It may be evident that I have a great love for sweet treats. And one of my favorite things to nosh on when I need something sweet is cookies. They are fast. They are convenient. They are portable. Oh…and they won’t melt if you leave half of one for later.
Having to enter the gluten-free world…sweet treats were a little more of a complication for me. Thank God for Pamela’s Products. Everything I have tried out of this product line has been amazing. I only wish I had this blog before so I could rave about this stuff. Don’t worry…I’ll revisit those products.
For now, however, let me introduce you to one of the most palate-pleasing things I have ever had the honor of tasting: Pamela’s Peanut Butter Cookies.
First of all…I was expecting a hard cookie. Surprise…these are chewy, just like peanut butter cookies should be. Not only that, the texture is as though they were just taken out of the oven. Seriously, I was so impressed with these that I couldn’t stop at just one. And really…who can anyway? Not only were these soft and chewy…they were so good!
What I love about peanut butter cookies is not only the sweetness but also the salty kick. Sweet and salty is a deadly combination for me and these cookies hit the mark and hit it hard. It’s like homemade nutty goodness in a package. Skip turning on the oven on a hot day and find these in your grocery store. Trust me…you can’t tell the difference. They really are THAT good.
Pamela’s Products prides itself on delicious gluten-free foods. And they have delivered each and every time. I wish more of their products were available in the area I live in. But if my selection is limited, I’m sure glad these are on the shelves here. I can’t wait to tear into another box and take another bite of a moist, chewy, delicious peanut butter cookie.
Blue Diamond's Unsweetened Original Almond Breeze Almond Milk
At the beginning of the year, I discovered that I had become lactose intolerant. This was heartbreaking to me, because I am a huge dairy girl. Skim milk, chocolate milk, ice cream…you name it. If it was a dairy product, I was probably gobbling it down. So…what now?
One of the first things I tried when substituting milk was almond milk. I was hooked…immediately.
What I really liked about the Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Milk was the flavor. Naturally flavored with just the sweetness of the almonds without any added sugars, this delicious beverage adds twice the calcium of regular milk at only half the calories of skim milk. Hello! Best of all, it tastes great. I don’t need to have the added sugars because the almonds are sweet enough on their own. The almond milk has a different, nutty tastes to it, but I like that.
And, given as an alternative to soy milk (which, when you have a gluten intolerance is one of those grey areas when it comes to lactose-free beverages), I’d choose almond milk every time.
Compared to other unsweetened almond milk products out there, Blue Diamond’s Almond Breeze has a delicious flavor to it. It doesn’t takes bland or leave an odd taste in your mouth. But, when it’s done by a company that prides itself on nuts (Blue Diamond), it should be done right. The company hit it out of the park with their almond milk.
I poured mine over cereal and drank it on its own. Over cereal, it added a hint of sweetness, which I enjoyed. It wasn’t bland like dairy milk is. Instead, it adds to the flavor of what you are eating. Sort of like an added bonus you wouldn’t normally get. And on its own, or mixed into coffee, this was a nice, smooth flavor that didn’t leave me wrinkling up my nose. The delicate flavor was just what I wanted in an almond milk.
Blue Diamond hit the mark with this unsweetened variety of almond milk. If you are looking for a dairy and soy alternative, I highly recommend this brand. It can be a little pricier than other brands out there, but you are paying for quality. Even if you don’t have to give up dairy, I recommend trying this as an alternative. You might be swayed. And with the added bonus of extra calcium and fewer calories, you might consider giving up your dairy milk completely.
One of the most inexpensive (and delicious) gluten-free breakfast cereals in the grocery store these days is, believe it or not, Chex. Yes…that cereal you grew up using in a party mix or even as breakfast. But here’s the best part. You are no longer limited to the three classic flavors. And if you can’t have gluten…it’s not just the rice and corn flavors.
Since the wheat and multi-bran are not options for me, I was pretty certain I was stuck with the usual Rice Chex and Corn Chex. And then I hit up the grocery store and discovered that General Mills had created a whole new line of flavors for Chex cereal. And among them…something no woman can resist…
Chocolate Chex.
