More Love for Gluten Haters all the way from Tampa, Florida!
Ernie's Aunt "Birdie" mailed us this great phamphlet from their local grocery store, Publix. It's an awesome guide on eating gluten free and offers lists of "Allowed Foods" and "Not Allowed" Foods. While not only helpful and informative, it's also helping raise awareness to others about gluten! This also gives me hope that grocery retailers are thinking about what their shoppers need and let's cross our fingers that this will lead to more options for those who don't want gluten in their foods!
I actually started typing up half of the phamphlet before I decided to use trusty ole Google and found these for you: Shopping Guide and website. It's not exactly the same as what Aunt Birdie mailed to us, but it's pretty similar.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Gluten Free Beer: Redbridge
There's LOTS of love for gluten-free living this week from friends & family.
Thanks goes to Sandra for forwarding along a tip on Gluten-Free Beer: Redbridge! Her sister is gluten free so I'm pretty excited to have another source of info on good tips & ticks.
"I play on a Beer league co-ed softball team on Thursdays and I was at the liquor store Paternos, by my house / Ernie's house, and I picked up Gluten Free Beer for my sister. Redbridge made by Anheuser-Busch. I'd have to say it was pretty tasty. It is an ale beer. So if you are missing the taste of beer give it a try.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art30583.asp
Anheuser-Busch – Brewed at the Merrimack, New Hampshire facility, Redbridge is now available throughout the USA
Redbridge - Redbridge pours a deep honey gold, with a creamy, eggshell head that settles like a gauzy veil over the surface. Effervescent bubbles rise through the glass in a constant stream. Initial aromas are of light malt and a tempered, gentle nuttiness. Some florals rise in the nose. The tongue interprets flavors that echo as a softened pale ale, without the characteristic grassy, earthy flavors of more intense cultivars of sorghum. Cascade hops are not initially prominent in the foreground, but provide a lingering, bitter presence at the back end,"
Honestly, I don't know what beer tastes like (haven't had it in over 10 years) and that was the first time I realized I had some allergy. Anyway, I don't miss the taste of beer, but some of you may!
I also hear they serve this at one beer stand at the Coors stadium out in Denver. Seems weird that a Coors stadium serves an AB beer but has a JV with SABMiller...
Thanks goes to Sandra for forwarding along a tip on Gluten-Free Beer: Redbridge! Her sister is gluten free so I'm pretty excited to have another source of info on good tips & ticks.
"I play on a Beer league co-ed softball team on Thursdays and I was at the liquor store Paternos, by my house / Ernie's house, and I picked up Gluten Free Beer for my sister. Redbridge made by Anheuser-Busch. I'd have to say it was pretty tasty. It is an ale beer. So if you are missing the taste of beer give it a try.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art30583.asp
Anheuser-Busch – Brewed at the Merrimack, New Hampshire facility, Redbridge is now available throughout the USA
Redbridge - Redbridge pours a deep honey gold, with a creamy, eggshell head that settles like a gauzy veil over the surface. Effervescent bubbles rise through the glass in a constant stream. Initial aromas are of light malt and a tempered, gentle nuttiness. Some florals rise in the nose. The tongue interprets flavors that echo as a softened pale ale, without the characteristic grassy, earthy flavors of more intense cultivars of sorghum. Cascade hops are not initially prominent in the foreground, but provide a lingering, bitter presence at the back end,"
Honestly, I don't know what beer tastes like (haven't had it in over 10 years) and that was the first time I realized I had some allergy. Anyway, I don't miss the taste of beer, but some of you may!
I also hear they serve this at one beer stand at the Coors stadium out in Denver. Seems weird that a Coors stadium serves an AB beer but has a JV with SABMiller...
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Gluten-Free Taco Seasoning
This is from a loyal reader of my blog! A gluten-free Taco seasoning recipe.
Thanks Rebecca!!!
Make your own! Much much less salt which makes it a lot more versatile - add to popcorn, chicken salad, etc. You can change any of the the amounts based on your tastes.
