Tyler's Ultimate Bolognese

Last year sometime, I took on the challenge of making Tyler Florence's "Ultimate Bolognese"...and since then my Dad has been asking me when I will make it again. So I did. This recipe is not something you tackle on a week day after work. This recipe has 20 ingredients...enough said.

The recipe is killer though. It has so many layers of flavors. Some rich. Some earthy. Some nice and fresh to balance things out. I challenge you to take a Sunday afternoon and make it for your family. It's not only amazing to eat, it's fun to make (if you have time and a bit of patience).

Ingredients:

2 ounces dried porcini mushrooms, wiped of grit

1/4 pound pancetta or slab bacon, finely chopped

1 medium onion, finely chopped

2 celery stalks, finely chopped

2 carrots, finely chopped

5 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

2 bay leaves

2 sprigs rosemary

1 1/2 pound ground pork

1 1/2 pound ground beef

2 cups milk

1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

2 cups dry red wine

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 pound dry pasta (I swapped for Gluten-free Rigatoni)

Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, for serving

1 handful fresh basil leaves

Fresh ricotta cheese

Directions:

Reconstitute the mushrooms in boiling water for 20 minutes until tender, drain and coarsely chop.

Puree the mushrooms, pancetta, onion, celery stalks, carrots, garlic, together in a blender.

In a heavy-bottomed pot add olive oil, bay leaves, herbs and cook gently until fragrant, then add vegetable puree and continue to cook for a further 5 to 10 minutes.

Raise the heat a bit and add the ground pork and beef; brown until the meat is no longer pink, breaking up the clumps with a wooden spoon.

Add the milk and simmer until the liquid is evaporated, about 10 minutes. Carefully pour in the tomatoes, and wine and season with salt and pepper.

Bring the sauce to a boil, then lower the heat and cover. Slowly simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring now and then, until the sauce is very thick. Taste again for salt and pepper.

When you are ready to serve, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until tender yet firm (as they say in Italian "al dente"). Drain the pasta well and toss with the Bolognese sauce.

Serve with a good scoop of fresh ricotta cheese and garnish with some shredded basil, grated Parmigiano and a drizzle of olive oil.

RWS 12/12/10: 30th Birthday Celebration

Being female and single...turning 30 was bound to be an interesting day. After many years of having a birthday around the holiday's, I've gotten used to the fact that people are busy. Between family, friends and work engagements, who has time to plan/attend yet another party? Knowing that, I decided to keep this monumental birthday simple. I had my closest friends and family over at my parents house for the same meal that I request every other birthday. Without any stress, I was able to fully enjoy my favorite people and my favorite food to welcome me into my next decade of life. It fit with my mentality as I approach my 30's of keeping things a little more simple than they were in my whirlwind 20's.



Arugula Salad w/ Shaved Parmesan, Pine Nuts and Red Wine Vinegar Dressing







Baked Ziti: Gluten and Gluten-free versions








Sunday Meat Sauce w/ Pork & Sausage








Chocolate Cake w/ Chocolate Frosting (Betty Crocker Gluten-free)








Sprinkles Cupcakes: Gluten and Gluten-free versions








Carparzo Brunello Di Montalcino Wine










What else could a girl ask for...

Sprinkles Cupcakes

In a sea of cupcake options...Sprinkles has found a way to standout. Beginning in Beverly Hills, this little cupcake shop has exploded into 10 retail locations and a franchise in it's own right. A good question you might be thinking is why am I writing about a "gluten-full" cupcake place? The point of this post is two fold: Sprinkles has made it to Chicago and they decided to offer 1 gluten-free cupcake that just so happens to be in my favorite flavor (red velvet!).

I actually found out about Sprinkles from Williams and Sonoma. They sell Sprinkles cupcakes mixes so that you can make them at home (which was great before I knew that I needed to be gluten-free). The mix is very easy (like Betty Crocker) and tasted amazing. After becoming gluten-free I had given up on my love for Sprinkles and was more saddened than excited when they opened up shop in Chicago...until last week. A friend of mine mentioned that they have a gluten-free cupcake. Could this be true!?!?!

I visited their beautifully constructed website and found out that indeed they have begun selling as mentioned above a gluten-free cupcake. Funny enough, it's my birthday next Monday and my Mom is going to order a bunch of gluten & gluten-free cupcakes for the party. Can't wait! Stay tuned for a report.

