Today I stopped by one of my favorite groceries -- Fruitful Yield in South Elgin, Ill. (www.fruitfulyield.com) -- and what should they have but the new Enjoy Life boom CHOCO boom bars. There are three varieties, all of which are gluten-, dairy-, nut- and soy-free, and made in a dedicated facility. I picked up one of each, and yes, I've already tried the rice milk bar -- yum! The dark chocolate and the rice milk with crispy rice bars still are waiting to be sampled. And now, whenever I'm needing a chocolate fix, I'm all set. (Well done, Enjoy Life!)
I also learned about the 2008 Gluten Free Cooking Expo that's taking place in about three weeks in Oak Brook, Ill. It's a two-day, all-gluten-free event on Sept. 12-13 with cooking demonstrations and much more. For more information, or to register, visit www.glutenfreeclasses.com.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Out for Lunch
My long-time favorite place for lunch is Town House Cafe in St. Charles, Ill. Set in historic Century Corners, Town House Books and Cafe is pleasantly situated near the Fox River and the city's downtown area.
The cafe offers a warm ambiance, with pictures of famous authors and other art adorning the walls, and fresh flowers on the tables. During the warmer months, its charming courtyard makes a lovely setting for a leisurely outdoor lunch. It is a popular location year-round, and can be busy, particularly during the traditional lunch hour. But it's worth the wait, and the adjacent bookstore helps the time pass quickly.
The daily specials vary. The staff is accustomed to questions about ingredients, and will check with the chef and/or managers to confirm whether or not something is free from allergens. There are a number of celiac-safe soups in kitchen's repertoire, and it's such a pleasure to be able to order soup out. My favorite is the herb three bean, and I enjoy the lentil and the prime beef vegetable selections as well.
For my main entree, I order from the set menu and have the cafe's Signature Salad, modified -- greens with dried cranberries and bacon, minus blue cheese and the roll, dressed with a raspberry-poppy seed dressing. For dessert, there is a luscious flourless chocolate cake, served with whipped cream and a raspberry sauce, that absolutely is worth sampling. (Although it's off- limits for me now, I can vouch for this one personally, as I had it numerous times before I went casein-free.)
The next time you visit St. Charles, or if you live in the area and are looking for a new place for lunch, try Town House Cafe. (www.townhousebooks.com)
The cafe offers a warm ambiance, with pictures of famous authors and other art adorning the walls, and fresh flowers on the tables. During the warmer months, its charming courtyard makes a lovely setting for a leisurely outdoor lunch. It is a popular location year-round, and can be busy, particularly during the traditional lunch hour. But it's worth the wait, and the adjacent bookstore helps the time pass quickly.
The daily specials vary. The staff is accustomed to questions about ingredients, and will check with the chef and/or managers to confirm whether or not something is free from allergens. There are a number of celiac-safe soups in kitchen's repertoire, and it's such a pleasure to be able to order soup out. My favorite is the herb three bean, and I enjoy the lentil and the prime beef vegetable selections as well.
For my main entree, I order from the set menu and have the cafe's Signature Salad, modified -- greens with dried cranberries and bacon, minus blue cheese and the roll, dressed with a raspberry-poppy seed dressing. For dessert, there is a luscious flourless chocolate cake, served with whipped cream and a raspberry sauce, that absolutely is worth sampling. (Although it's off- limits for me now, I can vouch for this one personally, as I had it numerous times before I went casein-free.)
The next time you visit St. Charles, or if you live in the area and are looking for a new place for lunch, try Town House Cafe. (www.townhousebooks.com)
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Allergen-free Treats
Desserts can be very challenging for those with special dietary needs. Realizing that there, in fact, are safe means for a sweet-tooth fix can be very helpful in accepting an allergy diagnosis, and here are two options.
Next week is cupcake week on "The Martha Stewart Show," and on Tuesday (8/19), the show will be featuring allergen-free treats, specifically chocolate cupcakes that are milk-, egg-, peanut- and tree nut-free. Alas, they aren't gluten-free (at least according to the info I have), but I'm pleased that a recipe for those with food allergies is being presented.
And I just learned about Enjoy Life Foods' new allergen-free chocolate bar. (I think I may have died and gone to heaven.) CHOCO boom bars are dairy-, nut- and soy-free, and they're available at Whole Foods and other select natural grocers. Can't wait to try it!
