Review – Page 69 – The Celiathlete

November 27, 2012

Gillian’s Foods brings outstanding gluten-free French rolls to the table

Product: Gillian’s Foods Gluten-Free French Rolls – $3.49+

First of all, let me give a shout-out and a HUGE thank you to my friend, Kathy Lubbers, because she is the person responsible for introducing the awesomeness of Gillian’s Foods to me. No joke. When I was in Hershey, Pennsylvania, we got together for dinner and she told me she had some small gifts for me. One of said gifts was a sack of Gillian’s French Rolls. I had heard of Gillian’s, but have never seen them in the wild before. As in…no one in this area actually carries them.

But…in Pennsylvania, it’s a different story. She picked up some for me from the Annville Natural Market and told me to try them out. I wouldn’t hurt her feelings if I didn’t like them.

So, these little rolls made their way back home with me. And, as I wasn’t sure when I would get to them…they got tucked away in my freezer. And then…along came the holidays. And with holiday insanity comes the burden of being the food allergic girl coming to dinner. I navigated the Thanksgiving meal quite well by providing two of the main components…a fruit and a vegetable. The starch component was compliments of Amanda, the hostess, who pulled out some potato for me before adding milk and butter.

And so, the holiday season of rushing and insanity began. And with it…and the shorter days…I often find myself behind schedule. Be it for breakfast, for dinner, or for just a simple errand. This time of year…nothing is simple.

But…rolls. Those can be simple.

This morning, after a very hectic Sunday and a five mile run in the dark and cold, I came home to change and get ready for work. One thing was on my mind – food, of course. I was hungry. And since my roommate had been ill the day before, I wasn’t too sure what her stomach could handle. In the freezer, I spotted the bag of Gillian’s Foods French Rolls.

Gillian's Gluten-Free French Roll — Gillian’s Gluten-Free French Roll

BINGO! Simple and not too much preparation needed. I pulled out two rolls (the serving size is half a roll…but this was breakfast!) and put them in a plastic bag to thaw. They did that up until the moment my roommate’s alarm clock went off. The directions on the bag say to microwave to warm up. Now…that’s what I’m doing tomorrow, because these rolls are breakfast again tomorrow. But…I decided I wanted to treat them like an English muffin. So, I cut each one in half and put it on a baking sheet. Into the oven it went to toast while I got out the peanut butter and a banana.

It took about 10 minutes to get a nice golden color on these. I removed them from the oven, gave each one a little schmear of peanut butter and then topped each one off with slices of banana. A good, healthy, protein and potassium packed breakfast, if you ask me. But…of course I had to leave some of mine plain. Because I needed to see what these rolls tasted like without being gussied up with condiments and delicious fruit.

Well, let me tell you…I am in love with Gillian’s Foods French Rolls. Honestly. And I can’t wait to see what they taste like when microwaved, like the bag says to do. But, toasting them in the oven as a nice touch, I think. It gave the outside a little bit of a crunch, while the inside remained soft and full of yumminess. Yes…these rolls are definitely full of yumminess. Trust me.

The French Rolls are Gillian’s Foods most popular rolls that they make. Made from a combination of white rice flour, tapioca flour, water, soy flour, guar gum, egg whites, yeast, salt and sugar, these don’t get much more straight forward. Notice how you can recognize every ingredient. No strange chemicals or preservatives are added, which is why these are best stored in the freezer. Even better, unlike a lot of gluten-free bread out there, these do not crumble in your hands or fall apart. They are quite substantial, great texture, not too heavy. They are…in other words…perfection in roll form. And I’ve been searching for the perfect roll. I even tried to make some and it was an epic fail. Gillian’s makes it easy…and super delicious.

Even my roommate devoured these up. And after having been sick to her stomach, these didn’t bother her at all. She was the first to get a bite of one this morning and she absolutely loved the taste and texture as well. And she can have, and does have, regular bread quite often. We were both very highly impressed.

These would be great to build a sandwich with…use as hamburger buns…or even just warm up and serve on the side with a delicious gluten-free meal. Honestly, they are quite delicious on their own. Which is more than I can say for some gluten-free breads out there.

Now…to seek out a local store that might carry these and these products. Because if the rest of the products are as good as these rolls…well, I’m eager to try all I can.

Thank you Kathy, thank you, Annville Natural Market, and thank you Gillian’s…for giving this gluten-free girl a French Roll to rave about.

Gillian's Gluten-Free French Roll (halved and toasted) — Gillian’s Gluten-Free French Roll (halved and toasted)

November 25, 2012

Annie May’s Sweet Café bakes up love in each allergen-free chocolate chip cookie

Annie May's Sweet Café Allergen Free Chocolate Chip Cookie — Annie May’s Sweet Café Allergen Free Chocolate Chip Cookie

Product: Annie May’s Sweet Café Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie – $2.50

It was Small Business Saturday and I made it known…I wanted to go to one of my favorite small businesses in the area. Annie May’s Sweet Café in Louisville, Kentucky. And I wanted to have breakfast there. A gluten-free waffle. Perhaps with a gluten-free donut. Maybe I’d get the gluten-free apple cider donut with the glaze this time. I just wanted to support a business that has literally changed my life in this area for the better.

My love affair with Annie May’s began with a simple birthday cake. Because of Annie May’s, I didn’t have to bake my own cake or birthday confection this year. It was done for me. And the result was nothing short of spectacular. I was enamored with them…and so…the love affair continued.

