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
Product: Go Picnic Black Bean Dip and Crispy Plantain Chips – $5.99+
Fast food, shmast food.
Being a gluten-free vegetarian means a stop-off at any regional fast food joint is just not an option. I mean, I got sick for 5 days after eating Chik-Fil-A’s supposedly gluten-free waffle fries this past summer. Let me tell you, I have yet to go back.
So, when someone like me – someone who is constantly on the go and on the road – needs something to eat…what then? Well…thanks to Go Picnic my options just got a little more exciting and much healthier than any fast food stop would have been.
Now, I’ve blogged about Go Picnic before. I am a HUGE fan of the gluten-free Hummus + Crackers meal, which is usually my on-the-road poison. However, when I attended the Gluten-Free Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana a month or so back, I dropped by the Go Picnic booth and raved to them about how much I appreciated their gluten-free boxes (especially the ones that are also vegetarian/vegan). It just so happened that they had some of their brand new on-the-go meals at the expo…and if I bought them that day, I’d be saving some money, for sure.
So, my roomie and I made a decision to purchase six meals. She got two of the Sunbutter + Crackers plus the Turkey Pepperoni + Cheese boxes. As for me, I went with two of my favorite…the Hummus + Crackers and one of the brand new offerings…the Black Bean Dip & Plantain Chips box. I was pretty stoked about that one as it was new, vegan, and gluten-free. And it just sounded…different and interesting.
Well, the perfect opportunity to break out the Go Picnic meals came this past weekend as my roomie and I were venturing out to Ohio to visit our friend Jenn. Our plan…to see The Monkees on Saturday night and then on Sunday morning…I was off to the races. Literally. I was running in the Hot Chocolate 15K in Columbus. So, we left work at noon on Friday and went to run a few local errands before settling in for the 4 hour car trip up to Columbus, Ohio. With the errands out of the way…it was lunch time. And for me, lunch was the Go Picnic Black Bean Dip & Plantain Chips on-the-go meal.
After opening the box, I settled on starting with the star of the actual box…the Go Picnic Garden Black Bean Dip with the Sweet Perry Orchards Crispy Roasted Plantain Chips. I thought, at first, that this was an interesting combination and wasn’t quite sure how it would work in the end. However, the combination was actually quite delicious. What I loved was how the sweetness of the dried and roasted plantains made into chips complimented the rich, sweetness of the black bean dip. The Go Picnic Garden Black Bean Dip is amazing. A creamy, somewhat sweet and spicy blend of black beans, green chilies, jalapeno peppers, spices, garlic, and onion made for a fantastic base to dip the chips in. And Sweet Perry Orchards Crispy Roasted Plantain Chips made a fantastic alternative to crackers or corn chips. Honestly. They provided a hint of sweetness as well. They were crispy, crunchy, and just the perfect compliment to the rich dip. I was so happy with this flavor combination. The Go Picnic Garden Black Bean Dip is only 40 calories of this box’s total 360 calories and provides 2 grams of protein. Let’s hear it for the protein magic of beans! And the Sweet Perry Orchards Crispy Roasted Plantain Chips also only contain 70 calories in the provided 0.5 ounce bag. It also only sets you back 3 grams in fat. They are also very low in sodium (50 mg).
My next taste from the box that I chose to devour was the Sweet Perry Orchards Ginger Zip Fruit and Nut Mix. This was a surprisingly delicious mix of peanuts coated in ginger, dried cranberries, and banana chips. The ginger was the part that concerned me, as often it can be a little too strong and too much. Thankfully, pairing it with lightly salted peanut, banana chips, and the tart sweetness of the dried cranberries, the blend worked. It worked fantastically, actually. I was digging down into the little 0.75 ounce bag that came in the Go Picnic box in hopes of finding more of the mix in there. But, alas, when I said devour…that’s what I did. This one surprised me and it was a nice surprise. The ginger was just enough to add a bit of heat to a few of the bites, but it didn’t overwhelm the mix. It was nicely balanced. And the little snack bag you receive in the box is only 90 calories of the entire 360 in the box itself. And the rest of the nutrition information is nice as well. The little pack provides 5 grams of fat and 2 grams of protein. Not bad for a fruit and nut mix. Not bad at all. Oh, and the sugar content on this one isn’t bad either. Most “trail mixes” are laden with sugar. Thanks to the ginger, this one only has 10 grams of sugar. Other trail mixes would be at least twice that per serving.
My next choice to eat from the box was the Sweet Perry Orchards Power Play Tasty Seed Blend. Now, one of my favorite parts of the Go Picnic Hummus + Crackers box is the packet of dry-roasted edamame. Well, this is a different twist on that pack. Sweet Perry Orchards Power Play Tasty Seed Blend is a mix of dry roasted edamame, pumpkin seeds, and watermelon kernels. Sound weird? It’s not. In fact, what this little 0.75 ounce pack provides is a heap of protein and healthy fats. Yep. While salt is added, it’s not overdone either. The seeds really stand up for themselves and pack a bunch of flavor in each bite. The blend is interesting and different. I mean, who can say they’ve really enjoyed a watermelon kernel before? Well…truth is…I did. And the pumpkin seeds and edamame were also fantastic. Sweet Perry Orchards Power Play Tasty Seed Blend provides 110 calories of the entire 360 calories in the box and 5 grams of fat. This blend also provides 8 grams of protein. That’s awesome. As for the sodium…which can be a real sticking point, this bag only has 70 mg of sodium in it. Yep. It really is a healthy choice.
And finally…dessert. Because that’s what we look forward to at the end of a meal. Even lunch on-the-go. The Go Picnic Black Bean Dip & Plantain Chips box comes with dessert of dark chocolate. Oh yes…almost like it was made for me. Dark, delicious chocolate. The little piece is Professor Zim Zams Extraordinary Sweets Dark Chocolate with Orange. It’s a little circle of orange-flavored dark chocolate goodness. Now, sometimes the orange and chocolate combination works for me. Sometimes…it doesn’t. In this case, the bittersweet dark chocolate meshes so well with the tart orange. It’s a seamless marriage of flavor to be honest. And it was a decadent enough bite to satisfy that need for dessert or something sweet to cleanse the palate. Professor Zim Zams Extraordinary Sweets Dark Chocolate with Orange is only 0.35 ounces of rich chocolate flavor…but it’s just enough. This little disk of sweetness provides the Go Picnic box with the remaining 50 calories. It contributes 4 grams of fat into the serving and 2 grams of protein. And it is good to the last little bite. Because…I admit…I savored the chocolate. I love a good, sweet ending.
In the end, Go Picnic provided a hearty on-the-go meal in a little box that really satisfied every taste. Sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. It meant that I felt satisfied at the end of the box. And with only 360 calories, it’s a nutritious meal that you can take with you on the road, on a hike, on a picnic, or just for something easy on a busy day at the office. This little box also provided me with 13 complete grams of protein at the end of it, which is fantastic as I am a gluten-free, vegetarian athlete (distance runner!) so making sure I get enough protein in my diet can be a huge challenge. This satisfied.
