Subway tests gluten-free sandwiches

Happy days are coming to us anti-glutites! I know you read the subject! Can you believe it? I will, when I see it in my local Subway. How exciting it this for people in Texas!

Here is an excerpt from the CNN article...

Subway is testing a bun made of egg whites, corn starch and tapioca starches for customers with gluten sensitivities at 700 outlets in Dallas and East Texas. The sandwich chain is also offering a gluten-free brownie for dessert. The brownie is made of potato starch, cocoa and sugar.

“Gluten-free is something on the radar,” said Les Winograd, Subway spokesman. “There are number of people at Subway who are particularly interested in gluten-free items for their own particular digestive needs. It’s not something that’s unusual to us.”

With Subway exploring a wheat-free alternative, is this a sign that major food chains are paying more attention to gluten sensitivities such as celiac disease?

I wish I could scream from the top of the world how excited I am. I guess my blog post will have do for now!

Here is a link to the actual CNN article by Madison Park: Subway tests gluten-free sandwiches

Happy eating, learning and living! Gluten Free...

La Farfalla Cafe (Escondido CA) *****

I was in the need to dine out with just the hubby and wanted something outside the typical Outback or PF Changs dinner. I was told about this place located in Escondido called La Farfalla Café that had Gluten Free items on their menu. Of course when I hear of such things I HAVE to check it out! La Farfalla Cafe is a quaint place nestled in between some other shops on Orange Ave. It is quite small and looks to hold about 26 people for inside dining. It feels very family dinerish and home like. I personally loved the ambiance. The place was also packed and people were waiting to be seated. Seems La Farfalla has a nice following!

Meet Lacy a new GFF! Lacy, her husband and son were sitting at the table next to us. Of course the social person I am started a conversation. Lacy was just as social and we got to talking about why she was Gluten free. Unfortunately, Lacy has fibromyalgia and has found that by going Gluten Free has helped.

So, Started off with the Soup of the day which was the Coconut lemongrass with Chicken. The taste was very simple and VERY refreshing. Cilantro topped the soup which had mushrooms, lemongrass and chicken. YUM! My husband, one who doesn't like coconut, even tried it and ate half. We also talked another couple sitting a couple tables away into trying it. Pleased to say they loved it too!

The bread that came to the table was made fresh and was really moist. It didn't fall apart unlike other gluten free breads. I would love to buy a loaf and take it home.

If I had a chance to order again I think I would have ordered another entree and not one so simple. The entree I ordered was a Pesto Pasta off the menu that came with a salad. The only reason I should of tried something different is that I can make Pesto Pasta at home. I should of picked something I wouldn't ever make at home... there's always next time.

The Pasta came with a side salad which was really good! it had mixed greens, carrots and cucumbers. I would of hoped for some tomatoes as well. Anyways, I had the Italian dressing and it was absolutely fabulous! I wanted to drink it. LITERALLY! The dressing was that good. Very Italian if I might add. it had everything you would think and Italian dressing would have... wouldn't change a thing there!

DESSERT! You cant forget dessert! The gluten free cream puffs where heaven!!! The hubby couldn't believe they were Gluten Free. The custard was perfect! The texture was perfect! THEY WERE HEAVEN! I found that these puffs were an experiment by the Chef there. Well two thumbs up! Maybe try an eclair your next experiment.

The main reason I went to La Farfalla Cafe was to try the carrot cake. This was another taste of heaven! The cream cheese frosting was perfect! Texture, being Gluten Free everything is about texture and it was just like I remember! Soft, cinnamon, sweet.

Me Enjoying my soup. Hubby, watching me enjoy my soup!

PF Changs 5 New Gluten-Free Beef Dishes *****

Someone is smiling on me, or I guess, us anti-glutites! OH! Its PF Changs! DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS??? PF Changs has five (5) NEW Gluten Free Beef dishes...

