Restaurants

Hope’s Cookies

Hope you’ve all been sporting some green in celebration of Celiac Awareness Month! Definitely try some new gluten-free recipes and restaurants this month- take a risk and challenge yourselves! And this is a great place to start… what better way to spread awareness than trying some delicious, gluten-free cookies?! That honestly can’t be too1 much to ask for, right? And the best part is that these store-bought cookies have the same (or arguably better) quality and taste as home baked ones.

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Hope’s Country Fresh cookies resides on Lancaster Ave. on the mainline of Philly. When recently driving by, I noticed the “NEW! Now serving Gluten-Free Cookies!” sign on the bakery eatery cookie-ry. Ever since, I’ve been anxious to try them since Hope’s has quite the reputation preceding it. Honestly, it’s pretty rare for a gluten-free gal to be treated to a soft and chewy, freshly-baked cookie. Typically, the store bought ones that you find in the gluten-free aisle at Wegman’s or Whole Foods are harder, crunchy cookies. They are what I like to call “pantry cookies“. Don’t get me wrong, there are many brands that have excellent gluten-free shelf cookies, but this is a whole different playing field. Anyways, you’ll be pleased to know that I did eventually try Hope’s new gluten-free cookies- when I found a good excuse to indulge, that is, and hence this post came about. (Side note: exams are always a brilliant excuse to eat and do just about anything)

So onto the scrumptious little baked balls of dough… I was treated to two chocolate chip cookies and two ginger cookies. The unique flavors, chewy texture, and hint of sweetness that create the ginger cookie is unparalleled. And it is truly not so often one can describe a gluten-free cookie as chewy in a positive connotation. The last time I described a gluten-free food as chewy was probably Chebe’s pizza crust when it is undercooked and far too chewy. At any rate, in terms of cookies, I typically associate the word chewy with non-gluten-free, wheat-based cookies because gluten-free cookies are usually drier in texture. However, this time, that was not the case! I just want to make it clear that the chocolate chip cookies were wonderful. With the hint of sea salt, the sweet and salty combination was at its A game. More than anything, I think the fact that the ginger cookie’s flavors were more exquisite and unfamiliar made it the more interesting, and therefore better, cookie.

Unfortunately, Hope’s does not have in information regarding their gluten-free cookies online. You can order all of their other varieties online. Hopefully the GF cookies will be added to the site soon, so you can purchase them online if picking up from the store is a trek. What’s more, as of right now, Hope’s only has two GF cookie flavors. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they will expand their GF selection and hopefully (hopefully hopefully hopefully!) will make a white chocolate macadamia cookie.

Cheers!

Anika

 

Maggiano’s- Little Italy

And a new month is upon us… happy May, everyone! But more importantly, happy Celiac Awareness month! Now unfortunately, the most distinguished month of the year (at least for a gluten-free blogger with celiac disease) coincides with SAT Subject Tests, AP exams, and finals- the whole shebang. I’m going to try my best to keep it new and fresh through out this month, but you’ll have to bear with me.

A few weeks ago, my family and I enjoyed a lovely dinner at Maggiano’s. Now just based off the name, you may be thinking, ‘Oh no, not Italian!’. I know, Italian restaurants are notorious for their lack of gluten-free options. From the shrimp scampis to brick-oven pizzas and freshly baked bread to manicotti, it’s always a struggle eating gluten-free within this cuisine. So, I have some good news and bad news. Let’s start with the bad news first: there’s no gluten-free menu at the restaurant. Great restaurant, right? But the good news is that, there is no need for a gluten-free menu! The chef can convert many dishes to their gluten-free equivalent, and the waiters are very well informed in those accommodations. And the best news yet… they have gluten-free pasta!! This means that nearly all of their pasta dishes, with a few substitutions, can be made GF! The GF version of the “Famous Rigatoni ‘D'” is fabulous. It has herb-roasted chicken, mushrooms, and caramelized onions in a creamy marsala sauce. So  if that’s your thing, go for it! Hands down the best pasta dish I’ve eaten. However, just a reminder (since you’re probably not very accustomed to having the option of eating Italian foods), the portion sizes are HUGE. I mean enormous. You will have leftovers for the next day and the day after that! And if you’re not feeling the rich and creamy pastas, there are plenty of other choices. For example, when I recently dined at Maggiano’s, I opted for chicken since I had had a homemade chicken and asparagus pesto pasta for lunch that day. The waiter said to pick any chicken that looked most appealing to me, and the chef would cater it for a gluten-free eater. How easy is that?! I had the Chicken Piccata, which was delicious. The Chicken Piccata typically comes with angel hair aglio olio, so that was substituted by GF pasta. And I’m honestly not someone who eats chicken at restaurants- I usually find it too bland. But this is the second time now I’ve voluntarily chosen it. I could quite possibly be turning a new leaf!