I haven’t been able to find this actual box listed yet on Go Picnic’s Web site. But it is one of the new offerings from the company. I say…give it a bit of time and it will be there. As for me…I hope to find this one in the stores soon because I loved every bite of it. If you can find it…pick it up and try it. I promise…you’ll be as hooked as me. Go Picnic…you won me and my taste buds over again with simple flavors and nutritious snacks.
Gluten Free You And Me Gluten Free French White Bread Mix
Product: Gluten Free You And Me Gluten Free French White Bread Mix – $6.00
You know…it would figure.
I’ve been searching for the ultimate bread mix to bake up and continue to bake up because I make a lot of meals that just taste good with a small slice of bread, toasted in the oven with a spritz of olive oil and seasoning. And I’ve tried a lot of the name brands. Some I have fallen in love with. Some…I’ve been rather indifferent on. I haven’t hated any of them…but I don’t like a dense loaf of bread. I don’t want my bread to be heavy. It’s accompanying my meal, not becoming my meal.
Awhile back, while I was visiting my friend Jenn in Columbus, Ohio, she happened to make mention of a gluten-free event going on at a local gluten-free bakery/café of sorts. As we were already going to be out and about that day in town, we decided to stop by that morning and check it out. Although there were only a few things at this little event, one vendor in the front room really caught my attention.
Gluten Free You And Me is the company and they are based out of Dublin, Ohio. They had a few samples out, including cookies and their French White Bread, made from a mix that they were selling. Cathy tried a cookie and loved it. But Jenn and I…we were all about the bread. One taste and I about melted. It was light. It was fluffy. And it tasted…like fresh-baked, full-barrel, French bread. I knew then…I had to have it in my life.
So, for a small fee of $6.00, a tub of the mix was mine. I was excited and couldn’t wait to bake this up myself.
A loaf of Gluten-Free French White Bread (from Gluten Free You And Me Mix) fresh from the oven
But…other products in my expansive gluten-free pantry had to be used up first. However, this past weekend…it was time to see if I could do up the French White Bread as well as they had for the event. I could only hope.
Making the bread couldn’t be easier. Using a mixer, you put the dry mix into a bowl, add 1-1/2 cups of water, 1 tsp red wine vinegar (I didn’t have red wine vinegar, so I went out on a limb and used apple cider vinegar), 2 tablespoons of canola oil…and mix until the dough forms and is sticky. Then, you pour it into a 4 x 8 bread loaf pan (spray it with some cooking spray) and pat it down to evenly form a loaf shape. Score it across the tip with a knife and let it rise for about 35 minutes. Once it has risen within 1/2 inch of the top of the pan, you bake it in a 400 degree oven for around 40 minutes. Remove it from the pan and let it cool on a rack for 1 hour. Then…it is yours to enjoy.
Let me tell you, the most difficult part of this entire process was waiting for it to cool. I normally just want to slice right into the bread and give it a try…but I patiently (or as patiently as I could) waited the correct time before slicing into it.
Well, it was definitely as good as I remembered it. Figures. Because this is a little harder to get my hands on than, say, one of the major gluten-free bread mixes at the grocery store. But…definitely worth ordering online (yes…they do ship) if I can’t get out to where their products are sold in the Columbus area.
The Gluten Free You And Me French White Bread Mix bakes up a beautiful loaf of bread. The crust turned a perfect shade of gold and inside was a light, fluffy bread just begging for a schmear of butter. Yeah…this bread is damn near gluten-free bread perfection. The taste is exquisite. If you didn’t tell people it was gluten-free…they wouldn’t have a clue. At all. It tastes, dead-up, like the bread I used to be able to eat. And that, my friends, is nothing short of awesome. And I loved that I didn’t have to haul out my bread maker for this loaf. It was all done by hand, by the oven, and it baked to perfection. Happiness is a delicious loaf of gluten-free bread. It doesn’t get much better than this one.
I encourage you to visit the Web site for Gluten Free You And Me and take a look at the small, but amazing products that this company has to offer. They can ship some of their items, so check that out, especially if you are not in or around the Columbus, Ohio area. Their products are pretty hard to beat. Let me tell you…I’m still dreaming of this bread and thankful I have the other half of the loaf chilling in the freezer for future use. Well worth the purchase…trust me.
A loaf of bread made with Gluten Free You And Me Gluten Free French White Bread Mix and baked in the oven
One of my biggest cravings since going gluten-free has been for, believe it or not, cinnamon rolls. Honestly. And it’s not that there aren’t gluten-free options out there. Udi’s makes some pre-packaged cinnamon rolls…which are…eh…okay, but definitely not one of their better products. And I attempted to make cinnamon rolls from a Chebe mix…and that was an epic fail of monumental proportions. Just…trust me on this one.
So, with the smell of Cinnabon lurking…everywhere…I resigned myself to the fact that unless I make my own (no easy task), that I would probably just have to stick with what Udi’s offers. Edible…but not a cinnamon roll in my mind.
And then, as luck would have it, I was in Dayton, Ohio for a chocolate festival. Yes…mock all you want…I am a female and I love chocolate. So the words chocolate festival will bring me to Dayton. Trust me. After sampling and buying a few items at the chocolate festival and doing a bit of antique shopping, my usual partners in crime (Jenn & Cathy) and I headed toward Centerville because, after dining at Sinfully Gluten Free before the Air Force Marathon 10K, I knew I had to go back. And I always will while in Dayton. Hands down.
Well, after placing our food order, I went shopping. Because here I am in a dedicated bakery/café…of course I’m going to buy some of their products. Among the items purchased…Sinfully Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls. Happiness abounded. And it even came with its own little tub of icing. YUMMY!
Of course, as is the case…these weren’t devoured immediately. Nope. They went back to Columbus, Ohio with me first. And then made the trip back to the Louisville, Kentucky area with me, via a cooler. And from there…they went into my freezer. But then…a busy weekend left me with no time to make gluten-free scones for my gym days…so…lo and behold…the cinnamon rolls were about to make their debut.
Sinfully Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls
Sinfully Gluten Free’s Cinnamon Rolls come in a container of 4. Each roll is around 4 ounces in weight. Since I froze them, I pulled them out of the freezer to thaw in the container overnight. After my hard gym workout, I carried it into work with me and settled in the kitchen with two plates and four cinnamon rolls. My roommate received two of them and I received two. I saw that you could just go ahead and microwave the lot of them in the container they came in (minus the lid), but I needed time to ice them and keep mine warm while I took the roomie hers. So…I slid them onto a plate, and put them in the microwave for about 1 minute. They emerged piping hot and ready for a schmear of icing. I topped them off, put the other two for me in the microwave, and heated them up while I delivered the other pair to my roommate across the office.
I returned soon after just as the microwave beeped. Out they came, hot and ready for icing. I topped them off and happily carried them into my office and settled in at my desk with a fork. They looked absolutely perfect. Just like the ones my mom used to make…but better…because these didn’t come from a can marked Pillsbury. With much anticipation building, I slid my fork through one of the rolls, feeling the dough happily give way, how soft it was on the inside, and with that…I took my first bite.
