Restaurant: Crown Candy Kitchen, St. Louis, Missouri
We are all entitled to our little indulgences in life. No one wants to go through life denying themselves all of life’s little goodies because of the chance they might *gasp* gain a pound. That’s why God invented exercise. If you deny yourself the little sweet things in life…then you might miss one gem of a treat. Thankfully, I never turn down a good treat. And despite being lactose intolerant, I usually treat myself to ice cream. Go figure. As long as it is gluten-free…then we are in business.
Well, it was a little while ago that I was watching Man v. Food (I know…that’s some nutritious dining going on there!) on The Travel Channel. One of the restaurants featured in the St. Louis area was Crown Candy Kitchen, which offers up the Crown Candy Challenge…in 30 minutes, polish off five 24 ounce malts. Even this challenge couldn’t be won by Adam Richman, who managed to down four of the malts.
That being said, this place is located in the older part of the city. And they are known for their homemade ice cream, candy selection, but mostly their malts/milkshakes. I, however, was not there for a milkshake or malt or even candy.
Nope. I was getting ready to head into a concert that night. I was after their Banana Split ($6.00)…to split with my roommate of course. So, after waiting for about 10 minutes (you know a place rocks when 30 minutes before closing time there is a line out the door!), my roommate and I snagged a little booth and waited to place our order. We came prepared, so we were ready when our waitress arrived. Now, with the Banana Split, we got to choose our ice cream flavors. We decided on chocolate and strawberry, with the strawberry and pineapple over it, whipped cream, crushed toasted cashews, and of course…a cherry.
It didn’t take too long for the enormous sundae to be placed between us with two spoons attached. And we dug right in. I started with the strawberry ice cream, and Cathy dug into the chocolate side. Then we switched. Let me tell you…that chocolate ice cream had something amazing in it. It just tasted like no other chocolate ice cream I had before. As for the strawberry…that was my favorite part. Forget the whipped cream (I’ve never been a big fan of that stuff anyway) and the toppings. I’d gladly lap up an entire bowl of that strawberry ice cream. And yes…chunks of strawberry resided in the pink scoop that dominated a split open banana on a dish.
We hoovered that sundae, I think. It was just so good. And our flavors paired brilliantly with the banana. We left there quite full, but quite happy. And now we had our sugar rush for the upcoming show. What more could we want in life?
If you love visiting historical sights around town that also offer up amazing foods and goodies, if you happen to be in St. Louis, take the trip over to Crown Candy Kitchen. Forget whatever diet you’re on for a couple hours and just savor each bite of one of their signature sundaes. You’ll be hooked.
It’s a good thing I don’t live in town or I might be over there more than I’d care to admit.
Few things in this world make me as happy as settling into a booth or table at a pub and just letting my cares and worries go. Of course, this is sometimes easier said than done when plagued with food allergies, especially to gluten. And one of the least likely places to find a menu that is easy to navigate when you are gluten-free (and also a vegetarian, in my case) is a pub.
But, thanks to knowledgeable staff, despite no gluten-free men, special care was certainly taken with me. And for that, this pub won over my heart.
This pub, by the way, is The Dubliner, located in St. Louis, Missouri.
When my roommate and I were seated with menus, our waiter went ahead and took our drink order. But, before he hurried off, we threw a few questions at him. Do the fries share a frier with anything blended. He said that they had only one frier. Fries were now out. I asked what the soup of the day was. He said potato. I asked if it was gluten-free and he vowed to go and check. When he returned, he said it wasn’t safe for me to eat either. So…I was back to a salad. That’s fine…but wow me with a salad!! There is the challenge.
When we were talking to our server while trying to figure out something I could eat, he said he understood how difficult it must be for me to eat out. One of his friends has Celiac disease and she hardly can eat out. Her condition is so bad that if she has anything with even a spec of gluten in it…things get really bad.
So, with an understanding as to my condition and what I needed done with my food…we placed our orders.
Naturally, my roommate went for the fish and chips ($12.00). As for me…I went right to the salads, figuring they would be the safest and only vegetarian option on the menu at this point. My decision was to get the Chopped Salad ($10.00), which consists of lettuce, tomato, red onion, celery, scallions, red peppers, carrots, shredded Kasseri (that’s a cheese, btw!), and kidney beans. Of course I asked that mine not come with the croutons that are listed on the menu. And I ordered that the balsamic vinaigrette.
Food actually came out quite fast, but we weren’t exactly there at a busy time. It was around 2 p.m. So, the lunch crowd had already pushed through on that Sunday morning and we were just simply following it up. My roommate dug into her fish and chips, and absolutely raved about the fries and the taste of the fish.
