Local – Page 8 – The Celiathlete

September 13, 2015

Restaurant Review: Juniper, Portland, Oregon

Restaurant: Juniper, Portland, Oregon

Twas the end of my vacation, and after a late flight in from Honolulu, Hawaii, and a walk of doom from the wrong train stop to the hotel my friends and I were staying in…around 11 p.m. at night…my Friday morning started off really well. My two friends who have no food allergies took in a Portland, Oregon staple…Voodoo Doughnut…for breakfast.

It had been discussed that we would do some shopping around Portland and then hit up the food pods for lunch. In fact, after a bit of researching, my roomie found the perfect pod for us to visit…due to one food cart where she knew I could get something to eat.

The food cart…Juniper.

Juniper is a worker-owned food cart that was founded by five (5) women – Kashi, Lizz, Elena, Frencesca, and Summer. They serve nourishing, vibrant, whole-foods that are consciously sourced. Their menu is seasonal and features local and global flavors that pair lesser known produce with familiar favorites. They are proud to offer meals that are mostly organic, local farm sourced and made from scratch. They encourage you, above all else, to “Love Your Food.”

Speaking of food, this team of ladies work hard to source foods grown locally, supplied by small businesses, with worker-focused and community driven practices. They keep the food on their menu in sync with natural availability, which also helps keep our bodies in sync with the seasons. They believe that access to healthy and sustainable food is a social justice issue and have set sort and long term goals for themselves aiming at using their position in the food industry to open doors to people who have trouble accessing healthy and steady food sources. And with all that going on, these ladies do their best to keep prices on the menu sustainable for them to stay in business, to be able to source foods in a way that is in line with their mission, and to also stay accessible to a large cross-section of people.

But, that’s not all…these intrepid food cart entrepreneurs built their menu with high awareness of food sensitives and allergies. Their menu items are and always will be gluten-free and vegan (completely free of dairy, meat, honey, and egg), and limited on the amount of soy ingredients – meaning they sparingly use tamari, tofu and soy curls. If necessary, they are happy to substitute or eliminate the tofu or soy curls completely from an order.

I Love This Cart's Small Loaded Tater Tots — I Love This Cart’s Small Loaded Tater Tots

With all that said…on Friday morning, I spent the day drinking amazing coffee, ducking into local shops, and just checking out as much of Portland as I could while hobbling around. I handled it well enough, but when noon rolled around, I was more than ready to eat. I knew what I was getting from the food pod, and Cathy pretty much knew what she wanted…so we walked the other carts so Jenn could figure out what she wanted to eat. And after a little wandering…we made our choices. Cathy was left over at I Hearth This Cart, as she had her eyes on the small Loaded Tater Tots ($4.00), which are tots layered up with Tillamook cheddar cheese, bacon, and green onion, served w/ chipotle ranch. These are, by the way, gluten-free. Jenn got a quesadilla…I don’t remember from what cart. She gave Cathy her avocado. I was waiting on my dish for most of their orders and eating. But…I won’t complain.

The one reason I chose Juniper over all other food carts at that specific pod was because of the vegan and gluten-free options. This was one very safe cart for me to dine in without wondering how I would feel afterwards. And, honestly, the one dish that caught my eye first and foremost was one of their offered sandwiches…

The Vegan BBQ Bacon Sandwich.

OH HELL YEAH!!

Juniper’s Vegan BBQ Bacon Sandwich (7.00) is BBQ soy curls, cabbage and carrot slaw, avocado, and coconut bacon, piled onto two grilled slices of their homemade gluten-free bread. I got mine with a T.A.S. Coconut Water ($2.50). I waled up to the cart and said I had heard stories of this sandwich and said that was what I wanted for lunch. It was a bit of a wait, but they were hopping at lunch time. Never a bad thing. And I don’t mind waiting for food I can see being prepared right there in front of me. And trust me…this sandwich was worth the time standing on the sidewalk holding a can of coconut water. HA!

But the wait was well worth it. The sandwich looked and smelled amazing. The soy curls gave the BBQ “meaty” portion of this sandwich a great depth of flavor. It really made the sandwich feel like a sandwich. The coconut bacon was amazing, as smokey, delicious bacon made out of coconut always is. And the slaw and avocado just completed the full affect, adding texture and a bit of cooling deliciousness. The toasted gluten-free bread was done to a golden perfection. And this was all served up with a side of greens, lightly dressed. How amazing.

First bite was love. I shared a piece with Cathy, and she said it was “pretty tasty.” Which means, she liked it but didn’t love it. HA! She was eating deep fried potato tots…of course my healthy and amazing sammie wasn’t going to win out. But to me, this was perfection. It’s a food I can’t get from any of the meager selection of food trucks here in the area, nor anywhere else I have visited…which was the main reason that Juniper was where I wanted to eat. There was no getting around that. I wanted that sandwich before I even left for Hawaii…and before I made it to Portland. And it was everything that I expected. For the record, the coconut bacon tastes like bacon…not coconut. And it is awesome. So, pretty tasty is a total understatement and doesn’t do this cart the justice it deserves for the quality and standard of food that they are putting out. Above all else, one of the best vegan and gluten-free sandwiches I have ever been able to eat. So far above anything else offered anywhere else. Miles above. I love sammies…and this one…was just what I wanted, needed, and ended up devouring. I was so happy it was on the menu when I got to Juniper’s food cart.

If you are in Portland, be sure to make the most out of your stay. Check out all the different varieties of food pods out there…eat at a food cart. But if you have food allergies and food restrictions like I do, head over to Juniper at the food carts on SW 3rd and Washington. If they have it…get the Vegan BBQ Sammie. Trust me…all expectations of any sandwich that is vegan and gluten-free…will be exceded. This was sandwich nirvana for me. I only wish I had been able to go back for another one before leaving town.

I will be back though. And I know where I’m catching a bite.

Juniper's Gluten Free Vegan BBQ Bacon Sandwich — Juniper’s Gluten Free Vegan BBQ Bacon Sandwich

September 9, 2015September 9, 2015

Restaurant Review: Kalapawai Café, Kailua, Hawaii

Restaurant: Kalapawai Café, Kailua, Hawaii

Normally humidity and heat don’t get to me. I thrive in warmer temperatures, to be completely honest. But the sun, heat, and humidity that were brought to Hawaii by the hurricanes and tropical storms is a new level of humid. And it’s a level that, being so close to the equator, I am not used to yet.

I was melting. Literally. Melting at Pearl Harbor yesterday afternoon. But, myself and my traveling compatriots all survived and had quite the experience at Pearl Harbor. Totally…unforgettable. It was the one place I was making a requirement…and the other two also felt the same way. Despite the intense sun, the humidity, and the heat…it was all worth it.