Taco Seasoning
1T of your favorite chili powder
2t paprika
1t ground cumin
1t sea salt (to your taste)
1/2t garlic powder
1/2t black pepper
1/4t dried oregano
1/4t cayenne (also adjust accordingly)
1 tiny amount of cinnamon
Use approximately 2-3T of seasoning per pound of beef. Can also add a little water and a little (gluten free!) flour to round it out just like the kind from the packet.
Thanks Rebecca!!!
Make your own! Much much less salt which makes it a lot more versatile - add to popcorn, chicken salad, etc. You can change any of the the amounts based on your tastes.
Taco Seasoning
1T of your favorite chili powder
2t paprika
1t ground cumin
1t sea salt (to your taste)
1/2t garlic powder
1/2t black pepper
1/4t dried oregano
1/4t cayenne (also adjust accordingly)
1 tiny amount of cinnamon
Use approximately 2-3T of seasoning per pound of beef. Can also add a little water and a little (gluten free!) flour to round it out just like the kind from the packet.
Hiro Sushi
On Tuesday night, we met my good friend Mike and his new lady for sushi at a new All You Can Eat Sushi restaurant. Over the past view visits to our formerly favorite AYCE sushi place, we've noticed an increase in the the slightly rude attitude and the "I don't care if you eat here" mentality and decided to locate a new spot.
We've tried Ringo and a few places on Broadway. Everything has been just OK and nothing too amazing. Hiro on Broadway was the most recent new contender recommended by Mike. Why not give it a try?
I'll say that overall, the place was just OK. I'd give it a 3 out of 5 stars. Try it for yourself if you like, pass on it and you won't be missing much. Here's the basic run-down:
Location: Walkable from our condo so that's definitely a plus! Limited to no street parking for drivers out there.
Decor: The restaurant is clean with a simple Japanese theme (what would you expect?) with lots of black and red colors. There's a sushi bar along the south wall where you can watch the chefs at work.
Quality: The fish was pretty fresh by Chicago standards. Still not as awesome as what we got on our Pacific NW vacation, but good for Chicago. However, the amount of fish used per roll and piece of nigiri was much thinner than other options around the city. The signature rolls had unique and racey names that illicits a feeling of being in a strip club...
Drinks: It's BYOB without a corkage fee. Soft drinks are served in cans.
Service: There were two Asian women that waited on us. One was super sweet, probably a first generation and actually looked more Cambodian than Japanese. She also had a surprisingly loud voice when she called everyone's attention to sing happy birthday to a gentleman named "Michael" who embarrasingly sat at the bar while he was serenaded. The other lady was clearly FOB Japanese and also very service oriented. Usually sushi takes awhile to serve, but there wasn't a noticeably long wait for our rolls and nigiri after we ordered.
AYCE Rules: The major downside to this place is that there's a limit to what you can order, and the limit is quite low. Most AYCE places do charge for left over uneaten sushi. I'm down with that rule otherwise everyone would be gluttonous and create a lot of waste. However, when your limit is either (a) 2 rolls per person, (b) 1 roll + 2 pieces of nigiri or (c) 4 pieces of nigiri, there's just a lot of waiting between orders. I imagine it also slows down the consumption so maybe it's better for the restaurant's margins. However, I found this annoying since I'm relatively small (~120 lbs) and can defnitely take down more than 2 rolls. In fact, I'm probably closer to 4 rolls AND nigiri! This will be a major deterrance for me returning to Hiro's.
It must be a week of Celeb-Sightings for us. Well, I don't know if you can call him a "celebrity," but we saw Shane from the Road Rules and MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenge. I actually see him quite often as I think he lives in the neighborhood.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 477-8510
We've tried Ringo and a few places on Broadway. Everything has been just OK and nothing too amazing. Hiro on Broadway was the most recent new contender recommended by Mike. Why not give it a try?
I'll say that overall, the place was just OK. I'd give it a 3 out of 5 stars. Try it for yourself if you like, pass on it and you won't be missing much. Here's the basic run-down:
Location: Walkable from our condo so that's definitely a plus! Limited to no street parking for drivers out there.
Decor: The restaurant is clean with a simple Japanese theme (what would you expect?) with lots of black and red colors. There's a sushi bar along the south wall where you can watch the chefs at work.