Now, I was ready to dig into my salad. This was just a normal salad you would probably throw together at home. Nothing too special about it. Basic vegetable ingredients and a light dressing to coat it. But it was very heavy on the celery and definitely not as heavy on the kidney beans as I would have liked. When you order a salad, you want it to be big enough and full of something with some protein that will fill you up. While this salad was initially quite filling, after awhile, my body burned through it and I was ready to eat again. This is usually the story of my life when it comes to eating out at pubs with no gluten-free/vegetarian options.
But, I will hand it to this pub…when the server brought out our meals, he even held his arms apart, not wanting any food to come in contact with anything because of my sensitivity to gluten. I liked that. It really made me feel more secure about our choice to eat there. Considering this wasn’t our first choice of a pub that day (our originally one actually has a gluten-free menu, but it was only serving brunch and I wasn’t feeling another egg that day and my roommate really wanted her fish and chips!), it really made me feel good that, despite not having a dedicated gluten-free menu, they took enough care with my food to keep it uncontaminated. I’ll take that any day.
So, while the salad was nothing to really rave about, the care and consideration I got from the kitchen and staff was leaps and bounds above what I ever expected.
Gluten-free or not, I think should you find yourself in St. Louis, you should venture out to The Dubliner and enjoy some delicious pub fare at a place that really does care.
Northwest Coffee Roasting Company, St. Louis, Missouri
Restaurant: Northwest Coffee Roasting Company, St. Louis, Missouri
Late to bed. Early to rise.
That’s my usual mojo, right?
Kind of. The late to bed thing doesn’t really work well for me anymore. In fact, if I go to bed late, I still end up waking up early. So, now my sleep pattern is off and I’m probably a little more cranky than usual.
Know what makes that better?
Caffeine. Usually in latte form.
This was what was needed when my roommate and I set out to St. Louis on Sunday morning after having breakfast with her aunt. Along the way, I noted that coffee might not be a bad idea, so I whipped out my iPhone and punched in where I might find some delicious coffee that Sunday morning.
I was directed to Northwest Coffee Roasting Company. We stopped at one in Clatyon, MO on our way to a few destination stops in St. Louis before hitting up a pub for lunch. We found it…a nice, quint little shop. We parked on the street and dashed inside. I knew my roommate was going for her usual…white chocolate mocha (or here, a Mocha Bianca) ($2.80). I was a little bit more difficult when it came on settling on a drink.
No almond milk here (bummer), which is too bad. I wish more cafes would offer almond milk because soy milk sometimes doesn’t agree with me. But…with the whole lactose intolerance thing, I went with soy as opposed to cow’s milk in the end. What I ended up ordering was an Almond Caffe Latte with soy milk ($3.40).
With our drink order in, we awaited the completion of the drinks. And soon…our order was up. Then we had to wait around a moment to pay. Our barista took our order, but didn’t ring us up. We probably could have walked out of there without paying, but we are honest people and got someone to ring up our order.
After having that amazing latte in Denver, Colorado, and having my delicious latte drinks at my go-to place in the area, I found my first sip to be really, really strong. I mean…bowl-you-over strong on the espresso. My roommate said her drink was much the same way. In fact, she couldn’t even taste the white chocolate. Which…is a cardinal sin for her as she hates the flavor of esspresso/coffee on its own. However, we both discovered that the more we drank, the more flavor we found. To me, that means the barista might have not mixed the flavor shots together as well as it should have been.
I did enjoy my strong latte, though. The almond flavor was one I hadn’t tried yet, and I found it to be a nice mix with the espresso. My drink was steamed to perfection, reaching the perfect drinking temperature. My roommate says hers was too hot to drink right away, but while she won’t drink iced coffee, I think she lets her coffee cool to room temperature before she finds it just right. I can’t base anything off of her coffee temperature gauge.
I found the people at Northwest Coffee Roasting Company to be very friendly. And our drinks were done as we ordered them, with any additions and substitutions per our usual mojo. I just wasn’t blown away by the drink itself. But, it did it’s job…woke me up…and got me ready to take on St. Louis.
So…win on atmosphere…and a so-so on the drink.
I love my caffeinated beverages as much as the next one, but I want a perfect pour. And this…just didn’t cut it for me.
Northwest Coffee Roasting Company’s Almond Caffe Latte with soy milk
So…does everyone remember my favorite meal of the day?
I’ll give you a hint:
It’s usually the first meal you eat.
Yeah. Breakfast. Oh, how I love breakfast. How I crave breakfast. I can eat breakfast for every meal of the day and be a happy, happy girl. It is the most diverse, most delicious, most creative meal that can be baked, cooked, toasted, sauteed, fried, poached, or done however you like it with a variety of different ingredients. And the combinations…are endless.