I am a chocolate fiend. Honestly. If it’s around, I cannot resist it’s power. This is probably why this box of cereal immediately grabbed my attention in the grocery aisle. My chocolate radar kicked in and I could not resist snagging this off the shelf.
I bought one box and took it home, eager to give it a try. Upon first pour, it’s like a checkerboard of Chocolate and Rice Chex. Actually, the product is just Rice Chex with a chunk of the squares dusted in real cocoa powder. I popped one of the chocolate squares on its own into my mouth and knew right then and there that I had found the most amazing treat for breakfast.
It was sweet, and the cocoa powder melted away as I chewed it. It was like popping a chocolate wafer into my mouth and having it melt away. So delicious. So, I poured a little unsweetened almond milk into my bowl and took an entire spoonful. Bursting with chocolate flavor, this cereal is like a treat. You don’t feel like you’re eating kiddie cereals when you eat these. This isn’t Cocoa Pebbles (which are also gluten-free, mind you!)…this is chocolate cereal for adults (and kids, too!). You aren’t buying a box with a cartoon character on it. You’re getting full-out flavor in a cereal you’d buy for yourself even if you didn’t have to eat gluten-free.
And here’s the best part…this cereal is amazing with milk or just dry. It can be breakfast or a snack or even a dessert. It works either way because of the hit of sweet cocoa. I’ve eaten it as a snack while on the road or dry just before running in a race. It tastes good either way. But one little treat you get with adding milk is that it flavors the milk chocolate, so you are certain to scoop all of that up too. It’s an added bonus to an already tantalizing breakfast experience.
Chocolate cereal that is not only good for you…it tastes good too. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy a sweet treat in the morning (or afternoon, or evening). And thanks to Chex cereal…you don’t have to be! So have chocolate for breakfast (and second-breakfast, lunch, noonsies, snack, dinner, dessert)…and go back for an extra handful once you’re done. It’s okay…I won’t tell anyone. I do it too.
You may have noticed…but I live my life on the go. I am never in one place too long. And I love to travel and take in new experiences. Whether it’s halfway across the world or in my own backyard, I never linger too long in one place. It’s a big world out there and it has plenty to offer me.
As someone who is constantly away from home, I like to save money where I can and pack grab-and-go snacks that I can tuck into my purse or pocket for when my stomach starts rumbling. I admit…I am a snacker. I eat constantly and my stomach lets me know when it needs a little something to get to the next meal.
For the past month, I’ve lived a good chunk of my days standing in the General Admission line for various U2 shows across the country. Snacks are what you live off of in these lines. You want easy to transport, small, and nothing that will melt…because we are in the heat of the summer, after all. And that was when I discovered yet another Enjoy Life product at my grocery store: Cocoa Loco Snack Bars.
Not only are these bars gluten-free and dairy-free…they are also vegan and free of all of the ingredients in the top 8 food allergies. Bonus! So, I took a chance and bought a box of them for the line. At half the calories gluten-free protein bars come with, I was feeling really happy with my decision. My only concern was…what if they didn’t taste good?
It was on a sweltering hot day in St. Louis while I was sitting in the line of U2 fans that I broke out my first Enjoy Life Cocoa Loco Snack Bar. I opened up the package…not impressed by the presentation. It did look like sweet chocolate-y goodness though. So, breaking off a piece, I popped it in my mouth and took a taste.
SO good. The texture was a little denser than most snack bars, but it was sweet and filled any craving I might have had for chocolate. It was delicious. Like eating a brownie. Dessert without the guilt…that’s how I’d describe it. The flavor was fantastic. I gave a piece to my roommate and she also loved it (and she doesn’t have food allergies!). So, this was the perfect snack for living life on the go. Sweet, savory, and just the right hit of chocolate. I can’t wait to try their other flavors now.
Enjoy Life once again put out an amazing product that not only tastes delicious…but makes you feel like you are getting more than a snack…only without the guilt.
Blue Diamond is best known for their nuts. So, who can argue with a company that has created delicious products in the past with their Almond Breeze almond milk and their bold and traditional flavors in their line of nuts?
