On some very rare occasions, a product that arrives in my Cuisine Cube is actually something I am familiar with…or…perhaps…even might have tried before. When it comes to the Non-GMO Project cube, which arrived in October, I was actually surprised to encounter a brand that I had already tried. Albeit, this was not a flavor I had tried from this brand, but it is readily available at my local Whole Foods! Like I said…this doesn’t happen often…but sometimes it’s a comfort to find a small brand that you have familiarized yourself with before.
This product…was the Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Granola from Jessica’s Natural Foods. Jessica’s Natural Foods was started by Jessica Mindell, an avid baker with a background in engineering. Back in 2009, her husband discovered that he was gluten-intolerant and said that he missed oat-based granola. Once Mindell was able to find gluten-free oats and a certified gluten-free facility, she was able to launch her healthy, delicious granola. Since then, her bags of granola have expanded to over 25 states. Mindell’s passion for natural foods means that she always bakes with simple, pure ingredients and keeps health and nutrition at the forefront of her products.
Prior to this Cuisine Cube…I had picked up a pack of the Jessica’s Natural Foods Gluten-Free Pecan Almond Granola. My Cuisine Cube stepped it up a notch by including one of my most favorite things…chocolate! Chocolate chips to be exact.
With all the time that I’ve spent traveling and racing these past couple of months…and the holidays taking over life in general…I haven’t had much time to explore some items from some of my Cuisine Cubes. That being said, I’m making a push currently to polish off most of the products that have made a home in my pantry. I need to be more pro-active about these products…and that’s not a bad thing. It is definitely getting me to branch out and try some things I had been content to let sit for awhile.
This past week, after a long weekend away in Charleston, South Carolina (I was marathoning)…I was looking for a delicious, and more nutritious way to enjoy breakfast. I knew I had a few granola options tucked away on the top shelf of my kitchen pantry…so, I grabbed a stool (I’m short…I can’t help it!) and dug around. I had two to choose between and both sounded great. But the Jessica’s Natural Foods variety had one thing that won me over…
CHOCOLATE CHIPS!
Yep…the sweet-tooth, chocaholic emerged with a vengeance upon seeing that in the name. WIN! That morning, I darted out to the grocery store to pick up a few necessities that were needed for the coming week and ended up picking up a big container of Greek yogurt, some fresh organic blueberries, and a few other fruits and vegetables to use for the various meals I needed for the week. Breakfast…lunch…dinner. You name it. But, I hadn’t made many of my fruit & yogurt breakfast parfaits for a long while, and I knew this was a delicious and nutritious way to start the morning. With some granola at home, it was just a matter of choosing the fruit. I had thought to get strawberries, but the organic ones didn’t look too good. We are, after all, out of season. But, the blueberries looked big and ripe and therefore…came home with me. That morning, I assembled two breakfast parfaits, making use of the Jessica’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Granola, vanilla Greek yogurt, local honey, and the fresh organic blueberries. I just layer these up and top it off with more granola and…voila…breakfast was served.
Jessica’s Natural Foods gluten Free Chocolate Chip Granola is, without a doubt, one of the best granola’s I have had since going gluten-free. The gluten-free oats were toasted and golden to perfection. Adding to the sweetness were the melt-in-your-mouth bits of semi-sweet chocolate chips. It feels like you’re cheating, but in reality, you are eating something that is good for you. Mixing these delightful spoonfuls with a thick and delicious Greek yogurt and bursts of fresh fruit juice from the little blueberries…this made a perfect breakfast with each bite. The granola brought this fantastic and light texture to the entire dish. And, if left with a bag of this and no supervision, I could easily eat the entire bag in one sitting. The clusters with the chocolate were my favorite part as they would melt upon hitting my tongue. This made handfuls of this granola a great treat…if not addictive. Seriously…one of the best parts of any breakfast I have ever eaten in my entire life…this granola is amazing. And I don’t feel bad indulging in it, because the ingredients are natural and the nutritional information is rather good!
Granola can become a calorie-laden sugar-fest, so it’s always good to take a look at ingredients and nutritional information. For Jessica’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Granola…this is what the company strives for. The Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Granola is made from certified gluten-free rolled oats, semi-sweet chocolate chips, organic honey, brown sugar, expeller pressed sunflower oil, ground flax seed, coconut, maple syrup, pure vanilla extract, cinnamon, sea salt, tocopherols (natural vitamin E). This granola is free of cholesterol and trans fats. It is also gluten-free and non-GMO.
A serving of Jessica’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Granola is 1/4 cup. Trust me…this may not seem like much…but it is an amazing and filling 1/4 cup. Mmm…chocolate by the quarter-cup. In this serving, you will be consuming 130 calories and 6 grams of fat. Not bad for granola. Not at all. In this serving, you will also be taking in 30 mg sodium and only 7 grams of sugar. Yes…only 7 grams. That’s amazing. So often, the gluten-free granola I find is laden with heavy sugar. Not these. Naturally sweet more than anything. And finally, this 1/4 cup serving gives you 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein. Not too filling, but filling enough, especially when paired with nutrient dense Greek yogurt and fiber-filled fresh fruit.
Oh yes…it’s a rare thing when Cuisine Cube sends me something I am already familiar with, but in a way, it’s also quite satisfying. If you have yet to join the happy consumers of Cuisine Cube…just go over to their Web site and check out your options. Every month is like Christmas as you open up your box and discover what products have been selected for you. These monthly deliveries start at $29.99…and are so totally worth the investment. I have yet to regret making this choice to enjoy these monthly deliveries. Seriously…give it a month and you will want to keep going! It’s because of this service that I am able to try foods like Jessica’s Natural Foods, a less-processed and lesser-known product than some of the brand name gluten-free granola out on the market. I much prefer to support the smaller businesses who put a lot more thought and care into their products and the making of their products. I feel that way about Jessica’s Natural Foods…so check them out too! If you can’t find these bags of granola goodness at your Whole Foods…get online and place an order! Stop hesitating…and just do it!
As many of you know, back in May, I decided to give something new a try. With this step, I subscribed to this fantastic service called Cuisine Cube. With Cuisine Cube, you receive 5-6 gluten-free products from small and/or local businesses…those products and companies that you won’t find at your local grocery store. It’s amazing the food that I have discovered. And, the cube is generally well-rounded in that it includes an item for breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner and dessert. And then, sometimes…a bonus! And this service starts at $29.99, depending on how frequently you want this box of goodness delivered to your door. If you’ve been reading about it in my blog and putting it off, hesitant to try something like this out…just take action. I promise, you will not regret this purchase.
That being said, my life has been really busy as of late with so much traveling going on. I feel like I am rarely ever home. However, these past few weeks have given me the opportunity to work through some of the products from previous Cuisine Cubes that I didn’t have the chance to get to before. This has been quite an amazing couple of weeks.
Now, let’s ask a serious question here…
Who likes potato chips? Plain? Sweet potato? Lightly salted? Barbeque? You name it…but there is something so addictive and amazing about potato chips. From their light feel to their crispy and salty texture. Mmmm. They are the ultimate pig-out snack. And by that, I mean if you eat out of a bag, sometimes it is really hard to stop…and before you know it…the entire bag is gone. We’ve all been there and done that. Don’t worry…we’re human…and that’s normal. This is also why I do not ever eat out of a package anymore. I portion out things I could mindlessly eat…such as chips.
Back in October, when they mailed off the Non-GMO Project box, Cuisine Cube included a bag of Hardbite Handcrafted Lightly Salted Parsnip Chips, with the grand title of “Eat Your Parsnips.” I love chips made from parsnips. I often find gluten-free variety chip bags (like with beet chips, sweet potato chips, parsnip chips, and regular potato chips) and have always loved the little bit of extra flavor that parsnips bring to those mixes. But this bag…this bag was dedicated to the often misunderstood parsnip.
If you are unfamiliar with what a parsnip is…it is a root vegetable…resembling a cream-colored carrot. In fact…this vegetable is sort of a cross between a carrot and a potato, if that tells you anything. What the people at Hardbite did was reinvent the parsnip by turning it into a light and crunchy snack. I mean…who doesn’t like potato chips, right?
Well, a parsnip is different from a potato. It’s sweeter, for one thing. And that’s the first thing I noticed when I took my first bite into one of these long, lightly salted chips. The sweetness does take a moment to get used to, but, thankfully, the lightly salted exterior helps to tame it. Salty and sweet. Who doesn’t love that? In addition, these chips definitely bring the crunch factor. From a company that calls themselves “Hardbite,” I would expect nothing less. And, let’s be honest…it just sounds so much healthier to eat chips made from parsnips than from potatoes, yes? I mean, our starchy potatoes are amazing and wonderful…but they do get a bad rap. If you are a fan of light chips with a big crunch and a sweet and salty flavor…these are definitely for you.