I always like to treat myself to one good breakfast/brunch out when I’m on vacation. Last year, my roommate and I hit up a restaurant that specialized in crepes (which we revisited this year and I think I had the most perfect gluten-free crepe of my life!) while in Denver. This year, after a little hunting around, I chose a different place to try. And, we happened to visit it on the day we were flying out. One filling breakfast would be really good before boarding a flight from Denver back to Louisville, yes?
That’s what I thought.
So…we took a short little drive to the Cherry Creek area of Denver and hit up this little breakfast/brunch/lunch joint called Syrup.
What really got my attention when I was researching restaurants in the area was that there was a gluten-free menu. Actually, I’ve come to find out that Colorado is like…some gluten-free haven, so pretty much anywhere you go, there is something gluten-free on the menu…or a separate gluten-free menu if you have to avoid gluten. It’s awesome. Is it any wonder I want to move out there?
This is a little unassuming little place located on the bottom floor of a building. This meant walking down some stairs to enter the restaurant. My roommate and I were shown to a table immediately. The waitress was alerted of my gluten sensitivity and she immediately pointed out that they could make waffles, pancakes, and English muffins gluten-free for me, so, whatever I desired…I could have.
Awesome!
After much consideration and back and forth, I finally settled on a waffle. A nice Belgian waffle sounded awesome. So, order in, I went with the Strawberry Fields Gluten-Free Waffle. This is a delicious Belgian waffle that is covered with freshly cut strawberries that have been sauteed in Syrup’s own handcrafted Strawberry Syrup. Yeah…as we all know…if it has strawberries…it wins.
My roommate opted for a traditional Belgian waffle with traditional butter (because, yes…you do get an option on a flavor of butter) and originally went with the Buttermilk Syrup. She was told that it was a cold syrup, so she changed it to the handcrafted Apple Cinnamon Syrup. And we decided to split an order of the hash browns.
Syrup’s hash browns (half order)
With our orders in, we settled in to discuss our trip, some of our favorite things, and drink in the atmosphere. We saw some dishes come out to other diners…fluffy, huge pancakes, and even some lunch-type items as well…sandwiches and the like. It all looked really good.
Before we knew it…our plates were set before us. Let me tell you…not only did my gluten-free waffle look amazing, but it smelled amazing too. The strawberry syrup just sort of brought out everything good and awesome (which is…everything) about strawberries. Especially on waffles. YUMMY!! I love fresh fruit on breakfast goodies like pancakes, french toast, and waffles. This…was heaven for me.
My roommate’s waffle was done to the perfect crispy, soft texture you want in a Belgian waffle. She loved her whipped butter. But, more importantly, she fell in love with the apple cinnamon syrup (which was green, btw!). I tasted it…yeah…it was awesome.
As for my amazing Strawberry Fields Gluten-Free Waffle…all I can say is that I was in a happy, happy place at first bite. I just wanted to savor it. The fresh strawberries were an amazing touch. They were only enhanced by the handcrafted strawberry syrup, which…was a sweet, delightful topping on my waffle. It was swimming in a sea of strawberry flavor and I just wanted to soak all of it up. And I tried to with every bite of my waffle.
The hash browns were lightly cooked. I topped mine with a bit of hot sauce and enjoyed their soft texture with just an outlying crunch on the edges. Very nice and a great compliment with the sweetness of the waffle. I was stuffed by the time I was done eating, but not to the point of feeling too full. It was just the right amount of food. And it was prepared with such care, skill, and done to perfection. Nothing overdone or underdone. The waffle had the right texture, the right crisp, the right amount of sweetness. Yeah…I was in gluten-free waffle heaven.
Whether you wake up for breakfast or just love having a nice breakfast treat, I highly recommend Syrup. Not only does their menu offer pancakes, waffles, and french toast done in a variety of ways, but sandwiches, burgers, eggs, omelets, fruit, oatmeal, salads, etc. are also offered. There is a little something for everyone.
But if you are wise, when you eat at a place called Syrup…order something with one of their specialty handcrafted syrups. I promise, it’s totally worth it. I’m already planning to return next year. I was that impressed.
Denver is lucky. It has a wide variety of fantastic places to eat. But this one…takes the pancake…gluten-free…with a nice topping of…handcrafted maple vanilla syrup.
Restaurant: Espressolé Caffe, Greenwood Village, Colorado
Nothing makes me happier when I am out and about than a latte, cappuccino, or a mocha from somewhere local. Granted, Caribou Coffee (YUM YUM) and Starbucks will do in a pinch, but there is something so amazing and special about independent, local coffee houses.