Now, dessert can be ever so slightly trickier. They did have vanilla citrus creme brûlée that was GF, but they also had Spumoni (as pictured above) which I couldn’t resist. It was actually my first time eating Spumoni and let me say this: I would never have guessed chocolate, cherry, and pistachio could have tasted so good together! As the Green Machine Naked Juice Bottle says, “Looks weird. Tastes amazing.”

Ciao,

Anika

 

Tango

Howdy y’all! It’s like Christmas all over again! (minus the snow, the tree, the festive lights, and the caroling) Just add some cake and candles and there you have it folks… a few (okay, more than a few) days back, I celebrated my birthday!

My family and I went to a lovely restaurant on the mainline called Tango. Coincidentally, (or not so coincidentally) this happens to be my brother’s favorite restaurant. Although the contemporary American cuisine can be both exciting and risky in the more-so adventurous choices, it’s the location of the restaurant that really adds an edge. Tango is located just off the train tracks of the Bryn Mawr train station. And what’s really cool is that the restaurant features a Train room that is similar to a dining cart as the trains zoom by the window. You can even feel the tables shaking when a train speedily passes by!

Let me start off by giving kudos to Tango for having a gluten-free menu that corresponds with their complete dinner menu. I was very intrigued by the Shrimp Dumplings, for an appetizer, as I’ve never had GF dumplings before. And I’m happy to say the first time left a good impression! The Shrimp Dumplings didn’t resemble your typical steamed-pork dumpling when taking out Chinese food, but rather it had a crunchy, fried outer coating filled with minced shrimp. Although they were delicious, according to my brother, they were not quite dumlping-like. For my entree, I settled on the grilled rainbow trout served with basmati rice and sugar snap peas. The combination of toasted almonds, lemon, and capers to top the grilled fish added flavor and a zing to it. Believe me, I’m usually criticizing a piece of meat or seafood for being too bland! This is a dish I’m looking forward to recreating at home with my own twist.

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If you do get a chance to go, I recall wanting to try the fish tacos (don’t worry, they use corn tortillas!). However, the trout is definitely worth a try.

Cheers,

Anika

Avenue Kitchen

I owe you all a big apology for my lack of posts for these past ten days (yikes, I’m twitching at how long its been!). Over spring break,  in all the free time I had on my plate, I decided to try out a fairly new restaurant on the mainline. Avenue Kitchen adds a little twist on classic American dishes you all know and love. The restaurant not only features a contemporary American cuisine, but the environment could be described as “modern meets sophisticated”. When I checked out this restaurant online, I caught a glimpse of the white Emeco chairs and mistakenly associated this place with airing on the side of casual. But boy was I in for a surprise, especially given that I enjoyed a meal at dinner time, so the lighting further enhanced the ambiance.