I felt confident when I purchased a box of Nut Thins to have as a snack while waiting around in the General Admission line of an upcoming U2 concert. I didn’t know what I was in for. It was by random selection I picked up the Pecan Nut Thins that day. My grocery store carries every flavor…but this one just intrigued me.
Crackers are hard to come by when you have an intolerance to gluten. What Blue Diamond created was a masterpiece. Upon first bite, I was hooked. These could even double as a chip to dip in salsa or a cheese queso. Salty…crunchy…and packed with amazing flavor. These crackers were so good, I think I inhaled them.
It was love at first bite with the Pecan flavor. The right hint of nut-flavor, with the cracker and chip crunch. It’s like a perfect union of snacks…done with a hint of salt and a lot of flavor. These pecan ones were just the way to be introduced to these crackers. They were rich in flavor, low in sodium, and every bite had me reaching for another one! It only makes me anticipate the other flavors, which include: cheddar, BBQ, almond, hazelnut, ranch, smokehouse, and one called hint-of-salt. Oh yeah…these are on my “always buy” list when it comes to gluten-free snacks.
Whether you eat them on their own, or pair them with a dip or spread, Nut Thins are sure to satisfy ANYONE who tries them. This isn’t just for those who can’t have gluten. These are worth sharing with the world. And I intend to…one appetizer, one concert, one picnic at a time.
Blue Diamond doesn’t disappoint with these crackers. And thankfully, I get to enjoy them down to the last crunchy cracker.
Gluten-free doesn’t always mean delicious. I have realized this since having to adhere to a gluten-free diet. While some products are amazing, others fall short of their potential when it comes to flavor, texture, taste…
But, gluten-free shouldn’t scare you away. There will be food failures even in regular snacks and meals…and that’s why I keep trying out products and going into each taste with an open mind. I love to be surprised.
Food Should Taste Good. I can’t argue the brand name. It says it all right there on the bag. The question was…would it? Now, this wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had a snack by this company. I’ve sampled their Sweet Potato Chips before and was blown away by them. So, when I was hunting for a snack one night, the Jalapeño Chips seemed like a good next step.
I don’t know if you noticed, but I love a good kick of spice in my food. Could these chips really deliver that desired heat while still maintaining the bar set by the Sweet Potato Chips? There was only one way to find out.
That evening, I settled onto the couch with a small bowl of these chips and a movie. The first thing I notice is…they aren’t coated in salt. This is a good thing as watching and monitoring sodium content is something I do. With only 140mg sodium per serving…this is a great treat for those keeping an eye on their sodium intake.
It was love a first bite. At first, you taste the flavor of the corn tortilla chips…and then you taste the peppers. These chips remain true to the peppers they highlight in their (small!) list of ingredients on this bag. You get the initial flavor of the jalapeño pepper, then the spice kicks in. The heat isn’t overpowering at all. The mix of the jalapeño and crushed red pepper give it the spice and corn tortilla and hint of salt cool it back down. It is just what the spicy-food lover in me craved in a chip. Especially one that I was eating without a salsa (although the website for the Food Should Taste Good brand suggests pairing these with a four different types of salsas…which I might try sometime!).
Amazing flavor aside…here’s what else I love about this brand. In just this bag of chips alone, there are eight ingredients used to make them. No chemicals. Nothing you can’t pronounce or have to run a Google search to figure out what it is. These ingredients are fresh and common. And, best of all, they are packed into a product that is also all natural, kosher, contains no MSG, has low sodium, is free of trans fat, is gluten-free, lactose-free, cholesterol free, contains no preservatives, and is not genetically modified.
No wonder the Food Should Taste Good brand puts out food that tastes good. It’s actual food! And I applaud them for that.
What’s more…I highly recommend anyone trying their products. They have something for cheese lovers, spice lovers, and just your general chip lover. Give it a shot. Pair it with salsa or eat it on its own. Either way, you’re in for a delicious treat. This brand totally lives up to its name. This food tastes amazing!