Quality: The fish was pretty fresh by Chicago standards. Still not as awesome as what we got on our Pacific NW vacation, but good for Chicago. However, the amount of fish used per roll and piece of nigiri was much thinner than other options around the city. The signature rolls had unique and racey names that illicits a feeling of being in a strip club...
Drinks: It's BYOB without a corkage fee. Soft drinks are served in cans.
Service: There were two Asian women that waited on us. One was super sweet, probably a first generation and actually looked more Cambodian than Japanese. She also had a surprisingly loud voice when she called everyone's attention to sing happy birthday to a gentleman named "Michael" who embarrasingly sat at the bar while he was serenaded. The other lady was clearly FOB Japanese and also very service oriented. Usually sushi takes awhile to serve, but there wasn't a noticeably long wait for our rolls and nigiri after we ordered.
AYCE Rules: The major downside to this place is that there's a limit to what you can order, and the limit is quite low. Most AYCE places do charge for left over uneaten sushi. I'm down with that rule otherwise everyone would be gluttonous and create a lot of waste. However, when your limit is either (a) 2 rolls per person, (b) 1 roll + 2 pieces of nigiri or (c) 4 pieces of nigiri, there's just a lot of waiting between orders. I imagine it also slows down the consumption so maybe it's better for the restaurant's margins. However, I found this annoying since I'm relatively small (~120 lbs) and can defnitely take down more than 2 rolls. In fact, I'm probably closer to 4 rolls AND nigiri! This will be a major deterrance for me returning to Hiro's.
It must be a week of Celeb-Sightings for us. Well, I don't know if you can call him a "celebrity," but we saw Shane from the Road Rules and MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenge. I actually see him quite often as I think he lives in the neighborhood.Hiro's Cafe
2936 N Broadway StChicago, IL 60657
(773) 477-8510
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Manny's Deli
Ernie’s usual corned beef joint, Elliott’s, closed down before we had a chance to go there together. Fortunately for us, I ran into a fellow bearcat during a Young Alumni meeting and he recommended Manny’s Coffee Shop & Deli on the south side of town. After a successful trip to the Randolph Street Antique Market (where we scored a solid reclaimed wood bench and 1800’s treasure chest), Ernie and I hit up the deli. The outside is honestly a little sketch. There was a whole group of people out front staring at us as we drove by, and again as we parked around back and walked into the front door. It was awkward.
The set up is a little different – it’s cafeteria style. When you walk in, pick up a tray and silverware and line up along the cafeteria counter to be served by a number of servers. Though there was a variety of a food, we went straight for the corned beef. I’d been craving it since Thursday night’s meeting. I ordered mine without bread, which sparked a conversation with the nice man serving who asked if I had Celiac. To avoid having to explain that I’m gluten-intolerant rather than a full fledged Celiac, I just nodded yes. Then he mentioned that he has two friends with Celiac and started giving recommendations on where to buy brown rice in bulk. While I appreciated the friendly conversation, I was really eyeing that corned beef!
The helpings are enormous. Maybe half a pound of beef? It came right out of a steamer with thinly sliced meat. He kept adding more and more to the plate and topped it off with two dill pickle spears and a half boiled potato. You can get the regular corned beef sandwich with a potato pancake, but Manny’s does in fact at a bit of flour to their potato pancakes so it’s best to avoid these. There are other side options like potato salad, apple sauce and jello as well.
Lunch for two cost us almost $40. That was more than I expected! We each had a sports drink, corned beef (Ernie’s with rye bread and the potato pancake), half boiled potato and two servings of apple sauce. You tally up the bill after you get your food then go sit down at the very clean eating area. Old vinyl chairs and 70's style tables makes you feel like you're on the set of "Happy Days." The restaurant is quiet large with two main rooms for eating. The walls are covered in news articles, many containing pictures of Obama enjoying the food there. There’s also a little sports ticket counter which you would think is out of place, but it didn’t seem so.
The clientele was very diverse with lots of Caucasians (several Jewish families included), Asians, Black people and Hispanic people. I guess when it comes to excellent corned beef, it doesn’t matter who sits down to dine in!