Hardbite was founded by a potato farmer based out of British Columbia. In fact, this is the only potato chip manufacturing plant based out of British Columbia. It was founded 12 years ago when, Pete Schouten, the owner, founder, and a farmer was on a quest to perfect the potato chip. I know that doesn’t sound like much of a quest, but it was enough to get Schouten to start up Hardbite Potato Chips. When the opportunity arose, he grabbed at it and became an owner in this local company. It all started with a single frier and a desire to make the very best chip on the market. Hardbite is picky about what goes into their chips and make their chips with ingredients that are free from GMOs, trans fat, gluten and cholesterol. They use the finest and freshest ingredients and dress their different flavored chips with aromatic, natural seasonings. All chips are cooked in small batches to give Hardbite chips that defining crunch. The Hardbite product line now consists of seven unique flavors for all snacking occasions!
So…interested yet?
Let’s talk ingredients. The bag of Eat Your Parsnips…also known as Hardbite Handcrafted Lightly Salted Parsnip Chips…is made from parsnips, non-hydrogenated sunflower oil and/or non-hydrogenated canola oil, sea salt. Yes…that is really it as far as ingredients go. Three ingredients…big flavor.
As far as nutrition goes, a serving of Hardbite Handcrafted Lightly Salted Parsnip Chips is 28 grams (or about 16 chips). This serving will provide you with 120 calories and 13 grams of fat. In addition you will be consuming a light 105 mg sodium and only 1 gram of sugar. Finally, these chips give you 1 gram of fiber and less than 1 gram of protein. Not filling, but chips never are. They do make for a nice snack though in between meals…or paired with a veggie burger or sandwich, for sure.
Real ingredients…real attention to what goes into their food. This Canadian made chip is a healthy and great alternative to the standard potato chip. They can be a little sweet, but if you like that sort of thing, you will definitely fall in love with these chips. And if you are a sucker for a crunch…these definitely bring it.
Yet another brand I never would have even known about or tried if not for Cuisine Cube. Because of this monthly service, products like these chips from Hardbite, make their way to my kitchen and then…I can go and find out how to get more if they strike my fancy. Great service. Great products. Great food. Thank you, Cuisine Cube!
They are the meaning of life. Honestly. And finding a good gluten-free cookie is like finding a little slice of heaven. Awhile back, I raved and raved about how delicious (and affordable!) the original gluten-free Joe-Joe’s were. So, while we ducked into Trader Joe’s one morning before the holidays, Cathy spotted a box of regular Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s. After a “What is this shittery?” moment, the cookies were in the basket for her to have as one of her snacks during the work week. We then proceeded to pick up our usual Trader Joe’s purchases…gluten-free oats, two different kinds of peanut butter, and maybe something else…depends on the week.
As we were getting ready to leave, the roomie says the magic words to me:
“Go see if you can find the Dark Chocolate Covered Mint Espresso Beans.” Those are magical words, friends, because those little beans are my favorite thing in life. Sadly, Trader Joe’s did not have them this year. I cried. No really…I cried. But, my search for minty dark chocolate caffeinated pellets of awesomeness did not go unrewarded.
I spotted the box and had to stop…take a few steps back…blink…rub my eyes…and then pinch myself. YES! There, on this little shelf over some frozen food stuffs was a box of…Gluten-Free Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s. Like…like the ones Cathy was able to eat…except made for someone like me! Do you realize how weird it is to find flavored sandwich cookies? Trust me…it doesn’t happen often. I decided if I couldn’t have my minty and dark chocolate coated espresso beans…these would be a good substitute. I snagged the box and went skipping off to find the roomie.
And…we now each had a box of Trader Joe’s signature sandwich cookies…in holiday peppermint form. Yum yum.
Now, I know it’s almost the end of January, but the holidays are filled with goodies galore and getting to the splurge purchases sometimes doesn’t happen in a timely manner. Hey…it just means that the anticipation got to build for awhile. Granted, Cathy had her box long before I opened mine, and she said they tasted like fake mint. Which…is odd…as Trader Joe’s uses real crushed candy canes to get the candy cane flavor. She’s odd. Sometimes I think she has a hell of a palate and then other times she thinks banana tastes like cherries. I just don’t know…
But…as she preferred the gluten-free regular version of the Joe-Joe’s to the regular Joe-Joe’s…perhaps that would be the case here too. So, the other night…with dessert being needed…I grabbed this box out of the pantry and dished out two cookies to each of us…with a little cup of milk. Because…that’s how sandwich (or cream-filled) cookies should be eaten. And they should be dipped to the point of complete mush and then savored. YUM.
I handed hers over first and she took a bite, immediately saying how she hated fake peppermint flavor again. I sighed. But then she said that, once again, she preferred these to the regular version she had prior to this. Now it was my turn to see what I thought.
I settled in and took a bite without dipping it just to get the initial flavor. The chocolate gluten-free cookie was delicious and rich. And the filling…it was minty, but not overly so, but definitely minty. Even better, these are definitely stuffed with the cream filling. They definitely don’t skimp on that. I appreciate that…because if I am buying sandwich cookies, I want them to be filled. There were flecks of candy cane throughout the filling, giving it that flavor, which doesn’t overpower at all. And dipping these into a glass of almond milk…OMG…YUM! I am definitely loving the holidays this year…as they brought me a few new items to try…including these. Trader Joe’s does amazing things with their gluten-free line. And I continue to enjoy two cookies and a glass of milk after dinner each night.
Let’s look at the ingredients that go into Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s, shall we? These cookies are made from cane sugar, a grain blend (corn flour, rice flour, potato starch, corn starch, soy flour, potato flour, tapioca starch, xanthan and arabic gum, and carageenan), palm oil, cocoa powder, crushed candy canes, canola oil, invert syrup, egg white powder, natural flavors, baking soda sea salt, soy lecithin, and ammonium bicarbonate. These cookies are gluten-free, dairy-free, and cholesterol free.
As for nutrition, as far as cookies go, these aren’t bad. A serving of the Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s is 2 cookies. These two cookies will deliver 150 calories and 7 grams of fat. These cookies will give you 75 mg sodium and 13 grams of sugar. And, finally, these cookies will provide 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein.
I really appreciate it when a company takes the time to duplicate a regular product and make it gluten-free. I have yet to find a product in the Trader Joe’s gluten-free line up that I don’t like. These cookies are a delicious and minty treat, which normally I wouldn’t have the opportunity to enjoy. I wish these were around year round. But, you can bet that I’ll be looking for them next year.
Slightly North of Broad (S.N.O.B.), Charleston, South Carolina
Restaurant: Slightly North of Broad (S.N.O.B.), Charleston, South Carolina
With every marathon I run, there is also a celebratory meal. Usually it is on the same day of said race, but Charleston is an odd duck in that it’s marathon runs on Saturday. And we already had eating plans on Saturday. So, instead of changing everything around, we just decided to have the fancy, special meal on Sunday night. And, after scouring a list of places that Amanda sent me (all of which had gluten-free items), it came down to two options – Poogan’s Porch and Slightly North of Broad.
Cathy chose in the end…opting for Slightly North on Broad because of one item on the menu that caught her eye. This was fine with me…there was this amazing honey drizzled fruit plate dessert on their menu that sounded beyond amazing. So…when Amanda came over to help with the planning session…this was decided. And, to make the occasion even more special, Janet (Cathy & Amanda’s mom), offered to pay for our big meal out this trip.
The best part about where we were staying was that Slightly North of Broad (S.N.O.B.) was literally right across the street from the hotel. Seriously. So, this meant we could stay out and explore until we absolutely had to return to our rooms. Then, we could all clean up and head out to eat, then come back to change and go out for some more exploring! Of course, when Cathy chose this restaurant, we had no idea this was the case. Amanda enlightened us. Odd, how when it came to eats the only one we really ventured out further than the immediate area of our hotel was Brown Dog Deli. And we were over that way anyway as I was shopping for spices, tea, honey and other local goodies. HA!
So Sunday morning and afternoon was spent walking the streets and cemeteries of Charleston. Honestly, if you ever get to visit this amazing city…just walk it, duck into places, explore. You can take tours, yes, but sometimes it’s just fun to get out there and just find something that intrigues you. I was fortunate enough to have Richie and Amanda with me, to act as the local tour guides. They might as well be locals. They know where everything is…how to get there…and come to Charleston often enough it’s second hand. But, even if you aren’t traveling with your own walking guide books…try something new. We returned about an hour and a half before dinner so we could clean up and get ready to make the walk across the street. I took a shower and changed and then we met Amanda and Richie at their room before hoofing it over to S.N.O.B.