So…I tend to seek them out.
(For the record, I sought out Caribou Coffee at the Denver airport upon flying in and before flying out, LOL!)
Just up from the Denver Marriott DTC there is this little shopping center. And in this shopping center is this really amazing cafe called Espressolé Caffe. Attached to this little coffee shop is a cooking school. If I lived in the area, do you realize where I would be, like, all the time??!! Well, I wasn’t there to attend the cooking school that Sunday morning…I was there for some caffeine.
It turns out that Espressolé has been voted the best coffee in Denver. Seriously. And considering how many coffee houses exist, that’s no easy task. That being said, my roommate and I ducked inside that morning to sit in some chairs, relax, and have a morning coffee boost. She ordered a white chocolate mocha with a hit of hazelnut (one of her favorite things to order). I got the Maple Latte with almond milk. (YES!! Almond milk is in every little local cafe in Colorado it seems, making me one happy coffee drinker.)
It took a moment for the drink orders to be made, and I never mind waiting around in coffee shops. We were taking these to drink there, so they would be in mugs and everything. Awesome. Cathy’s White Chocolate Hazelnut Mocha was up first and I went to retrieve it. It smelled awesome and she was quite happy to sip from the foamy top for a moment and savor the taste. She said that it wasn’t bitter at all (perfect espresso pour!) and that it was just rich and creamy and yummy. Yes. Yummy.
My Maple Latte with almond milk was up next. The latte art was very pretty. I love latte art. And the foamy top was done to a frothy perfection. Foam is one of my favorite things on an espresso or cappuccino so I love it when it’s done to perfection. I was hooked on this drink. I wish more places offered a maple latte because this was beyond delicious. It was sweet, without being too sweet, with that little maple flavor that reminds you of fresh syrup on pancakes. The espresso was a perfect pour, very smooth. And it all came together in a caffeinated beverage that I wanted to savor for as long as I possibly could. I did so too, until it started to cool down and I knew that I needed to polish it off before it got cold.
YUMMY!! No…for real. I can see why Espressolé Caffe has been voted the best coffee in Denver. It’s honestly the best coffee I have had…anywhere!! In addition, their pastry case even offered quite a few gluten-free breads/pastries/goodies. WOOHOO! I was gearing up for gluten-free crepes later that day, so no gluten-free goodies this time, but I intend to be back next year and perhaps I’ll indulge then…with another amazing maple latte.
Oh, if I lived in Denver I would be in SO much trouble. Believe me when I say I’m hitting up Espressolé Caffe every morning next time I’m in Denver. It’s just a short walk from my hotel and a whole lot of caffeinated goodness…so close to my home base.
Restaurant: Folsom Street Coffee, Boulder, Colorado
If I were to choose another place in this country to take up residence…it would be Boulder, Colorado. Hands down.
Not only is it a hip, happening place, but it is so healthy and full of energy and life. It’s a little piece of Bohemia up in the mountains. And I love every moment I am there.
This year when I ventured over to Boulder, Colorado, I was meeting up with someone. And as she knows the area, she chose to meet up for coffee at Folsom Street Coffee. Now, we all know that I am a coffee addict. So, a little non-chain, independent coffee place is always high on my map. She chose well.
My roommate and I arrived early and settled in to wait. But, soon we were eagerly contemplating what type of drink to get. And before you knew it, we were placing our order at the counter.
Cathy went with a simple mocha, which, mind you, is prepared with chocolate milk. WHAT a concept. Honestly. And the chocolate…Ghirardelli. YES!
I was feeling a latte that day, and went with a strawberry latte made with almond milk. Oh yeah…almond milk abounds at these little coffee shops in Colorado, and I am so thankful for that. Unfortunately, they were out of strawberry syrup, so I changed my order to a blackberry latte made with almond milk. No harm, no foul. Still berry-licious in a latte type way.
We could see our drinks being prepared as we sat there and just sort of drank in the atmosphere. When our order was up, I went to retrieve it, admiring the beautiful latte art in the process as well.
And at first sip, the mix of the berry flavor with the awesome espresso shot was a perfect combination for me that morning. I loved the way the espresso played with the sweet undertones of the blackberry syrup. And the almond milk frothed up beautifully and gave me the perfect foam that I love on a latte. So delicious.
Interesting to note that Folsom Street Coffee is Boulder’s only zero waste coffeehouse. In addition, it is family owned and operated as well. I love independent shops. And let me tell you, this place was packed. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, and people were still coming in as the time we spent in there talking ticked away. Yeah…it was a perfect coffee experience in the perfect city in my view. If you find yourself near Boulder, Colorado, I encourage you to stop in at Folsom Street Coffee. Treat yourself to something delicious and caffeinated from this awesome little coffee shop.