All that being said, afterwards we headed toward Kailua, which was home to the restaurant we would be having dinner in that evening. The little restaurant is Kalapawai Café, this quaint little café and market. We were early, as they don’t start serving dinner until 5 p.m. So, while waiting, we scoped out a bit of Kailua. We went to Walgreens so Jenn could pick up more Ibuprofen (sunburns suck!). We dropped by this little bookstore called Book Ends. It was in disarray, but it killed a bit of time. And as we were heading out, it was time for dinner. Talk about timing, eh?

We were greeted at the door as we entered and were able to ogle the dessert case, where I spotted macarons immediately. Jenn noted the Flourless Chocolate Cake as well. Mmmm…dessert. But, our hostess guided us to a nice cool spot (we must have looked hot!) right under the air conditioning and got us situated with menus. Our waitress soon followed, bringing us glasses of water and asking us if we wanted anything besides water. We were all trying to rehydrate after Pearl Harbor, so we just stuck with the H2O. She went over the specials and over what the Auction Price Fish of the Day, Auction Price Fresh Fish for the risotto was, and what the Auction Price Fresh Fish for the Greek Salad was. She gave us a moment to peruse the menu.

Upon her return a few minutes later, we were pretty much set. We mentioned that I was a Celiac vegetarian and she said…”Okay…so no wheat no meat…” She asked if I did dairy…I said I can…but I don’t always handle it well. So she recommended the meal I had been eyeing in the first place due to the fact that it was labeled gluten-free AND contained no meat. She said she’d just have the chef leave off the cheese. Perfect. Jenn and Cathy put in their orders too…and we cooled off, chilled, and got to watch the kitchen work. I love open kitchens. Hearing the expediter call off the orders was awesome. Seeing the small line of chefs preparing at their different stations…yep…I love this stuff.

And soon…it was our order being made and being delivered.

Oddly enough, I had pegged what Jenn was going to order. I know my friends! Jenn ordered the Crab & Artichoke Dip ($12.00), which contained huge chunks (I mean HUGE) of blue crab, chopped artichoke (which didn’t overwhelm), fresh mozzerella, provolone, parmesan, red bell pepper, sweet onion, and served with toasted crostini. Her meal looked cheesy good. And it was delicious according to her. Especially since they used great care to put chunks of crab meat into the dish itself…instead of skimping on the prize protein. That was a huge plus. The plate got polished. She said she’d offer me some, but basically everything about the dish offended me. LOL!

Kalapwai Cafe's House-made Okinawan Sweet Potato & Goat Cheese Ravioli w/ asparagus, roasted grape tomato & lemon-thyme brown butter sauce — Kalapwai Café’s House-made Okinawan Sweet Potato & Goat Cheese Ravioli w/ asparagus, roasted grape tomato & lemon-thyme brown butter sauce

Cathy had gone back and forth on what she wanted, opting between the ravioli and the shepherd’s pie. In the end, she ordered the House-made Okinawan Sweet Potato & Goat Cheese Ravioli ($15.00), served with asparagus, roasted grape tomato, and a lemon-thyme brown butter sauce. She said the pasta was okay (duh!), but the star of the plate was that sweet potato and goat cheese. The star of any ravoili should be the filling. That’s the entire point. The pasta…it should definitely be homemade and good…but it it simply a way to hold the delicious filling inside. She devoured her meal. In fact, for the first time, she was the first one done eating.

Kalapawai Café's House-made gluten free potato gnocchi w/ grilled asparagus, roasted mushroom & tomato, ver’jus & sauce romesco — Kalapawai Café’s House-made gluten free potato gnocchi w/ grilled asparagus, roasted mushroom & tomato, ver’jus & sauce romesco

As for me, I ordered the House-made Gluten Free Potato Gnocchi ($16.00), served with grilled asparagus, roasted mushroom and tomato, ver’jus and a sauce romesco. It normally would come with Manchego cheese, but they left it off my dish since dairy and I are broken up. These “gnocchi” were toasted potato puffs. Sort of like…a naked tater tot. And to be honest…that’s exactly what they tasted like. This dish was like eating breakfast for dinner. The gnocchi had this great toasted outside, think…perfect hashbrowns, and then were soft like the inside of a tater tot, on the inside. The vegetables were grilled and cooked to perfection, pairing nicely with the breakfast-like gnocchi on my plate. And the sauces gave a nice hit and addition of flavor to be sure. I loved it…because breakfast is one of my favorite things in life. It wasn’t what I was expecting. Definitely less pasta more potato. And I was okay with that. It just wasn’t what my palate had been expecting. It was a nice surprise.

Afterwards we were asked if we’d like to see a dessert menu. As we never turn down looking at least, we perused and finally opted on splitting the macaron plate (it came with 3) ($5.00). Normally this was an assortment of vanilla, lemon, and lime ginger, but they were out of vanilla, and I wasn’t too sure on the lime ginger…so we went with three of the lemon macarons. They were retrieved from the case and…oh…oh yes…they were worth it. Little pillows of lemony flavor. Like…big lemon flavor too. None of this fake stuff or lack of flavor. It was like a lemon bar and lemon chifon cake. It was just…yummy. And we were happy that we went that way with the dessert in the end.

I was actually quite impressed with the service and the food that came out of Kalapawai Café. I would return there to eat in a heartbeat. I loved the dish I was served, even if it wasn’t what I expected. And having macarons on the dessert menu always wins, because they are a light option that still feels like a treat.

What a way to end the first night in O’ahu.

Kalapawai Café's Lemon Macarons — Kalapawai Café’s Lemon Macarons

September 9, 2015

Restaurant Review: Tucker & Bevvy Breakfast, Honolulu, Hawaii

Tucker & Bevvy Brealfast, Honolulu, Hawaii

Restaurant: Tucker & Bevvy Breakfast, Honolulu, Hawaii

Hangry.

That was all there was to it. We were all hangry. Our flight out of Kauai to island hop over to O’ahu was the earliest one available. We were up at 4 a.m. Some of us sooner. Some of us without getting much sleep. But between the three of us, we were all just picking at everything.

And the added unseasonable humidity wasn’t helping matters. For me…I was doing okay…but my traveling companions don’t take to the humidity well. So, lack of coffee and food was setting in. But…we made the short hike over to Hee Hing Plaza and climbed the stairs to the second floor. We stepped inside, happy to be in some air conditioning and took a table near the middle of the dining area. A nice waitress came over with glasses of water and menus and explained to us the three new specials that Tucker & Bevvy Breakfast was now offering. After that, she let us ponder what we wanted and returned soon after when we looked ready to order.

Jenn had one question about the pancakes, and when she was given an answer as to what size they were, she ordered up. One single Ricotta Pancake ($4.00) with a side of bacon ($4.00). Cathy went with the House Omelette (bacon, potato, cherry tomato, spinach & parmesan) with Sourdough Toast ($11.50). As for me, I wanted one of the new specials for the menu:

The Smashed Avocado Toast ($9.50) on Gluten Free Toast with a Side of Fresh Fruit ($6.00).