It was a manager’s special at my local grocery store that drove my roommate to purchase three boxes of Cherrybrook Kitchen’s Gluten Free Dreams Chocolate Cake. And it was a stretch of 10 days at home that convinced me it was time to give it a try. Lack of dessert is never a good thing in my household as I am a firm believer that dessert should always accompany a meal.
What I loved about this cake mix was that not only is it gluten-free and wheat free, but it also contained no peanuts, no soy, no eggs, and no dairy. Any possible food allergy was pretty much covered by what was not in this cake mix. And that was reassuring in and of itself. The oven was preheating, so…it was time to get mixing.
I added the cake mix to the water, vegetable oil, and gluten-free vanilla and mixed it up. I was a bit concerned at first, as when mixed, it didn’t have a thick consistency that normally accompanies a cake mix. It seemed runnier than it should have been. I ended up double-checking the measurements on the box…but I had done it right.
Pouring it into the cake pan, I smoothed it out and said a prayer to the baking gods before slipping it into the hot oven. My roommate, per custom, was then invited to lick the batter bowl (which I felt okay about this time as there was no raw egg in it!), which she did, saying that it tasted really good. So…that was reassuring. If the batter was edible…
Into the oven for 25 minutes…and I only stole one peek the entire baking time. That’s a new record for me. When it was done, I pulled it out and set it down on a rack to cool. On first glance, it looked like a rich, dark chocolate cake. Already I was feeling better about life. I let it cool for about 20 minutes before I decided I had to have a slice of it.
The cake box serving size is 8 slices from a round cake. I didn’t own a round cake pan, so I baked mine up in a square one. When I cut it, I got 16 squares from it…perfect sizes for a slice of cake anyway. Woohoo! More nights with a dessert.
Now, I’ve never been a frosting person. It’s something with the sugars and how sweet they are that I’ve never liked. So, I didn’t frost this cake. I decided instead to do something else with it. As I was unprepared the first night, I simply melted down some dark chocolate and drizzled it over the top. Serving it to my roommate first, she was done and had licked the plate clean by the time I finished with mine. Her constant comments of “Mmmm…” and “Oh…my…MMMMMM….” were definitely good signs!
And when I had my cake ready to sample, I couldn’t agree with her more. It was moist and rich. The chocolate was sweet and paired really well with the dark chocolate I drizzled over it. The texture was not dense, but very soft. As I said, this was a moist cake. And it was certainly setting the bar high for all other gluten-free cakes I attempt to make from a mix. It was everything like the cake I used to eat…if not better. Not to mention, this mix has a very low fat content with each serving. Only 0.5 grams. So, the only sinful thing about it was how amazing it tasted.
The next night I went to prepare it, I had swung by the grocery store, so in addition to drizzling it with melted dark chocolate, I scooped up a bit of Cool Whip light and topped it all off with fresh strawberries. The pairing took an already amazing product and amped it up. Sweet, refreshing, rich, decedent. Yes…it was as good, if not better, as something that would be ordered in a restaurant.
If you are in need of a cake fix…or have an upcoming celebration to bake for, I highly recommend using Cherrybrook Kitchen’s Gluten Free Dreams Chocolate Cake Mix. I was highly impressed with their product, and continue to be wowed each time I prepare dessert this week. High flavor. Rich. Moist. Delicious. Gluten-free sweet dreams, indeed!
A slice of Cherrybrook Kitchen's Gluten Free Dreams Chocolate Cake (with dark chocolate, Cool Whip Lite, and fresh strawberries!)
More restaurants are beginning to take note of their customer base that has to eat gluten-free. I knew that when I traveled to Chicago, finding restaurants that would have food that I could eat would be easier than it is around my hometown. Thank goodness for major metro areas that understand these food allergies. Even bigger kudos going out to the restaurants that put out gluten-free menus to help with the decision making process.
My friend Heather loves Yard House! So, when we arrived at her place around dinner time, this was one of the options out there. Before even leaving her apartment, she had pulled up the restaurant online. Originally, she had wanted to take me there for their Gardein menu…but since having to go gluten-free, Gardein was out of the question. Sadly enough, since it’s rarer still to find a restaurant that offers a whole section of vegetarian/vegan entrees! I give major props to Yard House for that as well.
