Product: Good! Greens Pumpkin Spice Yogurt Bar – $2.49+
I am not going to lie. I’m never without a protein bar of some sort. When you have food allergies, it is always best to be prepared. And, sometimes I get a little daring and try new things. New brands can be a scary thing. Sometimes you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.
On a recent trip up to Columbus, Ohio, I was (shockingly) shopping at Raisin Rack and raiding all the gluten free stuff. Seriously. This is what I do. Upon reaching the checkout, I spotted, in their line up of protein bars (there are few candy bars at their checkouts…mostly energy bars/protein bars)…something marked gluten-free…and the words…PUMPKIN SPICE printed on it.
So, I picked it up…flipped it over…looked it over…and put it back. Cathy (the roomie) spotted this and reached over, snagged it, and put it up on the belt for checkout. Guess I was going to get to try it after all. The bar was Good! Greens Pumpkin Spice Yogurt Bar.
It came home with me, and due to a lack of preparation, I had nothing to nosh on after my swim this morning at the gym, so I tossed the Good! Greens Pumpkin Spice Yogurt Bar into my bag, went for my swim, and then came into work.
Good! Greens has a goal, which is to help everyone be their best good. What is good? Good is a mindset that drives everything we do and make. For Good! Greens, it’s all about good ingredients, good practices and good community. Good is what we eat, how we care for ourselves, and how we care for others. And Good! Greens uses a formula in all of their bars that uses 100% fruits and vegetables, providing an excellent source of vitamins, antioxidants, and a clinically proven probiotic for digestive and immune health. It’s a power bar that gives you everything your body needs…without all the filler.
I had a few doubts, to be honest. Upon opening the wrapper, I pulled out this little bar that was coated in this white confectionery coating. I broke it in half, noting the Lärabar-like middle. I took a taste…and was actually impressed. The texture was a bit chewy and hard, but I think some of that was from sitting in the cold car while I was swimming at the gym. But the flavor was great. The pumpkin flavor was just enough…not overpowering. And that coating…amazing. It really made it feel more like a dessert than a protein bar. It even filled me up. I ended up being surprised by this bar. Not my favorite…but not bad. It was a nice surprise and one that makes me even more curious about their other flavors of bars.
Let’s talk about the ingredients that go into the Good! Greens Pumpkin Spice Yogurt Bar! This bar is made from fruitrim (natural fruit juices and grain dextrin), sunflower seed butter (sunflower kernels, sunflower oil, soybean oil, molasses, salt), dairy free confectionery coating (evaporated cane juice, palm kernel oil, soymilk powder, soy lecithin [emulsifier], vanilla), brown rice protein, good greens superfood powder, agave syrup, gluten free oats, soy protein crisps, chicory root fiber, natural pumpkin flavor, peanut paste (peanuts, salt). This bar is vegan, gluten free, contains probiotics, and is made from real fruits and vegetables.
As for nutritional information, this actually stacks up really nice for a protein bar. A serving of the Good! Greens Pumpkin Spice Yogurt Bar is the entire bar. This bar will deliver 189 calories, 8 grams fat, 2 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 100 mg sodium, 19 grams carbohydrates, 5 grams fiber, 14 grams sugar, and 10 grams of protein. It is a nutritional powerhouse, for sure!
These days, I’m searching for better foods with less processed ingredients that are more real than fake. Good! Greens Pumpkin Spice Yogurt Bar definitely fit that demand. I was quite happy with this bar. It was a nice change from my usual suspects.
You know…I don’t shop at Wal-Mart often. I don’t. But, there is this gorgeous Neighborhood Market version of Wal-Mart (it is all groceries!) in Louisville, and if I happen to be on that side of the city, I’ll stop in for some essentials that. I mean, the prices are right and it’s not all sketchy like some other Wal-Marts are. Nor is it busy, so that is also a plus!
I rarely go off my grocery list these days…but one day while searching an aisle for something, I spotted a box of gluten-free banana bread. We all are aware that my forays into gluten-free banana bread have been epic fails…every single time. And here…here was a mix that would do all the difficult stuff for me…and all I had to do was add a few things and pop it in the oven.
Easy peasy, right?
So, yeah…you better believe that box came home.
For the record, the box just happened to be a new baking mix from the amazing Pillsbury, who seems to have embraced the gluten-free market as of late, having started with refrigerated dough for pizza, cookes, and pie. Since then, it has introduced gluten-free funfetti cake mix (I have some of this in my pantry), gluten-free funfetti cookie mix, gluten-free multi-purpose flour, and gluten-free quick bread and muffin mix. They also have already made gluten-free muffins out there…I have yet to find them though.
That being said…the great pantry purge is underway and this weekend, with all the horrible events going on in the world, I needed to comfort myself with a little baking. So, I pulled out the box of the Pillsbury Gluten Free Banana Quick Bread & Muffin Mix and decided I was going to give it a try. But why just bake it up as bread? Why do the easy thing? Instead, there was a recipe on the side of the box for Gluten Free Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. Which sounds…frickin’ fantastic. I didn’t have any chunky peanut butter on hand, so I used my PB2 powder from the pantry and it worked out just fine. No peanut chunks…but…hey, I saved some calories and fat, right? HA!
So, this recipe was really, really easy.
Simply preheat the oven to 375°F. Put the mix into a large bowl and add water, extra crunchy peanut butter (I used PB2 and it worked great! No little peanut chunks though…so there is that…), vegetable oil, 2 eggs, and some miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips (or dark chocolate chips…which is what I used) and beat the conglomeration of ingredients into a thick batter. Spoon it into 18 muffin cups and bake for about 20 minutes until they are golden on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let them cool for about 10 minutes in the muffin tin before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.
I get a little skeptical, at times, when it comes to big-name companies jumping onto the gluten-free bandwagon. But Betty Crocker managed to do it well, and, to be honest, Pillsbury really hit it out of the ballpark with this particular mix. I was beyond impressed. The muffins fluffed up and cooked to a beautiful golden brown. So often, these mixes turn out pale products, regardless of sitting in the heat of the oven. They centers were moist and rich. The muffins themselves bold with banana flavor, and the PB2 gives it a nice peanut butter thought, without overpowering the banana. Because, after all, I bought this because I suck at making gluten-free banana bread. The dark chocolate morsels (I used Enjoy Life, for the record), were a nice, sweet touch. I had to make myself stick to just one of the muffins, because I easily could have eaten three right then and there. So good. Moist, rich, and delicious!!
So, as we all know, I usually steer clear of mixes like this due to ingredients and trying to eat a bit cleaner. But we all have to indulge a little bit, right? Right! So, Pillsbury makes its Gluten Free Banana Quick Bread & Muffin Mix from rice flour, sugar, tapioca starch, potato starch, dried banana, dextrose, and it contains 2% or less of: leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, calcium phosphate), canola oil, cellulose, propylene glycol esters of fatty acids, distilled monoglycerides, xanthan gum, salt, natural and artificial flavors, sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate, nonfat dry milk, citrick acid and bht (antioxidents). Whew. A lot of preservatives and the such, but I don’t make this stuff often…and I just really wanted to see how it worked out. Totally worth it for an every-now-and-again fill-in, especially if I want banana bread. At least until someone can give me a recipe that I can actually master and make without it being…gross.
As for nutritional information…the Pillsbury Gluten Free Banana Quick Bread & Muffin Mix makes 12 servings. Each serving will dish up 120 calories, 1 gram fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 220 mg sodium, 28 grams carbohydrates, 13 grams sugars, and 1 gram protein. If prepared (as the banana quick bread or plain banana muffins), the calories per 12 servings goes up to 170 calories, 6 grams fat, 1.5 grams saturated fat, 35 mg cholesterol, 230 mg sodium, and 2 grams protein. Not too bad for a quick bread mix…and really not bad for a gluten-free product!
I have to say, I was beyond amazed with the quality and the taste of the Pillsbury Gluten Free Banana Quick Bread & Muffin Mix. These muffins were moist, delicious, and so easy to prepare and make. I would be more than happy to try other Pillsbury mixes (I guess the funfetti cake mix is up next), because this blew me away. The texture was perfection. The flavors were bold and pronounced. And it only took me 10 minutes of prep time at most. Can’t beat that convenience. Way to go Pillsbury! Thank you for your gluten-free awesomeness!
I will be the first person to admit that in the past couple of months, I fell off of the cereal train. I did. Don’t get me wrong…I absolutely love cereal…but I was just in a rut and really just needed something different in the morning. I went to fruit and yogurt and enjoyed it well enough and was content with it.
Until I went to the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest in Indianapolis, Indiana back on October 24, 2015. My mom, also a Celiac, came up from Birmingham, Alabama, with my dad and we all went together to scope out the expo. Trust me, I do this event every year that it has been in Indianapolis…and I love it. Freebies, samples, and local products/businesses all come out and reel me in. I won’t lie…I walk out of there broke…but it’s worth it in the end. I have never regretted a moment.
Now, one of the booths I have started to look for each year belongs to Freedom Foods. Why? Well…I’m getting to that.
Freedom Foods makes a variety of products, although only a few items are available in the United States at the moment…and most of these include cereals, which, for the record, are made in a dedicated and specially built allergen-free facility in the Riverina region of New South Wales, in Australia. As Freedom Foods was specifically developed to make allergen-free foods, they test every batch made in their facilities, to the most stringent levels possible, leaving no doubt that the Freedom Foods products you pick up will be free of the allergens that are necessary to avoid.
