Product: Nuovo Gluten-Free Basil Potato Gnocchi – $5.99+
I know…I’ve been blogging a lot lately. And even more so…I’ve been blogging a lot about gnocchi. And can you blame me? I mean…if you’ve ever had a properly cooked gnocchi, you know that there is nothing more rustic and traditional than that in Italian food. It’s one of the first pastas ever prepared by Italians…and probably my absolute favorite.
But gluten-free…that makes it difficult.
You will recall from a few blog entries prior to this one…I was at my local Earth Fare when I stumbled across (did a happy dance and a few frolicking laps of joy around the store) Nuovo Gluten-Free Gnocchi in the fridge/freezer pasta area. Fresh…gluten-free…pasta. Not just any pasta…gnocchi. *DROOL* There were three different flavors to choose from. And I decided I didn’t want to make decisions that day…I wanted gluten-free gnocchi. So all three flavors came home with me and spent a little time in my freezer.
But…when the pantry and fridge are becoming bare and you’re waiting on the next paycheck and your next CSA bin…you make do with what you have. And I happened to have some marinara in the fridge and some gnocchi in the freezer. Dinner…simply served. It only took a little bit of boiling water, some salt, and a little warm on the stove.
Nuovo Gluten-Free Basil Potato Gnocchi (boiled and drained)
I started with the classic…and moved to the next natural choice…Basil Potato Gnocchi. Just one step above Classic Potato. This one, the little potato-pasta clouds are seasoned with flecks of basil. You can see them. They look amazing. They smell amazing as they boil away in the big pot of water. Trust me…I was so happy that the sauce was warming because it helped me keep from sneaking a taste. These were coming from frozen, so they took a bit longer to float to the top water and show they were done. But when they all were floating happily at the top of a rolling boil, I switched off the stove, drained the gnocchi, and then tossed them in with the sauce. And yes…I used only one serving of sauce this time…and it still felt like too much. I have one more chance to get it right.
So…let’s discuss the Gluten-Free Basil Potato Gnocchi from Nuovo for a moment. Not only did this version smell delicious, it totally topped the Classic Potato as far as flavor goes. It’s amazing what a little basil can do. Not that the Classic Potato Gnocchi was bad, but…this one had a little more flavor…and all it had was some fresh basil chopped and added into the dough. I happen to love the smell and taste of fresh basil. Once again…these gnocchi boiled up and cooked through to that soft perfection that you want. Where you still have some give, but it almost melts in your mouth. Ahhhh…sweet gnocchi goodness. I loved the addition of basil to this version. It just gave it that added…oomph. And I liked the Classic Potato well enough. This just turned the volume up to 11. It even paired well with the marinara sauce. In fact…it was a perfect match. I was sad to gobble up the last little morsel in my bowl. I need to buy stock in these…seriously.
Let’s talk nutrition, shall we? A serving of Nuovo Gluten-Free Basil Potato Gnocchi is half of the packet. This dishes up 240 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. You also will be consuming 210 mg of sodium and 2 grams of sugar. Love how low it is in both of those. In addition, each serving provides you with 4 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein, making you feel full and satisfied.
Not bad for a dinner, right? RIGHT! And it’s super tender, super delicious, and so versatile. Eat it with any sauce of your choice, but I highly recommend an amazing marinara. It just really meshed well. YUM!
Nuovo…I hope your gluten-free gnocchi goodness never leaves me. Because, while I know I am capable of making my own gluten-free gnocchi…sometimes it’s nice to have someone take over that task for you.
These…are amazing.
Nuovo Gluten-Free Basil Potato Gnocchi in Mezzetta Napa Valley Bistro Homemade Style Marinara
Of course it is. In fact, this coming Friday I’m heading out to my favorite Indian restaurant here in town with my roomie and my friend Jenn because we are prepping for the trip to Chicago early Saturday morning for my marathon. Pardon me while I freak out a wee tiny bit here. Or a lot. Take your pick.
Ahem.
Unfortunately, I don’t make enough money to afford to feed (see what I did there?) my Indian food habit. Nope. I’m a poor, starving, soon-to-be marathoner who loves to eat but can’t always justify the means. And, I grew up eating Indian food thanks to my neighbors who were from India. I loved being invited to eat dinner with them because the food was so different and seasoned so different than what I was used to. It was love at first bite…and continues that path.
So, when I get a hankering for Indian food…or it happens to be a Monday when I need a quick bite before speeding over to my fun run group after work, well, I turn to Tasty Bite. Because they bring Indian food to my kitchen in the easiest form possible. Yep. A microwavable pouch.
Don’t turn your nose up at the microwave. It has its uses…aside from blowing things up or making butter get everywhere when you’re just trying to soften it…
You can’t mock something until you try it. And you’ll want to give Tasty Bite a chance. Especially if you like Indian food. The flavors are so authentic. And all the ingredients…they’re natural, not over processed or made of chemicals. You will recognize every single one of them printed on that little yellow pouch of curried goodness in your grocery store. Peace of mind…and delicious food? Yep…it is possible. Very possible.
Two weeks ago…because I’m behind…yes…two weeks ago, I used the magical microwave powers to heat up and create a delicious pre-run meal…with the help of Tasty Bite. And this week’s flavor…Aloo Palak.
Those of you unfamiliar with Indian cuisine, Aloo Palak is simply potatoes and spinach that are simmered together with onions, tomatoes and spices. What might these spices be? Well…ginger, garlic, sugar, chilies, and turmeric. That’s not so scary, right? Exactly! And the best part is…it all comes together beautifully.
Now, don’t judge me, because I admit I double-starched this meal. I cooked up two servings of jasmine rice to serve this entree over. It’s not necessary, but I do love having rice with my Indian food. So…potatoes and rice. Consider it…carbing up for the 3 mile run I was going to be doing.
Double starch or not…Tasty Bite’s Aloo Palak is delicious. It’s filling. It’s mild…meaning it won’t bother your tummy if you eat and run like I do. I love my spicy food, believe me…but not 30 minutes before I go for a 3 or more mile run. Yeah…not good. But…this one…the potatoes beef it up. The spinach is creamy and just makes a great sauce for the potatoes to bed in. The tomatoes and onions give it a sweet and savory feel. The spices…they give it that Indian flare. When you eat Indian food, you want it to taste ethnic. You want to feel like you are in India. This little pouch of gluten-free, vegan, kosher, culinary goodness delivers that flavor. No questions asked. It’s a little taste of India…straight out of your microwave. No passport required. Just a spoon. Or a fork. Whatever you wish.
I loved this. I wish I had eaten the whole pouch myself. But…I don’t want the roomie to starve either…so I share.
Let’s talk nutrition, since I already covered ingredients. A serving is 1/2 of the pouch of Tasty Bite Aloo Palak. This dishes up 100 calories and 3 grams of fat. Each serving will give you 400 mg of sodium and 3 grams of sugar. That’s not bad for something packaged. And you get dished up 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein as well. In addition, this meal is cholesterol free and trans-fat free. Love it.
If you are unfamiliar with Indian food and don’t want to risk a trial with a local restaurant…make Tasty Bite your first stop. If you love Indian food, but just can’t justify yet another meal out at your favorite place…make Tasty Bite your next option. Honestly, Tasty Bite is one of the best heat and eat meals out there…and they do Indian food right. Transport yourself to Indian food awesomeness in just 90 seconds. Grab a spoon…and dig in.
Product: Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi – $5.99+
Prior to my gluten-free life…I discovered the awesomeness of those delicious potato pasta pillows of awesomeness, known simply as gnocchi. I was addicted. Truly. Completely. 100% in love with these little puffs of potato and flour. There is just something so special and amazing about the way they just sort of melt against your tongue.
Gnocchi rules.
No argument. No disagreement. Gnocchi is tough to beat.
But when you’re gluten-free…anything in the Italian world…especially where one of the major components is flour…becomes a no-go. Off limits. Do. Not. Consume. Or else.
Sadness. Sure, I can make my own…but sometimes you just don’t want to mess with it. Let’s face it, while gnocchi rocks the culinary world of Italian food…it isn’t the easiest dish to make.
Imagine then, my elation, when I was visiting my local Earth Fare one day and spotted three varieties of gluten-free gnocchi in the refrigerator section. Seriously. Please insert happy dance and lap of joy around the store. No…that is not an exaggeration. The gnocchi is part of the gluten-free line by Nuovo Pasta. And, you better believe I grabbed all three varieties and went to store them in my freezer upon returning home from another budget-busting grocery trip. Sometimes I just can’t help myself.
Anyway…with a return from vacation and a lot going on lately, I found myself without much fresh produce to create dishes…but I did have marinara sauce in the pantry and gnocchi in the freezer. Dinner problem…solved.
For the first taste of Nuovo Gluten-Free Gnocchi…I decided to go with the classic – Potato Gnocchi.
If you screw up the original…there isn’t much hope for the rest, right? Right!
Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi (boiled and drained)
First of all, this is such an easy meal to make. Boil water according to package instructions (and yes…do salt the water), add the gnocchi and cook until they float. Drain. Enjoy! It truly is that easy. And it all gets done within 10 minutes if you get your water boiling in good time. So, while I was waiting on the water to boil, I began to heat up a new marinara sauce I was trying. With that going, in went the gnocchi…watching for those potato pasta puffs to start floating. When they did and reached that perfect tenderness, I drained them, then tossed them into the marinara. I actually prepared too much marinara for the serving, but, hey…it’s all good.
I settled in with my roomie and we dug in, quite happy to have dinner without a long wait. I was so impressed with the tenderness and the texture of the gnocchi as I took my first bite. The density was just right. The texture…soft with that bit of melt-in-your-mouth goodness, yet still requiring you sink your teeth into each bite to ensure total satisfaction. Oh yes…Nuovo did good. They did really, really good with these. They have this mild flavor to them that makes them perfect to pair with any tomato sauce or even a cream sauce. Light. Fluffy. Goodness. Honestly, someone would be hard-pressed to call these out as gluten-free. You can’t tell. Not one bit. And that’s entirely the point!
So, let’s get the nitty-gritty details out of the way.
Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi is created by combining potato flour, potato flakes, water, canola oil, salt, and rice flour. Yes…that’s really all that goes into this. Hello clean eats!!
Nutritionally speaking, a serving of Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi is 1/2 of the little plastic pack that it comes in. That’s around 4.5 ounces. This serving gives you 240 calories and 1 gram of fat. Your serving of this gluten-free gnocchi provides a scant 220 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. In addition, you will be provided with 4 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. So, just just made from real ingredients but really good for you too. These are very impressive nutritional stats.
I fell in love with the lightness of Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi, as well as the mild flavor. It’s so versatile and so delicious. And even better…so easy to prepare. No one would know it was gluten-free unless you told them. How’s that for impressive?
If you can find Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi at your local grocery store or health food store…buy it and try it for yourself. You will not be disappointed.
Nuovo Gluten-Free Classic Potato Gnocchi in Mezetta Napa Valley Bistro Homemade Style Marinara
They are one of my favorite go-to comfort foods. Seriously. And so easy to make too. Put anything inside with the cheese of your liking and you have yourself a gourmet sandwich good for breakfast, lunch, and yes…even dinner.
Cheese and I don’t always get along though. But that is where vegan and lactose-free cheeses come into play. Granted, most of the time, these cheese alternatives lack in the stretchy, ooey-gooey nature of cheeses. But, over time, it is something you do get used to. Not saying I don’t miss it…but…you work with what you are given.
That being said, not too long ago, Daiya introduced their slices of vegan cheese, perfect for sandwiches. I mean…perfect. Now, it took awhile for these to hit the market around here, but I spotted them at Whole Foods. And, while I had wanted to start with the cheddar flavor, they were out of that one, so I grabbed the Daiya Deliciously Dairy Free Provolone Style Slices to have on my grilled cheese sandwich I intended to make for dinner on…my birthday. Yes…my birthday. This also means you can tell I am about a month behind on my blogging. Trips and a busy training schedule do that. But I’m catching up…kinda.
First of all, I love that these slices come in a resealable package. YES!! No need to dig out a storage bag to ziplock around the container. Nicely done, Daiya. I also love the promise that these slices will stretch and melt like real cheese. And that they taste like real cheese. It was enticing…and I really wanted to try them. So, on my birthday, with no money in the budget to go out and plenty of food in the pantry, fridge and freezer to use, I did up a gourmet grilled cheese sammie (complete with spinach, tomato, and yes…Diaya Provolone Style Slices) with a heaping side of steamed corn from my CSA bin. Hey…no one said that the birthday dinner had to be fancy. And, I have gotten amazing reviews of my grilled cheese sandwiches. I have finally mastered the art of making them without burning one side. The key…I don’t distract myself with too much else in the kitchen while making them.
While I won’t go as far as to say that the Diaya Provolone Style Slices melted and stretched like real cheese (not even close!), the taste had that nice sweetness that provolone provides. I was so incredibly happy with the way it flavored the sandwich itself. A little buttery golden crust on the outside of my gluten-free bread, some sweet cheese, and healthy vegetables sandwiched in between…gourmet grilled cheese it was. The flavor of the cheese itself once again has that distinctive Daiya cheese flavor. It doesn’t taste plastic-y like some vegan cheese, but it does have that distinctiveness to it that if you take a bite, you know at once you are eating Daiya cheese. And I love Daiya. I wish it had really melted and stretched as the packaging promises, but in the end, all I can ask for is a safe and delicious cheese alternative. And that’s exactly what these slices are.
Daiya Deliciously Dairy Free Provolone Style Slices are made up of filtered water, tapioca starch, palm fruit oil, expeller pressed non-GMO canola and/or safflower oil, coconut oil, pea protein isolate, natural vegan flavors, vegetable glycerine, brown rice syrup, sea salt, xanthan gum, lactic acid (for flavor) carrageenan (NOOOOO!!!!), titanium dioxide (naturally occurring mineral), and vegan enzyme. So…again…not a huge chemistry experiment, but not all-natural either. Then again, it’s vegan cheese…how natural can it be?
Nutritionally speaking, a serving of Daiya Deliciously Dairy Free Provolone Style Slices is one slice of cheese. This one slice will serve you up 70 calories and 5 grams of fat. Each slice is also cholesterol-free, sugar-free, and contains only 85 mg of sodium. One slice does not provide any fiber to your diet and only 1 gram of protein.
These are definitely not a bad option for the lactose intolerant or those who are vegan and gluten-free. These Provolone Style Slices are lactose-free, gluten-free, casein-free, and soy free. They do make a great alternative to cheese if you find your system unable to handle the real stuff, as mine sometimes does. Diaya is one of my favorite companies to turn to for allergen-free vegan cheese alternatives. And I appreciate all the effort they put forth to make sure their products remain top-of-the-line. It’s why I continue to return to their variety of cheese-y good products time and time again. Another win, Diaya!
A gluten-free and dairy-free gourmet grilled cheese made with Daiya Provolone Style Slices!
Product: O’Doughs Gluten-Free Original Flavor Bagel Thins – $3.99+
I am a bagel zombie.
Mmmmm…bagel…bagel…mmmmm….nom nom nom.
Seriously. I’m a New York girl and I grew up enjoying the carby awesomeness of bagels. Give it a schmear of cream cheese and happiness could be found in each bite. As I got older…my love for bagels continued…but I started to watch the waistline. Bagel thins came out. And I fell in love with the thin, crispy goodness that these offered. All the taste of bagels without all the bread. Nice.
And then…Celiac.
I sampled so many gluten-free bagels at first, having given up even finding something close to a bagel. Most of the ones I tried were shaped like donuts, not bagels. Small, bready, and just all wrong texture-wise. And then…Udi’s came out with bagels that rocked my world. Seriously…amazing.
And then…while out grocery shopping one day at our local Earth Fare, I spotted O’Doughs Gluten-Free Bagel Thins. I did a double-take. I backed up, snatched them from the cooler, and tossed them into my shopping cart. No questions asked…these were coming home with me. I was so thrilled with this discovery without even having tried them yet. I had a great company for bagels…now maybe it was time to let the bagel thins shine.
I hadn’t had anything from O’Doughs yet. So, this was going to be the first product I sampled from this company. I stored these in my freezer for over week while I was out of town, but then…then it was time to have these for breakfast…because I came back into town with little groceries in my fridge and freezer and was trying to make do with what I did have on hand.
O’Doughs Gluten-Free Original Flavor Bagel Thins
That morning, I turned on my oven and put two bagel thins on the pan and let them toast up gently in the oven. You could totally do this in a toaster, but I got rid of mine when I was diagnosed with Celiac, wanting to eliminate any potential for cross-contamination. Now that my roommate eats only gluten-free bread too (for my sake!) I could totally get a new toaster now. I just have nowhere in my kitchen for one at the moment.
Anyway, these bagel thins toasted up beautifully in the oven. Because these are bagel thins…not bagels…I kept a close eye on them to keep them from burning. After removing the golden toasty bagel thins from the oven, I gave each half a schmear of gluten-free and vegan cream cheese. Served them up with some fruit that morning and VIOLA…breakfast was served.
One bite and I knew O’Doughs got these bagel thins right. I was amazed. The Original Flavour variety tastes just like a regular bagel. The outside gets that nice crispness to it, and the thin innards toast to a beautiful golden color and still maintain a bit of that chewy texture you want with a bagel. What this means is that the thin texture provides a base for any topping you want to top it with. Nothing takes away from anything else. The toppings compliment the bagel and vice versa!
So, now that you know they are amazing…let’s talk shop.
These bagel thins are composed of filtered water, soya flour, tapioca starch, chickpea flour, whole grain rice flour, cellulose fiber, glycerine, yeast, sunflower oil, salt, organic evaporated cane juice, xanthan gum, baking powder, and baking soda.