Folsom Street Coffee’s Blackberry Latte with Almond Milk
Restaurant: McCabe’s Bistro and Pub, Aurora, Colorado
It was that time of year. Time for the annual trek to Colorado.
Why head out to Colorado? Well, there is this fantastic little convention that I have attended for the past four years. I’ve sort of fallen in love with my journey’s out there. Everything is so beautiful. And, it helps that I know a local out there who can direct me to some fantastic food.
Now, my good friend Sharon knows that my roommate and I are big on pub grub (I know…like you couldn’t tell!). So, she called me up a couple days before we headed out and mentioned grabbing some lunch on our first day out there at this little local pub, that makes some of the best Irish food in the Denver area, before going up into the foothills and mountains and having a fun afternoon. Now…how can we say no to that sort of a lead-in? Besides…it’s a pub we had yet to try…and this had to be remedied.
Upon our arrival in Denver, we got our rental car and headed to Sharon’s home. We got things together and she drove us out to the Southlands Shopping Mall. And there, tucked away in this little outdoor shopping center, was McCabe’s Bistro and Pub. It doesn’t look very Irish upon first glance. After all, it is situated in a shopping center. But all of that changes the moment you walk through the door.
That Irish hospitality is evident from the moment you set foot in the door. We were seated in a rustic little booth near the back and given some time to peruse the menu. Although, coming into this, we pretty much had an idea of what we wanted to dine on. Sharon went for the McCabe’s Sirloin Shepherd’s Pie. Cathy, naturally, went for her usual order of fish and chips. And this left me. Being a vegetarian with a gluten sensitivity doesn’t always make pub grub the easiest to navigate. We told the server of my food allergies and she assisted as much as she could. When asked about the fries, though, she indicated they were fried with the breaded fish…so those were out.
What I ended up getting was this fantastic little salad. It is the Pear & Gorgonzola Salad, which is a mix of baby greens with the addition of sliced pears, toasted walnuts, red onion, and a sprinkling of gorgonzola cheese with a balsamic vinaigrette. I was very careful when placing my order, wanting to make sure that I wouldn’t have any problems with what I was eating that might make me ill. I wanted to enjoy this vacation and not worry about getting glutenized, which was what happened at the last pub I ate at in Denver. With the assurance of the server…we talked while we awaited our order.
Soon, it was brought out to the table. While my friends both were served lunch portions, my salad was H-U-G-E. I was okay with that. Because when you are making a meal out of salad, it is best to have it big and filling. And, let me tell you, the combination of flavors really worked on this one. The mild greens paired very well with the sweetness of the pairs, and the bite of the onions gave it a bit of volume. But the star of this salad was the fantastic toasted walnuts. Honestly, when mixed with the drizzle of the balsamic dressing, this was the absolute star of the salad. I found myself saving the walnuts for last because I loved the way they tasted. So delicious.
We all dug in and took our time savoring our food. Perfect size. I was ready now to go out and explore a bit of the mountains and enjoy an afternoon with friends. That’s what this trip was all about. And with McCabe’s so close, I know I’ll be going back and enjoying another meal there next time I’m in town. Just an amazing little pub in an unexpected little place. And when you can enjoy great Irish pub grub with good friends…life is already awesome. The food here…was very good and they made me feel at ease about what I was eating.
Leave it to a neighborhood restaurant-bar to take better care of me and my dietary needs then some of the high-class, upper echelon of restaurants I have dined in. This is no joke. I was treated like an absolute VIP at the Stacked Pickle in Carmel, Indiana, when I was in town over the weekend.
I actually had never heard of the Stacked Pickle prior to a couple weeks before going. A friend of my roommate and I posted a picture of her fish and chips meal on Facebook. Well, if you’ve been following this blog you know how my roommate is about her fish and chips. Immediately…we had a new place to eat next time we were in town. And it just so happened that not only was I running in a race up in the area, but I was attending the Celiac Awareness Tour as well. It looked like we finally had our time.
I took a look at the menu online, as I normally do, given that I am a vegetarian with a gluten allergy. Normally, my usual order at such a place would be a salad with the fries. But, french fries can be tricky depending on how they are cooked. If they share a frier with breaded foods, well…game over.
On the Web site’s page, however, there was a place to click in order to contact the restaurant. I went ahead and took it upon myself to contact the restaurant in regards to my special dietary needs and went ahead and inquired about how the fries were cooked, something I have been learning to do after becoming ill after eating somewhere and not asking. The owner, Chris Long, contacted me back not long after I sent the original message about coming in on Saturday and my special dietary needs. He immediately assured me that dishes could be made vegetarian, “from vegan to lacto, ovo, & pesco…” As for the fries, they are “beer battered,” he told me, so best if I stayed clear of them. In addition, he included the name and e-mail address of the chef, and told me to please get in contact with him.