I have returned to Annie May’s as often as possible when I am in the area. I have gone there for breakfast, for sweet snacks and treats, for take and bake cinnamon rolls. If I am in town, I want to stop by for something. And given that this past Saturday was Small Business Saturday, I made a point to go to as many small businesses as possible…and my first stop was Annie May’s for my usual waffle breakfast.

Annie May’s Sweet Café has the best gluten-free waffles. Seriously. I always get the regular ones, served with maple syrup and Earth Balance. I did decide on the Maple Glazed Apple Cider Donut as well…and devoured that as soon as I hit the table. I had not eaten anything since I had woken up bright and early that morning…so, needless to say…I was ready to eat.

And then…sad news was given. They were having some trouble with their waffle batter. It wasn’t working out. So…they were going to make a fresh batch. It would take a little while…and did we mind the wait. I never mind waiting for food. But, soon after we were asked if we would mind having pancakes instead of waffles. No skin off my nose. I keep thinking of trying the pancakes and always returning to the waffles. I’m a waffle addict apparently. They apologized numerous times and said that for our wait and our patience we could get a free cookie before leaving. I don’t mind the wait. I had an amuse bouche of donut, after all…

In the end, however, the waffles were able to be made and were delivered to our table looking all golden and delicious and ready to be consumed. And they died a very messy death right there in the café. Cathy went to clear the table and I was putting on my jacket when the nice woman behind the counter called me over to get my cookie. I was going to leave without it…because I wasn’t upset with them, nor did I mind the wait. But, she insisted. So, she asked me to come over and choose between the cookies or the cupcakes or the brownies on the counter. I had their brownie before (to DIE FOR!) and I wasn’t feeling cupcakes…so I stuck with the allergen-free (yes…it’s even vegan!) Chocolate Chip Cookie. After all…I do love my cookies!

She packed up two of them for me and asked what Cathy was interested in. I waved her off and said the cookies she gave me in the bag were plenty for us and thanked her.

After a busy day of small business shopping, Cathy and I returned home and I went for my 10K run for training. Soon after, I was preparing dinner (leftovers!), which we settled in to eat. And then…dessert. With a bag on the counter with two of Annie May’s Sweet Café Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies…I knew exactly what dessert was going to be.

I carefully opened the small white paper bag and pulled out the paper-wrapped cookies. They smelled amazing. I handed one to Cathy and I took the other one. As I settled in for my sweet treat to cleanse my palate, I took my first bite.

Homemade cookies are the best around. And these, completely vegan and allergen-free, have to be some of the best I have ever tasted. Most of the time, unless I make them myself, my gluten-free cookies are store-bought packaged brands. Not these. These are fresh from the oven at Annie May’s and the time and dedication to their products really shows. The cookie was light and buttery. The flavor was fantastic. They were soft, chewy, yet with that golden crust that gave it a bit of texture. And the mini chocolate chips were awesome. Just the right hit of sweetness in each bite. Not one bit of the cookie lacked in chocolate chips. They were like my mom used to make. And I do love a chewy chocolate chip cookie. These delivered everything I love in a cookie and that…made me one happy girl.

While my visit to Annie May’s Sweet Café on Saturday didn’t initially involve trying their Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies…now that I have, I think I’ll be purchasing more in my future. Honestly…the best gluten-free chocolate chip cookie I have had…to date…anywhere! And we all know how much of a cookie monster I am. So, that is truly saying something.

I really am fortunate to have a small business that caters to people with food allergies in my area. The day I discovered Annie May’s Sweet Café my life changed…and it was all for the better. My life is whole lot more delicious these days too.

Small Business Saturday…I hope you were kind to this fantastic little café on Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky…because this café is always good to me.

November 25, 2012

Calorie free Honey Dijon salad dressing from Walden Farms surprisingly didn’t suck

Product: Walden Farms Calorie Free Honey Dijon Salad Dressing – $4.99+

You know…I wouldn’t have bought into the idea of the Walden Farms products had it not been for Rocco DiSpirito. There. I blame it on a chef. The fact is, he often uses the Walden Farms Calorie Free items in his Now Eat This and Now Eat This Diet Cookbooks. And all the time prior to this I had thought…um…no calories, no fat, no carbs, no gluten, no sugars…WHAT is this stuff and how is it even good for you?

And then…one day…I was shopping at my local grocery store and ran across a bottle of the Walden Farms Calorie Free Honey Dijon Salad Dressing. It was greatly marked down in price, so I figured…what the heck…I’d try it. If it turned out to be disgusting, I wasn’t out too much. Besides, my current gluten-free strawberry vinaigrette was running low, so I needed a salad dressing anyway. This…would be something a bit different than my usual choice of a low-fat vinaigrette.

The truth of the matter is…a salad is a naturally healthy choice, but so often (and I used to be really guilty of this) it’s topped with a high calorie and high fat salad dressing. No…seriously…I used to have a little salad with my dressing. My vegetables would be swimming in pools of creamy dressing goodness. And…eventually, I started to use less…and less…and less.

And soon I found myself being one of those people who actually pull out the tablespoon to measure out the required serving size and I would keep to that. I would just give my salad a good toss and coat what I could. And that…is how I have been for a couple of years now. So being a mindful dressing user, I also often ask for it on the side…and when I am at at home…I still measure it out. It is so easy to overdo something as amazing as a good dressing.

Last night, when I measured out two tablespoons of Walden Farms Honey Dijon Salad Dressing…I was pretty certain I was ruining a really good salad. It smelled like honey dijon…so that was a plus, at least. But…I wasn’t quite certain what something with no calories, fat, or anything else might taste like. I was trusting Rocco DiSpririto with my salad and hoping for the best. As I settled in with my salad, I stabbed a few leaves of lettuce with my fork and took my first, very tentative bite.