Next week is cupcake week on "The Martha Stewart Show," and on Tuesday (8/19), the show will be featuring allergen-free treats, specifically chocolate cupcakes that are milk-, egg-, peanut- and tree nut-free. Alas, they aren't gluten-free (at least according to the info I have), but I'm pleased that a recipe for those with food allergies is being presented.
And I just learned about Enjoy Life Foods' new allergen-free chocolate bar. (I think I may have died and gone to heaven.) CHOCO boom bars are dairy-, nut- and soy-free, and they're available at Whole Foods and other select natural grocers. Can't wait to try it!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
My Current Top 10
A few years ago, one of the things I did to help accept my diagnosis was to challenge myself to find a new food item or new recipe every week. It adds variety to my diet, and it also helps me keep abreast of new product developments.
In no particular order, here are 10 products I've discovered since then that have been very happy finds:
In no particular order, here are 10 products I've discovered since then that have been very happy finds:
- Namaste brownie mix
- Enjoy Life chocolate chips
- Kinnikinnick vanilla-glazed doughnuts
- My Own Meal Old World Stew
- St. Clair's Organics mints and lemon drops
- Amy's Tamale Pie
- Foods By George English muffins
- Orgran animal crackers
- Ghee
- Andrew & Everett shredded cheese -- gluten- and casein-free cheese; what could be better?!
Summer evening
Last Friday evening, B. and I went to a Grieg concert at Chicago's Millennium Park. Part of the Grant Park music festival, the free concert was held at the outdoor Jay Pritzker Pavilion. It was lovely to sit outside, listening to the orchestra: The weather was warm but not too much so, there was a light breeze, and it simply was a quintessential summer evening -- the perfect end to a hectic week.
Afterwards, we went nearby to the Plaza at Park Grill restaurant for dinner al fresco. We were seated at a cozy table for two, away from the crowded bar. The opening ceremonies of the Olympics were showing on the bar's large-screen tv, so if we wished, we could watch the festivities as they took place.
Our waiter was great. Attentive without hovering, he was pleasant and made us feel comfortable. He responded to my questions graciously, and while familiar with the ingredients in the dishes we ordered, he checked with the chef before placing our order.
After determining the chips were made in-house from corn-based tortillas, we ordered chips and salsa to start. The chips were fresh and hot, and were served with two salsas. The corn and pepper salsa was good, the other excellent -- a mango and cucumber pico de gallo tossed with lime (I think) and other herbs that made for an unexpected but very pleasing combination.
For dinner, I had the Kobe beef tacos. Kobe beef is a high-end, high-quality meat, and believe it or not, I could taste the difference; the tacos were outstanding. They were seasoned with achiote and cilantro relish, and accompanied by lettuce on corn tortillas. I dressed the tacos using the provided lime wedges, and as I ate, I tried to remember the last time I had tacos that good.
Part of what made the experience so nice was that my food needs were met without much fuss. Here, it was easy.
I often approach dining-out situations warily. It's hard to predict what sort of reception you'll get -- the server could be gracious or rude, aware or misinformed, or anything in between. And that's just the start, as there's no way to know about what happens in the kitchen or if the utensils used to plate your meal were contaminated before they touched your food. You definitely relinquish some control when you eat out. That's just part of the process.
About a year and half ago or so, I made a decision that I would have to take my chances when eating out. That doesn't mean I'm not careful; it just means I'm permitting myself to have a more normal life. Being diagnosed with food allergies/intolerances definitely impacted my social life, and I finally decided that I couldn't be a hermit -- I needed to be able to go out to eat once in a while.
Now I try new places much more frequently. I choose a couple items on the menu that are more likely to be ok for me, then I ask questions about them. I do my best to convey my needs without being over-bearing, and try to make it as simple as possible for the servers. If there is a problem, I will send my food back to the kitchen, but generally, things go fairly well.
Ultimately, if I get good service, I tip well, and if I don't have any reactions to the food, I'll go back. If I get bad service or a bad meal, not only do I not go back, I make sure my family and friends know about the negative experience, and I encourage them to take their business elsewhere.
B. and I definitely will be back to the Plaza at Park Grill. I already know what I'll be ordering.
Afterwards, we went nearby to the Plaza at Park Grill restaurant for dinner al fresco. We were seated at a cozy table for two, away from the crowded bar. The opening ceremonies of the Olympics were showing on the bar's large-screen tv, so if we wished, we could watch the festivities as they took place.
Our waiter was great. Attentive without hovering, he was pleasant and made us feel comfortable. He responded to my questions graciously, and while familiar with the ingredients in the dishes we ordered, he checked with the chef before placing our order.
