you either get the ones that hold up or the ones that fall apart. This sandwich was loaded down with veggies as well as hummus and red pepper mayo. So…this had the potential to be very, very messy. But…it was a light golden color and held together, even with all the fillings and toppings and general awesomesauce stuffed in between. The muffalata was a bit scary…because I dislike olives. But…I went with it. I braved it. I figured it all had to come together somehow. And just like any work of art…it all did. The onions, the tomato, the carrots, the baby spinach, the avocado, the hummus, the olives, the red pepper mayo…it made for the perfect bite…every time. In fact, when I’d drip mayo out with some of the filling, I’d scoop it up and devour that too. That is how much I was enjoying this sandwich. It was savory, and sweet, and just A-MAZ-ING!! Seriously, I keep wanting to attempt to recreate it…along with what Jenn and Cathy had. I just know it wouldn’t live up to what we were served there at Picasso’s. Sandwich perfection. Truly. A masterpiece between two pieces of (gluten-free) bread.

I only wish there were more of these throughout the country…like in Louisville or Columbus. You know…where we live and all. We still crave another sandwich from there, which means they are doing something completely right. I loved the off-beat combinations that made up their sandwiches. And every sandwich was named after either an artist or a work of art. Like I said…the concept of this gourmet sandwich shop was fantastic. The fact that the food lived up to the concept was even better.

I encourage you, if you happen to be traveling through Erie, Pennsylvania, to stop in for a bite to eat at Picasso’s. The art of food, specifically sandwich crafting, is alive and well…and done to perfection. Trust me, you won’t regret it. Choose something you’d never dream of finding anywhere else. I promise, you’ll want to go back for more.

Picasso's Gluten-Free Venus De Milo Sandwich — Picasso’s Gluten-Free Venus De Milo Sandwich

July 19, 2013

Reliving childhood memories at The Dairy Barn

Restaurant: The Dairy Barn, Horseheads, New York

I grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. And while this town was small, there are still parts of it that I still talk about today.

Not just school. Not just softball. Not just my friends.

But places I used to go. Even small towns have malls…and as a teenager, I spent a lot of time at the Arnot Mall in Big Flats, New York. However…my most favorite place to go was what we locals referred to as “The Old Barn.” However, when this old barn was transformed into an ice cream shop, it became known as The Dairy Barn.

I spent so many spring and summer days eating ice cream off a cone. Usually I got a small chocolate/vanilla twist. Or the Dole Whip in a cone. Sometimes I’d get it dipped in chocolate or cherry topping. Sometimes I was allowed to have sprinkles. And on some rare occasions, I was able to pick from the hard ice cream flavors and have a really special treat.

When I went up to Utica, New York to run in a road race, Cathy and Jenn, my travel compatriots and two of my biggest race support crew, indulged me by allowing a rather big detour down through the Big Flats area. I had let those in the area know that I was going to be in town, briefly, on Sunday afternoon…and that should they want to get together…I would be hitting up The Dairy Barn.

Yes…this lactose intolerant girl was going to indulge in some ice cream. And why not? Ice cream is usually how I round off a race day anyway. This was no different…just somewhere else.

I can’t really write up a review of The Dairy Barn in Horseheads, NY. They are not like my local ice cream shop or Jeni’s up in Columbus, Ohio…meaning they don’t make their own ice cream. They do serve up Perry’s Ice Cream, however. Perry’s Ice Cream is native to Upstate New York…so at least it is somewhat local! So, I do give them that. The Dairy Barn can make up different sundaes (including banana splits…and I was tempted!) in addition to their regular ice cream in a cone or cup.

With my friends all assembled, we placed our orders. And there were definitely some fun flavors to choose from. I appreciated that The Dairy Barn had out their allergen list of all the flavors they were serving. This took a lot of guess work out and also meant that I could go with some of the hard ice cream instead of the Dole Whip, should I so choose. And so…that’s what I did.

The Dairy Barn serves up a “small” scoop of Perry’s White Lightning Ice Cream.