We only had a brief wait while they prepared our table for our 6:15 p.m. reservation. And once we were seated and water (and Coke for Richie) was poured, we were left to peruse our menus until our waitress came over to the table. We immediately informed her that I was a gluten free vegetarian, and she immediately opted up with the Vegetable Plate that they serve. She also said she could see what else could be done for me, but a big plate of seasonal and local vegetables sounded absolutely delicious to me. My decision was made. Now the rest of my dining party needed to ponder what they were going to have. The server gave us a few more minutes to decide.
So, let’s discuss S.N.O.B. here, while we are deciding on food, eh? Because this seems like as good a place as any. S.N.O.B. is described as “an eclectic Lowcountry bistro that brings together an abundance of local ingredients and thoughtful, expert presentation with a friendly, contagious energy.” In other words, very big on farm to table. Love that. They have a nice open kitchen, which I absolutely loved since I love being able to glance over and see what is being prepared as it is being prepared. The food they make is the product of the local farmers, fishermen, and producers. So…very Sean Brock. And I love Sean Brock. And if you don’t know who Sean Brock is…Google him now and learn! The setting is low-light, candles, white table cloth, and soft conversations. You get the sounds of the kitchen…the sizzles, the flames, the dishes clinking, all mixing with the pouring of wine and water, and the clink of silverware as it scrapes up that last bit of food from a pristine white plate. This is S.N.O.B.
So…there it is.
When our waitress returned we all had finally settled on what we were going to eat. Richie opted for the Pan Seared Duck Breast ($27.00), which includes savory blue cheese bread pudding, fig jam, Brussels sprouts, and a honey thyme reduction. He saw duck…he knew what he wanted. Amanda ordered the Grilled Pork Chop ($27.00), which is served with crispy confit potatoes, cabbage, and topped with a sorghum and whole grain mustard glaze. Cathy was the foodie of the group and wanted to try something more than just a large appetizer plate, so she did a medium plate with an appetizer, which is recommended on the menu. For her appetizer, she went with the Herb Crusted Eggplant ($12.00), which is topped off with buffalo mozzarella, green heirloom tomatoes, some sprouts, and pesto. For her entrée, she opted for the Carolina Quail ($16.00), which comes with braised greens, tasso cornbread stuffing, Muscadine glaze (that’s from a particular grape, FYI), and quail jus.
As for me…I did go with the Vegetable Plate ($20.00), which is described on the menu as being “a variety of the best vegetables we can find.” Hey…I’m a vegetarian. There are very few vegetables I don’t like. Very few. So…our order was in and we fell into the din of conversations, discussing everything from our events that day to the other people in the restaurant, to wine bottles we could see from our seats, to how much fun we were having. Lots of laughter and lots of fun going on.
Cathy’s appetizer was up first and we all cast out our appreciative ooohs and ahhhs at the tower of eggplant, cheese, tomatoes, and greens, all soaking in a small pool of pesto. She sliced into it, and said that the eggplant was actually really well cooked and that the cheese was amazing. However, as she went on eating, she got tired of the sprouts getting caught in her teeth, and eventually that herb crust got completely mushy with the mix of the eggplant juice, the pesto, and the juicy tomatoes on top. So, it started off really well…but in the end…all went to mush. She polished it off, save for those greens on top though.
A little after her plate was cleared away, the main courses arrived. Amanda had the largest pork chop I had ever seen in my life. It was only polished off with some help from Richie and Cathy. But…she did eat all her potatoes. Richie’s duck was cooked perfectly and I had never seen him clean a plate until this meal. Cathy was less impressed with her entree, finding her favorite part of the quail to be the pan seared area where it was crispy. She hated the greens with a passion (and she eats greens…I cook them at home). And her favorite part of the plate…the tasso corn bread. Everything else left her rather…unimpressed.
S.N.O.B.’s Vegetable Plate
As for me…when they said a plate of vegetables, they weren’t kidding. Upon further looking at the menu, what I have found is that this plate is a compilation of every vegetable in house and offered as a side on the menu. This plate was mounded high with high fiber vegetables that were cooked however the side was to be cooked, and paired with three different starches. It was beyond filling. This plate included grilled eggplant, heirloom tomatoes, green beans, portobello mushrooms, grilled okra (on the list of vegetables I hate with a passion, so these got left behind!), broccoli (with a sprinkle of Romano cheese), sautéed spinach, caramelized onions, caramelized Brussels sprouts, maverick potatoes, Charleston gold brown rice with some butternut squash, yellow grits (with cheese), some sprouts on top, and some sweet pepper jelly mixed in. The plate was a mish-mash of vegetables, no real plating flair…just piled high. In fact, I didn’t realize I had an heirloom tomato until I moved the eggplant. It was hidden below. That being said…the green beans were…well…green beans. I thought the potatoes were that weird overly-whipped consistency, and ate them by mixing them with one of the vegetables…like green beans or some eggplant just to give it a better texture. The spinach was delicious. I didn’t eat the okra because…GROSS. The eggplant was grilled and good enough…though a touch under-seasoned. The tomato was messy, but fresh and delicious. I love that little hit of sweetness. My favorite things on the plate were the grits, the Brussels sprouts, and the rice. All of which I saved for the last things I ate. And when I was done, I wasn’t sure if I was impressed or not…but it was a massive plate of food that was very filling indeed. I mean, I didn’t dislike it…it was just…okay. They definitely give you $20 worth of vegetables. All local and fresh…so I will give them credit for that.
Afterwards we were asked about desserts. I already had my heart set on something, even though I was filled up to the max. You only get to celebrate once, right? So…to hell with it…desserts all around.
Amanda and Richie decided to split the Crème Brûlée ($7.00), which was a creamy vanilla custard with caramelized brown sugar topping. Cathy went with the Vanilla Ice Cream with a Shortbread Cookie ($6.00) for her dessert. It also came dressed with fresh strawberries. As for me…I went with what caught my eye originally on the menu in the first place…the Fresh Fruit Plate ($7.50), which came drizzled with local honey.
Desserts are a must for me. I love trying desserts when I can. And fruit is one of my favorite desserts to polish off a meal with. The whole drizzled with local honey was an added bonus. Our desserts arrived. Richie had never had a Crème Brûlée before, so this was his first foray into that. Cathy’s ice cream looked fantastic and she crumbled the cookie over it and dove in, enjoying the fresh berries for that added bit of sweetness. My fruit plate consisted of grapes, strawberries, sliced apples, sliced bananas, spear slices, and chunks of fresh pineapple. All of it, as promised, was drizzled with local honey, adding to the sweetness of the plate. But it worked. I mean, it was a plate of fruit, but I couldn’t be happier with it. Everything was perfectly ripe, juicy, and amazing. Delicious and perfect way to end the meal.
While I certainly enjoyed my meal at S.N.O.B., when I return to Charleston next time, I will definitely investigate other options. I am happy for the experience, and loved the company, but the food was just okay to me. Maybe it’s my dietary restrictions…but I wasn’t overly impressed. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t dislike S.N.O.B. by any means. The food was cooked well and tasted good for the most part. But…there is so much more to taste in Charleston…so while the dinner was nice, I’m eager to go elsewhere next time.
Restaurant: Brown Dog Deli, Charleston, South Carolina
The Brown Dog Deli is definitely one of Charleston, South Carolina’s little gems. It’s definitely not your average deli…but it is serving up some fantastic food.
And if that doesn’t sound like an intro to Diner’s, Drive-In’s and Dives…I don’t know what does!
But let’s face it…I don’t sugarcoat things. And when I am told over and over again by my Charleston regulars, Amanda and Richie, that I must go eat at the Brown Dog Deli…well you bet your sweet tennis balls and Nylabones that I do. HA. Dog references FTW. Don’t you love it when I laugh at my own jokes?
With this in mind, and packed schedule on Saturday, we made the decision to hit up the Brown Dog Deli on Sunday morning/afternoon for an early lunch of sorts. And after wandering around downtown, hitting up the market, shopping, and just taking in some of the history and beauty of Charleston, we were ready to sit down to a light-ish lunch. We were doing dinner out that night, so we wanted to hit this up early. Naturally, this means we got there at noon. HAHA! But, it was okay.
This funky little diner is located on Broad Street in downtown Charleston, and everyone seems to love it. When we arrived, at around noon on-the-dot, we were greeted by a server and led to a booth. The place had a few other people in there, but it wasn’t hopping. Our server, Meredith, came over to get our drink orders. And Cathy went ahead and gave her the heads up on my food allergies and dietary restrictions. She immediately came back with the fact that they had gluten-free bread and wraps and that they had a separate vegetarian/vegan menu. She retrieved that for me and then filled our drink orders.
