Actually, until this journey to Columbus, Ohio, I had never even had a macaron. I have heard of them, looked at them online, even thought about making them myself. What is a macaron? Is it really a macaroon? Nope. There actually is a difference.
A macaroon is an American version for a flourless egg-white based cookie. Most often it is made with coconut.
A macaron, however, is a French cookie made with almond and egg whites that are sandwiched around a cream-based filling. They are often found in a rainbow of colors and a variety of flavors.
I don’t know how Jenn and I stumbled across the Web site for Pistacia Vera on Saturday morning…but we did. And we noticed they had a gluten-free menu. On it were a plethora of baked items…including every macaron that they made. Yes…macarons are gluten-free because they are made with almond flour. Gotta love that. So, after stopping by the race expo for the Hot Chocolate 15K, we hit up a market, and on our way to get ice cream, we swung by Pistacia Vera to get some macarons to take with us.
Pistacia Vera is a sleek looking dessert boutique located on South Third Street in German Village in Columbus, Ohio. They are a from-scratch pastisserie which boasts a menu of over 60 seasonal pastries and confection. All made by-hand and with great care. They specialize in classic European technique, making it a truly special stop while in Columbus. Their Web site boast that their coffee and espresso are considered to be the best in town. If it’s made like it is in Europe…or even France for that matter…I bet they’re right.
I didn’t get coffee when I was in there that morning, however. I was there on a mission. A mission…for macarons.
Jenn picked four she wanted to choose and Cathy and I decided to split the difference and each choose two to sample. We were actually quite interested in the same flavors, but I let her take them and went for a couple of other delicious sounding ones.
Pistacia Vera’s Buckeye Macaron, Maple Walnut Macaron, Peppermint Chocolate Macaron, and Mocha Hazelnut Macaron
In the end, Cathy got the Peppermint Chocolate Macaron ($1.25) and the Buckeye Macaron ($1.25). Since those two were taken by my roomie, I opted to give the Maple Walnut Macaron ($1.25) a try and the Mocha Hazelnut Macaron ($1.25) a try. They both definitely sounded delicious. Actually, the entire display case of macarons sounded awesome, but I figured as I had never had a macaron before, I would start small and I could always come back for more. As we were checking out, I spotted the gluten-free caramels near the register. Specifically the Cashew Caramel with Fleur de Sel ($1.50). We got one single piece of that and were on our way. With much to do that day, like going out of town, the cookies and caramel got left behind at Jenn’s house.
But Sunday after my 15K race…we all split the Cashew Caramel with Fleur de Sel (I forgot to take a picture of it!). It was delicious. Very light. Not too chewy, but just enough. It wasn’t going to get lodged in your teeth. This was caramel done right and done well. It had a delicious flavor to it. I love cashew, so it was the ideal one and probably why it caught my eye. Even though she groused about having to eat a caramel, my roommate seemed to like it well enough. It just took her forever to eat it because she was just in a grumpy mood and thought it would get stuck in her teeth. She has a thing or two to learn about good caramel. Hopefully this helped.
The macarons, however, made the journey back to Louisville with us. And last night, I decided that they would be perfect to have for dessert. After polishing off dinner and doing up the dishes, I pulled out the macarons and dished out each of our chosen ones. Cathy got the green minty one and the deep brown chocolate/peanut butter one. And I got the two lighter colored ones. I was looking forward to trying these out for the first time.
Cathy had already taken a bite of each of hers by the time I made it back out to the living room. She declared that they were both really good, but that she really liked the Buckeye one. Being that it was chocolate and peanut butter, I now kicked myself for not getting it. But, alas…there will be other options.
I settled in and decided to give the Maple Walnut Macaron a try first. It was the lighter one of mine. One bite and I was hooked. The light, chewy outer layer was fantastic and very delicious. I loved how these treats weren’t heavy at all, despite being sandwiched around a layer of cream filling, usually a buttercream or a ganache. It was love at first bite. So, I moved onto the Mocha Hazelnut one…and yeah…that was like taking a bite out of a fresh coffee. Honestly. The flavors are amazing and just simple. I loved the softness of the cookie and the richness of the cream inside. I could have probably eaten more of these and not felt full at all. They are that light and airy. And yeah…I’m now a fan of macarons. Go figure.
Maybe I will give making them a try sometime.
Until then, I am thankful for places like Pistacia Vera in Columbus, Ohio…for having a gluten-free selection that is awesome and extensive…and so very good. Yeah…I’ll definitely be visiting this place again. They have way more flavors of macarons for me to try. And maybe I will get some coffee next time…just to see if it really is the best in town.
Pistacia Vera’s Maple Walnut Macaron and Mocha Hazelnut Macaron
Restaurant: Deagan’s Kitchen & Bar, Lakewood, Ohio
Sometime the best laid plans fall through and you have to find a plan B.
Welcome to my world on the night of The Monkees concert up in Lakewood, Ohio. Now, I have a friend who lives in Lakewood and we had made plans to all meet up prior to the show for dinner. Our original spot of choice was somewhere I found on Find Me Gluten Free. A little joint called Tommy’s Pizza and Chicken. Sounds like a dive, yes? But sometimes dives have the best food.
Unfortunately…we never found out. Upon arriving at Tommy’s, we could see that it was more of a carry-out sort of place than an eat-in. That wasn’t going to work…at all. It definitely was a dive. And after a couple of texts with my friend in the area, Cathy (yeah…2 Cathy’s…try to keep them straight), we laid out a couple of alternatives. Get gluten-free pizza to go and bring it to her place. Check out Aladdin’s (they serve up Lebanese/American food). But, with a little magic from my Yelp app on my phone under the gluten-free friendly tag…I discovered Deagan’s Kitchen & Bar, a gastropub that wasn’t too far away. It had good ratings. I suggested it. We all agreed to meet there.
Deagan’s was a happening place that night. Very busy. Very lively. We stepped inside and were greeted by the hostess. I said that there would be five of us so they went to prepare a table. We ended up being positioned near one of the windows in the front…but in a quieter side room. That was definitely a good thing. We were given menus to look at and brought some water to start with. Although tempted with the drink menu, we forwent that. Cathy (the roomie) got a Diet Coke for caffeine purposes, but Jenn and I stuck with water. I explained to our waitress, Anisa (she’s awesome, BTW!), that I was a gluten-free vegetarian. She said they had a special menu for me and would swap mine out with it. She returned a moment later with a menu with certain items highlighted and little notes written on it for how to make something gluten-free (like no pita bread). She said there were some vegetarian options on there as well. It was nice to have that kind of peace of mind.
Cathy (the other one) and her sister arrived soon after and got settled in with drinks and menus. We talked and talked and talked and finally decided that we should probably order since we did have a concert to make. Anisa returned ready to take our orders.