These made me beyond happy. They were a perfect texture, despite being nuked in the microwave. They were gooey on the inside. The icing complimented them, without being too sweet and overpowering. It melted right over the top and into the rings of the cinnamon rolls. The rolls themselves weren’t too dense. They were light, with a little weight from the cinnamon rolled up inside. Sweet. Savory. And just phenomenal. Honestly. I savored each bite for as long as I could, dragging out my breakfast because I didn’t want it to end. I didn’t want to reach that last bite.
But…sadly…like all good things…this did come to an end. One final bite and I messaged my roommate and said, “I wish we had more of those in the freezer.” So, needless to say, next time I’m in or around Dayton, I hope Sinfully Gluten Free has some of those on hand because they have to be the best gluten-free cinnamon rolls to exist in the gluten-free world. Honestly. I have yet to find better. They got it all right and I was totally lucky enough to have the chance to indulge and enjoy.
I hate to sound like a broken record, but they deserve the high praise again. Sinfully Gluten Free…you take gluten-free goodness to sinfully divine levels. This gluten-free girl is one happy customer, always hoping to find herself in or around Dayton…just so I can come by and purchase more of your scrumptious goodies. I hope the cinnamon rolls make it back into my life…and soon!
Isaac’s Famous Grilled Sandwiches, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
Restaurant: Isaac’s Famous Grilled Sandwiches, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
I have to once again break my vow to not blog about chains. And why? Because I recently visited a chain restaurant that is only found in Pennsylvania. Much like California’s own In-N-Out Burger, this little sandwich shop is only available regionally. Therefore, I will not be able to find anything like it where I live in Indiana.
Welcome to Isaac’s Famous Grilled Sandwiches. This chain began on August 25, 1983, when two friends attending college, Phil Wenger and Isaac Williams, met. After graduating and going in two separate directions (Phil taking a job in sales for a flower wholesaler and Isaac working as a chef in a local restaurant), the two friends began to brainstorm the idea of a deli/restaurant. Isaac provided the knowledge of cooking and his flair for decorating, and created an eclectic interior and a working menu. Phil provided the experience of running a business and his desire to create something that would give back to the community. And with that…Isaac’s Restaurant and Deli was born in the heart of Pennsylvania. Now with 20 restaurants in 6 counties of Pennsylvania, this local chain is providing a delicious menu with a variety of choices in soups, salads, and sandwiches.
So, how did this out-of-towner stumble upon this little chain? The Internet, of course. My roommate was researching possible places to eat after I ran in the Hershey Half Marathon while we were out and about in other areas of Pennsylvania. She came across Isaac’s on Find Me Gluten Free, and it had really great ratings. It also had gluten-free flatbread! Now there was something new and worth checking out, yes?
So, after a very successful run that morning in Hershey, Pennsylvania, my roommate, my friend Jenn, and myself headed out of town toward Ephrata, Pennsylvania. We wanted to stop by the grave of Major Richard D. Winters, best known from Band of Brothers. After the drive out there and the visit to the cemetery, we found that we were ready for lunch. There was actually an Isaac’s in Ephrata. Even better…it wasn’t that far away either. BONUS!
We made our way to the Cloister Shopping Center and pulled in to park. The actual center itself looked a bit sketchy. In fact, Isaac’s was located next to an open (WOW!) Blockbuster Video. I wasn’t feeling too confident about the situation. But, at this point, we were committed. We stepped up to the door, which thankfully had a large-scale version of their menu up. I double-checked the gluten-free option and it was listed…so we stepped inside. As we came in near the Blockbuster Video, we had to walk down a very long hallway in order to get to the restaurant itself. We stepped inside and went to the hostess station in order to be seated.
A table was just clearing up where the three of us could sit, so we were told it would only be a minute. Looks had to be deceiving, because Isaac’s was quite busy. Every table was taken. I glanced around in awe, as it didn’t look like much from the outside. Inside, it was very much like the old diners you are used to seeing in movies. There are crazy decorations and colors throughout the interior. And right next to the hostess stand…the dessert case. The three of us too a moment to ogle the pies and cakes inside…but then were told the table was clean and ready for us to be seated.
We followed the hostess to the booth and got situated. She said our waitress would be right with us and left us to peruse the menu. There were a lot of options to choose from. So much sounded really good. I was having a hard time deciding and I knew both Jenn and Cathy were also eying a few options as well. Our waitress came to our table to get our drink order, and we all stuck with water. She returned and gave us a little more time with the menu. When we were all set…a different waitress came over. Our waitress just got assigned a large party and they wanted to get our order in first. We appreciated that…and so we began to put in our order.
Jenn decided to create her own sandwich. She put salami and provolone on a pretzel roll ($6.99). It came with a side of ranch dressing. And she kept the chips as her side item. Cathy opted to do the half soup-half sandwich combo. She went with a half Mockingbird Sandwich (thinly sliced grilled ham and provolone cheese, topped with tomatoes and onions with mayo on hearty multigrain bread) with a cup of Isaac’s Famous Pepperjack and Tomato Soup. She had that with a side of the Utz Potato Chips ($7.39). As for me, I alerted them that I am a Celiac and was interested in trying the Gluten-Free Larkspur, which consisted of muenster and cheddar cheeses, fresh tomatoes, spinach and sprouts all wrapped up in a gluten-free flatbread and served with ranch dressing, which I was assured was also gluten-free. I ordered the dressing on the side and opted for the baby carrots as my side ($8.04).
I will point out that there is an up-charge for the gluten-free option on the menu. The gluten-free flatbread carries an additional $0.75 charge. Not a problem. After all, most restaurants charge a lot more.
Our orders went in and we had a good amount of time to sit around and chat. I mostly talked about how interested I was in this gluten-free flatbread. After our wait, our meals were brought out to us.
Let me tell you, the sandwich I got was nothing like what I expected. But…it looked fantastic. The gluten-free flatbread was grilled to a beautiful golden color. Inside it was stuffed with spinach, sprouts, and tomatoes. The cheeses were there…but not in overabundance. I appreciated that. And, as I asked, the ranch dressing came in a cup on the side. I was dying to try this out. Pausing only long enough to take a picture for my blog, I picked up the knife and sliced into the sandwich. I took that little wedge, dipped it in the ranch dressing and took a bite.
I died and went to sandwich heaven. The gluten-free flatbread was definitely the star of the show. In fact, what it reminded me of the fried bread that Taco Bell Chalupas were made in. They had a nice crisp outside but were great and soft when you chewed them. I found it to be the perfect compliment to my vegetables inside. And I honestly appreciated that the cheese wasn’t filling the sandwich. It complimented it instead. I gave a piece of the bread to both Cathy and Jenn and even they liked it. I savored every bite, not wanting the sandwich experience to come to an end. But with each bite…my sandwich grew smaller and smaller.