And…found myself to be impressed instead of disgusted by the flavor. Seriously. This dressing is packed with flavor. And it was good flavor. Definitely not what I was anticipating or expecting…but it was a happy moment or realization. Okay…so it’s not as creamy as most honey dijon dressings are. It almost tastes like a vinaigrette without being as watery as a vinaigrette. The thing is…I get that honey dijon mustard flavor in each bite. No horrible aftertaste or anything. A huge relief, for sure! And now…I hope to try other products and see if they are as good, if not better.

I’m not saying that this is the best dressing around. I never would have purchased it if it weren’t for the manager’s special sale on the product. But now I’m glad I gave in and tried it. Honest flavor. And just really, really good. Yeah…I’m quite happy with this dressing. If you are looking for a healthy alternative to heavy dressings that are laden with fat and calories, give Walden Farms a try. I can’t speak for all of them, but this one was surprisingly tasty.

November 25, 2012

The Gluten-Free Oven bakes up best treat ever with Vanilla Creme Filled Fingers (Twinkies)

Product: The Gluten-Free Oven Vanilla Creme Filled Fingers – $2.50

It was love at first sight when I spotted these little delicious creme-filled cake treats at the Gluten-Free Living Now Expo in Carmel, Indiana. This is no joke. And, with the recent news of the Hostess shut-down…these little treats that have been sitting in my freezer meant the world to me. Just as much as they did back on the day I bought them at the expo.

The Gluten-Free Oven was one of the vendors that were attending the Gluten-Free Living Now Expo in Indiana. I had never heard of them, but one product on their table caught my eye. One product that I had not seen anywhere before and I had been…wanting, desiring, needing (to make Minion (from Despicable Me) cupcakes, of course). Twinkies. Okay…not real Twinkies…but a version of them. A fabulous gluten-free version of them. While I was never big on Twinkies when I was growing up and could eat these things…for some reason (must be those cupcakes)…I just had to have these. I needed them. I wasn’t leaving the expo without them.

So…I purchased one little package of the Vanilla Creme Filled Fingers from the vendor and went on my merry way. Upon arriving home after the expo that day, they went into my freezer (along with a bunch of other goodies I purchased) for safe keeping.

Then…Hostess went belly-up. And the real Twinkie was now going away. There were mad-dashes to the stores to buy up favorite Hostess products. My roomie (who can have gluten in her diet) got caught up in the madness and ended up purchasing one little packet of Twinkies for herself. She was going to indulge that day…but decided that she’d save them for Thanksgiving evening…and we’d celebrate getting through the festivities, putting up and decorating the tree, and planning Black Friday Shopping Insanity by breaking out our Twinkies and Gluten-Free Vanilla Creme Fingers and having a sweet treat.

That was the plan. And although we were ready for the treat upon arriving home from the meal (where I had the green beans I brought, some spiced fruit I brought, and a little potato that my friend Amanda pulled aside before she added butter and whole milk to them for mashing), we decided to wait. We had to. I forgot to pull my Vanilla Creme Filled Fingers out of the freezer before leaving. I was a bit hurried as normal, having run a 5 mile race, showered, and prepared my dishes I was supplying for the meal…and getting to the location in enough time to help out if needed…or at least just socialize before food comas set in. So…the treat had to wait. No matter…my roommate and I had a Christmas tree to put up and decorate. I placed the Gluten-Free Oven Vanilla Creme Filled Fingers on the counter top to thaw, then went to help deck the halls to the sound of Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

The tree was up in record time this year and the lights and garland didn’t give us as much as a fight. We grabbed our ornaments and just starting hanging the bits and bobs from the branches. Soon…it was up. I checked on my Gluten-Free Vanilla Creme Filled Fingers…and they were at room temperature now and ready to eat. YAY!

The Gluten-Free Oven Vanilla Creme Filled Finger

So…time to indulge. Cathy grabbed her packet of Hostess Twinkies and I eased into my Gluten-Free Oven packet. We both snatched out one cake-y treat to begin with…figuring we’d save the other one for later in the weekend. I had to take pictures of mine…and sliced mine in half to get a look at the creme (which matched the cake middle so it is hard to see). After the photos for the blog were taken, I snatched up one of the halves and took a long, lingering bite, savoring the taste, texture and moment.

The Gluten-Free Oven hit these out of the park. I can say that for certain because I gave a little piece to my roommate to do a side-by-side comparison and she said she couldn’t even tell the difference. The Gluten-Free Oven Vanilla Creme Filled Fingers were a little heavier, she said, but aside from that, they tasted exactly the same.

I count that as a win.

Here’s what else I can say. The Gluten-Free Oven Vanilla Creme Filled Fingers are just like the Twinkies I sort of remember back when I could eat such things. The cake on the outside was moist and spongy. The creme in the middle was soft and creamy and just…sweet. It was the perfect compliment when put together. Hostess knew what they were doing when they invented the Twinkie. Well…The Gluten-Free Oven just brought them to the gluten-free community. And, with any luck, The Gluten-Free Oven won’t go the way of Hostess and will continue to provide these to the gluten-free community for a long time.

I fell in love with these. And…for the record…the other Vanilla Creme Filled Finger (and the other Twinkie for my roommate) got eaten immediately afterwards. No saving them for another day. They were G-O-N-E. Yep. They really are that amazing. I wish I had bought more than the one pack of them. Honestly. I’m considering ordering them online. Yes…they DO ship.