Not too bad as far as ingredients go. Not exactly clean eating…but…better than some other options out there, yes? Yes!
Nutritionally speaking, a serving is one bagel thin. And one bagel thin only contains 100 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. Consuming one bagel thin also means you will be taking in 300 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. These bagel thins contain no cholesterol, no trans-fat, no eggs, are non-GMO, and are kosher. One bagel thin also gives you 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein.
And yeah…they are really amazing. O’Doughs makes three varieties of bagel thins. Original, Sprouted Whole Grain Flax, and Apple Cranberry. I finally have found the Sprouted Whole Grain Flax at my local grocery store…but have yet to find the Apple Cranberry out in the wild.
But, if you should spot O’Doughs Gluten-Free Original Flavor Bagel Thins…grab them. Toast them. Top them. And enjoy them. Trust me…you’d never guess it was gluten-free. They taste like the regular thing. Perhaps even better. I am in love.
O’Doughs Gluten-Free Original Flavor Bagel Thins with Daiya Vegan Cream Cheese
Gluten-free granola is a staple in my apartment and my pantry. Honestly. My roommate and I go through it each week, using it on the breakfast parfaits that are part of the morning rotation every other day. It’s nice to change things up every now and again and have something other than cereal. I often will pair Greek yogurt and granola with fresh berries…or caramelized apples or pears. Sometimes even banana. It just depends on what produce I happen to have in the house.
Recently, while scouting the grocery store for some granola, I had my roommate choose the one she’d like to have. Now, she, like me, has her favorites. But, she chose one we hadn’t tried before. I was actually surprised. Even more as this was actually a newer product from Nature’s Path.
Now, Nature’s Path has a few great gluten-free options. I have eaten their EnviroKidz cereals (and still do!) and have even given some love to their regular cereals and one of their frozen waffle options. So, Nature’s Path is rather consistent on quality products. I don’t think I’ve had a product that I haven’t liked. Which is why I am not ashamed of my EnviroKidz Koala Crisps in my pantry.
But…granola? Why not?
My roomate chose the Gluten Free Selections Summer Berries Granola. This granola is a blend of gluten-free rolled oats, yogurt chips, freeze-dried blueberries, freeze-dried strawberries, and freeze-dried strawberries. Now, I’ve always been a fan of the dehydrated fruits in cereals because I find them to be so packed with flavor. I was actually looking forward to sampling this one.
Well…Nature’s Path really nailed it. The Gluten Free Selections Summer Berries Granola is amazing. While the sweetened and seasoned gluten-free rolled oats make for a great base, and the intensity of the freeze-dried berries brought a great sweet tang to each bite. But the star of this granola…far and away…was the yogurt chips. They really won me over with each bite.
I always sample the granola on its own, and would have been happy eating just this, on its own, for breakfast. But granola hits the Greek yogurt and the fruit in my kitchen, so I caramelized apples and served them up over the Greek yogurt, topping them off with this granola. How would the berries blend with the sweet caramelized apples? Perfectly. Every bite of this granola, whether on its own or in my breakfast parfaits was a burst of flavor. But should you get a bite with a yogurt chip…the magic happens. I commend Nature’s Path for that decision!
Let’s dive deeper into this product, shall we? Nature’s Path upholds its commitment to providing safe, gluten-free products. The ingredients in this granola are organic, non-GMO, and free of synthetic preservatives and additives. I love that.
A serving of this granola is 1/4 cup. This serving will provide you with 140 calories and 4 grams of fat. Impressive, yes? Each serving only has 8 grams of sugar, 55 mg sodium, and is cholesterol free. You also are provided with 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. Not bad at all.
Nature’s Path Gluten Free Selections Summer Berries Granola is sweet, savory, and so refreshing. Start your day off right with a granola that sings across your taste buds and tastes like summer. Even with fall creeping in, you can still enjoy that sweet taste of summer each morning. And do seek out those yogurt chips…and see why I say they really make the mix.
Nature’s Path Gluten Free Selections Summer Berries Granola over a Caramelized Apple and Greek Yogurt Breakfast Parfait
It’s an important day. And not just because it’s International Talk Like A Pirate Day.
It’s important…because it’s my birthday.
And this year I was turning the big double 3. Yes. I don’t mind my birthday or getting older. It’s one of my favorite days…even though most of the time I do nothing really to commemorate it. But this year…I decided to enjoy the delicious offerings of two of my favorite, local, gluten-free businesses, both of whom went above and beyond to make the occasion more than special.
It all started on the day before my birthday when my roommate and I took a longer lunch from the office and headed down to Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky to pick up the birthday cake we ordered from Annie May’s Sweet Café. Now…by now most of you know that my local running store nicknamed me Wonder Woman last year. It’s stuck. And I mean…stuck! I get called Wonder Woman more than I care to admit. It’s flattering. I love it. Wouldn’t change it for the world.
Well, back when Annie May’s Sweet Café started showing off some of their custom cakes they were making, I told them they were definitely doing a special cake for my birthday this year. They replied on their Facebook page…”How about a Wonder Woman cake?” (See…my reputation precedes me). I was totally all about it. They actually made a simple birthday cake for me last year too (strawberry cake with a vegan chocolate ganache), which is how I found out about them…and how they won me over in the first place (that and the apple cider donuts we bought when we picked up the cake…just sayin’.). The cake was amazing. So, naturally, as it is my belief that no matter how much you love to cook and bake…you should never have to make your own birthday cake…we hit them up again this year. And, per their suggestion via their Facebook page months and months ago…I thought…I think I should have a Wonder Woman cake.
As we are in Annie May’s Sweet Café every Saturday morning if we are in town for their delicious breakfast offerings…that Saturday we went ahead and placed the cake order (and a soft pretzel order for Soft Pretzel Wednesday) to pick up on Wednesday around lunch time. My roommate asked what kind of cake I wanted. I’m not big on cake…and I like simple. So…this year I went with a vegan vanilla cake with vegan vanilla icing. And yes…WONDER WOMAN!
On Wednesday, when we showed up to pick it up, I was blown away. Kenna does the cake decorating and she did fantastic. I made sure I told Annie May that whenever possible (and I told Kenna when I saw her the following Saturday morning!). Seriously…I couldn’t have been happier with the way it turned out. The Wonder Woman logo was PERFECTION!! I mean, Kenna nailed it!! And the cake…SO delicious. The flavors were vibrant. The icing was sweet and meshed well with the vegan vanilla cake layers. Four layers…of cake-y goodness. And this from a girl who isn’t big on frosting or cake. How about that? I was SO happy with this cake. It was a 6-inch round cake that we got 12 good-sized portions from. I was in sugar-rush heaven. And happy to devour it all. Well, I had some help from Cathy (the roomie), Harry, and Laura.
But…here is the cake in all it’s gluten-free and vegan wonder (woman):
Honestly…I have yet to have anything I didn’t like from Annie May’s Sweet Café. So…even if you don’t have food allergies…get over there. My friend Greg (not food allergic at all) would definitely direct you to their gluten-free Double Fudge Brownies. Me? I say…their allergen-free Chocolate Chip Cookies. Or…honestly…EVERYTHING!! Support local businesses!! I will continue to support this one.
HUGE thanks going out to Annie May, Kenna, and the rest of the staff who continue to show the world (or at least the Louisville area) just how good and delicious gluten-free can be!!
But…the birthday celebrations didn’t stop with a cake. Nope. Not for 33. Not ever.
Very randomly, about two weeks out from my birthday, I went over to the Facebook page of my favorite local (and gluten-free) food truck, Sweet ‘N’ Savory, and commented that I would love them forever if around my birthday, at one of their outings, if they could offer a Crepe Suzette, as it has always been one of my favorite types of crepes. I was told that they would be happy to cater a private event for me, featuring a 3-course meal, for only $20/person. I needed to make sure that I would have a decent enough crowd for them, and started asking my closest friends if anyone was interested. Most everyone I knew was free on the Sunday, September 22, and said they would be happy to come and celebrate with good eats. I was thrilled. And I went ahead and set it up with Richard and Ashley, the fantastic owners of the food truck.
They found a location, at Louisville’s The Beer Store in NULU. This turned out to be a perfect setting as they had a patio for seating and the side door was opened so we could trek out to the food truck to place our orders, return our plates, and all that good stuff. Guests could also imbibe in beers of any kind (SO MANY) or sodas or water…or whatever else they could find inside. It was a hit. I ended up having 10 of the 12 guests show up to the shindig, so that wasn’t bad at all. Very pleased. Although totally missed the ones who were unable to make it.
It was a very diverse crowd, but they all came hungry and they all socialized and blended well. YAY!!
So, what did Sweet ‘N’ Savory cook up for my special day? An amazing menu that every guest raved about and devoured. No one left hungry. In fact, we were all completely stuffed. But it was a good kind of stuffed. Trust me.
The menu, as I mentioned, was 3 courses: appetizer, entree, dessert (like Chopped…but without the surprise basket of ingredients!).