The gluten-sensitive menu was simple, basic, and gave direction on how to order the dish (minus the blue cheese, minus the candied walnuts, minus the flat bread. When my friend asked for the special menu for me, the server was quick to retrieve it and explained that Yard House is not a gluten-free restaurant, but this menu was created for those with a gluten sensitivity (hey…that’s me!), and while they can’t guarantee there is no cross-contamination, they can say that the options in the menu are catering to those with a gluten sensitivity and that if I had any questions to go ahead and ask. With that, he left us to look over the menu and make our decisions.
Heather went with a delicious looking Pepper Jack Burger. My friend Cathy went with her normal…fish and chips. Upon which Heather mentioned how fabulous the fries were at Yard House. Glancing around, I could see they were my favorite kind…shoestring fries. WIN!! So, after glancing over the gluten-sensitive menu, I had an idea of what I wanted. I ordered the Summer Salad (minus the candied walnuts) and asked for a side of the fries. The waiter said that the fries might be a problem for me, but he would check with the chef. Sure enough, he returned saying the fries were not considered gluten-free (which basically means, the fries share a frier with the breaded meats…therefore, they aren’t vegetarian either!) and made suggestions for other sides that I might prefer. After pondering, I finally decided to have vegetables with my vegetables, and got a side of their Steamed Vegetables. Not what I wanted, but I totally understood the precautions Yard House wanted to take to ensure a safe dining experience. And I appreciated that. To polish off my evening, I ordered a (gluten-free) Magners Cider to enjoy with my meal.
We carried on tons of conversation as we waited for food to arrive, and when it did, I could already tell it was going to be good. I chose the Summer Salad because it had strawberries in it (I believe my exact words were, “It has strawberries in it…therefore it wins!”). And I was disappointed with the initial look of the salad. It was a good entree-size salad consisting of romaine lettuce, strawberries, avocado, oranges, leeks, and topped with a delicious spiced balsamic vinaigrette. It looked amazing. The steamed vegetables were just what they sounded like…a bowl of vegetables that had been steamed, consisting of the standards: broccoli, carrots, red peppers, corn, and celery.
Yard House's side of Steamed Vegetables
I’ll start with the steamed vegetables. The safe-side for my food sensitivity…but definitely not what I wanted that night. It was your basic small side of vegetables, steamed to an al dente crisp. They weren’t seasoned, which I actually appreciated, as many restaurants over-salt or over season their sides of steamed vegetables. So, they were the way I eat them at home. I guess that’s what didn’t thrill me…I could eat them at home. But, they were good and a nice side for my veggie-loaded meal that night.
Now…the salad. As I said before…strawberries always win. I don’t know what it is about the combination of greens and strawberries, but it just WORKS for me. Every time. Which is why if a restaurant carries a salad with strawberries in it…I am going to end up ordering it…because it is always tangy and delicious. Yard House was no exception to this rule. The romaine was bright and crisp. The vegetables were sliced to perfection. The avocado…my newest obsession…was a nice addition. Oranges and strawberries gave the salad a citric flair. And it wasn’t heavily laden with the vinaigrette, as most restaurants tend to do. It was a perfect drizzle of the dressing, which had a hint of a spice to it, which just set off all the flavors. A perfect mishmash of ingredients and it ended up being the perfect salad. Just what I needed that night.
I applaud Yard House in the steps they are taking, not only to incorporate food for vegetarians/vegans, but also for those with a gluten-sensitivity. If more restaurants took this step, I’d have a lot more options out there. Granted, I was restricted to a salad because I am also a vegetarian, but, damn…it was one of the most amazing salads I have feasted on. I wouldn’t hesitate to return and order it again. I hope to do that again soon because it was delicious and fresh.
Yard House’s menu is quite varied and really does have a little of something for everyone. Including this gluten-sensitive vegetarian. Now that’s a win in my book.