I originally was just going to get the Gluten-Free Hummus and Veggies Wrap ($6.95), which would have been a wrap made with roasted red pepper hummus, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, red onions, feta, sprouts and spinach. It sounded really good…but the more I looked over the menu and the more my friends were talking about all the different things they were getting (and with the sort-of exception of Cathy…it was something you could only get at this restaurant). So, I ended up changing my mind.
As it was Amanda got what she always gets at the Brown Dog Deli…the Mesquite Turkey Croissant Sandwich ($7.95), which is made up of brie cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, sprouts, red onions, and cranberry-pepper jelly, served on a croissant. It is her favorite thing on the menu. Richie’s favorite sandwich was no longer on the menu, so he decided to try something very different, the Apple “Butter” Jeans Sandwich ($7.95), which is composed of warm melted brie, sliced Granny Smith apples, local apple butter, fresh arugula, mesquite smoked turkey, honey ham, and prosciutto, served on a panini-pressed local French baguette.
Cathy really was interested in the chili that was being offered that day, so she decided she was going to do a cup of that. It was the Southwest Beef and Beer Chili ($3.95) and she opted to pair it with a Build-Your-Own Grilled Cheese ($5.95), selecting Yellow Cheddar, White American Mozzarella, and Goats Cheese as her three cheeses for the sandwich, and choosing to have all of that toasted up on Sourdough Bread.
As for me…I ditched the Hummus and Veggies Wrap and thought to do something I hadn’t seen on a menu anywhere else. I opted for the Gluten-Free Portobello Philly Sandwich…light on the cheese ($6.95). This sandwich was made up of marinated portobello mushrooms, sautéed with peppers and onions, Boar’s Head Vermont yellow cheddar and white American cheese. They had Udi’s bread, which they toasted up to help keep it from immediately falling apart with the wet ingredients.
There was no shortage of things to discuss while we waited on food, but when it arrived, I was so excited. Like I said, this restaurant came highly recommended…and it was now packed with a line waiting to get in. We had good timing. And when food did arrive at our table, I was definitely ready to dig into my sandwich.
So how was the Gluten Free Portobello Philly? It was fantastic. The marinated mushrooms gave this sandwich a “meaty” texture. And the onions and peppers were cooked to perfection…keeping them flavorful and crisp, but also cooking them down so they weren’t raw. They were fantastic. The bread did start to fall apart, but that’s the nature of gluten-free bread. Especially Udi’s. But, with that aside, they were good about keeping the cheese light, and it probably would have been just as fantastic without it on the sandwich. I thought everything was seasoned perfectly.
And I was not alone. Clean plates…that is what we left at the Brown Dog Deli. Cathy loved her soup, and would dip her sandwich into the thick and spicy soup. She raved about the creaminess of the cheeses in her sandwich and how they all, surprisingly, worked when put together. And Amanda and Richie both loved what they ordered. Especially Richie…who had to get something he had never had before. Lunch was later than planned, but a total success. And then, we all purchased matching shirts from the Brown Dog Deli as well.
SO. MUCH. LOVE.
Anyway…if I were to point out one restaurant to anyone wanting to eat the local fare in Charleston, South Carolina…this is the place I would send them. They work with dietary restrictions, they are careful, they create great food…and you will not regret any wait you might have to get a seat inside. It’s worth it.
Brown Dog Deli…I’m coming back next time I’m in that fine city. I can’t wait to try something else!
Brown Dog Deli’s Gluten Free Portobello Philly Sandwich
Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse and Seafood, Charleston, South Carolina
Restaurant: Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse and Seafood, Charleston, South Carolina
This past weekend, I found myself enjoying my time in South Carolina. Not just anywhere though…but the beautiful and historic city of Charleston. I was going there to run in the Charleston Marathon…and then explore with Cathy (my roommate), and my friends Amanda (roomie’s sister) and Richie (Amanda’s hubby). Now, I’ve never been to Charleston, South Carolina…but this is Amanda and Richie’s favorite place to spend their time. So when they have time…this is their stomping grounds. When they originally heard that I was running the Charleston Marathon, they were very helpful in suggesting things to do while in Charleston. And shortly after leaving their home, Richie called and said they just booked a room at the resort and would be going with us. I was elated. Nothing like going somewhere with people who know the city. I was so excited.
So, we arrived late on Friday night and had to do a bunch of pre-race stuff. Saturday I ran the marathon. Afterwards, I usually can’t stand to stomach anything for a little while. My insides are just all messed up. I mean, come on, running over 26.2 miles will do that to you. So, I went back to the hotel, showered, and then Amanda came over. We settled in as I gave some Greek yogurt a try (for the protein). That stayed down…so I knew I could safely do something for lunch…as long as it was easy to digest and not too heavy.
We had mentioned sushi…and that sounded like something I could handle. And, literally just across the street and up a block was the place we went for said sushi…Wasabi!
We stepped inside and were greeted by the hostess, who I think at the time was unwrapping a snack in the nearby closet. She apologized and picked up three menus, carrying them over to a booth near a window that overlooked the street. We settled into the table and began to peruse said menu. I am BIG on vegetarian sushi. Cathy…not liking much fish in sushi was also looking at vegetarian options. Amanda…she was just trying to decide on what classic roll to get. She’s the non-vegetarian traditionalist who isn’t afraid of some fish in her roll. I asked how many rolls we were getting. Amanda, the regular, said she usually got two. So, I began making decisions based off of that. But the more they talked, the more it sounded like everyone was getting one roll. And Cathy seemed interested in the same one as me. HA! Knew that was going to happen.
Then, Amanda came up with a great suggestion…we could all get one roll each and then split the roll Cathy wanted to try three ways. Amanda is brilliant like that, for real. So, when our waiter returned and was prepared to take our order, we had an idea of what we wanted.
Amanda chose between the two she was eying and ended up ordering the California Roll ($5.00). With the decision made to order an extra roll of the one I had my heart set on, Cathy went off the beaten path and ordered the Calamari Tempura Roll ($6.00). As for me…I went with the Avocado Maki Roll ($5.00). Then, we ordered a second Avocado Maki Roll to split between the three of us. Order was in…now we just sort of sat at our booth and talked about the city and what Amanda had in store for us.
Pretty soon, our sushi rolls were arriving. And we were more than happy to dig in. There was nothing stand-out or noteworthy of this sushi just looking at it. It was perfectly rolled nori, surrounding perfectly packed rice and our filling. Cathy commented that her calamari was giving her the finger…so she set out to devour it before it could insult her further. HA! That’s what happens when your food has appendages and the like. By the steady stream of “Mmmm”…we definitely enjoyed what we were having.
I must say…the 8 slices of the Avocado Maki Roll I had from Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse and Seafood were absolutely delicious. A little creamy with the fullness of the rice and the texture of the nori. Mmmm…seriously good. I topped each of my slices of with some of the pickled ginger and a touch of the wasabi offered on the side of the plate. It was sheer perfection in roll form. Honestly…amazing. I mean…nothing that any other good sushi place couldn’t do…but it had been forever since I had sushi…and this settled perfectly into my marathon stomach. Lots of flavor and great texture. The avocado was perfectly ripe. It was a heavenly slice of sushi roll for sure.
I was so happy with this place. Amanda had recommended it because it was gluten-free friendly. And it left me wanting to go back for more. I, sadly, didn’t have enough time this time around, but when I return…it will definitely be a stop. If you’re visiting Charleston, South Carolina…and you love sushi…go and try Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse and Seafood!! Simple food, but done really, really well!
Me crossing the finish line of the Charleston Marathon – Charleston, South Carolina
Race: Charleston Marathon
Place: Charleston, South Carolina
Date: January 17, 2015
Time:3:40:54
First race of the year. Why not make it a marathon, right? Right! Actually, I had this one on the radar since last year…so, I was very excited to finally register for it (which I did late…like in December…whoops!). I already had a place to stay (thanks Janet Dailey!) and two amazing tour guides (shout-out to Richie and Amanda!) who spend as much time as they can in Charleston, South Carolina, taking out any sort of travel apprehension because…they know everything! So things were definitely falling into place.
The only thing that wasn’t was, naturally, my foot. It had been doing so well, but the week before the race, my plantar fasciitis decided it wanted to flare up again. Not the foot that caused me issues this past summer. Original foot. The one with the plantar issue to begin with. I think I need to get some new shoes…because I have worn the hell out of both pairs that I am wearing currently.