• Gluten Free Mongolian Beef
• Gluten Free Hong Kong Beef with Snow Peas
• Gluten Free Beef a la Sichuan
• Gluten Free Pepper Steak
• Gluten Free Beef with Broccoli

I can't explain my excitement! PF Changs has a gluten free version of Mongolian Beef? Can you hear the disbelief in my voice **voice of disbelief**

Back when I was a wee anti-glutite, I couldnt hold my own and fell victim to eating such yummy glutenous PF Changs Mongolian Beef (Might I add a horendous aching came of it and I didnt feel well for a couple days). Now that there is a gluten free version of this wonderous beef dish, I say to all anti-glutites, ENJOY, without the aching, rash or whatever comes of eating gluten!

Happy eating, learning and living! Gluten Free...

It's My Birthday and I Will Binge If I Want To!

My birthday was awesome. I was in heaven! Gluten free heaven! Everywhere I looked was gluten free food. Gluten free desserts, gluten free sandwiches, gluten free pasta. Heaven! What anti-glutite wouldn't love to be here! The smells of such delectable food. The sights of such perfect food. Perfect for ME! Heaven!

As you first stroll in you can see desserts on your left. Chocolate covered Strawberries, Creme broulee, cakes, parfaits and cookies. As you stroll further down you reach the entrees where they had the best tomato basil pasta, stuffed chicken, pork with some yummy sauce and panini's. Walk a bit further into the buffet toward the end and you'll see a smorgasbord of fresh fruit and vegetables with delicious sandwiches. More Heaven!

Is this me being dramatic? I think not! I think this was one of the happiest days I've had in a long time! My husband and girls to my right and my mom and dad to my left of this perfectly circular table. It was a special day with special people and food. Who ever though food and family could make someone so happy?

It was so perfect, that after I cut some food on my daughters plate, I was able to lick my fingers. An act so little as licking your fingers after preparing something is truely big to me. Did I already say perfect?

I would like to say think you to the chef at the Four Seasons Aviara for preparing a wonderful feast on the first Saturday of every month. You have made many, many anti-glutites extremely happy and many, many more anti-glutites to come!

I am eating, learning, and living...Gluten Free!

Pictures to come soon!

Four Seasons Aviara Gluten Free Buffet *****

I was reading through some of my favorite Gluten Free blogs and at the top of the Gluten Free in San Diego Blog was a post on the Four Seasons Aviara.

The Four Seasons Aviara is now having a monthly gluten free buffet for $29. It is on the first Saturday of every month. The buffet includes an appetizer bar, a salad area, hot entrees, cold entrees and a fabulous dessert bar. EVERYTHING is gluten free (unless marked otherwise). When I went, there were just a couple of sandwiches that were marked as containing gluten, otherwise, everything else was gluten-free. The dessert bar must have had about twenty items on it ranging from flourless chocolate cake, to all kinds of cookies, to chocolate-covered strawberries, to creme brulee and more! Go and bring your appetite, but not your thirst. A small bottle of coke will run you $5 with no refills!

Buffet Hours are from 11:30pm - 2:30pm. The Four Seasons offers a Gluten Free menu everyday upon request. Who wants just a menu when you can have a BUFFET!!!!

• Take I-5 to Carlsbad
• Exit at Poinsettia Lane/Aviara Parkway
• Head (east) at Poinsettia Lane
• Turn right (south) at Aviara Parkway
• Turn right (west) at Four Seasons Point and follow signs to Hotel entrance.

Free Parking and Shuttle 7447 Batiquitos Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92011

• Take I-5 to Carlsbad
• Exit at Poinsettia Lane/Aviara Parkway
• Head (east) at Poinsettia Lane
• Turn right (south) at Batiquitos Drive follow signs to Golf Course entrance.

Four Seasons Aviara 7100 Four Seasons Point - the California Grill Carlsbad, CA 92011 (760) 603-6800 http://www.fourseasons.com/aviara/

Happy eating, learning and living! Gluten Free...

I know I will the first Saturday in Feb for my B-Day weekend!