Here’s what I have to say…while it looked like an absolute dive on the outside, inside, Isaac’s is a quirky, fun little soup/sandwich/salad deli establishment. I had a great dining experience there. The waitress wrote in big letters on the order that mine was gluten-free. And the receipt also made mention that it was gluten-free and yes…it was an allergy. These are the little things that someone like me appreciates while eating out. It just puts your mind a little more at ease.
I never knew how much I missed flatbread until I could have it again. And this was a great place to start as far as finding one that had lots of flavor, no strange texture, and was just awesome with every bite. I didn’t even need the dressing…the bread provided a lot of the necessary flavor for a sandwich filled with fresh vegetables. This was love in flatbread sandwich form. And I was one happy gluten-free customer.
If I find myself back up in southeastern Pennsylvania again, I will actively seek out Isaac’s as a safe place for me to eat. Looks can be deceiving as I have come to find out quite often. And in this case…this little dive of a place in a strip mall provided me one of my favorite gluten-free sandwiches to date. The care of the staff at the restaurant and the variety of gluten-free options on the menu was awesome. Totally worth a repeat visit sometime!
Traveling is one of the hardest things for me to do and find a place that I can trust to serve me food that won’t make me sick. Honestly. It can be quite nerve-wracking. Put on top of that the added pressure of having a half marathon the next day and the last thing you want to do is eat something that might send your GI track into an unhappy rage.
Well, that was the situation this past weekend. I was heading to Hershey, Pennsylvania to run in the Hershey Half Marathon on Sunday morning. My journey began by going to my friend Jenn’s in Ohio, and then she, my roommmate, and I all headed up to Pennsylvania the following morning. Now, Jenn loves me lots and has a gluten-free pantry shelf of stuff we can eat when I am in town. Good friends are awesome! But, here we are on the road! However, because she loves me, she got on Find Me Gluten Free and found a little Italian place in Hershey, Pennsylvania with what looked like an extensive gluten-free menu.
As I have found that my best races so far have been after I have eaten gluten-free pizza, finding a gluten-free Italian place that has not only gluten-free pizza, but pasta, starters, subs, salads, entrees, and yes…desserts…right where I was going to be running a long, big race was probably one of the happiest finds ever. To top it off, a friend of mine didn’t live far from the resort where we were staying, and she just happened to know the owners of this amazing restaurant. So…we all had plans to meet up and go and enjoy a fantastic, safe (for me), Italian meal.
Let me tell you…with my lunch-on-the-go consisting of Chobani yogurt and a KIND bar, I was ready for some real food.
The place that we selected to eat was Piazza Sorrento, located on Briarcrest Square in Hershey. From what we had discovered online, this was a independently run local restaurant, where the owners and staff dedicate themselves to providing the Hershey area with the finest service, food, and wine at a fair and competative price. While striving to keep the history of the dish and region that it stems from intact, they provide regional and classic Italian cuisine using only premium ingredients. Part of that process is by sourcing local ingredients from the local commerce of the Hershey area. I loved that.
What I also loved was the extensive gluten-free menu that came up on their Web site.
After arriving in Hershey and heading over to Hershey Park to pick up my race packet and walk around the little expo that was attached, Jenn, Cathy and myself headed over to Hershey World to see what was going on, what prices were for things we were interested in doing, and to do some preliminary shopping in the gift shop. That took a little bit of time, so when we finished up, we hopped back into the car, checked into our resort, and just sort of relaxed while waiting on Kathy (yes…another one, different spelling) to arrive so she could direct us to the restaurant the four of us would be dining in. She arrived early…and we were okay with that because we were hungry! Heading out, we met up in the garage of the resort, and she offered to drive to show us the sights of the area. A sort of grand tour if you will. But first…food.
We arrived just a little before 5 p.m. at Piazza Sorrento and headed inside. We were greeted by a very friendly hostess who asked if we wanted to dine in the restaurant or the pizza shop. We weren’t aware there was a difference, but we decided on the restaurant in the end. It took only a moment for them to ready a booth for the four of us, and we asked for one gluten-free menu for me. She happily complied, and went and took us to our seat, letting us know that our server, Lydia, would be with us shortly.
Lydia did arrive rather promptly to the table to see what we would like to have to drink. As I was running, I was all about the water. And it seemed everyone else at the table felt that way too. So, water it was. She came back and went over the specials on the menu, noting that since I had a gluten-free menu, to mention what specials were gluten-free…and this included soups. I loved how knowledgeable she was. It really put me at ease. And the fact that I didn’t have to give my, “I’m a Celiac…” speech was a nice change of pace. She went to ready the bread basket and asked me if I would like a gluten-free roll. I was so shocked that it took me a moment to answer. But I answered correctly. “Yes, please.”
Piazza Sorrento’s Gluten-Free Roll
She returned with the bread basket and two plates of herbs for dipping. The one she set down in front of me was the gluten-free one. All we had to do was add the oil. My roll wasn’t out yet, but my dinner guests waited until it was delivered to the table before they dug into the regular bread basked.
This roll looked fantastic. The plate that it was sitting on came with a tag, marking it as one of Piazza Sorrento’s Gluten-Free Options. I love that they have a labeling system. With oil poured onto my herbs, I reached down and tore a hunk of my gluten-free roll off. A little steam rose from it and it smelled amazing. Fresh. Delicious. I took my first bite without the oil and herbs. I wanted to savor the roll and enjoy it on its own first. Really just draw my opinion from the bare bread itself. It was…fantastic. Very light. Very soft. Warm. Fresh. I wanted to devour it and ask for another one. But, I behaved.
And soon, Lydia was at our table preparing to take our orders. Cathy wanted to get one of their House Specialties, so she asked Lydia if she had to recommend one item on the menu…what would it be. Lydia said she couldn’t limit it to one, but she could tell her some of her favorites and house favorites. Which she proceeded to do and then, left Cathy to ponder for the time it took the rest of us to order our meal.
Jenn went with the small order of Crab and Tortellini ($16.00). Kathy opted for the Chicken Piccata ($18.00). Cathy finally decided on the Pappardelle Bolognese ($17.00). As for me…I needed pizza to fuel my run. So after going back and forth between a couple of the vegetarian, gluten-free options (because…yes…there were lots of options), I settled on the Gluten-Free Old World Pizza ($9.00). Lydia went to put our orders in and we had plenty of time to talk about Hershey, the park, the race, and just get caught up on what was going on with whom and why and it was the perfect little get together. Great setting too.
Piazza Sorrento’s Gluten-Free Old World Pizza
When food arrived at the table it looked absolutely delicious. My pizza was once again marked with one of the slips of paper declaring it to be a Piazza Sorrento Gluten-Free Choice. Food labeling makes me feel at ease. This was the smallest little touch…and yet, it meant the world to me. With our food in front of us, we all just dove right in. Sort of. I had to take pictures and both my phone and my camera were acting up. But…I got it sorted and photographed and then wasted no further time before lifting my first slice of pizza and taking a bite.
The Gluten-Free Old World Pizza from Piazza Sorrento is the classic Old World Style pizza. It is the crust, with a layer of provolone cheese, then topped with tomato sauce and finished off with a sprinkling of Romano cheese and some oregano. I had never tried an Old World-style pizza before and this was one of the House Specialties on the menu…so I figured why not try something I haven’t been able to get anywhere else. I’m glad I did.