Now, these flavors are definitely fun and delicious. Jenn went for the flavor called Piece of Cake, which is light yellow cake ice cream with chocolate flavored frosting swirls and pound cake pieces inside. Cathy went with a unique flavor she had never seen before. It was definitely one of the more interesting sounding ones…being that it was popcorn flavored ice cream with sea salt caramel swirls and caramel truffles. My friend Karen got the same kind. As for me…I originally was going to get a flavor called Fools Gold (peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter candy swirls and chocolate coated toffee pieces), but changed my mind after spotting one called White Lightning. White Lightning is dark chocolate ice cream with streaks of thick mint flavored white fudge lightning. And it was AMAZING! Rich dark chocolate with yummy fudge throughout it. It was two of my favorite things all packed into a giant “small” scoop. Mint. Dark Chocolate. Heaven. I let it just melt away on my tongue and took my time to eat it…loving and indulging in every sinful spoonful.

If the ice cream shop isn’t making their own ice cream, I give them props for choosing a company that is based out of Upstate New York and quite regional. Loved every bite of my ice cream. And at The Dairy Barn, they don’t skimp on portions either. All of us got a cup of our ice cream of choice, and it was a big scoop of ice cream…probably 2 servings packed in. I didn’t care. I was going to devour every bit of it. And each cup of ice cream was very affordable too. That large serving of delicious Perry’s ice cream ran us $2.50 each. Can’t beat that. And that was for the “small” size. I can’t imagine what the large size would be.

But the best part of this journey was getting reacquainted with people I hadn’t seen in years. It was way too short of a time, but I enjoyed every moment with Jenn, Karen, and Shannon…who I hadn’t seen in 15 years…since graduating high school. No one really has changed. We all are still goofy, still having fun, and still enjoying life. And we all got to do it together…for about 45 minutes…over ice cream.

If you find yourself passing through the Horseheads/Big Flats area…swing by The Dairy Barn and grab a scoop of ice cream. Try out a flavor you may not see anywhere else. Go with family. Go with friends. Indulge. Do it with a smile. And know that The Dairy Barn keeps a list of all allergen information for all of their flavors at the counter. So do so with a sound mind.

And if you happen to be returning to the area…get together with friends. Friendship, smiles, laughter and ice cream. That’s what these days are all about.

Jen, Karen, Shannon and Me...some of my high school friends who made it out for ice cream and some catching up. WOW...I missed them! — Jen, Karen, Shannon and Me…some of my high school friends who made it out to The Dairy Barn in Horseheads, NY, for ice cream and some catching up. WOW…I missed them!

July 17, 2013May 11, 2015

Morels The Vegan Butcher dices up spicy goodness with Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Vegan Jerky

Product: Morels The Vegan Butcher Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Vegan Jerky – $6.50+

Vegan jerky?

Yep…you read that right. And my roommate and I were just fortunate enough to stumble across this at a little fair in Louisville that highlighted local businesses. One of the businesses participating was Morels The Vegan Butcher. And on their table they had these little pouches that caught my eye. Yep…I spotted them. I also noticed that not only were they labeled vegan, but they were also gluten-free.

Now you really had my attention.

Morels the Vegan Butcher began as a food truck in 2011 and quickly expanded across the country when they developed their line of vegan jerky in 2012. Only using premium ingredients, this Louisville, Kentucky company handcrafts their jerky in small batches. What this does is ensure that the texture and taste remain up to standard. Morels focuses on providing nutritious on-the-go products for people looking to keep meat and dairy out of their diets. This is definitely a product that spoke to me. Trust me…I was ready to try one of the samples.

So…I did…and that was all it took. A pouch of Morels The Vegan Butcher’s Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Jerky came home with me that day. I purchased it at the buy local fair and never looked back. After buying it, I commented to my roomie that it would be the perfect snack to take in the car as we travel up to Utica, New York. I was running up there and we were driving a long way to get to that race. Healthy snacks in the car are always a welcome thing. Always!

So, when the stomach rumblies hit us too late for lunch but too early for dinner (we were eating out for dinner), I reached into the little red duffel of snacks and good stuff and removed the silver pouch that held Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Jerky.

I already knew I was going to like it. No, it wasn’t based off of the fact that it was spicy. This was the version I sampled at the fair. So, I knew what I was doing when I bought it.

Morels vegan jerky is crated using a base that begins with marinated soy curls. By marinating these soy curls, they achieve tender, chewy, and flavorful snacks. All they do is season them up for the flavor of jerky they are creating. In the case of Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Jerky, in addition to soy curls, you have water, Braggs liquid aminos, brown sugar, olive oil, lime juice, lemon juice ketchup (no high fructose corn syrup), vinegar, liquid smoke, garlic powder, chipotle powder, ancho powder, onion powder, pepper, cloves and nutmeg. Nothing fake. And…these snacks are gluten-free and loaded with protein…making them a fantastic choice for a gluten-free, vegetarian athlete like me.

But…how can something that is created by marinating soy curls taste? How about really damn good! Oh yes…this jerky is spicy and addictive. The blend of chipotle and ancho chile powders really get a nice heat going with each bite that you take. Nothing that overpowers, mind you, but just adds a little flavor and a little heat to each bite. I loved the chewy, soft texture of this jerky. And the flavor was smokey and spicy and just amazing. Honestly. I was diving in for more. My roommate and I were splitting the pouch…and we were only going to have a little…but soon we were polishing it off regardless.

Morels hit a high note with this one. The spiciness keeps each bite interesting and the taste and texture is dead-on…super good.

So, let’s talk nutrition. A pouch of Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Jerky from Morels The Vegan Butcher serves 2.5. In one serving (28 grams/1 ounce), you are served 50 calories and 2 grams of fat. This vegan jerky contains no saturated fat, no trans fat, no cholesterol. It has 370 mg of sodium per serving and only 2 grams of sugar. Each serving provides 2 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. Loving it.

The Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Jerky variety from Morels The Vegan Butcher brings the right amount of heat to each bite without overpowering and killing off the flavor in the vegan jerky itself. I went wild for this. I wish I had purchased more. But, they are a local company, so it shouldn’t be too hard to dig up another pouch of this amazing snack food.

Easy to travel with…and super delicious. Loved every handful.

July 16, 2013May 11, 2015

NuGo offers nutritious on-the-go snacks that taste as good as they sound (and they taste awesome!)

There is always that fear when I hit the road. As a gluten-free (and vegetarian) athlete, grabbing food from a fast food joint just isn’t an option. And, let’s face it, some of the “safe” snacks at those convenience stores along the way are still a bit daunting when you’re on the road. All it takes is for one thing to not be right and you’re down for the count with some stomach issues.

I wasn’t taking any chances this past weekend when I hit the road with my roomie, Cathy, and my good friend Jenn. While those two can eat pretty much anywhere and anything that sounds good…I had to watch it. I needed to be sure nothing I consumed would make me sick…or hit me wrong.

So…now was as good a time as any to test out new protein bars, yes?

Sometimes my logic is astounding, I know.

Anyway…I had packed from home two NuGo bars to eat on the road if needed. And thank goodness I did.

Product: NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip Bar – $3.29+

We left Jenn’s house before the sun was even thinking about rising, having just eaten a few pieces of watermelon to at least get something in our stomachs until we stopped somewhere for food. That occurred shortly after putting gas in the gar, and getting some coffee from Starbucks. Cathy and Jenn were making noises about a quick drive thru at McDonalds. While milling about the convenience store that had the Starbucks attached, I spotted a few things of interest…Chobani yogurt, some fruit cups…but I said I would find something in the food I brought along. After all, that’s why I bring it along. So, we got our coffee (caffeine…finally!) and headed over for them to grab their breakfast orders.

And so…we were off.

And as they noshed on their breakfast…I dug around in the little red duffel of snacks and good stuff and grabbed a small box of raisins and the NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip Bar.

Now, I had previously had NuGo Dark Chocolate Trail Mix Bar while at an airport and starving. I loved it. I remember that much. So, I was having high hopes for this variety as well. And…come on…it’s dark chocolate and mint. That’s the most epic combination…anywhere. Who doesn’t like mint and chocolate? I unwrapped the bar and could immediately smell the hints of mint and that bittersweet aroma of (my favorite) dark chocolate!

I broke off a piece and had to test it out…immediately.

Remember Thin Mint Cookies? You know…those addictive little cookies that the Girl Scouts tempt you with every year? Well, they were my favorite back when I could eat them. And I’ve been without them for two years now. Two long years. Well, I can honestly say that the NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip Bar reminds me of what a Thin Mint Cookie tasted like. Honestly. I think that’s why I somewhat hoovered and somewhat savored this bar. I went between wanting to devour it for sheer nostalgia and the fact that it tasted so damn good…to wanting to make each and every bite last. It was the only one I currently had, after all.

This bar is sheer dark chocolate minty love in an easy to unwrap package. What’s even better…is that it is actually good for you. Let’s take a look at the nutrition.

A serving size is one bar. This one bar will give you a hit of dark chocolate and mint at the cost of only 200 calories and 5 grams of fat. This one bar is cholesterol free and low in sodium (only 160 mg). You will receive 1 gram of fiber and 10 grams of protein. While the fiber count is low…the protein helps bulk it up and make it a filling choice for a bar. The sugar count is a bit high for my liking (14 grams), but it tastes like a Thin Mint Cookie…so…I’ll indulge a little this time.

As far as ingredients go, it starts out with dark chocolate, soy crisps (which sort of gives it some texture and that crispness that gives it that Thin Mint Cookie crackle), tapioca syrup, agave syrup, chocolate rice crisp (more crispiness), soy protein, alkalized cocoa, brown rice flour, natural flavor, peppermint extract, and gum acacia. I’m familiar with the ingredients that these are made out of, putting my mind to ease about what I might actually be consuming. That’s always a nice relief.

For a bar that tastes like you’re indulging in a sweet, dark chocolate treat…I highly recommend NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip. Honestly…one of the best out on the market.

NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip Bar (unwrapped)

Product: NuGo Dark Chocolate Pretzel with Sea Salt

Salty or sweet? Some people like one or the other. Me? I’m a fan of the combination. I love having that sweetness of chocolate (especially bittersweet dark chocolate) with something salty underneath. Before going gluten-free, chocolate covered pretzels were my kryptonite. Put them anywhere near me, and the entire bag would be gone in a blink of an eye. I can’t help myself when given something both salty and sweet. For me…it’s the perfect combination.

So, on the way home on this road trip out to Utica, New York for an epic 15K road race (The Boilermaker), my lunch on-the-go (or on the way to ice cream) was the other NuGo bar that I packed from home. This time, it was the NuGo Dark Chocolate Pretzel with Sea Salt variety. Once again, I tore into the wrapper and unveiled a dark chocolate hugged bar. I could see the texture of the crisps that make up the body of the bar. And if the Mint Chocolate Chip variety was any indication of how epic this bar could be…I was already salivating.

Once again, I broke off a piece and popped it into my mouth. I immediately got hit with the sweetness of the dark chocolate that completely coated this bar. The crispy texture from the crisps inside was perfect. And the combination worked. The crispiness of the crunchy pretzels sprinkled with sea salt and the bittersweet flavor of the chocolate just ignited my taste buds. Totally delicious.

So, let’s talk nutrition on this one. One serving is an entire bar. YUM! This serving will serve you 200 calories and 5 grams of fat. Due to the inclusion of sea salt, the sodium count is only slightly higher (360 mg). This bar is still cholesterol free, however. Additionally, you get 2 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein. Once again, the sugar count was a bit high for my liking (15 grams), but every now and again, it wouldn’t hurt to indulge a little in one of these bars.

Trust me…this is definitely worth trying. While I didn’t like this one as much as the Dark Mint Chocolate Chip variety, this one was good for its own reasons and a bar I would certainly eat again.

NuGo Dark Chocolate Pretzel with Sea Salt (unwrapped)

Both of these bars are not only low in fat and high in protein, but they are both also certified gluten-free, vegan, pareve, certified kosher, rich with antioxidants, healthy, and made with real dark chocolate.

And both are super, super delicious!! If you are looking for a good protein bar that doesn’t taste like chemicals…these two flavors from NuGo are good options for anyone. I know they’ll find their way back into my pantry very soon.

Try them…you’ll thank me later.

(Pssst…especially the NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip!)

July 12, 2013

Wellaby’s gluten-free Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips a bland, unsweet, tasteless snack

Product: Wellaby’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips – $2.29+

My local grocery store was having a closeout on a lot…a lot of items in their gluten-free section not too long ago. This, of course, sparked a huge panic by me, thinking they were getting rid of a lot of these products and, perhaps, even shrinking the section down. Thankfully, I was not right on either account, but what this sparked was a splurge purchase of everything I had been meaning to try and was now worried I would never find again.

It’s amazing what I tossed into my cart.

Gluten-free pita chips? You better believe those went into my cart! I mean, I hadn’t had pita chips in two years…and I used to eat the hell out of pita chips. So, I grabbed the only variety they had on the shelf…Wellaby’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips.

And then…they sat in my pantry for a month because I was working through the myriad of other snacks I purchased that expired before these. But today…today that was changing. Because I used up the last of the older stuff…so now…now as the moment I had been waiting for.

PITA CHIP DAY!!

I was so thrilled and excited about it…and I eagerly opened up the little pouch that held these little crisps and doled out a serving into a glass container. I, as always, took one over to my roomie to sample. She didn’t look too impressed when she bit into it. I asked her what she thought. And, after considerable thought she finally said that she felt they were bland. I asked if she thought I would like them…but she never actually got back to me on that. So, I decided I would find out at the office.

Snack time hits at 3 p.m. and I was ready to enjoy my Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips. Really, really ready! I opened up my container and grabbed a crisp off the top. I loved the thickness of the chips themselves. Just like real pita chips. Honestly. The feel of them was spot on. This felt like it would bode well. So, I took a bite…

And Cathy was completely right in her assessment of these chips. They were totally bland. Every now and again, a hint of sugar of cinnamon will touch the tongue and you get…a little bit of flavor, but it’s really underwhelming and not at all what I expected. I feel these had the right texture for a pita chip. They were crunchy and thick. But the flavor…ugh…the flavor was lacking. I expected a little sweetness and I just got…pita chip flavor. And not every very good pita chip flavor.

While I love that these snack chips are baked and not fried, giving them a little bit more of a health factor, they just didn’t work for me. Without bold flavor, the sweet and savory flavors of cinnamon and sugar were not working. I actually missed the seasoning…it just fell flat in the end. Great on texture and crunch…but a very poor showing when it came to how it tasted. I was completely bummed. But, I finished them off. They were, after all, my snack.

So, should you still feel the need to try the Wellaby’s Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips yourself…let me give you the nutrition and ingredient run-down. These chips are made from a mixture of different gluten-free flours and starches. In addition to that…some items I really can’t pronounce, which means, these wouldn’t be making it back into my pantry regardless. As far as nutrition facts go, however, as serving of 28 grams will provide you with 100 calories and 3 grams of fat. Not too bad for a chip, right? Exactly. These are low in sodium (200 mg) and cholesterol free. In addition, these pita chips provide only 1 gram of fiber and 5 grams of protein. And, for being a cinnamon sugar flavored chip, these only have 2 grams of sugar. I’m okay with that part. But…give it some good flavor. Something bold. Something that makes me want to eat more.

Needless to say, I was highly disappointed with Wellaby’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips. I had been so high on trying them and, in the end, they only served to let me down. The hard crash of a snack that you really expected to blow you away…but then it didn’t. Yeah…that’s happened to me countless times. But it feels even worse when it is something you’ve been dying to have back in your life…like pita chips. Maybe I’ll find a different brand that understands that gluten-free doesn’t have to be bland. It can taste good, be healthy, and all that. Until then…I might just have to attempt to make my own.

Not recommended. I wish I could say differently…but these just didn’t sing or excite the taste buds. They were just a bland crispy snack that fell flat on flavor in the end.

Disappointment…once again.