Anyway, I’d continued to train, easing up on pace and doing my speed work slower. And it seemed that after the first two miles, it stopped hurting. I didn’t tempt fate though…just did what I could while maintaining my training. Foot was no bueno…but it wasn’t knocking me out. Nope. I could still run. Granted 7 treadmill miles is definitely different from 26.2 miles on the road (tready running is VERY different from road running…and I prefer the road!), but for now I’m keeping speed work inside on the treadmill. Most of my runs leading up to this marathon have been indoors due to the extreme cold. Call me a wimp, but once the temps fall below 20 degrees, I don’t consider it safe for my body to be out running, even if it is a couple of miles. My longest run leading into this race was back before Christmas…14 miles…after that, nothing went over 10. Not the best way to train, but I think subconsciously, I was ignoring the fact that I signed up for a marathon.
That’s what happens when you deal with a debilitating injury for 3 months. You get…a little nervous. Nevermind that I ran the TCS NYC Marathon back in November. I have a goal this year to make it out injury free. I’m doing what I can to maintain that goal. So, definitely under-trained for this one, for sure.
On Friday, I got up and did an easy 3-mile shakeout, still babying the foot. I wasn’t worried about speed. I went outside and just did 3 miles. Home, shower, breakfast, finish packing, and then Cathy and I went to work. We weren’t there long. Only for a few hours, to close out accounts and enter as much as we could before the clock hit 10:30 a.m. Then, we were out the door, to the bank, and then on the way to the Louisville airport. Parked the car, headed inside. I checked my bag, praying that it would get to Charleston as it had all my race gear in it (I know…never do that, but I had no choice!), and we got into the security line. I was randomly selected to do TSA Pre-Screen…which meant I got the shorter security line, didn’t have to take off my shoes, my hoodie, or remove my laptop from my backpack. LOVE IT! Cathy was not as fortunate, and it took her quite a bit longer to navigate the regular TSA security line. But, she eventually made it through. We got to our gate and she went to grab some loaded baked potato soup from Chili’s and grabbed me a fruit cup. We ate lunch and polished it all off just before we had to board the plane. Good timing! Our first stop was Atlanta…ugh. We were also boarding in Zone 3…and had a feeling Cathy would have to check her bag due to lack of overhead space. She did…but at least she got to do it for free. It would meet us in Charleston as well. With that done, we hopped on our flight and found our seats.
First stop…Atlanta. Very brief stop at that. We had long enough to get off the plane, go to the train, take it from A to B gates…find our gate…go to the bathroom…eat a snack bar…and then get ready to board. At least we had time for that. We took our seats, took flight…and read until we hit the runway at the Charleston International Airport. The airport was really small for being an international hub, but we made our way to Baggage Claim…got our luggage than headed to Enterprise for the rental car. Longest line ever. For real. It took us longer to get a rental car than it did to do anything else in any of the airports that day. None of the other car rental places had lines, but we had already reserved a car with Enterprise, and we trust Enterprise. So…we stuck it out. Finally, it was our turn and we ended up with a Hyundai Elantra. We went out to retrieve said car, piled our stuff inside, and made our way to Burke High School for the Health & Fitness Expo and Packet Pick-up. It took us about 15 minutes to navigate to the high school, following horrible Google Map directions. But, we made it…parked…and had to walk all the way around the building to get inside the area where the expo was being held.
That being said…we made it. I immediately headed over to the packet pickup for the full marathon. I got out my wallet to show my ID and was just asked for my bib number. This was sent to me via e-mail earlier and was really easy to remember. I replied with “Bib 113.” And they got it down from their system of hanging bibs and handed it to me. No ID check or anything. They said that the t-shirt and bag pick-up were across the auditorium. Awesome. I went down to the end of the table to scan my chip and ensure that it was, indeed, functioning. Then…off I went to retrieve my race shirt and bag. The bag only contained some pamphlets for local businesses and races. The shirt was white with a painting of Rainbow Row houses on it. Gorgeous. I tucked the shirt inside the bag and then went on the hunt for some GU. Luckily the Fleet Feet booth had some for sale, and I snagged 2 Strawberry Banana, 1 Triple Berry, and 1 Mandarin Orange. I had one with me in my luggage…so that would do. After I left, I spotted the rack of CEP Compression Gear…and had noted that I had forgotten my recovery socks…so I went to see if they had anything in my size. They had a pair of black and grey CEP socks…so I went back to the Fleet Feet booth and purchased those as well. HA! They were getting my money for sure. With that done, Cathy went to see where she could get shuttle tickets to get from the start to the finish and then from the finish back to the start (runners got to do this for free)…and I went in search of my NYC Marathon Hard Core Runner buddy, Jennie. We met up near the Community Coffee booth and had hugs all around and discussed how the weather would be chilly, but after NYC…eh…this was nothing. We talked about running, families, training, outfits, and even our injuries. She was doing a run/walk method due to an issue with her back. We hung around and talked and Cathy returned to steal my phone and place a delivery order with the Charleston Mellow Mushroom for a gluten-free and vegan Cosmic Karma pizza for that night. She returned and we talked a bit more with Jennie before we all said goodbye. Cathy and I needed to hit up the local grocery store (and race sponsor), Harris Teeter, for some things for the hotel room (fruit, water, yogurt) and then get to the hotel before the pizza did. So, we left the expo and then headed to the grocery store, following even worse Google Map directions. I got out my cell phone and directed her.
Me with Jennie at the Charleston Marathon Expo! So great to meet one of my Hard Core Runners!
We made it to the Harris Teeter and started loading up a basket with bananas, apples, Greek yogurt, water, and a Sprite Zero. After I run a marathon, it helps calm my stomach. It’s the only time I drink soda anymore. We checked out at the grocery store and hopped back into the car. And went the wrong way to the Lodge Alley Inn, where we were staying. So, we turned around, and just as we pulled up in front of the hotel on East Bay Street, Mellow Mushroom’s delivery guy called. He was outside of the hotel. I told him we just pulled up and he met me on the corner. We did some shady (not really) dealings and I gave him money and tip for the pizza and thanked him very much. Cathy wasn’t sure what to do with the car now that we were there and put on the blinkers and left me standing there with the pizza while she went inside. It took her about 5 minutes…and here I am with a car that was definitely not parked well and all that…just waiting. She returned, said we were good to go, and the valet met us with a cart to put our luggage and groceries on. He then took the keys and went with us up to our room on the third floor. We got inside…got things put down…and gave the valet a tip. He left to go park the car after unloading our stuff. And I put away what needed to go in the fridge. Then, as it was nearing 7 p.m…I said, “Can we eat pizza now? It’s getting SO late.” I don’t like to eat too late when I have a race. I like everything to be digested. So, we went into the living room, turned on Diners, Drive-In’s & Dives, and dove into the pizza. I think I devoured it in record time. It is so much better at the restaurant. With it getting a little cooled off on the delivery and the wait for the room, the crust got a little soggy. MEH. Oh well…I ate it. Fuel for the following morning.
Cathy’s sister and brother-in-law, Amanda and Richie, stopped by after we finished eating to make sure we were settled in. We stood around and talked for awhile, but Amanda said she knew we had an early morning. She said she would try to make it down to the finish, but no promises. I told her no worries either way. Hugs all around and promises of lots of site seeing after I ran. I went to brush my teeth and get into my pajamas so I could climb into bed and zonk out for the night. I didn’t sleep well that night. I kept worrying that the two alarms I set to wake me up for the race wouldn’t go off. And, at some point, Cathy had gotten out of her bed and turned the clock down because it “emitted too much light.” So, as I was tossing and turning, I went to check the time and couldn’t find it. I thought she unplugged it and was now pissed because I couldn’t reassure myself that I wouldn’t oversleep. UGH! The alarm went off a bit later…I got up…did my usual first alarm stuff…then climbed back into bed for less than an hour. More tossing and turning. Second alarm. Up to change and get ready for the race. I never felt so tired and unenthusiastic in my life. I grumbled a bit at her after I woke her up so she could get ready about the clock thing. The next few nights, the clock was left untouched.
We were up…and I ate my serving of cereal, as I often due on race morning. She had a breakfast bar. I filled up my water bottles with my water and electrolyte drinks, tucked my GU packets into pockets, and got pinned up with my race bib. It was 36 degrees that morning and I went back and forth on wearing a tank top or a short sleeve shirt. Given it was in the 30s, I opted for the shirt. I made sure my anklet with wings on it that my mom and dad got me for Christmas was on my ankle, then put on my hat, gloves, and coat. I was as ready as I was going to be. Grabbing two bananas for the road, we headed out. The valet had our car ready and we got inside, heading off to the start line, near where packet pickup was at Burke High School. We parked in one of the nearby parking lots with over an hour in time to spare, so I leaned the seat back and took a nap. Seriously. I was grumpy and tired and my foot had been bugging me slightly, so I said, “Screw it…I’m napping.”
