Does anyone really know what it is? A few months ago, Jimmy Kimmel went around LA and asked people who are gluten-free the question: what is gluten? A hilarious and borderline outrageous video that brings awareness to the concept of eating gluten-free. Check it out!
As much as I love originality, there’s something comforting about falling back onto known territory. Although eccentric french cafes and family-run diners may receive acclaim for their truly distinct tastes and flavors, when it comes to eating gluten-free, chain restaurants are a safe haven like no other. This may seem surprising and of course, there are exceptions, but all in all, I stand by that statement.
They are reliable. Earlier this month in Providence, I rediscovered The Cheesecake Factory. Because of their infamous “no reservations” policy, I had kept my distance these last few years. And prior this gap, I had terrible experience with their gluten-free options, but I suppose that was a different era- when people were in the dark as to what “gluten-free” meant. Anyways, I was delightfully surprised to learn that they have an extensive gluten-free menu. From pastas to salads and tacos to burgers, they have nearly anything and everything you could imagine! They even have a gluten-free cheesecake- Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake, if memory serves me right. It is by far the biggest gluten-free menu I’ve laid eyes on. I suppose I have to account for the fact that their regular menu is nearly a short novel; however, that doesn’t take away from the fact that I was truly impressed. As for specifics, the next time I return, I will be sure to order their pasta- maybe the shrimp and fusilli or the pasta with chicken and sun-dried tomatoes? And we’ll see if it lives up to Maggiano’s wonderful GF pasta. On to the salads, I did in fact have the pleasure of trying the French Country Salad. If beets, candied pecans, asparagus, and fresh goat cheese is your thing, then this salad is you thing. I promise. Last but not least, burgers. Now, I personally don’t eat beef, so I was pleased to learn that they offered a turkey burger as well as a vegetarian burger option. And yes, when I say burger I don’t mean a pattie with condiments sitting on a white plate, I mean the whole package (gluten-free rolls included!). I can’t exactly vouch for them as I have not tried them, but if any of you do try it before I do, please let me know! There are many dishes that are yet to be eaten at this restaurant and fortunately…
They are ubiquitous. Whether you’re in Pennsylvania, Oregon, or Rhode Island, chances are, you’ll cross paths with The Cheesecake Factory. It’s one of the reasons that chain restaurants really make having a gluten-free lifestyle that much easier. You already know what options they offer and if the staff and kitchen have an awareness of cross contamination and what “gluten-free” means. All in all, it means that there is no need for experimenting. Yes, we all like variety, but it’s great to have a safe option in your back pocket.
And with the inevitable end of summer hurtling towards us, keep in mind, it’s always summer somewhere!
Cheers,
Anika
And we’re back. These past two weeks I’ve been road tripping along the east coast hitting the big cities and rekindling childhood memories and friendships. Although I had throughly enjoyed the summer hiatus, it’s time to share with all of you my latest gluten-free discoveries. When exploring the heart of Providence, we stumbled upon an “Unos”, and I was delighted to learn that they have an ample selection of gluten-free dishes. First of all… (drumroll please)… yes, they do in fact serve gluten-free pizza! Wooo! Although it’s becoming increasingly common to find restaurants that serve gluten-free pizza, I still jump with joy like a kid on Christmas morning every single time. I can definitely vouch for the veggie pizza. It may sound a little too conventional, however classic’s never disappoint. The combination of mushrooms, onions, green peppers, mozzarella, and romano on a thin crust was perfection. It was nearly as good as Udi’s Thin Pizza Crust which is hands down my favorite gluten-free pizza crust. In all honesty, I ate five slices of that veggie pizza! I have never eaten so many slices of pizza before in my entire sixteen years of existence! In addition to the veggie, cheese, and pepperoni pizzas, Unos serves burgers on gluten-free rolls (Udi’s rolls to be specific). It’s always nice to see a restaurant that offers a gluten-free bun rather than seeing that oh-so-disappointing asterisk next to the burger saying “without the bun”. And if both burgers and pizzas don’t sound all too appealing to you, Unos offers chicken and seafood dishes, steaks, salads, soups, and a decent variety of side dishes. I am happy to be able to say that the gluten-free menu is extensive. It’s not too often that I can say that and mean it.
“Something beautiful is on the horizon.”
It’s a new age. A new time. A new beginning. You are no longer a foreign entity. In fact, you may be considered a trendsetter of sorts. People recognize, accept, and understand what the phrase “gluten-free” means. Restaurants accommodate people who are “gluten-free”. And more and more people are joining the bandwagon and becoming “gluten-free”. It’s a wonderful new world.