The crust on the pizza was a thin crust pizza, probably of a rice flour base. It cooked up crispy…with a little softness to it. So…just right for me. I love a thin crust pizza anyway…always have. Gluten-free pizza crusts are usually quite thin, so this transition has been easy for me. The hard part is finding one that is really fantastic on its own. Piazza Sorrento has a really delicious one. The Gluten-Free Pizzas only come in the 10 inch size, which is pretty normal of any establishment that serves gluten-free pizza. I knew there would be leftovers…meaning my friends and I would have pizza for dinner the following evening…as our resort suite had a fridge and a microwave. SCORE! But I am digressing…
Let’s return to the star of the table at the moment…the food. My friends all really enjoyed their meals. And I happily downed two slices of my Gluten-Free Old World Pizza. The provolone cheese on the bottom was melted to perfection. The sauce over it was packed with flavor. Not bitter at all. The tomato flavor really shined. And the light dusting of Romano and oregano really just topped it off. I probably could have eaten more, but I didn’t want to stuff myself to the max in case…there was room for dessert.
And with us…there normally is. Especially when there are gluten-free options available.
Lydia brought out the dessert tray and went over the what each item was and explained which ones were available as gluten-free. Both Jenn and Kathy opted for the tiramisu (one of the gluten-free options) ($7.00). Cathy went with her favorite Italian dessert…cannoli ($3.50). As for me…I went with the Gluten-Free Ricotta Cake ($8.00). It just looked…really yummy.
The Ricotta Cake is basically a very light sponge cake that was drizzled with white vermouth and topped off with Ricotta cheese and fresh fruit. It is one of the favorites among customers…and now I know why. When dessert arrived…I couldn’t wait to dig in. I picked up my fork and slid it easily through the cake. It was like a hot knife going through butter. So creamy. So soft. So moist. I was already anticipating my first bite. And when I took it…I think I melted. Seriously. This had to be the best cake I had ever bitten into. I had to share a bite with my friends. I honestly did. Because it was that amazing. Had Piazza Sorrento been open on Sunday, I probably would have stopped in just for cake. In fact, my friend Jenn had mentioned doing just that because even she fell in love with it at the one bite she had. We both said that it tasted like cannoli in cake form. Honestly…super good. Just melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
After dining there, I tried to e-mail the restaurant to see about getting the recipe…but the e-mail kept bouncing back to me. I finally settled on messaging them on Facebook…but have yet to receive a response.
There is nothing bad I can say about Piazza Sorrento. Honestly it has been one of the best dining experiences I have had, coupled with one of the best meals I have ever eaten. I didn’t need to worry about if the food was going to react poorly with me, especially before such a big race day. I felt confident in the competence of Lydia and the rest of the staff there. And the food was great…and I didn’t get sick at all.
Whoever said that gluten-free was boring and lacked variety and choices hasn’t been through Hershey, Pennsylvania and tried out Piazza Sorrento. I encourage you, whole-heartedly, that if you happen to be in the land of chocolate…or within driving distance, to check out Piazza Sorrento and see for yourself. The gluten-free menu will blow you away, the service and safety the staff take will astound you. But it will be the taste of the food that will make you wish that you had this place in your own hometown. I envy the people who live here…because this has joined the ranks of one of my favorite places to eat. But when you live in Indiana…it means returning won’t happen too often.
Oh…I also encourage you, should you go to eat at Piazza Sorrento, to try the delicious Gluten-Free Ricotta Cake. It’s worth saving room for…or finding room for. Trust me.
It was at long last that I finally made it to Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt. After hearing all about it from my friend Andy, who loves their banana split, and attempting to have it over Labor Day weekend, only to find the shop closed for the holiday…I was elated to find them open for business (which they are…year round) on Saturday while I was in the Indianapolis area for a Gluten-Free Expo.
I had just shared a gluten-free pizza with my roommate so I wasn’t exactly sure of what we might be getting when we pulled up to the little corner shop in Fishers. You don’t eat inside, mind you. There is no dining room and no tables scattered about the place. The people that were there were taking their treats to their car to enjoy.
But, we had decided to try this banana split that Andy raved about. I mean, it was coming with such high regard and a full endorsement from an Ironman athlete himself. Why not? We’d find that hatch in our stomachs, open it, and make some room. We stepped up to the window and the young man behind the sliding glass awaited our order. We were easy…banana split. Traditional. That meant we took off the dowsing of crushed red maraschino cherries that usually is slathered over the chocolate ice cream and replaced it with hot fudge. That’s how I like it. Traditional.
With the order in…my roommate and I stepped aside and began to watch the construction of our banana split through the window. In a clear plastic tub (no kidding!), we watched as mounds…huge heaping mounds of strawberry ice cream, chocolate ice cream, and vanilla ice cream were piled high in the container. We both looked at each other. HOLY CRAP! That was going to be a lot of ice cream and this banana split was going to be…huge. No dinner for us tonight. Whew. Once the ice cream was scooped out in three massive piles, the next step was the toppings. There was a brief food porn intermission though while our server took a moment to rip into a banana and slice it up into rounds. Then…they brought on the toppings. Pineapple was poured over the mountain of vanilla ice cream. Strawberries went over the strawberry ice cream. And, per our request, hot fudge drenched our chocolate ice cream. Atop of that went a mixture of chopped nuts. The the bananas were scattered throughout the sundae…everywhere they would fit. Finally, an avalanche of whipped cream was squirted on top. No cherry for us as we requested they be left off the chocolate ice cream. And so…it was handed over to us.
The Handel’s Banana Split ($5.75) is truly a work of art…of Titanic proportions. I don’t even know how we managed to find room for all of this…but we found a bench nearby in front of a shop at the strip where Handel’s is located (NO ice cream in my car…ever!) and dug in.
O.M.G. So good. I started with the strawberry, as strawberry ice cream is one of my favorite things in the world. It was really good, but I found the strawberry topping to almost overwhelm the ice cream itself. It was so sugary-sweet and a bit too much. My roommate agreed and we both pretty much scraped off the topping to enjoy the strawberry ice cream below it. The vanilla was a simple vanilla. Nothing outstanding or to make it really stand out from other vanilla ice cream that I have enjoyed. Again, the pineapple topping was far too sweet and we sort of worked it off and enjoyed the ice cream beneath it. The chocolate ice cream was decadent, delicious, and coated in amazing hot fudge. I’m so glad we went with hot fudge because I am afraid if we left the cherries on…we’d be scraping those off too. But the hot fudge was out-of-this-world good and it made a perfect banana split topping for the chocolate ice cream. I’m not a whipped cream girl, so my roommate ate much of that. While the ice cream was good…the real stand out in the banana split was…the mixed nuts. No kidding. They were crunchy, not salty, and just amazing. We raved about them and would seek out bites with the nuts included. So delicious. And the other thing about Handel’s Banana Split is that I love it when places chop up the banana. It’s unconventional, I know, but it makes eating the sundae that much easier. So…that was awesome too.