Babycakes NYC

After exactly 365 day of posting my 1st blog...I visited the mecca of gluten-free baked goods. The fiance and I flew into Newark for his brother's wedding last month, and decided to stop in NYC for a few culinary pit stops. On our trip, we stopped at Katz's Deli, L&B Spumoni Gardens (in Brooklyn) and the reason for this post...Babycakes NYC.

I heard about Babycakes pretty early on in my gluten-free days. Babycakes is a bakery that offers different kinds of baked goods for whatever your specific allergy/food choices are...they have refined sugar-free, gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, casein-free, egg-free, vegan and kosher items. I've followed them on twitter, I've bought their book, and I've watched their YouTube clips...pretty much I consider them celebrities.

If it's not obvious by the above, I was over the moon when the Fiance said that we would have time to pop into NYC for the good part of the day before heading off to Pennsylvania for the wedding. If my permanent smile from ear to ear wasn't enough...I had the Fiance take pictures of me in front of the storefront before even entering. My adult version of Disney World.

Once inside, to be honest, I was shocked at how small it was! I should have known, I mean it's NYC. We're not in Kansas anymore and space is tight. We were greeted by very 50's style employees...all very pink and cute; I loved it. The selection was pretty large, but was all crammed in a tiny display. I'm sure the new LA store is quite different, however all of this gave it it's NYC charm...very kitchy and cool.

Alas, I ordered a bunch of gluten-free items. I'll break down my thoughts:

Chocolate Chip Cookie: Chewy, tasty, thin, and very good. (not quite a Tate's cookie though)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich: Whoa!!!!! Genius. Putting frosting in the middle of 2 cookies?!? Amazing.

Cinnamon & Sugar Toasties: Awesome. After slaving for 5 hours to make my own...this is a way better option. Very soft, dense, flavorful, and delicious.

Carrot Cake Topper w/ Frosting: Wow. I mean, I almost died upon contact. The best carrot cake I've ever had in combination with the best cream cheese frosting I've ever had. To. Die. For.

Vanilla Cupcake: Completely bummed. This is their flagship item. My disappointment however may be due to the absence of dairy, egg and refined sugar.

Although my reviews are mixed, I still have more gluten-free options to dive into. I can't stop thinking about the carrot cake, cinnamon toastie and cookie sandwich. I still think that they are gods in the gluten-free world. I bow down to you Babycakes NYC...and thank you.

Flemming's Steakhouse Mac & Cheese (Gluten-free)

On a recent trip to Omaha for a friends wedding, we stopped at a Flemming's Steakhouse for a quick drink in between the ceremony and rehearsal. While there, the fiance ordered up some Mac & Cheese to fend off his hunger for a few more hours until dinner is served. He shared that it is one of the best Mac & Cheese dishes he's had and always orders it when dining there. I was definitely intrigued...I'm pretty much always intrigued whenever anyone says the "best of" of anything.

I thought it would be neat to try to recreate this dish at home, gluten-free, so that I could indulge as well. I had no problem finding the recipe online, and with a few very easy substitutions I was on my way to making gluten-free Flemming's Mac.

Ingredients: (Gluten-free substitutions)
1 lb pasta (Bionaturae)
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3/4 cup onion, 1/2-inch dice
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour (Bob's Red Mill)
2 cups heavy cream
3 cups half-and-half
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon white pepper (ground)
3/4 lb smoked cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 lb cheddar cheese, grated
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon dried chipotle powder (chipotle chili powder)
3/4 cup breadcrumbs (Schar)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large pot, bring 1 gallon of water to boil. Add 2 teaspoons salt and pasta and cook for 8 - 9 minutes. 3. Drain pasta and cool under cold running water. Pasta should be slightly firm. Toss drained pasta in oil and reserve.
4. Melt butter in a large sauce pot over medium heat. Add onions and saute for 4 - 5 minute.
5. Add flour and cook 1 - 2 minute but do not brown. Add cream, half and half, kosher salt and white pepper. Bring pot to a simmer. Cook until sauce is thick, about 5 - 6 minute.
6. Blend cheese into sauce and add cooked pasta.
7. Pour pasta and sauce into a 9 x 12" baking dish. Reserve.
8. In a saute pan over medium-high heat, add oil and chipotle chili powder. Heat for 30 seconds, until pan starts to smoke. Remove from stove and stir in bread crumbs.
9. Sprinkle bread crumbs over the pasta and bake for 15 - 20 minute until golden. Cool slightly before serving.

