Kudos to Another GF Restaurant

I am going to write every single combination of words that people might type into Google when searching for gluten-free Chinese food options in Massachusetts: gluten free Chinese food in MA, GF Chinese food, gluten free Chinese food menu, gluten free Chinese restaurant...

It could go on, but that would be annoying, so I'm hoping that those phrases will bring people to this post and in turn to Alice's Mandarin Taste in Sharon, Massachusetts. Sorry for the photo -- it was taken on my brother-in-law's camera phone. It doesn't really do the food justice, but it does portray the Chinese food staples that I grew up with that I miss so much: fried rice, General Tso's Chicken, spicy broccoli and chicken wings. It also turned me on to a few new dishes, like pineapple rice and chicken with honey glazed walnuts. Here, check out their gluten free menu and decide for yourself.

The folks working there were SO nice. The woman who I am assuming is Alice had a smile on her face the entire time and I thanked her for having a gluten-free menu. I recommend you do so too by taking a visit.

A Few of my Favorite Things... (2)

You know what I absolutely love? Drinking coffee brewed with just a dash of cinnamon and a splash of almond milk. It makes me feel good, it warms my body and it wakes me up. However, I am addicted to coffee: I rely on it too much to make me feel awake, I crave it first thing in the morning and I often get headaches if I don't have my daily cup of joe. And while I love my coffee, I don't like relying on it to get me through my day. Oh yeah, and I have "borderline" high blood pressure -- I blame it on the fact that my dear A-man is constantly in harms way, but I have a feeling drinking coffee isn't helping things out. So, in order to stear clear of heart-attack land (I also have a heart murmur -- yipee!) I think I should cut back a bit, and I'm starting to and it's all thanks to some wonderful, gluten-free, kosher, and thoughtful tea.

I have never described a food or brand as thoughtful before, but The Republic of Tea really fits the bill. Browsing their catalog makes me smile and feel good about purchasing tea from them: their tea bags are unbleached and have no strings, tags or staples in support of the environment, they offer tons of information on every type of tea they sell and I really dig their variety (buy it loose, in bags or as concentrate). Just recently I went on a bit of a shopping spree for Christmas gifts from them. You see, every tea of theirs is certified gluten-free and kosher. Every single one is gluten-free! And they are the first tea company with permission to include the Gluten-Free Certification Organization's certification mark on its packaging.

My goodness; I haven't even spoken about taste yet. Well, you know that cinnamon scented, almond milk splashed coffee that I adore so much? All of the teas that I have tried so far could rival (and surpass) my morning cup of joe in terms of taste (the chai concentrate is gosh-darn amazing). They even have a line of tea called Be Well Red Teas, all with roobois in them mixed with other teas and herbs. The Red Tea line has teas called: Hello Gorgeous which is good for your skin, Get Clean for detoxing and a whole bunch more for those of us wanting to work on ourselves from within.

I consider The Republic of Tea my nicorette, but way tastier and way better for you.

Tomorrow's favorite thing: not your Grandma's cookware?

Eating Local: Cal's Cupcakes

Okay, okay. So I know when people refer to eating locally, they usually mean buying produce from close-by farms and eating cheese from local goats, but, can a cupcake count? I know the gluten-free flour and sugar in the cupcake probably doesn't come from Massachusetts, but the cupcakes themselves were made just mere miles away from me! So, while not technically correct, in my mind I'm eating locally...

When shopping at my nearby health food store the other night I was browsing the refrigerated section and noticed a box of four chocolate cupcakes calling my name. Usually I ignore this siren's song because most often they are cupcakes made from gluten, but this time I decided to look a little closer and in bold print the words: gluten and casein free were right there on the label. And remember in my last post how I stated I have a difficult time not buying new gluten-free products? Well, this was the perfect example, but surely not a mistake on my part: these things are good.

Cal's Baking Company, a Hingham, Masshusetts based company is the maker of these gems. Deep chocolate with just the right amount of frosting, they could replace any gluten-filled cupcake you've tasted. Cal's also sells a variety of mixes which I have yet to try, and you can special order sheet cakes and cupcakes (something I will surely look into for the upcoming wedding). I felt a special connection to Cal and her family; the story of her son and husband discovering their gluten intolerance is very similar to mine. Perhaps it is to yours too.