Early this month, my friends and I decided to check out the new place in town. Originally, a Cosi’s stood at the intersection in our town, but right before our eyes came a French eatery- Le Pain Quotidien. Although we weren’t all too sentimental over the loss of the Cosi’s, we couldn’t confirm our feeling towards the change until we tried out the new restaurant. Of course before we went, I scoured the menu online looking for gluten-free options. Now I didn’t find a whole separate gluten-free menu; however, I did discover an array of wonderful gluten-free choices. In the “Tartines” or Belgian open-faced sandwiches, you have the option of gluten-free bread that can be topped with curried chicken salad, smoked salmon, and paris ham & aged gruyère just to name a few. The menu also has a variety of salads that honestly I am dying to try. The smoked salmon and beet salad will most definitely be my next meal at this restaurant! As for what I ate this time, I had a six-vegetable tart. It consisted of artichoke, vegetables, and tofu on a gluten-free buckwheat crust. It was a lighter, more veggie-ful version of a quiche. Similar shape and size, but a completely different dish when it hits your taste pallet. Additionally, this restaurant marks all its vegan options on the menu!
Although I didn’t indulge in the desserts at this restaurant, they had a few gluten-free options. Both their coconut macaroons and almond meringue are gluten-free. However, the menu online is a sample menu, so the menu based on location can vary. The location I dined at only had the macaroons, for example (and coconut just wasn’t sounding all too appealing to me that day), however I was lucky that they did have the six vegetable tart.
In addition to the dining experience, you can also shop their selections of teas, nut butters, spreads, sauces, marinades, pastries, cookies, cakes, etc. Granted, not everything is gluten-free, there is still a decent selection that I think is worth browsing. If you do have a location nearby, I would highly recommend making the trip. I like to call it the new and cozier Cosi’s!
Cheers,
Anika
“There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart”
These fleeting summer months are coming to an end. So go outside, seize the day, and get a little extra vitamin D! Before you know it, it’ll be Labor Day weekend- the last chance for barbecues and wearing white jeans. These past few months, we have been doing a lot of grilling. From salmon on cedar planks to tandoori spiced chicken to thai peanut veggie skewers.
Now, typically I like to do pizzas or cookies or rolls for the product of the month. Something that’s originally not gluten-free, but I have discovered a great alternative. However, this month, I’m sharing with you a new category of products that you may not have known could contain gluten: sauces, dips, dressings, and marinades. Many sauces use wheat flour as a thickener in addition to or as oppose to cream or butter. Apparently the flour adds “a little something” to the texture. So when browsing for a new red pasta sauce or a new variety of ranch dressing, remember to read the label!
As I’ve had a little more free time on my hands, I’ve actually managed to go to a grocery store! Believe it or not, it’s been months since I’ve been inside one because of my crazy schedule! So at Whole Foods, we recently bought a new thai ginger marinade. We’ve been grilling veggies skewers, chicken kebabs, and even paneer (an Indian cottage cheese like dish) in these marinade. It is finger-licking-ly, lip-smacking-ly delicious. (Yes, I’m going to make up my own vocabulary as we go on.) However, my favorite, by far, was the cedar plank thai ginger salmon. Now, maybe I’m slightly biased because grilled salmon is a treat in my family. We typically bake our salmon- now when I say we bake it, I mean we really bake it. Until the weird whitish yogurty stuff starts seeping out of the pores of the fish- do fish even have pores? So, yes, having grilled, not overdone salmon was wonderful. Simply wonderful. But more importantly, the combination of the thai ginger flavors and the hints of the cedar’s essence were exquisite. So if you do swing by the grocery store, so give this a try before the summer’s up!
Cheers,
Anika
And I seem to be starting a trend here. Well, what can I say? This summer may actually be busier than the school year! Anyways, I hope y’all are having a restful summer and are lying on a beach, making those tan lines more prominent, and doing some light summer reading! If you’re headed out to the shore or taking any road trips before the summer wraps up (only one month left… yikes!), snacks are essential. What’s convenient, mess-free, delicious, and healthy? Bars, bars, bars. From KIND bars to LUNA protein bars, they are my favorite on-the-go snack. However, this summer, I’ve discovered a new bar that is slowly but surely taking precedence over the others: Larabars.
Gluten-free. Pure. Simple. Whole foods. Raw. What else could you ask for? And did I mention they’re deliciously scrumptious? The flavors range from Cashew Cookie to Cherry Pie and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough to Key Lime Pie. Each bar contains no more than nine ingredients. How they make these little bars of magical joy blows my mind! The four flavors listed above are some of my favorites as well as Chocolate Chip Brownie, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, and Carrot Cake. Larabars are great as either midday snacks or pre workout fuel.