Just like a good little-Chinese girl who grew up in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood, I LOVE corned beef (and yes, salmon lox too!). The corned beef was delicious. It’s very similar to, and possibly better than, the Jewish styles of my home town’s Jack’s deli and Corky ‘n Lenny’s. It’s definitely worth the drive down to sample the foods. I even brought home about a quarter pound to enjoy later.
Manny’s Coffee Shop & Deli
1141 S. Jefferson
Chicago, IL 60607
http://www.mannysdeli.com/
The set up is a little different – it’s cafeteria style. When you walk in, pick up a tray and silverware and line up along the cafeteria counter to be served by a number of servers. Though there was a variety of a food, we went straight for the corned beef. I’d been craving it since Thursday night’s meeting. I ordered mine without bread, which sparked a conversation with the nice man serving who asked if I had Celiac. To avoid having to explain that I’m gluten-intolerant rather than a full fledged Celiac, I just nodded yes. Then he mentioned that he has two friends with Celiac and started giving recommendations on where to buy brown rice in bulk. While I appreciated the friendly conversation, I was really eyeing that corned beef!
The helpings are enormous. Maybe half a pound of beef? It came right out of a steamer with thinly sliced meat. He kept adding more and more to the plate and topped it off with two dill pickle spears and a half boiled potato. You can get the regular corned beef sandwich with a potato pancake, but Manny’s does in fact at a bit of flour to their potato pancakes so it’s best to avoid these. There are other side options like potato salad, apple sauce and jello as well.
Lunch for two cost us almost $40. That was more than I expected! We each had a sports drink, corned beef (Ernie’s with rye bread and the potato pancake), half boiled potato and two servings of apple sauce. You tally up the bill after you get your food then go sit down at the very clean eating area. Old vinyl chairs and 70's style tables makes you feel like you're on the set of "Happy Days." The restaurant is quiet large with two main rooms for eating. The walls are covered in news articles, many containing pictures of Obama enjoying the food there. There’s also a little sports ticket counter which you would think is out of place, but it didn’t seem so.
The clientele was very diverse with lots of Caucasians (several Jewish families included), Asians, Black people and Hispanic people. I guess when it comes to excellent corned beef, it doesn’t matter who sits down to dine in!
Just like a good little-Chinese girl who grew up in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood, I LOVE corned beef (and yes, salmon lox too!). The corned beef was delicious. It’s very similar to, and possibly better than, the Jewish styles of my home town’s Jack’s deli and Corky ‘n Lenny’s. It’s definitely worth the drive down to sample the foods. I even brought home about a quarter pound to enjoy later.
Manny’s Coffee Shop & Deli
1141 S. Jefferson
Chicago, IL 60607
http://www.mannysdeli.com/
Hopleaf Bar and Ron Howard!
Last Tuesday, we went to dinner with the So’s at Hopleaf. We met at 7pm and there was a nice crowd for a Tuesday evening already forming. The front bar area had the look (and smell) of your average neighborhood bar. There were several beers on tap and a short by-the-glass wine list. The next room back looked more like a restaurant with 2 and 4 top wooden tables. There was exposed brick on all of the walls and a lofted upstairs seating area. Out back was a lovely quiet patio for dining.
We were seated in the main eating area by the stairwell up to the loft and down to the rest rooms. The menu wasn’t very extensive, but we were mostly there for their mussels anyway! Onto the food…We ordered four dishes for all to share.
Mussels for Two: We had one of each variety – the Belgian Style (steamed in Wittekerke white ale with sliced shallots, celery, thyme & bayleaf) and the other (steamed in White Wine with Sweet & Spicy chorizo, carmelized onions & pepadew peppers). This was served with two orders of frites. The mussels were the highlight of the meal. They are served in wrought-iron buckets still soaking in the brothy marinade. I preferred the option with the chorizo though it tasted more like spicy sausage than the Mexican style chorizo that I’ve also come to love. They certainly don’t skimp on the portions and an order of “mussels for two” can actually feed two people, though probably who eat on the lighter side (like all those ladies out there). I love fries, and these were no exception. They’re thin cut, not quite as thin as shoestring, but thinner than McDonald’s fries lightly salted and served warm in those cone-shaped fries baskets.