The Gluten-Free Oven is based out of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania…so it would be a bit of a haul to go and actually pick something up. The best I can hope for, currently, is that I see them at another gluten-free expo soon, or just suck it up and order their products online. Honestly, I would order a case of those Gluten-Free Vanilla Creme Filled Fingers. It’s best if I don’t…but I would. And should I ever decide to give those Minion cupcakes a gluten-free whirl…I just might be contacting them to send me a case.

If you don’t remember Twinkies…never had a Twinkie…or miss Twinkies due to your gluten intolerance or Celiac disease…then I encourage you to look up The Gluten-Free Oven because they can make your dreams come true…with a little pack of two of the best packaged treats I have eaten in a long time.

Happiness really can be baked…in a Gluten-Free Oven.

The Gluten-Free Oven Vanilla Creme Filled Finger (halved)

November 21, 2012

Imagine Organic Creamy Acorn Squash and Mango Soup a sweet, creamy, dreamy delight

Product: Imagine Natural Creations Organic Creamy Acorn Squash and Mango Soup – $3.99+

I admit it. The only reason I had a soup that had acorn squash and mango in it was that it was on sale. Super-duper sale. At Big Lots, I believe. I mean, I love Imagine Soups. And I love soups that use squash as a base. I was okay with that part. It was the mango part of this soup that was throwing me. However, the expiration date was nigh and I never let anything go to waste in my pantry. It’s a rule that I swear by. So…therefore, I knew that dinner this week was going to be Imagine Organic Acorn Squash & Mango Soup with vegan, gluten-free grilled cheese sammies. Yep. Soup and sandwiches. Just before Thanksgiving…it seemed logical to me.

This soup doesn’t look like much on its own. It’s a deep yellow color. That’s about all I can tell you about it. It’s got this richness in texture though due to how smooth and creamy it is after you shake it up and pour it into a pan to warm.

Imagine Organic Creamy Acorn Squash and Mango Soup is a simple soup by standards. Its ingredients include filtered water, organic acorn squash, organic mango puree, organic onions, organic butternut squash, organic potatoes, organic carrots, organic celery, organic oils, organic evaporated cane juice, organic ginger, organic spices, organic orange zest…and seasonings like sea salt. Organic tapioca starch is also included, probably to give it that creamy base in the end. What’s not to love about that ingredients list, right? It’s all organic. It is all items that I recognize and could pull out of a vegetable line-up. No hidden chemicals or indecipherable ingredients. That’s one thing I love about Imagine’s organic soup line.

But what it comes down to when it comes to soup is taste. Well, this soup doesn’t lack for flavor. It’s smooth and has a perfect balance of sweetness and savory. That’s where the mango really came in. It added just the right amount of sweetness to the squash flavoring. The other vegetables help add a depth of flavor that just makes each spoonful a delight. I loved it. I’d spoon it up on its own, and I’d dip my sandwich into it at times. It was good either way. And I loved that a serving size (1 cup) only set me back 70 calories. Show me other creamy soups that can offer that kind of nutritional value. You’d be hard-pressed to find one.

This soup is also low in sodium (430 mg) as well, which is always important when it comes to packaged soups. More often than not they are loaded with more sodium than anyone would even need in a day. I love that about Imagine’s soup line as well. They tend to offer more nutritional value, but still keep it flavorful and delicious. I am totally looking forward to polishing this off tonight.

Once again, Imagine puts out a product worthy of high praise. I don’t know why the combination worried me. In the end, it was delicious and that, my friends, is the important thing. The fact that it is one of Imagine’s gluten-free soups is also a plus. Check them out if you haven’t yet. They have an endless line of amazing gluten-free soups. I can’t wait to try out even more of them.

November 21, 2012

Katz offers little bites of big flavor with new cinnamon sugar donut holes

Product: Katz Gluten-Free Cinnamon Donut Holes – $4.49

I still remember the day the announcement from Katz Gluten-Free came through my e-mail. It was this little bright spot in a busy, hectic day. After having introduced gluten-free donuts (which are the best out there…hands down!), Katz Gluten-Free was now offering…donut holes! YES…donut holes!

And why not? No bit of delicious gluten-free donuts should be wasted. Not even the little center part that gets cut out.

I knew…that moment…I had to have some. So, I placed an order.

And when they arrived I did a little dance of joy. Happiness. Donut holes. Just like what I used to eat as a kid from Dunkin’ Donuts. Just…smaller. And healthier for me too, when it comes to donuts. I have always been a sucker for donut holes. They are easy to just bite into and nibble on. Little bite-size wonders of donutty goodness. Few things make me as happy as donut holes…except gluten-free donut holes…because I can actually eat those.

Well, after the immediate elation of having Katz Gluten-Free Cinnamon Donut Holes…they ended up just being packed away in the freezer. Life was busy…and I was working my way through other delicious gluten-free treats. But with this being a short week thanks to Thanksgiving…I needed something to eat after hitting up the gym yesterday. My answer was found in my freezer. And Katz Gluten-Free once again saved the day. These little donut holes were there and I now had something to fill my belly after hitting up the cardio and weights at the gym before heading into work. Perfect.