For the appetizer round, Sweet ‘N’ Savory prepared two of my favorite gluten-free vegetarian crepes: Caprese and Veggie Caponata. You could either get one large one of your choice, or one of each in a mini-crepe form. I totally forgot to take a picture of mine, but I went with one of each in the mini-form. What a way to start out. Everyone raved about them…especially the Veggie Caponata. That seemed to be the crowd favorite (and mine as well!!). It was the perfect way to start off the feast that day. We were given plates and a ticket and when we were done with the appetizer, all we needed to do was walk the plates and ticket back out to the truck, hand them over, and they would get to work on the entree.
The entree…is super special. Awhile back, Sweet ‘N’ Savory took part in a food truck event called Cluster Trucked. Each truck served up food that wasn’t their normal fare. For the event, Sweet ‘N’ Savory did gluten-free ravioli. And I fell in love with them all over again. For my event, they were dishing up two different varieties of ravoili. Once again, you could either get a full serving of one version, or split the difference and try both. The options: Butternut Squash, Ricotta, and Sage Ravioli topped with a Brown-Butter Sage Sauce or Four-Cheese Ravioli topped with a Red-Pepper Cream Sauce. When I was at Cluster Trucked, I had the Four-Cheese with Red Pepper Cream Sauce. I am in LOVE with that red-pepper cream sauce. I want to beg for the recipe. Seriously. But at my party, I was all about the Butternut Squash, Ricotta and Sage Ravioli with the Brown-Butter Sage Sauce. They had told me all about this one prior to the event and that was all I wanted. Observe:
Sweet ‘N’ Savory’s Gluten-Free Butternut Squash, Ricotta and Sage Ravioli with a Brown Butter Sage Sauce
I made a fantastic choice. The ravioli was so rich and creamy. The pasta itself was melt-in-your-mouth good. The sauce…so much flavor. The filling…it doesn’t get better than butternut squash (a personal favorite) with ricotta and sage. Honestly. I fell in love with the way this entire dish just danced across my taste buds. Savory. Rich. Delicious. I was in food heaven. I think I might have hoovered this up and licked the plate. It’s possible. For real. For being a gluten-free crepe food truck, they totally rock the ravioli. That is NO joke!
Following the dinner portion of the meal…naturally is something that hits that sweet tooth. And, per my request, Sweet ‘N’ Savory offered up a Crepe Suzette. What is a Crepe Suzette? It’s a crepe with sugar that has Grand Marnier poured over it, and then is ignited. Flaming food! The alcohol in the liqueur evaporates and what emerges is a thick, caramelized sauce. I first had a Crepe Suzette in Denver, Colorado a couple years back and I fell in love with it. So it was nice that they took an extra step to provide this for me at my request. Along with the crepe, they offered some of their famous and delicious gluten-free gelato…either (my personal favorite) Salted Caramel or Vanilla.
They attempted to light the crepes tableside, but the wind wasn’t cooperating. Points for trying!! That being said…CREPE SUZETTE FTW!! There is a reason this is one of my favorite sweet crepes to devour…er…eat. It’s sweet…it has brilliant flavor to it…and it’s still light. So it isn’t too much. I, naturally, paired mine with the Salted Caramel gelato. Best choice ever!! It paired so well with the Crepe Suzette. So, while this is not something that usually graces their menu, I was so glad when they offered this just for my little event. Heaven was in the form an amazing dessert crepe that day. Topped off with delicious gelato. YUM!
Sweet ‘N’ Savory’s Gluten-Free Crepe Suzette
I am eternally grateful for both Annie May’s Sweet Café and Sweet ‘N’ Savory Food Truck for helping to make my birthday so special this year. Everything they gave me was awesome. And no one would have guessed any of it was gluten-free. Because these places make food that is just that amazing. No one was disappointed and everyone commented on how good everything was.
Birthday win. Done with a little local flair.
And check out these beautiful people who came out to celebrate and enjoy good food, good conversation, and good times. I love them all!
Me & My Gang (from left and looping around to right): Kelsie, Cathy, Harry, Harold, Michael, Judi, Natalie, Me, Justin (Not pictured: Greg (he’s taking the photo) and Maureen (who hid from the camera))
With our California girls needing to return to work…and since we were sort of already out that way…and sort of missed out on our usual journey to Denver, Colorado in April due to my roomie’s teammate…Cathy and I decided that we would take that journey to Colorado. I admit, for much of the planning stages, tacking on the Denver portion was a nightmare…but we got it all worked out. And with that, we got to spend Wednesday through Sunday in beautiful Colorado.
There is so much to do and see in Colorado…and we’ve been here enough times that we have our favorites that we wouldn’t miss out on…ever. But, we also had our sights on some new adventures, both with friends and with food.
So…here’s how a gluten-free vegetarian eats while in Colorado!
Zamparelli’s Italian Bistro – Lafayette, Colorado
Zamparelli’s Italian Bistro, Lafayette, Colorado
It was our first day in Colorado. After landing at the Denver airport and getting our rental car (free upgrade to the Toyota Prius), we hit the road for our drive up to the Boulder, Colorado area. We were staying at the Boulder Twin Lake Inn, where many a famous runner has spent the night. I was thrilled. I was hoping maybe I was in the room Shalane Flanagan stayed in so that I could channel some of her speed. The inn is actually owned by runners, which is why it is popular with runners. Well, after getting checked in, we were starving…so Cathy and I made a short little drive to Lafayette, Colorado. Our Find Me Gluten-Free app had directed us toward a place called Zaparelli’s Italian Bistro…and it had many gluten-free options. Including…gluten-free pizza. Which, mind you, I was thrilled about, as I was doing my long run the following morning around the area the inn was located in…a full 12.5 mile run. Pizza was just the thing I needed.
Wanting to try something we couldn’t get anywhere else, we decided to get a Gluten-Free Johnny V’s Vegan Pie ($15.00). It just sounded intriguing…and, as I said, the toppings were different from anything we’d been able to get out anywhere else. Order in. At Zamparelli’s…the gluten-free crust is a $2.00 upcharge, but when you have to eat gluten-free, what are you going to do? The gluten-free pizza is a 12-inch pizza crust…and in this case…it is topped off with a garlicky white bean spread, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, sauteed spinach, roasted mushrooms, artichoke hearts, and a spicy salsa rosa. Is your mouth watering yet? Mine was just reading the description. I liked that it was vegan…no cheese to upset my delicate stomach as it sometimes does. Also important with that long run looming.
The pizza was delivered and boy…did it look and smell amazing. It tasted just as good as it looked too. The white bean spread acted as the base, instead of a tomato sauce. The roasted red peppers elevated a lot of the flavor, especially when paired with the caramelized onion. Sweet and savory. Very delicious. But the star, believe it or not, were the artichoke hearts. That just brought all the other toppings together. Fantastic. The crust was really good. Not undercooked, but done to perfection. It was a thin crust without being a cracker crust, which I appreciated. I was quite happy with this meal and my roommate and I walked out of there satisfied, full, and quite happy.
The Buff Restaurant – Boulder, Colorado
The Buff Restaurant, Boulder, Colorado
I first heard about The Buff Restaurant on Man vs. Food. They are best known for their “Saddlebags” which are pancakes that are stuffed with either bacon, sausage or ham, and then topped off with two eggs. They are massive, mind you. Like…steering wheel size. So much more of the menu now has a gluten-free option available (including the Saddlebags…except being vegetarian…not for me)…but I had just done a 12.5 mile run and I was wanting some protein.
I ended up getting one of the omelettes. In fact, I went with the Veggie Omelette ($9.50). This thing is, honestly, the size of my head. But…full of delicious veggie goodness. This particular omelette comes packed with broccoli, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach and onions, with a touch of blended cheddar. Along with this massive egg-splosion of goodness (see what I did there?), you get a side of their potatoes…or you can upgrade to the fruit for just $1.00 more. I wanted my carbs…so I stuck with the potatoes. And, with it came a slice of gluten-free toast. YUM! As I was in need of some caffeine, I ordered a Café Au Lait with almond milk ($3.50). It was just the hit I needed, especially since the cup it came out in was, again, the size of my head. I think I was wired for much the rest of the day. But it was good.
So was the food for that matter, but I already knew that. I’ve been eating at The Buff for three years now. I make a trip to Boulder specifically to eat there and go to the Celestial Seasonings factory. Honestly. I do. It’s the truth. The eggs are always done to perfection. The toast is crispy and never burned. I love it with their homemade jam. SO delicious. And the potatoes…they are my favorite way to consume carbs. Seasoned to perfection. Done with that bit of crisp on the outside and that soft center. I ate mine with hot sauce. The omelette too. HEAVEN…on a plate. Which I demolished, mind you. I ate every last piece. I was full for the rest of the day.