Gluten-free in Seattle

I spent the long weekend in Seattle with my dear friend Lauren. Other than spending time with a friend I've had since I was four years old and exploring a new city, I was really looking forward to all the gluten-free food I could eat in Seattle.

Before I left, I did some research. Seattle is a forward-thinking city, much like Boston, with damn good coffee and an open market where I could (and did) spend hours and hours. Among the famous fish-throwing vendors and gorgeous flower stands, there was Pappardelle's Pasta whose charming employees call at you to try their chocolate pasta. After I declined and Lauren enjoyed a piece, I was asked again to try, I stated "Thanks, but I'm one of thsoe lucky people who's gluten intolerant", ready to explain what that meant I was caught off guard when the Papparadelle guy exclaimed "well, we have gluten-free pasta!" YES! Right in front of me was a bin full of gluten-free pasta. After chatting about all the gluten-free places I should try, I bought some and we were on our way. This was at 9AM on the first morning, we were off to a good gluten-free start.
Since it was 9AM, we needed some breakfast. We had already had our obligatory Seattle coffee (and yes, there is a Starbucks everywhere you turn) and it was strong and probably upped my blood pressure, so I needed some food in my stomach. Well, Pappardelle dude told me about Cinnamon Works, which was a mere fifty feet away (BTW, both of these places are located in Pike Place Market) and they have.... wait for it..... GLUTEN-FREE STICKY BUNS! I was so excited to hear this that I assumed the people that worked there would be as excited as me. Yeah, big let down there. The two chicks that I dealt with were about as excited as a rock. And about as pleasant as well, something not very pleasant. Regardless of the service, the sticky bun rocked and I had one again on Sunday.
I'm not sure if any other gluten-free bloggers like me automatically equate Seattle with Gluten Free Girl. I've been a reader of hers for well over a year, so of course I knew that her husband is the chef at the restaurant in Seattle called Impromptu. A wine bar and fine dining restaurant located in a cute part of the city, Madison Park. Well, before anything else, I knew I wanted to go there. So we made reservations for Sunday night and after spending the afternoon walking around Bainbridge Island (very cool place and a short and easy ferry ride from Seattle) I was ready to eat. Boy, it was good. I apologize for the lack of photos, it's dimly lit and small, so any sort of flash photography would have surely ruined the ambiance. To start with, we split the duck risotto and then I got the roasted chicken and Lauren got the trout. All were amazing, the service was great and prompt and pleasant, and I highly recommend it.



There were so many other places I wanted to try in Seattle: gluten-free, vegan pizza, freshly baked gluten-free bread, and an Ener-G Foods wholesale store.

Rock on Seattle. Rock on.

And it wouldn't be a good eatah post without the obligatory dog photo -- this is of a friendly Corgi we met on Bainbridge Island.

Photo Phriday & A Recommendation

This is who I spent my Labor Day weekend with:

That's my niece and I am completely smitten. She's just over five months old and is a complete love. My sister even let me wear her in her Ergo baby carrier throughout the weekend. My sister, bro-in-law and niece used to live minutes away, but now they're living in the midwest, so it makes my time visiting them even more precious.

And that's the gluten-free, dairy-free pizza that we ate one day. It was AWESOME! I highly recommend Ener G pizza crust. And FYI, hormel pepperoni is gluten-free.

Clean Plate Club Approved: Flatbread Pizza

I thought this day would never come; surely I wouldn't ever be able to order a pizza again. No, not when you have a gluten and dairy intolerance. Those days are gonzo. You're stuck with being the pain-in-the-ass one who has to discuss everything on the menu with the waitress, send her to the kitchen and back and then modify whatever dish you do choose and make sure the chef doesn't cross contaminate. I hate that feeling. I used to be the girl who would order right off the menu. I used to be the one who would scoff at my friends who were picky eaters. I used to eat anything, really -- anything.

But things change and intolerance's catch up with you, leaving you with a stomach that looks three months pregnant and pain that I wouldn't wish on anyone. So almost a year and a half ago, I had a choice between being a pain-in-the-ass when going out to eat, or feeling eternally sick. I chose the former.