After determining the chips were made in-house from corn-based tortillas, we ordered chips and salsa to start. The chips were fresh and hot, and were served with two salsas. The corn and pepper salsa was good, the other excellent -- a mango and cucumber pico de gallo tossed with lime (I think) and other herbs that made for an unexpected but very pleasing combination.
For dinner, I had the Kobe beef tacos. Kobe beef is a high-end, high-quality meat, and believe it or not, I could taste the difference; the tacos were outstanding. They were seasoned with achiote and cilantro relish, and accompanied by lettuce on corn tortillas. I dressed the tacos using the provided lime wedges, and as I ate, I tried to remember the last time I had tacos that good.
Part of what made the experience so nice was that my food needs were met without much fuss. Here, it was easy.
I often approach dining-out situations warily. It's hard to predict what sort of reception you'll get -- the server could be gracious or rude, aware or misinformed, or anything in between. And that's just the start, as there's no way to know about what happens in the kitchen or if the utensils used to plate your meal were contaminated before they touched your food. You definitely relinquish some control when you eat out. That's just part of the process.
About a year and half ago or so, I made a decision that I would have to take my chances when eating out. That doesn't mean I'm not careful; it just means I'm permitting myself to have a more normal life. Being diagnosed with food allergies/intolerances definitely impacted my social life, and I finally decided that I couldn't be a hermit -- I needed to be able to go out to eat once in a while.
Now I try new places much more frequently. I choose a couple items on the menu that are more likely to be ok for me, then I ask questions about them. I do my best to convey my needs without being over-bearing, and try to make it as simple as possible for the servers. If there is a problem, I will send my food back to the kitchen, but generally, things go fairly well.
Ultimately, if I get good service, I tip well, and if I don't have any reactions to the food, I'll go back. If I get bad service or a bad meal, not only do I not go back, I make sure my family and friends know about the negative experience, and I encourage them to take their business elsewhere.
B. and I definitely will be back to the Plaza at Park Grill. I already know what I'll be ordering.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Inconsistencies
When I began this blog, I envisioned that it would be wholly positive, celebrating only successes. However, I did commit to sharing my experiences, and misadventure can be part of the process. Well, I certainly had one of those today. B. and I went to a popular cafe in Geneva, Ill., for breakfast this morning -- it's a local chain well-known for its breakfast/lunch menu -- and boy, did that turn out to be a mistake.
I had been there a couple times before with my mom, who also has celiac disease, and we had great experiences both times. The servers were helpful and pleasant, informing us about the restaurant's gluten-free crib notes, which outline the ingredients that are safe and those that aren't, and the food was excellent. The restaurant sometimes even carries gluten-free bread for patrons on a gf diet. Clearly, they can accommodate those with allergies/intolerances, right?
Wrong!
The restaurant was quite full, but B. and I were seated relatively quickly. The waitress came by to take our order, and I requested the gluten-free sheet the other servers had brought out before. I knew what I was going to order, but I wanted to be able to use it to clarify my needs. I was told in no uncertain terms that the restaurant had no such a thing. I tried to point out diplomatically that I had seen it in the past, but she got very argumentative. In hindsight, we should have left at this point; there are plenty of other options close by -- establishments that actually can accommodate people with dietary restrictions. But I wanted to try again because we had had such good experiences before. So I placed my order of bacon and eggs with a fruit cup instead of the potatoes and English muffin, stressing that I had gluten and dairy allergies.
As B. and I waited, sipping our orange juice and coffee, the manager came over, saying he didn't know of the restaurant's gluten-free information. He further explained that he had placed a call to the regular manager but she was so busy at another location that he couldn't speak to her about it, and he would know more later that evening.
Shortly thereafter, the waitress came by with the information, asking if it was what I meant and pointing out that it didn't really outline what was safe on the menu. I venture to say that if she had paused to read it, she would have seen that it indicates which ingredients are safe and which are not. For example, the house seasoning is not gluten-free; by looking at this sheet, gf patrons would recognize that potatoes, which are seasoned with it, are therefore unsafe to consume. I wasn't going to argue with her, and by this point, B. and I really were wishing we had gone elsewhere.
Our food came out, with my order minus the bacon. I have to say, when part of order is missing, it makes me wonder how well the server heard me, specifically the aspect about the allergies. I asked the server who delivered it to bring a side of bacon (incidentally, he is one of the good servers I had had in the past), which he brought immediately.