Aside from the aesthetics, this little tasteful place left me with no doubts that I’d be dining here again. There are gluten-free options within the appetizers, salads, entrees, and sides. I ordered the Pan Roasted Chicken Breast with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, roasted baby root vegetables, and toasted lemon jus (can be found under entrees). I know this may sound like the least adventurous or exciting meal I’ve ever willingly had- and that very well may be true. I normally don’t order grilled chicken at a restaurant as a general rule of thumb. But my taste buds were in need of a cleanser to the typically very colorful palate. Surprisingly though, the chicken wasn’t dry and the flavors were well marinated. However, the next time I dine at Avenue Kitchen, I must try the ‘Day Boat Scallops’. I was eying it on the menu going back and forth between the chicken for quite some time. The scallops dish is very similar to the one I enjoyed at Keating’s. If its anywhere close, I’m in for a treat!

Definitely grab a few friends and check out Avenue Kitchen!

Cheers,

Anika

Honeygrow

Honeygrow is a trendy and chic eatery that lies on City Ave. Before I had the pleasure of eating here, I doubted the originality and (please excuse my informality) freshness of the restaurant’s message. The whole idea behind it is simple: “honest eating & growing locally.” Great, I thought, this will be like another Chipotle or Sweet Greens. Now, don’t get me wrong, I always have an appetite for Sweet Greens and an appreciation for Chipotles’, what I like to call, “world-friendly” message (environmentally and people-friendly). But I wondered, what would set Honeygrow apart?

When you enter, I feel like you’re in modern, nearly futuristic, clean and sleek atmosphere. The architecture of the building and inside is clear-cut, simple, yet the simplicity draws the eye. Aside from the aesthetically pleasing look (for those of you who have a taste for contemporary styles), the food is superb. Honeygrow features Stir Fry, Salads, Smoothies, and a Honey Bar. There are touch screens monitors on which you can either create or choose a pre-made order through visuals of the food items. The Stir Fry option consists of noodles, rice, or lettuce, vegetables, seasonings, proteins, and a homemade sauce. Some of the Salads have a slight fusion asian twist. And the Honey Bar, which unfortunately, I was too full to try this time, consists of fresh fruit, a garnish, and local honey. I found the concept very refreshing. Froyo, otherwise known as frozen yogurt, was a hidden treasure that was highly sought after, but when discovered by the public, it went mainstream. While I do hope the Honey Bar maintains its status as a rarity, I want people to experience it (including myself!).

The other day, when I ate my first meal at  Honeygrow, I came to realize how gluten-free friendly it was. When I was creating my own salad, each dressing on the touch screen was labeled with a (GF) for gluten-free if it was indeed free of gluten. Made my life a while lot easier! As for the Stir Fry, I will have to try it next time. I was quick to assume that the stir fry wouldn’t have any gluten-free sauces because of the asian fusion influence in the restaurant’s cuisine. I, however, was proven wrong. The stir fry sauces are labeled identically to the salad dressings with a (GF). Additionally, on top of the counter where you place your orders (next to the touch screens) is a convenient, little sign saying “Ask about any allergies. Notify the staff.”

I would love to see this unique restaurant become a sensation across the nation like Shake Shack. Except the message is one that should be proudly carried “honest eating & growing locally.” Look out around town, Honeygrow is expanding! Two new locations are being added in 2014!

Cheers,

Anika

New Rice Noodles at Honeygrow

Larabars: Latest and Greatest Eats

Hope everyone’s looking forward to a relaxing and rejuvenating spring break! That is, unless you’re a lucky college-folk who’s already taking advantage of the vacation. The winter months can be hard to push through with the overwhelming homework load, sports, and activities making for a hectic lifestyle. Not so long ago, I had been introduced to my new best friend: Larabars.

Until recently, I was undeniably a hard core KIND Bar and LUNA protein bar advocate. Now, don’t get me wrong. I still love my KIND Bars, especially anything with the scrumptious sweet and salty combination (Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew and Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt). And who can resist the dense, chocolately protein bar flavors that wholly satisfy your hunger?