Already I was feeling at ease about going here. I went ahead and sent an e-mail to Bill Gruesser, the chef at the Stacked Pickle. Once again, I had a quick response that not only put me at ease, just made me feel really comfortable about dining in an establishment where gluten-free is not their way of doing things. This doesn’t happen often. Chef Bill assured me that salads could be made without any of the proteins and that the balsamic dressing (my favorite anyway) was gluten-free. As for other meals, the black bean burger was a good vegetarian option, as well as gluten-free if ordered without the buns and with a side other than fries. He told me to ask for him when I arrived.
Saturday came and I went and ran my race, attended the Celiac Awareness Tour, and headed out for some food. The people at the Stacked Pickle are incredible. I felt right at home upon being greeted, told to take a seat anywhere, handed a menu and told my server would be over in a moment. My server was the delightful Hannah, who was working with her foot in a boot due to some sort of injury. But she was getting around great. She came to get our drink orders and, as I was instructed, I asked for Chef Bill and she said she would definitely go and get him.
Our drinks were brought over and soon Chef Bill came out to greet me. He gave me a nice handshake and pulled up a chair to go over my food options that day. I had settled on the Fu-Fu Salad (minus he chicken) and would choose a ‘safe’ side to come with it. He said that was easy enough and then said, since he knew I was coming, he had sent someone over to Meijer earlier that day to look for gluten-free pasta so he could offer me a pasta dish instead, but they couldn’t find any there. What an amazing thing for a chef to do! This was a first. He laughed and said it was sort of like dangling a carrot in front of me and then jerking it away, but I assured him the extra effort, despite not being able to fulfill it, was definitely appreciated. I have never been to a restaurant where the chef has come out to talk to me personally about my options, nor attempted to do something completely off the menu for me in order to give me another option. There was not only something special about the Stacked Pickle, but its owner and chef as well. I thanked Chef Bill and he returned to the kitchen and Hannah came over to take our orders.
Hannah came over soon after and said that Chef Bill let her know I was interested in the Fu-Fu Salad (sans chicken) ($7.79). Again, I loved that he went ahead and also let my server know and that she was very diligent about double-checking the order with me. One more glance at the description and I was sure that everything else on the salad was safe and fell into my dietary guidelines. I went ahead and ordered it with a side of the Mandarin Oranges ($0.99). My roommate, of course, knew what she was going to get. Fish and Chips ($9.99) was her choice. With the orders taken, Hannah went to give them to the kitchen.
Our food arrived a short time later and it looked fantastic.
The Fu-Fu salad consists of fresh romaine lettuce, red onions, honey-glazed walnuts, and strawberries. Remember…with me…if it has strawberries, it wins. It came dressed in the balsamic dressing, which definitely paired deliciously with every component of that salad. All of the ingredients were fresh, the strawberries sweet, the lettuce crisp, and those walnuts added that little bit of crunch and flavor that pushed the salad out of ‘eating the garden’ and into something special. I knew that it was carefully prepared for me because I had ultimate faith in Chef Bill.
As for my roommate, she raved about the fish and chips, saying that they not only paired as adult fish sticks, but were crispy, moist, and amazing. And the fries…while full toward the end of her meal, she refused to let even one go to waste. Her dish was polished off as quickly as mine.
While we were eating, Chef Bill returned to make sure everything was okay and I assured him everything was delicious. He gave me his business card, and a little extra information, like that he’s a private chef, a caterer, and would be happy to help me out again as needed. I really, really appreciated all the care and extra time he took with me and assured him he would be hearing from me again.
From first glance, the Stacked Pickle doesn’t seem like much. I never would have even thought about dining there had my roommate not caught sight of those fish and chips on a friend’s blog. That being said, this is not your typical sports bar and restaurant. It’s owned by someone who genuinely wants to make his clientele feel comfortable eating there, and who has a lot of knowledge about not just vegetarianism, but also food allergies.
But a lot of the magic of the experience falls to Hannah and Chef Bill, who really made me feel comfortable with my food and my service and saw to it that I didn’t need to question anything. This was the first time a chef actually came out to discuss menu options with me, as well as even attempt to go the extra mile by sending someone out in search of other foods I could have that he could offer me upon my arrival. There is just something special about a chef and an establishment that would really take it upon themselves to take that extra step and to take such care with someone with special dietary needs.
Not once did I feel like I was being a burden to the kitchen. On the contrary, I felt that the kitchen was giving me the VIP treatment and doing everything it could to ensure that my visit to the Stacked Pickle was fantastic.