But at a select few restaurants I don't have to be that girl. I don't have to feel the anxiety I sometimes get when visiting new restaurants. Some places I can order off the menu and feel good and confident that my food will fill my belly happily and keep me healthy. New England and Hawaii gluten-free peeps, I introduce to you: Flatbread. With six locations in New England and one in Hawaii, this chain of restaurants doesn't have the chain feel; it feels local, and taken care of -- like this was once just a dream for the owners that has now come to fruition -- there's a lot of love here. Allie, over at "Sorry I can't eat that" is another local GF blogger, and Jenny, of Sugar and Spice and My Gluten Free Life, who happens to live in the same city as me, told me about Flatbread; an awesome restaurant that really thinks about their food. They put effort into making their foods organic, using free range and nitrate free meats, vegetables from local farmers and educating themselves on different food intolerance's. In other words, this is my type of restaurant. The photo above is from the page in their menu where they talk about their gluten-free pizza crust.

And the photo below is of my gluten-free, vegan pizza and it was goooooooooooooooooooood: slightly crispy crust, perfectly flavored sauce with just enough vegetables in each bite.

I visited the restaurant on a Friday night. They don't take reservations for less than ten people, so we did "call ahead" seating. About a half hour before we arrived, I called and put our name in and we waited less than five minutes for a table once we got there. The waitress was super pleasant and happily answered our questions even though it was a really busy night. We all shared salads and ordered our pizzas. The one unfortunate thing was that our pizzas all came out at different times, and my bro-in-law got his pizza after we all finished ours, but the waitress was extremely apologetic and gave us a coupon for a free pizza on our next visit.

It truly was a great experience. I really like to support restaurants like this one, their purpose and values are clearly stated on their website and clearly seen in their restaurants. Flatbread -- thanks for doing what you're doing.

Oh, P.S. They had gluten-free beer and gluten-free whoopie pies when I was there too.

Woodman's of Essex -- So Good I Didn't Notice the View

One way to tell if someone is a true New Englander is to see if they know how to eat a lobster. My mother, for instance, born and raised on the South Shore, can pick one dry. My dad -- a native upstate New Yorker? He hates the stuff. Me? I'll do damage to any size lobster. But there's another way to tell if someone is from New England: they know a good clam shack. They could hate fried clams, but if they know of that little restaurant on the shore whose line is out the door -- then they know New England.

Eating fried clams here is a summertime tradition, one that I thought I would never be able to partake in again since discovering my gluten-intolerance. Whenever I drive by local beaches I don't stare at the shirtless men, I longingly gaze at the people enjoying their fried clams. After all, the A-man has wondered aloud a few times whether there is a fat kid hiding somewhere inside me. I'm going somewhere with this I promise.

I present to you: GLUTEN-FREE FRIED CLAMS!!!!

And GLUTEN-FREE CHICKEN FINGERS!!!!

About six months ago I read on a gluten-free forum that Woodman's in Essex, MA uses only corn flour in their batter for their fried foods (only their onion rings and crab cakes are not gluten free). And since they have a family member with Celiac disease, they "get" the whole gluten-free thing, meaning they understand that gluten-free food and gluten-laden food cannot go in the same fryer. They get that even a speck of wheat flour cannot touch food for a Celiac. They just plain get it. So, after talking up Woodman's for months, and finally arrainging a trip up there for my family to take (my sister and father are gluten-free too) I was blown away by how good the food was. So blown away in fact, that I didn't even notice the gorgeous view outside of the restaurant until I finished eating.

Woodman's, along with being gluten-free, is very well known for having the best seafood in America, so even if you're not gluten-free -- this is the place to go. We got there around three in the afternoon and there was a line, but it moved quickly. We placed our order, asked about it being gluten-free and were pleased to hear the cashier totally understand what we were talking about and make note of it on the order (side note: drinks are ordered in a separate line). Our food took about ten or fifteen minutes and we brought it outside to enjoy on a picnic table under a tent. If there is a heaven, this would be the setting: sitting on a picnic table next to a marsh with my loved ones, eating fried clams and enjoying each other's company.

I think we have a new family tradition.

And a Happy Birthday to my sister Kate! This photo was taken at Woodman's of her giving La Dudarina a little belly nuzzle.