St. Bon’s Café – Highlands Ranch, Colorado
St. Bon’s Café, Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Around 5 p.m. after my massive breakfast, however, the tummy was starting to get a case of the rumblies. And my roommate had researched the perfect solution for said problem. We were now down in Denver for the remainder of our stay and it just so happened that Denver is the home of a 100% gluten-free deli and bakery. Seriously.
St. Bon’s Café was an absolute nightmare to get to. And we were getting hungry and cranky as we made our way through rush hour traffic on a Thursday night. Our GPS got us down to the right area, but had so much trouble actually getting us to the store. I finally looked it up on my iPhone and managed to get us there. But it was about 30 minutes before they were going to close. It was a good thing we already had an idea of what we wanted to eat…because we were cutting it close.
That being said, the owner, Kurt Fulwider, was behind the counter and ready to take our orders. He told us not to worry about it. He had a meeting he needed to get to across town and already called to say it wasn’t happening and that he would be late. So…we ordered…not just dinner…but a dessert to split. More on that after I tell you about our sandwiches.
For me…I wanted The 3 Wisemen Panini on the house made Rosemary Thyme Focaccia ($7.99). The 3 Wisemen is a basic caprese sandwich. It’s freshly sliced tomatoes, basil leaves and mozzarella. Cathy went with her favorite…something cheesy…opting for The Trinity Panini on the house made Basil Garlic Focaccia ($7.99). This sandwich is stuffed full of three different cheeses…creamy havarti, sharp white cheddar, and smooth meunster. We decided we could split a dessert and I had my heart already set on the Blasphemous Bread Pudding ($3.99), which was a gluten-free bread putting with a delicious custard and dark chocolate. With our orders now paid for, we settled at a table until they were ready.
Let me tell you…the wait wasn’t bad…and the food was fantastic. Absolutely FANTASTIC! I fell in love with the rosemary thyme focaccia. The flavors meshed so well with the fixings in my sandwich. The basil was so fresh and so fragrant. The mozarella was melt-in-your sammie good. And the tomatoes were ripe, and didn’t bleed juice all over my bread. The focaccia was toasted in the panini press to perfection, giving that nice golden crispiness to each bite. I was in love with this sandwich. Cathy tried a piece and said while she loved hers…she really loved the bread on mine.
As for that sinful dessert…oh…yeah. It was rich…creamy…and beyond blasphemous. This was a sin to eat. The custard was rich and creamy, but not overly heavy. The dark chocolate…melt my heart to pieces…so good. It paired so well with the custard. I was so happy when eating this. So very happy. I sort of want to recreate it for myself. If possible. It’s worth a try. Yep…that good. Mouth watering…sinfully…satisfyingly…perfect for when you are PMS-ing or any other time because you just need some chocolate dammit…good!! I hope I can get back here when I’m in Denver in May. It must happen.
Coquette’s Bistro and Bakery – Colorado Springs, Colorado
Coquette’s Bistro & Bakery, Colorado Springs, Colorado
I love crepes. LOVE them. With the exception of my local food truck, I normally can’t have them. I don’t have a good crepe pan to do them myself…nor would they come close to what Sweet ‘N’ Savory can cook up for me in their food truck. Normally when I am in Colorado, I would go to La Creperie Cafe in Denver. But…they closed. THEY CLOSED!! I was saddened by this, but started doing some research. What I did run across though was a little cafe that does only 100% gluten-free food. The catch was…it was in Colorado Springs. The best thing is…that doesn’t phase Cathy. We hopped in the car on Friday morning and took a little drive down to Colorado Springs.
Nestled at the foot of Pike’s Peak, Coquette’s Bistro and Bakery has the perfect location to entertain visitors and locals alike. The place and the food has won numerous awards over the four years it has been open. And it claims that the food is so amazing, you’d never guess it was gluten-free. This little restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, espresso, and cocktails. There is a little bit for everyone.
But Cathy and I made the journey for…yep…crepes. None of their savory crepes are vegetarian. That was fine for Cathy, and she ended up ordering the Rise and Dine ($11.00), which is a crepe that is stuffed full (and I mean full) with two scrambled eggs, ham, red onions, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese. The crepe is then topped off with hollandaise. It came with a side of fruit or their truffled potatoes. She went potatoes. I swiped one. OMG. Amazing. I swiped more than one after that. I think she welcomed the help as her crepe was HUGE. I would have gone savory had there been a vegetarian option…but I was okay going sweet. Most of the offerings were what I could get from my local gluten-free crepe food truck…so I went with the one that I hadn’t been served by my local go-to gluten-free crepe place. And that was the Bananas Fosters Crepe ($8.50). This dessert crepe (hey…dessert for breakfast is allowed on vacation!) is a delicious crepe that is topped off with banana and a rum brown sugar flambé. The crepe is served with some house made whipped cream on the side. My crepe was definitely the size of my plate, but being a dessert crepe, it is usually dusted with cinnamon and sugar on the inside and then topped off with the goodness on the outside. Much less to navigate through. But…let me tell you…this was one fantastic crepe. I loved the rum brown sugar sauce. The whipped cream was a nice touch. And the banana, being one of my favorite fruits in this world, made it all taste a little like heaven. I devoured it. Like…completely. Cathy had a good portion of her crepe remaining. Not me. I went all vegetarian piggy on that plate. Worth it. YUM! I am making this a required stop from now on. It must happen. It is that good. And I feel safe eating there.
Baker Street Pub & Grill – Denver, Colorado
Baker Street Pub & Grill, Denver, Colorado
It’s no secret…my roommate and I are completely obsessed with Sherlock Holmes. For real. No…seriously. And when we discovered that just a short walk from our hotel room at the Denver DTC was one of Colorado’s four Baker Street Pub & Grill locations, well, you better believe we knew what we were doing for dinner after hiking around Colorado Springs and the Garden of the Gods. Hey…you work up an appetite doing that.
We walked over to Baker Street Pub & Grill from the hotel on Friday evening. I loved how you got to seat yourself. Our server, a bubbly and enthusiastic woman came over to see about drinks. I was sticking with water. But Cathy decided to take in Happy Hour and went with a Baker Street Brown Ale ($4.25). And with that…her usual pub fare…a half portion of the Fish & Chips ($7.99). As for me…I went with the Baby Spinach and Feta Cheese Salad ($9.99), which I added avocado slices to ($1.49) with a side of the Serrano Coleslaw ($1.99). Our waitress put in our order and we sort of geeked out over Sherlock Holmes until it arrived.
My salad was MASSIVE!! And it looked absolutely amazing to top it off. This salad was a blend of baby spinach, feta cheese, gala apples, red onions, candied pecans (they didn’t candy mine), and red grapes. All of this was tossed in a fantastic raspberry vinaigrette dressing. And let’s not forget my deep love of avocado…which topped off my salad nicely and gave it this rich creaminess that I truly love in a salad. The flavors really, really worked together. I loved the way the fruit played well with the vegetables and how the sweet, yet savory vinaigrette just brought it all together. The avocado…if you order a salad…always top it with avocado…trust me!! As for the coleslaw…eh…it was coleslaw. With the wording of Serrano Coleslaw, I expected something with some heat behind it…but it just tasted like your run-of-the-mill coleslaw. Probably my only disappointment. The rest…so good!
Cathy was very impressed with her fish. In fact, we both enjoyed our food so much we came back on Saturday night, our last night in town. The manager on duty rustled up some can coozies for us and let us get in the big phone booth outside and took a picture. It was epic. We ordered the same thing…minus the coleslaw and rounded out the perfect stay in Colorado at one of our new favorite places in Denver…just a short walk from our hotel. Perfection.
Udi’s Café and Bar – Denver Airport – Denver, Colorado
Udi’s Café & Bar, Denver Airport, Denver, Colorado
I had every intention of making it out of Denver without eating at the airport. I figured Cathy and I would grab something in Atlanta. It’s a good thing she talked me out of that because we had no time for food in Atlanta as it turned out. So, her plan to eat something in Denver before heading to our gate for the first leg of our journey back to Louisville was a stroke of sheer genius.
And to our delight, Terminal B at the Denver Airport has an Udi’s Café and Bar. Udi’s is one of the major names in gluten-free breads and other products on the market. And…they are based in Denver. So the fact that the airport has one of these cafés shouldn’t be a surprise. I was so happy they did.
We settled in at a table and a waitress came over to give us menus and let us look them over. We had a vague idea of what we wanted to eat…sandwiches…with fries. Filling. Which is exactly what we needed, honestly.
Cathy went with the BLTA ($9.35), which is a bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado sandwich with chipotle aioli and served on ciabatta bread. She got hers with the standard fries that come with the sandwich. As for me…I went with the Gluten-Free Caprese Sandwich ($9.95) and substituted the regular fries for Sweet Potato Fries ($2.00). Gluten-free sweet potato fries. Pardon my dance of joy and glee. This was the second time this trip I was getting sweet potato fries. This is me…being happy.
It was a little bit of a wait, but Cathy and I soon received our plates full of food. The sandwiches were huge. The fries…a big portion. But this was our meal for the day…so while we weren’t starving…we dove in.