LOVE THAT!
Because we live in a world where it’s not enough to just be health conscious. Now we have to be allergen conscious too. With the growing number of food allergies and intolerances, it is nice to find a company that really proves that it is dedicated to creating products that are safe to consume. Freedom Foods has been around for over 20 years, making great-tasting and nutritious allergen-free food. I can attest to this, as I am a huge fan of the products I have had from them thus far. All of their products adhere to the strict guidelines laid out by Australia’s food industry, meaning all their products are non-GMO. They even test for GMOs just to make sure.
One of my favorite products, mind you, is the Tropico’s cereal, which is a gluten-free version of Froot Loops, but made without artificial colors, ingredients, partially hydrogenated crap…you know…all that bad stuff that Kellogg’s puts into their cereals and people consume freely. I am a cereal girl. I start most of my mornings with a small bowl. A serving. And yes…I do measure. You knew that already though, right?
So, imagine how my mind was blown when I found the booth at the GFFAF and saw that they had a new fruity cereal out. Like…brand new this year. It’s the Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks (think Fruity Pebbles). They gave me a little cup to sample and it won me over wholeheartedly. It was like…little flakes of everything I love about Tropico’s. Well, I might even prefer them to the Tropico’s…which, naturally would happen, since I haven’t seen the Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks anywhere outside of the GFFAF that day. I purchased two boxes. I should have bought them out, HA!
I almost didn’t want to pop open a box so soon, but with the cereal that brought me back into cereal now completely consumed (that would be the Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Pumpkin O’s, for the record), I needed something else this morning. Yes…this very morning. Before heading to the gym for my 5:30 a.m. spin class…I needed some fuel. And with two boxes staring at me from the pantry…I grabbed one and tore it open, measuring out a serving (1 cup), topping it with some unsweetened cashew milk, and then devouring it while standing right there at the counter in my kitchen.
It really is that amazing and that good. This cereal is everything all rolled up into one healthier package than average regular and gluten-free cereals out on the market. And, because of the fruity flavors, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on my cut fruit and yogurt. Honestly, this cereal amazed me. The little flakes of fruity goodness get a little soft in the milk, but it only helps to emphasize the flavor. And, when your cereal is made with real ingredients, not fillers and artificial bad stuff, well, I give it a pass on how long it swims around in a pool of cashew milk before getting soft. It didn’t bother me, as I was standing in my cycling clothes, hunched over my Eeyore cereal bowl, just shoveling this stuff into my face. Food is fuel. Real food is the best kind of fuel.
If you like fruity cereals…low in sugar…big in flavor, then Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks is the cereal for you. Who knows, you might even find yourself hunched over a bowl in your kitchen.
Let’s talk about what goes into Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks, shall we? This cereal is made from a gluten free flour mix (rice flour, yellow corn flour), sugar, resistant dextrin, psyllium husk, paprika oleoresin color, carrot oil color, sweet potato color, turmeric oleoresin color, tricalcium phosphate, salt, sunflower lecithin, and natural flavor. It is free from gluten, nuts, wheat, dairy, eggs, soy and sesame. Freedom Foods believes that the less salt you eat, the healthier you are, so they only put in a pinch of salt in this cereal. This cereal also contains a natural, grain-based prebiotic that help to nourish the good bacteria in our digestive tracts which…helps with good digestion and overall health. This is a simple cereal that is doing really amazing and big things for your body and your health. And that’s why I love this brand so much!
As for nutritional information, hold onto your gluten-free knickers, my friends. Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks is a healthier take on cereal, and that’s evident in the nutritional facts. A serving of Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks is 1 cup. This serving will give you 180 calories, 1 gram fat, 0 gram saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 75 mg sodium, 36 grams carbohydrates, 5 grams fiber, 7 grams sugars, and 3 grams protein. For being little flakes of fruit flavor, these can actually feel and be quite filling thanks to that fiber and protein. Fruity Pebbles has 0 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein, if that tells you anything. What a difference real ingredients and no artificial…anything makes!
There is a lot to love about Freedom Foods. They set a high standard for themselves and aim to create delicious food that is free from the “stuff” that your body doesn’t need— gluten, nuts, wheat, dairy, eggs, fructose, soy, yeast, GMO’s, and artificial flavors. Here you have a truly allergy friendly cereal. YAY! Not only this, but all the products from Freedom Foods focus not only on allergen-free safety, but, better nutrition and taste. They use clean and recognizable ingredients so you won’t feel guilty noshing on a serving.
Come on, what’s not to love. So, whether you are a kid at heart or just love fun cereals in the morning, I encourage you to seek out, or even order, Freedom Foods. Your body will thank you for it!
Okay…technically this is not a restaurant. There is no open seating, no tables, no hostess…none of that. This is a bakery. Not just any bakery though. This bakery has huge kitchen space to work out of, and in turn, offers up quite a lot of gluten-free goodies in their store.
Bake Me Happy was started by the lovely Wendy and Letha, committing themselves to making each and every bite that you have from their products the most decadent thing you’ve had since sliced bread. Sliced bread, however, is not on their menu. After being self-diagnosed with gluten intolerance in 2006, Wendy immediately felt relieve from a life of digestive issues. The only problem was…the gluten-free food choices available lacked flavor and texture, seriously limiting what she would be willing to consume (and who can blame her!?). After many years of self-study, she decided to take the plunge and signed up for an immersion course at the Culinary Institute of America, experimenting with recipes and trying them out on unsuspecting friends. Soon, both friends and family began requesting her treats for parties, and none of them were gluten intolerant. From there, Wendy expanded and began offering her products to the public. And from the huge response she got from her goodies…Bake Me Happy, the bakery, was born. And because Wendy understands what it is like to have a food intolerance , you can guarantee that she takes great care and pride in the products that she puts out for the public. Not only does she understand the importance of what she does, she also knows that a perfect recipe cannot be rushed and that the best things in life are worth waiting for.
Just over a month ago, I wrote up a review on Bake Me Happy’s Cream-Filled Spongies (think Twinkies), which I found in the freezer at Raisin Rack in Columbus, Ohio. While they were…okay…they didn’t wow me. And in response to my post about their product, the owners very kindly invited me to check out the bakery the next time I was in the Columbus area. As one of my best friends lives in that area, I make the trip there numerous times a year. And…this past Halloween weekend…that was where you found me. And, I recalled their invite to check out what fresh goodness they had at their bakery, instead of a freezer at a natural foods store…so…that morning after breakfast, my friends and I journeyed over to their Merion Village retail location to check out what fresh goodies awaited.
First of all, I was completely blown away by the amount of space they had in there. HUGE location. I am so accustomed to my gluten free bakeries being little, tight spots that have a few seats and a small kitchen. Not to say they don’t turn out quite a lot of products (Annie May’s Sweet Cafe and Cherbourg Bakery, I’m looking at you!), but this kitchen space was unbelievable. You step inside and it’s just open and not congested, even if there is a line. It was nice. Their storefront contains a counter that was jammed full of fresh baked goodness, and a smaller fridge that kept items like their cheesecake bars and other dairy-based goodies chilled and fresh. It was organized. It was adorable. And I already knew I wanted one of their soft t-shirts before I left. HA!
Bake Me Happy’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart, Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Bundt, and Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Donut Muffin
So, after going back and forth on a few items (I really wanted one of the huge Apple Dumplings, but the roomie, who I was splitting everything with, was less enthusiastic), we finally got our turn at the counter and we made our selections, keeping it reasonable and promising to return to try more. So, four items. It was hard to narrow it down. In the end, we ended up going with a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart, a Pumpkin Spice Donut Muffin, a Lemon Blueberry Bundt, and (not pictured above because I devoured it on the car ride home) a Almond, Coconut & Chocolate Chip Scone. In addition to that (and for a later blog) I purchased a box of their Take-And-Bake scones in the Blueberry, Goat Cheese & Basil flavor (roomie’s choice!).
So, let’s start with what I ended up eating first. The (not pictured) Gluten Free Almond, Coconut & Chocolate Chip Scone ($3.50) sounded like a dream to me. Like…a baked treat version of an Almond Joy. Delicious, right? Absolutely right!! This is the first time I have had a gluten-free scone that lived up to the scone name. I make scones, but none of them get the layers of pastry, and that flaky and crumbly texture to them. This one had exactly that. It was the most perfect scone I have had since going gluten free. It had that hard outer layer and inside was a dry, crumbly, but not dense. More biscuit-like. I was in love. And the blend of the sweet coconut and chocolate with the nuttiness of the almond made for more love and praise than I can even convey in words here. Needless to say, the scone was devoured in record time. And I loved every single bite. I might have licked my fingers clean too. You can get Bake Me Happy’s Gluten Free Scones in the following flavors: Almond, Coconut and Chocolate Chip; Ham, Cheese and Chives; Maple Cream, Bacon and White Cheddar; Blueberry, Goat Cheese and Basil; Jalapeño, Pepper Bacon and Pepper Jack Cheese; Apricot, White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut; and Dill, White Cheddar and Stone Ground Mustard.