Cathy (the roomie) ordered her standard, must-have, when it is on the menu. Fish and chips ($18.00). Jenn decided to try one of their small plates and ordered the Polenta Croutons ($8.00). The polenta croutons are cubes of fried polenta served with sauteed mushrooms, Parmesan and parsley. It was different and it looked really good. And Jenn even tried to eat the mushrooms…but in the end, they were left behind. The rest, however…she devoured. Cathy (the local) ordered the small plate of Mac and Cheese ($11.00), which was a rather big bowl of noodles, Gruyere cheese and chives. She got it with a side of the Brussels sprouts ($ Cathy’s sister, Sarah, ordered the small plate of Seared Scallops ($12.00), which consisted of two large scallops and was served with shaved Brussels sprouts with grapefruit and pomegranate. She got a side of the House Fries with it. As for me…I decided to go with a salad in the end. I chose to go with their Arugula Salad ($8.00) and, since it was marked gluten-free, give their House Fries ($7.00) a try.
Anisa went to put our orders in and for the rest of the time before food arrived, all of us were chatting up a storm. We talked movies, books, music, concerts, work…you name it. And conversation continued even when food arrived to the table. It took some time. I was okay with that. Again, I don’t mind having to wait on my food. It means that it is prepared fresh and to order. Not sitting under some heat lamp somewhere or getting to know a microwave.
Deagan’s House Fries
My Arugula Salad was stunning, by the way. Simple. Very pleasing to the eye. Not a lot of color, but what was there popped. Deagan’s Arugula Salad consists of arugula, shaved fennel, Parmesan and pine nuts. It is lightly dressed in a lemon oil. Now, normally I find arugula to be too peppery on its own…but with the saltiness of the Parmesan and the pine nuts, it all balanced out. The lemon oil, however, is what really tied it all together. While the salad looked simple, the layers of flavor in there seemed complex. It all worked. It was fantastic and delicious. And I enjoyed it more than I normally enjoy a salad at restaurants. Honestly. This one was really good.
There were a lot of House Fries in my side order, so I shared with Jenn and Cathy (the roomie). They were fantastic cuts of potato that were topped with shaved Romano cheese and truffle oil. It was served with a spicy mayo. Oh. My. Potato. Gods. These fries were really good and really addictive. No joke. The simple addition of shaved Romano cheese and a hit of truffle oil just took them from standard fries to something that was out-of-this-world good. And different. The spicy mayo that it was served with was delicious and I took great pleasure in dipping my fries into them. Yeah…for a different twist on fries…I highly recommend these.
In the end, we all agreed that Deagan’s was the perfect place to end up when all was said and done. Our waitress took fantastic care of our table. We all enjoyed and devoured our food. Cathy (the local) had left over mac & cheese…which she took home in a box. There was a lot in that bowl they brought her. She and Sarah ended up splitting the special dessert of the night, a bread pudding with caramel and pear. It sounded divine…and looked it too.
Afterwards, we paid our checks and headed out. Cathy and her sister were heading back to her place. We had The Monkees to go and see. In the end, I am happy we ended up at Deagan’s. Sure…this meant I didn’t get my traditional gluten-free pizza the night before a big race (yeah…I was running a 15K the very next morning back down in Columbus, Ohio)…but I did get some carbs (thank you gluten-free House Fries) and had great company and amazing food. I’d go back to Deagan’s Kitchen & Bar in a heartbeat next time I’m in the area. Sometimes the best laid plans have to change to lead you to somewhere even better.
Sometimes being gluten-free can be difficult. I don’t say that to garner sympathy or anything. The fact is…sometimes I just want a bagel. Or a doughnut. Or even cinnamon rolls.
YES!! Cinnamon rolls.
In fact, this past couple of weeks I had been out-and-out craving gluten-free cinnamon rolls. While I could easily go to the grocery store and pick up some from Udi’s…let me tell you…that is not what I wanted. In fact, Udi’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls are the one item by Udi’s that I have not liked or praised up and down. I am just not a fan of the texture and taste of them. I wanted something with a crust on the outside and that was still gooey on the inside. You know…just like mom used to make…back when I was little and could still eat cinnamon rolls whenever I wanted.
Yeah…the gluten-free gig is a bit of a challenge at times, but I have no choice. Thankfully, however, I have a local bakery in Louisville, Kentucky that caters to those with food allergies. Everything they make is free of gluten, nuts, tree nuts, and soy. Upon request, they can make most of their goodies vegan as well (minus dairy/eggs). You gotta love that.
Well, I absolutely LOVE Annie May’s Sweet Café. I try to get over there for something whenever I am in town. This past Friday was the exception. I was actually heading out of town, but saw on their Facebook page earlier that week that they had Take And Bake Cinnamon Rolls. Oh…that hit the craving switch again so I inquired if they might have them in on Friday. They said they would, so I asked if they could hold one package of them for me. They said they could…and all I had to do was get to Friday and go pick them up.
After leaving work at noon, I headed into Louisville, Kentucky and swung by Annie May’s Sweet Café to pick up my order. As promised, they had a package there for me, along with the delicious icing to go with it. I was thrilledto say the least. And they looked awesome too. Nothing tiny about these cinnamon rolls. Each one weighed around 6 ounces and they just looked fantastic…even without being baked yet. The package of 4 cinnamon rolls ran me $12.00, but it was totally worth the cost. I was already wishing it was Saturday morning in Ohio so I could bake them up and devour them with my roomie and my friend Jenn.
Into the cooler in the car they went…and they made the long journey to Columbus, Ohio. Upon arriving at my friend’s house, I put them in the refrigerator until the morning.
When morning came, I sent my roomie out for coffee while Jenn and I prepared the rest of breakfast. I got out the cinnamon rolls and preheated the oven, according to the directions on the package. The oven was at 325 degrees and in went the pan. The package said to cook for around 7-9 minutes. I went with 7 to start with. And at the end of it, they weren’t yet golden, so I let it run a little longer. After 9 minutes passed…still not golden. The scrambled eggs we were having with them were done, so we dug in and I got a bit daring and set the timer for 2 more minutes. Still not golden. And still doughy in the middle. Not good doughy…but raw doughy. So…back into the oven they went. This time…for 5 more minutes. I was aiming for that golden brown that I associate with cinnamon rolls. When the timer went off this time, they were starting to turn a light shade of brown. So, I decided five more minutes, and after that I would call it done regardless.
We finished up our eggs and I impatiently waited for the timer to sound. When it did, I removed them from the oven and prodded them momentarily with a knife. Still not a rich golden color. Still a little soft in the middle…but it was good enough for me.
Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Take & Bake Cinnamon Rolls (baked and iced)
I set them down on a hot pad holder and pulled out a knife to apply the icing to the tops. Do it while it’s hot and it sort of just melts over the tops. Yummy. There were three of us and four cinnamon rolls, so I split one of them into thirds and began to serve them up.