Now that I look at the Handel’s Web site, I realize that this is actually a small chain, with stores scattered throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Virginia, California and Florida. The Handel’s dynasty has actually been around since 1945, where they make their ice creams and yogurts fresh on the premises every day. The products, equipment, methods, and recipes are exclusively Handel’s…so you won’t have anything like it anywhere else. They operate on the philosophy of using the best ingredients available…and always in abundance. If you saw the size of the banana split…you would see that they aren’t kidding. They don’t skimp on portions, toppings, or flavor. You definitely get what you pay for!
I admire a company that has been around and scooping since 1945. I was kind of sad to see it was a bit of a chain, despite being relatively local and small. I have this love of independently owned ice cream shops…where you only get that kind of ice cream there. Now I know that if I really want Handel’s Ice Cream while in Columbus, Ohio…I can get it. Of course, in Columbus I stick to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream.
So, while Handel’s did deliver a colossal banana split to my roommate and I…which we powered through and then promptly declared ourselves at max capacity for the day, it wasn’t the best one I have ever eaten. It definitely had it’s moments. The rich chocolate ice cream, the hot fudge, and the nuts being the stars of this banana boat show. But next time I’m in the area, I might seek out one of the locally owned, independent ice cream shops and give that a try. Handel’s was a solid, delicious stop. The toppings were really sweet and too much, but the flavors were awesome. And we definitely devoured the banana split down to the very last bite…which was the strawberry ice cream for me and the chocolate for my roommate. It was good…but I have definitely had better.
If you are craving ice cream that is made fresh every day, packed with flavor, and comes in epic proportion sizes…check out Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt. They are definitely worth a stop, a look, and a taste. Spoonful-for-spoonful…the ice cream was really good…and very filling. So bring a friend to help you get through it all.
Okay…granted, Monical’s Pizza is actually a chain. A very small chain consisting of over 60 restaurants that are mainly in the Wisconsin/Illinois/Indiana region. But…I had never heard of them and they aren’t in my area. Thus…this chain will be getting a blog.
This past weekend, I was up in Indianapolis to attend the Gluten-Free Living Now Expo. It was a great event with lots of vendors, samples, information, and way too much gluten-free goodness for my wallet to handle. I showed up hungry and took bits and bites here and there. But when all was said and done, and I had covered much every inch of the expo space…I was now ready for lunch.
The original plan had been to go to Uno’s and try their gluten-free pizza. However, aside from already being in Carmel, Indiana, and the other place we wanted to go was where we were, driving South for pizza just seemed…ridiculous. Only because we’d have to drive North again to hit up our ice cream place (aka: the other place). So, after some searching on Find Me Gluten-Free, my roommate found a place called Monical’s Pizza. And…the gluten-free option on their menu is a simple 10″ pizza.
We drove from the expo to the Monical’s Pizza in Fishers, Indiana and were promptly seated with fun activity place mats and the menu. Obviously as I am completely gluten-free…pizza was on our mind. My roommate and I had gone back and forth on what we wanted on the pizza. Originally we thought onions and mushrooms. But upon sitting down, she said the Margherita Pizza sounded good. I told her just to pick one, as I just wanted gluten-free pizza. So, when our waitress returned with the water we ordered as our drink, Cathy took the initiative and ordered Monical’s Gluten-Free Margherita Pizza.
With our order in, we sat around and talked. I actually did some of the activities on the menu. And a little bit later…our pizza was arriving. I did love that it actually took some time to arrive. When I order, I don’t want my food to immediately show up on my table. I don’t want to even think about my food being prepared ahead of time. I want my food made when I order it and fresh when it hits my table.
The thin-crust gluten-free pizza arrived and it looked really amazing. The Margerhita Pizza was a nice version of a white pizza here. The crust was brushed with olive oil and then topped with mozzarella cheese, tomato slices, minced garlic, and Parmesan. It is actually one of my favorite pizzas out there. While this one looked really good, and for the most part tasted very good…I found the gluten-free crust to be a huge disappointment.
Call my a cynic if you will, but since the inception of this blog as a gluten-free blog…pizza has been one of my passions. And while at first the simple, pre-packaged, not made at the pizzeria crusts wowed me, they don’t anymore. I have had one too many amazing gluten-free pizza crusts. Some, like those at the Mellow Mushroom, exceed every pizza crust I have ever had while eating out. Why? Because it feels, tastes, and looks like a real pizza. None of this cracker-thin-crust stuff.
But, at Monical’s Pizza, the thin crust is the standard. It wasn’t bad. The crust didn’t lose its crispness. Nor was it tasteless or grow soggy with the toppings. In fact…the crust wasn’t bad. Not at all. It just wasn’t something that blew me away. And trust me…when it comes to gluten-free pizza, the crust needs to shine. It is what sets it apart. It is the very foundation of the gluten-free pizza. A meh crust will yield a meh pizza which in turn yields a meh response from the gluten-free customer.
Monical’s delivers a solid, good gluten-free crust. It reminded me a lot of Puccini’s Smiling Teeth. Which is…good. Just not great. I love that the option is there…and I am very glad I can go into someplace like this and have the staff take proper care with my food preparation so as I won’t become ill from eating there…but…I love being able to rave about my food.
The toppings on this pizza were executed perfectly. Honestly. The cheese, tomato, garlic, olive oil combination is one of my all-time favorites and I found their toppings to be really good. But the gluten-free crust needs some work. Again, it wasn’t that it was bad, it’s just that I have had better. Much better.
Would I go back to Monical’s for pizza? Sure. I mean, the gluten-free option is there and the pizza was good. Honestly. I just have grown to expect more from gluten-free pizza. This is what happens when you start to get spoiled by restaurants who really know how to safely prepare a gluten-free crust in-house. I’ve had many slices of gluten-free pizza and this one…was rather forgettable when all was said and done, and the pizza completely consumed.
All-in-all…a very good pizza…a lack-luster crust. But…let’s not bite the hand that feeds us, right? I appreciate the gluten-free option and wish more places would take the care and time to offer such things on their menus.
A decision was made the last time I was in Columbus after a disappointing meal at a local pub. The next place we were going to eat while I was in town was going to be this place called Knead. I didn’t know too much about them at the time, just that they showed up on my Find Me Gluten Free iPhone app. With nothing else to go on, the decision was made.
The day I ran the Air Force Marathon 10K, Jenn, Cathy and I drove back from Dayton, Ohio to Columbus with every intention of getting lunch. Original plans had been to grab a bite to eat in Dayton, but we wrapped things up sooner than anticipated, and after a stop by Starbucks for coffee, we decided just to head back toward Jenn’s and figure out something to eat once back in Columbus.
And it was on the drive back that I remembered…Knead.
Everyone seemed game for it, so that was where we were headed. We were on a mission…for a delicious lunch.
It took a moment for us to locate the place. For the record, there is some construction going on and if it weren’t for the signs indicating that Knead was there and open, we probably would have missed it. The next difficult challenge was finding a place to park. We finally found a public lot a couple blocks away. We parked, fed the meter, and made our way back toward the scaffolding that encased Knead and the other shops that surrounded it.