Clean Plate Club Approved: Maya Kaimal & Akara

One of these days I am going to get around to labeling my posts with categories, like most good bloggers do. I'd have a dessert section, a vegan section, and a entree section all to make browsing for recipes that much easier. Another label that I would use would be one for the Clean Plate Club, a term that me and my friends (and I'm sure many other people in the world) use when we, well, clean our plates -- in the sense that that meal was so delicious I cleaned every last bit of food off of my plate and am therefore now a member of the Clean Plate Club. And since life doesn't always allow me to cook from scratch -- I'll post about some tried and true gluten-free, dairy-free products that I love.

This should be a lesson to all food manufacturers out there: list every single, specific thing you put in your products on the product's label. Pretty simple, huh? Well, not too many companies actually do that. I see way too many "natural and artificial flavorings" listed which, when you have a serious food intolerance, means there's no way in hell I am going to buy that. Natural flavoring could easily mean barley -- "caramel color" in fact, is often made with barley and "maltodextrin" can be made with wheat. So, if any food manufacturer happens to be reading this someday, please, I beg you, take note from Maya Kaimal and Akara (and many more products out there) and clearly list what your products are made of. The millions of vegans and food allgergy and intolerance sufferes out there will thank you ( and buy your products).

Now on to how delicious the above (and below) simmer sauce is. Think of your very favorite Indian restaurant. Now think of your very favorite curry dish from your very favorite Indian restaurant. Mmmm.... I'm thinking of mine. Well, this is like that -- but better. Better in the sense that you get to cook it yourself and it only take ten minutes. The Maya Kaimal Tamarind Curry fresh simmer sauce was located in the refridgerated section of my local supermarket, right next to the hummus and tapenades and what really stuck out to me was that it was clearly labeled, right on the side of the packaging in clear, bold letters VEGAN AND FREE OF ALL ALLERGENS was written. Hallelulah -- this simmer sauce was made with coconut milk! In a large pan, over medium high heat I added a pound of cubed chicken, the simmer sauce, and about ten minutes into the cooking -- some fresh kale. Delicious gluten-free, dairy-free curry ready to be eaten.


I don't think I've ever eaten an African beancake prior to my first purchase of these little gems, but I'm glad I tried them. I found them in the freezer, gluten-free section of my local health food store (The Good Health Store in Quincy, MA has the most amazing selection of gluten-free goods). Always open to try new things I popped two of the beancakes into the oven (they have to be defrosted first) and baked for about seven minutes. They came out delicious and slightly crispy without any "weird" bean taste (I usually don't care for bean flours in baking, so I was slightly worried I wouldn't like these) The most wonderful thing about these beancakes is that they remind me of corn fritters that I've had in the south. Corn fritters are deep fat fried and horrible for you and usually loaded with gluten, but are quite delicious. These are a much healthier (only 110 calories for two of them), gluten-free, vegan version. They'd make awesome appetizers for a party or as an entree with a salad. Akara -- the brandname is a local company, based out of Sunderland, MA which makes me like them even more.

Gluten-Free San Diego

I spent the weekend in the San Diego area visiting the A-man; he's there for some training. We had lots of good quality time which is what I crave because I get to see him so rarely: we hit the beach, played some tennis, caught a movie and ate at some great restaurants. Usually, I'm not too keen on restaurant dining, especially at places without gluten-free menus, but my goodness am I marrying the right guy -- he spent hours researching and calling and visiting local restaurants to make sure they could accommodate my dietary needs. We ate at three restaurants while there: Peohe's in Coronado for lunch, and Soliel K and Dussini in downtown San Diego for dinner. Basically, I'm writing this here in case someone decides to google "gluten-free san diego" and find restaurants with chefs and a waitstaff that get the whole "gluten-free thing." San Diego does have restaurants with gluten-free menus, but those are primarily chains; our goal here was to taste the local food (though we didn't venture to any Mexican restaurants which I remember being amazing when I lived there for a summer pre-gluten-free -- maybe next time).

Peohe's is a seafood restaurant with a gorgeous view of San Diego proper. We sat outside near a dock and were entertained by a dog swimming in the water below us and a pigeon sneaking into the restaurant through an open window. Our waiter checked with the chef on each order that we made and seemed to really "get" that I couldn't have a speck of gluten in any dish. We started with a crab, mango and avocado salad, which is normally served with a crouton-like bottom, but the waiter made sure we got it served sans-crouton and then we both got the seafood cobb salads. Both dishes were tasty and fresh and the food was served in good time.