I was a bit confused on the serving size. I think the nutrition information that is on the carton actually pertains to the Katz Gluten-Free Cinnamon Donuts. The box says that it serves 6, which would mean each package contains enough for each serving to be 3 donut holes with two left over. This seems like a very small serving for 160 calories. But…that’s what the package said, so I ran with it. As I was hitting the gym, I decided that I’d eat one of the extra ones in the serving size. Why not? I let them thaw overnight in a plastic bag and when I got into the office the next day, I put them on a plate and gave them a quick 10 second heat in the microwave.

Yeah…these just cemented the reason that Katz Gluten-Free have my favorite donuts. Even the donut holes are awesome. What I love about the Cinnamon Donut Holes is that they are little bites of sweetness, without being too much. I love donut holes for that reason. They are the perfect size to just…pop!! Let me tell you…I’d be hard pressed to not sit down with the entire package and devour them all in one sitting. It won’t happen. But…it would be oh…so tempting. These little donut morsels are soft, and have a great cake donut texture. They aren’t heavy in the slightest.

My only complaint would be that I would definitely feel more satisfied for the 16o calories if I were actually eating the donut. Then again…like I said…the nutrition information is definitely incorrect on the donut holes, so who is to say what the serving size is or how many calories I was consuming. Maybe an entire box is only one donut. I don’t know. I just will portion these out so as not to go through them too quickly and enjoy every little donut hole bite.

Truly delicious.

Katz Gluten-Free…you keep winning me over. And if you keep making donut varieties such as this…well…my paychecks will continue to head your way. Thank you for setting such a high standard for gluten-free foods and treats. I have yet to meet a product I didn’t like.

November 21, 2012November 21, 2012

Columbus Ohio’s Pistacia Vera bakes up light, sweet, gluten-free macarons and more

Restaurant: Pistacia Vera, Columbus, Oh

Mmmmm…macarons!

Actually, until this journey to Columbus, Ohio, I had never even had a macaron. I have heard of them, looked at them online, even thought about making them myself. What is a macaron? Is it really a macaroon? Nope. There actually is a difference.

A macaroon is an American version for a flourless egg-white based cookie. Most often it is made with coconut.

A macaron, however, is a French cookie made with almond and egg whites that are sandwiched around a cream-based filling. They are often found in a rainbow of colors and a variety of flavors.

I don’t know how Jenn and I stumbled across the Web site for Pistacia Vera on Saturday morning…but we did. And we noticed they had a gluten-free menu. On it were a plethora of baked items…including every macaron that they made. Yes…macarons are gluten-free because they are made with almond flour. Gotta love that. So, after stopping by the race expo for the Hot Chocolate 15K, we hit up a market, and on our way to get ice cream, we swung by Pistacia Vera to get some macarons to take with us.

Pistacia Vera is a sleek looking dessert boutique located on South Third Street in German Village in Columbus, Ohio. They are a from-scratch pastisserie which boasts a menu of over 60 seasonal pastries and confection. All made by-hand and with great care. They specialize in classic European technique, making it a truly special stop while in Columbus. Their Web site boast that their coffee and espresso are considered to be the best in town. If it’s made like it is in Europe…or even France for that matter…I bet they’re right.

I didn’t get coffee when I was in there that morning, however. I was there on a mission. A mission…for macarons.

Jenn picked four she wanted to choose and Cathy and I decided to split the difference and each choose two to sample. We were actually quite interested in the same flavors, but I let her take them and went for a couple of other delicious sounding ones.

Pistacia Vera's Buckeye Macaron, Maple Walnut Macaron, Peppermint Chocolate Macaron, and Mocha Hazelnut Macaron — Pistacia Vera’s Buckeye Macaron, Maple Walnut Macaron, Peppermint Chocolate Macaron, and Mocha Hazelnut Macaron

In the end, Cathy got the Peppermint Chocolate Macaron ($1.25) and the Buckeye Macaron ($1.25). Since those two were taken by my roomie, I opted to give the Maple Walnut Macaron ($1.25) a try and the Mocha Hazelnut Macaron ($1.25) a try. They both definitely sounded delicious. Actually, the entire display case of macarons sounded awesome, but I figured as I had never had a macaron before, I would start small and I could always come back for more. As we were checking out, I spotted the gluten-free caramels near the register. Specifically the Cashew Caramel with Fleur de Sel ($1.50). We got one single piece of that and were on our way. With much to do that day, like going out of town, the cookies and caramel got left behind at Jenn’s house.

But Sunday after my 15K race…we all split the Cashew Caramel with Fleur de Sel (I forgot to take a picture of it!). It was delicious. Very light. Not too chewy, but just enough. It wasn’t going to get lodged in your teeth. This was caramel done right and done well. It had a delicious flavor to it. I love cashew, so it was the ideal one and probably why it caught my eye. Even though she groused about having to eat a caramel, my roommate seemed to like it well enough. It just took her forever to eat it because she was just in a grumpy mood and thought it would get stuck in her teeth. She has a thing or two to learn about good caramel. Hopefully this helped.

The macarons, however, made the journey back to Louisville with us. And last night, I decided that they would be perfect to have for dessert. After polishing off dinner and doing up the dishes, I pulled out the macarons and dished out each of our chosen ones. Cathy got the green minty one and the deep brown chocolate/peanut butter one. And I got the two lighter colored ones. I was looking forward to trying these out for the first time.

Cathy had already taken a bite of each of hers by the time I made it back out to the living room. She declared that they were both really good, but that she really liked the Buckeye one. Being that it was chocolate and peanut butter, I now kicked myself for not getting it. But, alas…there will be other options.