My fries were FANTASTIC! Better than the ones I waited forever for at Disneyland. They were crispy, fried to perfection. I was in love with them. In fact, I saved them for the last bite because I wanted to remember those fries. As for the sandwich…epic win. Served on Udi’s bread (of course), this sandwich was stuffed with mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes, and a pesto aioli. And the flavors just popped. I have been eating a lot of caprese things since going gluten-free and this was one of the best sandwiches put together. Simple flavors…executed perfectly. And served with SWEET POTATO FRIES!! I was thrilled to actually be able to eat something other than a fruit cup, a salad, or some unhealthy snack at the airport. Seriously. This was my happy that day.
~*~*~
So…there you have it. I find eating gluten-free in Colorado to be so easy. Both Rudi’s Gluten-Free and Udi’s Gluten-Free are based out of Colorado (one in Boulder…the other in Denver). Granted, on Saturday when we went up into the mountains to Rocky Mountain State Park…my lunch was a banana, some yogurt, and some Boulder chips…but…I’m in the mountains. I will cut them some slack.
This was one of my best foodie trips to date. Both California and Colorado offered me so many options and such delicious food. I wasn’t really disappointed with any of the restaurants that we chose to dine in. And that…is amazing!!
Colorado…see you in May. I hope my favorite places to eat will be ready for me again!
I dedicate this entry to, honestly, the best meal I have ever consumed in my life. No joke. Sorry mom…but it’s true. Never before have I been treated to such an exciting and taste-defying tasting menu, all of it done by the chef’s whim. And yes…all of it done to suit any food allergies at the table. For me…being a gluten-free vegetarian. For my friend Tawn…no shrimp.
What am I talking about?
Disneyland.
Napa Rose.
Chef’s Table.
OMGTHEFOODWASAWESOME!
Okay…now that I got that out of my system…kind of…let me explain…
You see, Disneyland has a lot of nice treasures inside its gates. And, after running the Disneyland Half Marathon, Indy wanted to treat all of us, plus her hubby and her dad, to a nice meal out…which would be our Christmas and Birthday gifts. She chose Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa as the scene of this adventure. After a long day, the four ladies got all dressed up and met up with Evan (Indy’s hubby) for a ride over to the restaurant. Her dad was staying there so he’d meet us there.
A few drinks in the lounge and two Joey Fatone (from *NSYNC) sightings later, we were making our way to the Dessert Counter and being seated, napkins placed on our laps, and about to be treated to one of the finest, most epic, amazing meals of our lives…complete with wine tasting. All of this…completely at the whim of the chef.
So…let’s get started:
Amuse-Bouche: Plum with Grape Relish and Gluten-Free Flatbread
Amuse-Bouche: Plum with Grape Relish and Vegan & Gluten-Free Flatbread
The rest of the counter was treated to a Panna Cotta with Great Relish…but not this girl. The chef kept is simple, elegant, and instead of the panna cotta, served me up an amazing warm Plum with Grape Relish on top. The plum was sweet, pairing beautifully with the slightly sour tones of the chopped grapes. It was the perfect way to wake up the palate and prepare it for the rest of what was to come that night.
In addition, while the rest of the counter got to share this large basket of various breads, a basket of vegan and gluten-free flatbread was delivered to me. This bread had a fresh herbiness to it. It was crispy, yet still soft. And when it was fresh and warm…there was nothing like it in the world. It was a nice change from the gluten-free rolls I am so used to getting. It’s not everyday this girl gets to indulge in flatbread. And indulge I did. Because I just couldn’t stop eating it!!
First Course: Cauliflower Tower
Cauliflower Tower
What…you may ask…is a Cauliflower Tower. Simply what it sounds like. Cauliflower…in a tower. But…it is really so much more than that. In fact, while the base of this dish was, in fact, a cauliflower mash, it was blended with couscous, raisins, pistachios, and was drizzled with a blood orange sauce. I love cauliflower, so using it as a base for this meal was sheer brilliance. The couscous gave it a bit more body. Toss in the sweet raisins with the salty nature and crunch of the pistachios and you have a meal made in heaven. Seriously. Angels eat this when they picnic on the clouds. I swear. The blood orange sauce just sealed the deal. It gave this savory dish a little zing. It was fantastic. Down to the very last bite. If this was any indication of what was left to come, I was all in. I didn’t record the type of wine any of my meals were paired with…but I loved them. All of them.
Second Course: Grilled Peach Salad with Green Beans and a Peach Yogurt Sauce
Grilled Peach Salad with Green Beans and a Peach Yogurt Sauce
The usual version of this dish is served with roasted duck. But, being that I was the sole vegetarian at the table, the chef made one with duck, which Indy received, and made mine without it. But this made me want to grill peaches ALL the time. ALL the peaches. And then consume ALL the peaches with ALL the food that I could think would pair well with them. I will say this…I never would have paired peaches with green beans. But…this worked. This worked remarkably well. The peaches had this rich sweetness to them, the green beans were cooked perfectly, so they had that crispiness to them. And that yogurt sauce just tied everything together. This was fantastic. I could have eaten plate after plate of this and been one happy girl. But more goodness was still ahead.
Third Course: Heirloom Tomatoes with Golden Tomato Essence with Fava Beans and Parmesan
Heirloom Tomatoes with Golden Tomato Essence with Fava Beans and Parmesan
I do believe either Tawn or Cathy made the Silence of the Lambs reference when I was served this beautiful, rainbow dish. I mean, the colors on this dish just popped. The sweet tomato essence was what really made this dish so savory. The beautiful heirloom tomatoes were ripe, gorgeous, juicy and the flavors danced across my taste buds with the first bite. The fava beans added a little body…and some texture. And to top it all off…shaved Parmesan cheese, which gave the dish that big of salty seasoning that just brought it all together in the end. Rich, succulent…and fantastic. Each dish was topping the last…
Fourth Course: Chef’s Creation – Vegetarian Mushroom and Tomato Plate
Chef’s Creation – Vegetarian Mushroom and Tomato Plate
Be jealous. Because the chef made this one specifically for me. His gluten-free, vegetarian diner. What exactly was it? Savory goodness, that’s what it was. Honestly…this was fantastic. From the first bite he reigned me in with perfectly cooked mushrooms, beautifully seasoned and topped with gorgeous heirloom tomatoes and greens. I wanted to hoover this dish so much, but I sat there like the lady I am and ate it like the sophisticated foodie I see on television and dream about becoming. No…really. I savored this dish. Every bite of it. And I never wanted it to end. But…my fork fell onto the last slice and soon it too was gone.
Dessert:Meyer Lemon Crème Brûlée with Blueberries and Mint
Meyer Lemon Crème Brûlée with Blueberries and Mint
Without even knowing anything about me save for my food allergies and preferences, the chef sent out the most perfect dessert for me. It involved lemon and blueberries…and that pairing is, by far, one of my absolute favorites. So, without even knowing it…the chef capped off the perfect evening with the perfect dessert. His Meyer Lemon Crème Brûlée with Blueberries and Mint was a stunning plate to start with. The crust on the crème brûlée was brilliant. And that lemon flavor was just enough without overpowering the entire dessert. Toss in the blueberries (one of my favorite berries) and the hint of mint and I was in a delicious, tasty food coma. Seriously. I dug right into this dessert and savored it as long as I could. I even ate the drizzle of chocolate letters around the plate wishing me an early happy birthday. Yes…I enjoyed it…for real…down to the very last bit. But, I’m a dessert girl…and this was one hell of a dessert.
My hat is off to Indy, for this fantastic food experience. If I were to choose my last meal on Earth…it would be this. I would want to be at Napa Rose…at the Chef’s Counter…once again receiving the dishes of his choosing for me. I loved being surprised and not knowing what to expect when my plate was carried out and placed in front of me. The company was the best I could ever be with at this venue. The food was outstanding. I’ve been spoiled. No other meal has come close to equaling this one…and I am starting to wonder if one ever will.
My food hat is off to the chef of Napa Rose…the food that is served there…the wine it is paired with (SO GOOD!)…and the good friends I shared the experience with. If any of you find yourself at Disneyland…do try to experience this for yourself. It isn’t cheap…I can tell you that…but the food and the experience is worth every dollar you put towards this meal. I promise.
Between Disneyland and the little out-of-the-way places that we ducked into for food and anything else…I was well-fed and felt very safe in my food choices while visiting friends in California. In fact, Indy and her hubby, Evan, even went out to Whole Foods and picked up gluten-free cookies and some gluten-free crackers for me to have while staying with them. They are, honestly, the best. Nice to have people take my food allergies and everything else in stride and not totally panic. Best hosts…EVER!
So, I spent a total of three days at Disneyland and then one full day seeing bits and pieces of California. All the while…taking in food and enjoying every single bite. I’m breaking this posting down into two separate posts because…well…the dinner I had at Napa Rose needs its own little post. Honestly. Because it was the best meal I have ever had. (Sorry, Mom…but it’s true!).