For the amount of time it took to bake them, I can say this much…it was worth it. Not only did these cinnamon rolls leave me stuffed (perhaps we really didn’t need the eggs like we thought), but they did have a bit of a golden crust on the outside and that delicious soft middle going on. I was in cinnamon roll heaven. I love having a place nearby that can satisfy that craving for me whenever I need it. Really good gluten-free cinnamon rolls are difficult to come by…but Annie May’s Sweet Café really, really does it right. And I love that these are big. Like…Pillsbury Grand big. Size of a fist big. Just…big and packed with flavor. The icing, the soft middle…it was cinnamon roll nirvana for me.
I don’t know what I would do without Annie May’s Sweet Café in my life. Honestly. How I had never heard of them before this past year is beyond me. Now that I know about them…I can’t help but go back weekend after weekend. They are often my source of a breakfast if I am running in Louisville that Saturday morning. They have so much to offer, not just baked goods, but also soups, sandwiches, and pizza. Oh…I have got to go in sometimes for their pizza.
As it stands…cinnamon rolls were a huge hit with me. I am addicted. My mouth is watering even as I type this up. Another craving is hitting. But it’s Thanksgiving week…and their orders are at capacity. So my craving might have to wait a week or so before I can satisfy it again. Whether it was a temperature flaw or something with the oven…I don’t care. What emerged….in the end…was just like the cinnamon rolls my mom used to make.
In fact…they were better.
Annie May’s Sweet Café…thank you for setting up shop in Louisville, Kentucky and giving people with food allergies amazing, delicious food. My roommate and my friend don’t have to eat gluten-free…but when I am there…they do. And they agree…the cinnamon rolls were nothing short of awesome. I might have been full sitting at that kitchen table on Saturday morning…but I was full from your really good product. You haven’t let me down yet.
Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Take & Bake Cinnamon Rolls
Restaurant: The Claddagh Irish Pub, Columbus, Ohio
I love pubs.
I love pubs a lot. But as a vegetarian, I was already limited on what I could eat there. When I had to go gluten-free…my options got even smaller. In most cases, I hope for an amazing salad. It has happened before. The right flavor combinations, the right ingredients, and yes…even a salad can be magic.
It was Friday night…the beginning of an exciting and busy weekend…and I was in Columbus, Ohio visiting my friend Jenn. I had actually purchased a Living Social deal for The Claddagh Irish Pub in Columbus knowing that there would be a cause to use it at some point. And that night was Friday night after a long trip up in the car.
We arrived and found parking and made our way toward the front of the pub. We entered and were immediately greeted and asked if we had a reservation. Uh oh. Did that mean that there was something going on that evening? I replied that we did not have a reservation and the hostess didn’t even flinch before picking up three menus and guiding us toward the back room. We were seated at a low-lit table in the corner and given our menus to look over.
Although…when it comes to pubs, Jenn, my roomie and I pretty much already know what we want. Our waitress came over and introduced herself and asked if we knew what we wanted to drink. Cathy grabbed for the folder of booze and looked for the one word that makes her happiest at pubs. Yep. They had it. Magners. She and Jenn both ordered a pint of that. I stuck to water as…well…I was running later that weekend and I wanted to hydrate properly.
After our drink orders were taken and water was brought out to all three of us, we placed our orders. Both Jenn and Cathy went with their most favorite pub offering on any menu. Fish and chips ($13.99). As for me…I was down to two salads that interested me. I was having a hard time choosing and Cathy wasn’t helping me make the call. So after a little debate…I made up my mind.
My order…the Galway Salad ($7.99). I stuck with the Balsamic Vinaigrette for my dressing.
With orders in, we sat and talked. Magners were delivered. We discussed upcoming plans we all had, the concert we were seeing the next night, and just whatever we felt like talking about. Why? Because we are good friends and conversation is never an issue with us. Love that. And soon, we found our orders being delivered safely to our table. Jenn and Cathy had big planks of fish (they use cod in an ale batter) over a bed of pub chips (fries). They came with a side of slaw and tartar sauce as well. Cathy, who has taken to at least trying the tartar sauce, was quite impressed with it and alternated dipping her fish in the pool of ketchup on her plate and the tartar sauce. Needless to say…they enjoyed their fish and chips.
The Galway Salad looks like…a basic salad. It basically consisted of a bed of mixed greens that was topped off with a boat-load (seriously…it was crazy and a bit overwhelming to the palate) of sun-dried tomatoes, a pile of goat cheese, and a scattering of candied walnuts. They thankfully kept the balsamic vinaigrette to the side so I could add however much I wanted.
The salad was good…but there were just way too many sun-dried tomatoes. They were clumped together at times and would definitely overpower a bite if too many were on the fork. I had to scatter them out and really make sure that they were balanced out by the other components of the salad itself. And, let me tell you, when you are working with four ingredients, that can be a challenge. Thankfully the balsamic vinaigrette helped offset some of that as well.
Was it amazing? Not really. It was okay. Not bad. Just a bit unbalanced when it came to how it was topped. I mean…it was a very simple, basic salad. It was good. It was delicious. But it was a bit much at times when it came to the heavy-handed sun-dried tomatoes that topped it off. But, I got through it and polished off my plate, leaving the pub with a happy (and full) tummy.
The Claddagh served me a delicious salad. I will give them that. I left there full. But I think the chef needs to learn take a lighter hand with the sun-dried tomatoes as it was way overpowering at times. Thank goodness for the goat cheese and walnuts to help tamper that flavor down some.
The Claddagh’s Galway Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
It was a beautiful early November afternoon. And I was hungry. I was hungry and standing in Blue Mile, a local running store at The Summit in Louisville, Kentucky, shopping for reflective gear to wear while running since the days are growing shorter and the nights longer. And it hit me. I was hungry. So was my roomie. And we had no idea where I could eat.
Granted, I know I have the Find Me Gluten-Free app on my phone, but still…
At the mention of choosing somewhere to eat, the very helpful employee at the running store, who I know from group runs I go on every Monday night, suggested a few options, one of them being just up the shopping center sidewalk – Zoë’s Kitchen.
Now, I had been wanting to try out Zoë’s Kitchen for awhile now, but my roommate had been pretty certain that their gluten-free menu was either non-existent or just not very big. But, as I mentioned above, I have an app for that…so I pulled out my phone and the first place Find Me Gluten-Free listed was…yep…Zoë’s Kitchen. I pulled up the menu, and while much of the rather extensive gluten-free menu was meat-based…there were quite a few vegetarian/vegan options as well on there.
It was just up the way. I was hungry. I was sold.
So…with the reflective gear purchased, we thanked our food pimp/employee and away we headed to feed our bellies. Stepping into Zoë’s Kitchen for the first time, I was immediately reminded of how Noodles & Co. is run. You place an order and are given a number. The order is sent to the line and is prepared by the very capable staff in the back and then brought to your table. Simple. Easy. Effective. Right away, I informed the cashier taking the order that I am a Celiac and can’t have gluten. Then, I placed my order and the proper deductions from the dish were immediately taken. I loved that.