Fish Stew: tomato-white wine fish browth, sweet corn, bell peppers, red onion, new potatoes, Lake Superior whitefish, Loch Duart salmon, Laughing Bird shrimp, Prince Edward Island mussels, smoked salmon rouille, grilled toast point. I didn’t get the chance to eat too much stew since I primarily went after the mussels. The broth was thin and not creamy based so it didn’t look too unhealthy. There was quite a mix of all kinds of seafood and plenty for a full meal. You’ll have to pass on the toast as usual if you’re a gluten-avoider, but otherwise, this is a great choice for dinner.
Organic Montreal Style Brisket Platter - just the meat, with dill pickle, cole slaw and Stilton mac & cheese. I’ll be honest and say that the brisket was too dry for my taste. The helping comes in four 1/3” to ¼” slices along with all those sides. The mac and cheese is obviously made with wheat so I didn’t have any of that though it looked pretty tasty when it was first warm. I’d go with the mussels.
The real excitement of the evening was when we were waiting for food Amy went off to the restroom. On her way back she exclaimed that she just saw Ron Howard who was being seated upstairs! We come to find out that he’s scoping the restaurant out as a location for his next movie. This was his third visit to Hopleaf but the Restaurant owner is hesitant. It can be challenging to shut down your business for a few days or even a month – especially for out of town guests that are only in for a short time and want their taste of mussels! Ron was dressed very casually, with a baseball hat and a button down shirt. If I saw him on the street, I wouldn’t have recognized him. Dining alongside was a thin blonde lady about the same age, maybe a few years younger. We outlasted them during dinner as they were only seated for an hour, so we were able to catch a glimpse as he came down the stairs.
Be sure to bring your ID, however, because a small man checks them at the door and won't let anyone under 21 years old in.
Hopleaf Bar
5148 N. Clark Street
Chicago IL 60640
773-334-9851
We were seated in the main eating area by the stairwell up to the loft and down to the rest rooms. The menu wasn’t very extensive, but we were mostly there for their mussels anyway! Onto the food…We ordered four dishes for all to share.
Mussels for Two: We had one of each variety – the Belgian Style (steamed in Wittekerke white ale with sliced shallots, celery, thyme & bayleaf) and the other (steamed in White Wine with Sweet & Spicy chorizo, carmelized onions & pepadew peppers). This was served with two orders of frites. The mussels were the highlight of the meal. They are served in wrought-iron buckets still soaking in the brothy marinade. I preferred the option with the chorizo though it tasted more like spicy sausage than the Mexican style chorizo that I’ve also come to love. They certainly don’t skimp on the portions and an order of “mussels for two” can actually feed two people, though probably who eat on the lighter side (like all those ladies out there). I love fries, and these were no exception. They’re thin cut, not quite as thin as shoestring, but thinner than McDonald’s fries lightly salted and served warm in those cone-shaped fries baskets.
Fish Stew: tomato-white wine fish browth, sweet corn, bell peppers, red onion, new potatoes, Lake Superior whitefish, Loch Duart salmon, Laughing Bird shrimp, Prince Edward Island mussels, smoked salmon rouille, grilled toast point. I didn’t get the chance to eat too much stew since I primarily went after the mussels. The broth was thin and not creamy based so it didn’t look too unhealthy. There was quite a mix of all kinds of seafood and plenty for a full meal. You’ll have to pass on the toast as usual if you’re a gluten-avoider, but otherwise, this is a great choice for dinner.
Organic Montreal Style Brisket Platter - just the meat, with dill pickle, cole slaw and Stilton mac & cheese. I’ll be honest and say that the brisket was too dry for my taste. The helping comes in four 1/3” to ¼” slices along with all those sides. The mac and cheese is obviously made with wheat so I didn’t have any of that though it looked pretty tasty when it was first warm. I’d go with the mussels.
Be sure to bring your ID, however, because a small man checks them at the door and won't let anyone under 21 years old in.