Order in, and we continued to sit there and attempt to wake up. This usually meant that Cathy rambled on about something while Jenn and I pretended to listen or just simply blinked at her. It was one of those mornings. We watched as plates were brought out to fellow diners…all of the food looking amazing. I was ready to get something other than a protein bar in my tummy, that was for sure.

After a bit of a wait…out came some food. Happiness is food arriving at your table when you are hot, tired, and hungry. Jenn’s pancake was fluffy and looked and smelled amazing. The Web site says they serve 100% maple syrup…but she tasted it and shunned it. Not pure maple.

Tucker & Bevvy Breakfast's House Omelette with Sourdough Toast — Tucker & Bevvy Breakfast’s House Omelette with Sourdough Toast

Cathy’s omelet was packed with vegetables. In fact, the entire top layer was vegetables. Inside the egg was the bacon and potatoes. It looked amazing. And, she does love her sourdough toast when we’re out to eat. She’s always stuck with the gluten-free stuff in our apartment due to the kitchen needing to be completely gluten-free (save for her own boxed snacks and cereals). She devoured it.

And my Smashed Avocado Toast was fantastic. I knew this was what I wanted the moment I saw it on the board at the restaurant. It is no secret that avocado and I are BFFs and when smashed over toast…I’m in a happy place. This version of Avocado Toast was made with lemon juice, an Egyptian spice blend, and toasted pistachios on top. The pistachios were a nice touch, and one I never would have thought of. But…lo and behold…it totally changed my idea of Avocado Toast. This was amazing. It was love at first bite…all the way down to the last bite. Because, yes…I ate it ALL! ALL of it. Completely all of it. And the big bowl of fresh fruit as well. The fruit was fresh and ripe and sweet…and I didn’t need it, but damn, it tasted good. Bananas, strawberries, blueberries and grapes. That’s the good breakfast life.

We all pretty much ate what was put in front of us. Cathy ate most of hers. She almost had all the eggs gone and left two of the slices of bread.

In the end, we were happy with the fact that we now had delicious food in our stomachs. It was an unexpected breakfast stop, but well worth it. I am forever dressing up my avocado toast with toasted pistachios. I mean…HELLO! Mind blown. Culinary eyes opened. Heck yeah…LOVE.

So, while Tucker & Bevvy was a spur-of-the-moment choice so the three of us didn’t claw each other’s eyes out…our hanger pains were tamed by the delicious breakfast foods at Tucker & Bevvy. Seriously, I’d go back for that toast in a heartbeat. Breakfast is love…and this was true love.

Gluten Free Avocado Toast with a Side of Fresh Fruit

September 7, 2015

Restaurant Review: Caffe Coco, Kapaa, Hawaii

Restaurant: Caffe Coco, Kapaa, Hawaii

Today was one of the best days I have had in Hawaii. Oddly enough, it also falls on the day that I was supposed to run the Kauai Marathon. And given the circumstances, that would be a huge bummer. And it was. It really, really was. But, to take my mind off of the situation, Cathy had a plan to drive up to the North Side of Kauai and spent the afternoon at Hanalei Beach.

Happiness is me and a beach. And thanks to my ankle, doing fun beach-y things aren’t easy for me. So, while my roommate gets to paddle around in the surf…I’ve been strolling the beach a little…carefully and slowly…wishing that the currents and waves were a little easier for me to swim around in, but the injury is a little too new at the moment. Sometimes standing on the beach is a struggle. But that was the day. We packed up just before the heavy rains hit and went and grabbed some shaved ice from JoJo’s Shave Ice while waiting for it to lighten up. When it became evident that it wasn’t happening, we decided to go driving to a scenic place to wait it out because dinner was to be up on the North Side. When that looked like it wasn’t going to happen, we opted to drive back down to Kapaa before roads were flooded and figure out dinner somewhere down here.

One place we had been eyeing last night before deciding on pizza was this great place called Caffe Coco. Caffe Coco is a quaint cottage cafe with an outdoor garden setting on the island of Kauai. This adorable little restaurant strives to serve Island grown produce, fresh Island fish, organic chicken, and whatever else that will help support local farmers. LOVE that. This restaurant specializes in vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free. Making it ideal for me. BUT…that being said, they do serve a few dishes that offer a seafood or chicken option. A little something for everyone!

We all finally decided that we were a little hungry after assessing sunburns (Jenn and I got nailed today!) and putting some aloe after sun gel on it. Hoping that helps ease the sting and cuts down on the redness. So…we headed out for the short drive down to Caffe Coco, being greeted upon entering and being shown to seats out in their cute garden setting. We immediately loved the quirky, free, hippy-ish setting, the glass that coated the ground and the rustic setting. It was a very happy place for me. We had glasses of water poured while we browsed the menu. And soon, our waitress came over and asked if we had any questions regarding the menu, but by that point, we had it all pretty figured out.

So, orders went in. Jenn decided on the Organic Pasta Shrimp Fresca ($28.00) which is organic pasta and shrimp tossed with local tomatoes, basil, white wine, Parmesan, balsamic reduction and served with a green salad and garlic toast. Cathy got the Jamaican Jerk Organic Chicken ($28.00), served with purple sweet potatoes, coconut creamed kale, pineapple salsa and server with a green salad.

As for me…I went with two of the Starters listed on the menu. The first was a cup of the Thai Curried Pumpkin Soup ($5.00) and the Vietnamese Summer Rolls ($10.00) with organic greens and a peanut sauce. And after seeing it come out, I also decided to add their Hibiscus Iced Tea ($4.00) to my meal as well.

We could see the kitchen from where we were sitting and could hear the fuss with the chefs. Turns out a 20 person wedding party was set to arrive and they were working on getting out food to clear everything down to be prepared for the wedding orders. It was a little chaotic, but everything came out to the waiting tables, and all of it looked great. And soon…ours came out as well.

Everything looked and smelled amazing. Jenn’s shrimp and pasta looked amazing…and she said the sauce with the garlic toast was phenomenal. Not to mention, they didn’t skimp on the shrimp, but served her up a perfect number and all a great size. No small shrimp here. No way. Cathy fell in love with her meal at first bite, but LOVED the creamy sauce that everything was set in. That was her favorite part for sure. But it looked amazing. And colorful to say the least. She said it was spicy without being overly spicy and ‘tasty.” She was in a happy place for sure.

As for mine. HOLY COW!! LOVE. Just pure love. I loved everything about each dish. The soup had this rich depth of flavor. I loved the floating pepitas that were resting on top and the various onions and creaminess that came with each bite. Just…YUM!! I ended up saving most of this to the last bite. The Vietnamese Summer Rolls were delicious. Packed with greens laying in this delicious peanut butter and sriracha sauce. You brought me a bowl of peanut butter…I’m now a very happy girl. It paired well with the organic greens and veggies that were stuffed into each roll. And I devoured every last bite…and every last bit of that sauce. This was amazing, delicious food. Happy place…discovered.

We were given a dessert list to look at, being told that the pudding was vegan and gluten free…and the brownie and chocolate chip cookie were gluten-free as well. They were out of their homemade ice cream at the moment. We considered it for a brief moment, but decided we were ready to call it a day and we would return to the resort for the Macadamia Nut Hershey’s Kisses we had stashed there.

OH…yeah!! That soup was one of the best things I have ever eaten. I was beyond happy and satisfied…and we all left there content and full…without being too full. Love is definitely finding a great place to eat that honestly has a little something for anyone and everyone. And I felt completely comfortable eating there. Even moreso when the check arrived and my order was circled with a note that read: “**Celiac & Dairy Allergy**”. Oh yeah…that was so nice to see. It means they take their customer’s dietary needs to heart.

Everything was delicious and we all left happy plates and walked out comfortably full. Feeling good about our meal choice and loving the food we ate. This was one of the best places on the Island of Kauai. It might seem pricey, but the food is worth the stop and the price. You will not be disappointed. I was beyond impressed with service and food.

I’d go back again in a heartbeat. Hell, I’d go back tomorrow!

Caffe Coco's Thai Pumpkin Curry Soup and Vietnamese Summer Rolls with Organic Greens and Peanut Sauce — Caffe Coco’s Thai Pumpkin Curry Soup and Vietnamese Summer Rolls with Organic Greens and Peanut Sauce

September 6, 2015September 6, 2015

Restaurant Review: Brick Oven Pizza, Kapaa, Hawaii

Restaurant: Brick Oven Pizza, Kapaa, Hawaii

It was a long day of driving, shopping, and some exploring. There was even beach time and some wading into the water. It was a good day, filled with a few minor bumps in the road. But…there comes a time when you suddenly realize that the crepe you ate for breakfast has completely worn off and that protein bar you consumed as a snack…even though you weren’t really hungry but you knew dinner was still a ways off…wears off.

That was yesterday.

And with me not being able to run the Kauai Marathon…dinner plans were sort of up in the air. Original plan was to get gluten-free pizza from this local chain (they have 4 locations on the island) called Brick Oven Pizza. From the reviews on Find Me Gluten Free, they did a good job with avoiding cross-contamination as much as possible. BUT…pizza was a pre-race thing and I was definitely not prepping for a race now. Before leaving for Hawaii, I had noted this to Cathy and she did a bit of poking around, finding a little spot called Caffe Coco, also in Kapaa, that serves up dishes made from island-grown produce, fresh fish, and organic chickens, wanting to support local farmers as much as possible. They specialize in vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free.

We were sort of…not really sure what we wanted for dinner, but after looking and re-looking at menus, we decided to just go for it and get a pizza. Between the three of us, we could eat a small (8 slices) gluten-free pizza and not overdo it and kill ourselves trying to polish it off. So…Brick Oven Pizza won out.

We piled into the rental car and headed that way. It’s a very short drive from our resort, and we pulled into the parking lot and made our way inside. We were seated by the hostess near the back of the restaurant and given the menu to look over. We already knew that we were doing a gluten-free pizza. The thing is…I am not able to handle much dairy and Jenn and Cathy are cheese-lovers. I am a vegetarian and Jenn is not a not a huge fan of vegetables. So…the thought was to do a half-and-half pizza and Cathy (who can eat either way) can share on each end. BRILLIANT!

Our waitress wasn’t sure that one gluten-free pizza would be enough for the three of us, but we decided we’d grab dessert if we were still hungry (we heard about a place on the radio that had vegan ice cream)…so we convinced her that we wouldn’t starve with it just being one pizza between the three of us. So, we put in our special order, with one half of the pizza having mushrooms and pineapple with no cheese, and the other half having cheese and the house-made Italian sausage. This is how we do it!

It was quite a wait for the pizza to be made, which is fine. They did explain that the gluten-free pizzas take a little bit longer, and with a dairy-free vegetarian getting half of a pizza that has dairy and meat on it, they were just trying to be a little more diligent with the cooking and the slicing process. So, I’ll take that as a good sign. But when the pizza did arrive, we paused long enough to take pictures and then…it was time to devour.

And it did meet with a messy, messy death.

The crust itself was your typical cracker crust, which is not my favorite, but when you are gluten-free and want pizza…you get what you get. And, while it’s a thin and crispy crust, it means that it isn’t quite as filling and you don’t feel as guilty devouring it. That being said, three of us were consuming 8 little pieces of pizza. So, it was actually the perfect light pizza meal as far as we were concerned.

My carnivorous cheese-loving traveling partners really raved about the sausage on their half of the pizza, saying how full of flavor it was. They loved the cheese, and even topped off their slices with the Parmesan cheese from the shaker. The odd piece out was split between them.

My un-cheesy, pineapple and mushroom topped side was delicious. The red sauce wasn’t too heavy, but it had good tomato flavor to it. I loved the way the mushrooms were cooked in, giving them that meaty texture. And the pineapple was juicy and amazing. I really enjoyed this pizza…healthy as a pizza could be with it still being…pizza. It was easy for me to digest, which was the important part. Delicious! I was satisfied when I split the odd-ball extra piece with Cathy and we considered our dinner…done.

The waitress tried to entice us with more, but we said we were done. She happily delivered our check…our Gluten Free Half Mushroom/Pineapple Half Cheese/Italian Sausage Pizza ($18.95) was a hit, for sure. And, for a gluten-free pizza…affordable. Brick Oven Pizza does charge an extra $3.50 for a gluten-free pizza…so there was that. In the end, what we had delivered what all of us wanted in the pizza. And thank goodness they could do half and half so that we all got something that we wanted/needed with the actual pizza.

For a local chain offering a gluten-free crust, I was happy with the pizza I received. It was just enough to allow us to go to that ice cream spot we heard about and indulge a little in some local ice cream. And that…was a nice bonus. If you are in the market for a safe gluten-free pizza…try out Brick Oven in Kapaa. I’ll go back next year before the marathon for sure!

Brick Oven Pizza Gluten Free Half Mushroom/Pineapple (no cheese) and Half Cheese and Italian Sausage Pizza

September 6, 2015

Restaurant Review: Living Foods Market and Café, Koloa, Hawaii

Restaurant: Living Foods Market and Café, Koloa, Hawaii

Okay…so technically this was an unplanned, unexpected way to have breakfast on Saturday morning. The initial plan was to go by Sweet Marie’s Hawaii Inc., Hawaii’s first 100% dedicated gluten free bakery. It sort of reminded me a little of home with Annie May’s Sweet Café, when my friend Jenn sent me the link to the Web site. I was pretty stoked about having a 100% gluten-free facility where I could grab snacks, treats, and even a meal (see…just like Annie May’s…minus all the cool unique stuff like soft pretzels, toaster treats, and that sort of stuff).

However, it seems Sweet Marie’s is no longer in business. The sad thing is…nothing indicates this. Not one thing. We got into the car and got our morning coffee…then headed to where Sweet Marie’s was supposed to be…but it wasn’t there. A different business now occupied the spot. The Website and Facebook page do not indicate that this bakery closed…but it’s gone. G.O.N.E. And I was really, really put out and sad…because I had planned out what I wanted to get there to eat, and now I had no idea where to get breakfast that morning.

Then Cathy saved the day. While looking around on Find Me Gluten Free (which I later found a review on Sweet Marie’s from June saying that the place was closed), Cathy had discovered a place called Living Foods Market and Café, which is a local gourmet market and café that offers up the freshest seasonal specials and local favorites, as well as handpicked imports from around the world. In addition, they offer a cafeteria-type café, offering an impressive menu with items that are created by the culinary team that is employed there. They offer paninis and pizza and…the kicker…GLUTEN FREE CREPES…among other things. It was breakfast…and the three of us thought crepes sounded divine.

Living Foods Market and Café Smoked Ham and Cheese Crepe

So, we left the ruins of a gluten-free bakery dream behind and took the 25 minute drive around to Koloa, where Living Foods Market and Café is located. It was a nice shop to be sure. The market was packed with familiar items and items I had never seen before. And lots of tasty, tasty sounding foods that I only wish I had time to purchase and consume before my time in paradise was up. We got in line to place our food orders…

Cathy was the oddball this time. She went ahead and ordered the Smoked Ham and Cheese Crepe ($13.99), which is basically your simple breakfast crepe…smoked ham, melted fontina cheese and a soft cooked egg. It sounded like everything she liked in the world and normally couldn’t get at home, thanks to the chef of the apartment being a gluten-free vegetarian who is lactose intolerant. HA!

Jenn and I, without any conversation, apparently were on the same wavelength when it came to our choice for crepe. We both got the Sautéed Apples Crepe ($13.99). Cathy and I got bottles of water to go with ours and we went to find somewhere to sit. Most of the larger tables were taken up, but we did find a table with two chairs at it in the back, and hauled over a seat from another table for the third. I left Cathy with the table and returned to (selfishly) poke around more in the market and then retrieve the crepes upon completion.

Jenn was still inside and began to tell me about this crazy-good sounding macadamia nut butter that she found in the food isles. I had her go show me. It was crazy-expensive (well…maybe not for macadamia nut products), but sounded amazing. She was considering purchasing it. I said it was relevant to my interests. HA! So, we poked around a little more at some of the local products (as in hand soaps, shampoo, the like), until the chef at the line called Jenn’s name and heaped this plate up with the biggest crepe I had seen in my life on top. I think they used 1 full or maybe 1-1/2 apples in the apple crepe. Cathy and my order followed right after…with Cathy’s crepe looking the most normal sized and mine being this monster. I carried the breakfast plates outside to the table and we all tucked in for our meal.

Cathy did, in fact, love her breakfast-style Smoked Ham and Cheese Crepe. She especially loved it when she got to the part with the egg inside. She acted all surprised that there was an egg, despite the fact that it was listed on the description when she ordered it. She didn’t forget…she was just being Cathy. I think she’s so used to breakfast-type savory crepes having scrambled eggs inside…instead of a soft-cooked egg. Regardless…she was a happy pork-eating girl.

Jenn and I both tucked into the Sautéed Apples Crepe. This…was awesome. It is a crepe wrapper (which…I’ll get into my thoughts on that in a moment) wrapped around apples sautéed in butter and cinnamon and topped off with a drizzle of caramel and a dollop of whipped cream. I pushed my whipped cream to the side and took my first bite. So…the crepe wrap as opposed to the crepe that is cooked and toasted to this golden perfection, with a little golden crust on the outside…was missing. The crepe wrap was unexciting and dull in comparison to the crepes that I have had at Sweet ‘N Savory Food Truck in Louisville, Kentucky and C’est Si Bon! in Bexley, Ohio. Both of those gluten-free crepe places make their crepes on crepe stones, yielding a much more finished product. While the wrap here at Living Food Market and Café was…pale and a little bit gummy. The fact that the fillings were not cooked inside the wrap itself made it so that the hot apples and their juices soggied up the crepe and it eventually began to fall apart. All that being said, the apples were caramelized and cooked to utter perfection. Seriously. It was like diving into an apple pie and eating the filling only. The balance of apples to cinnamon was amazing…and filling. Whew. There were so many apples stuffed into this one crepe that it was amazing I was able to eat as much as I did. In the end, I pushed aside the crepe wrap and tried to eat the apples, but even some of that was left behind. It was not the way I intended to start the morning, but it was filling and delicious…and in the end…I suppose that’s all that matters.

After we ate and cleared our dishes, we headed out…pausing briefly while Jenn did, in fact, purchase the macadamia nut butter that was calling her name. YAY! And from there…it was off for a day of exploring (as much as I comfortably can) and some beach time. It was a nice way to start the day and left us relatively full until about 3 pm, when we packed up from the shore, drove back to the resort, cycled through showers, and headed out for dinner.

So, while it wasn’t the breakfast I anticipated, it was a hearty, and good breakfast in the end. If you love a sweet crepe…dive into that Sautéed Apples offering. Trust me!! It’s really good!

Living Foods Market and Café Gluten Free Sautéed Apples Crepe

September 5, 2015September 5, 2015

Restaurant Review: Verde, Kapa’a, Hawaii

Restaurant: Verde, Kapa’a, Hawaii

So..day one in Hawaii was a big success. I was originally coming to enjoy the challenge of the Kauai Marathon, but things change and so do circumstances. With all that being said, the trip was, naturally, still on. The marathon would just be running without me this year. But, who says that has to stop the adventure, right?

Nothing really stops me. Things just slow me down is all.

After the longest flight ever (in retrospect, I’ve been on longer flights, but this one seemed particularly long due to the very annoying family traveling behind us who DID NOT SHUT UP the entire time and who do not have indoor voices or control over their children either!), we found ourselves in the humid, sunny atmosphere of the island of Kauai! HELLO GORGEOUS HAWAII!

After getting our rental car…returning our rental car…getting a different rental car…getting to the resort…not having a room…so going for coffee and a drive and some shopping…we got checked in…and settled and changed. We went to the beach (major props to Jenn and Cathy for helping me get out to those waves!)…we came back to the resort…and we were ready for some real food. Seriously, I had lived my day on 2 navel oranges, a Quest protein bar, and coffee…so real food was necessary…stat.

But Cathy was prepared with our dinner plans that evening. And, we were going to be enjoying a little Mexican flavor here on the Island of Kauai. I am a huge lover of Mexican food, and she found a great place located just up the street from our resort, located in the Kapa’a Shopping Center. The restaurant of choice – Verde. And it was hopping Friday night.

Never one to take a Celiac anywhere unknown, Cathy did some serious research before we headed to Hawaii…finding a lot of different and varied places to enjoy meals while we are visiting. Verde came with great reviews and a menu that boasts gluten free and vegetarian options. With the Friday night packing the little restaurant, we waited outside for about 10 minutes until a table opened up that could seat three of us comfortably inside. During the wait, the staff brought us water and menus so we could have an idea of what we might want to eat when we get seated.

Of course, me being me, had already scoped out the menu and knew what I would be eating that night. When one of the Verde staff took us inside to our table (and even carried my water for me!), they asked if we had any questions and when we didn’t, we just let them know that I was a vegetarian Celiac. With that not even being a problem…we placed our orders.

Jenn and Cathy both got the Garlic Shrimp Tacos ($13.95) (really…I think that they are just going to eat the same stuff everywhere we go, LOL!), which was cornmeal-crusted shrimp, local greens, cabbage, guacamole, pico de gallo, flour tortillas, and a roasted garlic-chipotle aioli. Jenn got hers with the guac and pico de gallo on the side (which…is totally Jenn), whereas Cathy kept her taco as a comprised dish.

I opted for the Vegan Tacos ($10.95). These intrigued me from the start. They are corn tortillas that are stuffed (and I mean stuffed) with green beans, spinach, broccoli sautéed in chipotle, and topped with pico de gallo. I had never had green beans in a taco before. Like I said…I was intrigued.

While we were waiting, a bowl of tortilla chips and fresh salsa were delivered to the table. I didn’t partake at first, because I never trust tortilla chips. Shared friers are very real and very scary to me. But Cathy flagged down one of the staff and asked if they were safe for me. He assured me they keep everything separate as his wife is Celiac and they make sure they take every precaution. YAY! It is so rare that I get to have a few of the chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant. This sort of was an exciting moment for me.

The homemade corn chips were fried to perfection, completely crispy and not overly salty. I loved the nice balance that each crispy bright brought. And the red salsa that was served with it was mild and full of flavor. A nice way to whet the appetite before the main event.

And the tacos were not a disappointment.

Verde's Garlic Shrimp Tacos — Verde’s Garlic Shrimp Tacos

Cathy and Jenn had these delicious looking bread shrimp tacos, greens, pico, guac and a heavenly aoili that topped it all off. They both raved about it…especially the aioli. I asked Cathy if they beat out my vegan shrimp tacos that I made (because I love to put her on the spot like that) and she stammered and stuttered and finally said they were two different things. HAHA! I told her it was okay if they were. But, both of them devoured their tacos with gusto and raved about. Cathy pretty much did that with every bite…so I say these definitely win out over my vegan version I sometimes do at home. HA!

Cathy also got a glass of the Hapa Limonada Verde ($4.00), a signature drink that Verde prepares that is a blend of Agua Fresca 4 Citrus Green Tea, Pink Lemonade, Lime, and Agave Syrup. Jenn and I each tried it…and wow…super delicious. The agave syrup as the sweetener was a nice touch for sure. Jenn and Cathy drank the rest of it up. I was sticking to water…which I didn’t get enough of that day (evident in the leg cramps that hit me that night!).

Verde's Hapa Limonada Verde — Verde’s Hapa Limonada Verde

As for me…the vegan tacos were amazing. With a lightly fried corn tortilla holding a mound of fresh vegetables, cooked to perfection, I was in love at first bite. The green beans were the main base, and they had great texture and great flavor. The broccoli, however, was the true star, cooked in chipotle spices. The pico and the spinach were a nice addition, but the main veggies were definitely the main event. I devoured…seriously…devoured my two tacos, with the packed veggies that fell out getting eaten with a fork. No veggie left behind. It was a great meal and just what this weary and sore traveler needed, for sure.

We polished off the remaining tortilla chips and paid for our meal. We left content, full, and really pleased to have actual food in our bellies. The servings weren’t ridiculous, they were perfect. The food was cooked to order, safe for me to eat, and really, really delicious. I was so happy when I left Verde that evening to return to the resort and shower off and relax for a bit before turning in. My body is getting adjusted still to the time change. I think I made it to 8 pm before turning in.

What a great way to kick off the food experience of Hawaii. If any plans fall through while in Kauai…I’d go back there in a heartbeat.

Verde's Vegan Tacos — Verde’s Vegan Tacos

September 5, 2015

Restaurant Review: Bandar, San Diego, California

Restaurant: Bandar, San Diego, California

It’s not every day that I get to travel somewhere new and exciting. But this current week, I’m off on an adventure. Albeit (see an upcoming post), not the adventure that I was expecting, but you make the most of the cards that are dealt to you. You can’t change the circumstances, but you can change the attitude, right?

You betcha!

So, for one day only, I was knee-deep in the surroundings, hills, and the beautiful bay of San Diego. While my traveling buddies (Cathy (aka: the roomie) and Jenn) went to a local taco stand for lunch, I made my lunch out of a protein bar that I brought with me. I hadn’t planned on lunch, and when I can’t check out places online, I get a bit cautious. I like to read reviews and look at menus and be confident in my choice to eat somewhere. When you have food allergies, you just learn not to take risks. It was all good. My bar was filling and got me through to dinner time. Because Cathy had made reservations at a place called Bandar in the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego.

Bandar is a Persian restaurant of all things. Now, I’ve had a lot of different cuisines in my life, but my taste buds had never had a go at Persian cuisine. Bandar’s owner, Behrooz Farahani, graduated with a degree in architecture and originally owned his own architectural firm. When he visited San Diego in 1986, he decided to move his family (a wife and twin daughters) there to provide them with a better life. Behrooz and his wife, Shokooh, purchased the historical buidling in the Gaslamp Quarter…and soon Bandar emerged, becoming an overnight phenomenon. This husband and wife team raised Persian dining to new heights, using authentic marinades for signature dishes involving beef, lamp, chicken, and fish. Using only the finest ingredients, Farahani insists on personally choosing each cut of meat that is served in his restaurants.

The restaurant, Bandar, is best known for its use of healthy ingredients and bold, complex flavors, bringing the flavors of saffron, limes, and other Persian spices to the forefront of each dish, highlighting the amazing flavor that comes in such a healthy and exotic cuisine.

It had been a long, long day. I was sore from making the hikes through airports to get to my flights. And then hauling around San Diego. But, it was all culminating with the final outing of the evening…dinner. And Cathy chose Bandar as our place to eat as it had great reviews on Find Me Gluten Free…and mostly everything (save the bread) is gluten-free in the restaurant (although I think the desserts are also an exception, but we were too full to even consider dessert). Therefore, this made it a great place to check out.

We were there a little earlier than the reservation and for most of the meal, we were the only ones in there. Considering it was prime dinner time, I was a bit surprised by this. But, what do you do? You get seated early (we all decided we could eat…although I’ve realized that traveling still does a number on my appetite and most times I’m not exactly hungry, but I know I need to eat something. The hostess seated us near the back at a gorgeous table and left us with menus. Water was poured and we settled in for a moment. Flat bread and butter were brought out…and to be sure we asked (because the menu misleadingly says that all food there is gluten-free) about what I could have…and the bread was a no-go. From what I was told…it was good.

The first thing we noticed was the price of the food. Holy hummus, foodies…it was pricey. And with Hawaii on the horizon, we weren’t looking for an expensive meal, for sure. I mean, the cheapest (and pretty much only) vegetarian entree on there (Eggplant Stew) was around $26. I wasn’t sure how big the entree portions were either, and, as I said, I wasn’t all that hungry to begin with. A combination of fatigue and the heat, I believe, are to blame for that. My internal clock was three hours ahead, so in my mind, it was bedtime, not dinner time.

While we decided on what to do for dinner, Cathy placed an order for the Hummus Classic ($10.00) that we could split. With that order in, we continued discussing whether or not to split some appetizers or just let me get an appetizer size plate and Cathy and Jenn split an entree. This actually went on for longer than it should have, but mostly because we were all just tired, and probably hungrier than we realized. BUT…with that being said…our Hummus Classic arrived, without anything to dip in it, so I guess that was meant for that flat bread. Cathy asked our waitress if we could have some tomatoes or something so that I could have some too…and she very quickly said she would bring out some cucumbers for me. YAY! Cathy and Jenn each scooped up a little. This was actually Jenn’s first time (she is a bean-hater, BTW) trying hummus and she did not like it at all. To dry and beany she said. Cathy, however, did like it, and when I got my cucumbers and was able to try it…it was actually really good. Smooth, seasoned with paprika and just…yummy. It had that bit of olive oil to finish and it made for a flavorful touch. It was a nice little appetizer to help get us more focused. And while we enjoyed the hummus and Jenn enjoyed some flat bread, we finally decided on dinner. YAY!

Bandar's Albalu Polo (Black Cherry Rice and Chicken Kebab) — Bandar’s Albalu Polo (Black Cherry Rice and Chicken Kebab)

Jenn and Cathy, in the end, decided to split the Albalu Polo (Black Cherry Rice with Chicken Kebab) entree ($26.00). This is exactly what the dish sounds like…chunks of grilled chicken tenderloin served up with rice and black cherries. The waitress asked if they liked sweet things because it was a sweet dish. The two poultry-loving sweet-toothers were okay with that.

As for me, I went with the Dolmeh (Stuffed Grape Leaves) starter ($12.00). I have had horrible grape leaves at a local place in Louisville, Kentucky (oddly enough called The Grape Leaf) and then had some fantastic ones at a Mediterranean chain called Taziki’s. So, this is like my go-to food. This version of Dolmehs were large grape leaves stuffed with split peas, tarragon, basil, parsley, cilantro, chives, rosemary and basmati rice. When I ordered it, she said it was like a meal…so that was a good sign.

The food actually took a little bit of time to get to us. That was fine, because everything at Bandar is cooked to order. Although, it did get to the point that Jenn and I were joking about having to go find a chicken, kill it, pluck it, debone it, etc. But, lo and behold…as a few more people were coming in, our food arrived. I am very glad that Cathy and Jenn opted to split the entree they got because that platter was HUGE. It easily could have fed 3-4 people. Honestly. And the waitress said that she has seen diners finish it on their own. How that is even possible, I’ll never know. They let me try the black cherry rice, and it was really tasty. But I had my own food to dive into, so I left them to their chicken platter of DOOOOOM, while I settled in to feast on my own meal.

The starter size Dolmehs at Bandar come with four (4) very stuffed grape leaves, each one resting on a fresh slice of tomato. That was a nice touch. After photos for the blog, I carried over the first Dolmeh to my plate and settled in with fork and knife to give it a taste. I sliced through the cooked grape leaf, seeing the seasoned basmati rice, split peas, and herbs poke out and fall onto my plate and the tomato. The rice was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The flavors were awesome. My first bite and I got the fresh herbs immediately in the rice, the spices, and even the peas. It was a great texture, the rice soft, but not mushy, the peas the same…and that grape leaf…it was cooked to perfection. Pairing it with a slice of tomato brought a nice added touch and I ate it, whether it was a garnish or not. I love tomatoes…I could eat a full one as a snack. Needless to say…it was worth the wait…and the indecision…and the price.

And, in case you were wondering, Cathy and Jenn loved their Albalu Polo dish too. Not only was the rice cooked to perfection and paired beautifully with sweet black cherries (I never would have imagined that combination to work), they said the chicken was moist, tender, and tasty. But they hardly made a dent in the actual entree dish itself. But, they did what they could. In the end, Cathy said she could always eat the leftovers for breakfast (which I didn’t believe for a moment, and lo and behold, I was right), so they boxed it up and we left with full and happy tummies.

So, in the end, expensive, but damn, you really do get what you pay for. Honestly, I was not expecting that much food. So, honestly, when you look at it in perspective, Bandar is giving you your money’s worth on their expensive entrees. I was relieved I didn’t attempt the Eggplant Stew on my own after seeing the Thanksgiving Day platter of food that Jenn and Cathy attempted (and failed) to make a dent in.

Bandar was an interesting experience and got Jenn to at least try something new. I’m still working on getting her to try avocado. She says it scares her…but I’ll work on it. That being said, Persian food is very interesting, delightful, and delicious. And I was beyond happy with the food I was able to eat at Bandar. They brought out a tray of cakes to offer us dessert, but we were done and ready to head back to the hotel, cycle through the shower, and get ready for a 3 am wakeup call to get to the airport and continue on our way to Hawaii the next day.

And by the time we were leaving, there were a few more people inside eating. I guess the Gaslamp Quarter (home of SO MANY restaurants) isn’t quite as busy on a Thursday night. But that worked in our favor, as we never felt rushed, and our food was given extreme focus and care. It showed. It was everything I hoped for…and a little more. I’d be more than tempted to go back should I ever find myself back in San Diego.

Bandar's Dolmeh starter — Bandar’s Dolmeh starter

May 15, 2015

Recipe: Gluten Free Penne with Kale in a White Wine Sauce

I’m getting back into the swing of using up everything that comes in my CSA bin before the next one arrives. Sometimes, it’s hard…but this past week, I have literally used up every bit of produce that came to me last Friday in my green bin of happiness. Ah, I love Friday because it is BIN DAY!