My order…the Gluten-Free Veggie Kabobs, which comes with a side of White Beans and a Side Greek Salad ($8.55). To make the dish gluten-free, the pita and the feta cheese are left off. This entree was not charged extra for being gluten-free. It was a simple button pressed on the cash register, and the computer took off the ingredients so that the kitchen staff knew how to prepare it. I loved that.
My roomie decided to give the Steak Stack sandwich a try, and got it with the highly recommended Rice Pilaf ($7.39). Her sandwich consisted of sliced steak, portobello mushrooms, mozzarella, caramelized onions, feta spread, tomato, and rosemary oil all piled into two slices of sourdough bread. She loved every bite of it, and is totally in love with the rice pilaf. It was recommended by a runner. Of course it’s going to be awesome.
My entree was much larger than I expected, despite not having pita bread to go with it. The Veggie Kabob’s are grilled to ultimate perfection, with just the right amount of charring on each vegetable. The kabob’s themselves are made up of charbroiled portobello, zucchini, peppers, onions, and tomatoes. A bowl of the braised white beans with fresh rosemary comes on the side, and a HUGE side Greek salad comes along with it. The salad was secondary, but I took a few bites of it anyway. What I really wanted to dig into were those kabobs. And that was what I did. I eased all the charbroiled vegetables off the wooden skewer and tried each and every one of them. They were very fresh and broiled to absolute perfection. The tomatoes were still juicy. The zucchini, peppers and onion were all cooked to perfection. But the star was the large chunks of meaty portobello mushroom. Cooked and charbroiled to a blackened perfection, these were my favorite part of the entire dish and what I kept saving for last when it came to what I chose to skewer with my fork.
The White Beans with Fresh Rosemary were delicious. Not overly seasoned, but packing a delicious flavor. The gravy that they were nestled and hidden in was absolutely amazing. And as for the side salad…the humungous side salad…what I could eat of it was very good. It didn’t even need any dressing. That was the best part. Trust me…that’s weird for me to say. But the greens, the onions, the chopped veggies were all very ripe and just worked. But, it was the least interesting part of the entree, so I focused on the kabobs and beans…and it satisfied and filled me up.
For the record, my roommate loved the Steak Stack sandwich and said that her portobello mushrooms were also the star of the entire sandwich. Leave it to a Mediterranean-inspired comfort food restaurant to nail mushrooms!! Honestly…we both raved about them and they were both cooked in different ways. That speaks volumes.
What also speaks volumes is that we returned for lunch…today. Yep. We were out that way to finish off grocery shopping and lunch was needed. We didn’t even hesitate to stop back into Zoë’s Kitchen once again. I got the same thing as yesterday, but with the Fresh Fruit instead of the beans. And my roomie…she opted to try the Greek Chicken Pita with the Rice Pilaf ($7.39), although originally had thought to get the Steak Stack again.
Yeah…twice visited in two days…and amazing food each time. That definitely speaks volumes. Now, Zoë’s Kitchen is a minor chain, which crops up in 12 states. They have around 54 stores scatted in these 12 states, and are based out of Birmingham, Alabama. Nothing on their menu is fried. Everything is made fresh. And you can tell. The quality of the food really shines. And that’s what is important.
I’m already anticipating my next visit back. Maybe this time I’ll get the Hummus…but it’s so hard to even consider not getting those charbroiled portobello mushrooms again. They still make me crave.
If you happen to live in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, or Virginia, chances are you can find a Zoë’s Kitchen somewhere nearby. Otherwise, you’re going to have to do some traveling if you’re seriously interested in this fast, delicious, Mediterranean-inspired food. I promise…it’s worth seeking out. I’m glad I did.
Zoë’s Kitchen’s Veggie Kabobs with White Beans and a Side Greek Salad
One of my biggest cravings since going gluten-free has been for, believe it or not, cinnamon rolls. Honestly. And it’s not that there aren’t gluten-free options out there. Udi’s makes some pre-packaged cinnamon rolls…which are…eh…okay, but definitely not one of their better products. And I attempted to make cinnamon rolls from a Chebe mix…and that was an epic fail of monumental proportions. Just…trust me on this one.
So, with the smell of Cinnabon lurking…everywhere…I resigned myself to the fact that unless I make my own (no easy task), that I would probably just have to stick with what Udi’s offers. Edible…but not a cinnamon roll in my mind.
And then, as luck would have it, I was in Dayton, Ohio for a chocolate festival. Yes…mock all you want…I am a female and I love chocolate. So the words chocolate festival will bring me to Dayton. Trust me. After sampling and buying a few items at the chocolate festival and doing a bit of antique shopping, my usual partners in crime (Jenn & Cathy) and I headed toward Centerville because, after dining at Sinfully Gluten Free before the Air Force Marathon 10K, I knew I had to go back. And I always will while in Dayton. Hands down.
Well, after placing our food order, I went shopping. Because here I am in a dedicated bakery/café…of course I’m going to buy some of their products. Among the items purchased…Sinfully Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls. Happiness abounded. And it even came with its own little tub of icing. YUMMY!
Of course, as is the case…these weren’t devoured immediately. Nope. They went back to Columbus, Ohio with me first. And then made the trip back to the Louisville, Kentucky area with me, via a cooler. And from there…they went into my freezer. But then…a busy weekend left me with no time to make gluten-free scones for my gym days…so…lo and behold…the cinnamon rolls were about to make their debut.
Sinfully Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls
Sinfully Gluten Free’s Cinnamon Rolls come in a container of 4. Each roll is around 4 ounces in weight. Since I froze them, I pulled them out of the freezer to thaw in the container overnight. After my hard gym workout, I carried it into work with me and settled in the kitchen with two plates and four cinnamon rolls. My roommate received two of them and I received two. I saw that you could just go ahead and microwave the lot of them in the container they came in (minus the lid), but I needed time to ice them and keep mine warm while I took the roomie hers. So…I slid them onto a plate, and put them in the microwave for about 1 minute. They emerged piping hot and ready for a schmear of icing. I topped them off, put the other two for me in the microwave, and heated them up while I delivered the other pair to my roommate across the office.
I returned soon after just as the microwave beeped. Out they came, hot and ready for icing. I topped them off and happily carried them into my office and settled in at my desk with a fork. They looked absolutely perfect. Just like the ones my mom used to make…but better…because these didn’t come from a can marked Pillsbury. With much anticipation building, I slid my fork through one of the rolls, feeling the dough happily give way, how soft it was on the inside, and with that…I took my first bite.
