Restaurants – Page 17 – The Celiathlete

May 11, 2012

A sticky, sweet, delicious (gluten-free) breakfast can be found at Syrup

Restaurant: Syrup, Denver, Colorado

So…does everyone remember my favorite meal of the day?

I’ll give you a hint:

It’s usually the first meal you eat.

Yeah. Breakfast. Oh, how I love breakfast. How I crave breakfast. I can eat breakfast for every meal of the day and be a happy, happy girl. It is the most diverse, most delicious, most creative meal that can be baked, cooked, toasted, sauteed, fried, poached, or done however you like it with a variety of different ingredients. And the combinations…are endless.

I always like to treat myself to one good breakfast/brunch out when I’m on vacation. Last year, my roommate and I hit up a restaurant that specialized in crepes (which we revisited this year and I think I had the most perfect gluten-free crepe of my life!) while in Denver. This year, after a little hunting around, I chose a different place to try. And, we happened to visit it on the day we were flying out. One filling breakfast would be really good before boarding a flight from Denver back to Louisville, yes?

That’s what I thought.

So…we took a short little drive to the Cherry Creek area of Denver and hit up this little breakfast/brunch/lunch joint called Syrup.

What really got my attention when I was researching restaurants in the area was that there was a gluten-free menu. Actually, I’ve come to find out that Colorado is like…some gluten-free haven, so pretty much anywhere you go, there is something gluten-free on the menu…or a separate gluten-free menu if you have to avoid gluten. It’s awesome. Is it any wonder I want to move out there?

This is a little unassuming little place located on the bottom floor of a building. This meant walking down some stairs to enter the restaurant. My roommate and I were shown to a table immediately. The waitress was alerted of my gluten sensitivity and she immediately pointed out that they could make waffles, pancakes, and English muffins gluten-free for me, so, whatever I desired…I could have.

Awesome!

After much consideration and back and forth, I finally settled on a waffle. A nice Belgian waffle sounded awesome. So, order in, I went with the Strawberry Fields Gluten-Free Waffle. This is a delicious Belgian waffle that is covered with freshly cut strawberries that have been sauteed in Syrup’s own handcrafted Strawberry Syrup. Yeah…as we all know…if it has strawberries…it wins.

My roommate opted for a traditional Belgian waffle with traditional butter (because, yes…you do get an option on a flavor of butter) and originally went with the Buttermilk Syrup. She was told that it was a cold syrup, so she changed it to the handcrafted Apple Cinnamon Syrup. And we decided to split an order of the hash browns.

Syrup's hash browns (half order) — Syrup’s hash browns (half order)

With our orders in, we settled in to discuss our trip, some of our favorite things, and drink in the atmosphere. We saw some dishes come out to other diners…fluffy, huge pancakes, and even some lunch-type items as well…sandwiches and the like. It all looked really good.

Before we knew it…our plates were set before us. Let me tell you…not only did my gluten-free waffle look amazing, but it smelled amazing too. The strawberry syrup just sort of brought out everything good and awesome (which is…everything) about strawberries. Especially on waffles. YUMMY!! I love fresh fruit on breakfast goodies like pancakes, french toast, and waffles. This…was heaven for me.

My roommate’s waffle was done to the perfect crispy, soft texture you want in a Belgian waffle. She loved her whipped butter. But, more importantly, she fell in love with the apple cinnamon syrup (which was green, btw!). I tasted it…yeah…it was awesome.

As for my amazing Strawberry Fields Gluten-Free Waffle…all I can say is that I was in a happy, happy place at first bite. I just wanted to savor it. The fresh strawberries were an amazing touch. They were only enhanced by the handcrafted strawberry syrup, which…was a sweet, delightful topping on my waffle. It was swimming in a sea of strawberry flavor and I just wanted to soak all of it up. And I tried to with every bite of my waffle.

The hash browns were lightly cooked. I topped mine with a bit of hot sauce and enjoyed their soft texture with just an outlying crunch on the edges. Very nice and a great compliment with the sweetness of the waffle. I was stuffed by the time I was done eating, but not to the point of feeling too full. It was just the right amount of food. And it was prepared with such care, skill, and done to perfection. Nothing overdone or underdone. The waffle had the right texture, the right crisp, the right amount of sweetness. Yeah…I was in gluten-free waffle heaven.

Whether you wake up for breakfast or just love having a nice breakfast treat, I highly recommend Syrup. Not only does their menu offer pancakes, waffles, and french toast done in a variety of ways, but sandwiches, burgers, eggs, omelets, fruit, oatmeal, salads, etc. are also offered. There is a little something for everyone.

But if you are wise, when you eat at a place called Syrup…order something with one of their specialty handcrafted syrups. I promise, it’s totally worth it. I’m already planning to return next year. I was that impressed.

Denver is lucky. It has a wide variety of fantastic places to eat. But this one…takes the pancake…gluten-free…with a nice topping of…handcrafted maple vanilla syrup.

Oh…yeah!

Syrup's Gluten-Free Strawberry Fields Waffle — Syrup’s Gluten-Free Strawberry Fields Waffle

May 10, 2012

Espressolé Caffe brews up Denver’s best coffee

Restaurant: Espressolé Caffe, Greenwood Village, Colorado

Nothing makes me happier when I am out and about than a latte, cappuccino, or a mocha from somewhere local. Granted, Caribou Coffee (YUM YUM) and Starbucks will do in a pinch, but there is something so amazing and special about independent, local coffee houses.

So…I tend to seek them out.

(For the record, I sought out Caribou Coffee at the Denver airport upon flying in and before flying out, LOL!)