However, Larabars are made of solely whole and natural ingredients. Each flavor contains no more than nine ingredients; it is simply just unsweetened fruits, nuts, and spices. Believe me, I know I sound like a corny ad for Larabars that’s singing its praises. But have you ever looked at the ingredients list on a typical cereal or protein bar? I bet there are ingredients on the label that you wouldn’t have ever heard of! On the contrary, in the Apple Pie Larabar, there are six simple (and understandable) ingredients: dates, almonds, unsweetened apples, walnuts, raisins, and cinnamon. So far, I have only tried the Apple Pie, Cherry Pie (btw, Happy Pi Day!), Cashew Cookie, and Chocolate Chip Brownie. But I am looking forward to my next trip to Wegman’s (my go-to grocery store for GF items) to buy some new flavors. I have been eying the Carrot Cake flavor on Larabar’s website. The last time I ate carrot cake was before I was diagnosed with celiac!

Additionally, Larabar is affiliated with offshoot brands such as ALT, Jocalot and uber. Now, I can’t vouch for ALT and Jocalat as I have not gotten around to trying these bars. Although I do have a Lemon Poundcake ALT bar in my pantry just waiting to be tasted! Having said that, I can definitely attest to the delectable uber bars. I have so far eaten five of their eight flavors. Let me warn you, they are addicting! All uber bars have that irresistible sweet and salty combo. Out of the Banana Foster, Cherry Cobbler, Coconut Macaroon, Roasted Nut Roll, and Sticky Bun, I would say the Roasted Nut Roll and Coconut Macaroon are my top two favorites. But I am dying to try the new Dark Chocolate Peanut flavor.

Now that you’re drooling all over your keyboard wanting to try some Larabars, go ahead buy one or two (or a dozen)!

Cheers,

Anika

P.S. For any of you who may be worried that these bars are just too good to be true, I took this off Larabar’s website, “GLUTEN FREE/CELIACS LÄRABAR®, über®, Jŏcalat®, and ALT® bars are Gluten Free. They have no gluten-containing ingredients, and we have manufacturing controls in place to ensure that there are no cross-contact concerns. We also periodically verify our practices using Gliadin gluten testing.”

In Riva

To those in the northeast, hope y’all are staying safe during the never ending series of snowstorms this winter! I had meant to write about this wonderful joint in Philly sooner, but with all the snow, other snow day recipes took priority. About two weeks ago, I went to In Riva, an Italian restaurant located on the banks of the Schuylkill River, for a close friend’s birthday celebration. The location is superb as it has breathtaking views of the river, especially in the summer time. We had contacted the manager ahead of time, and he informed us of quite a few gluten-free selections. The set up was a four course meal with tapas-sized plates. I had the Caesar Salad (with no potato or crostini), Tomato Conserva served with cucumbers, Arugula and Mushroom Salad (with no crispy shallots), and Pea Soup (with no crostini). I have to say, the pea soup was surprisingly my favorite! It was simply green pea soup topped with parmesan and cream. I would go back just for this soup! The tomato conserva was a refreshing bruschetta and cucumbers that made a light bite. In the past, when I dined at In Riva in the spring, I had a fresh and colorful beet salad. They are very accommodating to your gluten-free needs. Definitely to check it out if you’re in Philly!

Cheers!

Anika

Keating’s River Grill

Hope everyone is staying warm during the snowstorm (and enjoying the many bonus snow days)! Unfortunately, my power went out early Wednesday morning, so we had to pack our bags and camp out at a hotel Wednesday night. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing in Philly. All of the hotels on the mainline were booked or had no power! But lucky for us, while we stayed at the Hyatt, we were in for a treat when we dined at Keating’s River Grill. My family and I enjoyed dinner and breakfast at the restaurant.

The waiter wasn’t particularly knowledgeable as to what foods contained wheat, however, he was very flexible and accommodating and got all the information we needed from the chef. However, if you look at the menu online, the dishes that are gluten-free are marked as “*gluten-free”. It is very helpful! I ordered scallops with “golden” quinoa. This was one of the few occasions that I have opted for scallops, but after this meal, I am completely sold! And quinoa has become a new favorite. I prefer it to brown rice or mashed potatoes any day! This colorful quinoa was topped with butternut squash, dried apricot, and cranberries. As for dessert, I had a refreshing lemon sorbet to cool my palette from the flavorful meal. Although, considering the terrible weather, it probably wasn’t the smartest choice! If I have the opportunity to return to Keating’s soon, I would definitely want to try the White Chocolate Ginger Creme Brûlée and the Chocolate Framboise (a gluten-free chocolate cake with raspberry sauce).