As I visited the bakery on Halloween, they had quite a few Halloween themed treats. One of these was the adorable Gluten Free Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart ($3.50 (I think…)). I mean, come on…they are tarts that look like mummies. Eyes and everything. Bonus…pumpkin flavored. YUM YUM!! This was the first thing I ate the next day when I set out to devour half of each pastry (with my roommate, who is not gluten-free) consuming the other half and giving me her thoughts. I loved, loved, LOVED the light and flaky pastry that these tarts are made from. It reminded me of puff pastry…flaky, buttery, amazing, delicious, heavenly. And the pumpkin cream cheese filler was the perfect amount. Not too much. Not heavy handed. But just enough to make it feel like you were taking a bite out of an amazing pumpkin pie. I was in pumpkin-everything heaven, let me tell you!! So happy. The first thing I said to Cathy when I took a bite was, “OH MY GOD THIS PASTRY!” Blown away. This was the first pastry crust that has actually impressed me since I’ve been gluten free. Total win. Totally want another one…or ten.
The Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Bundt ($4.50) was Cathy’s (the roomie) choice when it came to items that we selected. She is a sucker (see what I did there?) for anything lemon. So, I had a feeling when we were making our selections that she would go that route. Next time I want a flippin’ apple dumpling. Because I have never seen a gluten free apple dumpling before. But…no matter. The bundt cake was dense, but not heavy. I loved how moist and sticky good this little cake was. The blueberries brought a nice pop of sweetness. Cathy didn’t think there was enough lemon flavor in it, but I thought it struck a nice balance. The lemon was complimentary to the blueberry, not overpowering or underwhelming. Just right. I might have saved this for my last bite because, while dense, I found the texture quite light, airy, and amazing. And I thought the flavor was above and beyond what I expected. Crazy good.
And, last but not least, falling under the category that if it’s pumpkin I want to eat it…is the Gluten Free Pumpkin Donut Muffin ($3.00). Strangely enough, this turned out to be Cathy’s favorite thing that we bought at Bake Me Happy. I was shocked when she told me that. But, quite honestly, this was one of the most perfect gluten-free donut anythings that I’ve had in a long time. The texture was perfect. Not too dense, but not too light either. Perfect balance. The flavor was AMAZING. Seriously. It was pumpkin, and it was rolled in this fantastic cinnamon sugar topping that made each bite both savory and sweet and I loved it. I devoured each and every forkful. And I wish I had bought more of them. Pumpkin flavored or their standard donut muffin, it wouldn’t matter. This is the consistency of donuts that I’ve been searching for…for years now. Nailed it. And I loved it enough to lick the plate. No joke.
I have to say…fresh beats a freezer any day and Bake Me Happy sure did impress me with their fresh, made right there in the bakery, treats. There was so much to choose from and not enough room in my budget or stomach for all of it. That being said, I happily am ready to bake up some scones this weekend. And I can’t wait to add this place to my list of stops for every single time I visit Columbus, Ohio. I was beyond impressed. And the staff was so friendly and helpful. I didn’t get to meet the owners, as they were at the Celiac Conference that was going on (and that I didn’t know about until Friday as I was traveling), so hopefully next time I will be able to talk them up some.
If you are in or around Columbus, make it a point to drop by Bake Me Happy. Buy a shirt (they are SO SOFT!) and buy up their goodies. You won’t be disappointed. Not one bit. They certainly changed my tune. Fresh is best. And why not get some great gluten-free treats fresh out of the kitchen of a place that loves to bake up happiness?
I am going to be the first to admit that I get really, really, REALLY excited when I spot a product that sounds like something I would eat, or would have eaten before Celiac struck, and usually, despite trying to clean up the diet a little more, purchase it and stuff it into my pantry and fridge for use at a future date. I mean, you just never know when some sort of celebration is needed. Always be prepared.
Well, I was happily prepared a few weeks ago when my parents, after not visiting me for 5 years, came up to the area for the weekend. We had big plans, to drive up to Indianapolis and check out the Gluten Free Food Allergy Expo and then tour Indy before stopping by Cheeseburger in Paradise (Gluten Free Veggie Burger & FRIES). The expo was in-freakin-credible. Seriously. So many good vendors, freebies, and samples. It was totally amazing. In fact, my parents vowed to come back next year and make it an annual event. SO glad.
The following morning, I had every intention of introducing them to my favorite Louisville food truck, Sweet ‘N’ Savory, as it was the truck’s last outing at the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Cancer event. After that event and one final one that evening (which we almost went to, but were too late), they were packing up for the winter and heading back to Louisiana until next April. However, my parents needed to hit the road before the event actually started, so no gluten-free crepes for them. Bummer. I was really looking forward to introducing them to Ashley and Richard, the food truck owners, and people I consider good friends!
With the plans I had come up with for breakfast now scratched, it was time for a backup. That would be…I would cook something for them and Cathy and I would hit up Sweet ‘N’ Savory for gluten free crepes when the event started. So, as my dad is not a big breakfast eater (and I am!), I asked him what sounded good. I had the gluten free harvest muffins that I baked previously in my freezer that I could thaw and warm up. I have SO MANY gluten-free pancake mixes, it’s ridiculous (but, I LOVE pancakes and waffles!). I had cold cereal, hot cereal, I could cook up eggs, make my famous breakfast hash, or…I had a muffin mix.
He said, “Muffins are fine.” And was not prepared for the, “Harvest Muffins or Lemon Poppyseed Muffins?” He decided that if he was driving home and was pulled over, he might as well fail the drug test…Lemon Poppyseed it was.
That morning, after my mom and I took a long, brisk walk together, I returned to the apartment and set out to bake them breakfast. I had found at my local Meijer store, a new brand I had never seen before when it came to some items.
Tucked into their gluten free section were these yellow and blue boxes with the name Choice Batter on them. Que the moment when I see a new product, get super excited, buy it regardless of it not being on my grocery list, and then bring it home and shove it into the pantry. I do this every freakin’ time. My pantry has a shelf dedicated to cake, muffin, brownie, cookie, all the sweets mixes! I know I’m big on dessert, but I do get carried away at times.
Regardless, this was the box I pulled out that Sunday morning and set out to bake up some muffins so my parents could hit the road with some breakfast in their tummies. Usually gluten free mixes require a lot of stuff to be added to them, but Choice Batter prides itself on being not just gluten-free, but allergen-friendly. This means that they are completely free of the Top 8 food allergies (egg, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, and soy). LOVE that. But, with that in mind, you also have to live up to the flavor and texture test…and that, with gluten-free and allergen-free, is the ultimate test. I hate baking up something only to have it be heavy, dense, and tasting of cardboard or some other unappetizing packing material (not that I’ve had packing material, but sometimes, I think that some products must taste like it).
So, I pulled out my large muffin tin and mixed up the Choice Batter Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix, per my dad’s request. This was SO easy!! All I needed was a mixing bowl. Into this bowl went the baking mix from the box, 1 cup of water, and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. That’s it. Preheat the oven to 400°F, stir together the mix, then divide among muffin cups. Bake for 16 minutes until done. Let cool for 1 minute. Then I turned them on their side in the muffin tin (a trick I learned from Annie May (of Annie May’s Sweet Cafe in Louisville), and let them cool slightly more. By this time, my dad had emerged from the bedroom and I poured him some decaf coffee and invited him to the big plate of muffins (I baked 10 muffins total). He took one to start with and settled in to eat. My mom did the same. As Cathy and I had breakfast plans, I cut one muffin in half and we shared it…because I had to taste these fresh from the oven, of course.
Let’s start here by saying, I loved that these muffins didn’t require milk, butter or eggs. Let’s hear it for vegan baking! WOOHOO!! Second of all, I loved how well these baked up. So often, especially in gluten-free baking, baking times have to be adjusted. Not these muffins. The Choice Batter Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix baked up perfectly the first time. Not surprising, with all the science that goes into all of Choice Batter’s mixes. These mixes are created with a special blend of rice flours developed by the USDA – Agricultural Research Service scientists to minimize the amount of oil that is absorbed into the batter while still creating a delicious and perfect result. SCIENCE. I love it. And, it actually works. The muffins were soft, moist, and delicious. One bite and I got a small tinge of lemon flavor, but all the spongy and with that thin golden crust and that slight rise at the dome. Ah…that’s muffin perfection! And that is, quite honestly, what emerged from the oven. Happiness is a gluten free mix that delivers what I expect from a product.
The heft and texture of these muffins were great. Not too dense and heavy, but not airy and light either. The perfect muffin. I loved when I sliced it in half, the little pockets that were visible in the cake, but without being too big or too much. They weren’t sticky or heavy or dense. In fact, it was everything I expect from a muffin. These went above and beyond most muffins that I have cooked up from a mix. I was impressed. In fact, if I had only one complaint, it would simply be that there wasn’t enough of a lemon flavor to these. The lemon was there…but not enough for my liking. But, then again, I like my lemon eats to be…LEMON. Give me bold or don’t bother, right? Regardless, I thought this was a phenomenal mix and was impressed with the way these turned out. My parents took some of the leftovers home with them. I count that as a win.
So, let’s talk about ingredients in the Choice Batter Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix! This mix is made of a combination of rice flour, sugar, potato starch, baking powder (sodium pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, cornstarch, monocalcium phosphate), contains less than 2% of the following: poppyseeds, citric acid, cellulose, xantan gum, lemon oil, lemon juice, salt. This muffin mix, as well as all of Choice Batter’s products are free from the top 8 allergens, including egg, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy. These muffins are gluten-free and vegan, free of MSG, cholesterol and artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.