Just up from the Denver Marriott DTC there is this little shopping center. And in this shopping center is this really amazing cafe called Espressolé Caffe. Attached to this little coffee shop is a cooking school. If I lived in the area, do you realize where I would be, like, all the time??!! Well, I wasn’t there to attend the cooking school that Sunday morning…I was there for some caffeine.

It turns out that Espressolé has been voted the best coffee in Denver. Seriously. And considering how many coffee houses exist, that’s no easy task. That being said, my roommate and I ducked inside that morning to sit in some chairs, relax, and have a morning coffee boost. She ordered a white chocolate mocha with a hit of hazelnut (one of her favorite things to order). I got the Maple Latte with almond milk. (YES!! Almond milk is in every little local cafe in Colorado it seems, making me one happy coffee drinker.)

It took a moment for the drink orders to be made, and I never mind waiting around in coffee shops. We were taking these to drink there, so they would be in mugs and everything. Awesome. Cathy’s White Chocolate Hazelnut Mocha was up first and I went to retrieve it. It smelled awesome and she was quite happy to sip from the foamy top for a moment and savor the taste. She said that it wasn’t bitter at all (perfect espresso pour!) and that it was just rich and creamy and yummy. Yes. Yummy.

My Maple Latte with almond milk was up next. The latte art was very pretty. I love latte art. And the foamy top was done to a frothy perfection. Foam is one of my favorite things on an espresso or cappuccino so I love it when it’s done to perfection. I was hooked on this drink. I wish more places offered a maple latte because this was beyond delicious. It was sweet, without being too sweet, with that little maple flavor that reminds you of fresh syrup on pancakes. The espresso was a perfect pour, very smooth. And it all came together in a caffeinated beverage that I wanted to savor for as long as I possibly could. I did so too, until it started to cool down and I knew that I needed to polish it off before it got cold.

YUMMY!! No…for real. I can see why Espressolé Caffe has been voted the best coffee in Denver. It’s honestly the best coffee I have had…anywhere!! In addition, their pastry case even offered quite a few gluten-free breads/pastries/goodies. WOOHOO! I was gearing up for gluten-free crepes later that day, so no gluten-free goodies this time, but I intend to be back next year and perhaps I’ll indulge then…with another amazing maple latte.

Oh, if I lived in Denver I would be in SO much trouble. Believe me when I say I’m hitting up Espressolé Caffe every morning next time I’m in Denver. It’s just a short walk from my hotel and a whole lot of caffeinated goodness…so close to my home base.

Best coffee…ever. Fact!

Espressolé Caffe's Maple Latte with Almond Milk — Espressolé Caffe’s Maple Latte with Almond Milk

May 6, 2012

No blues here, just good times and great coffee at Folsom Street Coffee

Restaurant: Folsom Street Coffee, Boulder, Colorado

If I were to choose another place in this country to take up residence…it would be Boulder, Colorado. Hands down.

Not only is it a hip, happening place, but it is so healthy and full of energy and life. It’s a little piece of Bohemia up in the mountains. And I love every moment I am there.

This year when I ventured over to Boulder, Colorado, I was meeting up with someone. And as she knows the area, she chose to meet up for coffee at Folsom Street Coffee. Now, we all know that I am a coffee addict. So, a little non-chain, independent coffee place is always high on my map. She chose well.

My roommate and I arrived early and settled in to wait. But, soon we were eagerly contemplating what type of drink to get. And before you knew it, we were placing our order at the counter.

Cathy went with a simple mocha, which, mind you, is prepared with chocolate milk. WHAT a concept. Honestly. And the chocolate…Ghirardelli. YES!

I was feeling a latte that day, and went with a strawberry latte made with almond milk. Oh yeah…almond milk abounds at these little coffee shops in Colorado, and I am so thankful for that. Unfortunately, they were out of strawberry syrup, so I changed my order to a blackberry latte made with almond milk. No harm, no foul. Still berry-licious in a latte type way.

We could see our drinks being prepared as we sat there and just sort of drank in the atmosphere. When our order was up, I went to retrieve it, admiring the beautiful latte art in the process as well.

And at first sip, the mix of the berry flavor with the awesome espresso shot was a perfect combination for me that morning. I loved the way the espresso played with the sweet undertones of the blackberry syrup. And the almond milk frothed up beautifully and gave me the perfect foam that I love on a latte. So delicious.

Interesting to note that Folsom Street Coffee is Boulder’s only zero waste coffeehouse. In addition, it is family owned and operated as well. I love independent shops. And let me tell you, this place was packed. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, and people were still coming in as the time we spent in there talking ticked away. Yeah…it was a perfect coffee experience in the perfect city in my view. If you find yourself near Boulder, Colorado, I encourage you to stop in at Folsom Street Coffee. Treat yourself to something delicious and caffeinated from this awesome little coffee shop.

Folsom Street Coffee's Blackberry Latte with Almond Milk — Folsom Street Coffee’s Blackberry Latte with Almond Milk

May 2, 2012

McCabe’s Bistro and Pub hits gold with Irish atmosphere and menu

Restaurant: McCabe’s Bistro and Pub, Aurora, Colorado

It was that time of year. Time for the annual trek to Colorado.

Why head out to Colorado? Well, there is this fantastic little convention that I have attended for the past four years. I’ve sort of fallen in love with my journey’s out there. Everything is so beautiful. And, it helps that I know a local out there who can direct me to some fantastic food.

Now, my good friend Sharon knows that my roommate and I are big on pub grub (I know…like you couldn’t tell!). So, she called me up a couple days before we headed out and mentioned grabbing some lunch on our first day out there at this little local pub, that makes some of the best Irish food in the Denver area, before going up into the foothills and mountains and having a fun afternoon. Now…how can we say no to that sort of a lead-in? Besides…it’s a pub we had yet to try…and this had to be remedied.