Me taking a nap before the Charleston Marathon
No argument from Cathy, although she took a picture on my phone and put it up on Facebook. HA! She made me open my eyes around 7:15 to get out, stretch, eat my banana, and get acclimated. So…I reluctantly peeled myself out of the car. It was chilly, but not too bad. I walked over to the starting area where runners for both the marathon and half marathon were clustering. Some were being interviewed on camera. Some were talking with friends. I handed Cathy my banana and did some actual stretching. Especially with the foot…although it really didn’t help. Meh. Then, at about 7:30, I ate my banana and then continued to stretch until I decided I was done with that. We then looked around at all the runners, noting that most of them were doing the half marathon. I saw some great running tights that I now need to find and purchase for myself. And I noticed a guy near where I was standing who was going to go running in…sandals. Ouch. But, hey, to each their own.
The announcer said we were getting close to go time and that there were 49 states and 7 countries. The holdout state who didn’t show up…Hawaii. Naturally. Cathy said she was going to go get her spot to watch the start…so she wished me luck and I went to move further back into the pack. My goal for this race was to run it smart, run what I felt, and to run the entire way. With the foot acting up as of late though, I wasn’t sure how much of this I could accomplish. In the end, it’s just about crossing that finish line. No time goal for me…just to run well. I was also dedicating this race to a friend of mine, who I won’t list by name, but simply call her out by her first initial – N – who is going through a rough patch and I wanted to just run this for her.
The Charleston Marathon benefits the arts, so two students of a local school of the arts beautifully sang the National Anthem. And, moments after that…we were told to get ready…and GO!
We were off!
I started my Garmin as I crossed the start line, flashed a wave at Cathy as I ran by, and joined the very crowded start for an easy pace. It had to be an easy pace…which was good. Everything at the start was just crowded with both the marathon and half marathon runners, that it was just a slow start. Perfect. This kept me from going out too fast.
And that sort of set the pace (literally) for the remainder of the race. With one little glitch. After perfectly hitting that first mile, something went wrong. My watch beeped heading into Mile 2…and it was .25 miles further down the road that the mile marker stood. Um…perhaps they were getting a perfect 26 mile marking? I was trying to figure it out, but my brain wasn’t wrapping around it. Ah well…sometimes this happens and it fixes itself later on. I just kept on going. Miles 2 – 3 were spent on the beautiful coat line, with the palmeto trees, the battery, and the gorgeous mansion houses. I was just loving the scenery. Beautiful morning and a beautiful run.
Miles 3 – 9 were all spent on King Street. The first part of King Street being the shops and stores that you would find around most downtowns. There were clutches of people there to cheer on runners. I even noticed a Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams shop just before my watch beeped to Mile 5. I love Jeni’s…
Ahem.
The other half of King Street was more industrial and a lot quieter. Once all the people and the shops were passed…and the houses gone…there was only the industrial district. Granted, there were race volunteers, police, and even entertainment scattered throughout, but much of this was definitely out of the way and going to be a bit of a lull in the small crowd that had been spectating before.
Just before Mile 10 there was the split for the half marathon and full marathon happened. This was slightly confusing as the race official said, “Split after the water station.” It meant…right after the water station. I was running along and both half and full marathoners were weaving over to get the water/Gatorade…and quite a few of us thought that the turn was up ahead where the half marathon continued on. But a race volunteer saw my yellow bib and said, “Full marathon turn here…RIGHT HERE!” Sharp pivot and off I went in the correct direction where some orange cones were set up. This was sort of a gravely area that gave way to broken pavement and then made a bit of a turn to an area that was an old Navy base. It was really fun to run in an area where all the signs said that proper identification was needed to enter. HA! This section of the run was pretty brutal…just because there was no one out there. Up until you make a turn to head out to Cooper River Marina. There was a group of cheerleaders out there as you headed onto the marina. This section was hard because about 3/4 of the way up the marina, there was a sign that had you turn around. Pinpoint turn. One of those turns my friend, Natalie, hates. I hate them too. This totally messed with the cadence and pace I had at the time, but I turned…and then took back off the other way. As we came off the marina, our time chips were read off. This was supposed to be around Mile 11.9…but as we know…I was ahead of the mile markers.
As I was around my halfway point, I saw Jennie, heading toward the old Navy base where I had just come from. We high-fived as we passed and I told her she was doing great. She was. And I hoped I would get to see her at another point. With this being said, let me point out that at this point, we have runners running one way and then the other way…in the same area…without cones up to keep the groups apart. In straightaways, like this part…it was fine. But when you’re trying to make turns on the tangents…this made for a right mess. Seriously. You had runners going opposite ways trying to occupy the same area. It was messy. Just before my watch beeped for Mile 15, we rejoined the half marathon route and headed up towards North Charleston.
Me heading into Mile 18 of the Charleston Marathon – Charleston, South Carolina
Just before Mile 16, we branch off once again from the half marathon runners. The half marathon runners kept going straight. The marathon runners turned left onto McMillan Avenue. Now, Cathy had said she was going to try to catch me somewhere between Mile 17 and Mile 18…so I started looking for her as my watch hit Mile 17…and then further up the road…the Mile 17 marker was standing. There were a few clumps of people here and there…but not many. But as I was heading into Mile 18, there she was…under a bridge with a small clump of people. She started yelling, “GO TWIN! GO MY SON!” It was awesome. As she snapped a picture, I flashed some thumbs up and she said, “Come on…look happy!” LOL!! But, it turned out to be a great photo. And as I was heading out she shouted, “SEE YOU AT THE FINISH!”
So started the miles of looping through neighborhoods and schools. No…seriously. It was just this back and forth through turns and twists and it was just mind boggling. As I was heading into Mile 19, I saw runners come back my way, which meant…more doubling back was ahead. I heard the photographers complaining about having a race that criss-crosses like this. And I totally saw the validity in their point. It just became chaotic at points with runners occupying the same space, once again, going different directions. So, we wound up and around these roundabouts, of what I think they call Park Circle. As the miles ticked down, we ran past Academic Magnet School. So many twists and turns and out and backs. It was dizzying. Thank goodness for the arrows to direct us the correct way.
It was about Mile 22 that my pace started to slow. And it wasn’t that I was tired. It was that my foot started to act up. It had behaved for the most part all the way up to that point, but now each step was starting to hurt. I wasn’t going to give up. I was four miles away and hadn’t walked yet. I was doing this thing. So, I gritted my teeth, literally, and just focused on getting to that finish line. Mile 23 was much the same, and I eased up a bit more. Mile 24 felt like it had a bit of a downhill to it, but I slowed up some more, while still keeping with my plan to run the entire race. The course turns back toward the old Navy base and to the Noisette Park. This area was stunning, with views of the Cooper River, huge houses, the old base, etc. We were back on the same course as the half marathon runners. And there were a few still out there. Two miles. I told myself two miles.
Before I knew it, I was making a turn and being told that I had one more turn ahead to the finish. My watch had long since beeped Mile 26. I had no idea how much further I had to go, but I knew I had to be almost to the finish line, which was located in front of North Charleston High School. There was a definite crowd down here. And as I spotted one more final turn, I saw Cathy right on the corner, screaming for me to GO! I dug deep, and pushed it. That finish line was right ahead. And as I crossed that finish line, I threw my arms up in the air and just…took in the moment. I had finished my 9th marathon! Charleston Marathon…done. I paused my Garmin and moved through the chute to obtain my medal. I grabbed some water and made a turn and saw Cathy heading my way. She gave me a hug and told me how well I did. I told her I was hurting really bad. But…I felt good. I checked my Garmin…26.69 miles it said.
We meandered out of the crowd toward where the after party was happening. Runners were given free beer (not my thing…for obvious reasons) and free shrimp and grits (also not my thing, for obvious reasons). I went to go elevate my feet and call my mom and dad to tell them how I did…but as we were heading that way, I said we needed to get my official time at the results booth. We doubled back a little and went to do just that.
And there it was…3:40:54.
Me after finishing the Charleston Marathon – Charleston, South Carolina
BRILLIANT! I couldn’t believe it. I was so happy with the time for my first Ultra Marathon (HAHAHA!). Well, it was my first marathon I went into feeling semi-ready. The only problem was my nagging plantar fasciitis, which I only aggravated in those last 4 miles. But hitting that finish line still feeling strong was an amazing feeling. With my official results now listed, I went to get my feet up and call my parents. Cathy went to claim the free shrimp and grits, which she said were watery and not all that good. She picked out the shrimp and ditched the rest. After I got off the phone with my parents, I was ready to head out. Amanda hadn’t made it to the finish…but after a shower and a change of clothes, we were all heading out for some sushi and then sight seeing. So, Cathy and I hopped onto the shuttle bus to go back to the start where the car was parked. I was moving slow, each step a little painful. But we got on the bus and found a seat. We were near the emergency exit and when we sat down, the seat pretty much sank. Leave it to us. Also, apparently after hitting a hard bump, the lever lifted up on the emergency door and the buzzer and alarm started sounding. Cathy managed to get that turned off eventually.