Although the smokey cheese and chipotle are typically not up my alley, the dish was very rich and delicious. The fiance had at least 2 bowls...so I will consider it a success.

Udi's Granola

Finally, gluten-free granola that actually tastes like granola!

Recently my Dad picked up a bag of gluten-free granola for me that a new employee of his had recommended. A little back-story, this new employee actually brought it up in the interview process that she had Celiac disease...and immediately they sparked up a detailed conversation about it. He found out that she and I have a a few similarities. We are both Irish and Italian. Funny enough, this women's family has a similar last name as my Dad's grandmother (Perone vs Perrone). The Italian side of my family is from Potenza and hers is from Siciliy (so it's doubtful we are related). Long story short...my Dad now believes that he has passed along this gluten allergy within his DNA to me. I can't really dispute that since 1 in 250 Italians have a gluten allergy (Bizarre considering it's the home of spaghetti and pizza). What's more 1 in 100 Irish folks have the allergy as well. Since my Dad is 50/50 Italian/Irish I think the message is clear. My allergy was no accident.

Like any other gluten intolerant, we roll with the punches the best we can and celebrate the small wins. Today's small win is Udi's granola...delicious granola that actually tastes like granola. Thanks Dad for the granola! (It's the least he can do right?).

Dr. Lucy's Cookies

Over the past 6 months or so, I've been starting to see gluten-free packaged food items showing up at Starbucks. They started with dried fruits, which are great but a little boring, and now they have cookies! Recently I was in a situation where I didn't have time to grab breakfast and was in need of something a little bit more substantial than a coffee and a banana. To my surprise, by the register were these cute little packets of cookies. I was like, Yes! something that I can actually eat.

Before I dove into these cute little cookies, I decided to read the packaging. The cookies are made by a Dr. who also happens to be a Mom of a child with allergies. Upon reading further, the cookies not only were gluten-free, but were also allergy-friendly, trans-fat free, Vegan, cholesterol free, and Kosher. I thought yowza, these things are bound to be devoid of flavor. All the fun has been taken out of them :)

To my surprise, the chips in the chocolate chip cookies were yummy and the cookie itself did not have a strong gluten-free flour flavor. With that said, the cookies were very hard and crumbly and at best put off my hunger satisfaction for about an hour.

I think that Dr. Lucy's being available in a place like Starbucks, with national distribution, is an amazing step forward for the gluten-free world, however someone has got to do something about the quality of the taste of the products that are being put out.

Brewburgers Omaha, NE

Last weekend, the fiance and I took a road trip to Omaha, NE for my old roommate Erin's sisters wedding. Alyssa and I are friends from the many trips that she took to Chicago to visit her sis and the year stint that I lived in Minneapolis (her current residence). With the popularity of Diners, Drive-in's and Dives, a Food network program, the phrase "road trip" and "Triple D" are becoming synonymous. You can't do one without the other. It's the new Sonic or Crackel Barrel for road trips...places that you can only hit up when you are on the road.

So, without further ado, we stopped at an Omaha location called Brewburgers:



I had the Old Fashioned Sandwich and the fiance had a Burger. I must say the burgers looked big, juicy with a nice soft bun. The onion rings were massive and the cheese jutted straight out from all sides. On the other hand my Old Fashioned (bread on the side since I wasn't eating it) was light as a feather. I know it's not as fun since I ate the brisket with mustard and side of french fries...but I'm telling you this meat was delish. I ate an entire plate of this brisket and I was in heaven. I didn't feel overstuffed or heavy. Lean tender meat. Awesome. For those of you headed to the middle of America, you have to stop in Omaha to try BrewBurgers.

As Guy would say, not only did we roadtrip to Omaha, we took a trip to Flavortown USA.

The Bacon Explosion

Months back, the boyfriend had sent me a link to one of his favorite sites www.uncrate.com. Uncrate is a "web magazine for guys who like stuff." It's actually a really enjoyable site. Everyday they post some type of new and cool product to lust over (i.e. electronics, clothing, cars etc.). The boyfriend, an avid bacon lover, sent me the post from Uncrate for the Bacon Explosion. When I opened the link, I was like Woah! what is that thing?