I settled in and decided to give the Maple Walnut Macaron a try first. It was the lighter one of mine. One bite and I was hooked. The light, chewy outer layer was fantastic and very delicious. I loved how these treats weren’t heavy at all, despite being sandwiched around a layer of cream filling, usually a buttercream or a ganache. It was love at first bite. So, I moved onto the Mocha Hazelnut one…and yeah…that was like taking a bite out of a fresh coffee. Honestly. The flavors are amazing and just simple. I loved the softness of the cookie and the richness of the cream inside. I could have probably eaten more of these and not felt full at all. They are that light and airy. And yeah…I’m now a fan of macarons. Go figure.

Maybe I will give making them a try sometime.

Until then, I am thankful for places like Pistacia Vera in Columbus, Ohio…for having a gluten-free selection that is awesome and extensive…and so very good. Yeah…I’ll definitely be visiting this place again. They have way more flavors of macarons for me to try. And maybe I will get some coffee next time…just to see if it really is the best in town.

Pistacia Vera's Maple Walnut Macaron and Mocha Hazelnut Macaron — Pistacia Vera’s Maple Walnut Macaron and Mocha Hazelnut Macaron

November 21, 2012

Lakewood, Ohio boasts fantastic gastropub with Deagan’s Kitchen & Bar

Restaurant: Deagan’s Kitchen & Bar, Lakewood, Ohio

Sometime the best laid plans fall through and you have to find a plan B.

Welcome to my world on the night of The Monkees concert up in Lakewood, Ohio. Now, I have a friend who lives in Lakewood and we had made plans to all meet up prior to the show for dinner. Our original spot of choice was somewhere I found on Find Me Gluten Free. A little joint called Tommy’s Pizza and Chicken. Sounds like a dive, yes? But sometimes dives have the best food.

Unfortunately…we never found out. Upon arriving at Tommy’s, we could see that it was more of a carry-out sort of place than an eat-in. That wasn’t going to work…at all. It definitely was a dive. And after a couple of texts with my friend in the area, Cathy (yeah…2 Cathy’s…try to keep them straight), we laid out a couple of alternatives. Get gluten-free pizza to go and bring it to her place. Check out Aladdin’s (they serve up Lebanese/American food). But, with a little magic from my Yelp app on my phone under the gluten-free friendly tag…I discovered Deagan’s Kitchen & Bar, a gastropub that wasn’t too far away. It had good ratings. I suggested it. We all agreed to meet there.

Deagan’s was a happening place that night. Very busy. Very lively. We stepped inside and were greeted by the hostess. I said that there would be five of us so they went to prepare a table. We ended up being positioned near one of the windows in the front…but in a quieter side room. That was definitely a good thing. We were given menus to look at and brought some water to start with. Although tempted with the drink menu, we forwent that. Cathy (the roomie) got a Diet Coke for caffeine purposes, but Jenn and I stuck with water. I explained to our waitress, Anisa (she’s awesome, BTW!), that I was a gluten-free vegetarian. She said they had a special menu for me and would swap mine out with it. She returned a moment later with a menu with certain items highlighted and little notes written on it for how to make something gluten-free (like no pita bread). She said there were some vegetarian options on there as well. It was nice to have that kind of peace of mind.

Cathy (the other one) and her sister arrived soon after and got settled in with drinks and menus. We talked and talked and talked and finally decided that we should probably order since we did have a concert to make. Anisa returned ready to take our orders.

Cathy (the roomie) ordered her standard, must-have, when it is on the menu. Fish and chips ($18.00). Jenn decided to try one of their small plates and ordered the Polenta Croutons ($8.00). The polenta croutons are cubes of fried polenta served with sauteed mushrooms, Parmesan and parsley. It was different and it looked really good. And Jenn even tried to eat the mushrooms…but in the end, they were left behind. The rest, however…she devoured. Cathy (the local) ordered the small plate of Mac and Cheese ($11.00), which was a rather big bowl of noodles, Gruyere cheese and chives. She got it with a side of the Brussels sprouts ($ Cathy’s sister, Sarah, ordered the small plate of Seared Scallops ($12.00), which consisted of two large scallops and was served with shaved Brussels sprouts with grapefruit and pomegranate. She got a side of the House Fries with it. As for me…I decided to go with a salad in the end. I chose to go with their Arugula Salad ($8.00) and, since it was marked gluten-free, give their House Fries ($7.00) a try.

Anisa went to put our orders in and for the rest of the time before food arrived, all of us were chatting up a storm. We talked movies, books, music, concerts, work…you name it. And conversation continued even when food arrived to the table. It took some time. I was okay with that. Again, I don’t mind having to wait on my food. It means that it is prepared fresh and to order. Not sitting under some heat lamp somewhere or getting to know a microwave.

Deagan's House Fries — Deagan’s House Fries

My Arugula Salad was stunning, by the way. Simple. Very pleasing to the eye. Not a lot of color, but what was there popped. Deagan’s Arugula Salad consists of arugula, shaved fennel, Parmesan and pine nuts. It is lightly dressed in a lemon oil. Now, normally I find arugula to be too peppery on its own…but with the saltiness of the Parmesan and the pine nuts, it all balanced out. The lemon oil, however, is what really tied it all together. While the salad looked simple, the layers of flavor in there seemed complex. It all worked. It was fantastic and delicious. And I enjoyed it more than I normally enjoy a salad at restaurants. Honestly. This one was really good.