Comment below with your favorite bars or Larabar flavors!
Cheers,
Anika
“I never met a pizza like you before.”
Pizza. There are no words that quite describe it. Whether it’s a chewy Chicago-style deep dish or a New York thin cracker-crust pizza. Or topped Hawaiian style with ham and pineapple or pepperoni and freshly shaved parmesan. The varieties are endless, so there’s always something for everyone. However, is there something for us? Us gluten-free eaters?
I find that pizza can be a hit or miss situation. The crust can be too dry because of the wrong combination of flours, or it can be too chewy from being undercooked. However, I have found some great pizza mixes and pre made crusts that make the trial and error process of starting from scratch a little easier. As for ordering out pizza, a lot more pizzerias have started to offer gluten-free options. But not all of them make the pizza in a gluten-free facility. In my personal experience, Domino’s pizza is notorious for causing a reaction. Although, Domino’s recently added a disclaimer to their gluten-free pizza crust saying “Domino’s DOES NOT recommend this pizza for customers with celiac disease”. And I wholeheartedly agree with that statement. So what do I do when it comes to ordering out pizza? There is one restaurant I have had great success with: Jules Thin Crust.
Jules is hands down the best pizzeria for those with celiac disease. With you check out their website, you can browse the gluten-free tab to see the myriad of options they offer. Their facilities (the select portion of their facilities used for gluten-free foods) and GF dough have been certified. But my favorite part is their original and exquisite menu. I’m on who likes wander on the adventurous side when it comes to picking an item on the menu. My top three all-time favorite Jules’ pizzas…
1. brie, sliced pears, toasted almonds, rosemary, and mozzarella
2. organic edamame, ricotta, locally-produced organic goat cheese, caramelized onions, fresh mint, drizzle of lemon vinaigrette, and mozzarella
3. kale, lemon vinaigrette, red onions, apples, mandarin oranges, and mozzarella (pictured above)
If you’re up for something new and different, I would definitely recommend trying the third option- it is my personal favorite! Additionally, Jule’s usually had some gluten-free baked goods from the Grain Exchange in stock. I unfortunately have not seized the opportunity to try these delicious-looking treats, but I look forward to doing so in the hopefully near future.
Keep calm and enjoy summer!
Cheers,
Anika
Summer has been glorious: relaxing and rejuvenating. I spent my Fourth of July weekend amidst the crowds of people celebrating in the nation’s capital. Fireworks haloed the Washington Monument- it was truly a memory for the long run. Over the past few years, Washington DC has become a common destination for last minute trips and vacations in my family. Therefore, it’s essential that I have a list of accommodating restaurants at the back of my hand.
We normally reside in a hotel with close proximity to the mall. This allows us the freedom to walk to the main attractions and center city. Zaytinya is conveniently located on 9th and G Streets, just a few minutes walk away from the mall. The Turkish-Greek cuisine is exquisite- I would go as far as calling it my favorite restaurant in Washington DC. The ambiance is wonderful both inside and outside. If you’re seated inside, do take note of the fascinating shaped olive oil jars. And if you’re outside, while enjoying the fresh air, notice that the umbrellas are upside-down. It may be my lack of exposure or taste for a more modern and sleek setting that I find these nuances so amusing. However, the restaurant, food, and service are simply wonderful.
I could rave about this restaurant and its originality for days, but let’s get to the exciting part- food. Zaytinya recently started offering a gluten-free menu much to my delight. They serve mezzes which are sort of the Greek or Mediterranean equivalent of tapas, based on my understanding. However, in addition to the gluten-free mezzes listed on the menu, I have typically been able to request other dished to be prepared gluten-free. Over the culmination of all my ventures to Zaytinya, I have found the grape-leave dolmades, seasonal mushrooms, and shish tauok are my favorites. However, dessert is a whole separate matter. The dessert selection at Zaytinya is heavenly. If you don’t have time to enjoy a full meal at this restaurant, it is absolutely worth your time to stop in for a sweet treat. The greek yogurt and apricots and most of the homemade ice creams and sorbets are gluten-free. Additionally, the turkish delight can be modified to those following a gluten-free diet, and the cheeses, of course, are gluten-free! I am a yogurt phanatic. Whether its greek or vanilla, key lime or served with honey, yogurt has always been a favorite snack of mine. But this greek yogurt was the “mother of all Chobanis and Fages” as my dad put it. I honestly couldn’t have said it any better myself. As for the ice creams: if you have a sweet tooth for exotic flavors this one is for you. The flavors consist of vanilla with phyllo dough, rose, olive oil, and walnut. The walnut is the ice cream used in the turkish delight, and I would definitely vouch for it. The olive oil ice cream is just something to taste for the sake of curiosity and adventure. Last but not least, cheese. I have always had the urge to order cheese as a dessert in a restaurant, but my parents typically discouraged it. However, this time they surprised me. They suggested I try a new type of cheese, so I did just that (how obedient, right?). The Tulum Peynir was a rather rich cheese with a bold flavor, but I was in heaven. It was served with honeycomb, which was a new texture for me. Anyhow, the combination of the Turkish cheese and honeycomb was delicious.