As for nutritional information, the Choice Batter Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix does really well for all you calorie and fat watchers. Truly. A serving is 1/14 of the mix, and the mix makes…14 servings. One serving, when prepared per box directions, will give you 140 calories 2.5 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grans trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 110 mg sodium, 30 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 13 grams sugars, and 1 gram protein.
Now that I know about Choice Batter and the good results I had from the preparation of the Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix, I can’t wait to try more offerings from their product lineup. And with a company founded on a desire to develop healthy, great tasting, gluten-free and allergen-friendly so everyone can enjoy food together…their promise to deliver a taste you can love in a brand you can trust is right on the mark!
Choice Batter was founded with a desire to develop healthy, great tasting, gluten-free and allergen-friendly products the entire family can enjoy. Our promises is to deliver “A Taste You Will Love, a Brand You can Trust.”
Welcome to the final round of “Cookies I Bought At Jungle Jim’s International Market.” Hey…cookies are awesome and when I find cookies that I have never spotted in my area of the country…I take every opportunity to try them. I mean, come on, cookies are the perfect treat after a long day. A little savory…but also sweet. You can’t go wrong.
While shopping in the gluten-free section of Jungle Jim’s International Market on my birthday, Cathy spotted a small line-up of little macaroon-type cookies. I used to despise coconut. I thought it tasted like having bugs in your mouth. Texture-wise…a fail. That being said, as I’ve gotten older, the more times I try coconut, the more I have come to enjoy it…in certain forms.
One of such forms is in…macaroons…those sweet lumps of toasted coconut with that golden crust at the bottom. Yep…I devour those now. Go figure. They are just a nice, healthier cookie to indulge in every now and again. So, imagine my excitement when Cathy spotted a shelf with little pouches of macaroon cookies called Coco-Roons. I knew I wanted to try one of the different varieties…but I had to narrow it down to the one that interested me most.
Coco-Roons are made by the company Wonderfully Raw. Wonderfully Raw was started by Sequoia Cheney, who had a passion for good food that wasn’t exactly good for her. When she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, she knew something had to change in order for her to heal herself. She decided to change her path and began a journey into good health. Her son, Eric Hara, a renowned chef in New York City, gave her a lot of inspiration and encouragement. So Sequoia decided to create delicious food that was also good for her. She began to train at Living Light Culinary Institute in Mendocino, California, where she trained with the best raw food chefs in the business. And with what she learned there, she could now prepare food that could support and heal the body. This dynamic mother and son duo have come together to create Coco-Roons, which are produced using only the finest organic ingredients.
Perfect segue here to tell you what is actually in these miniature cookies of wonderful lemony goodness, yes? The Wonderfully Rw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons are made from organic dried unsweetened coconut, organic almond flour, organic unfiltered maple syrup, organic cold-pressed coconut oil, organic lemon zest, organic vanilla extract, and Himalayan crystal salt. That’s it, my dear readers. That’s it. These miniature macroons are vegan, gluten-free, and paleo (if cavemen ate desserts…and I’m still not convinced that’s true). These are also raw and certified non-GMO.
As far as nutrition goes, the Wonderfully Raw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons are a fantastic treat at the end of the day. A serving size is 3 of the miniature cookies. There are 2-4 servings per bag, as I think they actually go off weight. One serving will provide you with 80 calories, 6 grams fat, 3 grams saturated fat (from coconut oil), 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 30 mg sodium, 6 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 4 grams sugars, and 1 gram protein. Not filling, but not horrible by any standard when it comes to a treat.
And since this is kind of out of my usual order, how about I tell you how much I LOVE these cookies, yes? First of all, they don’t taste coconutty at all. Nope. You get a bit of the texture, but that fresh lemon flavor is what tempts your taste buds into popping the next one. These cookies are tiny, little bite-size mounds of goodness. I was sad to only eat three of them tonight. I mean, totally amazing flavor…and you can’t beat how good these are for you…as fr as cookies go. I love that these are sweetened with maple syrup instead of granulated white sugar. And I love that I don’t feel bad just digging into these. If you’re a lemon lover…these will definitely make you happy. My roommate got to her serving first and all I heard was, “These are amazing.” And…she was absolutely right. I have a new soft spot in my heart for the Wonderfully Raw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons. I hope a store around here carries them, otherwise I’ll be scooping up more of these and the other flavors on my next trip to Jungle Jim’s. And, if nothing else, they are available to order online on the Wonderfully Raw Web site.
Beyond enthusiastic and happy with these cookies for sure. I loved these from first bite and simply can’t wait to dig in tomorrow for more. Here’s a no-guilt, fantastic, healthy dessert or snack you’ll love. Trust me.
One of the best things to ever come from my birthday expedition to Jungle Jim’s International Market (FOODIE HEAVEN!) was discovery local (to Ohio…not to me) bakeries through the products they had on display and for sale at Jungle Jim’s. I love purchasing these items over everything else, because, well…I LOVE supporting local businesses.
So, one of the products I snagged from the end cap of gluten-free local bakery goodies at the market was this amazing sounding granola from a place called Tina’s Sweet Treats, based out of Franklin, Ohio.
Tina’s Sweet Treats came about after six (6) members of her family were diagnosed with Celiac. She went from casually baking gluten-free to full-blown. And, as with most people, wanting to make sure that her fmaily didn’t miss out on any of the wonderful baked goods that they loved, Tina worked hard to create products that won’t lack in flavor, taste, or make her family members feel like they were missing out on something amazing. Everything from Tina’s Sweet Treats is baked fresh from their home kitchen, which is completely free of contamination!
I love it when I can also get a product and feel 100% secure that it won’t make me sick. When something is produced where contamination will not even come into question, I never have to play roulette with my body. And for that, I am thankful!
Jungle Jim’s had a few options from Tina’s Sweet Treats…but the one that really caught my eye…mostly because I don’t see a lot of this from local bakeries…was the granola. But not just any granola. Probably what may be considered the most epic of all granola.
Banana Bread Granola.
You had my full attention with all three of those words. Into the basket…into the shopping bag…into the car…into my pantry.
And it didn’t last long. This past weekend, I was baking and cooking up a storm, and my lunch was something quick and easy on Saturday. I had a soccer match to get to and I needed to make some Gluten Free and Vegan Snickerdoodle Blondies and some Dairy Free Pumpkin Ice Cream before heading out to the big playoff match for Louisville City FC. Thus…lunch became a yogurt with granola on top. I remembered I had the granola…and being that it is made by a bakery, no preservatives are added and therefore, it is best when used by the sell-by date. This would certainly accomplish that. So, after palming a handful to taste on its own (OH MY GOD YUM!), I poured some on a yogurt for my roommate and some on mine. It was a simple, yet delicious addition to already delicious yogurts, let me tell you.
What I love, first and foremost, is that toasty flavor you get with homemade granola. Top it off with that aroma and the taste of fresh banana bread, and you’re talking about a winning combination. And that is exactly what Tina’s Sweet Treats accomplishes with this gluten free Banana Bread Granola. It was the perfect topper and stir-in for my vegan yogurt, and acted as a bit of a “sundae” topper for Cathy’s Banana Greek Yogurt with a Chocolate Topping. It was, without a doubt, a way to kick up the yogurt lunch a notch. And, the added crunch was that bonus that sometimes yogurt lacks.
I wish I lived closer to Tina’s Sweet Treats. I’d purchase this every week. Probably multiple times.
The Tina’s Sweet Treats Banana Bread Granola is made from rice flour, potato starch, millet flour, tapioca flour, sweet rice flour, sugar, apples, milk, butter (cream, natural flavorings), eggs, brown sugar (white sugar, molasses) sour cream, baking powder (corn starch, sodium bicarbonate, sodium aluminum sulfate, monocalcium phosphate), vanilla (water, alcohol, vanilla bean), xanthan gum, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), and salt.
Since this is made out of a home and sold by a local bakery, I don’t have any of the nutritional information. But…as with all granola out there, stick to a serving (usually around 28 grams), and don’t go overboard. It’s all good. Enjoy a sweet treat (see what I did there?) every now and again.
Love at first banana bread-y bite. Seriously, if you are a lover of banana and banana bread, Tina’s Sweet Treats has you covered with this granola. I only wish they had it online to order. Just…pure goodness and pure wow any way you want to eat it. Personally, by the handful is the way I recommend. HA!
So, last week, for a wonderful week, I was fortunate enough to spend some time on the two of the Hawaiian islands. The original purpose – to run the Kauai Marathon.
But then…I fractured my ankle.
Trying to start a new trend in footwear, perhaps? This is Bootsie, my new friend for the next 6-8 weeks. MEH!
Yep. Fractured my freakin’ ankle three days before leaving for Hawaii. SUCK!! I tried to put a positive spin on things…I really did. At least I was still going to Hawaii. Yeah…it didn’t really work for me then either…but I was trying. To help make this painful adjustment, I started a Twitter account for Bootsie (the boot I’m forced to wear for 6-8 weeks) to document traveling adventures. I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason…so there better be a damn good reason for this. That’s all I’m saying.