Understand They Don't Understand

Have you found that, even though, you tell people what gluten is, in depth, they still don't understand? I get the "Oh I forgot" face or "Are you sure this has Gluten?" or "What kind of flour is that?". How about "Rice and potatoes have Gluten, so I'm sorry!" or "It's thickened with flour not wheat!". How about this, "I'm sorry, it has corn starch"! REALLY?!?!?!?!? I have figured out some sayings to make them feel stupid for not listening...

• Oh, is your head up your ass because you didn't hear what I said?
• Because you're a stoner and are stuck at your dead beat job doesn't mean I am coning here looking for weed. I said Wheat or Flour.
• What part of corn starch has wheat or flour?
• Since when did rice or potatoes have gluten?
• You work in the food industry and you dont know what gluten is? No wonder you work here!

Can you tell I have had some frustrating moments? And, YES, I have said some mean things, but then I get up and walk out. This is with 6-8 people sitting at the table. Anyways, I have learned to talk to the chef directly or through a manager when I first get to a restaurant. Bypass the idiots or the servers. They never took any courses in regards to food preparation, just handling. If its a good chef, they will give you options and point out items on the menu you can enjoy. Hope this last bit helps you in you challenge to eat out Gluten Free.

Happy eating, learning and living! Gluten Free...

Pizza Fusion: Part II ***

Expensive! Shall I say it again? Expensive! It was $20.00 for a Gluten Free Pizza the size of a small pizza from Domino's. My Co-Worker, Lashonda, who is also Gluten Free came with me to enjoy FRESH, HOT Pizza. I cant lie! It was SOOOOOOO Delicious. We bought 2 different pizzas and shared. We pretty much ate an entire pizza each. There is noting better than pizza right out of the oven that wasn't frozen first =o). Anyways, so what was it like? Oh fabulous (if you dont think about the price)! If you like a thin crust you will like these pizzas. The pizza in the picture was the Bruschetta Pizza. I would suggest adding sauce to the pizza (I dipped my pizza) to give it a little more flavor and moisture. I cant say I wasnt full when I left. I truly enjoyed the company and the pizza that day. Talk about a day of positives! yeeeee haaaaaa! I will definitely visit Pizza Fusion again in the near future after I save up for it. tee hee!

Pizza Fusion

Well, I just learned about a place called Pizza Fusion that's opening up on the 28th at 11:00am. This place serves Gluten-Free Pizza. Shall I say it again... GLUTEN-FREE PIZZA!!! Fresh pizza, not frozen pizza! 3827 5th Avenue San Diego, CA 92103 Phone: 619-278-0057 http://www.pizzafusion.com/

The Original Pancake House

Now doesn't that look delicious? Well, it was!

For my 11th wedding Anniversary my husband and I went to eat at the Original Pancake House in Poway, CA. The owners daughter and my daughter were in a soccer league together. When I found out they owned the Original Pancake House in Poway I approached them about Gluten Free Pancakes and they stated they already had them. (I swear my mouth dropped, then a smile emerged and a tingle went down my spine). How cool is that! Being able to go out with your family or friends to a nice breakfast joint and being able to actually eat something Gluten Free (that you would normally have to cook yourself).

So, I order the Gluten Free Pancakes with Blueberries, Orange Juice and Country Potatoes. When my order arrived I couldn't believe my eyes. How could these be Gluten Free? I hadn't had a pancake since I found out I had Celiac Disease. I was skeptical in regards to what they would taste like and was extremely surprised. They weren't extremely heavy, they were just right! I was in heaven enjoying each bite like it were my last, until I realized, I could come back next weekend for more. I gave a bite to my husband and he was surprised as well. He isn't really a blueberry man, but he said they were really good. This really made my Saturday and Anniversary!

Thank you Original Pancake House for making a delectable Pancake! (It truly is your specialty!)

BTW for those of you who are not Gluten Free I recommend the Dutch Baby with lemon, butter and powdered sugar! If I could get one of those Gluten Free I would again be in heaven!

Ding Dong Countdown - 23 Days