That thing...is a bacon stuffed, bacon wrapped BBQ sausage log. A company called BBQ Addicts offers up this "award winning" Bacon Explosion online...fully-cooked and ready to ship to your door. The explosion is also dressed with Kansas City style rub and BBQ sauce.

So, a couple weeks ago, it was the boyfriends birthday...and I thought what better than cook him a nice dinner. The dinner of course offering up the Bacon explosion as the main course. I must say since it's shipped to you fully-cooked on dry ice, the meal was a breeze. All I had to do is take it out of the plastic covering, place on a cookie tray and bake for 40 minutes on 350. I served some potato salad along side and we were set. I myself love bacon, sausage and BBQ and felt the explosion was delicious. The bacon was thick, chewy and crispy and the sausage was tender and juicy.

Needless to say the dinner was a success, and I would recommend to any BBQ or Bacon lover out there.

Top 10 Hamptons Food

As mentioned in my previous post, I've been lucky enough to spend quite a bit of time in the Hamptons. Every year, we have the go-to things that we like to do, most of which revolve around food. Fresh from my annual trip, I thought I'd provide my Top Ten Hamptons Foods (please note gluten items included):

1. Cookies and cupcakes from Tate's Bake shop
As mentioned in my previous post, the cookies are amazing and but so are their cupcakes. We picked up some for my little nephew's birthday party.
2. Dosa's from the Hampton Chutney Co.
This tiny little shack in Amagansett makes the best Dosa's. They have so many different combo's, everyone leaves happy. Best part is that they are made from Rice flour...and therefore Gluten-free!
3. Scoop du Jour
A favorite of Alec Baldwin's, this family friendly East Hampton hot spot offers delicious ice cream, Crumb's cupcakes and Dreesen's donuts.
4. Lobster Night complements of Stuart's
Directed by a tiny sign off of Rt 27, you can find Stuarts tucked away in Amagansett. Amazingly fresh fish, two of my favorites being lobster and scallops. Every year, my Mom picks up half cooked lobsters, then finishes them off on the grill. We enjoy our meal on the deck to avoid the mess.
5. Bagels (or flagel's) from Goldbergs
Arguably not the best New York bagel, but the best we have found in the Hamptons.
6. Cookies from Levain Bakery
In Wainscott Village, you can find the biggest, gooeyist, most ridiculous cookies I have ever tasted. My personal preference is the chocolate chocolate.
7. Pizza from Fiero's
You can fold the thin slice. The oil and cheese drip down to the tip. You burn the roof of your mouth if you eat it too quick. Big burly guys who have been working there forever serve it to you. Found right in the town of East Hampton. No need to say more.
8. Eggs from the Chicken Farm
Eggs so fresh, they are like delicate little flowers. Only downfall is it's hard to make over easy without bursting a yolk.
9. Produce, dips and cakes from Round Swamp
This place has the best everything. And they know it...so stack up your gold bricks prior to shopping.
10. A Cafe Cortado from Jack's
Just opened this summer. The staff is a little flustered, but the coffee was delish.

Tate's Bake Shop

I've had a long love affair with Tate's. Our long distance relationship began in 90's and has only grown in strength since. Before my parent's set up shop in East Hampton, NY in 2002 my Mom used to take me for a week trip to the Hamptons in the summer. We would stay at the Ocean Dunes in Amagansett and would spend the week indulging in local food and bumming at the beach.

On the drive out, we would always stop at one of the many local farm stands to load up on fresh produce. At each register, they offered local favorites from surrounding businesses...one of which was Tate's. It was nearly impossible to pass up the fresh cookies in a cute little plastic bag. Upon first taste, I knew that these cookies were something special.

How to describe these gems...they are thin, crispy at the edges, slightly soft in the middle with chocolate chips that melt in your mouth. There is definitely plenty of butter in these puppies, you can taste the smoothness on your tongue. I find that they go best with coffee and can make a great breakfast (for those of that do not have rules against chocolate for breakfast).

Of course, it was a bummer on all levels to find out that I was gluten-free and was going to have to say goodbye to a lot of old favorites...but how was I going to survive the Hamptons without my Tate's? This summer is my first summer gluten-free and therefore my first gluten-free trip to the Hamptons. About a week before I left Chicago for one of my annual trips, I received a phone call from my Mom. No joke...Tate's, this year, has started to offer Gluten-free cookies! Unbelievable. I was in shock. What's more, they are even making gluten-free brownies as well. Please note that they are only selling these in their Southampton flagship store (not at the farm stands...yet).