Hopleaf Bar
5148 N. Clark Street
Chicago IL 60640
773-334-9851
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Longman and Eagle
We met the Connelly’s for dinner on Friday in Logan Square at a cute “new” restaurant called Longman and Eagle. Arriving at 8pm meant that the evening crowd was just out-n-about and the small restaurant was getting very full. The four of us sat at the bar waiting for the first available table. Kelly and I sipped on a light, mildly sweet white wine. I wish I could remember the name! We were finally seated at a wooden booth outside on the patio and the sun had already set. I think it took about an hour to get seated though the hosts told us on three occasions that it would be ‘just another 5 minutes.’ The time flew since Dan and Kelly are always so amusing with great conversations.
The patio space was enclosed by white wooden waist-high wall. The best part was that along the top of the wall were various herbs planted in long bins that you would hang over your balcony. I wonder if they use those herbs to cook with!
More wine, beer for the boys, and appetizers. First, the seared main scallops (with corn and fava bean succotash, Sea urchin, lobster nage) were served up in a pair and deliciously fresh and light. I didn’t know what ‘succotash’ or ‘nage’ until I looked it up on google. Succotash is a traditional dish made of corn and lima beans and popular during the great depression. Nage means that the food is poached, usually seafood.
The shaved pear salad was a great starter and plenty for four to share. The light sherry-walnut vinaigrette drizzled over the fluffy bed of greens whet the appetite for the main course.
For dinner, I selected the Sturgeon (a white fish) formally known on the menu as “Grilled Columbia River Sturgeon, Linguica Sausage, Kale, Littleneck Clams, New Potato, Piquillo Pepper Broth.” Quite a long name, but completely and accurately describes the contents of the dish. I don’t think I’ve ever had Sturgeon before but it was a nice whitefish fillet whose texture is firm but not tough, flaky and still moist. The edges were slightly crispy and held in the mild flavor. The kale was lightly wilted; the clams added a nice texture compliment; and tasty sausage and roasted potatoes added a savory aroma. The entrée was served with a thin red tomato based sauce that added a little comfort to the summer evening. The result was an amazing mix of flavors and a dish I devoured in minutes.
It appears that there’s also a back patio that will soon open for those late-evening drinks. The artistic website also says they will be opening up six uniquely decorated rooms for rent which is an interesting concept for a new eatery. “Eat, Drink, Sleep” at Longman and Eagle.
Longman and Eagle
2657 N. KEDZIE AVE
CHICAGO, IL 60647
773-276-7110
The patio space was enclosed by white wooden waist-high wall. The best part was that along the top of the wall were various herbs planted in long bins that you would hang over your balcony. I wonder if they use those herbs to cook with!
More wine, beer for the boys, and appetizers. First, the seared main scallops (with corn and fava bean succotash, Sea urchin, lobster nage) were served up in a pair and deliciously fresh and light. I didn’t know what ‘succotash’ or ‘nage’ until I looked it up on google. Succotash is a traditional dish made of corn and lima beans and popular during the great depression. Nage means that the food is poached, usually seafood.
The shaved pear salad was a great starter and plenty for four to share. The light sherry-walnut vinaigrette drizzled over the fluffy bed of greens whet the appetite for the main course.
For dinner, I selected the Sturgeon (a white fish) formally known on the menu as “Grilled Columbia River Sturgeon, Linguica Sausage, Kale, Littleneck Clams, New Potato, Piquillo Pepper Broth.” Quite a long name, but completely and accurately describes the contents of the dish. I don’t think I’ve ever had Sturgeon before but it was a nice whitefish fillet whose texture is firm but not tough, flaky and still moist. The edges were slightly crispy and held in the mild flavor. The kale was lightly wilted; the clams added a nice texture compliment; and tasty sausage and roasted potatoes added a savory aroma. The entrée was served with a thin red tomato based sauce that added a little comfort to the summer evening. The result was an amazing mix of flavors and a dish I devoured in minutes.
This was Ernie's pork dish. Maybe he'll guest author a review of his meal!
Longman and Eagle
2657 N. KEDZIE AVE
CHICAGO, IL 60647
773-276-7110
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