Yard House's Summer Salad (minus the candied walnuts)
Sometimes…it’s hard to be on a gluten-free diet when you see everyone else around you diving into the pizza, pasta, bread. Sooner or later, it’s all you want. Unfortunately, where I live, gluten-free pizza is not something readily available. Sure, I can duck out to the grocery store and pick up a frozen Amy’s pizza with the gluten-free crust…but, let’s face it…nothing beats a fresh pizza. Frozen is good in a pinch, but fresh ingredients, fired in an oven, crust cooked to perfection…yeah…I’d been craving since I had to go gluten-free.
While planning a trip out of town to East Lansing, Michigan to see U2 in concert, I was busying myself with finding places to eat. After all, I love my food. And almost immediately, I discovered Guido’s Pizza.
I had been craving pizza. Absolutely craving it. So after I found the Website for Guido’s Gluten-Free Pizza, I knew this had to be where I ate before leaving the area. And my roommate agreed…so we made our plans. On our way out of town the day following the concert, we’d drop by for some gluten-free pizza and (yes!) gluten-free bread sticks to fortify ourselves for the long car trip back to Southern Indiana.
Holding true to our promise, as we left the hotel to head home, we detoured to Okemos, Michigan to indulge in some pizza. Guido’s Pizza was kind of hidden away, but it’s one of those gems worth searching for. As we entered the restaurant, I already felt the rush of excitement. Finally…pizza!
We glanced over the menu and discussed the pizza we would like to try and how exactly to get it made. Finally, we had our order prepared. One order of Gluten-Free Garlic Bread Sticks, and upon the recommendation of our cashier, we paired that with the garlic cheese dip. As for our pizza…we were on the fence over two of them, since I’m a vegetarian, but we finally decided to give the Gluten-Free Veggie Pizza a try. The toppings on this one included mushrooms, onions, green peppers, tomato slices…and should have had black olives on it, but neither my friend nor I liked those, so we had them leave it off. To top it off, we went with a non-dairy Daiya cheese. Before I even had my credit card out to pay for the order, the owner and head chef, Steve, ducked out of the kitchen to clarify…no dairy cheese on the pizza…but the garlic cheese dip was dairy. I explained that while I was lactose intolerant, I could take a lactase supplement. He felt comfortable with that and I told him I appreciated his concern and thanked him for checking.
With our meal now paid for, we went to take a seat at one of the tables in the dining room. It was just moments later that Steve emerged again from the kitchen. He asked if we were from the area. When we said we were visiting from out of town, he looked a bit disappointed, but there was this spark of excitement still. It was then that he asked us to follow him over to the next room because he wanted to show us something. We happily obliged.
As we stepped inside, I could see there was the beginning of something special going on. And after he flipped on the lights and had us step beyond the counter and into the kitchen, I understood his excitement. He was a week away from opening WOW (With Out Wheat), the nation’s first completely gluten-free deli. And he was giving us the grand tour! I was SO thrilled by this. He explained what kind of sandwiches would be offered, all made with local products (meats included), on homemade gluten-free breads. Steve showed me the grill these sandwiches would be made on, the frier that fries would be made in, the soup station, because soups can be tricky for people with a gluten-intolerance, but all of his would be safe. He showed us the freezer, asking if we both had a gluten intolerance. I said it was just me and he plucked out a chocolate cookie…made fresh by him…completely gluten-free. I took a bite…and it melted. IT MELTED!! Moist, rich, delicious…words that normally don’t accompany the words “gluten-free” by any means. But this was all of those things!
He pulled out a loaf of the bread that he was baking up for the deli and let me hold it. It wasn’t dense. It was light. And it felt like bread. It smelled like bread. And it was the ACTUAL size of bread! I love Udi’s bread as much as the next gluten-intolerant person, but it doesn’t make a very big sandwich! This would be actual sandwich size! I think I was beaming from ear-to-ear with all this information. As we stepped away from the kitchen and back around the counter, he explained there would be a coffee bar set up, pointing to a counter, as well as breakfast items, like gluten-free pancakes, gluten-free bagels, gluten-free cinnamon rolls…and I said I was sad that I didn’t live in the area, because I would be in every day.
A completely certified gluten-free kitchen…in the nation’s first completely gluten-free kitchen! He also said, once it opened, all the gluten-free pizza making would move to that side, but until then, he kept all of the items and cookware separate in the current shared kitchen at Guido’s. As we settled back into our seats, he said he’d hurry back and make our garlic bread sticks now.