One bite into a Tate's gluten-free cookie and I was in heaven. These cookies did not taste gluten-free. They tasted like the tried and true cookies I have loved all these years.

Thank you Tate's. You allowed me to keep my tradition and in turn I will continue to eat your products year in and year out.

Table 52

Upscale casual dress. This is how the hostess described the dress code at Table 52. A southern comfort restaurant that offers the tastes and smells of the south mixed with a sleekness you've come to expect from a downtown establishment. The exterior of the restaurant is very nondescript. It actually looks like a house from the outside. I say sleek because there is not any of the extra fanfare created by some of the overexposed restaurants you find closer to Michigan avenue.

We arrived a little early for our reservation (called a week ahead and could only get 9pm)...and were greeted by a smiley hostess with a southern accent. A charm that we found throughout the entire meal. They gladly sat us early and outside (per our request). Next up our enthusiastic waiter asked what we'd like to drink and without pause I ordered the Rose' flight and the boyfriend ordered one of his favorite wines Conundrum. This was a special meal as the boyfriend had just been promoted. I was quite pleased with my choice when I saw the mini little pink glasses arrived. Too cute for words. I loved the first 2 I tried however for some reason the third was absolutely undrinkable. I shared my distaste with the waiter in the nicest way possible and without even a bat of an eye he was like "no problem, i don't like that one myself either." Awesome! I mean not only did he accommodate my request, he also didn't make me feel bad about it.

OK, on to the food. For starters biscuits were brought to the table which the boyfriend devoured and went on to say that they were the best biscuits he's ever had. With his look of complete satisfaction I believed it. Then we were served an amuse bouche (a small gift from the chef) of deviled eggs. This is a classic food item that I didn't grow up eating but that I have grown to appreciate. I mean what's not to love about hard boiled eggs, mayonnaise and paprika. To give the waiter even more credit, I had at first forgotten to take a picture of the eggs...so I asked for another set, again I was given a quick yes which was soon followed with a huge grin by me.

For an appetizer, we ordered the risotto to share. This was a potato risotto served with an over easy egg yolk on top. Yes more egg...as this was a southern meal, it was expected that our cholesterol would be at a high level at the conclusion of the meal. When the risotto arrived I was surprised to see that there was no rice in the risotto. Being an Italian girl, I couldn't quite wrap my brain around it. I figured it was going to be a mix of arborio rice and potato...yes an odd combo but you never know. I later found out from the waiter that risotto is a method of cooking and not only made with rice. I thought the overall flavor of the dish was good...but i was left yearning for the rice. I found that the potato did not sop up the juices as well as the traditional dish.

For my main course I had the pork chop with a side of roast sweet potatoes. The boyfriend ordered the short ribs with sides of mac & cheese and cornbread (drizzled with honey and sprinkled with bacon). My potatoes were great...but I must say I felt saddened by my gluten restriction as the boyfriend dove into the melty goodness of the mac & cheese. He loved it so much we went back a week later!

For dessert, I ordered a set of ice creams, one of which was made with goat cheese. I was once again pleased with the presentation (served in little cups) however the ice cream had melted by the time it was served. I have to applaud their efforts though as the ice cream by itself wasn't listed on the menu.

Overall it was an amazing dinner on the front patio of Table 52...a beautifully warm summer evening, great company and wonderful comfort food.

Cancun, MX

Last month I was lucky enough to take a trip to Mexico. After a long winter and a cold Spring, I was ready to shake off the Chicago weather to kick back & relax. My idea of a successful vacation includes great company, hot weather, and cold drinks. I got all of that and much more. Since this is a food blog, I'm going to try to stick with my food experience.

Beyond eating my weights worth of chips and salsa, I indulged in:

The Westin's Pai Ai:A cocktail and breakfast. This funny pineapple drink with a face offered a fruity pink rum flavored smoothie of sorts. They whole out the pineapple, fill it with a frozen fruit cocktail, then pin fruit to the outside. A cocktail that's fun even before you start drinking it...


Habana Cigar Lounge: The best mojito ever. Sitting on a deck, amazing weather, and a perfect cocktail. It was also sunset which really set the mood. Not surprisingly, I couldn't stop at just one. I had to order a second one...which would have been fine if we hadn't followed it up with a tequila restaurant for dinner.