So if you’re in DC and looking for some good food, even if it is a trek, I would highly recommend Zaytinya.
Cheers,
Anika
Howdy! It’s been a pretty quiet month on the blog, but I’m excited to say that things are about to change! I have some big plans for this summer… And yes, they involve food and a kitchen! So anyways, as you can tell, I barely managed to squeeze in this month’s product of the month, but as I always say, better late than never, right? I’ve been wanting to try this product for awhile, but initially I couldn’t get my hands on it. As I awaited the day I would finally eat gluten-free goldfish, I had built pretty high expectations. And unfortunately, the product did not live up to my idealized standards.
I was expecting a gluten-free carbon copy of the much-loved, cheesy snack. Sadly, the snack didn’t smile back! Goldfish Puffs are essentially large, golden, fish-shaped Cheetos. They are nothing like the small, Cheez-It like goldfish. I suppose I should have realized they wouldn’t or rather couldn’t be the same because the packet indicated it was “baked” and they are titled Goldfish Puffs. If you enjoy Cheetos, you will definitely enjoy the light and airy snack with a big flavor. However, they are nothing like the original goldfish. Honestly, a closer gluten-free alternative would be Schar’s Cheese Bites- the only thing missing is the fun goldfish shape! Also, they have other flavors aside from Mega Cheese. The other two flavors are Cheddar Bacon and Buffalo Wing. Honestly, those artificial flavors don’t sound quite appetizing to me, but again, if you are adventurous with your Cheetos flavors, then heck, go for it!
So overall, this product left me with mixed feelings. As goldfish- they disappointed me because my expectations for one of my favorite childhood snacks were not met; however, as a snack- they are not half bad!
Any new gluten-free products on the market that you’ve tried? Comment below!
Cheers,
Anika
“Better late than never”
I’d really like to pretend that I’m not writing my product of the month review on the last day of May. Everything about this screams procrastination. Literally it should be my middle name. Now I may be a pro when it comes to the tips and tricks of living gluten-free, but I’m sure as heck an amateur when it comes to managing and budgeting my time! But we all learn with experience, right? At least I like to believe that.
What a month it’s been. A month full of testing. I’m sure we’ve all had it with the abundance of standardized testing, AP exams, and final exams that the glorious month of May brings. All the same, it’s also been a month of celebration. That’s right, today is the last of Celiac Awareness Month. So, wear your green clothing proudly and be happy for the wonderful reality being gluten-free has now become. It didn’t use to be so easy. But with the ever increasing awareness of celiac disease, we have a bright future ahead of us. And that is something to celebrate.
Bliss. There isn’t a more fitting word in the dictionary. Have you tried any of ginnybakes‘ products? I am relatively new to this company, but I am wholly inspired by their mission and story. They are striving -and have succeeded- at making gluten-free both healthy and delicious- two qualities I have found are scarcely found together. I have only had the pleasure of making the scrumptious coconut oatmeal cookies. This unique combination may be a risk, but it definitely paid off. The oatmeal adds texture to the cookie while the coconut naturally sweetens it. Now, I bought the baking mix for this product, but it is also sold in a box of eleven cookies. I do want to get my hands on a box to compare them to the ones I baked! I also have bought the pre-made chocolate chip love cookies. However I’m waiting until June comes around to try them out (now that doesn’t mean I won’t dig into them first thing tomorrow!) because I’ve had my fair share of cookies this month. From Hope’s Cookies to Betty Crocker’s GF Chocolate Chip Cookies to my recent discover of ginnybakes delightful cookie products, it’s been a cookie kind of month! I most certainly ended Celiac Awareness Month with a bang!
What are your favorite gluten-free cookies? Feel free to comment below!
Cheers,
Anika
The Gluten-Free You 