This will explain why my establishing shot is not of the outside of the restaurant, but rather the inside. You work with what you can. Besides, the inside was so warm and inviting with all the reds, yellows and oranges that decorated the walls. We were greeted immediately upon entering and shown to a nice corner booth (which was round, by the way). Our drink orders were taken and then we were handed menus to look over. I knew that Knead had gluten-free options…I just wasn’t sure what all they offered. So, after our drinks were brought to us, I was about to ask our waiter, however, he disappeared quickly to see to another table. So, while Cathy and Jenn decided on what they wanted to eat, I patiently waited for our waiter to return. It took a little while, but he finally did. And I asked about gluten-free options to which he snagged a different menu and pointed out that everything in red could be done gluten-free. Most of the options were meat-based, so that wasn’t going to work for me. I made one easy inquiry…
Is the frittata gluten-free? He assured me that it was…so I was now prepared to order.
And order away, we certainly did.
Cathy was beyond her breakfast time, so she was the only one of the three of us to order lunch. Her choice, Knead’s famous Motherclucker Sandwich ($13.00) with fries. This sandwich is basically a fried buttermilk Hiland Naturals Organic pastured chicken, served on a toasted challah bun with house cured bacon, aged cheddar cheese, Chef’s garden greens, roasted poblano chile, garlic aioli, and a touch of local honey. She had this with a side of their fries.
Jenn is like me and can enjoy breakfast at any time during the day. She ordered up one slice of their Caramelized Apple French Toast ($5.00), which is done with pagnotta bread. It seems they have a variety of options for French toast, but that day it was caramelized apple…and it looked and smelled fantastic. The apples were toasted and caramelized to perfection and it was served in a warm syrup that just made my mouth water. Too bad I couldn’t even sample it.
Knead’s Hash Browns
As for me, I decided that, since it was safe, I would go with the Frittata ($10.00). This also changes as far as the kind that they serve. But what remains the same is the fact that they use Ohio cage free Holistic Acres eggs. The frittata uses three of these, in fact. And in the variety being served that day, I got potatoes, mushrooms, feta cheese, and rosemary. I ordered this with a side of the hash browns ($3.00), which are gluten-free. So are the fries, for that matter.
With the order in, we sat and talked for a little bit until the food was brought to our table. When Cathy was asked if she wanted ketchup, she was given the option of regular ketchup or the house made variety, which was a tomato ketchup with fennel in it. She opted for the house one with fennel, which had this really amazing sweetness to it. It was actually rather good.
With our food in front of us, we all dug in. Yeah…Knead might be a little pricey, but keep in mind that they use local and sustainable agriculture for their products. That doesn’t come cheap. But the fact is they can back up their prices with the quality of their food. Jenn all but raved over the French toast, which I sort of which they had a gluten-free option for, because it honestly looked so delicious. Cathy found the Motherclucker Sandwich to be moist, light, and hold just the right amount of spice. And the fries…were some of the best she ever had.
As for me…I loved my frittata. It was light, fluffy, and filled with vegetables. The rosemary added a nice sweetness to each bite. And the feta cheese was one of my favorite parts of this egg dish. I love how I could eat the entire thing and not feel like I stuffed myself silly. I savored each bite, enjoying the play of flavors across my taste buds. This was one very well thought out frittata. Everything just worked well together. And the hash browns were fantastically done. Not greasy either. They had a light crisp on the outside and were soft on the inside. Potato perfection.
Yes, Knead is one of those places that sources their produce locally and focus on quality. This is reflected in the products and the food that they serve there. All of us walked out of their with happy bellies and all quite content with every bite of our food. We had other plans for dessert, but the dessert selection is quite amazing sounding as well.
Would I return to Knead again? Of course. With the changing seasons, some of the menu options change as well and I would be curious to see what gets added and what other gluten-free options get included with these changes. I was quite pleased with our lunch that day and hope to return sometime in the near future for another sampling of their gluten-free menu. And maybe next time…I’ll save room for dessert.
It was the eve of the Air Force Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K events…of which I was running in the 10K event. So, I found myself in Dayton, Ohio and in need of a place to eat. Now, Dayton has plenty of places to eat, but the night before a major road race, I try to be a little more careful when I eat out. Obviously, I don’t want to find myself feeling sick because of restaurant cross-contamination.
Thankfully, with the help of my favorite iPhone app, Find Me Gluten Free, I was directed to the Web site of a place called Sinfully Gluten Free in Centerville, Ohio. That day, after checking out the race expo, checking into the hotel, and doing a little book shopping, my friends, Jenn and Cathy, and I headed off to get dinner. I had researched the menu a little prior to the trip to Dayton, so I had an idea of what they offered. And while there isn’t much on their menu, what they offer has a little bit of something for everyone. And that is the important thing.
It was just around 6:00 p.m. when we showed up for dinner that night. I didn’t quite remember the menu, so I went to go and examine the one on the front counter where you place your orders. Cathy already knew what she wanted to get so she was set. Jenn also needed a moment to check it out, since we sort of sprung this place on her. But…she’s always had an open mind when it comes to my gluten-free needs, which is one reason she is so awesome! After a few moments, we all placed our orders.
Cathy had decided to go with the Chicken Strips ($6.99), which was three pieces breaded chicken strips served with a side of crinkle-cut fries. Jenn opted for the 8-inch cheese pizza ($8.99). As for me, I chose to go with the Pizza Sandwich (no pepperoni for this vegetarian) ($8.99), which came with a side of crinkle-cut fries as well. With the orders in, we were told it would take about 20 minutes and to go ahead and find a table and they would bring it out to us when it was ready.
We did exactly that, already discussing what might be a good dessert option while we waited. I mean…we were around food. We were going to discuss the food. We already had it picked out. The three of us would share a Lemon Bar at the end of our meal. It would be perfection.
After our wait, which I appreciate because it means everything is actually done from scratch and not just reheated and brought out, our food arrived. It all looked really amazing. Cathy’s Chicken Strips were not overdone, juicy, and the side of fries was an actual serving! Amazing. She devoured her chicken and fries, complimenting the taste the entire way. Jenn really enjoyed her pizza too. She let me snag a piece of it and I absolutely loved it. Seriously. The crust tastes like it has cornmeal in it, and it baked up crispy and perfect. It wasn’t soggy in the middle. The sauce was fantastic. And it was topped with lots of cheese. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. One of the best slices of pizza I have had.
As for me…my Pizza Sandwich arrived. I double-checked it to make sure the pepperoni was left off of it. And it was. So, my sandwich consisted of pizza sauce, onions, and cheese. Now…that was the perfect sandwich, yes? Just like eating pizza without eating pizza. It looked like it was on Udi’s gluten-free bread, although it must have been bread that they bake up there at Sinfully Gluten Free. I failed to ask, although I should have. But I noticed the loaves in the refrigerator behind the counter that were for sale, which leads me to believe that they use their own bread for their sandwiches. Regardless it was toasted up well and had a nice crispness to it when I bit into it. Like I said…it was like eating a pizza without eating a pizza. I loved it. And the side of fries was a nice touch to my carb-up diet pre-race. Or, at least that’s what I tell myself. The fries were done well. Not soggy. Not burned. Perfect. Not too salty either. I appreciated that, because too much salt can leave a runner feeling dehydrated, which is the complete opposite of what you want pre-race. I hoovered my sandwich, loving every bite of it. And I knew…it was time to go pick dessert.
