Tea

I went to my first tea service today at Grand America hotel.  It was delightful.  I had planned to go with my friend for her Birthday and was not expecting gluten free food to be available.  I learned my lesson that it never hurts to ask before you go.   They did have gluten free items, but because I had not warned them ahead of time, my food came twenty minutes after everyone else was served. 

 There were three different sandwiches.  They had used a cookie cutter and cut out rounds and put a cheese spread on top with thin slices cucumbers and a green olive.  It tasted great.  The second sandwich was a ham and cheese blend, much like a chicken salad mix, and the third sandwich was a slice of cheese, ham and a bitter currant jam.  It was different, but still good.

 Everyone got a personal tea pot and there were many choices of green, black and fruit teas as well as hot chocolate and steamed milk options.

The room is beautiful with Victorian-style furniture and a cozy fire place and a harp player.  It was a nice experience.

Refined Sugar

I believe, part of the process of finding a good diet is not just blindly following some prescribed magic combination of items, or following what the latest "experts", FDA, research, religion or fad diet that comes along proposes.

I have a strong belief that I am the expert on my body. My body, if I listen, will tell me all I need to know.

This holiday season is the first time I've eaten any significant amount of refined sugar since March.

 It has had quite the impact.
My tongue certainly enjoyed it.
My body, not so much.
I find this disappointing.
I was hoping it wouldn't effect me, much like when I removed dairy and reintroduced it without any difference.
I now eat a significant amount of dairy. Pastured butter, cheese, and heavy cream.
Looks like refined sugar will be out.

Eating Out

EATING OUT

I have high anxiety when eating out.  After you get sick when you thought you were careful, it isn't easy to eat out again.  It is easier now than it was even a few years ago and most places have gluten-free options.  One thing I usually do is check online or call ahead to find out what is gluten free.  Even if the menu says gluten free, it doesn't mean the people in the kitchen take the proper precautions. It is still better to eat at home where you know all the ingredients and don’t run the risk of cross-contamination and can start with fresh ingredients.  However, it sure is nice to be able to go out.

Always ask for the gluten free menu and remind the waiter/food handler to change gloves, not touch anything which could cross-contaminate and not to put any bread/gluten on your plate next to your food.  Most places are getting pretty good at remembering, but it isn't worth getting sick.

These are my local tried and true favorites:

Biaggis This Italian food restaurant will make you want to cry it is so good.  The pizza and the pasta are delicious and it is hard to tell the difference between regular and gluten free.  Top it off with the creme brulee and it will be your favorite restaurant as well.  It is a nice place but not expensive.  http://www.biaggis.com/  Located in the Gateway in downtown Salt Lake City.

Texas Roadhouse  When we get take-out at work, this is a favorite for everyone.  I can eat out here even when on a paleo day.  A nice sirloin and steamed vegetables or the roasted chicken with mashed potato topped with bacon always hit the spot and are great gluten free options.

Rancheritos  Every store is different, so you have to be careful.  They know me at my local mexican food rancheritos and call me "No Tortilla" when I walk in.  I can get almost all of the burritos without a tortilla as they cook basic meats then they put everything else on the side.  It is very kind and I tip them every time so they know I appreciate their efforts.

California Pizza Kitchen  Also downtown in the Gateway, this is the best gf pizza for your money.  Most gf pizzas taste like cardboard and I will only try a new gf recipe with high recommendations because they are so expensive.  CPK has it right and isn't too outrageous in price.

Chinese - Pei Wei  Vietnamese rolls with the chile sauce are soooo good.  Joy Luck  In Bountiful and Draper, Joy Luck satisfies your craving for Chinese.  They have many gf options and my favorite is the walnut shrimp.  Typhoon also in the Gateway has the best lettuce wraps ever and also has a gluten free menu.  There are lots of little places you can go and you just have to talk to them and get a menu and find out what ingredients they use and how they cook it.

Thai  Thai food is great for gluten free or paleo eaters.  Most curries are gluten free, but always ask.  Every restaurant I have ever been to has had gluten free options.  If the server or cook isn't sure about something, don't risk it.  My favorite is Thai Basil, the pineapple curry is the absolute best.

Indian  Most curries are gluten free and many of the grilled meats are fine.  Indian restaurants also have a variety of breads and crepes which are made from chickpea flour and lentil (bean) flour and rice flour.  My current favorite is Saffron Valley in South Jordan.

Wendy’s – This is my favorite for fast food because they are very conscious of cross contamination and deep fry the fries in a separate vat from anything breaded.  Any burger without a bun, chili, grilled chicken breast no bun, French fries, salads (Caesar dressing is the only gluten free on their menu), baked potato, frosty.  For eating out quickly, Wendy's is the best fast food option and inexpensive.

Noodles – Penne Rosa with rice noodles, pad thai (can add beef, not chicken), rice noodle bowl

Café Rio – Children tostadas, salads ask for no tortilla, creamy tomatillo dressing-remind to change gloves because they handle the wheat tortilla's

Yanni’s-meat skewers (slovaki), lemon rice, 

Crown Burger – fries, crown burger no bun or lettuce wrapped, chef salad (bring your own dressing), gyro in lettuce wrap, side of pastrami; 

Spaghetti Factory has gluten free options,  

Spaghetti Mamas (wasn’t that great, they burned the pizza but Jenna said they are getting better), Olive Garden has gluten free options, 

El Matador (Bountiful) nachos supreme, chili verde, side of rice.   

Iggy’s now has a GF menu. 

Wingers has ribs and chicken  and other items 

In and Out Burger  Protein style burgers, check on the fries because some locations are okay, some are not.

Almost any food chain will be aware of gluten allergies and provide a gluten free menu on-site or on-line.  If it is somewhere local,  you just have to walk in and ask and find out what is in everything and how it is cooked.  It can be a pain, but if it is somewhere you really want to go and they are nice enough to answer all your questions, it is worth knowing you have somewhere to go.

Scones

I love hot, buttery, delicious scones.  I used Pamela's gluten free cooking mix and mixed the scone mix recipe on the package.  The directions advise to cook the scones in the oven, but I fried them in 2 Tablespoons of coconut oil on medium heat on the stove top.





They turned out fluffy and crispy and had the look of pancakes when you cook them in a ton of butter.




I ate them with honey butter and strawberry jam and could not have been happier.





I like Pamela's mix for cookies and pancakes.  I use King Arthur flour for just about everything else because it is a lighter mix and translates cup for cup with regular flour.