As we waited, all I could talk about to my roommate was how exciting the deli was…and how I couldn’t wait to taste the food that Steve made for us here. I hoped it was good. I hoped it was beyond anything regular bread sticks and pizza could have offered.
Guido's Gluten-Free Garlic Bread Sticks with a side of Garlic Cheese Dip
It wasn’t too long before Steve emerged with a platter of our Gluten-Free Garlic Bread Sticks with a side of the garlic cheese dip. He set the plate down and disappeared for a moment with the scooper, only to return with a clean towel from the gluten-free deli, wiping it down very carefully right there so I could see him do it. He explained that he took extra precautions when it came to anyone who ordered gluten-free…and in the three years he’d offered gluten-free items in his restaurant, no one had ever gotten sick from any sort of cross-contamination! That’s a damn good record.
He went to go work on our pizza and my friend and I each dished ourselves up a slice of the bread. She gave me the honor of the first bite, so I took the bread, dipped it carefully into the garlic cheese dip…and for the first time in six months, I tasted real Italian-style bread sticks. I think my eyes rolled back in my head from the initial burst of flavor. These bread sticks had been cooked with Parmesan, romano and extra virgin olive oil. And they had so much flavor. They were crisp and hot and fresh. And the garlic butter…thank God for that cashier because she was right…the stuff should be a sin. It was some of the best topping I ever dipped bread in. And I’ve tried many a sauce and dip over my lifetime. NOTHING compared to this. And my friend agreed. As our pizza was delivered, we saved the extra cheese dip for the crusts, and she announced to Steve that the garlic cheese dip was “stupid good!” He took that as high praise and high-fived her.
The pizza he set down looked beyond fantastic. Once again, he hurried off to retrieve a fresh towel and began to wipe down the plates and the silverware, individually, before he handed them to us. With that, he said he hoped we enjoyed the meal and went to go see to the other orders from other patrons now coming in.
I dished each of us up our first slice of the Gluten-Free Veggie Pizza and took a deep breath. This…needed to be good for me. I’d waited this long to have a slice of pizza…I wanted it to be the epitome of every pizza I had ever tasted. Was it? It’s really hard to compare, but I will say this…Guido’s cooked up one hell of a gluten-free pizza. The crust was amazing. It tasted like pizza crust…it had a crunch like pizza crust. It wasn’t too heavy. And the toppings were fresh and done to perfection. This was also the first time I had Daiya cheese on anything, and while it didn’t look like much on the pizza itself…it was amazing. Tasted just like melted cheese on a pizza should taste…without actually being cheese! Should gluten-free pizza ever make its way into restaurants around here, the bar has been set pretty high as to what it needs to equal. Steve cooked up one hell of a delicious pizza. Bursting with flavor, every bite was an experience. And yes…the extra crusts were dipped into that garlic cheese dip. None of the pizza nor the bread sticks nor the dip went to waste. We stuffed ourselves silly…but it was the happiest I had been in a restaurant in a long time.
As we departed, I once again thanked Steve for everything…and now am searching for a reason to return to East Lansing so I can go back and check out the new deli. In fact, Guido’s Pizza has been renamed. The entire restaurant is called WOW (With Out Wheat), and I hope this is a concept that catches on throughout the nation. What Steve is doing for the gluten-free community is groundbreaking. I feel honored to not only have eaten his pizza, but to have gone behind the scenes of his visionary deli. If I lived up that way, I would totally work there!
I felt completely safe dining there and didn’t even worry about cross-contamination. Steve put any concerns to rest by wiping off plates and utensils in front of me, and explaining why he did that. I would recommend his restaurant to anyone. He has non-gluten-free stuff, but trust me…you’ll love the gluten-free stuff just as much.
This place is a diamond in the rough…a gem just waiting to be discovered. I’m so glad I stopped in for lunch that day. What I found was a competent restaurant owner and chef who took every step possible to make it a safe, satisfying, and fabulous dining experience. I can’t stress my satisfaction enough. Steve and Guido’s (now WOW) are both worthy of praise. And the food…well…the food is amazing. But you shouldn’t take my word for it. Go try it yourself…
…with a side of the garlic cheese dip!
