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/

Monday Motivation 12/22/2014

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."

~ Thomas Edison

EAT: The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, Raleigh, NC

The Cowfish in Raleigh, NC has a fun, laid back vibe. Although it is a small chain with locations in Raleigh, Charlotte, and Orlando, it is definitely a gathering place to grab some casual food. The menu consists mainly of burgers and sushi and it clearly states which items are "gluten sensitive." I am not a huge fan of places only claiming to have menu items that are gluten sensitive, since you hope they take gluten allergies and intolerances seriously, but after chatting with our server about my food allergies, she eased my concerns. She seemed pretty knowledgeable about gluten free and even told us that Cowfish has gluten free tamari. I am one of those people who wants to see the tamari bottle (in case regular soy sauce is put in the bowl instead of tamari), but was told that they have a huge container in the back that they dispense out.

Cowfish has a great selection of burgers and sushi. There are not a lot of "gluten sensitive" items on the menu, but enough to feel like you have some variety. They even have make your own sushi rolls with pretty much any addition you can think of in an a la carte format.

I ordered the Double Salmon Roll, which included smoked salmon and avocado, along with rice and seaweed wrapper. Very tasty and a nice size portion.

My dinner companion opted for the Make Your Own Sushi Roll and made it full of meat! He chose Filet, Salmon, Tuna, and Pulled Pork BBQ. Not sure I have ever had just a meat filled sushi roll, but it had quite the mix of flavors!

The ambiance of Cowfish is fun. A large aquarium splits the bar area and is located in the center of the restaurant. We even had a chance to watch the fish being fed! A great gathering place for friends and family in the Raleigh area, Cowfish offers a unique ability to fuse two popular food items into one restaurant. It is nice to have a gluten sensitive menu to steer those of us with food allergies to the safest meal possible.

The Cowfish
North Hills CAPTRUST Tower
4208 Six Forks Rd.
Raleigh, NC 27609
919.784.0400
www.thecowfish.com

Monday Motivation 12/15/2014

"The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent."

~ Arnold Schwarzenegger

Sierra Mist is Corny?!

I don't drink a lot of soft drinks, but in a pinch or when I needed something sweet, the only mainstream soda I felt safe drinking with my corn allergy was PepsiCo's Sierra Mist. Most other mainstream sodas and sports drinks contain high fructose corn syrup or corn derived maltodextrin. Sierra Mist was the only mainstream soft drink to be made with real sugar... until now. PepsiCo recently added Stevia to Sierra Mist. At first, I was disappointed, as Stevia is 200 times sweeter than sugar and caused the new Sierra Mist to taste too sweet. Then, after having unexplained corn intolerance symptoms, I started thinking about Stevia and doing some research. Not even mentioning the nasty chemicals required to process this "natural" sweetener, it contains dextrose or maltodextrin, both corn derivatives. Seriously?? So much for the natural stevia plant that is good for you and better than sugar?!? The actual plant is ok, but be ready to grow your own or check store bought stevia ingredients carefully. 

What gluten free and corn free beverages are you drinking? I need some ideas!

Monday Motivation 12/08/2014

"One small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day."

~ Unknown

EAT: Flying Fish Market and Grill, Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle Beach, SC

When at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach, SC for a concert or a day of shopping, be sure to check out the Flying Fish Market and Grill. Complete with a gluten free menu, this seafood restaurant has a good selection and a nice atmosphere. The restaurant has a large bar area and big windows for nice views of Barefoot Landing.

I ordered the Jambalaya from the Gluten Free Menu. It was very tasty with sauteed chicken and shrimp, smoked sausage, okra, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and rice.

My dinner companion ordered the gluten free Build Your Own Boil and added Little Neck Clams and PEI Mussels, minus the corn on the cob. It was a generous portion and also had potatoes and smoked sausage.

The Flying Fish Market and Grill is a great option when at Barefoot Landing. It is not a chain, but it is one of several restaurants located in North and South Carolina owned by the Homegrown Hospitality Group.

Flying Fish Market and Grill

Barefoot Landing 

4744 Hwy 17 South

North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582

843.663.3474

http://www.flyingfishmarket.com/

EAT: Barsa Tapas Lounge and Bar, Charleston, SC

Need a little Spanish infusion in downtown Charleston, SC? Look no further than Barsa Tapas Lounge and Bar. Barsa is a great place to sample a bunch of different menu items. Even though it does not have a gluten free menu, our server, Jamie, was knowledgeable and pointed out which menu items were safe. 

We started out with the Roasted Beet Salad. It was very tasty and topped with mixed greens, walnuts, and a yogurt vinagretta. The beets were nicely roasted and had a good flavor. 

Next, we ordered the Roasted Olives with garlic, thyme, and rosemary. Wow! Not sure if I have ever had warmed olives, but I may be hooked!

We tried the Pork Ribs with Citrus Mojo. Jamie checked on their gluten and corn free status with the chef, and since everything is made in house, they were safe. The sauce on the ribs had a good flavor, but I thought the portion size (3 ribs) was an odd number to share tapas style. 