Thursday morning we were fortunate enough to receive the news that our power was back! We enjoyed a relaxing breakfast at Keating’s and then headed back home. With our room, we got breakfast package, so I assumed I would opt for the buffet and get some eggs, cold cuts, cheeses, and fruit. However, I was pleasantly surprised wen I looked at the a la carte menu. I ordered Almond Pancakes that were made from almond flour and yogurt and topped with brown sugar, yogurt, blueberries, and slivered almonds. It was simply divine! They were hands down the best gluten-free pancakes I have ever had. I will attempting to recreate these at home very soon! And I would never have thought to top pancakes with yogurt… it’s definitely a healthy and tastier option (in my opinion!) than maple syrup or butter.

If you’re in the city and looking for a simply yet delicious bite, Keating’s River Grill is your place! And the Hyatt was an excellent hotel as well.

Bundle up and stay safe!

Cheers!

Anika

Cinnamon Rolls: Chebe’s Strikes Again!

Although I enjoy a snow day (or should I say days?) as much as the kid next door, the “five-day weekend” has left me with quite a bit of free time. And what do we do with free time on our hands? We bake, of course! Chebe’s, a dedicated gluten-free company, has once again come out with another wonderful product that I have been meaning to make for weeks now, but hadn’t gotten around to it. Thanks to Chebe’s GF Cinnamon Roll Mix, I was able to enjoy my first cinnamon roll since I was diagnosed with celiac disease!

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Simply follow the instructions on the back of the box and it takes no more than 25-30 minutes from prepping to cleaning up. However, I did make a few modifications. The recipe called for 2 tbsp. of milk/ milk substitute, but my dough was too dry to knead properly so I used 4 tbsp. of milk instead. Additionally, I only used 1/2 tbsp. of softened butter to spread on top of the rolled dough rather than 1 tbsp. Aside from these two changes, I followed the recipe to the tee and was more than happy with the result! However, after rolling the dough, make sure you pinch it all the way closed. A few of my cinnamon rolls started to open up a little during baking because they weren’t sealed properly.

The texture of the cinnamon roll isn’t quite the same as one containing wheat (according to my brother!), but the taste and flavorful is nearly identical. I personally thought it tasted like cinnamon french toast except that it was shaped like a cinnamon roll. It was a bit hard on the outside (maybe cutting the baking time by a minute or two wouldn’t be a bad idea), but the inside was soft and gooey! It was the perfect little treat to make and enjoy when you’re snowed in.

Enjoy the snow (to those in the northeast)!

Cheers!

Anika

Minella’s Diner

Although it may not always feel like it, living in the suburbs of a metropolis, you truly experience the best of both worlds: you get the perks of a small town and the hustle and bustle of the big city. I am constantly reminded of this when I dine at Minella’s Diner. The cozy, family-run diner is packed 24/7. You never fail to run into someone you know. The “small-town” feel makes it a truly special place. And that’s something you don’t want to miss out on just because you’re gluten-free!

Although I am disappointed to say that there is no gluten-free menu, Minella’s expansive menu (it’s 10+ pages!) does have gluten-free options. From french toast to burgers, pancakes to wraps, diners in general can be quite tricky in terms of finding gluten-free choices. Minella’s has a wide variety of salads that are or can be altered to be gluten-free. Additionally, they have omelets, “broiled and grilled” seafoods, and certain “diner classics” that can be made gluten-free. I personally love the Lancaster Ave Salad: mixed greens topped with pecans, cranberries, sliced apples, and blue cheese. The staff are quite flexible and are happy to confirm what is gluten-free with the chef.

Definitely check out Minella’s!!

Cheers!

Anika