And it was. The food was really, really fresh and delicious. The service was beyond what I have received anywhere, including the high-class restaurants I have eaten within the past year. This was, without a doubt, the most at ease I have felt dining out since having to go gluten-free. I was beyond impressed.
If you happen to be traveling through Carmel or Fishers, Indiana, find the Stacked Pickle and go in for the food and the service. Both are great. I know I’ll definitely return sometime in the very near future.
Who would have thought it would be a small sports restaurant-bar, known for wings, burgers, and beer, that would make me feel so safe and confident about what I was consuming? This is no ordinary establishment. And this was proven to me before I even set foot inside. Impressed doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings. Great food, great service, great attention to detail. Oh…and a great chef who comes out and goes over menu options with someone regulated to a special diet. Yeah…this place is special.
Stacked Pickle's Fu-Fu Salad (no chicken) with a side of Mandarin Oranges
But, some things bear repeating. Back when I last reviewed them, I had not yet had to go gluten-free. And that’s why they are getting a second review.
Coming back from a trip to Birmingham, Alabama, hunger usually strikes around the Nashville, Tennessee area. No problem. Nashville is a plethora of restaurants and dining destinations. But when you know there is good food to be had at a good price…well…why go anywhere else?
Since we had (not-so-good) pub grub the previous night, Mexican food was sounding more our speed, rather than hitting up our go-to pub in the area. Since we knew we got great service last trip to Taco Mamacita…we returned with a vengeance. We were greeted by a very friendly waitress who happily grabbed the vegan menu for me upon request.
Our waitress, Rebecca, came over to make sure we understood the menu and to take our drink orders. I told her that I was a gluten-intolerant vegetarian, so if anything I order raises a red flag, to let me know. She said they had menus for both and would be happy to help me through it. Off she went to retrieve our drinks and when we returned, we put in an appetizer for the Chips and Salsa ($2.99).
Soft corn tortillas for my chips and salsa order
And this is how I knew it was going to be okay to eat here, especially after the horror of the pub the night before. When the order came out, half of the chips were fried up into tortilla chips. The other half, were soft corn tortillas, untouched by the frier. Safety, for those of you with gluten allergies know that cross-contamination can be tricky when it comes to shared friers. Here, they took that question right out of the equation and my chips and salsa were just as amazing with unfried tortilla chips. And, as we settled in to eat, I spotted the Taco Mamacita Chipoltle Sauce. One quick inquiry with Rebecca about whether it was gluten-free or not, which she didn’t know but went to check and returned a moment later with the answer – yes, and I was in safe dining heaven.
As for the food…well…with such a diverse menu sometimes it is hard to choose. But, my roommate went with their two taco plus a side combo – the Shrimp Po Boy BLT Taco and the Caribbean Jerk Taco with a side of Green Chili Rice ($8.99). As for me, I ordered the Vegilladas (vegetarian enchiladas), which consist of corn tortillas filled with sweet corn, tomatoes, black beans, and topped off with a spicy jalapeño-cilantro sauce ($8.99). Normally crumbled feta is on top of it, but as I was ordering from the vegan menu, it was kindly left off, which I appreciated. I chose the Jalapeño Corn Slaw as my side.
After a small wait, Rebecca brought out the food, which looked absolutely amazing. By now, we had polished off the chips and salsa and were ready for our substantial meal of the day. And…just as before, the food didn’t disappoint.
I love the Vegilladas. Not only are they packed full of protein and vegetable nutrients, but they were so full of flavor. Nothing bland about this nice mix of corn and black beans. The jalapeño-cilantro sauce was the perfect touch for the dish. Mixing it with the provided pico de gallo only added to the food experience. And, while not big on any sort of slaw, what I found was pairing this mildly spicy dish with the jalapeño corn slaw provided a nice, clean palate cleanser between bites. And this slaw wasn’t overly dressed either. It was perfect, so the different components were still there in each bite, and not being masked by way too much dressing. I liked that. A lot.
We finished our plates, happily stuffed and politely turned down desserts. Rebecca was such a rockstar when it came to helping me out with my menu choices and ensuring a very safe dining experience. I loved coming to Taco Mamacita before but now I have even more of a reason to do so.
Best of all, I wasn’t charged extra for having a special dietary need. So often, when you go gluten-free the price goes up. Not here. Everything (even my half of the chips and salsa) was kept at menu price. I wish more places would do that instead of punishing gluten-intolerant people with at least $1.00 extra for their “special” food.
This was a refreshing and much needed restaurant trip. I felt completely at ease and Rebecca and the kitchen staff saw to it that I had a safe, pleasant, and delicious dining experience.