We were returned to the start line and I hobbled with Cathy’s help back to the car. I settled in, turned on the heat, and she drove us back to the hotel. I got cleaned up, Amanda came over, and we went out for the rest of the day. It was an amazing day. I couldn’t have asked for a better time.
So, the official results of the Charleston Marathon are that I ran 26.69 miles in 3:40:54. I was 112/1230 finishers over all. I was 26/580 females to cross the line. And I was 10/464 in my age division. I am over-the-moon with these results. I felt so good (save for the last four miles) for this entire race. And I feel it’s because I’ve taken a step back on the intensity of my training. I am resting and recovering better. It’s been awhile since I felt I could even do that. It was a great confidence booster.
Later, it came out that the lead vehicle took a wrong turn after Mile 1 and that’s what tacked on the extra .25 miles to the race. The race directors at the Charleston Marathon are remeasuring the race and adjusting everyone’s time to the 26.2 miles. But that might not happen until next week. So stay tuned for a new official time. Regardless…I’m damn proud of my performance and how I did on this run. Long, slow distance. Gorgeous scenery. Not perfect…but not bad either. It was great to run in Charleston. What a fantastic way to explore this historic city.
And N…(you know who you are!)…this one was for you!
Product: Modern Oats Apple Walnut Oatmeal – $3.50+
It feels like a frozen tundra outside, so my favorite things to eat right now are warm, hearty, and comforting. This includes casseroles, soups, and yes…oatmeal. And while I’ve been preparing refrigerated overnight oats since…the weather warmed up, I guess…when the windchill dips down and makes the air hurt my face, the last thing I want is cold meal. I don’t mind…but once I’m chilled, I’m chilled to the bone. So something that is warming is always welcome.
And, it seems like I’m on a current oatmeal kick. And who, honestly, can blame me. There is nothing better in life than a steaming bowl of gluten-free oatmeal. I’ll take it flavored or plain or with fruit or nuts or however. As long as it tastes good, you have won me over. Seriously. Growing up I hated oatmeal. I think it was a texture thing…and the fact that my dad would overcook it so it got lumpy and just…meh. And I upheld that I disliked oatmeal up until a few years ago. I started bringing in little packets with me to work for lunch. They were perfect. And they weren’t all bad. Some where. I won’t lie. But I discovered some that were actually rather tasty.
And then…BAM…the diagnosis of being a Celiac. I could find gluten-free oatmeal at my natural food stores…but I was having a hard time finding decent ones that wouldn’t break my already very fragile (and about to get more expensive) budget. I purchased some, for sure, but eventually just moved onto making overnight oats with almond milk, gluten-free rolled oats, chia seeds, honey, fruit, cinnamon and Greek yogurt. It was easy to make and really tasty. But, when winter kicks you in the teeth…you fight back with heat, yes? I know I do.
Back in August, my Cuisine Cube featured quite a few products that I’m still getting to try. I travel a lot, so sometimes this means things get put into my pantry and I get to them…when I get to them. And as I am sent a new box of goodies each month by Cuisine Cube…I sometimes get a bit backlogged. But…this is not a complaint. I always get to a product in the end. I know I’ve talked a lot recently about Cuisine Cube, but let me share some more with why I love this service so much. For a small fee (ranging from $34.99 (1 month) to $29.99 (six months)), a perfect cube filled with small business and lesser-known gluten-free products will be delivered to your door. It’s yours to enjoy and then…do all over again the following month. I love this because it is giving me the opportunity to try products and brands that I never heard of or would know about otherwise. Sometimes the items come from local bakeries…and sometimes they might be something you have seen at a natural food store, but isn’t a widespread gluten-free corporate giant for sure. It’s nice to try full-size (not sample sizes) products that are new to me or that I am unfamiliar with. Every month, it’s like Christmas all over again. At least 5-6 products in every Cube…and I never know what to expect inside.
I was very lucky to have not gotten through some items I received back in August because it meant with the cooler weather, I now had a warm treat for lunch. And that treat was Modern Oats Apple Walnut Oatmeal. I was not familiar at all with Modern Oats, so I was pretty excited to have a new gluten-free oatmeal to try. Modern Oats was founded in 2013 with the simple goal of changing people’s perception of ‘old fashioned’ oatmeal. You know…people like me…who either disliked or felt that oatmeal was boring. They decided to only work with small farm, non-GMO, gluten-free rolled oats. They next began to craft artisanal, delicious blends of fruits, nuts and seeds to produce the perfect, healthy, modern meal that can be enjoyed anytime…anywhere. It’s a modern take on fast food…only better for you!
Modern Oats offers six varieties of their oatmeal. The Cuisine Cube contained a single container of the Modern Oats Apple Walnut Oatmeal. I love everything about this flavor. I love apples. I love walnuts. Therefore…this should be a WIN with me, yes?! Well…only one way to find out.
It’s Thursday and I’m rushing to get things done at the office before heading to Charleston, South Carolina this weekend. YAY!! Vacation. A very short vacation, but a vacation. The more I can be at my desk, working on what needs to be done, the better. And the easy and quick preparation for this oatmeal definitely made it the best thing to bring with me this week. Nothing could be easier. Give the little container a shake, then pour boiling water over all the oats so they are covered. Then, cover the container and allow it to sit for 3 minutes. Uncover, stir, and devour. Easy-peasy! And quick. I let mine steep and cook up while I got some work done. And when the three minute time window was up…it was lunch time. Sort of. I might have added too much water…so I let it sit for another 2 minutes. THEN…it was lunch time.
One bite. And at first…I wasn’t too sure. What I did notice was that it wasn’t abundantly sweet, despite containing 17 grams of sugar. I’m assuming that some of that is the dried fruit. At least…that’s what I am hoping. On my second bite…I got it. I mean, I really got it. I had a little bit of everything. The oats…the nuts…the seeds…the fruit…it was one magical bite. I loved the different textures that were prevelant throughout the entire container. This made each bite different from the one that came before it. And that, my friends, is a fantastic thing. I love that it wasn’t too sweet…nor was it bland. And the best part was…it didn’t turn to mush. Not at all. The oats stayed al dente…in a good way…the nuts and fruits brought their own flavors and textures…and it was just one great bite after another. I ended up eating this way faster than I usually would. I liked it. I liked it a lot. I’m even happy to overlook the astounding (for oatmeal) calorie count, under the impression that much of that comes from the naturally good for you seeds and nuts that are inside. Oh yeah…this was a big win! And SO easy to make too! Shake, pour, wait, devour!
Let’s discuss what goes into Modern Oats Apple Walnut Oatmeal. This oatmeal is made from certified gluten-free whole grain rolled oats, organic cane sugar, walnuts, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, dried apples, golden raisins, chia seeds, cinnamon, and natural flavors. Real ingredients. And while the second ingredient is sugar…not bad as to what all goes into it. And, as a bonus, these ingredients are non-GMO. This oatmeal, in addition to being gluten-free, is also cholesterol free and sodium free.
As for nutritional information, I will preface this by saying I was a little reluctant to dive into a small container that would give me over 300 calories for my lunch. I’m not used to that. But, I had to tell myself to remember that what I am eating is all-natural and real food. A lot of these calories were coming from healthy ingredients, like the seeds, fruits, and nuts. So…with that in mind, I hesitated no longer. A serving of the Modern Oats Apple Walnut Oatmeal is 1 container. This serving provides you with 310 calories and 7 grams of fat. Much of that fat content will be the naturally healthy kind that you find in nuts. This serving, however, does dish up a whopping 17 grams of sugar. YIKES! I’m trying to cut back on my sugar intake, so I’m chalking this figure up to the dried fruits…despite that second ingredient being organic cane sugar. I am thinking positively. One container of these oats will also serve up 7 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein. Oh yeah…you’ll definitely feel full after eating this!
For the record, of the six flavors (Apple Walnut, 5 Berry, Goji Blueberry, Mango Blackberry, Chocolate Cherry, and Nuts and Seeds), the calories range between 250-310, depending on the variety you choose to feast on.
I love finding out what products Cuisine Cube has discovered and decided were worth to share with those of us who subscribe. This little container from Modern Oats boasted big flavors and big promise. It is one mighty meal indeed, and you will feel satiated and warmed all the way through. Nicely done, Cuisine Cube. Now, I have yet another gluten-free oatmeal option…and that is no bad thing! If you can’t find Modern Oats at any of your local stores, you can certainly order online!
