Monday Motivation 12/29/2014

"It's important to have specific dreams. Dream big. Dream without fear."

~ Randy Pausch

EAT: Michelbob's Championship Ribs, Naples, FL

Award winning ribs and BBQ in Florida?! Yes! Michelbob's Championship Ribs, with locations in Naples and Marco Island, has won numerous awards since opening in 1979. The restaurant just recently opened its doors on Sundays, so fans can eat there 7 days a week. 

With a relaxed and casual vibe, Michelbob's interior is pretty similar to every BBQ joint I have been in. Relaxing booths, large drink signs, neon lights, all give Michelbob's its casual appeal. 

Michelbob's does not have a gluten free menu, but Karen, our server was very knowledgeable. She said all meats and sauces are gluten free. The sauces are not corn free (corn syrup). The sweet tea also has corn syrup in it. 

The award winning ribs are quite different from ribs you would encounter at any other BBQ restaurant. Dandelion-fed from Denmark and then shipped to the US, these grass-fed ribs have a great flavor and just about fall off the bone! Without all of the hormones and antibiotics in most US meat, the ribs tend to be smaller, but more flavorful. 

I ordered a variety with my takeout order sans sauce. I tried the sliced beef brisket and pork (shaved more than sliced) which were very tasty although a little dry. Nothing some Texas Pete could not take care of! The rack of ribs was the winner though. It was so flavorful, it did not need sauce, and I can see why it is award winning. When in Naples, swing by Michelbob's for some famous ribs!

Michelbob's Championship Ribs

371 Airport Rd. 

Naples, FL 34104

239.643.RIBS

www.michelbobs.com

915 N. Collier Blvd. 

Marco Island, FL

239.394.0302

Takeout Only!

Holiday Travel and Need Safe Food Allergy Free Fast Food Options?

Holiday travel can be nerve racking. The traffic, the long hours, and the food allergens everywhere make traveling no fun. I find it difficult to find safe food options for my food allergies on travel days. Many times, I will plan ahead and pack a lunch. But what happens when you take a last minute trip or are so busy, you forget to pack snacks? 

I have a couple fast food restaurants I feel safe eating. My favorite is Chipotle. A nation-wide chain, Chipotle is great with food allergies. I order a burrito bowl and ask for the server to change gloves. I also ask for cheese and lettuce from the back since those items are not served with tongs and the server handles them with their gloved hand. 

Another favorite is Dickey's BBQ, another national chain. I order the pulled pork and ask the server to change gloves and cut the meat on a clean surface to avoid cross contamination. 

Zoes Kitchen also takes care of food allergies. They have gluten free items listed on the menu. I always emphasize my need for gluten free during my order. 

For me, I know there is always a chance of cross contamination, but I feel safest at these "fast food" restaurants. What are your favorite travel "fast food" restaurants?

EAT: Print Works Bistro, Greensboro, NC

Located in the Proximity Hotel, Print Works Bistro is a great fine dining establishment in Greensboro, NC. I was excited to check it out for a holiday party gathering.The restaurant is situated in a large open room, but is sectioned off into smaller areas with railing and curtains, giving it a cozy feel. The outdoor seating looked inviting and is probably packed in the summer months.

Being with a large group and no gluten free menu, I was a little apprehensive about being able to convey my food allergy needs to the server. My fears were quickly dispelled when our server said many of the dishes were naturally gluten free and she would chat with the chef to make sure I had as safe a meal as possible. 

Print Works Bistro focuses on local ingredients. It, along with the Proximity Hotel, are the first hotel and restaurant in the US to attain the LEED Platinum Certification for their sustainable and energy efficient practices. They even provide tours for students to learn these sustainable practices.

Continuing my risotto kick, I chose the gluten and corn free Shrimp and Toulouse Sausage Risotto: creamy arborio rice with garlic sauteed shrimp, Toulouse sausage, roasted sweet potatoes, kale, and crumbled goat chevre. I was interested to see how the flavors mixed and was pleased that they all "worked" together. The portion was large enough to take home some for lunch the next day.

I was very pleased how the server handled our large group and my food allergies. As the only person in the group with food allergies, sometimes I am afraid my needs will get lost, but the server assured me that the kitchen could accommodate. I will definitely return and am looking forward to trying other dishes.

Print Works Bistro
702 Green Valley Rd.
Greensboro, NC 27408
336.379.0699
www.printworksbistro.com

EAT: Bernardin's at the Zevely House, Winston-Salem, NC

For a special occasion or a date night, head to Bernardin's Fine Dining in the Zevely House in Winston-Salem, NC. The Greensboro News and Record considers Bernardin's to be "The Triad's only five-star restaurant" and I won't disagree. With a menu that is unmatched in the Winston-Salem/Greensboro/High Point area, it is one of the few restaurants I have been to in my travels that offers delicacies such as kangaroo, ostrich, escargot, and foie gras, and definitely the only one in the Triad.

Even if you are not into exotic delicacies, Bernardin's offers a variety of meats, pastas, seafood, salads, and more. There is not a gluten free menu, but the menu specifically states that if you have food allergies, alert your server, who can help you choose the safest options.

To start the meal, we looked at the appetizers. My dinner companion loves foie gras, so he inquired about its gluten free status. We were told it is not gluten free, so we settled for the heirloom tomato salad. It was a generous portion for two to share, but the heirloom tomatoes were pretty flavorless (perhaps this time of year?). The accompaniments, however, offset the tomatoes and made the dish quite tasty.

I wanted to be adventurous and try a wild entree, but did not want to commit to something I may not like. I decided upon the Pan Roasted Curry Grouper, served with eggplant caviar, jasmine rice, light curry tomato, and mint chutney. It was delicious. The grouper was cooked the right temperature so that it was not dry, while the rice and chutney complimented the grouper nicely for a fusion of flavor. The server said it was gluten and corn free without any accommodations.

My dinner companion, on the other hand, was brave enough to try the Tandoori Kangaroo! Now, what exactly does kangaroo taste like, you ask? I found it to be a cross between venison and beef, very lean, but a little chewy. Really good flavor, though. I would definitely order it again. Did you know that Kangaroo is Australia's deer? A friend from Australia told me that while kangaroo is pretty common, some people do not eat it in Australia. Some prefer it because of the leanness of the meat. My dinner companion had to alter the side options to make the dish gluten and corn free and chose the jasmine rice and spinach instead of the usual lentil basmati rice potato cake and succotash.

Bernardin's has a nice ambiance to accompany its food. Housed in the Zevely House on Fourth Street, each room of the house has several tables, perfect for private events or large groups, while still giving diners space to enjoy their company. Even though Bernardin's is considered "fine dining," I did not find the cost to be much higher, if at all, compared to other high-end downtown restaurants. I really liked how it offered enough variety in the menu choices to accommodate any taste, while still being selective about its choices. I also appreciated the chef accommodating food allergies. Our server checked several times on items she was unsure of to make sure we had the safest meal possible. And, now I can say I know what kangaroo tastes like!

Bernardin's Fine Dining
901 West Fourth Street
Winston Salem, NC 27101
336.725.6666
http://www.bernardinsfinedining.com/winston/