For our "main" meal, we decided upon the Seafood Spanish Paella. We ordered the medium size and were only able to eat about half between the two of us (hello, leftovers!). The Paella had shrimp, clams, mussels, and a local fish that was very tasty. The rice also had chorizo sausage added. Even though we were dining late and there were only a couple other tables of diners, Jamie informed us that the paella takes 45 minutes to cook, so be sure to put that order in first so your food will arrive in succession. 

Barsa has a great vibe, a corner lounge with a large bar. It does carry Crispin Gluten Free Cider for those interested in a gluten free adult beverage. Despite the lack of a gluten free menu, I was impressed that Jamie knew which menu items were safe, and the tapas style offered the ability to share and try a variety of menu items. 

Barsa Tapas, Lounge, and Bar
630 King St.
Charleston, SC 29403
843.577.5393
http://barsacharleston.com/

EAT: Home Team BBQ, Charleston, SC

I don't want to say that I am a BBQ conisoiur being from the BBQ capital of the world, North Carolina, but I kind of am. I do really enjoy trying BBQ from other parts of the country and have found some great options outside my home state. Home Team BBQ in Charleston is no exception. I checked out the Sullivan's Island location for lunch (HTBBQ also has a West Ashley location). 

Home Team BBQ is similar to one of my favorite BBQ establishments, Southern Soul BBQ in St. Simons Island, GA (both regularly participated in cook-offs between each other) and both have won numerous national awards for their BBQ. I was really excited when I started to explain my food allergies to the server who promptly brought a gluten free menu. It is great to know that the vinegars used on the meats are gluten free. 

I decided upon the pulled pork plate. It comes with two sides. The gluten free menu limits the side options, but there are still several to choose from. With my other food allergies, I was even more limited (no coleslaw or potato salad - mayo (egg) based), so I went with two sides of collards. My photo does not depict how massive the plate was, but the portion size was quite large. The pork was tasty, not dry and had a light vinegar base on it. There were other homemade sauces on the table to add if you so desired. 

My lunch companion ordered the two meat plate with beef brisket and ribs, all gluten free. The coleslaw and mashed potatoes were his sides. The brisket was tender and had a great flavor. The ribs were good as well. 

Let me know what you think about Home Team BBQ and where your favorite BBQ joint is located!

Home Team BBQ
2209 Middle Street
Sullivans Island, SC
843.883.3131

1205 Ashley River Rd.
West Ashley, SC
843.225.7427
http://www.hometeambbq.com/

Monday Motivation 12/01/2014

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."

~ Winston Churchill

EAT UPDATE: Edmund's Oast, Charleston, SC

Edmund's Oast is quickly becoming one of my favorite restaurants in Charleston, SC! I had such a great meal there last time, I had to check it out again!  See my previous blog about Edmund's Oast here.  We arrived early for our reservation to request our favorite seat with a view of the kitchen (Dinner and a Show!). With just a short wait at the bar, our table was ready.

Speaking of the bar, they have 48 different beers and sodas on tap!? What a cool backdrop for the bar! However, there are no gluten free beers and ciders on tap and none in bottles. We did enjoy the fermented pineapple wine (not as sweet as you would think!) and one of the Cannonborough sodas on tap with Cruzan Rum.

When dining at Edmund's Oast, one must order the charcuterie board. The meats change regularly and we had completely different meats than last time. Our server, Lindsey, informed the chef, who made some modifications to ensure our board was gluten and corn free. It arrived with our favorite gluten free bread made by Sweet Radish Bakeshop, which consists of teff, oats, and almond flour. Some of the best gluten free bread I have tasted!

I saw the fried flounder on the menu during our last visit and after chatting with Lindsey, I found out that it is dusted in rice flour and fried in rice bran oil. It is already gluten free without modifications! This trip, we decided to try it out and yum, it is delicious! The dark sauce on the plate is gluten free tamari. The greens on top had a great flavor and really complimented the flounder. Also, it is pretty cool to have the whole fish delivered to your table!

Just like the last trip, we could not pass up on the Heritage Chicken and Carolina Gold Rice Porridge. It is perfect for a winter evening. 

We were stuffed and passed on dessert, but Edmund's Oast has a great selection of gluten free desserts from Sweet Radish Bakeshop. We saw several chocolate brownies prepared during our meal (gluten free minus the graham cracker sprinkled on top) and homemade pumpkin ice cream (we must have looked eager for a sample, as the chef gave us a small spoon taste). Yum! Nice flavor and not overly sweet. 

I continue to be impressed with Edmund's Oast and how accommodating it is for food allergies. Our server was very knowledgeable and when unsure, double-checked with the chef. Every step was made to ensure we had the safest meal possible. With the addition of a gluten free beer or cider option, it would definitely rival any top restaurant in Charleston and beyond... but it kind of already does!

Edmund's Oast
1081 Morrison Dr.
Charleston, SC 29403
843.727.1145
edmundsoast.com