Soliel K which is located at the Marriott, I would recommend to anyone, especially those with food allergies. Our waitress, Carrie (or Keri) truly cared and checked and double-checked on dishes that we ordered and she was pleasant and wonderful throughout. Not once, but twice some sort of manager stopped by to make sure our food allergy issues were taken care of, and most importantly -- the food was great. We started with oysters and I had a awesomely seasoned chicken dish with double vegetables and the A-man had... I think steak of some sort, but I remember he really liked his dish. This place cares.

Dussini has an awesome atmosphere with open wine cellars and a top floor with pool tables and a hip, yet inviting bar area. Their menu was full with typical Italian fare, but their rissoto of the day and paella struck our fancy. After talking briefly with our waiter, he was able to ask the chef if either dish contained gluten, and confirmed that neither did (but please, if you go here, ask anyway -- things can change). Both dishes were amazing -- the seafood paella was huge with lots of vegetables and the risotto was rich (definately had cheese in it) and served with lamb.

We were very lucky with each of these restaurants. The key to our success was

1. The A-man's research on finding which restaurants could accommodate.
2. Calling ahead and letting the restaurant know that someone with a food allergy was coming.
3. Visiting these establishments on off-hours, when chefs and waiters have the time to listen and answers questions you may have.

We did have breakfast each day, but that was in our hotel room which was on a military base (at 8AM each morning the military trumpet tune Reveille blasted outside our window which was a bit surreal for this civilian) that had a fridge and microwave. So, our breakfasts consisted of fresh fruits and peanut butter on honey nut rice cakes.

Which reminds me, I can't forget a quick review of Boney's Bayside Market in Coronado, CA. Not only did Boney's have a nice selection of fruits, vegetables and frozen gluten-free breads, waffles and wraps, but they had their own homemade gluten-free meatloaf! It was right there next to the prepared salads. We, of course, had to get it and had it for lunch one day and it was mighty tasty.

Now all I need to figure out is how to get around the language barrier and cultural faux pas' of gluten-free travel in Taiwan. I'll be there in August for ten days on a media tour; it will certainly be interesting!

CAKE!

In an attempt to get my appetite back I'm going to write about cake. Glorious, sweet, moist, gluten-free cake. None of which was made by me, but all of which was delicious.

My awesome family threw the A-man and I an engagement party over Memorial Day weekend. It was a beautiful, wonderful day filled with really tasty gluten-free food and time with dear friends and family. On the menu were marinated steak kebobs, chicken kebobs and lamb kebobs, pasta salad (Mom, I need that recipe, seriously it's the best pasta salad EVER), Greek-style green beans, an amazing quinoa salad my sister made (Kate, please post the recipe to share this deliciousness with the world!), and so many other foods that I just can't remember at this moment, but that I enjoyed immensley. My family worked so hard to put this together and I can't thank them enough. My dear Dad, who was sick with the illness that I am getting over right now even managed to do manual labor the day of the event and be the charming host to guests while maintaining a 101 temperature. Dear family -- I love you and you are amazing. The fiance is a lucky guy to be gaining in-laws like you.

On to the cake! My mom ordered two cakes from a specialty gluten-free cake-maker in the Boston area called, Celia Cakes. We have ordered her cakes once before for Thanksgiving and really enjoyed them, so I was psyched to hear we were getting them for the engagement party. In the above photo, they are the first and last cakes in the photo. Seriously, they rival any gluten-filled cake that I have eaten. Judging solely on their aesthetics, they could sit in the cake case of any high-end bakery. You can really tell that Vita (the baker and owner) must be a perfectionist with the percision of the frosting application. And the taste? Sugary, but not too sweet, just the right texture and absolutely hit the spot. I couldn't get enough of this cake. In fact, we will certainly be contacting Celia Cakes for our wedding cake. Bravo to Vita! Thank goodness for businesses like yours.