These made me beyond happy. They were a perfect texture, despite being nuked in the microwave. They were gooey on the inside. The icing complimented them, without being too sweet and overpowering. It melted right over the top and into the rings of the cinnamon rolls. The rolls themselves weren’t too dense. They were light, with a little weight from the cinnamon rolled up inside. Sweet. Savory. And just phenomenal. Honestly. I savored each bite for as long as I could, dragging out my breakfast because I didn’t want it to end. I didn’t want to reach that last bite.
But…sadly…like all good things…this did come to an end. One final bite and I messaged my roommate and said, “I wish we had more of those in the freezer.” So, needless to say, next time I’m in or around Dayton, I hope Sinfully Gluten Free has some of those on hand because they have to be the best gluten-free cinnamon rolls to exist in the gluten-free world. Honestly. I have yet to find better. They got it all right and I was totally lucky enough to have the chance to indulge and enjoy.
I hate to sound like a broken record, but they deserve the high praise again. Sinfully Gluten Free…you take gluten-free goodness to sinfully divine levels. This gluten-free girl is one happy customer, always hoping to find herself in or around Dayton…just so I can come by and purchase more of your scrumptious goodies. I hope the cinnamon rolls make it back into my life…and soon!
I know a few Celiacs and gluten-free peeps around here. I run with a couple of them too. And one of them, my friend Keith, has been raving about Uncle Maddio’s for just about as long as I’ve known him in our running group. And for some reason…I fell into the black hole of all the other local gluten-free pizza places, not branching out or just not going for pizza at all. Despite the high recommendation and regards concerning their safety procedures when it comes to preparing gluten-free pizza for their customers…this one just kept sliding through the cracks.
I am happy to report, however, that this past Saturday…I went to Uncle Maddio’s…and yeah…I can see why Keith and so many other people have raved about this place.
First of all, Uncle Maddio’s looks to be a very small chain that is expanding. They have a few locations in Georgia and the one here in Louisville, Kentucky. I am so thankful for the location here in Louisville now that I have checked them out.
It was just about right after they opened when my roommate and I made our way over to Uncle Maddio’s for lunch. One reason, aside from meaning to have checked it out long ago, was that we were already in the area. I had been in the local park running a 5K race that morning. After some coffee and a bit of shopping on Bardstown Road, we were ready for some actual food. And there it was…conveniently…offering me gluten-free pizza. Yeah…this was ideal.
So, my roommate and I entered and were greeted by the guy behind the counter. We explained that it was our first time there and that I am gluten-free. He immediately began changing his gloves. “Oh, gluten-free? No problem.” So, we eyed the menu for a moment and finally I told my roommate to pick a pizza, because as long as it is vegetarian, I’ll eat any topping. I’m not as picky as she is. So with a moment of consideration, she decided to go with one of their signature pizzas. Her choice – the Portobello Pesto ($9.99 (regular $7.99 + $2.00 up-charge for gluten-free)). What I really felt good about was when we placed the order, the other guy behind the counter pulled out a list to check the ingredients to make sure they would be gluten-free. Wow…that was an amazing thing.
Granted, Uncle Maddio’s does not make their own gluten-free crust. They have a pre-made vegan/gluten-free crust that is made from: rice flour, tapioca flour, potato flour, water, olive oil, sugar, yeast, and salt. It is only available in one size, a medium, which means six slices. I am certain this has everything to do with cutting down on any sort of cross-contamination. They have an extensive list of gluten-free toppings for the pizza as well. It’s kind of cool because of the way they are set up, you can watch as your pizza goes down the line if you so choose…like someone would watch their sandwich get prepared at Subway.
The Portobello Pesto Pizza is basically the gluten-free crust topped with their herb pesto sauce, mozzarella , portabella and white mushrooms, feta cheese, Roma tomatoes and fresh basil. Simple ingredients on a simple pizza, yes? My roommate made a fantastic choice, because the toppings would mean that I could really get a taste of the crust without sauce overpowering it…and also be able to clearly taste all the toppings on this, one of their signature pies.
We went to fill our drinks and take a seat at a booth. It actually took a little bit of time for the pizza to be prepared, which I actually do like. It means they aren’t being careless or taking shortcuts.
The pizza did arrive at our table and man…it looked absolutely delicious. Stunning. A work of gluten-free pizza art. I hated that I had to take pictures of it, because, honestly, I was ready to dive in for a slice. But I have to make sacrifices for this blog at times. Pictures first. Then…pizza time!
I served my roommate up a slice of the pizza, then placed a slice on my plate. With a fork and knife, I cut through the toasted crust, hearing the knife cut through the pre-made crust. I liked the thin-crust and the crunch that they achieved without burning it. Sometimes some places overcook those thin-crust gluten-free pizzas…but not Uncle Madio’s. It was perfection. And with the very first bite…I knew that this combination of toppings was now one of my favorites. Enough for me to declare that I needed to start making pesto. Hey…I love to be in my kitchen and lord knows I keep olive oil on hand. It all worked. The basil pesto didn’t overwhelm the pizza as a base. It wasn’t too strong…just right. And the rest of the toppings were seasoned and fresh. The portobella mushrooms were cooked to perfection. Not drippy or wet. They were absolutely stunning, laying on top. I could taste the freshness in the Roma tomatoes and the basil. The feta and mozzarella cheese were not piled high on top, but used more as a compliment to the other toppings. It wasn’t overwhelmed with cheese so the flavors really shined.
Yeah…I was impressed. I was beyond impressed. I was happy to be eating there. I was already trying to come up with the next vegetarian pizza to get there and try out. See how it does. Or…maybe get this one again. Because it truly wowed me. When in doubt…go with a signature pizza. They are signature meals for a reason, yes? And this one totally deserved its spot up on that board.
Peace of mind and a great serving and slice of pizza. I left there after eating half of the pizza and wasn’t crazy-full…a definite plus as well. The fact that they take such care with their customers who order gluten-free makes me feel confident about my next return. And yes…there will be a next time!
Isaac’s Famous Grilled Sandwiches, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
Restaurant: Isaac’s Famous Grilled Sandwiches, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
I have to once again break my vow to not blog about chains. And why? Because I recently visited a chain restaurant that is only found in Pennsylvania. Much like California’s own In-N-Out Burger, this little sandwich shop is only available regionally. Therefore, I will not be able to find anything like it where I live in Indiana.
Welcome to Isaac’s Famous Grilled Sandwiches. This chain began on August 25, 1983, when two friends attending college, Phil Wenger and Isaac Williams, met. After graduating and going in two separate directions (Phil taking a job in sales for a flower wholesaler and Isaac working as a chef in a local restaurant), the two friends began to brainstorm the idea of a deli/restaurant. Isaac provided the knowledge of cooking and his flair for decorating, and created an eclectic interior and a working menu. Phil provided the experience of running a business and his desire to create something that would give back to the community. And with that…Isaac’s Restaurant and Deli was born in the heart of Pennsylvania. Now with 20 restaurants in 6 counties of Pennsylvania, this local chain is providing a delicious menu with a variety of choices in soups, salads, and sandwiches.
So, how did this out-of-towner stumble upon this little chain? The Internet, of course. My roommate was researching possible places to eat after I ran in the Hershey Half Marathon while we were out and about in other areas of Pennsylvania. She came across Isaac’s on Find Me Gluten Free, and it had really great ratings. It also had gluten-free flatbread! Now there was something new and worth checking out, yes?
So, after a very successful run that morning in Hershey, Pennsylvania, my roommate, my friend Jenn, and myself headed out of town toward Ephrata, Pennsylvania. We wanted to stop by the grave of Major Richard D. Winters, best known from Band of Brothers. After the drive out there and the visit to the cemetery, we found that we were ready for lunch. There was actually an Isaac’s in Ephrata. Even better…it wasn’t that far away either. BONUS!
We made our way to the Cloister Shopping Center and pulled in to park. The actual center itself looked a bit sketchy. In fact, Isaac’s was located next to an open (WOW!) Blockbuster Video. I wasn’t feeling too confident about the situation. But, at this point, we were committed. We stepped up to the door, which thankfully had a large-scale version of their menu up. I double-checked the gluten-free option and it was listed…so we stepped inside. As we came in near the Blockbuster Video, we had to walk down a very long hallway in order to get to the restaurant itself. We stepped inside and went to the hostess station in order to be seated.
A table was just clearing up where the three of us could sit, so we were told it would only be a minute. Looks had to be deceiving, because Isaac’s was quite busy. Every table was taken. I glanced around in awe, as it didn’t look like much from the outside. Inside, it was very much like the old diners you are used to seeing in movies. There are crazy decorations and colors throughout the interior. And right next to the hostess stand…the dessert case. The three of us too a moment to ogle the pies and cakes inside…but then were told the table was clean and ready for us to be seated.
We followed the hostess to the booth and got situated. She said our waitress would be right with us and left us to peruse the menu. There were a lot of options to choose from. So much sounded really good. I was having a hard time deciding and I knew both Jenn and Cathy were also eying a few options as well. Our waitress came to our table to get our drink order, and we all stuck with water. She returned and gave us a little more time with the menu. When we were all set…a different waitress came over. Our waitress just got assigned a large party and they wanted to get our order in first. We appreciated that…and so we began to put in our order.
Jenn decided to create her own sandwich. She put salami and provolone on a pretzel roll ($6.99). It came with a side of ranch dressing. And she kept the chips as her side item. Cathy opted to do the half soup-half sandwich combo. She went with a half Mockingbird Sandwich (thinly sliced grilled ham and provolone cheese, topped with tomatoes and onions with mayo on hearty multigrain bread) with a cup of Isaac’s Famous Pepperjack and Tomato Soup. She had that with a side of the Utz Potato Chips ($7.39). As for me, I alerted them that I am a Celiac and was interested in trying the Gluten-Free Larkspur, which consisted of muenster and cheddar cheeses, fresh tomatoes, spinach and sprouts all wrapped up in a gluten-free flatbread and served with ranch dressing, which I was assured was also gluten-free. I ordered the dressing on the side and opted for the baby carrots as my side ($8.04).
I will point out that there is an up-charge for the gluten-free option on the menu. The gluten-free flatbread carries an additional $0.75 charge. Not a problem. After all, most restaurants charge a lot more.
Our orders went in and we had a good amount of time to sit around and chat. I mostly talked about how interested I was in this gluten-free flatbread. After our wait, our meals were brought out to us.
Let me tell you, the sandwich I got was nothing like what I expected. But…it looked fantastic. The gluten-free flatbread was grilled to a beautiful golden color. Inside it was stuffed with spinach, sprouts, and tomatoes. The cheeses were there…but not in overabundance. I appreciated that. And, as I asked, the ranch dressing came in a cup on the side. I was dying to try this out. Pausing only long enough to take a picture for my blog, I picked up the knife and sliced into the sandwich. I took that little wedge, dipped it in the ranch dressing and took a bite.
I died and went to sandwich heaven. The gluten-free flatbread was definitely the star of the show. In fact, what it reminded me of the fried bread that Taco Bell Chalupas were made in. They had a nice crisp outside but were great and soft when you chewed them. I found it to be the perfect compliment to my vegetables inside. And I honestly appreciated that the cheese wasn’t filling the sandwich. It complimented it instead. I gave a piece of the bread to both Cathy and Jenn and even they liked it. I savored every bite, not wanting the sandwich experience to come to an end. But with each bite…my sandwich grew smaller and smaller.
Here’s what I have to say…while it looked like an absolute dive on the outside, inside, Isaac’s is a quirky, fun little soup/sandwich/salad deli establishment. I had a great dining experience there. The waitress wrote in big letters on the order that mine was gluten-free. And the receipt also made mention that it was gluten-free and yes…it was an allergy. These are the little things that someone like me appreciates while eating out. It just puts your mind a little more at ease.
I never knew how much I missed flatbread until I could have it again. And this was a great place to start as far as finding one that had lots of flavor, no strange texture, and was just awesome with every bite. I didn’t even need the dressing…the bread provided a lot of the necessary flavor for a sandwich filled with fresh vegetables. This was love in flatbread sandwich form. And I was one happy gluten-free customer.
If I find myself back up in southeastern Pennsylvania again, I will actively seek out Isaac’s as a safe place for me to eat. Looks can be deceiving as I have come to find out quite often. And in this case…this little dive of a place in a strip mall provided me one of my favorite gluten-free sandwiches to date. The care of the staff at the restaurant and the variety of gluten-free options on the menu was awesome. Totally worth a repeat visit sometime!
Traveling is one of the hardest things for me to do and find a place that I can trust to serve me food that won’t make me sick. Honestly. It can be quite nerve-wracking. Put on top of that the added pressure of having a half marathon the next day and the last thing you want to do is eat something that might send your GI track into an unhappy rage.
Well, that was the situation this past weekend. I was heading to Hershey, Pennsylvania to run in the Hershey Half Marathon on Sunday morning. My journey began by going to my friend Jenn’s in Ohio, and then she, my roommmate, and I all headed up to Pennsylvania the following morning. Now, Jenn loves me lots and has a gluten-free pantry shelf of stuff we can eat when I am in town. Good friends are awesome! But, here we are on the road! However, because she loves me, she got on Find Me Gluten Free and found a little Italian place in Hershey, Pennsylvania with what looked like an extensive gluten-free menu.
As I have found that my best races so far have been after I have eaten gluten-free pizza, finding a gluten-free Italian place that has not only gluten-free pizza, but pasta, starters, subs, salads, entrees, and yes…desserts…right where I was going to be running a long, big race was probably one of the happiest finds ever. To top it off, a friend of mine didn’t live far from the resort where we were staying, and she just happened to know the owners of this amazing restaurant. So…we all had plans to meet up and go and enjoy a fantastic, safe (for me), Italian meal.
Let me tell you…with my lunch-on-the-go consisting of Chobani yogurt and a KIND bar, I was ready for some real food.
The place that we selected to eat was Piazza Sorrento, located on Briarcrest Square in Hershey. From what we had discovered online, this was a independently run local restaurant, where the owners and staff dedicate themselves to providing the Hershey area with the finest service, food, and wine at a fair and competative price. While striving to keep the history of the dish and region that it stems from intact, they provide regional and classic Italian cuisine using only premium ingredients. Part of that process is by sourcing local ingredients from the local commerce of the Hershey area. I loved that.
What I also loved was the extensive gluten-free menu that came up on their Web site.
After arriving in Hershey and heading over to Hershey Park to pick up my race packet and walk around the little expo that was attached, Jenn, Cathy and myself headed over to Hershey World to see what was going on, what prices were for things we were interested in doing, and to do some preliminary shopping in the gift shop. That took a little bit of time, so when we finished up, we hopped back into the car, checked into our resort, and just sort of relaxed while waiting on Kathy (yes…another one, different spelling) to arrive so she could direct us to the restaurant the four of us would be dining in. She arrived early…and we were okay with that because we were hungry! Heading out, we met up in the garage of the resort, and she offered to drive to show us the sights of the area. A sort of grand tour if you will. But first…food.
We arrived just a little before 5 p.m. at Piazza Sorrento and headed inside. We were greeted by a very friendly hostess who asked if we wanted to dine in the restaurant or the pizza shop. We weren’t aware there was a difference, but we decided on the restaurant in the end. It took only a moment for them to ready a booth for the four of us, and we asked for one gluten-free menu for me. She happily complied, and went and took us to our seat, letting us know that our server, Lydia, would be with us shortly.
Lydia did arrive rather promptly to the table to see what we would like to have to drink. As I was running, I was all about the water. And it seemed everyone else at the table felt that way too. So, water it was. She came back and went over the specials on the menu, noting that since I had a gluten-free menu, to mention what specials were gluten-free…and this included soups. I loved how knowledgeable she was. It really put me at ease. And the fact that I didn’t have to give my, “I’m a Celiac…” speech was a nice change of pace. She went to ready the bread basket and asked me if I would like a gluten-free roll. I was so shocked that it took me a moment to answer. But I answered correctly. “Yes, please.”
Piazza Sorrento’s Gluten-Free Roll
She returned with the bread basket and two plates of herbs for dipping. The one she set down in front of me was the gluten-free one. All we had to do was add the oil. My roll wasn’t out yet, but my dinner guests waited until it was delivered to the table before they dug into the regular bread basked.
This roll looked fantastic. The plate that it was sitting on came with a tag, marking it as one of Piazza Sorrento’s Gluten-Free Options. I love that they have a labeling system. With oil poured onto my herbs, I reached down and tore a hunk of my gluten-free roll off. A little steam rose from it and it smelled amazing. Fresh. Delicious. I took my first bite without the oil and herbs. I wanted to savor the roll and enjoy it on its own first. Really just draw my opinion from the bare bread itself. It was…fantastic. Very light. Very soft. Warm. Fresh. I wanted to devour it and ask for another one. But, I behaved.
And soon, Lydia was at our table preparing to take our orders. Cathy wanted to get one of their House Specialties, so she asked Lydia if she had to recommend one item on the menu…what would it be. Lydia said she couldn’t limit it to one, but she could tell her some of her favorites and house favorites. Which she proceeded to do and then, left Cathy to ponder for the time it took the rest of us to order our meal.
Jenn went with the small order of Crab and Tortellini ($16.00). Kathy opted for the Chicken Piccata ($18.00). Cathy finally decided on the Pappardelle Bolognese ($17.00). As for me…I needed pizza to fuel my run. So after going back and forth between a couple of the vegetarian, gluten-free options (because…yes…there were lots of options), I settled on the Gluten-Free Old World Pizza ($9.00). Lydia went to put our orders in and we had plenty of time to talk about Hershey, the park, the race, and just get caught up on what was going on with whom and why and it was the perfect little get together. Great setting too.
Piazza Sorrento’s Gluten-Free Old World Pizza
When food arrived at the table it looked absolutely delicious. My pizza was once again marked with one of the slips of paper declaring it to be a Piazza Sorrento Gluten-Free Choice. Food labeling makes me feel at ease. This was the smallest little touch…and yet, it meant the world to me. With our food in front of us, we all just dove right in. Sort of. I had to take pictures and both my phone and my camera were acting up. But…I got it sorted and photographed and then wasted no further time before lifting my first slice of pizza and taking a bite.
The Gluten-Free Old World Pizza from Piazza Sorrento is the classic Old World Style pizza. It is the crust, with a layer of provolone cheese, then topped with tomato sauce and finished off with a sprinkling of Romano cheese and some oregano. I had never tried an Old World-style pizza before and this was one of the House Specialties on the menu…so I figured why not try something I haven’t been able to get anywhere else. I’m glad I did.
The crust on the pizza was a thin crust pizza, probably of a rice flour base. It cooked up crispy…with a little softness to it. So…just right for me. I love a thin crust pizza anyway…always have. Gluten-free pizza crusts are usually quite thin, so this transition has been easy for me. The hard part is finding one that is really fantastic on its own. Piazza Sorrento has a really delicious one. The Gluten-Free Pizzas only come in the 10 inch size, which is pretty normal of any establishment that serves gluten-free pizza. I knew there would be leftovers…meaning my friends and I would have pizza for dinner the following evening…as our resort suite had a fridge and a microwave. SCORE! But I am digressing…
Let’s return to the star of the table at the moment…the food. My friends all really enjoyed their meals. And I happily downed two slices of my Gluten-Free Old World Pizza. The provolone cheese on the bottom was melted to perfection. The sauce over it was packed with flavor. Not bitter at all. The tomato flavor really shined. And the light dusting of Romano and oregano really just topped it off. I probably could have eaten more, but I didn’t want to stuff myself to the max in case…there was room for dessert.
And with us…there normally is. Especially when there are gluten-free options available.
Lydia brought out the dessert tray and went over the what each item was and explained which ones were available as gluten-free. Both Jenn and Kathy opted for the tiramisu (one of the gluten-free options) ($7.00). Cathy went with her favorite Italian dessert…cannoli ($3.50). As for me…I went with the Gluten-Free Ricotta Cake ($8.00). It just looked…really yummy.