Guido's Gluten-Free Veggie Pizza with Daiya Non-Dairy Cheese
My friend Jenn always has new restaurant ideas up her sleeve when I come into town to visit. Columbus, Ohio is a bustling city with many food choices. And while it can be a bit difficult for me to find something to eat, there is always a go-to plate or salad on a menu somewhere that is safe. Salad is always my fallback.
On my last trip into Columbus to see The Monkees in concert, my friends and I went out for a pre-concert meal at The Rusty Bucket in Bexley, Ohio. It’s a tavern of sorts, and I knew that fish and chips would purchased by at least one of my friends. After all…that’s her go-to meal. After perusing the menu, I decided on their Veggie Burger, which is a crispy black bean burger, served with Provolone cheese, roasted red pepper relish, romaine, and a lemon basil aioli. I ordered mine without the bun and the server asked if it was an allergy or a preference. I told him it was an allergy and he nodded his head and wrote that down. With our orders in, we set into discussing the excitement of the upcoming concert and then I excused myself to use the restroom. While I was gone, our waiter apparently repaid a visit to the table and inquired as to what exactly my food allergies were. My roommate was in our small group, so she took care of that explanation and upon my return, she informed me that she alerted the waiter that I had a gluten-intolerance. Nice of this place to ask to be on the safe side. No sooner had I retaken my seat, the waiter reappeared with a gluten-free menu and told me to choose another side item as he and the chef didn’t feel confident serving me the normal side of fries that come with the burgers. This, to me, meant the potatoes share a frier with the breaded fish and chicken, and therefore rendered them a problem for anyone with a gluten allergy (let’s not go into the fact that this would also make them non-vegetarian!). I was in the mood for a starch, and at the waiter’s suggestion, chose the mashers (mashed potatoes) instead. I thanked him profusely for checking and for ensuring my safety when it came to my food allergy. Bonus…I now know that the Rusty Bucket has a gluten-free menu should I return in the future.
Needless to say…I was impressed!
Food arrived shortly after and I was quite happy with the black bean burger at first glance. It looked perfectly cooked with the Provolone cheese melted down over it. The vegetables were tucked to the side for me to do with as I cared. And the mashed potatoes looked whipped up perfectly…light and fluffy. Just the way they should be.
I wasted no time digging into the meal. Chopping up the vegetables, I spread them out on my plate and then cut up the veggie burger into bite-size pieces, adding them to the bed of veggies. I dolloped a bit of the aoili (mayonnaise) onto the spread and took my first bite. The burger had a slight spice to it, which I loved. Black bean burgers totally need a kick of something to keep them from being bland, and this delivered that much needed punch to the flavor. The outside was crisped to perfection with the inside the perfect soft consistency you want with a black bean burger. Pairing it with the lettuce and peppers made the perfect conglomeration of flavors. In other words…it was yum!
The Rusty Bucket's Mashers
I sampled the mashed potatoes next and was so impressed with the texture of them, I had to share bites with my friends. Light, and whipped to perfection. You could tell they were made from real potatoes, without the heavy clumps (although I don’t mind those either!). Lightly seasoned, the mashers at the Rusty Bucket are the perfect substitute for the fries, if you are in the mood for potatoes. They aren’t overly salted, which I appreciated because I don’t salt my mashed potatoes at home and a lot of times restaurants overkill the salt on their sides of mashed potatoes. But these were pure perfection. A heavenly cloud of potato-bliss!
We polished off our plates and I made a point of once again thanking my waiter for double-checking on my food allergy before serving me something. Not many restaurants would do that. But since the Rusty Bucket has included a gluten-free menu into its line-up…well…no wonder they double-check on such things. I admire that in any restaurant and I hope more take that into consideration in the near future.
Amazing dining experience at the Rusty Bucket. The food was typical sports tavern fare, but done well. The added bit of security for me made this trip worth it. And I would be happy to return for another meal here anytime.
The Celiathlete 