So, after using up the cucumber (I made a childhood favorite…cucumbers in vinegar), zucchini, squash, blueberries, apples, green beans, broccoli, watermelon, and onion, all that remained was the kale. And, I do love cooking with kale. Usually I make kale chips or use it in a breakfast egg scramble of sorts. But I wanted to get a little more creative than that this time around. So…with just enough white wine remaining in the bottle in the fridge, I set out to master…pasta and kale…with white wine.

The premise of the recipe was skimmed over while reading through the Funny Love blog. And from there, I tweaked it to fit my dietary needs. What emerged was a healthy, delicious, and runner-friendly (non-runner friendly too!) meal this evening that both my roommate and I sat down and devoured while watching Friends on Netflix. Life…can be good and delicious all at once.

Recipe: Gluten Free Penne with Kale and a White Wine Sauce

Gluten Free Penne with Kale in a White Wine Sauce

Servings: 4-6
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Cook 15 minutes

Ingredients:

8-12 ounces Gluten Free Penne (I used Aldi’s liveGfree brand)
4 cloves garlic, minced
Salt
Crushed red pepper
Olive oil
4 cups kale
Parmesan cheese, for serving
1 cup white wine
1 cup pasta water (reserve right before you drain the pasta)

Directions:

Cook the pasta per the package instructions.

While the pasta is cooking, pull out a pan I used the one I was using to make the sauce) and add about an inch or two of water with about a teaspoon of salt. Place pan on stove and bring water to a boil.

Cut the kale into large strips and remove the stems.

Put the kale into the boiling water for about a minute. Drain the kale and set it aside.

In the same pan, prepare the sauce. Add a drizzle of olive oil, the red pepper flakes, and the minced garlic and cook over medium heat, for about 2-3 minutes, until the garlic is soft and golden. Do not burn the garlic. It will make everything bitter.
Stir in the wine. Allow the wine to come up to a boil and reduce for about a minute. Then, add some of the starchy pasta water, if you’d like a bit more liquid in the dish. Stir in the drained pasta, the kale, and some Parmesan cheese (as much as you’d like). Season with salt, more cheese, red pepper, or pasta water as you deem necessary.

Serve.

~*~*~

This turned out to be a light dish, despite having the pasta integrated into the rest of it. I found it a great way to use of a bottle of white wine from the fridge so that it didn’t go wasted. And…I love finding new ways to enjoy kale! Packed with nutrients, light, delicious…yeah…it’s a perfect meal. And one I might consider the night before a long run…should this hip ever improve enough to get me back out onto the roads.

May 5, 2015

Product Review: Don Tamal All Natural Veggie Vegan Gourmet Tamales

Product: Don Tamal All Natural Veggie Vegan Gourmet Tamales – $6.99+

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Or I should probably say Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Either way…it’s May 5th…Return of the 5th…and yes…Cinco de Mayo.

And I felt the need to celebrate. This time at home…not at Moe’s or Q’doba. Home. Because I have no money. What I did have, however, was a local product in my freezer. Yes. Local. Let me tell you the tale…

It was a few months ago. I was wandering around Whole Foods, attempting to stick to my tight food budget and epically failing at it. But…I was trying. As I was making my way up to the registers, my roommate pointed out a table where a nice gentleman was handing out samples of vegan tamales. Vegan. Gluten Free. Tamales. I had to have this in my life, so I bee-bopped over that way and tried a sample. Cathy was right behind me. He was just removing some fresh tamales from his steamer. He plated a few bits and one bite sold us both. The nice man was actually the founder of the local Don Tamal…and pointed out that we could purchase them in the freezer section and directed us that way. We were already a bit over budget, but we couldn’t pass this up. They were REALLY good.

So, the purchase was made. I took the Don Tamal Veggie Vegan Tamales home and placed them in the freezer. Where they have been ever since.

But…as I said…it’s Cinco de Mayo. Time to get our tamales on.

Don Tamal is a local business based out of Louisville, Kentucky that specializes in…TAMALES. This business strives to provide authentic, all natural, Mexican tamales for people on-the-go who love to eat healthy without sacrificing enticing flavors and textures. Their philosophy is that all people should have the chance to eat delicious food that is free of additives, preservatives, chemicals, trans fats, growth hormones, and genetically engineered ingredients. The reward…traditional food of better quality. In fact, the wife of the founder, Marcela, pursued a PhD in Food Science and Engineering and came up with ways to make flavorful food without sacrificing the texture or flavor. Same traditional fare…better ingredients. A healthier choice.

Oh yeah…they had my attention.

There are two ways to cook up the frozen tamales. You can use the preferred method of using a veggie steamer on the stove top. Which, if I had a veggie steamer, I’d have done. But…I don’t. Luckily…it’s not required. I used the microwave method, where in I wrap the two tamales that come in the package in a very tamp paper towel and place them in a microwave safe container with a lid. I microwaved these for about 3 minutes and 15 seconds (the package says 2.5 minutes, but my microwave is old and not very powerful), and then let it stand and steam for about 1 minute. Then, discard the husk and enjoy!

It really doesn’t get much easier than that. I served mine up with some tortilla strips and salsa. Yummy!

Let me tell you…these are fantastic. I forgot what drove me right over to that freezer in the first place. Holy cow, these were just amazing. The masa was soft and creamy. The veggies that were mixed in tasted so good. And the different veggies stuffed inside…those were just…yummy. Despite having habanero pepper in it, it wasn’t spicy. Which is good, or my roommate (Cathy) would never have let me live it down. Superb. Not bad at all for reheating from frozen. I was beyond impressed back at Whole Foods and tonight just re-introduced to me the reason why. After one bite, I started pointing at it with my fork and finally managing a, “We’re getting more of these tamales” in between forkfuls. It was gone way too soon.

Let’s look at the ingredients that go into the Don Tamal All Natural Veggie Vegan Gourmet Tamales, shall we? These tamales are made from corn dough (corn with lime, vegetable base (organic carrots, organic celery, organic onion, organic tomato, salt, organic and gluten free soy sauce, organic cane sugar, organic maltodextrin, yeast extract, organic potato starch, organic onion powder, organic garlic powder, and organic spices), poblano pepper, organic carrots, organic corn, purple onion, yellow onion, olive oil, organic palm oil, cilantro, organic kale, fresh garlic, spices, aluminum free baking powder, habanero pepper and vinegar. These tamales are made without hydrogenated oils or lard. And, yes, they are certified vegan.

As this is a local business selling these, I don’t have the nutrition information…but…I can tell you…they are YUMMY!

Nutritious. Delicious. Tamales. Happy Cinco de Mayo indeed! Thanks, Don Tamal. I’m heading to Whole Foods for more this weekend!

Don Tamal All Natural Veggie Vegan Gourmet Tamales (cooked)