La Destileria: Amazing shrimp tacos and a delicious Margarita that was way too big. This restaurant specializes in tequila, they import hundreds of them and even have their own tequila museum.



Captain's Cove: This romantic bungalow of a restaurant sits on the water with an amazing deck to sit back and relax with your partner. The waiters were friendly and I thoroughly enjoyed the scallops that I ordered. A quirky aspect to the place is that an enormous alligator is lurking in the water below. The best part of this restaurant is that connected to it is a Karaoke Bar called Pancho Willie's. The boyfriend and I had a blast finalizing our night making a total fool of ourselves (well maybe just me).

Hacienda El Mortero: A little more lively than it's name translated into English "The cement building"... this local favorite did not disappoint. The restaurant served traditional Mexican fare in a welcoming and festive yet more upscale environment than some of its touristy neighbors.

Cambalache: An Argentinian steakhouse located inside a Mall. At first it sounded a little random, but once I bit into my deliciously juicy skirt steak and tasted the salt of the fluffy potato pillows (not a technical term) I knew that this place was special. The boyfriend ordered beef ribs that looked like Dinosaur ribs. Other than our distracted waiter, the dinner was a big win.

Oh, Cancun, you are so much better than I remembered you from my '99 Freshman year trip. This trip to Cancun was a vacation to remember...

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeda!, located on Halsted in Lincoln Park, has been a hot spot for years. Since I moved to Lincoln Park in 2002, I can't even count on my hand the number of times that I have been invited to meet friends to eat tapas and drink Sangria. It's a wonderful restaurant that offers great food and ambiance (they have a fantastic outdoor seating area that can fit a crowd).

With the above review, you would think that this is one of my favorite restaurants, but it hasn't been until recently. In 2001, I studied abroad in Seville, Spain. While in Spain, I lived with an older woman (my Senora) who fed me some of the worst food I have ever had in my life. From lentil beans to fried fish with the spine still in tact...I was put off my Spanish food. Over time, I have gotten over my distaste and have sampled tapas at several different restaurants across the globe (even Barcelona of late).

What really put me over the edge and pushed me into the camp of loving Spanish food is a result of Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! taking the time to create a Gluten-free menu. They have a full menu of cold tapas, hot tapas, brochetas, paella and even dessert. Some of my favorites include the roasted eggplant salad with goat cheese and the rioja short ribs w/ manchego mashed potatoes.

When a restaurant makes the extra effort, like a gluten-free menu, you can understand how they have become a neighborhood favorite.

The Cookie Bar

I'm often jealous of the bakeries that the Coasts have to offer (i.e. Babycakes NYC & LA)...but this year, Chicago was lucky enough to get an import. Two guys from LA decided to live their dream and open up a Cookie bakery in Chicago. I heard about the the Cookie Bar from Daily Candy and was at their door within a week.

They are located at the corner of Lincoln & Altgeld in Lincoln Park. The bakery literally offers just cookies. I hate to say "just" cookies though as they have 20+ flavors...a mix of daily flavors and specials. The obvious reason for my intrigue in this bakery is that they offer gluten free cookies.

During my visit to the Cookie Bar, I had some of the best "gluten-free" service I've ever had. The owners made sure that they changed gloves before grabbing my cookies. They also made a big fuss that since I had arrived at the first 5 minutes of opening they only had one flavor ready...but plan to always have up to 3 flavors every day. You could tell that the bakery had just opened it's doors...but that they had the heart and desire to make their customers satisfied.

Of course I have to mention the cookies. My family enjoyed the mix of "gluten-full" flavors I bought them and I had the gluten-free chocolate chip. Everyone has their own preference for cookies, so I'll describe these as thin cookies with a crisp exterior and slightly chewy middle with chocolate that melts in your mouth.

I'll be back to belly up to the Cookie Bar...I wish them great success.

Iron Works BBQ

A couple of weekends ago, I took my first trip to Austin, TX. I wish I could say to prep I packed a bag full of cowboy boots & hat, checkered shirt and bandanna...but all I really brought with me was an empty stomach ready to dive into some BBQ. We had place already picked out...and we couldn't check in soon enough to get into town to reach our destination Iron Works BBQ.