So…I guess we’ll start at the very beginning…
Flo’s V8 Cafe – Cars Land – Disney California Adventure Park
Flo’s V8 Café, Cars Land, Disney’s California Adventure Park
You know…I give Disney props. Both theme parks on each coast do their best to work with people with specific diets and specific food allergies. And this was incredibly clear when I sat down to eat a “light” lunch (I was getting pizza later that evening) while out and about in California Adventure on Saturday. I hadn’t yet made it to the race expo, but I knew I needed a small bite to get through until it was time to eat my required pre-race gluten-free pizza. We were in Cars Land at the moment, so we stepped into Flo’s V8 Café and took a look at the menu board. When we got up to the register, my traveling party (Cathy, Indy & Tawn) all decided they were going to eat elsewhere…which made me not want to eat here…but…I wasn’t sure what there would be outside that would be nutritious and still filling. At the register, I mentioned that I was a gluten-free vegetarian so the cashier went to go and retrieve the chef. The chef came out a couple of moments later and I reiterated that I was a gluten-free vegetarian. She said it wasn’t a problem and mentioned the items I could get, including the Citrus Turkey Salad, sans turkey. Actually, none of it sounded like anything I wanted…the side dishes were just…eh…meh. And the salad was…well…a salad. But, I needed something…so I said I would give the Citrus Turkey Salad ($11.49), no turkey, a go!
I paid the cashier and took the receipt up to the counter. And my salad came up…gluten-free roll…but…UGH…the turkey had been placed on the salad. I mentioned that my salad wasn’t supposed to have turkey on it, so the worker at the counter sent it back to the kitchen and spoke with the chef. It took a few minutes, but my new salad came up, gluten-free roll, little dish of dressing, GODZILLA-sized salad, which was a basic mix of mixed greens, carrots, cucumbers, and yellow peppers. It came with a citrus-tarragon dressing. And trust me…this salad was HUGE. I knew I wouldn’t be able to finish it. But, if anything was certain, I was going to devour that roll. The roll, by the way, looks like the Udi’s gluten-free rolls I can buy at specialty stores around here. I think they were Udi’s. I loved the roll. I loved it to pieces…and pieces…and pieces until it was all gone.
The salad itself was fresh and crisp. And the dressing made a nice flavor addition to the raw vegetables. It was…a general salad, just taken to extreme proportion. I ate about 3/4 of it before I called it quits. It was just a lot of food. The vegetables were fresh and crisp, the dressing was served on the side instead of just being poured over the salad, and perhaps drowning the vegetables. It was good. But…let’s face it…it’s a salad I could have made at home for a lot cheaper.
Redd Rocket’s Pizza Port – Tomorrowland – Disneyland Park
Redd Rocket’s Pizza Port, Tomorrowland, Disneyland Park
It was the evening before the Disneyland Half Marathon, and Indy and I were in desperate need of some carbs. And it is a requirement…I mean one of those dead-set superstitious athlete requirements for me to eat gluten-free pizza the night before a big race. It has to happen. If it doesn’t happen…I make it happen. Somehow.
Indy knew that this was a must coming into the trip, so she asked around at Disneyland about good places to get a gluten-free pizza. She was directed to Redd Rocket’s Pizza Port, which is a cafeteria-style, quick service joint in Tomorrowland. We got there just before a flood of people and we spoke to one of the people manning the counters about gluten-free and vegetarian options. She said she would go and fetch the chef. I ended up standing there for around 10-15 minutes waiting on the chef, long enough for a couple of employees to ask if I needed help. Indy and Tawn had already gotten their pastas and were now waiting with me. Cathy was waiting because we weren’t sure if this was going to be a personal pizza or one we’d need to split. You just never know.
After the wait continued, I told Indy and Tawn to go and pay and eat while their food was still hot. I didn’t want them to settle in with cold pasta. Gross! So, they finally agreed, and just after they walked away…the chef finally emerged to talk to me. I told him that I was a gluten-free vegetarian, and he said I had two options…a gluten-free personal cheese pizza…or gluten-free rice noodles with a tomato marinara. Night before the race…it has to be pizza. So, I put in my order for gluten-free cheese pizza ($8.99). I was told it would take 10 minutes so to go ahead and pay and then come back to the counter in about 10 minutes. I did just that, grabbed some plastic dinnerware, napkins, and some crushed red pepper packets and went to join my friends. Cathy had gotten one of the pizza slices and some breadsticks and joined them in eating. And I watched them eat for about 5 minutes as it took me awhile to pay. When 10 minutes was up, I got up from my table and made my way back to the counter to, hopefully, get my food. But my pizza wasn’t up yet. There was a group of four ahead of me. And that took about 5 minutes for them to get their gluten-free pizzas served to them. Then…it took another 3-5 minutes waiting on mine. By now Indy and Cathy were done eating. When my pizza was sliced and finally put on a plate…I went to rejoin my friends and only Tawn was still nomming on her pasta.
The pizza was nothing to write home about. It was the same gluten-free cheese pizza I ended up getting while at Disney World in February. Just a small, personal-size pizza on a gluten-free crust (at least the crust was fluffy), with tomato sauce and cheese. It was…okay. I mean, I have definitely had worse…but I have most definitely had better. I seasoned it with some red pepper flakes and just wolfed it down. At that point I was starving and we had World of Color Fast Passes and the clock was ticking. Nothing to write home about. Just…pizza. Eh. Not impressed.
Hungry Bear Restaurant – Critter Country – Disneyland Park
Hungry Bear Restaurant, Critter Country, Disneyland Park
It was the afternoon after I ran 13.1 miles through Disneyland and Anaheim, California. It was just three of us. Indy, who also ran, said she needed to rest and recover. Poor thing. So this meant our new guide for the day was the great, the epic, TAWN!! And she knew all the places to hit. We had a busy and very stressful morning…between race logistics, running, cheering, and finishing…then heading out to the park…
We rode rides and soon we knew we needed to eat something small before we hit the hotel early to rotate through showers and start getting ready for the most epic meal of our lives…courtesy of Indy. But…that gets it’s own post. For now…we focus on what I ate for “lunch” the day of the Disneyland Half Marathon.
I had heard tales and rumors that Hungry Bear Restaurant did gluten-free sweet potato fries. Sweet potato fries are one of my most favorite things in the world. Honestly. Sure, fries probably aren’t the best recovery meal…but they were what I wanted. That was it. It was all I needed. Tawn walked me over to Hungry Bear and I headed up to go place my order. I reached the cashier and told her I heard they could do gluten-free sweet potato fries. She confirmed this and said she’d go and get the chef.
The chef emerged a few minutes later and said that fries could certainly be done gluten-free. I said that was all I wanted and went ahead and put in the order – gluten-free sweet potato fries ($3.99). I was sent up to the counter and I passed off the receipt and was told it would be a few minutes. I politely stepped aside, knowing this would be the case. But a few minutes turned into 5. Then 10. Soon the staff was shouting back to the kitchen about the gluten-free sweet potato fries because it had been on order for 15 minutes. The manager came out to apologize to me, saying that there had been a mix-up in the kitchen and it would be a few more minutes. He offered me a free dessert, but none of their desserts were gluten-free so I passed. After just over 20 minutes, my one little serving of sweet potato fries came up and I snagged them, went to grab some ketchup and finally went back down to meet Tawn. She had been waiting a long time. We had left Cathy at a table with her lunch, and it was long gone by the time we returned. Tawn went off to find herself something to eat and I finally dug in.
To their credit…the sweet potato fries were perfect. Crispy on the outside, soft in the center. Warm. Hot. Seasoned well. And just what I wanted. They were phenomenal. Definitely better than the oven baked ones that I make at home. I mean, I love making my own, but there is something so fantastic about sweet potato strips that are literally fried to perfection, seasoned well, and served up piping hot and fresh. So, while I think I aged a little standing in line waiting on an order the kitchen at Hungry Bear Restaurant forgot about…it was well worth the wait.
Tiki Juice Bar – Adventureland – Disneyland Park
Tiki Juice Bar, Adventureland, Disneyland Park
DOLE. WHIP. Need I say more? Let me say it one more time. DOLE WHIP! I love Dole Whip and ended up coming to the Tiki Juice Bar twice during my 3-day stay in Disneyland.
The second time I contemplated getting a Dole Whip Float…but wasn’t sure I had enough money for one. So, both times I ended up getting the standard Soft Serve Dole Whip ($3.69). LOVE.
It’s pineapple goodness in a cup. One that I will always take time to indulge in whenever I roam at Disney. Yeah…Dole Whip is an experience. One that shouldn’t be missed. EVER!
Carnation Café – Main Street, U.S.A. – Disneyland Park
Carnation Café, Main Street, U.S.A., Disneyland Park
The only other request that I made for while the four of us were all at Disneyland was simple. I needed gluten-free Mickey waffles in my life. So, Indy, as always being the rockstar, sought out a place that served them. She’s awesome like that. So, after a late night and an early morning (for me…as I went running for 7 miles for my marathon training), we headed into Disneyland for our last meal together as a group of four. Tawn was leaving that afternoon to head back to Fresno.
We arrived at Carnation Café just ahead of our reservation time. We were asked if we wanted to sit outside or inside. It was such a gorgeous morning that day that we chose to sit outside, as long as we were somewhere shady. The hostess found us the perfect spot and we all settled in and started to look at the menu.
When our waitress came over to the table, she explained that we actually had a different server, but he was on his break so she’d be taking care of us until he returned. We went ahead and told her that I couldn’t have gluten, something they were already aware of because Indy mentioned this when she made the reservation. Of course none of this was an issue. She said she’d go to get the chef and he would go over some options with me. He did emerge a few minutes later and asked what I was interested in having for breakfast. I gave him the hopeful eyes…Mickey waffles? He said he wasn’t sure they could make gluten-free Mickey waffles due to the surface they were cooked on…but he might be able to do regular pancakes (not Mickey shaped). But he said he’d go double check. He returned after everyone else placed their orders and said that he could make me gluten-free mini Mickey waffles safely. I was a happy girl, because I really, really wanted Mickey waffles while at Disneyland. Dreams really do come true.
I went ahead and ordered gluten-free Mickey waffles ($10.49) with fresh fruit instead of the sausage or bacon side…since I am vegetarian. They were happy to make that substitution for me. I also had this with fresh brewed Joffrey’s Coffee ($2.99).
The coffee was really good. Not too bitter. I sweetened it with real sugar…as my coconut sugar was left back in Indiana. After a short wait…out came our food. Only Tawn and I kept with the plan to get waffles. Indy ended up getting the Huevos Rancheros and Cathy got the All-American Breakfast.
My mini waffles were…delicious. Definitely not the golden crispy goodness that Tawn got out of her Mickey head waffle. But…the miniature Mickey waffles tasted amazing. I poured a little pure maple syrup over them and dug right in. I was given four Mickey waffle heads and ate all four of them without any shame or guilt. The fruit was gone in a flash. I am a fruit monster. They were able to accommodate me and get me the item on the menu that I truly wanted. Carnation Café was made of win.
So were the waffles…for the record. Epic…gluten-free…WIN!
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar – Disneyland Resort Area – Disneyland Hotel
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, Disneyland Resort Area, Disneyland Hotel
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar is like no other bar you have ever experienced. The food they serve is unique bar food. The drinks they serve are fun. The manner in which some drinks are served are SUPER fun and invoke chanting and lights flashing, ships going down, all of that. It’s a place you have to go to grab a drink. And, as this was our final day in Disneyland…we chose to do just that.
Food choices, for me, were rather limited. But, Indy was telling me about this amazing Green Papaya Salad ($?.??) that they served. We inquired with the bar tender about the ingredients and he went to check with the chef to see whether it was gluten-free and vegetarian. Turns out…it was. So, while Cathy and Indy split the Panko-Crusted Chinese Long Beans, I was served up a refreshing and quite delicious Green Papaya Salad.
No trip to Trader Sam’s is complete without having one of their famous drinks. As I’m always iffy and careful with alcohol…I decided to go with one of the non-alcoholic beverage specials served at the bar. My choice of Sam’s No Booze Brews was the Jungle River Sunset ($4.49) which is a mix of orange juice, falernum, and hibiscus grenadine, all topped off with soda water. And, yes…I ate my garnish.
Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta – Paradise Pier – Disney California Adventure Park
Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, Paradise Pier, Disney California Adventure Park
It was getting late and our plan to see Fantasmic that night was about to be put into action. That being said, our appetizers from Trader Sam’s were long gone and we were definitely ready to eat some food. We ended up coming to Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta…because we were just really wanting Italian or something. Because originally I was going to get something else, but when they kept mentioning the pizza and pasta place…it just sounded better.
So, we entered Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta and it was another counter service sort of thing. I went up and mentioned that I was a gluten-free vegetarian and they sent for the chef. He was out in no time. Honestly. And when I told him I was a gluten-free vegetarian, he immediately mentioned the two standbys that the Italian restaurants have on hand at Disneyland…a personal-size gluten-free cheese pizza or rice noodles with a tomato marinara sauce. I’ve done the pizza. It’s the same as always…and not really worth the repeat. So, I went with the Gluten-Free Rice Pasta with the Tomato Marinara ($9.49). He said it would take about 10 minutes. And when he went back behind the counter, he immediately changed his gloves to start preparing my food. I breathed a sigh of relief. Cathy ordered a regular Spaghetti With Meatballs and Indy went with the Five Cheese Ravioli. They were both made to order, but Cathy’s came up way ahead of ours. We sent her outside to get us a seat. About 5 minutes later, my spaghetti arrived. And this serving was HUGE. We’re talking the King Kong of spaghetti dishes. Holy crap!! I figured I’d get maybe halfway through it and be done. Indy’s was the last to come up…so she was the last to join us at the table. Cathy had already started eating…I was just starting…so we had timing. At least none of us were left without food when all was said and done.
The rice pasta was really al dente. Not bad…but not as soft as normally rice pasta would be. The tomato sauce was rich and delicious and really made the dish, in my opinion. The spaghetti really would have been lackluster and disappointing without it. I sprinkled a bit of crushed red pepper onto the pasta to give it that slight kick that I like. Me and spicy food make for a loving relationship. Honestly. I like it hot. So, the spaghetti, like the quick service pizza, was…just okay. Nothing to really write home about…or go on any longer in this blog.
Indy’s Egg Scramble of Awesome
Indy’s Egg Scramble of Awesome
When you have fresh ingredients in your garden…what happens? You make your husband and your friends one of the most epic egg scrambles ever. Honestly…this was amazing. So delicious. So yummy. I still think about it. That’s why a homemade dish is being put into my blog. None of you, unless you also know Indy, will be able to taste this dish. None of you will get to enjoy it for the low cost of FREE…at her kitchen table…while drinking fresh and really delicious coffee. It’s just not going to happen.
She cooked and diced and sauteed potatoes in coconut oil, added fresh vegetables from her garden, and then scrambled up some eggs. Simple…but highly, highly delicious. One of my favorite breakfasts I’ve ever consumed. And it was filling. Perfect way to start off a day that took us to many glorious sandy locations!
The Local Peasant – Sherman Oaks, California
The Local Peasant, Sherman Oaks, California
This gastropub has no sign hanging up outside. There is no neon flashing the name of the pub. This is one of those places that if you didn’t know it was there, you would walk right on past it. Thankfully, it turned up on Find Me Gluten Free…and it just happens to be one of Indy and Evan’s favorite dining spots in their area. And I picked it. All by myself!
It was our last night in Los Angeles, and it was also Indy’s birthday. So, we went out to eat…although she told me to find somewhere. I was mainly focused on finding Cathy a place to have some fish and chips, so I focused on that first. The menu for The Local Peasant had not only vegan options marked, but also gluten-free options marked. And my requirement to eat something with avocado while in California would definitely be fulfilled.
It was a special night, so I went against my usual abstaining from alcohol for training purposes…mostly because it was Indy’s birthday and we were celebrating. But, they also had Green’s Quest Gluten-Free Triple Ale ($15.00). I’m not a beer drinker…at all…but it was a celebration. And, besides, Micky Dolenz of The Monkees was at the table next to ours. I needed something to take the fangirl edge off.
Where there is beer…there is also food. Our waitress just happened to also be gluten-free (in fact, her entire family is)…so she was a huge help. But…as I said…I had my heart set on something with avocado in it. I had to eat avocado while in California. It had to happen. So, when it came to dinner, my choice was obvious…the Edamame Vegetable Salad ($11.00). Why was that obvious? Because this salad was composed of edamame, corn, jicama, green beans, roasted peppers, avocado, toasted pepitas, and cashews with a rosemary and ginger vinaigrette.
It sounded like no salad I have had anywhere else. It had avocado on it, and really…it just sounded awesome. When it arrived, it was in a huge bowl…and I happily dug in. The vegetables were so fresh and awesome. I loved the texture the cashews and pepitas gave the entire dish. The green beans still had that nice, fresh crispness to them. The edamame is always one of my favorite things…and it was super good. Loved the depth the roasted peppers gave. The avocado, however, gave it this amazing creaminess. It was topped off with that really flavorful vinaigrette that really just brought everything together. It was the meal I needed to have. It was the last thing I would eat in California. It was…fantastic.
I’d go back to this gastropub in a heartbeat. And I hope to…the next time I find myself in California!
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So…there it is. What I ate in California. I didn’t blog about the fries from In-N-Out Burger…because I did that back in 2011. But I did go there…and their frier is dedicated to just potatoes and makes their fries completely safe for me to eat. Part 2 will be all about the fantastic dinner that Indy treated our party to at Napa Rose. Trust me…that was a dining experience I wish I could relive over and over again. But you’ll read about that in the next blog…
The Celiathlete 