Review – Page 25 – The Celiathlete

November 23, 2014

Restaurant Review: Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria – Epcot – Disney World

Via Napoli - Italy Pavilion - Epcot — Via Napoli – Epcot – Disney World

Restaurant: Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria – Epcot – Disney World

It was Epcot Day! YAY! I love Epcot Day. I don’t know why…because so much of it features the World Showcase…which during the Food & Wine Festival…features foods from all over the world. Even the regular pavilions that are standard in the showcase don’t offer much for a gluten-free vegetarian. But I still love Epcot Day.

Since we were in Epcot, on our final night, we wanted to go somewhere in the park for dinner. It took a little bit of back and forth, but we finally decided on Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria. It had gluten-free pasta on the menu, so we were good. Something I could eat. Which, definitely was important on Epcot Day…as our morning actually started at the Magic Kingdom…where we at Dole Whip for breakfast. Pictures were taken for proof. I am not ashamed.

But…let’s fast forward.

The entire day was spent doing a few rides and exploring the World Showcase. My friend, Jenn, was having a difficult time on the last day. Her feet…her poor feet…had blisters in places I didn’t know one could get blisters. It was a slower moving day, but I was fine with that. Take in the showcase. Stop and watch the new Lumberjack Show. I miss Off Kilter though…I’m not going to lie. Cathy snagged a lunch in Morocco (she had to have her lamb shawarma!), while Jenn and I toddled over to Brazil for the (naturally gluten-free) Pao de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread). I later had one of my protein bars and half of a clementine (Jenn had the other half) because dinner reservations weren’t until 7:45 p.m. Late.

But, we made use of our time…checking out different things along the way, resting when Jenn needed to get off her feet, exploring the different countries, and shopping. Of course. We got in line for the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros at the Mexican Pavilion…and that sort of ate up (see what I did there?) the rest of the evening down time before food. It was a bit of a stroll back to Italy in Epcot…but Jenn was a trooper…and she got there.

I went up to the hostess desk in the very crowded lobby and let her know we were there for our reservation. She asked me some questions, it was hard to hear her over the din of the lobby. But we got it worked out. And, of course, my food allergy thing. So, there was a short wait…but after about 5 or so minutes, the lobby was emptying and we were up next. The really nice hostess took us all the way to the back for a table with a bench and two chairs. Cathy and I sidled up on the bench. Jenn took the chair this time.

We. Were. Starving.

I perused the menu and noted that, yes, gluten-free pasta was the only option for me. The downside…none of the listed pasta dishes on the menu were vegetarian. Yikes. As I was just starting to look at the menu, the customer liaison came over to speak to me about my food allergy. He noted the gluten-free and pointed out that they do not have gluten-free pizza but any of the pasta can be done gluten-free. And then he was off.

Which left our poor waiter to be the one who would have to seriously help me out. Not that he minded. And as I am the tricky one…I ordered first. And my first statement was…

“Well, I am a gluten-free vegetarian…so…”

He came over to my side of the table to look at the pasta dishes. “Gluten-free…it’s easy,” he said. “The vegetarian…” He looked at all the pasta options again and finally said, “I tell you what…we will have the chef prepare some mushrooms and vegetables with our marinara sauce.”

Works for me. Order in.

Jenn opted for the Lasagne Verde, which is a white lasagna that is stuffed with spinach, parmesan, ricotta, and a besciamella sauce ($22.00). Cathy went for her go-to when we first go to an Italian restaurant…the Spaghetti e Polpettine, which contained hand-crafted veal meatballs in a tomato sauce ($21.00). I have to say, I usually giggle a little when Jenn orders something with cooked spinach or vegetables in it…because most of those veggies get tossed to the side of the plate. But…she is Italian…and she knows her Italian food.

We waited for a bit…no gluten-free rolls or any bread at all at the table. We watched a woman at the table next to us devour an entire pizza on her own, while her dining companions watched her. And as she was taking her last few bites, their food arrived. It was weird. We couldn’t figure out if they were just there to watch her eat (like some crazy Disney World food challenge or something)…but…who knows. She then got to watch all of them eat so…turn around is fair play…or something?

But, soon our attention turned to our own food as our dishes arrived and were delivered before us.

Pasta with Veggies and Marinara — Pasta with Veggies in Red Sauce

I have to say, my bowl of pasta was beautiful. A good helping of marinara sauce (which would have been awesome with a gluten-free bread product of some type!) with a variety of vegetables cooked in. I spotted zucchini, tomatoes, peppers and mushrooms immediately. And the gluten-free pasta was fusilli…so twisty and perfect for capturing delicious sauce. I will call this dish…”Pasta for the strange gluten-free vegetarian at the table in the back.” Or…more simply…Pasta and Veggies in Red Sauce ($22.00).

Now, this is the second Italian restaurant I have visited at Disney World. Normally we just head over to Hollywood Studios and enjoy our food (complete with gluten-free dinner rolls and gluten-free dessert!) at Mama Melrose’s. But since were were in Epcot…we figured it would be easier to eat there than park hop.

I sort of wish we park hopped…

It’s not that Via Napoli was bad. It wasn’t. The food was actually quite good. It was just…average though. The pasta in my dish was actually cooked to perfection. A lot of gluten-free pastas, especially when crafted from rice flours, tend to get gummy and fall apart. These were a perfect al dente and held up to the marinara and the vegetables. But…there was a lot of pasta in that dish and I ended up picking out the veggies at the end and leaving the noodles alone. I ate about 3/4 of the dish…and that was it. I was done. The marinara had a lot of flavor to it. And the vegetables were a nice touch and I appreciate the chef at Via Napoli for doing that to accommodate my dietary needs. I just…had better. Elsewhere.

Jenn enjoyed her lasagna…after she picked out most of the spinach. And Cathy made sure to eat all of her meatballs. They were much smaller than what she normally gets in a spaghetti and meatball dish, so she appreciated that too. But she too had to soldier on and leave some of her pasta noodles behind.

No dessert here for us…we had plans. Cathy wanted her chocolate cannoli from one of the gelato carts in the World Showcase, and I headed to France to get some Salted Caramel Gelato from an ice cream shop there. Yummy!

So, as it stands, Via Napoli put out good food. I can’t think of anywhere at Disney where I have had bad food. It’s just…Mama Melrose’s had more options for me…and a bit more to offer. So next time…I think I’ll return to Mama Melrose’s. But, thank you, Via Napoli, for the fine cuisine. A little taste of Italy never goes wrong with me.

November 21, 2014

Restaurant Review: Be Our Guest – Fantasyland – Magic Kingdom, Disney World

Be Our Guest - Fantastyland - Magic Kingdom, Orlando, Florida — Be Our Guest – Fantastyland – Magic Kingdom, Orlando, Florida

Restaurant: Be Our Guest – Fantasyland – Magic Kingdom, Disney World

It’s probably one of the hardest reservations to get at Disney World at this time. One of the newest restaurants at the theme park itself, Magic Kingdom opened the Be Our Guest Restaurant in Fantasyland. And yes, just as the name suggests, the basic theme of this restaurant is Beauty and the Beast.This means, should I ever take my neice Kaytlynn to Disney World…this is where we would eat!

We didn’t get the much coveted dinner reservation, however, my Disney Travel Agent and friend, Karen, managed to snag a spot for a lunch reservation. She added it to our Fast Passes and we were good to go for Sunday lunch.

We had big dinner plans that evening at The Wave, so we opted for a “dessert first” approach to our reservation. In other words…forget the real food…give us something sweet!

One of the reasons I had wanted to get into Be Our Guest was the fact that they had…

…wait for it…

…a GLUTEN-FREE CREAM PUFF!!!!

*cough*

Sorry…I get excited sometimes when it comes to things I love but haven’t been able to eat in years.

The rumors were true, however, so once we got into the Fast Pass line and were ushered up the walk to the restaurant, the hostess handed us each a menu and we perused it. I knew what I was getting. Cathy was torn between getting soup or getting a dessert. As Jenn and I were getting desserts and had declared it “dessert first” day…she eventually let go of the soup thought and went with her choice for a dessert. No duplicates. Actually, normally with the three of us…little duplication ever happens.

We stood in line in this amazing Great Hall, with suits of armor and screens that showed images of the items available on the menu. When we got up to the host, he directed us to stand inside and await the help of someone else, who would then direct us to one of the pay stations. We had wanted to charge these to our cards, but were sent to a kiosk thing instead of the cashier. When we questioned it, we were told it would take a card. Jenn was first…and she wasn’t given any option except her Fast Pass. So…onto the bracelet it went. Cathy and I played around with it, and we did find where we could charge it to a card…except it automatically made us use the Fast Pass. So…yeah…that was confusing, convoluted, and just chaotic.

From there, we turned over our menus and were told to take a seat at any of the tables in any of the rooms. This involved a little bit of investigation. The main room you enter was packed. There was a darker room near the back, that had more of a tavern feel to it. But…it was also packed. So, we moved to the more ballroom-ish room. Plenty of seating in there. We pulled up a booth (and chair) at one of the tables at the back. I was facing the rotating statue of Belle and The Beast dancing. Absolutely…gorgeous.

Cathy and Jenn both got “Adult Cold Fountain Beverages” (aka: SODA!) ($2.99), so while they went to retrieve their drinks from the fountains at the other side of the room, I sat and manned the table. While they were gone, a man came over to check our receipts and wrote down something on a pad. I’m assuming this is how they eventually figure out where to bring our food, instead of playing a game of Marco Polo with each and every customer. They returned and I got up to get my drink. I don’t do soda anymore…so I opted for an “Adult Hot Beverage” (aka: coffee, tea, hot cocoa) ($2.39), and had to go retrieve a cup to get some coffee. Caffeine was necessary. The coffee in this room was out of order, but I was told to just go around the corner to the other room as they have coffee there. So…I did.

Brewed hot coffee. Not fancy. Very basic. But…served it’s purpose.

Finally, we were settled in and taking in the entire place. And then, this gorgeous cart rolled up and Jenn was given her dessert. Yes…just Jenn. She ordered the Éclair à l’Orange ($4.19), which was an éclair with a custard filling with zested orange and finished off with chocolate ganache. Jenn loves chocolate and orange together…so this was a definite win. She was kind enough to wait for Cathy and I to receive our treats before she dove in.

And they did…about 5 minutes later.

Cathy went for the obvious Cathy choice…the Lemon Meringue Cupcake ($4.19). This is a vanilla sponge cake with a lemon custard filling and flamed meringue icing. It just screamed Cathy because…it was lemon. And she loves lemon.

As for me…I went with the item on the menu that I wanted to begin with. It is gluten-free. It has no added sugar. It, my dearest friends, is the Lemon – Raspberry Cream Puff ($4.19). It is exactly what it sounds like. A pastry that is filled with lemon custard and topped off with raspberries. Gorgeous.

With all of our sweet treats now present, we dove in.

Be Our Guest's Éclair à l’Orange — Be Our Guest’s Éclair à l’Orange

Let’s start with Jenn. Jenn loved the Éclair à l’Orange. She said it was perfectly orange-y. In fact, it managed to be smooth and light, not heavy like some cream-filled pastries (especially eclairs) tend to be. Her only stipulation…it could have been bigger.

Be Our Guest's Lemon Meringue Cupcake — Be Our Guest’s Lemon Meringue Cupcake

Cathy’s Lemon Meringue Cupcake looked like a little, personal, lemon meringue pie. She used her fork to dive in, the cake portion completely encased in this gorgeous paper. It was small…she said almost like two biter. And it wasn’t knock-you-over lemony, but definitely had that bright citrus flavor in each bite. In fact, when I asked her to describe it, all she could say was…”It was lemony!” Uh…yeah…the name tells me that. So…there you have it. It’s lemony!

Now onto the Lemon-Raspberry Cream Puff. I admit. I heard rumors of the gluten-free cream puff and knew…just knew…it had to be mine. So…here it was…this little dough puff in front of me. I took my fork and cut through the crusty pastry, watching it flake away to give way to the gorgeous, yellow, lemon cream inside. I paired it with the cream and raspberries on top…and we’re talking a heavenly, sinful dessert. I loved that this also had no additional sugar in it. I’ve been trying to cut back on the amount of sugar I consume, which isn’t easy because of natural sugars in things I love…like fruits. But, I don’t really count natural sugars. Still, I didn’t think this really needed any additional sugar. It was light…fluffy, and just a dreamy dessert for a girl who last had a cream puff when this gluten-free journey began…and I cheated. And suffered. And that was the end of that. This…was huge to me. I have to agree with both Jenn and Cathy though…the dessert was small. Which is fine…but I just thought for close to $5, there would be a little bit more. Other than that…we devoured the delectable, delicious desserts, and raved about them the entire time.

Be Our Guest's Lemon - Raspberry Cream Puff (GLUTEN-FREE!!) — Be Our Guest’s Lemon – Raspberry Cream Puff (GLUTEN-FREE!!)

Dessert first…achieved.

Being a grown-up is awesome! HA!

So, while I thought the ambiance of the restaurant was killer…like being in the film Beauty and the Beast…it was really chaotic, really loud, and a bit…of a mess when it came to ordering and checking out. But, it was a great way to dine and I am thrilled my friend Karen managed to snag us lunch reservations. The atmosphere at this restaurant is hard to top. But, in a way…it was like eating at a 5 star cafeteria. If you know what I mean.

I was definitely happy to have the chance to dine at Be Our Guest…and I thank them for offering one of the most amazing and fantastic gluten-free desserts I have had in awhile.

November 20, 2014

Restaurant Review: Red Rooster, Harlem, New York

Restaurant: Red Rooster, Harlem, New York

I totally broke tradition. I did. I was in New York City to run the TCS New York City Marathon…and so far I had managed really amazing gluten-free pizza the night before the race. Normally, after I race, my friends and I go to a pub to celebrate the occasion.

Not. This. Time.

But, it was of my own doing that we ended up in Harlem just after 6 p.m. on Sunday evening.

How?

Well…since we were going to be in New York City, I thought it might be fun to check out a restaurant that belongs to one of my favorite chefs of all time.

The venue: Red Rooster.

The chef: Marcus Samuelsson.

After all, we were celebrating my finish at the marathon earlier that afternoon. Why not make it special. So, yeah…I broke tradition and decided to forgo the pub for something…a little different. And I have never made a better decision in my life.

Prior to heading to New York City, I had told Cathy that I really wanted to go into Harlem and eat at Red Rooster. She knows how much I adore Marcus Samuelsson. And, honestly, we’re both foodies…she was right there with me. So, she went ahead and called the restaurant and talked to them about reservations on marathon eve. She mentioned that I was a gluten-free vegetarian and they said that food for me would not be an issue. With that done, Cathy set up a reservation for 6 p.m., giving me plenty of time to run, shower, walk around, come back and change, and get there with my group of friends. We had reservations for 4 people…me, Cathy, Heather, and my good friend Marisa.

So, that night, I dressed up in this elegant vintage dress…but kept on my recovery compression socks (and wore them with my heels, HA!), and my three friends and I went down to the subway and hopped the train to Harlem. We emerged steps away from Red Rooster. Literally.

And about 10 minutes late. Whoops. But…we got there…before they handed our table away.

We were seated near the kitchen, which was fantastic for me because I could see the people bustling around in there, working hard at the various stations. I loved the feel of Red Rooster…very chic casual. A fun, vibrant, laid back, but classic vibe. It was the kind of place I would want to return to and bring everyone I know…at least once. Totally my style.

Our server, Ryan, came over to greet us. He said that if we had any questions regarding the menu to let him know. I mentioned that I was a gluten-free vegetarian, and he said that wouldn’t be a problem. In fact, he would go and talk to the chef and see what they could do for me. I thanked him and we all studied the different menu options. At one point, I know Cathy was trying to convince Marisa to try the soup with tripe in it, but that wasn’t happening.

Ryan returned, and said that he mentioned that I had run the TCS New York City Marathon and was a gluten-free vegetarian, to which he said the chef would like to create a dish for me. I was thrilled and thanked him for checking.

With that said, Cathy took one matter into her own hands. We were, after all, celebrating. So, she ordered a bottle of wine for the table. We went with a sweet wine (Heather prefers dry…but she was a good sport), opting for a local Riesling – the 2013 Brotherhood from Washingtonville, New York ($48.00).

We were ready to order, it seemed. Ryan already had mine. He said the chef was going to do up a Vegetable Plate ($21.00) for me. So, I was excited to see what would emerge from the kitchen. Cathy went with Marcus Samuelsson’s signature dish – Helga’s Meatballs, which are served with lingonberries, braised green cabbage, and buttermilk mashed potatoes ($23.00). Heather ordered the Triple-Double Burger, which is served with bacon, jarlesburg, and rooster sauce ($19.00). Marisa did a little picking and choosing, and went with the Upstate Farms Squash Soup, which includes yogurt, honeycrisp apples, and lentils ($12.00) with a side of the Cornbread ($4.00). And, because they sounded good…Heather and I split a side of the Hearth Roasted Brussels Sprouts ($8.00).

Red Rooster Entrees: Helga's Meatballs, Upstate Farms Squash Soup, and Triple-Double Burger — Red Rooster Entrees: Helga’s Meatballs, Upstate Farms Squash Soup, and Triple-Double Burger

Ryan went to put or order in and we all got down to talking about New York, about work, about life, about the race, about food, about events…whatever we wanted to talk about. We were in no rush and the restaurant was not rushing us. I loved being able to just drink in the atmosphere.

Just before the food arrived, Ryan returned with our Riesling bottle, pouring a little bit into Cathy’s glass. Cathy lifted the glass and took a sip. And it was love at first taste for her. So he poured some in each of our glasses, and I made sure to keep drinking my water too. No dehydration here.

And then…our entrees arrived, each one settled down in front of us carefully.

The plates…were gorgeous!

Chef Creation: Vegetable Plate - Curried Black Eyed Peas, Charred Broccolini, Berbere Carrots and Parsnips, and Hearth Roasted Brussels Sprouts — Chef Creation: Vegetable Plate – Curried Black Eyed Peas, Charred Broccolini, Berbere Carrots and Parsnips, and Roasted Brussels Sprouts

The chef created a fantastic dish for me. In a bowl on my left was Curried Black Eyed Peas. And on the platter beside it…Charred Broccolini, Berbere Carrots and Parsnips, and Roasted Brussels Sprouts. Oh…I will note, these Brussels Sprouts tasted different than the side that Heather and I were splitting. It was chef magic. And it was a beautiful and gorgeous plate. One that I looked forward to eating.

Let’s start with the Curried Black Eyed Peas. Just…WOW. WOW! So much flavor. Lots going on. And yet…simple. I like to traditionally have black eyed peas on New Years Day…and this is how I would want them this year. For real. Just this incredible depth of flavor with the curry spices. Not hot…just simply bringing out more of the peas themselves. One of the best dishes involving peas of any sort I have ever had in my life. And, trust me, I’ve eaten plenty.

The vegetables that the chef prepared were a delicious and filling treat for me. The broccolini was gorgeously cooked and vibrant green. It had the right amount of crisp to it, yet, still soft and easy to bite through. I love broccolini, and this was just as it should be…simple and delicious. The Brussels Sprouts were roasted to perfection, giving that outer layer some depth of flavor, yet keeping the vegetable itself soft on the inside. Fork tender perfection.

My favorite thing, however, on that plate was the Berbere Carrots and Parsnips. HOLY COW! This side is exactly why I rushed out to a spice store in order to purchase berbere. This spice is awesome. It has this great flavor to it, followed with a little bit of heat at the end. It paired beautifully with this root vegetables. In fact, these were what I saved for my last bite. Completely in love with a plate of vegetables. How amazing! My compliments to the marathoning chef. My meal was sheer perfection.

Red Rooster's Hearth Roasted Brussels Sprouts — Red Rooster’s Hearth Roasted Brussels Sprouts

And I know you’re wondering about the Hearth Roasted Brussels Sprouts that Heather and I split, right? Of course you are! These were different from the ones that were on my plate. These sprouts had this amazing char to them, but also hit up with a bit of a lemon or citrus flavor. Sprinkled on top were macadamia nuts. It was a combination that I hadn’t had before with Brussels sprouts…and I liked it.

But, wait…there is more!

Because when we celebrate we get dessert too! We were handed the menus so we could peruse the options. Ryan was taking care of another party at that moment, so I asked the new server about gluten-free options. She highly recommended The Green Apple Viking Delight ($11.00). I was game. Heather actually ended up doing that too. Leave it to the Scandinavian Minnesotans to order something with the word “viking” in it. HA! Cathy knew she wanted to have cheesecake in New York City, so her choice was the obvious one…Vanilla Cheesecake, served with yogurt, a granola crumble and pomegranate sorbet ($11.00). Marisa went for the signature dessert of the restaurant, the Red Rooster Doughnuts, which are filled with sweet potato and coated in cinnamon and sugar ($12.00). It came with an icing to dip them in as well.

Red Rooster's Vanilla Cheesecake and Red Rooster Doughnuts — Red Rooster’s Vanilla Cheesecake and Red Rooster Doughnuts

Red Rooster's Green Apple Viking Delight — Red Rooster’s Green Apple Viking Delight

Desserts arrived shortly after and…yeah…we were quite happy with our choices. I thought The Green Apple Viking Delight was like a cold crème brûlée. It was a green apple sorbet set on top of a white chocolate fennel cream. On the side was chopped apple and fennel. And a little tuile was set on top, giving it a little crunch and texture. I was totally in love with the flavors, even though I wasn’t completely certain, at first, that they would work. They complimented each other perfectly and each bite was a burst of sweetness, with a bit of richness from the white chocolate. Divine.

Cathy loved her cheesecake (it looked deconstructed…so cool!) and Marisa was more than pleased with the doughnuts. Needless to say…we are girls. Desserts are awesome. But these…these took awesome up to the next level. Which I guess is phenomenal. Or, in the culinary world, a sweet note to end the night on.

We left the restaurant completely satisfied with the meal. The ambiance of Red Rooster was like no other restaurant that I have been in to date. A live jazz band had started to play during our desserts and we really just took a moment to not only savor the food, but savor the experience as well.

I have been a Marcus Samuelsson fan for years…being able to eat at his restaurant was a dream come true. Having a dish created for me, and having a careful and very caring staff made it unforgettable. I was congratulated so many times on finishing the marathon. It was an amazing day, but that night really just sealed it as one of the best days of my life. Good race…good friends…good food…good times.

Thank you, Marcus Samuelsson and Red Rooster.

November 18, 2014

Restaurant Review: Don Antonio by Starita, New York, New York

Restaurant: Don Antonio by Starita, New York, New York

Restaurants are not hard to come by in New York City. Not at all. It is the birthplace of many a Michelin star restaurant and James Beard Award nominee and/or winner. It is the land of dreams…and a burgeoning hub of chefs and restauranteurs looking to make a name and a statement.

No, restaurants are not hard to find.

GOOD restaurants, however, can be difficult to find with all the options that greet you on every street, avenue, corner, block, etc.

When I was in The Big Apple for the TCS New York City Marathon at the beginning of November, I already knew I wasn’t going to be there long enough to really explore the vast and diverse food scene. Not this trip. What I did know was that I was in town for a marathon, and what that required of this beautiful city was…gluten-free pizza.

The original plan had been to go to this place called Nizza. It had good reviews on Find Me Gluten Free and wasn’t too far from the hotel where we were staying. The problem turned out to be that we were only able to get a reservation for 4 p.m. Granted, I appreciate eating early the night before a race. The problem was…this was too early. Heather was meeting up with her cousin at 1 p.m. for lunch…which would mean she wouldn’t even be hungry at this point. The time couldn’t be adjusted. Cathy and I tried back at the hotel. No later reservations until much too late for my liking.

That being said, I had gotten onto Find Me Gluten Free when we were on the shuttle bus coming back from the race expo and found another option. It was this place called Don Antonio by Starita. And it has only three locations: New York City, Atlanta (Georgia), and Napoli (Italy). Cathy gave them a quick call as there was no place to see about reservations. They informed her that they do not take reservations, but even on a Saturday night, they turn through tables quickly and there is never more than a 45 minute wait.

We took them for their word, and around 6 p.m., began to make the easy walk down to the restaurant.

The place was hopping. There were people standing out on the damp and windy streets. I ducked inside to get my name in with the hostess and was told they would call my name when our table was ready…which would be around 45 minutes. Fair enough. We were told as much on the phone when we called that afternoon.

The popularity of the place was amazing. But part of the reason the front of the restaurant, near the bar, was so crowded was there was a party of 14 there for a birthday party. No joke. So, they were pretty much what was holding up a lot of the tables and movement of the patrons through for their meals. We were in no rush…so we just sort of tucked in against the wall inside and people watched.

Due to the longer than normal wait, one of the waitresses came out with a sample pizza for those who were waiting on a table. I didn’t get to partake, but both Cathy and Heather tried one of the slices. I could tell from their reactions that we made a good decision to come here instead.

Soon, my name was being shouted over the loud din of the diners and bar…by the guy, we assumed, was the general manager. We took to calling him the Italian Adam Levine…because he really reminded us of the Maroon 5 singer. Go figure. And honestly, he could have called my name out again and I wouldn’t have complained.

But…we were nearing 7 p.m. now and I was starting to get hungry. After I stepped forward, he guided us toward a table at the top of a couple of stairs, right in the corner. I took the seat next to the railing, with Cathy taking the bench and Heather taking the seat in the walkway. We were handed menus and all ordered water for something to drink.

Marathon night. HYDRATION!

Cathy and I already knew we were doing a gluten-free pizza. It was just a matter of choosing which one. Part of the draw of this place, in addition to serving gluten-free pizza, was that there were also vegan options. And one of them really stood out to me on the menu. Decision was mine, as it was my pre-race meal. So…we were now ready.

Don Antonio by Starita's Montanarine Genovese (front) and Montanarine (back) — Don Antonio by Starita’s Montanarine Genovese (front) and Montanarine (back)

Heather ordered the Salciccia e Friarielli ($16.00) which was composed of smoked buffalo mozzarella, Italian rapini, sausage, and extra virgin olive oil. She paired it with the Montanarine ($1.00), one of Don Antonio’s famous fried dough puffs, topped off with the signature Starita tomato sauce and pecorino romano.

Cathy decided to try one of the dough puffs as well. She went with the Montanarine Genovese ($2.00), which is a fried dough puff topped with onion, pancetta and pecorino romano. She called it the best savory doughnut she’s ever had. LOL! For the pizza though…I ordered the Gluten Free Marinara ($15.00), which is a simple and basic pizza on the gluten-free crust, that is composed of tomato sauce, oregano, garlic, basil, and extra virgin olive oil.

NO CHEESE!! No discomfort from dairy. Happy day.

As Cathy placed the order, she confused our waiter, Antony H, just slightly. Because the friend dough puff was not gluten-free. The pizza we were getting was. So he kept telling her the Genovese was not gluten-free. And she kept assuring him that it was fine…because she was not gluten-free, I was, and we were splitting the pizza…not the fried dough puff. I appreciated him making the effort to ensure safe dining.

We were left to socialize for a little while, and soon, both Heather and Cathy were delivered their appetizer dough puffs. They each took their little ball of Italian friend goodness and took a bite. Like I said…Cathy called it the best savory doughnut she’s ever had. I think that’s a high compliment. Both she and Heather only had good things to say about their choice.

The appetizer plates were cleared away and soon our pizza was being delivered. Heather’s pizza had this rustic, amazing crust, charred to perfection in the wood-fired oven. It looked amazing.

Don Antonio by Starita's Gluten Free Pizza Crust — Don Antonio by Starita’s Gluten Free Pizza Crust

When our pizza was set down, I had to look very closely at it…because this was only the second time in the almost four years I’ve been eating gluten-free, where the crust was actually a crust. No cracker crust here, folks. This was a true, honest-to-goodness, pizza crust. The only other time this has happened has been at my local gluten-free bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café, in Louisville, Kentucky. Can you imagine my glee to see an actual pizza being placed in front of me! I snagged one of the four large slices, placed it on my plate, and went to take a bite.

Not only was the crust an actual crust…it was good too. Not quite “Annie May Amazing”…but right up there. Probably the second best gluten-free pizza crust I have ever indulged in. Quite honestly. I loved that it had this crispy, yet still chewy texture, especially on the ends. It didn’t get soggy with the pool of amazing marinara sauce poured over the top. The herbs elevated the flavor. And the olive oil was the perfect finishing touch. That marinara sauce, though…that was the star. Followed by the crust. I dove into my second, and much larger slice, soon after I devoured the first. It was not a tiny pie either. It was substantial. And it was amazing. And I was pleasantly stuffed at the end of the dining experience.

I still talk about that pizza. To this very day.

I have to say, if you find yourself in Manhattan and are looking for exceptional gluten-free pizza (or just pizza in general)…head over to Don Antonio by Starita, on West 50th Street. You will be so glad you did. This far exceeded my expectations for sure. And next time I’m in the city…it will be hard not to go back. And, who knows, maybe when all is said and done…I will anyway. Food so good, it is definitely worth the repeat.

Thank you, Don Antonio by Starita. You’re doing gluten-free justice!

Don Antonio by Starita's Gluten-Free Marinara Pizza — Don Antonio by Starita’s Gluten-Free Marinara Pizza

October 26, 2014

Product Review: Lucy’s Gluten Free Maple Bliss Cookies

Product: Lucy’s Gluten Free Maple Bliss Cookies – $4.99+

My friend Jenn knows me. She knows me very well. So, it should not come as a surprise that my friend who might be a bigger chocaholic than I would, would pack me up a delicious birthday goodie bag complete with different flavors and brands of gluten-free cookies. Cookie Monster…he has nothing on me.

Mmmm…cookies!

I have tried a couple of varieties from Dr. Lucy’s line of cookies…but not the Maple Bliss. I was unimpressed with the crispy sugar cookies, finding the bean flowers used in her flour mix a little overpowering. However, the chocolate chip cookies were really good. So, I was on the fence when I opened up the box of Lucy’s Gluten Free Maple Bliss Cookies the other night to enjoy for a light, sweet dessert.

Every day should end with dessert. Just sayin’.

So…with one hit and one miss, I bet you’re wondering about how these cookies stacked up.

Honestly…I like them! I mean, I’m not falling all over myself to praise them to the sky, but this is a very good cookie. The flavors are there…sweet maple with the added sweetness of sugar and all packaged in a crispy two-bite cookie. That’s a good blend. They were a little dry, I think…but I’m also used to soft cookies more than crunchy ones…so maybe it’s just a thing. My roommate also loves the flavor but also thinks they are a bit dry. Nothing a glass of almond milk can’t help, right? Right! While also made with that signature bean flour, the flavor isn’t as strong, probably thanks to that maple syrup shining through. Overall…I’d buy these again. And turn them into a base for S’mores. Seriously…that would be awesome. Seriously, these do strike that balance of crunchy without being just…sawdust. The natural sweetness does allow for a great amount of flavor and keeps everything in balance. If you love crunchy cookies…this is a great gluten-free option for sure. Remember though…bean flours do make things taste like…well…beans. But the sweetness helps to balance it out.

Let’s talk about what goes into the Lucy’s Gluten Free Maple Bliss Cookies, shall we? These cookies are made with Dr. Lucy’s Flour Blend (gluten-free oat, garbanzo/chickpea, potato starch, tapioca, sorghum, and fava flours), organic cane sugar, gluten-free oat flakes, soy milk, molasses, sustainable palm fruit oil, expeller pressed canola oil, olive oil, filtered water, citric acid, and flavoring from non-GMO corn, sunflower lecithin, non-dairy lactic acid, baking powder, baking soda, potassium bitartrate, vanilla extract, salt, xanthan gum, calcium carbonate, annatto, extract color, maple syrup, and cellulose gum.

It feels like a lot of ingredients and some of them do sound a bit more “chemical” than others. But…put them together and you do get a good cookie.

As for nutrition…a serving of Lucy’s Gluten Free Maple Bliss Cookies is 3 of the 2-3 bite cookies. This serving will provide you with 120 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. That, honestly, is GOOD for cookies. That actually impresses me! A serving of these cookies also provides 170 mg sodium and 9 grams of sugar. And finally…you will be taking in 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein, making these a non-filling sweet treat.

Cookies are not created equally, but if you love a crunchy, crumbly cookie…and if you love the flavor of maple syrup…these are a fantastic choice. For me…they fall in the middle of the cookie scale. A great cookie for flavor…but I sort of like a bit of softness to my cookies. Like I said…these just seem dry. But overall…not bad. Not bad at all.

October 23, 2014

Product Review: Glutino Gluten Free Sour Cream and Onion Potato Crisps

Product: Glutino Gluten Free Sour Cream and Onion Potato Crisps – $3.59+

I admit…when it comes to snacks, I usually reach for fruit. But, the fact of the matter is…sometimes you want something salty. Something that will satisfy that need for sodium (can you tell I’m a runner?). And finding a good gluten-free chip that not only is crispy, but not oily, and still packing a flavorful punch. It can be a plain chip, but make it a damn good plain chip!

That’s all.

So, awhile back while in Columbus, Ohio, I was shopping and filling a basket at Raisin Rack (seriously…GO THERE! The gluten-free section is FANTASTIC!) when I came across the snacks. I sort of glanced over the protein/breakfast bars and didn’t see anything that caught my attention. But…something did as I walked further down, to where the crackers, chips and pretzels are found.

Glutino.

So I trust it. Great brand.

Chips.

Okay…keep going…getting warmer…

SOUR CREAM AND ONION!

Hold the phone and shut the front door!

But there it was…in that classic white packaging that I associate with Glutino. And it was screaming at me to buy it. I hadn’t had sour cream and onion chips in…what seemed like…forever. Seriously forever. Years. Ages. Eons.

In fact, I hadn’t really enjoyed a good flavored chip since going gluten-free. There are plenty of chips out there…but the nutrition facts just didn’t make them worth the bother of buying. I want to enjoy a snack and not sit there fussing over the calories and fat content. And then get mad for doing that because you have to treat yourself in life. Everyone should. Just don’t make a habit of it, right?!

So…sour cream and onion just sounded pretty freakin’ amazing, if you ask me. So, it went into the basket…and then into my car…and then into my pantry…and then…into my belly! This week, I pulled this bag out to fill in for my usual mid-morning snack (usually an apple or pear or something from my CSA bin…but we weren’t home and didn’t get one!). I slipped the bag open and immediately was hit with that classic sour cream and onion smell. I think my mouth instinctively started to water.

So, I got out the kitchen scale and measured out a serving (28 grams). Perfect serving, if you ask me. And then I put them in my little Hello Kitty (don’t judge!) lunch bag for the following day at the office. When my usual snack time rolled around (I run my life on a schedule!), I couldn’t wait to bite into them. I uncapped the container and took a moment to observe. The chips were thin-cut, and perfectly cut. They had this wavy edge to them. And they weren’t greasy, as these chips are not fried, but baked. I have ALWAYS loved baked chips. Each sliced chip had a decent amount of seasoning on it, without being overwhelming. I breathed in the delicious snack fumes and then didn’t waste any more time.

It is a damn good thing that I measure out my servings. It would be SO easy to devour the entire bag of these amazing chips. The Glutino Gluten Free Sour Cream and Onion Potato Crisps are perfect. Seriously…snack perfection. The flavors are spot on. I mean…just spot on. Perfect saltiness from the potato chip, and then the savory essence of the sour cream and onion seasoning just made this the ultimate snack chip. They are crispy, and not the least bit dry. Perfect snackage, if you ask me. And, again, I would eat all the chips if left alone with the bag, for sure.

SO GOOD!

But, let’s discuss things like ingredients and nutrition, shall we?

The Glutino Gluten Free Sour Cream and Onion Potato Crisps are made from deyhdrated potatoes, corn starch, corn oil, seasoning (reduced lactose whey, onion powder, sugar, milk powder, cultured nonfat milk, dehydrated parsley, citric acid, lactic acid, natural flavors, garlic powder, and less than 2% soybean oil, silicon dioxide and calcium silcate as a processing aid), sugar, maltodextrin, leavening, coy lecithin, baking soda, and salt.

Now for that nutritional information…

A serving of Glutino Gluten Free Sour Cream and Onion Potato Crisps is 1 ounce (28 grams)…or about 12 crisps. This one serving will provide you with 110 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. Don’t you love baked chips? I always have! This serving also gives you 270 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. You will also be receiving 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein. These chips are cholesterol free as well.

For me, while not a common snack, chips are a great salty treat. And these mix the salty and savory flavor of sour cream and onion. It was a favorite flavor growing up…and the tradition continues. Glutino…you’ve rocked my snack life. Again.

Nice.

October 19, 2014

Product Review: Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Chicken Alfredo

Product: Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Chicken Alfredo – $5.99+

Awhile back, while on Manager’s Special, I picked up a box of Cheeseburger Mac made by Mrs. Leeper’s. I know what you’re already thinking…

Vegetarian…cheeseburger…and chicken?

Well…yes.

Because when I made the Mrs. Leeper’s Cheeseburger Mac, I used Trader Joe’s Soy Chorizo (also gluten-free!) as the meat instead of the ground beef called for in the recipe. It worked out beautifully. So, while at my local grocery store a few weeks ago, some of the other Mrs. Leeper’s boxed meals were on closeout. To me…this means that they are about to go away…and never return. So…my roommate said that I should go ahead and choose one for us to try, since we both liked the last one that we had.

After looking them over for a few moments, I decided to go with the Gluten Free Chicken Alfredo. For two reasons. Reason number one: YUM! Reason number two: I had the Beyond Meat “Chicken” Strips in the freezer that were just begging for some vehicle to carry it to the dinner table. That came in the form of this exact box. And this weekend was the perfect time to dish it up.

For one thing…BRRRR. For another…I’m having a bad life right now and comfort food just sounds…comforting. So, last night, I pulled one of the containers of the Beyond Meet Grilled Strips out of the freezer to thaw in the fridge. This box came out of the pantry and sat in a place of honor on my counter top. It would be dinner the following night. TONIGHT! I was thinking about cooking it up pretty much all day.

When it was just after 5 p.m., I finally got off the computer (I was blogging!) and went into the kitchen. I pulled out my big skillet and set it on high-ish heat. Out of the fridge came the chicken strips. I opened them up and sliced them into bite-size pieces. That didn’t take too long. Then, into the hot skillet they went. I gave them a stir, letting them warm up a bit. Then, I opened up the box of Mrs. Leeper’s Chicken Alfredo and removed the sauce mix packet. I measured out the 2 cups of hot water the box called for, as well as the 3/4 cup of milk. As this meal actually has milk products in it, not wanting to risk discomfort of my tummy, I used my Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk instead. Both of these were added to the skillet and then the powder mix inside the sauce packet. I stirred it all together and brought it up to a boil. Once there…in went the noodles. I gave it another stir, reduced the heat, and covered it. My homemade gluten-free dinner rolls went into the oven and I went to work on folding the first load of laundry, stopping every now and again to give it a stir. It took about 11 minutes to cook completely and get the noodles to their perfect al dente. I turned off the heat and let it sit for a few minutes before I was ready to dish it up.

It looked and smelled amazing. But, then again, how can you go wrong when you have fake chicken and perfectly cooked rice pasta swimming in a creamy sauce? Oh, I was anticipating dinner already. I dished it up, two bowls for tonight and two bowls for another time. I snagged the dinner rolls from the oven…and served it up with a helping of this week’s Dr. Who. Because, dinner is always better when shared with The Doctor.

Anyway, I digress…

Let me just start by saying…WOW!! Just…WOW!! This actually tasted like the butter and cream-laden alfredos that I would devour at Italian restaurants all the time. Hey, I was young and I didn’t know what calories were. I just knew what I liked. And that creamy, rich, delicious sauce over the cooked chicken with the pasta was…honestly…so comforting. Like I said…comfort food. So, this…this took me back. It was that good. The sauce was amazing. Perfectly seasoned. Light. Yes…light. Let’s hear it for unsweetened almond milk. And the pasta…it was perfect. While this can be served without a protein, the Beyond Meat Grilled Chicken Strips were a perfect substitute. They really absorbed the sauce and paired well with the soft, velvety noodles. This was heaven in a bowl. And I might have attempted to savor it, but, in reality, just scarfed it down. I’m glad there is another bowl waiting for me in the fridge. That will be later this week for sure.

So, now that I’ve gone on and on about how great the Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Chicken Alfredo is…let’s talk about what is inside it. Now, I am lactose intolerant, and I know people with dairy allergies…this does contain milk products. Just be aware. The ingredients are brown rice pasta, and the alfredo seasoning: whey, corn starch, salt, sour cream, Romano cheese, nonfat dry milk, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, spices, lactic acid, malodextrin, citric acid, buttermilk solids, natural cheese flavor, less than 2% soybean oil and silicon dioxcide to prevent caking.

Now, let’s talk nutrition. Generally speaking, you get 5 servings out of this…but I made 4 slightly bigger servings with mine to keep it even. A serving, however, is 1 cup prepared. In this serving, you will be taking in 250 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. You will also be consuming 5 mg cholesterol, 480 mg sodium, and 5 grams of sugar. Finally, you will be taking in 1 gram of fiber and 4 grams of protein. All of this, however, does go up if you use real chicken and/or fake chicken or tofu. This is just for the pasta and sauce itself.

For the second time, I have been pleasantly surprised by Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free products. First the Cheeseburger Mac took my kitchen by storm, and now…I just want to keep eating more of the Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Chicken Alfredo. It really was amazing. Great flavors, great textures, and a great dinner overall. I couldn’t have asked for a better dinner tonight. Comfort from comfort food…achieved. Thanks again, Mrs. Leeper’s.

October 19, 2014

Restaurant Review: Moerlein Lager House, Cincinnati, Ohio

Restaurant: Moerlein Lager House, Cincinnati, Ohio

It had been a long day for me. No…really. And, while a part of me was super stoked that I was leaving right from work to drive up to Cincinnati, Ohio, with my roommate, for a concert, another part of me just wanted to curl up under a blanket on the sofa at home. But…there was music to be enjoyed. And she had purchased a set of tickets to see Bastille in Cincinnati awhile back to help cheer me up.

This foot injury has had me pretty down since July…and she thought a surprise and a band I love might just help lift my spirits. It did. but this was a crazy, intense week at work, and my brain was ready to shut down.

Thankfully, that mindset changes when you actually get on the road to an event that you are really looking forward to.

So, at 4 p.m., we departed the office and hit the road up to Cincinnati, Ohio. A couple of days prior, Cathy had made reservations with a place not to far from US Bank Arena (the venue for the show) due to some gluten-free options available on their menu. I love trying out new food places so…WOOHOO! Even better…it had fish and chips readily available for her. YAY! She made the reservations for 6:30 p.m., which would give us some time to hit traffic and get into the city, park, and get to the venue. The last-ditch food option would be Chipotle, if the traffic gods were not with us.

But they were…and we arrived in Cincinnati just before 6 p.m., having only hit some traffic in Covington, Kentucky, just before crossing into Ohio and hitting Cincinnati. We readily found parking and got out, making the short stroll from the parking garage (with it’s $20 event parking!) to the restaurant, which was literally one block up and then over…down toward the river walk. Beautiful night too. Perfect weather.

We walked up the stairs to Moerlein Lager House and stepped inside. There were a few people ahead of us, but most went right to the bar. We stepped up and Cathy mentioned that we were early, because traffic wasn’t as bad as we anticipated…and they were more than happy to sit us down early. Nice. We were shown to a very nice table, somewhere between the rowdy bar and the floor to ceiling windows, which offered a spectacular view of the riverfront. We were given our menus and a menu that had the specials on it, where if any item were ordered off that menu, a donation would go towards a charity. Tempting, but there really wasn’t anything on there for me…and Cathy had her heart set on fish and chips. Our waitress, Kelly, came over to see if we wanted something to drink. We started with water. And when she returned, she asked if we wanted any appetizers or had any questions on the menu. Cathy mentioned that I was a gluten-free vegetarian…and she came over. I think she missed the “vegetarian” part following gluten-free…because she highly recommended the crab cakes. But…hey…she tried. And…working in it’s favor – the restaurant labeled everything V for vegetarian and GF for gluten-free. And wouldn’t you know it…they had a dish that fit both requirements.

Cathy ordered her Fish and Chips ($18.00), which was cod that was battered with their house beer, Hudelphol, and served with a jalapeno tartar sauce, coleslaw, and fries…and decided she’d live dangerously with a non-alcoholic beer (I agree with some friends of mine on this…what’s the point??!), Einbecker ($7.00) to have with her entree.

As for me…I happily placed an order for the Crispy Balsamic Tofu ($17.00). YES! You read that right. This entree was served with a spinach basil risotto and roasted tomatoes, cipoline onions, and wild mushrooms, topped with shaved asparagus and preserved lemon salad. It had actually been a toss-up between that entree, or ordering a few sides and dining on that. Cathy pointed out I could get those sides offered virtually anywhere…but the tofu dish was an original. I agreed…and that’s what I ordered.

Moerlein Lager House's Crispy Balsamic Tofu — Moerlein Lager House’s Crispy Balsamic Tofu

While we waited for food, we discussed the concert…the music…my upcoming marathon…my foot (which to this day still bothers me!)…and the restaurant itself. And, when our food arrived, we were both certainly ready to dive in and devour.

My dish looked beautiful. It was a true culinary work of art. The tofu was sliced on the diagonal, making perfect triangles that had this great crispy coating on the outside. It was all set over this mound of perfectly creamy risotto with the vegetables framing the outside of the dish. Shaves asparagus topped it all off and there was this gorgeous balsamic reduction that was drizzled over the plate. I felt bad slicing into it…but I was hungry, so that moment only lasted briefly.

One bite was all I needed to realize how much I loved this meal. The tofu had this great crispy outside, but inside it was still rich and soft. It was glazed perfectly with the balsamic reduction and the hit of lemon just made it shine. The shaved asparagus was cooked to a perfect al dente and used as not only a garnish, but as a great addition to the roasted vegetables on the plate. The onions were spectacular and the tomatoes were soft and juicy. But the star…the absolute star of this entree was the spinach basil risotto. It was phenomenal. Creamy and rich and packed with great earthy and herby flavors. I was already telling Cathy after one bite that I wanted to recreate this dish at home. She sampled the risotto and understood why. I also had her try the tofu…and she really liked that as well. This dish hit on everything I liked. It had a nice tang to it, but the flavors were simple and real. And I ate the entire thing…possibly in record time.

A dessert menu was brought to our table and after a bit of discussion…and the mention of a Chocolate Creme Brulee ($7.00), Cathy and I decided that we could treat ourselves and split the dessert. Cathy checked with Kelly to make sure the Creme Brulee was gluten-free. She said she thought it was, but would check. It was…and after a small wait, the delicious looking dessert was arriving at our table with two spoons. Holy Moses! This was one spectacular and rich dessert. The burnt sugar on top was fun to crack through, but what it gave way to was this rich and decadent chocolate cream. Cathy described it as high-class pudding. HA! And that’s what it tasted like. It was amazing. And I think once we set the spoons down, Cathy might have licked the bowl a little bit.

Honestly, the service was amazing and I didn’t feel nervous about eating here. The clearly labeled items on the menu helped make it very easy to navigate and to make sure I got what I needed and wanted. And what would be safe for me. Cathy loved her meal, and even enjoyed the jalapeno tartar sauce. She said it was her second favorite tartar sauce she’s had yet. That’s something. The food was outstanding. I mean…it’s not every day I can get a vegetarian dish that is also gluten-free at a restaurant without it being…a salad. So, this was a nice treat, indeed. And one day, when I run the Flying Pig Marathon…you better believe this is the place I’ll be hitting up for dinner.

Thank you, Moerlein Lager House…you exceeded my expectations!

Moerlein Lager House's Chocolate Creme Brulee — Moerlein Lager House’s Chocolate Creme Brulee

October 19, 2014

Product Review: Udi’s Gluten Free Spicy Southwest Veggie Breakfast Burrito

Product: Udi’s Gluten Free Spicy Southwest Veggie Breakfast Burrito – $3.49+

It all began at Expo West…which I always dream about attending but know that it is highly unlikely. The best part about Expo West is that all the companies who are in attendance usually announce and promote their new products that are set to hit stores throughout the coming year. I try to follow my Twitter feed closely while Expo West is happening, just waiting for one of the gluten-free companies or a gluten-free blogger who is there to post what they are releasing or what they have seen at the booths of certain gluten-free companies.

So, when I saw not only freezer meals but also gluten-free burritos pop up from Udi’s Gluten Free…you better believe I perked up and took interest. Of course, it took until now for me to find the burritos in my area…but it happened yesterday. I made a random stop off at my local Meijer and discovered these little delights hidden in the freezer section. I scanned the boxes…seeing so many of them to choose from, but most of them with meat. And then…I spotted the two versions that did not include meat.

YAY!!

One was a breakfast burrito and the other one for lunch/dinner. My roommate spotted the Udi’s Gluten Free Chicken Apple Sausage Breakfast Burrito, so it was decided that today, after we went swimming, we’d come home and have breakfast burritos for breakfast before running some errands and whatever else needed to be done. So, I grabbed the vegetarian version – the Udi’s Gluten Free Spicy Southwest Veggie Breakfast Burrito, and we checked out.

And I was excited. My laps in the pool couldn’t end soon enough. And when they did…I changed…I drove home…and I was totally ready to eat. For real.

Preparing the Udi’s Gluten Free Breakfast Burritos is super easy. Remove from the freezer, and take out of the wrapper. Wrap the small (it is small) burrito in a moist paper towel and microwave for 1 minute and 35 seconds on high. My microwave is old…so I did it for 2 minutes to ensure they were warm all the way through. Allow the burrito to sit for 1 minute before removing it from the paper towel and devouring.

My roommate had hers done first. And as I threw mine, wrapped in a paper towel, into the microwave, I asked her what she thought. She said that the tortilla was nothing special but the filling was phenomenal. So, that was good. YAY! Made me feel good about mine as it cooked through. When mine finished up, I allowed it to sit, and then, for blogging photo purposes, I cut mine in half. It was still a little frosty on the inside, so I tossed it, now unwrapped, back into the microwave for an additional 30 seconds. That worked. Time to eat.

I sliced into my burrito, having not had a burrito in ages. Seriously. Ages. Years. Since I have been a Celiac. So…I was just…dying to try it. I took my first bite and was…slightly underwhelmed. It wasn’t bad at all. It just…didn’t have much flavor to it. It felt like it was lacking seasoning or something. A dash of something just to elevate the flavors. But…it wasn’t bad. I could taste all of the vegetables that were inside, and loved the various textures that they brought to my palate. But, I actually think the tortilla was my favorite part of mine. If I had thought about it while eating, I would have put some hot sauce on the burrito…but it didn’t even occur to me. Weird, because I always put hot sauce on breakfast things that involve veggies and potatoes and eggs. I guess I was focusing on eating it…seeing what I liked and what I didn’t. The tortilla was soft and delicious. The inside was stuffed, for sure, with all the egg whites, vegetables, potatoes, and even some cheese. It was a good breakfast, for sure. Filling and ultimately good…but I just thought a little dash of something…cayenne or salt or something…might just make it great. And…I found this more mild than spicy for sure. No spice at all. Hence…add your own hot sauce. For real.

So…let’s talk ingredients, shall we? The Udi’s Gluten Free Spicy Southwest Veggie Breakfast Burrito is best examined in two parts. The filling of the burrito is made up from cooked egg whites, roasted potatoes, cheese sauce, heavy cream, butter, water, potato flour, onions, rice starch, parmesan cheese, tomatoes in juice, poblanos, corn, cheddar cheese, jalapenos, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, garlic, corn starch, lime juice, salt and spices. The tortilla is made from water, tapioca starch, modified food starch, sweet rice flour, powdered cellulose, tapioca syrup, palm oil, egg whites, pea protein, tapioca maltodextrin, cane sugar syrup, glycerine, gum, cellulose gum, cultured corn syrup solids, citric acid, lactic acid, salt, enzymes, fumaric acid. Whew…it’s a laudnry list of ingredients…and not all of them sound like real food, right? So…yeah…there are some chemical-ish sounding things in there…but a majority of the ingredients are real food.

As for the nutritional information, a serving is 1 burrito. This burrito will provide you with 200 calories and 5 grams of fat. Not bad for a breakfast burrito, right? You will also be consuming 5 mg cholesterol, 400 mg sodium, and 4 grams of sugar. Finally, you will be eating 5 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein. Like I said…filling!

So, the filling wasn’t much to scream about, but the tortilla was delicious and cooked up to perfection, without getting dry and hard in the corners or anything. Love that. Would I purchase this product again…maybe…if I needed something easy and fast. But next time, I’ll have my own hot sauce ready. Don’t believe for a moment that these flavors bring any sort of spicy heat…but that is really my only complaint. A little more flavor will bring this to breakfast perfection!

October 19, 2014

Product Review: Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Mesa Sunrise Cereal

Product: Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Mesa Sunrise Cereal – $4.39+

Okay…here’s the awful truth. The moment I pulled this box down from my pantry this morning and looked at the cover I said a silent prayer. Seriously. I had to. I was really concerned that, sort of like the last flaky cereal I ate (sorry Freedom Foods…I love you but…NO!), these would taste like cardboard. There is nothing worse, especially in this day and age, than getting a gluten-free product and having it taste like…a box. It just shouldn’t happen.

So, with much trepidation, I opened up the box and scooped out a serving of the cereal. I snagged a couple of the flakes…just ready to get angry at myself for risking my morning cereal tradition with a new flavor, despite being made by a company I trust. It didn’t work out for me with Freedom Foods (and I love all the other stuff I tried of theirs…just not that one cereal!)…so I begin to doubt ALL the brand names now.

This…is the life of a Celiac…who is still taking risks and trying new stuff. I mean, hey, I can’t just stick with the classics. Well, I could, but what fun would that be.

Nature’s Path has an entire line of organic cereals and a good number of them are gluten-free. I’ve treated myself to many of their Envirokidz cereals in the past, as well as these “adult” cereals…you know…the ones with actual flakes from ancient grains and no cute animals on the box. I guess sometimes I do need to act my age. HA! Anyway…this was one of the ones that was on sale when I was out shopping for cereal…and it intrigued me at the time. The sale price, I guess…more than anything. I am a girl on a tight budget…sometimes I see gluten-free and a sale sticker and that’s what goes in my shopping basket.

The Mesa Sunrise Flakes cereal is a naturally sweetened ceral of crunchy, golden flakes that are made from a blend of Indian corn, flax, and amaranth. Completely gluten-free. They look like speckled corn flakes, honestly. And, perhaps, that’s exactly what they are. But…upon first appearance I had that initial thought:

“Oh…these are going to taste like cardboard…and for the next week…I’ll have to choke them down.”

So, those couple of flakes I snagged from the serving I dished up in my cereal bowl were the primary test. And…

They were not just good, but really good.

First of all, the texture is great. You get this perfect crunch with each bite…so you feel like you’re eating something substantial that won’t go soggy in 30 seconds once you top off your cereal with almond milk…or whatever you like to put on your cereal. That was a huge plus. But the most surprising thing was the flavor. I thought these would be bland and dry, but they weren’t. In fact, they had this nice touch of sweetness to them, the result of sweet corn and the addition of evaporated cane juice, I’m sure. But it had this great flavor and I could tell that it would stick with me after I ate it…unlike most gluten-free cereals, which tend to be laden with sugar and less protein and fiber. I burn through those. This actually felt substantial. And healthy. And good! And being made from some great whole grains does help make this a well rounded and delicious breakfast.

Let’s talk about these ingredients for a moment, shall we? The Nature’s Path Mesa Sunrise Flakes are made with organic corn meal, organic yellow corn flower, organic evaporated cane juice, organic flax, organic buckwheat flour, organic quinoa, organic amaranth, sea salt, and tocopherols (natural vitamin E). These flakes are gluten-free and cholesterol free.

As far as nutrition goes, the Nature’s Path Organic Mesa Sunrise Flakes are a great way to start your day. Very healthy. A serving size is 3/4 cup. In this serving, you will be taking in 120 calories and only 1 gram of fat. This serving provides you with 125 mg sodium and only 4 grams of sugar. And you will be consuming 3 grams of filling fiber and 3 grams of protein. It’s a substantial and hearty cereal that is low in sugar (LOVE that!) and healthy thanks to being made from whole grains. I am in love with this cereal.

Nature’s Path has become a reliable and easy-to-find brand when I’m searching for some gluten-free options. Every cereal I have tried, both in their grown-up line and their Envirokidz line, have been outstanding. No wonder this company is thriving. If you need a healthy breakfast, I highly recommend trying the Nature’s Path Organic Mesa Sunrise Flakes. Great cereal and a great way to start your day!