The Ricotta Cake is basically a very light sponge cake that was drizzled with white vermouth and topped off with Ricotta cheese and fresh fruit. It is one of the favorites among customers…and now I know why. When dessert arrived…I couldn’t wait to dig in. I picked up my fork and slid it easily through the cake. It was like a hot knife going through butter. So creamy. So soft. So moist. I was already anticipating my first bite. And when I took it…I think I melted. Seriously. This had to be the best cake I had ever bitten into. I had to share a bite with my friends. I honestly did. Because it was that amazing. Had Piazza Sorrento been open on Sunday, I probably would have stopped in just for cake. In fact, my friend Jenn had mentioned doing just that because even she fell in love with it at the one bite she had. We both said that it tasted like cannoli in cake form. Honestly…super good. Just melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
After dining there, I tried to e-mail the restaurant to see about getting the recipe…but the e-mail kept bouncing back to me. I finally settled on messaging them on Facebook…but have yet to receive a response.
There is nothing bad I can say about Piazza Sorrento. Honestly it has been one of the best dining experiences I have had, coupled with one of the best meals I have ever eaten. I didn’t need to worry about if the food was going to react poorly with me, especially before such a big race day. I felt confident in the competence of Lydia and the rest of the staff there. And the food was great…and I didn’t get sick at all.
Whoever said that gluten-free was boring and lacked variety and choices hasn’t been through Hershey, Pennsylvania and tried out Piazza Sorrento. I encourage you, whole-heartedly, that if you happen to be in the land of chocolate…or within driving distance, to check out Piazza Sorrento and see for yourself. The gluten-free menu will blow you away, the service and safety the staff take will astound you. But it will be the taste of the food that will make you wish that you had this place in your own hometown. I envy the people who live here…because this has joined the ranks of one of my favorite places to eat. But when you live in Indiana…it means returning won’t happen too often.
Oh…I also encourage you, should you go to eat at Piazza Sorrento, to try the delicious Gluten-Free Ricotta Cake. It’s worth saving room for…or finding room for. Trust me.
It was at long last that I finally made it to Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt. After hearing all about it from my friend Andy, who loves their banana split, and attempting to have it over Labor Day weekend, only to find the shop closed for the holiday…I was elated to find them open for business (which they are…year round) on Saturday while I was in the Indianapolis area for a Gluten-Free Expo.
I had just shared a gluten-free pizza with my roommate so I wasn’t exactly sure of what we might be getting when we pulled up to the little corner shop in Fishers. You don’t eat inside, mind you. There is no dining room and no tables scattered about the place. The people that were there were taking their treats to their car to enjoy.
But, we had decided to try this banana split that Andy raved about. I mean, it was coming with such high regard and a full endorsement from an Ironman athlete himself. Why not? We’d find that hatch in our stomachs, open it, and make some room. We stepped up to the window and the young man behind the sliding glass awaited our order. We were easy…banana split. Traditional. That meant we took off the dowsing of crushed red maraschino cherries that usually is slathered over the chocolate ice cream and replaced it with hot fudge. That’s how I like it. Traditional.
With the order in…my roommate and I stepped aside and began to watch the construction of our banana split through the window. In a clear plastic tub (no kidding!), we watched as mounds…huge heaping mounds of strawberry ice cream, chocolate ice cream, and vanilla ice cream were piled high in the container. We both looked at each other. HOLY CRAP! That was going to be a lot of ice cream and this banana split was going to be…huge. No dinner for us tonight. Whew. Once the ice cream was scooped out in three massive piles, the next step was the toppings. There was a brief food porn intermission though while our server took a moment to rip into a banana and slice it up into rounds. Then…they brought on the toppings. Pineapple was poured over the mountain of vanilla ice cream. Strawberries went over the strawberry ice cream. And, per our request, hot fudge drenched our chocolate ice cream. Atop of that went a mixture of chopped nuts. The the bananas were scattered throughout the sundae…everywhere they would fit. Finally, an avalanche of whipped cream was squirted on top. No cherry for us as we requested they be left off the chocolate ice cream. And so…it was handed over to us.
The Handel’s Banana Split ($5.75) is truly a work of art…of Titanic proportions. I don’t even know how we managed to find room for all of this…but we found a bench nearby in front of a shop at the strip where Handel’s is located (NO ice cream in my car…ever!) and dug in.
O.M.G. So good. I started with the strawberry, as strawberry ice cream is one of my favorite things in the world. It was really good, but I found the strawberry topping to almost overwhelm the ice cream itself. It was so sugary-sweet and a bit too much. My roommate agreed and we both pretty much scraped off the topping to enjoy the strawberry ice cream below it. The vanilla was a simple vanilla. Nothing outstanding or to make it really stand out from other vanilla ice cream that I have enjoyed. Again, the pineapple topping was far too sweet and we sort of worked it off and enjoyed the ice cream beneath it. The chocolate ice cream was decadent, delicious, and coated in amazing hot fudge. I’m so glad we went with hot fudge because I am afraid if we left the cherries on…we’d be scraping those off too. But the hot fudge was out-of-this-world good and it made a perfect banana split topping for the chocolate ice cream. I’m not a whipped cream girl, so my roommate ate much of that. While the ice cream was good…the real stand out in the banana split was…the mixed nuts. No kidding. They were crunchy, not salty, and just amazing. We raved about them and would seek out bites with the nuts included. So delicious. And the other thing about Handel’s Banana Split is that I love it when places chop up the banana. It’s unconventional, I know, but it makes eating the sundae that much easier. So…that was awesome too.
Now that I look at the Handel’s Web site, I realize that this is actually a small chain, with stores scattered throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Virginia, California and Florida. The Handel’s dynasty has actually been around since 1945, where they make their ice creams and yogurts fresh on the premises every day. The products, equipment, methods, and recipes are exclusively Handel’s…so you won’t have anything like it anywhere else. They operate on the philosophy of using the best ingredients available…and always in abundance. If you saw the size of the banana split…you would see that they aren’t kidding. They don’t skimp on portions, toppings, or flavor. You definitely get what you pay for!
I admire a company that has been around and scooping since 1945. I was kind of sad to see it was a bit of a chain, despite being relatively local and small. I have this love of independently owned ice cream shops…where you only get that kind of ice cream there. Now I know that if I really want Handel’s Ice Cream while in Columbus, Ohio…I can get it. Of course, in Columbus I stick to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream.
So, while Handel’s did deliver a colossal banana split to my roommate and I…which we powered through and then promptly declared ourselves at max capacity for the day, it wasn’t the best one I have ever eaten. It definitely had it’s moments. The rich chocolate ice cream, the hot fudge, and the nuts being the stars of this banana boat show. But next time I’m in the area, I might seek out one of the locally owned, independent ice cream shops and give that a try. Handel’s was a solid, delicious stop. The toppings were really sweet and too much, but the flavors were awesome. And we definitely devoured the banana split down to the very last bite…which was the strawberry ice cream for me and the chocolate for my roommate. It was good…but I have definitely had better.
If you are craving ice cream that is made fresh every day, packed with flavor, and comes in epic proportion sizes…check out Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt. They are definitely worth a stop, a look, and a taste. Spoonful-for-spoonful…the ice cream was really good…and very filling. So bring a friend to help you get through it all.
The Celiathlete 