But then my roommate, Cathy, sprung a surprise on me. Just right of the bake case was some of their baked cookies and brownies up for sale. And I was thrilled when Cathy said I could pick some out to take home with us. I got distracted at this point and immediately started to peruse the goods. In the end, I ended up grabbing one of their Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies, their Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Peanut Butter Cup Cookies, their Gluten-Free Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies, and their Gluten-Free Mint Chip Cookies. The Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies were the splurge. They were the most expensive, but Cathy said she could tell I really, really wanted them. So…we spent a lot more than intended…but well…more gluten-free goodies for me to try and review, yes?
However, we were on a dessert mission as well. And that meant it was time for a Lemon Bar ($3.50). Sadly, by the time I had snagged like, one of everything, from the goodies, the last couple of lemon bars had been snagged already. I made a very sad face, but the lady behind the counter said they had more in the back. I had never been so happy in my life. She brought them out and put one in a dish for us to take to the table. She told me I might want to give it a chance to warm up, as it was in the freezer. No problem. I went back to the table with every intention of taking a picture of it for the blog…then totally didn’t. And before I realized that, I had already sliced it into three pieces and we had each eaten it. So, without a visual, let me tell you this…
The Lemon Bar at Sinfully Gluten Free is much different from the one I had at Cherbourg Bakery in Columbus, Ohio. This one had a shortbread crust, and on top of it was more of a cheesecake-like lemon topping. It was good. Trust me, it was good. In fact, Jenn said she preferred this one over the one at Cherbourg. The buttery shortbread is a nice touch to the rich, thick lemon topping. And it all balances out quite well. I loved it down to the last bite…which is about where I realized I hadn’t actually taken my picture. Too late. Trust me…this is one of their most popular desserts for a reason. It is fantastic.
That rounded off the evening at Sinfully Gluten Free…but my trial of their products didn’t end there as I left with a bag full of their bakery cookies and a brownie.
Sinfully Gluten Free’s Peanut Butter Peanut Butter Cup Cookie
Even though I returned to my little town in Indiana, I was now equipped with gluten-free desserts to last over a week. This made me beyond elated. And the first one that my roommate and I tried was the Peanut Butter Peanut Butter Cup Cookie ($4.50). Now, I had seen these before on Pinterest (not gluten-free), so I was quite excited about this. I love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups as it is. And one of those is the very heart of this cookie. Honestly. These come in a box of 6 cookies, as they are all bite-size. The peanut butter cookie envelops a mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. The result…a soft outer shell that surrounds the perfect bite of chocolate and peanut butter. This was one of the best cookies I have ever eaten, combining two of my favorite things…peanut butter and chocolate. And…peanut butter cups are involved. I was in love.
I was on a chocolate and peanut butter kick, so the next sweet that grabbed my attention and got my mouth
watering was the Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies ($7.99). First of all, let me reiterate that two of my favorite things in life are chocolate and peanut butter. Put them together and I am one very content cookie monster. These cookies intrigued me and I hesitated for the longest time snagging them to take home with me? Why? They come at a heftier price tag than the rest of the cookies that were out to purchase. But Cathy insisted that if I wanted to try them, I go ahead and get them. And who am I to argue with that kind of logic when it comes to cookies. I’m glad she encouraged me. Because these cookies are sinfully amazing. They start as Sinfully Gluten Free’s basic peanut butter cookie, which is a chewy, soft, light cookie. Oh yeah…forget those hard-as-a-brick peanut butter cookies you are used to buying and/or making. These are super-soft and super rich in flavor. Then, dip half of the cookie in a rich chocolate and you take it to the next level. I love the salty/sweetness to these cookies and really enjoy biting into a soft peanut butter cookie for a change. These…wowed me.
Sinfully Gluten Free’s Chocolate Brownie
The next contender from my gluten-free sweets shopping spree was the Chocolate Brownie ($1.75). Now, I’ve made many a gluten-free brownie at home, but this one was magic. Let me explain. You see, this little brownie loaf, which is about 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches is not heavy at all. Forget that crazy gluten-free aftertaste a lot of brownies have. Not these. These have a rich, fudgy feel to them. That was the best part. Despite having sit on my counter for a couple of days, this brownie was still very soft with every bite. I found it to be one of the best gluten-free brownies I have had to date. I savored each bite of this, as did my roommate. We split it in half and were both just over-the-moon in love with the texture, flavor, and how soft it was. This was a total win in my book. Honestly…a good brownie is one thing, but this sinfully gluten-free one was out of this world. I would buy more of these in a heartbeat.
The last purchase that I sampled was the Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies ($4.50). These come packaged in a bag of six cookies that look a lot like
Sinfully Gluten Free’s Mint Chocolate Chip Cookie
chocolate chip cookies until closer inspection. What I noticed were the bits of creme de menth chocolate in there (like chopped Andes candies). The first bite yielded a buttery, soft, rich flavor that paired beautifully with the mint chips that were incorporated. I love mint and these were minty without overpowering the rest of the cookie. You get a taste of the original cookie batter and then you get that kick of mint. I love that the two flavors compliment each other without one outweighing the other on the flavor. I absolutely adore how soft the cookie is. I’m not a fan of hard cookies at all, and this one will just melt in your mouth. Super delicious. And with the addition of mint…super refreshing for the palate as well. Mint chocolate chip cookies never tasted so good.
You know…it’s not every day that I can flat out say that everything that I tried from someplace blew me away. But with Sinfully Gluten Free, that seems to be the case. They have a magic recipe for making light, delicious, fantastic, rich, soft gluten-free baked goods that just blow away the competition. The lemon bar was extremely interesting as I had had one from a different gluten-free bakery earlier that morning. They were nothing like each other…but the rich, cheesecake-like variety at Sinfully Gluten Free was a nice contrast to the other one I had sampled before heading to Dayton. If anything, I hope that this blog sends more people over to this amazing establishment. Try it out for lunch or dinner. And be sure you get dessert and take some of their baked goods home. There were plenty more delicious looking items in the bakery case which were enticing me to try. So…when I go back next time…and there will be a next time, I intend to try something else…and probably snag more lemon bars.
Sinfully Gluten Free proves once again to all the naysayers out there that gluten-free doesn’t have to taste different or be hard, heavy, dense, or dry. Everything I had there popped with flavor and tasted fresh. I will forever rave about this little establishment. So, if you are heading through Dayton, Ohio…take the short trip to Centerville and try out Sinfully Gluten Free. You won’t be disappointed. None of us were. I’m already contemplating my return this coming weekend.
The Celiathlete 