Upon our arrival in Denver, we got our rental car and headed to Sharon’s home. We got things together and she drove us out to the Southlands Shopping Mall. And there, tucked away in this little outdoor shopping center, was McCabe’s Bistro and Pub. It doesn’t look very Irish upon first glance. After all, it is situated in a shopping center. But all of that changes the moment you walk through the door.

That Irish hospitality is evident from the moment you set foot in the door. We were seated in a rustic little booth near the back and given some time to peruse the menu. Although, coming into this, we pretty much had an idea of what we wanted to dine on. Sharon went for the McCabe’s Sirloin Shepherd’s Pie. Cathy, naturally, went for her usual order of fish and chips. And this left me. Being a vegetarian with a gluten sensitivity doesn’t always make pub grub the easiest to navigate. We told the server of my food allergies and she assisted as much as she could. When asked about the fries, though, she indicated they were fried with the breaded fish…so those were out.

What I ended up getting was this fantastic little salad. It is the Pear & Gorgonzola Salad, which is a mix of baby greens with the addition of sliced pears, toasted walnuts, red onion, and a sprinkling of gorgonzola cheese with a balsamic vinaigrette. I was very careful when placing my order, wanting to make sure that I wouldn’t have any problems with what I was eating that might make me ill. I wanted to enjoy this vacation and not worry about getting glutenized, which was what happened at the last pub I ate at in Denver. With the assurance of the server…we talked while we awaited our order.

Soon, it was brought out to the table. While my friends both were served lunch portions, my salad was H-U-G-E. I was okay with that. Because when you are making a meal out of salad, it is best to have it big and filling. And, let me tell you, the combination of flavors really worked on this one. The mild greens paired very well with the sweetness of the pairs, and the bite of the onions gave it a bit of volume. But the star of this salad was the fantastic toasted walnuts. Honestly, when mixed with the drizzle of the balsamic dressing, this was the absolute star of the salad. I found myself saving the walnuts for last because I loved the way they tasted. So delicious.

We all dug in and took our time savoring our food. Perfect size. I was ready now to go out and explore a bit of the mountains and enjoy an afternoon with friends. That’s what this trip was all about. And with McCabe’s so close, I know I’ll be going back and enjoying another meal there next time I’m in town. Just an amazing little pub in an unexpected little place. And when you can enjoy great Irish pub grub with good friends…life is already awesome. The food here…was very good and they made me feel at ease about what I was eating.

Irish hospitality with the volume turned up.

March 26, 2012March 26, 2012

Special diets get VIP treatment at Stacked Pickle

Restaurant: Stacked Pickle, Carmel, Indiana

Leave it to a neighborhood restaurant-bar to take better care of me and my dietary needs then some of the high-class, upper echelon of restaurants I have dined in. This is no joke. I was treated like an absolute VIP at the Stacked Pickle in Carmel, Indiana, when I was in town over the weekend.

I actually had never heard of the Stacked Pickle prior to a couple weeks before going. A friend of my roommate and I posted a picture of her fish and chips meal on Facebook. Well, if you’ve been following this blog you know how my roommate is about her fish and chips. Immediately…we had a new place to eat next time we were in town. And it just so happened that not only was I running in a race up in the area, but I was attending the Celiac Awareness Tour as well. It looked like we finally had our time.

I took a look at the menu online, as I normally do, given that I am a vegetarian with a gluten allergy. Normally, my usual order at such a place would be a salad with the fries. But, french fries can be tricky depending on how they are cooked. If they share a frier with breaded foods, well…game over.

On the Web site’s page, however, there was a place to click in order to contact the restaurant. I went ahead and took it upon myself to contact the restaurant in regards to my special dietary needs and went ahead and inquired about how the fries were cooked, something I have been learning to do after becoming ill after eating somewhere and not asking. The owner, Chris Long, contacted me back not long after I sent the original message about coming in on Saturday and my special dietary needs. He immediately assured me that dishes could be made vegetarian, “from vegan to lacto, ovo, & pesco…” As for the fries, they are “beer battered,” he told me, so best if I stayed clear of them. In addition, he included the name and e-mail address of the chef, and told me to please get in contact with him.

Already I was feeling at ease about going here. I went ahead and sent an e-mail to Bill Gruesser, the chef at the Stacked Pickle. Once again, I had a quick response that not only put me at ease, just made me feel really comfortable about dining in an establishment where gluten-free is not their way of doing things. This doesn’t happen often. Chef Bill assured me that salads could be made without any of the proteins and that the balsamic dressing (my favorite anyway) was gluten-free. As for other meals, the black bean burger was a good vegetarian option, as well as gluten-free if ordered without the buns and with a side other than fries. He told me to ask for him when I arrived.

Saturday came and I went and ran my race, attended the Celiac Awareness Tour, and headed out for some food. The people at the Stacked Pickle are incredible. I felt right at home upon being greeted, told to take a seat anywhere, handed a menu and told my server would be over in a moment. My server was the delightful Hannah, who was working with her foot in a boot due to some sort of injury. But she was getting around great. She came to get our drink orders and, as I was instructed, I asked for Chef Bill and she said she would definitely go and get him.

Our drinks were brought over and soon Chef Bill came out to greet me. He gave me a nice handshake and pulled up a chair to go over my food options that day. I had settled on the Fu-Fu Salad (minus he chicken) and would choose a ‘safe’ side to come with it. He said that was easy enough and then said, since he knew I was coming, he had sent someone over to Meijer earlier that day to look for gluten-free pasta so he could offer me a pasta dish instead, but they couldn’t find any there. What an amazing thing for a chef to do! This was a first. He laughed and said it was sort of like dangling a carrot in front of me and then jerking it away, but I assured him the extra effort, despite not being able to fulfill it, was definitely appreciated. I have never been to a restaurant where the chef has come out to talk to me personally about my options, nor attempted to do something completely off the menu for me in order to give me another option. There was not only something special about the Stacked Pickle, but its owner and chef as well. I thanked Chef Bill and he returned to the kitchen and Hannah came over to take our orders.