A friend of my boyfriends recommended the place and it couldn't have been better. This divey restaurant (a place that could totally be featured in Diners, Drive-in's and Dives) was no muss no fuss. When you enter the place, straight ahead is a big open order window with a chalkboard menu and 2 guys behind the counter. You tell the guy what you'd like and they serve it up by the pound. They literally chop up some meat, throw it on a scale and slap it on your plate and say here ya go. So with our pound of meat on a tray (and our teeny tiny portions of coleslaw and beans) we headed to the checkout where we could choose our drinks out of an iced barrel and head to our table. At the table you have a squeeze bottle of BBQ sauce and a roll of paper towels. We were able to grab an outdoor table which was nice as the weather in Austin was ideal (in comparison to Chicago's volatile May weather).

At first we dove into our original choice (I got the pork ribs and he got the brisket) we were nothing short of delighted with the flavor. The boyfriend, knowing that I like to sample everything, went back to the "meat counter" and ordered us up 3 more pounds of meat. Crazy I know. But honestly it was genius. We then sampled the beef ribs, the sausage and the chicken. All fabulous, but really I've never felt more like a carnivore than when I sunk my teeth into the beef ribs. It was the most amazing meat experience I've ever had. The taste, the tenderness of the meat, the juiciness...man oh man, I will never forget it.

Namaste Foods Muffin Mix

Last weekend I felt the urge to get baking again. My pantry and freezer were bare of any baked goods and you can only eat gluten free frozen waffles so many days in a row, so I headed out to Whole Foods to pick up the ingredients. I've seen so many pre-packaged muffin mixes that I felt it was time to try one out. There were so many to choose from at the store I ended up just grabbing one...Namaste Foods Muffin Mix.

The mix was plain so I thought it would be nice to add some fresh blueberries. Since it's springtime, I'm starting to get back into fruit. I made them right when I got home...mixed all the ingredients together (very proud of myself that I was back on the baking bandwagon) and then I tasted the batter. With horror I found that the mix had an intense "gluten-free flour taste." It's hard to describe to a non gluten-free person...but for those of us who are...blah! Not even my fresh blueberries could override the taste enough to allow anyone I know to eat one of them.

Needless to say gluten-free eaters (beggars) cannot be choosers when it comes to eating. So, I've been eating them all week with coffee to insure a decent eating experience. If I were to make this mix again (unlikely) I'd have also added fresh lemon juice and sprinkled the top with raw sugar to blanket the gluten-free flour taste.

Sorry Namaste Foods...your muffin mix is not a winner.

Bleeding Heart Bakery

Once I became gluten free and started sharing with family and friends that I had started a food blog...everyone started giving me tips. It's fantastic. Before (other than my parents) I never received comments like "Hey Vanessa, I know how much you like baked goods, you've got to try out x, y, z." Now I have so many sources of inspiration, I barely even need Yelp.

In the beginning, my friend Lauren mentioned that a couple doors down from her place was an organic bakery that offered all sorts of funky baked goods. She wasn't sure if it was gluten-free but figured it was worth looking into. I was intrigued because not only did I love the name (the bleeding heart is my favorite flower...so pretty and tragic), but I am a total sucker for anything local or organic (thanks Mom!). I looked them up online and it looked like they just made cupcakes. I know it's not fair to discount a cupcake like that, but at the time I had been discouraged because I felt that was the only type of gluten free item that I could get in this city. Fast forward six months later when my Dad emailed me after a race he had just run in Oak Park telling me about this cool/funky bakery in Oak Park selling multiple gluten free items. He said it was called the Bleeding Heart Bakery. I was like "I know that place. I think that's the same one at Belmont and Damen." Needless to say within weeks I was at their doorstep.

The place is cool. They describe themselves as "Local. Sunstainable. Punk Rock Pastry." How could you not love that? If Joan Jet and Betsy Johnson decided to open up a bakery...this is what it would look like. Lot's of flourescent colors and black running through this place...and a staff that looked like they'd been baking since they left the Metro at 3 am. They offer a variety of baked goods: Cookies, Scones, Cupcakes, brownies, etc. and all a combination of some type of local or organic or Vegan. Their gluten-free selection was limited to a brownie, a chocolate chip cookie and a cupcake...but I was not about to complain.

The cookie had a gluten-free flour taste to it, but the fact that it was huge and chewy made up for it. The brownie was very fudgy and simply sinful. The cupcake wasn't my favorite flavor, chocolate and peanut butter, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I'll be stopping by once again this morning to see what flavors are on tap for today...