Food and service like that will make you stand up and say, “Whoa Mama!” And that…is their motto, which makes it only fitting. So, if you happen to be traveling through Nashville, swing by Edgehill Village and dine at Taco Mamacita. It’s worth the stop for great food, great service, and a great price. And when you go back…and you will…try something else. So many interesting flavor combinations…so little time.
Taco Mamacita's Gluten-Free Vegilladas with Jalapeño Corn Slaw
I really, really, really wanted to like this place. I did. An Irish pub is not a common establishment in Birmingham, Alabama. Honestly. I had been seeking out something aside from the horror show that is The Tilted Kilt for awhile now. And, finally, at long last, The Red Shamrock opens up in Mt. Laurel and my dreams of going to a pub while in Alabama came true.
The actual pub itself is quite small. A single room with a bar taking up an entire side of the room. We (being my mom, dad, grandpa, roommate, and myself) took up residence at the only table available that could seat all of us. Sadly, it was right in front of the door and Saturday night was a wee bit chilly. Ah well, at least we had seats.
The server brought us menus and let us look them over while he grabbed our drinks. Waters. All around. It was a long day full of racing, a gluten-free expo, and a birthday party for my nephew and my niece. We were all exhausted, and ready for some good food and down time.
Our orders were simple. My dad and grandpa were splitting a fish and chips ($8.95). My roommate was, of course, getting fish and chips. My mom and I were each getting a Shamrock Salad ($5.99). I got mine with a side of their waffle fries. When I placed my order, the server asked if I wanted to add chicken. I shook my head and informed him that I was a vegetarian.
After a short wait, food arrived. As my salad was put down in front of me, I noticed that it was sprinkled with bacon. BACON! I had just said I was a vegetarian. So, I informed the person (not the same server) of the issue and he took it away to bring me back another one.
Now…here is where I have an issue. First of all…nowhere on the menu did it say that bacon came on this salad. In fact, the official description via the online menu says that the Shamrock Salad consists of arugula, lettuce and cabbage mixed with red onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, grated cheese, and a side of my choice of dressing (which I opted for balsamic vinaigrette). No bacon. Not even mentioned on the description. So, already I was put out. A few moments later, my new salad arrives. This pub is quite dimly lit, it’s hard to see, but there were no bits of meat hanging out this time on my salad. It looked okay. I then had to remind him I also got a side of fries, which he then had to go retrieve…now…after my second salad had come out. That eventually made its way out as well.
The Red Shamrock's side order of waffle fries
One bite into my salad and I noticed the cheese on top is blue cheese! Now, blue cheese is normally not gluten-free. UGH. I moved it to the side and ate the untouched parts because nowhere in the salad description did it mention blue cheese either. I was now more put out than anything. Do NOT substitute something without asking if it is okay. While the salad was good, it wasn’t what I ordered. Literally.
The salad that I received at The Red Shamrock was not the Shamrock Salad via the description on their menu. Somewhere, be it the chef in the kitchen or the server pressing something wrong on the app they use to take the order, I ended up with a conglomeration of the Irish Iceberg (which has bacon, egg and blue cheese crumbles on it). You know…this is a new establishment, so I can give it a pass on some things, but it’s a salad. Look at your menu and know what is on it, please!! I was not impressed.
Oh, and after I ate my side of waffle fries, it occurred to me that this is a small establishment and that…more than likely, they use the same frier to do the potatoes as they do the breaded fish as well. Which between that and the bit of blue cheese might indicate why I had an upset tummy and digestive track for the evening and into the next day.
It’s ironic that this happen on the eve of my attendance at at Gluten-Free Expo and being a part of the Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K that was in town. Then…one miscommunication in the kitchen and my order goes horribly wrong.
Lesson learned.
And sadly…nothing really to rave about when it comes to The Red Shamrock. It sounded like a fantastic place when I read up on it. But it fell short of anything amazing. Once it figures out whether it wants to be a sports bar or an Irish pub, maybe gets its menu sorted, maybe trains it’s chef as to what goes on what order and why substitutions without asking are not wise, then…maybe I’ll return. Oh, and it would have been nice if the server (our third of the night!) returned with my dad’s change after he paid in cash, but that never happened either.
For now, I’ll stick to what I know is safe to eat in the Birmingham area when I’m in town to visit my parents. The luck of the Irish was not with me that night and sadly, this isn’t an establishment that I would recommend to anyone looking to dine on amazing Irish food. It was mediocre at best…and incapable of getting my order correct. Sad, because I really, really wanted to like it.
The Red Shamrock's Shamrock Salad/Iceberg Salad (???)
The Celiathlete 