Hannah came over soon after and said that Chef Bill let her know I was interested in the Fu-Fu Salad (sans chicken) ($7.79). Again, I loved that he went ahead and also let my server know and that she was very diligent about double-checking the order with me. One more glance at the description and I was sure that everything else on the salad was safe and fell into my dietary guidelines. I went ahead and ordered it with a side of the Mandarin Oranges ($0.99). My roommate, of course, knew what she was going to get. Fish and Chips ($9.99) was her choice. With the orders taken, Hannah went to give them to the kitchen.

Our food arrived a short time later and it looked fantastic.

The Fu-Fu salad consists of fresh romaine lettuce, red onions, honey-glazed walnuts, and strawberries. Remember…with me…if it has strawberries, it wins. It came dressed in the balsamic dressing, which definitely paired deliciously with every component of that salad. All of the ingredients were fresh, the strawberries sweet, the lettuce crisp, and those walnuts added that little bit of crunch and flavor that pushed the salad out of ‘eating the garden’ and into something special. I knew that it was carefully prepared for me because I had ultimate faith in Chef Bill.

As for my roommate, she raved about the fish and chips, saying that they not only paired as adult fish sticks, but were crispy, moist, and amazing. And the fries…while full toward the end of her meal, she refused to let even one go to waste. Her dish was polished off as quickly as mine.

While we were eating, Chef Bill returned to make sure everything was okay and I assured him everything was delicious. He gave me his business card, and a little extra information, like that he’s a private chef, a caterer, and would be happy to help me out again as needed. I really, really appreciated all the care and extra time he took with me and assured him he would be hearing from me again.

From first glance, the Stacked Pickle doesn’t seem like much. I never would have even thought about dining there had my roommate not caught sight of those fish and chips on a friend’s blog. That being said, this is not your typical sports bar and restaurant. It’s owned by someone who genuinely wants to make his clientele feel comfortable eating there, and who has a lot of knowledge about not just vegetarianism, but also food allergies.

But a lot of the magic of the experience falls to Hannah and Chef Bill, who really made me feel comfortable with my food and my service and saw to it that I didn’t need to question anything. This was the first time a chef actually came out to discuss menu options with me, as well as even attempt to go the extra mile by sending someone out in search of other foods I could have that he could offer me upon my arrival. There is just something special about a chef and an establishment that would really take it upon themselves to take that extra step and to take such care with someone with special dietary needs.

Not once did I feel like I was being a burden to the kitchen. On the contrary, I felt that the kitchen was giving me the VIP treatment and doing everything it could to ensure that my visit to the Stacked Pickle was fantastic.

And it was. The food was really, really fresh and delicious. The service was beyond what I have received anywhere, including the high-class restaurants I have eaten within the past year. This was, without a doubt, the most at ease I have felt dining out since having to go gluten-free. I was beyond impressed.

If you happen to be traveling through Carmel or Fishers, Indiana, find the Stacked Pickle and go in for the food and the service. Both are great. I know I’ll definitely return sometime in the very near future.

Who would have thought it would be a small sports restaurant-bar, known for wings, burgers, and beer, that would make me feel so safe and confident about what I was consuming? This is no ordinary establishment. And this was proven to me before I even set foot inside. Impressed doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings. Great food, great service, great attention to detail. Oh…and a great chef who comes out and goes over menu options with someone regulated to a special diet. Yeah…this place is special.

Stacked Pickle's Fu-Fu Salad (no chicken) with a side of Mandarin Oranges

March 19, 2012

AP Crafters not quite masters of their craft

Restaurant: AP Crafters Kitchen and Bar, Louisville, Kentucky

Hello world of gastropubbing.

It’s such a foodie vs. food world and the gastropub is what has emerged to incorporate a high quality dining menu with the feel of a public house. It’s an amazing concept and one that I’ve witnessed through the wonderful world of Travel Channel shows as well as Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmare makeovers where some shady joint becomes a happening gastropub.

The word itself fascinated me and I really, really wanted to go to one.

So, one afternoon following a large 5K race through the streets of downtown Louisville, Kentucky, my roommate and I decided to give AP Crafters Kitchen and Bar a try. Billed as a gastropub, I was quite thrilled with the idea of dining there for lunch and getting a feel for their food and service.

Loved the jar-like cups drinks were served in at AP Crafters, Louisville, Kentucky

We walked in around lunch time and were greeted after a moment of waiting at the front. The hostess had been ducked under the front bar and didn’t hear us enter. We were shown to a table in the restaurant, which has high ceilings and hardwood floors. Televisions dotted some of the walls with whatever games or sports shows were going on at the time. I am not a sports person unless it’s soccer, and I know it wasn’t soccer. We were given a moment to look over the menu. Our waiter came over to take our drink order…which we stuck with water…and when he returned with that we were ready to order.

Naturally, as is usual if it is on the menu, my roommate ordered their Fish and Fries ($12.50) for her meal, especially intrigued by the fact that the cod was done in a cornmeal crust instead of a heavy batter.

As for me, as I’m a gluten-intolerant vegetarian, it took me a moment longer to find something for me to eat. I finally decided on a bowl of their Simple Tomato Soup ($4.00), which the menu says is made fresh daily, the Spinach Salad ($7.50), without the blue cheese on it, and their Fresh Fruit and Berries side ($3.00). It had been a cold morning for a run, so the hot soup would taste awesome. The salad was chosen because, as far as menu options went, there was really nothing else for a vegetarian, save for a grilled cheese sandwich, and that wouldn’t be gluten-free. So, stuck with the salad again. I had thought about getting a side of their fries, but I didn’t feel like asking if they shared a frier with anything breaded…and as it turns out, they were seasoned anyway with some unknown seasoning, so it was a good call just to skip them in the end.

We had a little bit of a wait before our food arrived. I appreciated that as it meant that things were cooked to order. And just at first glance, the food looked amazing. My roommate’s fish and chips looked really great and my soup and salad were…well…soup and salad. But I was hungry…and ready to dig in.

AP Crafters' Simple Tomato Soup with a side of Fresh Fruit and Berries

I tried the soup first, because it’s soup and I didn’t want it to get cold. Unfortunately, it was already lukewarm. Not what this runner who endured 30 degree weather that morning in a race wanted. Soup should be served hot. If it’s too hot for patrons, they can let it cool. But serving lukewarm soup is not good. I wanted to be warmed from the inside out, and this just sort of…didn’t do that. It did, however, have amazing flavor to it. The texture was awesome. It wasn’t runny, but you could really taste the fresh ingredients in it. So, heat-wise…fail. Flavor-wise…win. The fruit and berries side was a bowl with a mix of pineapple (my favorite part of it), honeydew melon, cantaloupe, strawberries and blueberries. All of the berries and melons were ripe and delicious. And I was shocked when the pineapple was my favorite thing in there. Usually strawberries always win.

As for the salad, they did kindly leave the blue cheese off and thankfully didn’t find the need to add something to it instead, as some establishments do. It looked really delicious, a delicious bed of green spinach with granny smith apple slices, blueberries, strawberries, red onions, toasted almonds, and (what really made the salad awesome and different) golden raisins. It was served with their house vinaigrette (on the side, not drowning the salad), which tasted like it was a raspberry vinaigrette…which was the perfect pairing for that salad. It was good. I mean, it’s a salad, but I always love the incorporation of fruits with greens in a salad. It just wakes up the taste buds with the mix of savory and sweet.

My roommate felt that her fish and fries came out lukewarm, like they were left on the pass while the rest of the meal was assembled. While she liked the lightness of the cornmeal batter, she found that it got soggy pretty quickly and after awhile, all you tasted was the seasoning. The longer it sat, the mushier it got.

While the food at AP Crafters is cutting edge, riding that fine line of traditional comfort food and upscale cuisine, this gastropub did little to really entice me back. The food was full of flavor, but not served hot when it should be. And that was the major disappointment for both my roommate and I. Additionally, with my dietary restrictions, there was little for me to really order on the menu, which makes my order at this establishment…the same every time. And as we head into summer, soup isn’t going to sound as delicious to me on a hot day. The general consensus was…it was okay, but we’d probably never eat there again.

Too bad. Because they are right on the edge of being fantastic. The cutting-edge cuisine could have been so amazing, had it been served hot. Live and learn.

I guess I’ll seek out another gastropub sometime and try again. But as for AP Crafters Kitchen and Bar, it just fell short of impressing me with its food. Such a shame.

AP Crafters' Spinach Salad (no blue cheese)

March 4, 2012

Hillbilly Tea – no backwoods operation, just delicious tea, food, and the comforts of home

Restaurant: Hillbilly Tea, Louisville, Kentucky

Most restaurants go into a slight panic when I turn up. No, I’m not kidding. Unless they are equipped with a gluten-free menu, my preface to an order usually begins with, “I want to let you know that have a gluten allergy…and I’m also a vegetarian.” Usually, and sometimes unsuccessfully, this relegates me to the SALAD portion of the menu.

This was not the case for Louisville’s own, very eclectic, fantastic Hillbilly Tea.

I know, the Yankee (I was raised in New York) in me balks at the name. But for this Appalachian-style tea café offers up all the comforts of home, in a trendy, comforting setting. It’s hard not to immediately fall in love with the rustic style within the walls of this café in downtown Louisville. The wooden tables. The variety of chairs. The tables adorned with simple flowers in small individual vases, so as not to interfere with your conversation across the table. It’s a beautiful setting for a fantastic dining experience.

Hillbilly Tea defines itself as a trendy tea café, which offers a variety of fresh, organic whole leaf teas, which they mix and pair themselves. Additionally, the chef is cooking up Appalachian comfort food, sourced from local organic farms. It’s a dining gem in the hart of Louisville, Kentucky (located right across the street from the First Street White Castle, FYI). It doesn’t look like much on the outside, but it’s what is inside that generates the magic.

I had just finished up the Anthem 5K Fitness Classic in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday and was absolutely starving. On a lark a couple weeks back, I had gone ahead and purchased a Groupon for food and tea at Hillbilly Tea. As we were already downtown, and famished, my roommate and I headed over to Hillbilly Tea for brunch. And it was already bustling at 9:30 when we finally parked and ducked inside.

We were greeted warmly by the front of house and shown to a table near the back. I fell in love with the rustic decor, how no tables were clothed, how the silverware was served wrapped in a napkin and held together with a clothespin. Yes…I was already in love with this place before even settling on food and a tea to try. We were given menus and left with them to mull over for a moment while he went to seat other patrons heading in to eat as well.

Tea was the first thing on my mind as it had been a very, very cold morning and I was still chilled from my 3.1 mile run in shorts in 30 degree weather. I settled on hot herbal tea ($3.50), choosing the Sweet Dream variety, which is a delicate mix of chamomile with a hint of peppermint and lemon. My roommate, who is just learning the wonders of tea, opted for a black tea ($3.50), whether it’s because it would have more caffeine or what, I don’t know. She chose the Morning Dew, which is billed as brisk and bold, begging for milk and sugar. Actually, she chose it because it sounded like the Irish Breakfast tea that I fell in love with in Ireland (Bewley’s…in case you were wondering). We put in our tea orders and then turned our attention to the food portion of the menu.

On Saturdays, brunch is served at Hillbilly Tea, although throughout the week they have a menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The brunch menu is a conglomeration of all of them, I think, scaled down, and perfect for a Saturday crowd. You see, Hillbilly Tea, on Saturdays, serves food from 8 am – 4 pm, so the brunch menu is honestly ideal. I had finally settled on what I was going to get when the hot tea was served at our table, just freshly put in the infuser. I was told to let mine steep for 5 minutes, my roommate for 3 minutes. Instructions well received and followed. Our waiter then was ready to take our order for brunch.

I led off, giving my usually spiel about my food allergies and vegetarianism. Without hesitation. Without even blinking an eye, my server said, “We have a fantastic gluten-free menu. In fact, with the exception of (named off dishes here), everything else is gluten-free or can be made without the bread or scone to accommodate.” A knowledgable staff…this is not something I am used to. I don’t like the guessing game when it comes to what I might be eating or what might be in my food. And this…this put me right at ease. So, I ordered the Breakfast Platter ($7.00) without the toast and with a side of the Pit Roasted Sweet Potatoes ($3.00). My roommate opted for the Eggs and Biscuit and Gravy ($8.00) with a side of the Corn Pone ($3.00). The order was in and we settled in to enjoy the atmosphere, conversation, and some fantastic hot tea.

I was quite happy with the food when it arrived. It looked and smelled amazing. My meal actually consisted of three scrambled eggs, which looked to be seasoned with fresh herbs, and served with a potato and mushroom hash. The Pit Roasted Sweet Potatoes looked like healthy, ungreasy, sweet potato fries. Not what I was expecting at all.

My roommate’s plate was a delicious looking platter with house-made hearty biscuits, smothered in a vegetarian gravy that is made up of shitake mushrooms and thyme, and then topped with two perfectly poached eggs. It was actually the first time my roommate ever had a poached egg (and for this, I don’t know whether to blame Gordon Ramsay or Anthony Bourdain), but she figured she can’t say she doesn’t like something if she never tries it. And, with the exception of a taste of biscuits and gravy at Nat’s (a divey diner in Los Angeles, CA), she never had biscuits and gravy either, just always said she despised them on their looks. But, she went out of her dining comfort zone again and took a chance. For her, it was victory. She fell in love with poached eggs and raved about the dense biscuit and how it paired well with the gravy on top. As for the corn pone…well, she loved how it wasn’t sweet, it was perfectly scored with grill marks, and was ideal to sop up the remaining gravy from her plate. Brunch success.

So, how did the Breakfast Platter fare? Well, this was the first time in a very, very, very long time where I didn’t top off my eggs with hot sauce. And, these eggs, honestly, didn’t need it. They were scrambled to perfection, so that they clumped together, but were still soft. No cheese (loved that part!) was added to bulk it up or flavor it out. It was very nicely seasoned with the fresh herbs folded into the eggs. It didn’t need anything else. Perfect flavor and I didn’t even miss my hot sauce (and that’s saying something!). The potato and mushroom hash was divine. Honestly. The potatoes were seasoned to perfection and cooked to a nice light brown. The mushrooms weren’t watery or overcooked, and folded in perfectly with the potatoes. I was in carb heaven. Add to it the delicious Pit Roasted Sweet Potatoes and my dining experience was beyond amazing. What I loved about the sweet potatoes was they weren’t salted, they weren’t fried. They were sweet and roasted to perfection so that they held up when forked and were tender yet on the inside. It was the best sweet potato anything I ever got anywhere…and I order sweet potatoes a lot.

We each polished off our plates and sat to finish up our tea. The check was brought over but we were told not to rush. We did have a lot on our plate today, so we paid, bid adieu to this fantastic little restaurant, and headed out with the promise that we would come back for a lunch during the week sometime and also try it out for dinner another time. Not only is the food great, but most items on their menu don’t even hit the double-digit mark. Upscale, organic food at an affordable price…I’m beyond okay with that.

If you happen to live in the Louisville, Kentucky area or might be passing through or in town for some reason, do make an effort to stop by Hillbilly Tea. They serve up some of the most amazing food in the city from this little unassuming place in the heart of downtown. It’s comfort food taken up a notch and served to perfection. I can’t wait to return and bring a couple of friends with me. While it’s tempting to keep this place all to myself, I can’t stop myself from wanting to share it with others either. Therefore, it’s best to bring in a fresh crowd and get them hooked as well. Places like this need to stay open for a long time to come. Healthy, delicious comfort food…right in the heart of downtown Louisville. No joke…this place does exist. And it goes by the name of Hillbilly Tea.

Hillbilly Tea's Breakfast Platter (no toast) with a side of Pit Roasted Sweet Potatoes

February 28, 2012

Special diets not a problem for Taco Mamacita

Restaurant: Taco Mamacita, Nashville, Tennessee

I know…I know. I reviewed Taco Mamacita already.

But, some things bear repeating. Back when I last reviewed them, I had not yet had to go gluten-free. And that’s why they are getting a second review.

Coming back from a trip to Birmingham, Alabama, hunger usually strikes around the Nashville, Tennessee area. No problem. Nashville is a plethora of restaurants and dining destinations. But when you know there is good food to be had at a good price…well…why go anywhere else?

Since we had (not-so-good) pub grub the previous night, Mexican food was sounding more our speed, rather than hitting up our go-to pub in the area. Since we knew we got great service last trip to Taco Mamacita…we returned with a vengeance. We were greeted by a very friendly waitress who happily grabbed the vegan menu for me upon request.

Our waitress, Rebecca, came over to make sure we understood the menu and to take our drink orders. I told her that I was a gluten-intolerant vegetarian, so if anything I order raises a red flag, to let me know. She said they had menus for both and would be happy to help me through it. Off she went to retrieve our drinks and when we returned, we put in an appetizer for the Chips and Salsa ($2.99).

Soft corn tortillas for my chips and salsa order

And this is how I knew it was going to be okay to eat here, especially after the horror of the pub the night before. When the order came out, half of the chips were fried up into tortilla chips. The other half, were soft corn tortillas, untouched by the frier. Safety, for those of you with gluten allergies know that cross-contamination can be tricky when it comes to shared friers. Here, they took that question right out of the equation and my chips and salsa were just as amazing with unfried tortilla chips. And, as we settled in to eat, I spotted the Taco Mamacita Chipoltle Sauce. One quick inquiry with Rebecca about whether it was gluten-free or not, which she didn’t know but went to check and returned a moment later with the answer – yes, and I was in safe dining heaven.

As for the food…well…with such a diverse menu sometimes it is hard to choose. But, my roommate went with their two taco plus a side combo – the Shrimp Po Boy BLT Taco and the Caribbean Jerk Taco with a side of Green Chili Rice ($8.99). As for me, I ordered the Vegilladas (vegetarian enchiladas), which consist of corn tortillas filled with sweet corn, tomatoes, black beans, and topped off with a spicy jalapeño-cilantro sauce ($8.99). Normally crumbled feta is on top of it, but as I was ordering from the vegan menu, it was kindly left off, which I appreciated. I chose the Jalapeño Corn Slaw as my side.

After a small wait, Rebecca brought out the food, which looked absolutely amazing. By now, we had polished off the chips and salsa and were ready for our substantial meal of the day. And…just as before, the food didn’t disappoint.

I love the Vegilladas. Not only are they packed full of protein and vegetable nutrients, but they were so full of flavor. Nothing bland about this nice mix of corn and black beans. The jalapeño-cilantro sauce was the perfect touch for the dish. Mixing it with the provided pico de gallo only added to the food experience. And, while not big on any sort of slaw, what I found was pairing this mildly spicy dish with the jalapeño corn slaw provided a nice, clean palate cleanser between bites. And this slaw wasn’t overly dressed either. It was perfect, so the different components were still there in each bite, and not being masked by way too much dressing. I liked that. A lot.

We finished our plates, happily stuffed and politely turned down desserts. Rebecca was such a rockstar when it came to helping me out with my menu choices and ensuring a very safe dining experience. I loved coming to Taco Mamacita before but now I have even more of a reason to do so.

Best of all, I wasn’t charged extra for having a special dietary need. So often, when you go gluten-free the price goes up. Not here. Everything (even my half of the chips and salsa) was kept at menu price. I wish more places would do that instead of punishing gluten-intolerant people with at least $1.00 extra for their “special” food.

This was a refreshing and much needed restaurant trip. I felt completely at ease and Rebecca and the kitchen staff saw to it that I had a safe, pleasant, and delicious dining experience.

Food and service like that will make you stand up and say, “Whoa Mama!” And that…is their motto, which makes it only fitting. So, if you happen to be traveling through Nashville, swing by Edgehill Village and dine at Taco Mamacita. It’s worth the stop for great food, great service, and a great price. And when you go back…and you will…try something else. So many interesting flavor combinations…so little time.

Taco Mamacita's Gluten-Free Vegilladas with Jalapeño Corn Slaw

February 27, 2012

Irish pub grub gone wrong at The Red Shamrock

Restaurant: The Red Shamrock, Birmingham, Alabama

I really, really, really wanted to like this place. I did. An Irish pub is not a common establishment in Birmingham, Alabama. Honestly. I had been seeking out something aside from the horror show that is The Tilted Kilt for awhile now. And, finally, at long last, The Red Shamrock opens up in Mt. Laurel and my dreams of going to a pub while in Alabama came true.

The actual pub itself is quite small. A single room with a bar taking up an entire side of the room. We (being my mom, dad, grandpa, roommate, and myself) took up residence at the only table available that could seat all of us. Sadly, it was right in front of the door and Saturday night was a wee bit chilly. Ah well, at least we had seats.

The server brought us menus and let us look them over while he grabbed our drinks. Waters. All around. It was a long day full of racing, a gluten-free expo, and a birthday party for my nephew and my niece. We were all exhausted, and ready for some good food and down time.

Our orders were simple. My dad and grandpa were splitting a fish and chips ($8.95). My roommate was, of course, getting fish and chips. My mom and I were each getting a Shamrock Salad ($5.99). I got mine with a side of their waffle fries. When I placed my order, the server asked if I wanted to add chicken. I shook my head and informed him that I was a vegetarian.

After a short wait, food arrived. As my salad was put down in front of me, I noticed that it was sprinkled with bacon. BACON! I had just said I was a vegetarian. So, I informed the person (not the same server) of the issue and he took it away to bring me back another one.

Now…here is where I have an issue. First of all…nowhere on the menu did it say that bacon came on this salad. In fact, the official description via the online menu says that the Shamrock Salad consists of arugula, lettuce and cabbage mixed with red onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, grated cheese, and a side of my choice of dressing (which I opted for balsamic vinaigrette). No bacon. Not even mentioned on the description. So, already I was put out. A few moments later, my new salad arrives. This pub is quite dimly lit, it’s hard to see, but there were no bits of meat hanging out this time on my salad. It looked okay. I then had to remind him I also got a side of fries, which he then had to go retrieve…now…after my second salad had come out. That eventually made its way out as well.

The Red Shamrock's side order of waffle fries

One bite into my salad and I noticed the cheese on top is blue cheese! Now, blue cheese is normally not gluten-free. UGH. I moved it to the side and ate the untouched parts because nowhere in the salad description did it mention blue cheese either. I was now more put out than anything. Do NOT substitute something without asking if it is okay. While the salad was good, it wasn’t what I ordered. Literally.

The salad that I received at The Red Shamrock was not the Shamrock Salad via the description on their menu. Somewhere, be it the chef in the kitchen or the server pressing something wrong on the app they use to take the order, I ended up with a conglomeration of the Irish Iceberg (which has bacon, egg and blue cheese crumbles on it). You know…this is a new establishment, so I can give it a pass on some things, but it’s a salad. Look at your menu and know what is on it, please!! I was not impressed.

Oh, and after I ate my side of waffle fries, it occurred to me that this is a small establishment and that…more than likely, they use the same frier to do the potatoes as they do the breaded fish as well. Which between that and the bit of blue cheese might indicate why I had an upset tummy and digestive track for the evening and into the next day.

It’s ironic that this happen on the eve of my attendance at at Gluten-Free Expo and being a part of the Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K that was in town. Then…one miscommunication in the kitchen and my order goes horribly wrong.

Lesson learned.

And sadly…nothing really to rave about when it comes to The Red Shamrock. It sounded like a fantastic place when I read up on it. But it fell short of anything amazing. Once it figures out whether it wants to be a sports bar or an Irish pub, maybe gets its menu sorted, maybe trains it’s chef as to what goes on what order and why substitutions without asking are not wise, then…maybe I’ll return. Oh, and it would have been nice if the server (our third of the night!) returned with my dad’s change after he paid in cash, but that never happened either.

For now, I’ll stick to what I know is safe to eat in the Birmingham area when I’m in town to visit my parents. The luck of the Irish was not with me that night and sadly, this isn’t an establishment that I would recommend to anyone looking to dine on amazing Irish food. It was mediocre at best…and incapable of getting my order correct. Sad, because I really, really wanted to like it.

The Red Shamrock's Shamrock Salad/Iceberg Salad (???)

January 21, 2012

Local coffee shop, City Girl Farm Coffee serves local ingredients, local roast, and delicious coffee

Restaurant: City Girl Farm Coffee, Louisville, Kentucky

Baby, it’s cold outside!

In fact, today it didn’t get above freezing. Brrrr.

Do you know what that means? Yep. It’s the perfect day for a hot, steaming, cup of coffee. Keeping true to my promise to try places outside of our local Starbucks, I stumbled upon a fantastic local coffeehouse on Shelbyville Road in Louisville, Kentucky. In fact, it’s not but a stone’s throw away from Puccini’s (see previous review) and our new Trader Joe’s.

Location – ideal!

I had no idea what they were brewing up inside but couldn’t wait to find out. We approached the counter, eyeing the large chalkboards listing their coffee, espresso, smoothie, tea drinks along with flavors and all. I almost went for a peppermint mocha, but then my most favorite thing in the world leaped out at me from their drink listings…a Salted Caramel Mocha. We have a winner, folks.

I stepped up to the register to place my order with the friendly barista there. But first, I inquired as to whether or not they had either soy milk or almond milk…or whatever. He promptly said…”We have both!” I think I squeed with delight. I prefer almond milk in my drinks as not all soy milks work with me. (Take note all you other coffee shops that might be reading this…please start carrying other non-dairy options (almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk) for drinks as people can’t always have soy either!). My order was in for a small Salted Caramel Mocha made with Almond Milk ($3.40 plus $0.50 for almond milk). But wait…the staff got even more awesome. Since I was asking about non-dairy beverages, the barista immediately picked up the caramel they use in the drink and noted that it had dairy in it. They, instead, put a shot of caramel syrup in my drink instead to keep it dairy free. Now, how many coffee shops would note that? I was beyond impressed.

My roommate got the small White Chocolate Mocha ($3.40) with a shot of hazelnut ($0.50), made with 2% milk, no whip cream.

I waited for the drinks to come up. My mocha was first and the barista making the drink told me that if there wasn’t enough caramel flavor in there, to let her know and she’d fix it. Again…beyond impressed. The other mocha was created and handed over and we settled in in two very comfortable chairs near a small round table.

Taste test.

DELICIOUS! Now, I raved for moths over Starbucks Soy Salted Caramel Mocha. Guess what? This was SO much tastier. The espresso was perfectly poured. The almond milk was deliciously steamed and frothed. And the dark chocolate used as the base was sheer perfection. The substituted caramel syrup was a nice, light hit that actually balanced everything out so well. A dusting of the salt on top and we were in business. As for the White Chocolate Mocha with Hazelnut…well, my roommate looked completely happy with it. She said it was the perfect temperature and rich. The sweetness of the white chocolate giving the right amount of balance to the espresso. Yeah…we were happy, coffee-drinking fools.

And you know what else is great about this local coffee shop? They use local ingredients that come from their own City Girl Farm, as well as other farms in Kentucky and Indiana. Local business using local products from local farms. You gotta love that. Additionally, the coffee that they serve, a brand called Argo Sons, is from a Louisville-based roaster. Local caffeinated goodness too. The shop also carries locally produced honey, jams and other products.

And…something I intend to indulge in next time…a gluten-free cookie (like…monster-sized amazing looking cookie!) in their pastry case. Not only do they serve up scones, muffins, cookies and such, but also soups and sandwiches as well.

The ambiance is fantastic. The service is great. And the drinks…out of this world.

Go to Louisville, Kentucky…amble over to Shelbyville Road, and duck into City Girl Farm Coffee. You’ll just get what makes this local coffee shop a local treasure. One to be bragged about. One to be shared. So bring a friend or two. Indulge. Enjoy. There is something for everyone! And local to boot!

City Girl Farm Coffee's Salted Caramel Mocha with Almond Milk