There were a lot of House Fries in my side order, so I shared with Jenn and Cathy (the roomie). They were fantastic cuts of potato that were topped with shaved Romano cheese and truffle oil. It was served with a spicy mayo. Oh. My. Potato. Gods. These fries were really good and really addictive. No joke. The simple addition of shaved Romano cheese and a hit of truffle oil just took them from standard fries to something that was out-of-this-world good. And different. The spicy mayo that it was served with was delicious and I took great pleasure in dipping my fries into them. Yeah…for a different twist on fries…I highly recommend these.

In the end, we all agreed that Deagan’s was the perfect place to end up when all was said and done. Our waitress took fantastic care of our table. We all enjoyed and devoured our food. Cathy (the local) had left over mac & cheese…which she took home in a box. There was a lot in that bowl they brought her. She and Sarah ended up splitting the special dessert of the night, a bread pudding with caramel and pear. It sounded divine…and looked it too.

Afterwards, we paid our checks and headed out. Cathy and her sister were heading back to her place. We had The Monkees to go and see. In the end, I am happy we ended up at Deagan’s. Sure…this meant I didn’t get my traditional gluten-free pizza the night before a big race (yeah…I was running a 15K the very next morning back down in Columbus, Ohio)…but I did get some carbs (thank you gluten-free House Fries) and had great company and amazing food. I’d go back to Deagan’s Kitchen & Bar in a heartbeat next time I’m in the area. Sometimes the best laid plans have to change to lead you to somewhere even better.

Beyond impressed.

Deagan's Arugula Salad — Deagan’s Arugula Salad

November 21, 2012

Annie May’s Sweet Cafe satisfies my cinnamon roll craving

Product: Annie May’s Sweet Café Take & Bake Cinnamon Rolls – $12.00

Sometimes being gluten-free can be difficult. I don’t say that to garner sympathy or anything. The fact is…sometimes I just want a bagel. Or a doughnut. Or even cinnamon rolls.

YES!! Cinnamon rolls.

In fact, this past couple of weeks I had been out-and-out craving gluten-free cinnamon rolls. While I could easily go to the grocery store and pick up some from Udi’s…let me tell you…that is not what I wanted. In fact, Udi’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls are the one item by Udi’s that I have not liked or praised up and down. I am just not a fan of the texture and taste of them. I wanted something with a crust on the outside and that was still gooey on the inside. You know…just like mom used to make…back when I was little and could still eat cinnamon rolls whenever I wanted.

Yeah…the gluten-free gig is a bit of a challenge at times, but I have no choice. Thankfully, however, I have a local bakery in Louisville, Kentucky that caters to those with food allergies. Everything they make is free of gluten, nuts, tree nuts, and soy. Upon request, they can make most of their goodies vegan as well (minus dairy/eggs). You gotta love that.

Well, I absolutely LOVE Annie May’s Sweet Café. I try to get over there for something whenever I am in town. This past Friday was the exception. I was actually heading out of town, but saw on their Facebook page earlier that week that they had Take And Bake Cinnamon Rolls. Oh…that hit the craving switch again so I inquired if they might have them in on Friday. They said they would, so I asked if they could hold one package of them for me. They said they could…and all I had to do was get to Friday and go pick them up.

After leaving work at noon, I headed into Louisville, Kentucky and swung by Annie May’s Sweet Café to pick up my order. As promised, they had a package there for me, along with the delicious icing to go with it. I was thrilledto say the least. And they looked awesome too. Nothing tiny about these cinnamon rolls. Each one weighed around 6 ounces and they just looked fantastic…even without being baked yet. The package of 4 cinnamon rolls ran me $12.00, but it was totally worth the cost. I was already wishing it was Saturday morning in Ohio so I could bake them up and devour them with my roomie and my friend Jenn.

Annie May's Sweet Café Gluten-Free Take & Bake Cinnamon Rolls (baked) — Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Take & Bake Cinnamon Rolls (baked)

Into the cooler in the car they went…and they made the long journey to Columbus, Ohio. Upon arriving at my friend’s house, I put them in the refrigerator until the morning.

When morning came, I sent my roomie out for coffee while Jenn and I prepared the rest of breakfast. I got out the cinnamon rolls and preheated the oven, according to the directions on the package. The oven was at 325 degrees and in went the pan. The package said to cook for around 7-9 minutes. I went with 7 to start with. And at the end of it, they weren’t yet golden, so I let it run a little longer. After 9 minutes passed…still not golden. The scrambled eggs we were having with them were done, so we dug in and I got a bit daring and set the timer for 2 more minutes. Still not golden. And still doughy in the middle. Not good doughy…but raw doughy. So…back into the oven they went. This time…for 5 more minutes. I was aiming for that golden brown that I associate with cinnamon rolls. When the timer went off this time, they were starting to turn a light shade of brown. So, I decided five more minutes, and after that I would call it done regardless.

We finished up our eggs and I impatiently waited for the timer to sound. When it did, I removed them from the oven and prodded them momentarily with a knife. Still not a rich golden color. Still a little soft in the middle…but it was good enough for me.

Annie May's Sweet Café Gluten-Free Take & Bake Cinnamon Rolls (baked and iced) — Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Take & Bake Cinnamon Rolls (baked and iced)

I set them down on a hot pad holder and pulled out a knife to apply the icing to the tops. Do it while it’s hot and it sort of just melts over the tops. Yummy. There were three of us and four cinnamon rolls, so I split one of them into thirds and began to serve them up.