The first leg of the trip was flying out to San Diego. This gave us pretty much a full day to adjust to a bit of the time change (West Coast = 3 hours behind EST; Hawaii = 6 hours behind EST) and break up what was already a long ass flight to the islands. We’d depart San Diego before it was bright and early to get to Kauai by mid-morning. It was a plan. The ankle just meant we had to depart from the hotel sooner because I wasn’t moving anywhere very fast. So…my traveling companions, Cathy & Jenn, were both very helpful and very, very patient with me. And, I didn’t complain much. I mean, complaining won’t change the situation. I just apologized…a lot…for being slow.
The first order of business after getting to San Diego and checking into the hotel to drop off luggage was…lunch. Not having prepared for lunch, I ate a protein bar, while my fellow travelers ate tacos from a local taco stand. SO cool. But after that, I required my morning cup of coffee…so we sought out and found a great local establishment called…
Lestat’s Coffee House, San Diego, California
Lestat’s is one of those places that is open 24/7, 365 days of the year. YES…it is always open! Holiday? No worries…they’re open! Lestat’s Coffee House has a few signature drinks on their menu…and as it was pretty toasty in San Diego, I wasn’t feeling the hot coffee that day. Neither were my traveling friends. So, they each got coffee freezes (think blended drinks!) while I opted for one of Lestat’s Signature Drinks done up all refreshing and cold. Jenn got the Winter Raspberry Freeze ($5.25), which is a ice blended raspberry mocha. I took one little sip. WINNING! Cathy had me pick for her, and I choose the Arctic Squirrel Freeze ($5.25) for her, which is an ice blended hazelnut mocha (similar to the Hazelnut Turtle drink she loves at our local cafe…just…blended and cold). As for me…I went with the Iced Arctic Joey ($4.55)…which is coconut, almond and chocolate. I had mine made with coconut milk as well (+$1.00). In essence, it was a liquid almond joy. And it was delicious. There were bits of coconut floating in it. I think I was just starting to get in the Aloha spirit by getting something with coconut. Needless to say…smooth, creamy, delicious. Nothing overwhelmed the drink, and it wasn’t heavy. It was pure liquid gold. And refreshing. And tasty. And in the end, coffee should always be tasty. I was beyond happy with this decision.
Lestat’s Coffee House Iced Almond Joey with Coconut Milk
Upon arriving in Hawaii…after the rental car debacle…wherein we learned…convertible is fun…but not when you have a fractured ankle. We got it sorted…and switched out the fun and stylish convertible for…a Ford Fusion. Yeah…definitely not the way we had envisioned traveling, but it gave us more leg room and some more storage space for our big-ass luggage. LOL! After checking into Pono Kai Resort in Kauai…coffee was needed.
It’s always coffee with me. LOL!
So, we scoped out and fell in love with a local café called Ha Coffee Bar. And we went back every day we were on the island of Kauai…save for Sunday, because they are closed.
Ha Coffee Bar, Lihue, Hawaii
It was love at first “Aloha” when it came to Ha Coffee Bar. I have nothing but warm fuzzies when I think back to every stop at Ha Coffee Bar, each morning, first thing, while on Kauai. It was a bit of a drive from the resort, but always worth it. I tried three different things on the three days we were there that they were open. And, not once, was I ever disappointed in my choice. Ha Coffee Bar is a café that is built to resemble an old-school bar. No joke. Their iced drinks are even mixed in martini shakers. LOVE. This set-up allows them to showcase and sell products and items, such as pour-overs, that might not typically be served at a café. Ha Coffee Bar primarily serves espresso coffee, cold brewed coffee, pour-over and French press coffee. The variety in the types of coffee they serve allows for different origins and price points, which also helps minimize waste as they don’t have coffee sitting and going stale…high quality coffee and flexibility that allows customers to explore different blends, flavor profiles and methods of making coffee. Coffee love. And boy…did I LOVE this. On the first day there, I stayed pretty basic. I got a Salted Caramel French Pressed Cafe Au Lait with Almond Milk. I loved that they added the flavor to the steamed milk itself, and then gave me the pitcher of leftover almond milk in case I needed more of it in the drink. But it was perfect the way they gave it to me. And the French pressed coffee…OMG…so good. Jenn got a simple Iced Hazelnut Latte and Cathy got an Iced Peppermint Mocha. So, on the next morning, I noticed they had signature drinks hanging up near the register…so I decided to give one of those a try. I had it narrowed down to two…but opted for their drink the Bee Sting. The Bee Sting is simply Espresso, Coconut Milk, Honey and Cinnamon. I got it iced…as the humidity was killer that morning. Cathy got their take on an Iced Black & White Mocha (Zebra). And it was, absolutely, hands down, my favorite coffee drink of the trip. I wish I could have had it again. I would have gotten it again. The coconut milk gave it this rich flavor, the honey sweetened it, the cinnamon lent a hint of spice…and espresso…got me moving for sure. Simple…yet SO good. SO very good. In fact, on our last day there, this is the drink that Jenn opted to get after trying mine. With Ha closed on Sunday, we had to go elsewhere, but on our last day on Kauai…we were there in the morning and I was getting another signature drink…Liquid Sunshine, which was cold brew coffee, coconut syrup, and coconut milk. DELICIOUS!! Not Bee Sting delicious…but delicious. I was quite happy with it. Not something I can get here…anywhere…so that was most of the draw for this drink in particular. The last morning there, Cathy got the Iced Hazelnut Mocha and a Pineapple Cream Cheese Scone to enjoy for breakfast. I still say it today…back in Louisville, Kentucky…that I miss Ha Coffee Bar. It made that much of an impression.
Ha Coffee’s Salted Caramel Cafe Au Lait with Almond Milk, Iced Bee Sting, and Iced Liquid Sunshine
Skinny Mike’s Hawaiian Ice Cream, Lihue, Hawaii
I have KONG Radio to thank for the discovery of Skinny Mike’s. As we were driving the island of Kauai on Saturday, just enjoying beaches and the like…an advertisement for Skinny Mike’s Hawaiian Ice Cream came on. And it advertised ice cream, sorbets, and vegan ice cream. They had my attention, and the attention of both Jenn and Cathy too. I looked them up…and took note of where it was located. And we vowed to go there and check them out. At least once, yes?
And so, Saturday evening, after splitting a gluten-free pizza at a local chain…we headed over to Harbor Mall, where Skinny Mike’s is located. We parked and marched up the stairs to the little shop. Online I had taken a peak at the flavors, and sort of had my heart set on the Pineapple Cream. However…they didn’t have that flavor. So…I was left to look over the offered flavors while Jenn & Cathy made their choices. We each got regular scoops ($3.49) of our flavor choices. Cathy went with the Mint Chocolate Chip as it is one of her favorites…anywhere. Jenn won with their signature flavor…a local classic…Macadamia Nut. Hers was so good, we went back the last night there and each got a scoop of the Macademia Nut. That’s how good that was. For my first trip there, without the Pineapple flavor being available…I went with the suggestion of Coconut Cream. The Coconut Cream ice cream was the perfect level of coconut flavor. No bits of raw coconut…just the flavor infused in a creamy scoop of ice cream goodness. It was delicious. Smooth. And melted fast. Ah…coconut based things…I didn’t mind though. Not one bit. I eat frozen desserts rather quickly regardless. LOL! We were so impressed with the ice cream there that, as I said, we all went back to get the signature Macadamia Nut flavor on our last night on Kauai. Worth it. That was some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had. Just…delicious. I miss it. I want some more of the Macadamia Nut flavor…it’s a craving that hits now. Now that I know it exists…but can’t get it anywhere else…but there.
What happens when your favorite Hawaiian coffee stop on Kauai is closed on Sunday? You have to find a new place to get that caffeine hit. And this was what we were left to do on Sunday morning. Sunday. When I should have been running a marathon. When, instead, I was hobbling around Kapaa in search of coffee. The stop at the little food truck-like coffee place was…not going to work for everyone. No one was really happy with the menu options…so…we backtracked to a spot that Jenn spotted and had looked up online. It wasn’t far from the resort. It was a worthwhile stop in the end. And, in the end, we all ended up with a bit of breakfast with our coffee as well. How? Because this place had some gluten-free options on the menu and in the bakery case. SCORE! This meant we could have something a little more substantial at the start of the day, instead of the meager protein bars or yogurts back at the resort. It would mean eating better now and not making poor choices later. And so…Jenn got one of the bars from the bakery case…the Aloha Bar ($3.75), I think. For her caffeinated goodness that morning, she got the Iced Macanut Latte ($4.50). Cathy went for the Breakfast Burrito ($10.50), which includes eggs, roasted potatoes, caramelized onions, and cheddar cheese, which she got with the mango-chipotle salsa. For her drink, she got the Iced Hazelnut Mocha ($4.70). She at hers there at the café as she was the driver. As for me…they had gluten-free English muffins. HELLO! So I ended up getting the Gluten Free English Muffin with Cream Cheese ($3.95), which they kindly toasted for me…looks like in a pan…no cross-contamination. And for the drink, I got the Iced Macanut Latte ($4.50) with Almond Milk (+$0.75). Jenn and I had ours to go and I happily noshed away on a Glutino English Muffin with a light spread of cream cheese. The Macanut Latte…macadamia nut flavor…espresso…nutty goodness. And it was just the perfect drink that morning. It was supposed to be marathon morning…and I needed a distraction. This food, while simple and basic…was just what I needed. The drive along the coast helped too!
Java Kai’s Gluten Free English Muffin (with Cream Cheese) and Macanut Latte with Almond Milk
Hanalei Bay, Hanalei, Hawaii
We visited a lot of beaches while visiting Hawaii. I mean, that’s part of the point when you visit an island, right? But, I think, above all others, my favorite one we stopped at, and spent the most time at, was Hanalei Bay. This beach is stunning. A beautiful 2-mile long crescent of white sand, nestled beneath a breathtaking range of mountains. The water was relatively calm that day, with some small waves crashing against the shore. Despite my new friend…Bootsie…being on, we were determined to get away and enjoy the day. Anything to keep my mind off the fact that I should have been running. Hanalei Bay is a great beach for walking and body surfing. Calm waves, lifeguards, and a great coast line. I managed a few solo ventures along the waterline of the beach, just needing to at least move a little…minus the boot. I took it off for beach time. Strange tan lines were not on the agenda. I was very careful of where I stepped and the movement of the sand…and would pause if a wave came up and rolled over my legs…because that undertow could be a bit strong and throw me off balance. It was here that I realized my surf lessons the following day were not going to happen, as much as I wanted to give it a try. It was just not going to be physically possible for me to get up on a surf board. I was brokenhearted over this…but shrugged it off as no big deal. These were the cards I was dealt. Suck it up, cupcake…you’re in Hawaii!
Me and Bootsie at Hanalei Bay
After some walking and some laying on the beach…we got dressed and headed off for the next venture. Which tunred out to be a good thing. Heavy rains started soon after we had changed…and soon, Jenn and I realized just how sunburned we had gotten. I don’t think Jenn slapped on any sunscreen. I had…but the burn was in those places where clothes met skin or that strings were located. I was trying to avoid strange tan lines…and yet…that is what I ended up with in the end.
That being said…for a moment, I forgot about the ankle…and the boot…and I just enjoyed the perfect afternoon at the perfect beach.
JoJo’s Shave Ice, Hanalei, Hawaii
I have my good friend Harry Cooke to thank for the journey, while in Hanalei, to JoJo’s Shave Ice. He had mentioned it to me in a message on Facebook…and we were right there!! And with the rain pouring down now, it gave us a good excuse to not sit in a car and try to avoid the flooding roads. It gave us some time to hope the rain would pass and we could do more exploring. The rain didn’t pass. It was with us the rest of the time on the North Shore. However, after a bit of a short (hobbling, for me) spring from the rental car to the little storefront that the Hanalei JoJo’s Shave Ice operates out of…we knew we were in for a treat. The original JoJo’s began in Waimea in 1992, the same year that Hurricane Iniki landed on Kauai. That store is stil there today and still has the original JoJo’s sign. The goal of JoJo’s…to offer the ultimate in Shave Ice on Kauai…which is a true Hawaiian treat. When they expanded into Hanalei, they took the JoJo’s traditions and secret recipes along…and introduced the smaller “junior size,” which closely matches the normal serving size of other shave ice venues throughout Hawaii. JoJo’s doesn’t use commercially made syrups. They, instead, carefully make up their own syrups, with a lot less sugar and more flavor than the commercially used ones by other shave ice businesses. And…no corn syrups either. They also have upgraded all their locations with the best ice machines on Kauai, making for an unmatched, fluffy shave. LOVE. The three of us each got the Junior Sizes ($4.50). And they let you choose up to 4-5 flavors. I don’t remember what Jenn got…but it had cherry…and perhaps lime? I can’t recall. Cathy got Root Beer, Lemon and Grape Shave Ice. And I opted for two of my favorite flavors…Watermelon and Strawberry Shave Ice. Of course, now looking back, I wish I opted for something more…local…like mango or something. Next time. But the shave ice at JoJo’s was huge…filling…and amazingly packed with flavor. I can see why it’s been open for 23 years.
30 ounces of Watermelon and Strawberry flavored goodness from JoJo’s Shave Ice
Kalaheo Coffee Company & Café, Kalaheo, Hawaii
I know that technically Kalaheo Coffee Company & Café should have gotten a full review, as it was our place to catch a bite for lunch…on Monday afternoon. However, it was a hot day…and the humidity was really doing a number on me. And while there were a few options for a gluten-free vegetarian on the menu, what sounded really, really good was the Spinach and Kauai Greens Salad ($10.95). And the reason that this didn’t warrant a Restaurant Review post was…it was a salad I could have made at home. Honestly. But this was what I wanted. The Spinach and Kauai Greens Salad is a blend of fresh grown Kailani Farm greens, served with crisp spinach and topped off with strawberries and candied pecans. I kept the feta cheese and held the side of warm flat bread for obvious reasons. It came with a simple balsamic vinaigrette. And it was delicious. Light, but filling. And cooling. And just flat-out what I was really wanting that miserably humid day. But…it was a salad I could make…and therefore…it garners a mention here…but the restaurant itself is cozy and has a lot of great, fresh-made, delicious sandwiches, salads, soups, etc, to choose from. And I loved sitting in there, listening to runners who had run the day before discuss the marathon and half marathon…looking at the different food items coming out of the kitchen to each table. Beautiful setting, beautiful food…and tasty too. For the record, Cathy got the Hot Pastrami Sandwich, which contained grilled onions, mushrooms, and melted Swiss cheese on toasted bread. She got it with the much raved about Garlic Cilantro Fries…which after seeing her and Jenn devour…made me really wish I could have had those. Not safe though…not for me. Darn it.
Kalaheo Coffee Company & Café’s Spinach & Kauai Greens Salad
USS Arizona Memorial – Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii
This was one ONE place that I had to visit while in Hawaii, and the main and primary reason we even island hopped over to O’ahu instead of just hanging tight on the beautiful island of Kauai. Honolulu is definitely a hopping city and much more urban…think LA and NYC. But this…this stop was…important. To all three of us. The USS Arizona Memorial is the number one visitor destination in Hawaii, drawing millions of people from all over the world to see where World War II began for the United States on December 7, 1941. Visitors are free to explore the grounds of the Pearl Harbor Visitor’s Center, which was recently expanded from the original 3 acres to 17 acres, and is now operated by the National Park Service. Admission and parking is free to all visitors. Over 2000 tickets are given out free per day on a first come, first serve basis. We had to check our bags before entering the historic site, so Jenn and I did that while Cathy went to get the tickets she reserved online for us. We were set for the final shuttle out, at 2:45 pm. It was the hottest day in Honolulu…and with all the metal and concrete, we were literally melting out in the sun while walking around the ground. We ducked into the museum, but it was even hotter in there. Bottles of water were purchased and Cathy and I downed ours before we were put on an earlier shuttle, the 2:30 pm, to head out to the memorial. A US Navy boat taxied us out to the USS Arizona Memorial, which is built over the remains of the sunken battleship, the final resting place of the 1,177 crewmen killed on December 7, 1941, when their ship was bombed by the Japanese Naval Forces. The memorial itself was relatively quiet upon disembarking and walking over to it. You can still see the oil leaking out of the actual ship that is buried beneath the waters of Pearl Harbor. It is moving and touching. And the memorial is beautiful and humbling. And I am so glad that we went.
USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor
Dole Plantation, Wahiawa, Hawaii
Two words…
DOLE WHIP.
DOLE FREAKIN’ WHIP!! That was the primary reason to venture out to the Dole Plantation in Wahaiwa. It was a bit of a journey…a long drive, but well worth it. The Dole Plantation originally operated as a fruit stand beginning in 1950, before opening up to the public as “Hawaii’s ‘Pineapple Experience'” in 1989. Another one of O’ahu’s most popular visitor attractions, the Dole Plantation provides activities for the entire family, including the Pineapple Express ($8.25/adult), the Plantation Garden Tour ($5.00/adult), and the Pineapple Garden Maze ($6.00/adult). None of which we did…due to the cost that was associated with each one and the warm, humid weather that made us want to stick to the air conditioning. What we did do, however, was shop at the HUGE gift shop, which carries a wide variety of Dole Plantation Gifts, local favorites, foods, and refreshments…including DOLE WHIP!! You can even purchase a fresh pineapple to take home. I wish I had. The pineapple in Hawaii is freakin’ incredible. I did some shopping, buying a few minor things like Dole Pineapple hard candy and a magnet. Easy to transport and all. And then, we went over to The Plantation Grille to purchase a bowl each of the world famous Dole Whip ($5.25). It was a large serving, which I loved, and devoured enthusiastically. Better than Disney, which is one of the few places Dole Whip is available. This was…amazing and I wish I had gone back for seconds. Dole Whip, by the way, is vegan and gluten free. LOVE!! It’s just pure frozen treat love.
Dole Whip from The Dole Plantation’s Plantation Grille
Panalu’u Beach Park and the Random Pineapple Roadside Stand, Hauula, Hawaii
Welcome to two of the most random stops we made on our trek around the North Shore of O’ahu. Panalu’u Beach Park is located on O’ahu’s windward coast and has this strip of narrow, sandy beach. The nearshore ocean bottom is shallow and has a reef, so swimming conditions here are poor. This was a clam day at this particular beach when we pulled over to check it out. Cathy went wading…and the water looked so refreshing (another humid and hot day!), that I took off Bootsie and kicked off my flip-flop to go wading in the surf myself. My friend Jenn snapped my favorite picture of me on this entire trip here…with the gorgeous blue water and the white sand on the beach. As I said on my Instagram…”Make only memories…Leave only footprints…Kill only time…”
Me on Punalu’u Beach Park (THIS IS MY FAVORITE PICTURE!)