Now on to the cake above, which is from the bakery called The World's Best Carrot Cake. And it's name is right on. Seriously folks, this stuff is dangerous. You will be talking about it for days. You will be craving it minutes after you finish a slice. You, if you have zero self-control like me... will even have a slice for breakfast. I might even compare it's addictive qualities to crack. Okay, maybe I'm a bit obsessed. Or, maybe I think it's okay to talk about carrot cake like this because, well, it has carrots in it. It has to have some nutrition! Either way, this cake rocks. The store is located in Asheville, North Carolina and they can send their cakes to anywhere in the U.S. The A-man and I found them when I did a search for "gluten-free Asheville, NC" when we were visiting there recently on vacation. We visited the store, spoke to a super-friendly and helpful person at the counter and bought a gluten-free carrot cake -- just for the two of us. When we decided to have a little party to celebrate our engagement I knew I had to order one of those cakes, but this time we went with chocolate. Did you hear that? Chocolate, gluten-free carrot cake! Oh. My. God. I really can't compare the two: normal carrot cake versus chocolate because they're both just amazing.

I could go on, but I think you all get the idea. *World's Best Carrot Cake = gluten-free crack.

And that's me and the A-man digging in. Notice the grin on my face -- that's the grin of a Good Eatah.

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

*I didn't inquire to see if they made dairy-free, gluten-free carrot cake, but since I have been able to handle small amounts of dairy recently I enjoyed it with all of it's cream-cheese goodness.

The Clean Plate Club

I was lucky enough to go out to eat at two amazing (and super expensive) restaurants within the past week. Mind you, I don't normally eat like this (or eat out all that much anymore) but the experiences I had will surely tide me over in the going-out-to-eat department for awhile.

This post might be a bit boring for those that don't live in the Boston area, but if you ever do visit Boston, pleeeeeease try these restaurants. They take food allergy issues very seriously. In fact, Rialto has a gluten-free menu.

Aujour'hui at the Four Seasons in Boston

Rialto at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge

Aujour'hui is as swanky as it gets. I went on a Wednesday evening with my Mom and cousin who was in town on business. Besides the great company (I hadn't seen my cousin in over a year) the experience was, well -- divine. The waiter was very attentive and really listened to my dietary restrictions. I ordered dishes off the menu that looked gluten and dairy free, but made sure to find out if they were, in fact, made with either food. I got a simple salad of field greens to start and my main course was a Florida grouper that was cooked to perfection. The entree was altered a bit because the normal dish included butter, so it took a bit longer for us to get our meals, but that was quite alright -- we had plenty to chat about. For dessert I had a bowl of mixed berries which was a perfect way to end the meal. I briefly looked at the dessert menu and if I could eat dairy there would be a few things I could have had. My Mom and cousin got some amazing looking food, including a lobster bisque which was poured from a le creuset at the table and chocolate souffle with a warm, vanilla sauce.

I had heard good things about Rialto from the local, gluten-free community prior to my arrival. I went on a Monday night to celebrate my brother-in-laws 30th Birthday and it was quite busy, which is a good sign. Also, the head chef was walking around the restaurant and talking with customers all night -- another tip off we were in for a treat. My dear sister made the reservations and made sure the restaurant knew that three gluten-free people would be in attendence. I cannot get over the venison that I had. I've had venison maybe once before, but never like this. It was cooked medium-rare and served with a reduction (I'm guessing red wine), roasted chestnuts, onion and a chutney of some sort. I'm totally butchering what was exactly in it, but I'm guessing there was crack in there too, because it was so darn good.

*How could I even write this post without thanking Mom and my sister for taking me to such nice places. Seriously, I haven't eaten out safely and deliciously in a long, long time.

The Good Eatah's Food Review

I can be lazy sometimes. Well, I can be lazy quite often, so it's good to know that there are some convenience foods that I can rely on when I don't feel like preparing a meal from scratch.

I very distinctly remember my mom stocking up on anything "Bell & Evans" from the grocery store. According to her, and many food critics, they have the Best. Poultry. Ever. And I firmly believe it. So, when I discovered that they created a gluten-free, breaded chicken tender, I immedietely purchased and consumed. They are awesome and they remind me of the chicken tender that I would get as a special treat and that I loved as a kid.

They're super simple to prepare -- either in the oven or stovetop. I pan fry mine in a bit of olive oil and dip in ketchup. It reminds me of being a kid again.