Product: Love Grown Foods Strawberry Raspberry Hot Oats – $1.50+
Another day has dawned, and in true fashion, I am having oatmeal for lunch. Like I said, not a workday goes by where I don’t enjoy oats in some way, shape or form for my lunch. Normally it’s in the form of overnight oats, but I’m working on a strict budget while I pay off the holidays…and I have plenty of goodies stashed in my pantry that have been just…waiting…and waiting for their turn to be consumed.
That week has arrived as I’m not only on a tight budget, but I’m heading out of town. Therefore…it’s the perfect week to try new things, yes? Because nothing adds stress to preparing for a trip like…loading up the blog! HA!
Ah…in the end, it’s worth it. I’m just hoping I can maintain the momentum and stay caught up. We shall see.
All of that being said, it’s Wednesday…and it’s lunch time. Instead of a package of my usual Chex Gluten Free Oatmeal (hey…it is always on sale!), I’m pulling out the other options from the top shelf of the pantry. And up today…none other than Love Grown Foods Strawberry Raspberry Hot Oats.
I’m not going to lie…I sort of wish I had saved the Peach Almond Vanilla version I hate yesterday for today…because it has become my absolute favorite oatmeal…ever…of any brand…of any type…as of yesterday. I was beyond impressed and wowed by it. But, I also love berries, so I’m holding the Love Grown Foods Strawberry Raspberry Hot Oats to live up to it’s predecessor. I have no doubt it will wow me. I have yet to find something from Love Grown Foods that hasn’t done just that.
Preparation is super easy. Everything I did yesterday, I repeated today. At lunch, I pulled out the little container of oatmeal and removed the lid and the seal. I then added water up to the fill line (which…is located on the outside of the container, not the inside, which means I do a lot of guessing…but it’s worked out thus far) and gave it a stir. Into the microwave it went for 70 seconds. It says to microwave for a minute and then add on 10-20 seconds for a thicker oatmeal. I split the difference. Another stir and then I let it stand for…about a minute. It absorbs everything in the 1-2 minutes it sits…and believe me…I wanted to let it sit for 2 minutes, but I was hungry and it smelled so good.
Berries and oatmeal are BFFs. Seriously. I have never turned my nose up at any oatmeal that included either dried or fresh fruits. The hit of sweetness just meshes beautifully with the savory, rich oats. And, for that reason, I know that this little container was going to be amazing. I was right. I sort of wish I had saved the Peach Almond Vanilla one for today though…because this one just doesn’t quite equal the one I devoured yesterday for breakfast. But now I’m comparing different flavors and that’s not fair. Because this is a classic (and highly) delicious paring. I love how sweet the berries are…strawberries and raspberries offer up a natural sweetness and then…this little hint of cinnamon follows up each spoonful. It’s refreshing and warm and hearty and filling and just…perfection. Seriously. I loved how thick this oatmeal is because it does fill me up. I don’t feel hungry for much of the rest of the day. It’s amazing. Most oatmeal doesn’t come close to accomplishing that at all. I have nothing but love for Love Grown Foods and their little containers of Hot Oats. If you love fruit and berries as much as me…then this one is totally for you!
Let’s discuss ingredients, shall we? The Love Grown Foods Strawberry Raspberry Hot Oats are made from gluten-free oats, brown sugar, freeze-dried raspberries, freeze-dried strawberries, and cinnamon. Loving the small ingredient list for sure. These oats are also cholesterol free, gluten free and non-GMO.
As for nutrition, a serving of the Love Grown Foods Strawberry Raspberry Hot Oats is one container. This serving will dish up 230 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. This is actually higher than most the the oatmeal I consume, calorie-wise, but it really isn’t bad for the amount of oats you actually cook up. A serving will also give you 0 mg sodium and 12 grams of sugar. Much of the sugar seems to be due to the dried fruits, which is fine. And, trust me, these hot oats will fill you up because they pack a whopping 5 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein! Talk about loving it!
One thing I love about Love Grown Foods is not only their passion for their ingredients and their products, but their mission to create delicious foods that are packed with nutritional benefits and available to everyone. They have made it a point to educate not only children, but also parents and teachers on the importance of eating healthy. That’s why, Love Grown Foods keeps ingredients simple, flavors elevated, and their products healthy. They have a fantastic line of granola (or oat clusters…which I LOVE…and, yes, I have tried them all!), Super Oats (I haven’t tried these yet…but want to!), and Power O’s (breakfast cereals…which I also haven’t tried yet, but certainly want to!). With all of these options, it’s hard to make excuses for not having a filling, healthy breakfast (or lunch…or dinner!).
Love Grown Foods is definitely doing something right. It’s rare for me to LOVE everything that I try from a company, but, seriously, they keep hitting it out of the park. Not only do their products fill me up physically, but they are nutritious and healthy, and I love that. I love feeling good about the food I am eating. I can’t wait to try the products I either haven’t purchased yet or discovered yet. And…I still have one more flavor of the Hot Oats to try (Apple Cinnamon), as soon as I pick it up from the grocery store!
And trust me…that’s happening for sure!! DELICIOUS!
Love Grown Foods Strawberry Raspberry Hot Oats (prepared)
It’s been a busy week for me as I’ve been working my way through some products that I had set aside and hadn’t managed to get to as of yet. But, that all changed…because I’m trying to be better about using the items in my pantry/freezer/refrigerator. It’s part of my New Years resolutions…to be better about keeping my life organized.
As I’ve mentioned numerous times before, I subscribe to this great service known as Cuisine Cube. Each month, I am sent a fantastic box of gluten-free goodies (one item for breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, and dessert, with an occasional bonus item) that I can enjoy over the rest of the month as I await the following month’s cube. It’s a fantastic service and I’m glad I discovered it and decided to sign up. Trust me, this is definitely worth the small fee because I am introduced to some really fantastic products I never would have known existed otherwise.
And, true to form, my September Cuisine Cube had in it quite a few items I wasn’t familiar with. And in the snack slot…chips. Not just any chips though. Nope. Packed into my cube was a bag of Wai Lana Natural Cassava Chips. Wai Lana…never even heard of this company. So, I had to get online and look them up. The slogan of Wai Lana is “Where healthy living comes naturally.” I like what I’m hearing already. Wai Lana is actually a person, a yoga advocate who is also a highly energetic and prolific artist. She is one of the best known yoga instructors in the world. For over twenty years, she has also been a vegetarian and an advocate for good health, preparing both recipes and cookbooks. Recently she expanded her growing empire to produce a high-quality line of natural supplements, body care products, and gluten-free snacks.
One of these said snacks where what greeted me in my Cuisine Cube – the Wai Lana Natural Cassava Chips. What makes these chips different from regular chips? The answer to that is easy. Instead of the standard potato, these chips are made from the nutrient-rich cassava. These chips contain 30% less fat than regular potato chips. I like what I’m reading already.
So, with snack time looming, these were the new crunchy snack of the day. Upon opening the bag, I noticed how similar they looked in appearance to Pop Chips. They definitely had that rice cake, lightness that I associate with popped chips. They were very light in weight and definitely not greasy at all. As for flavor…well, they have a great crunch, for sure. At first bite, I wasn’t sure how I felt about them. But the more I chewed, the more they reminded me of Fritos. The Wai Lana Natural Cassava Chips were like a round, light and healthier version of that corn chip snack…Fritos. I mean, the flavor was pretty much spot on. This isn’t a bad thing, mind you. I just wasn’t prepared for it. What a nice surprise. If you like popped chips that are light but pack a bit of flavor, I highly recommend these!
Let’s talk about ingredients, shall we? The Wai Lana Natural Cassava Chips are made from cassava (yucca chips), tapioca flour, palm olein oil, cane sugar, leek, and sea salt. These chips are non-GMO and free from preservatives, cholesterol, artificial colors, artificial flavors, wheat, soy and gluten. But, they are not lacking in flavor, texture, or yumminess.
As for the nutritional information, a serving of the Wai Lana Natural Cassava Chips is 1 ounce (or about 24 chips). This serving will dish up 132 (yes…132) calories and 6 grams of fat. A serving will also give you 1 mg cholesterol, 159 mg sodium, and 3 grams of sugar. This serving will also provide you with less than one gram (about 0.3 grams) of protein and 1 gram of fiber. So, don’t expect this snack to fill you up. But…you won’t care because as far as chips go, these are actually quite good for you!
I was really surprised with how much I enjoyed these chips. I am not much for popped chips, but these were light, non-greasy, and had this fantastic flavor to them. It took me two bites to decide whether I liked them or not, but it turned out these were really quite enjoyable.
Thanks to Cuisine Cube, I was introduced to yet another company and product that I had no idea was even out there. Now that I know a little bit more about Wai Lana and the products that they offer, I am going to look into ordering more from their site. And if this has intrigued you to check it out…I encourage you to do the same.
The Celiathlete 