From there, we went hunting for a shrimp place, Romey’s Kahuku Prawns and Shrimp, that the lady at Enterprise told Cathy about after we first arrived in Honolulu, when she mentioned we would be heading up to the North Shore. Along the way, I had been hunting for mangos and we found a stand that advertised them. We pulled into this dodgy little roadside stand, only to learn that they were out of mangos. The weather had ended the season early. I was bummed. BUT…we did purchase a fresh pineapple there, so we purchased one for $5.00, and watched as this little old lady had it peeled and sliced in less that 2 minutes…bagged…and ready for us to take away. We wasted no time, after climbing into the car, trying it out. So fresh…so juicy…so amazing. Hands down, the best pineapple I have eaten in my life. Anywhere. And I’ve had a lot of pineapple. We did find Romy’s…and Jenn and Cathy split a plate of the Garlic and Butter Shrimp. They ate that and I ate a good 2/3 (if not more) of the pineapple. They helped a little after they were done with their fresh seafood.
Best. Pineapple. Purchase. EVER!
BEST PINEAPPLE EVER from a random roadside stand along the North Shore of O’ahu! They peeled and chopped it right there!
Chief’s Luau, Waimanalo, Hawaii
Okay, again, this would generally get a blog of its own, despite not being a restaurant. I couldn’t go to Hawaii and not do a luau, even if it is one that is so tourist-y…it’s funny. We chose Chief’s Luau ($82.00+) due to the fact that it is the best ranked luau on O’auh AND that it had an allergen menu on their Web site. And, yeah, it’s tourist-y, but I actually had a lot of fun at the luau. I finally got a lei (made of shells as we had the cheapest package), had my picture taken with Chief…learned how to hula dance, watched Cathy throw a spear (rather poorly), watched Cathy make a coconut leaf headband (which she left behind), listened to great music, enjoyed the history of the dances that are native to Hawaii…and just…kicked back, laughed, and enjoyed my final night in Hawaii…with a Mai Tai and everything. Aside from the free drink…the luau package also included dinner…and as a gluten-free vegetarian, this left only a few things for me to pick from. Cathy was there for the meat…the pork…cooked in the ground with banana leaves…but for someone like me…I got the food that was catered in. And that’s fine…but because it was catered, I didn’t review it. I was left with the Seasonal Fruit Salad (more pineapple!), the Poi (GROSS…it looked like Barney’s (the purple dinosaur) snot…kind of gelatinous and goopy and YUCK. I didn’t want to try it, but peer pressure had me at least take a taste. NEVER AGAIN!), the Steamed White Rice and (my personal favorite) the Sweet Potatoes. My first plate of food was not really full, and as this was all you can eat, I ventured back for more of the DELICIOUS sweet potatoes and the fruit. Because…fruit and sweet potatoes are actually two of my favorite foods in life. For real. The Mai Tai’s were delicious…and I had a great time at the luau. If you are in O’ahu and want to go to a luau…go to Chief’s. They are #1 for a reason!
Seasonal Fruit Salad, Poi (GROSS!), White Steamed Rice, and Sweet Potatoes – my gluten free and vegetarian dinner at Chief’s Luau
Barista, Portland, Oregon
The flight we took back to the mainland went through Portland, where we disembarked and stayed an entire day, so we could explore. Cathy and Jenn had Voodoo Doughnuts for breakfast. We hit up the food pods for lunch, we did a gastropub for dinner. But after the stop for doughnuts, it was vital that we got caffeine. And I chose Barista, out of all the different coffee shops in Portland. I chose wisely…of this I am certain. Being a former barista, myself, I not only liked the name, I liked everything I read about them. Barista was established by coffee legend, Billy Wilson, who now has four (4) Barista cafés open in the Portland area. Let me tell you, this cofee delivers!! Barista is one of the first multi-roaster shops in the Portland area, showcasing Heart, Coava, and another roaster on bar for espresso or drip. Barista is known for serving exceptional coffees from the world’s finest roasters, prepared by the most skilled baristas in the Portland area. No joke. Jenn skipped out on this amazing experience, but both Cathy and I partook of the opportunity to try the coffee at the Downtown Barista location. Cathy ordered the Semi-Sweet Valrohna Mocha ($4.50). I went for the Bittersweet Valrohna Mocha ($4.50) with Almond Milk (+$0.75). It was delicious. Strong…but smooth. There was this perfect balance of chocolate and espresso that just…melted together. The milk softened up the bite of the espresso itself, cutting through the dark chocolate. OH MY GOD…one of the best coffees I have ever had. If you are in Portland and love coffee…you are missing out if you don’t swing by one of the Barista locations. For real. I loved every sip. Even better…finally a coffeeshop that gives me an 8 ounce cup of coffee for a small!! THANK YOU!
Barista’s Bittersweet Valrohna Mocha with Almond Milk
And that was it. It was Portland to Vegas to Louisville from there. And my 10 day vacation came to an end. Back in Louisville, it’s hard for me to ignore Bootsie. It’s a depressing reminder of everything I’ve had to cancel for the upcoming weeks leading into November. I tried not to fuss much over it on the trip. And, I ate whatever I wanted…whenever I wanted…as long as it fit into my dietary restrictions. And despite limited mobility and really lack of much movement at all…while continuing to stuff my face with local eats…I lost 3 pounds. I’ve put it back on since coming home though…so no worries. LOL!
It was a beautiful trip to paradise…and I’m already dreaming about my return. Next time…to actually run the Kauai Marathon!!
Product: Vino de Milo Cherry Riesling Fruit Preserves – $5.99+
My pantry is overflowing these days with fruit preserves. I am a jelly and jam fanatic. Seriously. If there is a way to utilize jam in a recipe, by God, I’m going to do it. Fruit preserves are one of the little joys in life. And I am a huge fan.
So, imagine my excitement when the final Cuisine Cube box I was set to receive (I had to cancel it due to financial obligations toward medical bills) had a jar of fruit preserves inside!! Insert me…doing a happy dance of joy. It was the perfect ending to a year-long and fantastic partnership with this amazing subscription box. So, before I talk more about the product itself, let me remind you or explain (in case you are new) what Cuisine Cube is all about!
Cuisine Cube is a subscription service that delivers 5-6 gluten-free, full-size products to your door for as little as $34.99/month. Inside the cube, you will discover full-size products (not sample sizes) that are made by local and smaller, artisan companies, rather than those that you can find at the average grocery store. It has introduced me to so many new and delightful products. Each box contains a breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, and dessert product…and then, sometimes, an extra bonus item. Who doesn’t love a little something extra, right? Keep in mind, however, that Cuisine Cube has gone through some changes as of May. No longer do they strictly only offer gluten-free cubes. In addition to their gluten-free option, they now also offer Artisan and Vegan cubes as well. The Artisan cube means that you have no food allergies and foods that contain common food allergens will be included. The Vegan cubes contain products that are dairy and animal free. And, they still have the Gluten Free cubes, which will have products that contain no gluten or wheat. So, if you’re really interested in being introduced to the smaller, lesser-known, artisan companies, give Cuisine Cube a try! It’s like…Christmas…or your birthday…every month! Who doesn’t love that?!
So…as it stands, we are still delving into May (Is For Mom) 2015 cube. This morning was a swimming morning at the gym, meaning that I normally take in a smoothie and my roomie gets something easy that cooks up while I shower and get ready for work. We have gluten-free bread. We have vegan cream cheese. Hmmm…
See where I’m going here?! The best part is, this morning, I needed a new jam to top off the ricotta toast with, and this was just staring at me at the forefront of the jarred preserves shelf in my pantry (I recently reorganized). It was the Vino de Milo Cherry Riesling Fruit Preserves that I had been so excited about receiving, but hadn’t had a moment to actually use them. Until now.
Vino de Milo began at a food business incubator, the Appalachian Center for Economic Networks (ACEnet). After a few issues that needed to be worked through, the company obtained a beautiful logo, the addition of wine, and a growing business began. It began simply when an eggplant sauce for a catering job led to a packaging experiment in the adjoining bottling facility. One thing led to another, wine was suggested and then added to the sauce…and Vino de Milo, the product line, was born. This company prefers to use ingredients from local suppliers in Ohio. And, as the brand has grown, they have added more products and capabilities. With a research and development chef on staff, new products are not only being developed, but can easily be customized for retail sales. From it’s humble start in 2003 by Jonathan Milo Leal, Vino de Milo has grown from only offering 3 pasta sauces to a full line of from-scratch-made products that include salad dressings, pasta sauces, bruschetta toppings, salsas, BBQ sauces, and fruit preserves. All of which, by the way, include wine in some way, shape or form…hence the name…VINO de Milo.
So…as I said…it was my May 2015 Cuisine Cube, and most of the ingredients inside had some sort of Mother’s Day spin on them. Kinda. I’d say that the Vino de Milo Cherry Riesling Fruit Preserves did above all other products in that box. For sure. Because…WINE! This morning…it was a wine-infused breakfast morning. I toasted up gluten-free bread and then gave each slice a healthy spread of vegan ricotta cheese. Then, I simply scooped out the Vino de Milo Cherry Riesling Fruit Preserves and settled them over the top, giving them a light smoothing with the back of the spoon. Breakfast…was easily made, quick, and…
DELICIOUS!! My roommate isn’t big on cherries, like I am, but she absolutely loved these preserves. I am certain it had nothing to do with the crispness that the Riesling wine (her favorite kind of wine, mind you) brought to this spread. Or…perhaps it did. I don’t know about her, but I loved how deep and rich the cherry flavor was, with that Riesling really stepping it up and bringing out this crispness, keeping the cherries from being too tart on their own. I fell in love with the smooth, yet a little chunky consistency to these preserves, finding chunks of cherries to be an inviting and tasty way to enjoy this spread. Seriously…packed with great flavor, not overly strong, and just…delicious. Wine or not, these preserves are the cherry on top. HA!
Let’s discuss what goes into a jar of the Vino de Milo Cherry Riesling Fruit Preserves. This amazing spread is made from red tart cherries, sugar, Riesling wine, pectin, cherry concentrate, and citric acid. Simple. Basic. REAL ingredients. These preserves are 100% all natural. No chemicals, preservatives, or artificial fillers. It is also vegan and gluten-free. YAY!
So, let’s take a look at the nutrition information now, shall we? A serving size of the Vino de Milo Cherry Riesling Fruit Preserves is 1 tablespoon. This serving will provide you with 25 calories, 0 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 0 mg sodium, 6 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams fiber, 5 grams sugars, and 0 grams of protein. For fruit preserves, that sugar level is fantastic!
I was beyond impressed with the Vino de Milo Cherry Riesling Fruit Preserves. With it spread over the vegan ricotta cheese, it was almost like eating cheesecake for breakfast. LOVE a healthy meal that tastes like a treat. Vino de Milo puts out quality products made with local and amazing ingredients…all blended with a little bit of wine. And who wouldn’t love that. Now that I know this is out there, I hope that I can find it on the shelves. But it’s because of Cuisine Cube that I am aware it exists. And if I can’t find it locally…I can always order it online!
And so can you. And this is me…encouraging you to do just that. Trust me…this is one jam you don’t want to miss!
What do you think of when you think of Portland, Oregon? Food trucks…yes…but a lot of people would also point to the amazing array of brew pubs that the city has to offer. Oregon is very much a foodie haven, and there is plenty of places to whet your appetite.
Research began on Find Me Gluten Free…which pulled up hundreds and hundreds of restaurants that cater to people with gluten intolerance and Celiac. I knew that my traveling partners, Cathy and Jenn, were being very good about where we ate on Hawaii (often out of Jenn’s comfort zone) due to my dietary restrictions…so…going to a brew pub in Portland wasn’t just a necessity, it was a way of thanking them for being so flexible with the food choices while island hopping in Hawaii.
That being said, we narrowed it down to two choices…and Cathy and I made Jenn pick the place. This was no biggie for me…there were options I was interested in at each place…but it was a matter of whether Cathy got Chicken and Waffles or Roasted Lamb.
Jenn didn’t really care where we went, but in the end, she chose Deschutes Brewery…and that was our Friday night dinner.
After lunch at the food pods, we continued our exploration of Portland, meaning bookstores, record stores, chocolate shops, coffee shops, and all that good stuff. But all that shopping does work up an appetite. So, after spending a long time exploring Powell’s Books, we were ready to get some dinner. And it was just a short hike to Deschutes Brewery…and I loved it from the moment we stepped inside.
Deschutes Brewery is a brew pub located in the heart of Portland and is described as a popular destination for great beer, delicious food, and a relaxed urban atmosphere. It features 26 taps that include Deschutes mainstays plus a selection of seasonal and experimental beers developed and brewed on site exclusively for the Portland pub.
In addition, no pub is worth its salt without pub grub. Executive Chef Jill Ramseier leads a talented culinary team that has put forth classic pub food, but elevated it. In fact, each item on the menu is created, from scratch, with the best possible local ingredients. SO Portland. Love it!
We arrived shortly after 5 p.m. and it was already hopping. We were seated immediately and given menus to peruse. Water was brought to our table and our waiter, Zach, came over to pour some water and ask if we wanted anything else to drink. Jenn and I were sticking with water, but Cathy had it on her to-do list to sample a local brew. She went with the Deschutes River Ale ($3.25). He went to grab her drink while we finished up decisions for dinner.
With beer delivered, it was time to place an order. Jenn went with the Dungeness Crab Roll ($17.75), which is pacific crab tossed with onion, celery, lemon and mayonnaise in a seared East coast-style bun. It came with a serving of fries on the side.
Cathy opted for the Spicy Fried Chicken and Waffle ($16.50). This dish is a Nashville-style basted chicken breast and thick sliced smoked provolone over a housemade sourdough waffle with maple dressed kale, fenel and pecan salad, served with a maple honey sauce. For an additional $2…you can add bacon. Cathy left the bacon off.
As for me…I was given a gluten-free menu. And on that menu was plenty of items to choose from. Had I not had a great sandwich for lunch from Juniper at the food pods, I would have opted for the Quinoa Burger ($13.25), which is described as a crispy quinoa cashew patty with chipotle aioli, Rock Face Creamery aged white cheddar (which I would have left off), lettuce, tomato, onion and served, I am assuming, on a gluten free bun. BUT…I DIDN’T get that. I could have…and, as I said, had I not had a sammie for lunch, this would have been my dinner.
My dinner, instead, was the half portion of their Spinach and Quinoa Salad ($7.00) with a plate of their Garlic Rosemary Fries ($6.75), which I got minus the manchego cheese that comes served with it. YES…the fries are gluten-free!!! *HAPPY DANCE!* Hey…I eat healthy most of the time, dessert and an occasional plate of fries are treats to me and ones I never turn down when they are available. A healthy life doesn’t mean there aren’t treats every now and again!
Orders in.
And in true brew pub (and pub) fashion, the food didn’t take too long to come out. Just long enough to know that everything was prepared fresh and made to order. Our plates came out…and they were heaped with food. Even without the plate of fries (which I did share!), my salad would have been plenty filling at the half portion on its own. So, that was actually a good call on my part.
Deschutes Brewery’s Spicy Fried Chicken & Waffle
Jenn and Cathy both loved their meals. Cathy said that while the chicken was spicy, it wasn’t overpowering. The provolone cheese helped to cool things down and the waffle was a nice hit of sweetness to mesh with the savory heat of the chicken. When paired with the maple and honey, it was a perfect bite. In fact, after years of wondering why chicken and waffles were such a thing in the south…it took a trip to Portland, Oregon for her to “get it.” Yes…she gets it now. And I think she has a new craving in life. She ate until she was full…and then had to surrender to the dish. But she made a healthy dent in it, loving and raving about every bite. So there is that.
Let’s start with the salad. The Spinach and Quinoa Salad comes with Briar Rose Creamery feta cheese (which I left on…because feta and I get along for the most part), blueberries, pickled beets, fresh spinach, and perfectly cooked quinoa. It is topped with a delicious vinaigrette, which does come on the side so it isn’t swimming in dressing. That’s something I totally appreciated. This salad was filling and provided a myriad of different flavors and textures. It was inviting with each bite. Tangy, tart, smooth and creamy. The quinoa and spinach are both nutritional powerhouses…and I devoured every last bit of this salad. Besides, you put roasted beets on anything and you have my full attention. Seriously! OH…and it came with a gluten-free breadstick laid across it. I questioned it when it arrived at the table…”This is gluten-free, right?” “OH yes,” I was reassured. Happiness comes in breadstick form sometimes. It’s the little things that aren’t so little for other people but are for people like me.
But the star…as much as I want to point to the salad…was the gluten-free Garlic Rosemary Fries. These fries are made from hand cut Kennebec potatoes and seasoned with fresh garlic (LOTS of it) and rosemary and served with a rosemary aioli. These were to DIE for. Seriously. I took one bite and I was hooked. I didn’t want to stop eating them. Even with some self-control (HA!) and a little help from my friends, this plate wasn’t emptied. It probably could have been, but we all have our limits. These were some of the best gluten-free fries I have ever been served in a restaurant. And fries are hard for me to get in a restaurant. Everything shares a fryer…so this is always a nice treat. And this is one splurge I was glad I made. Holy cow. I want to recreate these. I’m going to do the best I can. WOW!
Save for fries (from both Jenn & I) and a bit of chicken and waffle on Cathy’s plate…we ate the hell out of our meals. And for good reason…they were amazing. I was beyond impressed with the caliber of food that came to our table. Everything looked beautiful and tasted amazing. Nothing was soggy or overdressed. Nothing was burnt. It was pure dinner perfection in true brew pub form. I am a huge fan…and I wish I lived in Portland so I could continue to go back and try other options from their extensive gluten-free menu. Just…WOW!!
I have Jenn to thank for actually sending us to Deschutes Brewery in the end…and to me, it was the perfect way to round out an amazing and unforgettable trip. No better way to end a vacation then with good friends, good food, and good times. Deschutes…made that all possible…right in the heart of Portland.
Deschutes Brewery’s Gluten Free Spinach & Quinoa Salad with the Garlic Rosemary Fries (also gluten free)
The Celiathlete 