Monday Motivation 09/28/2015

"To be a champ, you have to believe in yourself when nobody else will."

~ Sugar Ray Robinson

EAT: Wildflour Gluten Free Bakery, Bellevue (Seattle), WA

Seattle, WA has great options for people with food allergies. It is even more exciting finding a gluten free bakery. Wildflour Gluten Free Bakery is conveniently located in Bellevue, a suburb of Seattle. 

Wildflour had a great selection of gluten free baked goods, which were also corn free. It is extremely difficult to find gluten free and corn free baked goods. From cookies to bars to scones to muffins, it was hard to decide on a yummy sweet treat! I really liked the unusual combinations, Peach Ginger Muffin, Lemon Blueberry Muffin, and Blackberry Lime Daiquiri Scone!

Wildflour also has a nice selection of breads, loaves, and granola. Gluten free baguette, anyone??

Ok, let's get to what I finally decided on. The Coconut Dream Bar was really tasty. The coconut and chocolate were a great combo. The gluten free cookie crust of crumbled cookies was ok, but I liked the top layer better. Perhaps a crushed nut crust would pair better? 

I also had to try the Blackberry Lime Daiquiri Scone. When else are you going to eat that awesome explosion of flavors?? I enjoyed the scone on my flight home and wish I had grabbed a couple more. I don't get to eat scones very often, so this one was a real treat. 

When in Seattle, my top three must visits (in no particular order) are:

1. Chihuly Museum (awesome blown glass exhibit)

2. Pike Place Market (including the original Starbucks)

3. Wildflour Gluten Free Bakery

Wildflour Gluten Free Bakery

13600 NE 20th St. 

Bellevue, WA 98005

206.824.1298

www.wildflourglutenfree.com

Monday Motivation 09/21/2015

"You will see it, when you believe it."

~ Dr. Wayne Dyer (1940-2015)

Monday Motivation 09/14/2015

"Never forget that doing what you love is the cornerstone of having success in your life."

~ Dr. Wayne Dyer

EAT: Sharky's On The Pier, Venice, FL

I have to say, Venice, FL (west coast of Florida between Sarasota and Fort Myers) is not the mecca for gluten free options, but I was pleasantly surprised to find Sharky's On The Pier to be allergy friendly. A lot of the menu items at Sharky's are fried or have bread, but they also have an extensive two page Gluten Free Menu. Salads, Fresh Catches, Steaks, and even Pasta give gluten intolerance diners many options.

I decided on the BLT Salad topped with Grilled Shrimp. I opted to switch out the dressing to the Homemade Dill Ranch. The salad was really tasty and filling, plenty for dinner.

In addition to being known for great seafood, the sunset views over the Gulf of Mexico are spectacular. Located right at the pier, Sharky's has great outdoor seating and all tables have views of the ocean. Be sure to check out Sharky's On The Pier on your next trip to Venice, FL.

Sharky's On The Pier
1600 Harbor Dr.
Venice, FL 34285
941.488.1456
www.sharkysonthepier.com

EAT: Lemonade Gluten Free Bakery, Vancouver, BC

I was really excited for my first trip to Vancouver. Even more excited to find Lemonade Gluten Free Bakery in Cambie Village. Everything in the bakery is gluten free. Tracy, the owner, greeted me at the door and was most helpful with ingredients of each item. My corn intolerance makes gluten free baked goods difficult for me, since many bakeries add corn when they remove wheat gluten. Tracy informed me that the breads and baked goods have corn, but Lemonade GF Bakery makes their own baking powder to make sure it is corn free. Tracy went over which items are corn free, which was a nice selection and difficult to narrow down. Can I get one of everything??

Lemonade Gluten Free Bakery's baked goods looked amazing and I so wanted to try the yummy looking croissants (not corn free).

The breads smelled delicious. I really liked the variety available to give gluten free diners a selection of breads they may not have enjoyed since going gluten free. 

Now, time for what I had to try! The Chocolate Caramel Silk Torte was rich and divine. Chocolate Mousse with a layer of gooey caramel inside. Please share with another person, as a couple of bites is all you need to satisfy any craving.

Tiramisu?!? Ohmygosh, how long has it been since I have had tiramisu?? One of my old favorites, but not usually gluten free due to the lady fingers having gluten. The tiramisu at Lemonade Gluten Free Bakery did not disappoint. My only caveat is that it needed a little more coffee flavor.

On your next trip to Vancouver, be sure to stop by Lemonade Gluten Free Bakery. I really liked that Tracy was available for questions and to make sure everyone had a great experience. Any items that were dairy free or egg free were listed on the description tag for those with other allergies. During my mid afternoon stop, the bakery was quite busy with people getting to-go orders or enjoying their sweet treat at the store in either the two tables inside or outside at the sidewalk tables.

Lemonade Gluten Free Bakery
3385 Cambie St.
Vancouver, BC
604.873.9993
www.lemonadebakery.ca