The food was a disappointment. My eggs were tepid, and the fruit, a mixture of under and overripe. I didn't have the energy to complain, my second big mistake of the morning. We quickly finished our meal, and when the waitress brought the check, she made an effort to say that the next time I was in, I should be sure to let the server know the information I needed was in the blue book they have in the back. I almost laughed in her face. That as the patron I should know better than the staff what the restaurant carries (particularly when she pointed out that it was useless), and that we would be back are comic notions, indeed.
B. and I left to go to a movie, but after about 10 minutes in the car, the migraine struck, coming on fast, and the upset stomach followed about a half-hour later. For those not in the know, that means the food was not allergen-free, and it made me sick. What had promised to be a leisurely Sunday turned miserable.
I will say, in defense of the manager, he did try, but seemed at a loss as to how really to handle the situation. I don't really have anything redeeming to say about the server. If anything, I would like restaurant owners to know that, much like other businesses, their employees represent their companies, and should be trained to handle customer-service situations.
I probably won't be the last person with dietary restrictions to frequent this restaurant (although certainly the last one in my family), and I wonder what future patrons will experience. The fact that it has a gluten-free safety list and even at times carries gluten-free bread would indicate a greater awareness and an increased capability to handle customers with special dietary needs; my experience today would say otherwise.
I had been there a couple times before with my mom, who also has celiac disease, and we had great experiences both times. The servers were helpful and pleasant, informing us about the restaurant's gluten-free crib notes, which outline the ingredients that are safe and those that aren't, and the food was excellent. The restaurant sometimes even carries gluten-free bread for patrons on a gf diet. Clearly, they can accommodate those with allergies/intolerances, right?
Wrong!
The restaurant was quite full, but B. and I were seated relatively quickly. The waitress came by to take our order, and I requested the gluten-free sheet the other servers had brought out before. I knew what I was going to order, but I wanted to be able to use it to clarify my needs. I was told in no uncertain terms that the restaurant had no such a thing. I tried to point out diplomatically that I had seen it in the past, but she got very argumentative. In hindsight, we should have left at this point; there are plenty of other options close by -- establishments that actually can accommodate people with dietary restrictions. But I wanted to try again because we had had such good experiences before. So I placed my order of bacon and eggs with a fruit cup instead of the potatoes and English muffin, stressing that I had gluten and dairy allergies.
As B. and I waited, sipping our orange juice and coffee, the manager came over, saying he didn't know of the restaurant's gluten-free information. He further explained that he had placed a call to the regular manager but she was so busy at another location that he couldn't speak to her about it, and he would know more later that evening.
Shortly thereafter, the waitress came by with the information, asking if it was what I meant and pointing out that it didn't really outline what was safe on the menu. I venture to say that if she had paused to read it, she would have seen that it indicates which ingredients are safe and which are not. For example, the house seasoning is not gluten-free; by looking at this sheet, gf patrons would recognize that potatoes, which are seasoned with it, are therefore unsafe to consume. I wasn't going to argue with her, and by this point, B. and I really were wishing we had gone elsewhere.
Our food came out, with my order minus the bacon. I have to say, when part of order is missing, it makes me wonder how well the server heard me, specifically the aspect about the allergies. I asked the server who delivered it to bring a side of bacon (incidentally, he is one of the good servers I had had in the past), which he brought immediately.
The food was a disappointment. My eggs were tepid, and the fruit, a mixture of under and overripe. I didn't have the energy to complain, my second big mistake of the morning. We quickly finished our meal, and when the waitress brought the check, she made an effort to say that the next time I was in, I should be sure to let the server know the information I needed was in the blue book they have in the back. I almost laughed in her face. That as the patron I should know better than the staff what the restaurant carries (particularly when she pointed out that it was useless), and that we would be back are comic notions, indeed.
B. and I left to go to a movie, but after about 10 minutes in the car, the migraine struck, coming on fast, and the upset stomach followed about a half-hour later. For those not in the know, that means the food was not allergen-free, and it made me sick. What had promised to be a leisurely Sunday turned miserable.
I will say, in defense of the manager, he did try, but seemed at a loss as to how really to handle the situation. I don't really have anything redeeming to say about the server. If anything, I would like restaurant owners to know that, much like other businesses, their employees represent their companies, and should be trained to handle customer-service situations.
I probably won't be the last person with dietary restrictions to frequent this restaurant (although certainly the last one in my family), and I wonder what future patrons will experience. The fact that it has a gluten-free safety list and even at times carries gluten-free bread would indicate a greater awareness and an increased capability to handle customers with special dietary needs; my experience today would say otherwise.
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