For the amount of time it took to bake them, I can say this much…it was worth it. Not only did these cinnamon rolls leave me stuffed (perhaps we really didn’t need the eggs like we thought), but they did have a bit of a golden crust on the outside and that delicious soft middle going on. I was in cinnamon roll heaven. I love having a place nearby that can satisfy that craving for me whenever I need it. Really good gluten-free cinnamon rolls are difficult to come by…but Annie May’s Sweet Café really, really does it right. And I love that these are big. Like…Pillsbury Grand big. Size of a fist big. Just…big and packed with flavor. The icing, the soft middle…it was cinnamon roll nirvana for me.

I don’t know what I would do without Annie May’s Sweet Café in my life. Honestly. How I had never heard of them before this past year is beyond me. Now that I know about them…I can’t help but go back weekend after weekend. They are often my source of a breakfast if I am running in Louisville that Saturday morning. They have so much to offer, not just baked goods, but also soups, sandwiches, and pizza. Oh…I have got to go in sometimes for their pizza.

As it stands…cinnamon rolls were a huge hit with me. I am addicted. My mouth is watering even as I type this up. Another craving is hitting. But it’s Thanksgiving week…and their orders are at capacity. So my craving might have to wait a week or so before I can satisfy it again. Whether it was a temperature flaw or something with the oven…I don’t care. What emerged….in the end…was just like the cinnamon rolls my mom used to make.

In fact…they were better.

Annie May’s Sweet Café…thank you for setting up shop in Louisville, Kentucky and giving people with food allergies amazing, delicious food. My roommate and my friend don’t have to eat gluten-free…but when I am there…they do. And they agree…the cinnamon rolls were nothing short of awesome. I might have been full sitting at that kitchen table on Saturday morning…but I was full from your really good product. You haven’t let me down yet.

Annie May's Sweet Café Gluten-Free Take & Bake Cinnamon Rolls — Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Take & Bake Cinnamon Rolls

November 21, 2012

The Claddagh in Columbus, Ohio serves up a simple, delicious – but unbalanced – salad

Restaurant: The Claddagh Irish Pub, Columbus, Ohio

I love pubs.

I love pubs a lot. But as a vegetarian, I was already limited on what I could eat there. When I had to go gluten-free…my options got even smaller. In most cases, I hope for an amazing salad. It has happened before. The right flavor combinations, the right ingredients, and yes…even a salad can be magic.

It was Friday night…the beginning of an exciting and busy weekend…and I was in Columbus, Ohio visiting my friend Jenn. I had actually purchased a Living Social deal for The Claddagh Irish Pub in Columbus knowing that there would be a cause to use it at some point. And that night was Friday night after a long trip up in the car.

We arrived and found parking and made our way toward the front of the pub. We entered and were immediately greeted and asked if we had a reservation. Uh oh. Did that mean that there was something going on that evening? I replied that we did not have a reservation and the hostess didn’t even flinch before picking up three menus and guiding us toward the back room. We were seated at a low-lit table in the corner and given our menus to look over.

Although…when it comes to pubs, Jenn, my roomie and I pretty much already know what we want. Our waitress came over and introduced herself and asked if we knew what we wanted to drink. Cathy grabbed for the folder of booze and looked for the one word that makes her happiest at pubs. Yep. They had it. Magners. She and Jenn both ordered a pint of that. I stuck to water as…well…I was running later that weekend and I wanted to hydrate properly.

After our drink orders were taken and water was brought out to all three of us, we placed our orders. Both Jenn and Cathy went with their most favorite pub offering on any menu. Fish and chips ($13.99). As for me…I was down to two salads that interested me. I was having a hard time choosing and Cathy wasn’t helping me make the call. So after a little debate…I made up my mind.

My order…the Galway Salad ($7.99). I stuck with the Balsamic Vinaigrette for my dressing.

With orders in, we sat and talked. Magners were delivered. We discussed upcoming plans we all had, the concert we were seeing the next night, and just whatever we felt like talking about. Why? Because we are good friends and conversation is never an issue with us. Love that. And soon, we found our orders being delivered safely to our table. Jenn and Cathy had big planks of fish (they use cod in an ale batter) over a bed of pub chips (fries). They came with a side of slaw and tartar sauce as well. Cathy, who has taken to at least trying the tartar sauce, was quite impressed with it and alternated dipping her fish in the pool of ketchup on her plate and the tartar sauce. Needless to say…they enjoyed their fish and chips.

The Galway Salad looks like…a basic salad. It basically consisted of a bed of mixed greens that was topped off with a boat-load (seriously…it was crazy and a bit overwhelming to the palate) of sun-dried tomatoes, a pile of goat cheese, and a scattering of candied walnuts. They thankfully kept the balsamic vinaigrette to the side so I could add however much I wanted.

The salad was good…but there were just way too many sun-dried tomatoes. They were clumped together at times and would definitely overpower a bite if too many were on the fork. I had to scatter them out and really make sure that they were balanced out by the other components of the salad itself. And, let me tell you, when you are working with four ingredients, that can be a challenge. Thankfully the balsamic vinaigrette helped offset some of that as well.

Was it amazing? Not really. It was okay. Not bad. Just a bit unbalanced when it came to how it was topped. I mean…it was a very simple, basic salad. It was good. It was delicious. But it was a bit much at times when it came to the heavy-handed sun-dried tomatoes that topped it off. But, I got through it and polished off my plate, leaving the pub with a happy (and full) tummy.

The Claddagh served me a delicious salad. I will give them that. I left there full. But I think the chef needs to learn take a lighter hand with the sun-dried tomatoes as it was way overpowering at times. Thank goodness for the goat cheese and walnuts to help tamper that flavor down some.

The Claddagh's Galway Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette — The Claddagh’s Galway Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette