GW Fins inspired salmon

Posted on May 8, 2010 | 3 comments

 

Salmon with creamy sweet potato and corn hash

I tried to recreate the salmon dish that I had at GW Fins in New Orleans, and I think I did a pretty good job!

Dijon Salmon with Creamy Sweet Potato and Corn Hash

2-3 T. dijon mustard

1 T. gluten free soy sauce

1 small sweet potato

1 ear of corn

2 T. milk or cream

1 T. butter

2 T. parmesan cheese

Set oven to 350 degrees and bake sweet potato for 30 minutes.  As the potato is baking: mix together the mustard, soy sauce, and olive oil.  Spread this mixture on top of the salmon and put it in the oven when the sweet potato is about 20 minutes into the cooking time.  

Take the sweet potato out of the oven when it’s almost finished cooking, let cool until you can handle it, and dice it into little cubes.  Cut the corn kernels off of the cob.  

Melt the butter in a saute pan, add corn and sweet potatoes.  Cook for about 2-3 minutes to cook the corn and heat the sweet potato.  Add in the cream or milk, salt and pepper to taste, and add in the parmesan cheese.  

By this time the salmon should be ready (about 15-20 minutes).  Pile the sweet potatoes and corn on the plate, and place the salmon on top. 

Serves one.  

This is better than it sounds – really simple, but delicious.  This might be one of my favorite ways to eat salmon.  It definitely wasn’t as good as the butterfish dish I had in New Orleans, but it’s great for a quick and healthy meal.

3 Comments

Posted in Recipes

Tagged , , ,

Guess what I got in Chicago?

Posted on May 6, 2010 | Leave a comment

Garrett’s Popcorn!

Usually I go for the Chicago Mix (half caramel and half cheese), but this time I got the Pecan Caramelcrisp.

Best part is that all Garrett popcorn is made without gluten!  Plus they give free samples 🙂

Buy some for your mom for Mother’s Day?

Or for yourself?

I don’t know, but you should get some.

Leave a comment

Posted in Restuarant Reviews

Tagged , , ,

New Orleans – aka Gluten City USA

Posted on April 27, 2010 | Leave a comment

Last week was the third time in the last year I’ve gone to New Orleans for work.  It is extremely hard to find anything gluten free in the Big Easy, and there are very few resources/reviews out there, so I thought I’d share some tips that I picked up from my travels.

1. Fried seafood is your worst enemy

I love all varieties of seafood, so you would think the New Orleans, being a port city and all, would be a great eating destination.  Wrong.  I’d guess about 95% of all of the seafood here is fried, or on a bun.  Would I like to sink my teeth into a shrimp Po Boy?  Sure, of course I would.  But I can’t.  Would I like some seafood gumbo?  You betcha I would!  But, virtually all of it starts with a roux base, and any time I’ve asked if that was the case the waiters look at me very strangely, so I’ve started just avoiding all of the soups/gumbos/jambalayas.

But – there is one restaurant I found in New Orleans that saves me everytime I’ve gone there.  The Original French Market Restaurant on Decatur.  The first time I went I was with a college friend – but once I had these barbeque shrimp I was hooked!  The next time I went I had it THREE TIMES.  Sadly, I didn’t make it down there this time, but I regret it every day that passes.

Barbeque shrimp (mobile upload)

I know the quality of this image stinks, but I promise they are amazing!  If you can get over the whole ripping-their-heads and shells off-thing, then you are in for a treat!  The barbeque sauce is gluten free (I asked a lot of questions), and once you get down to the shrimp they are so fresh and moist and succulent you can’t stop eating.  It’s super messy, but worth the effort.   It comes with a side of potatoes and vegetables, but I had a suspicion that they were cooked in some sort of sausage/meat grease so I passed on those.

Original Farmer’s Market

1000 Decatur

2. If you have the money, spend it! (But not at Emeril’s restaurant)

On this trip, I was so busy that I didn’t get back from work until about 8pm (9pm my time).  I was crabby, tired, and hungry from a day of eating protein bars and fruit.  Luckily I have a group of work chums who are almost always in the mood for going out and trying new places.  So, Tuesday night we went to GW Fins on Bienville in the French Quarter.  At first I was a bit apprehensive to suggest this restaurant because it’s a bit pricier than the average spot around the quarter – but I knew that I could eat here, so I went ahead and suggested it to the group.  They obliged, and it was a meal to remember!

I was out with the co-founder of our organization, so I decided to leave the camera at home.  Apologies, apologies. (There are some good food pics on the Yelp site, however).

The menu here changes daily, so I can’t promise what they’ll have when you go.  I got the butterfish with sweet potato hash and fresh corn.  It was AMAZING.  I didn’t know what butterfish was, but I figured butter + fish can’t be bad.  To me it tasted like a creamy halibut steak.  I liked the dish so much that I attempted to recreate it at home (semi-successful, and I did manage to take some pictures for an upcoming post).

GW Fins

808 Bienville Street

Why not to go to Emeril’s restaurant NOLA: there’s literally nothing that I could eat except for a caesar salad (no croutons) and soup.  Plus you’ll want to shoot yourself when you see the biscuits that your dining partners get (although the people I went with didn’t seem all that impressed either).

Another place not to go if you’re hungry and want actual food = Acme Oyster House.  The only thing I could eat there were the oysters, and while I’m sure they were delicious, I didn’t feel like having oysters and a vodka drink on an empty stomach was the smartest thing to do.  I did get a delicious sweet tea and vodka drink

3.  Pralines are gluten free!

Southern Candymakers is the BEST spot for pralines in New Orleans, as far as I’m concerned.  They have a ton of flavors, and they’re always making them fresh.  My favorites are peanut butter and creamy (but I’ve also tried the coconut, rum, original, and chocolate varieties, and all are great …don’t judge).  So, if you can’t find anything to eat, you can always grab some pralines and let the sugar carry you through the day!

Buttery gooey praliney

Southern Candymakers

334 Decatur

So, I hope this run down was helpful.  I’d still advise you to bring some Kind bars and fruit with you at all times so you don’t faint.  Next time, I’m going to the Columns Hotel for sure.  I drove by it about six times, and would like to spend some time on the porch, drinking sweet tea with mint:

Columns Hotel

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Pala Pizza

Posted on April 25, 2010 | 2 comments

Based on the recommendation of some helpful Yelpers – Nick and I hiked down to the Lower East Side to try out Pala Pizza.  I didn’t mind the trip though because we got to see the sights and sounds of Washington Square Park on the way. 

Washington Square Park

 

We started out with the arancini, which are risotto balls stuffed with mozzarella cheese and spinach, then they’re fried in a dedicated fryer.  There are a ton of other options for appetizers as well, but according to all the reviews, these are a must-have.  They were like a more sophisticated mozzarella stick…crispy outside, arborio rice that sticks to your teeth, and a sweet tomato sauce to dip in.  My only complaint about this dish is that there weren’t more of them!  $4/risotto ball is pricey no matter how you cut it.  

Then the big decision on pizza – Nick loves meat toppings, of course, but they wouldn’t let us get a half and half, so he left it up to me to choose 🙂  I picked one with spinach, ricotta, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, garlic and parsley pesto.

Now this…was a pizza.  The best gluten free crust I’ve had.  Not to diss my old-faithful, Risotteria, but this pie really takes the cake.  For a second I panicked, thinking that they gave us the wrong pizza because there was no indication that it was gluten free.  This crust has the slightly crunchy/chewy bottom, takes some effort to pull apart (in a good way), and has yummy written all over it.  The creamy ricotta, fresh tomatoes, and stringy mozzarella were just right.  

They also put a bundle of oregano on the table, so you can sprinkle it fresh right on your pie:

Somehow, after finishing the pizza, we still had room for dessert.  So we got the apple tart:

Apple tart with vanilla ice cream

 

The tart was…alright.  Although I don’t think I’ve tasted anything remotely like pie crust in years, so I was satisfied.  The crust is kind of like a shortbread, then there’s boiled apples with cinnamon on top.  They also had an almond cake with chocolate sauce, that I’m regretting not getting in retrospect.  

Ah well…the pizza made up for it. 

Thanks for the recommendation!  I will definitely be back!  

Try it yourself:  Pala Pizza – 198 Allen Street.

2 Comments

Posted in Restuarant Reviews

Tagged , , , ,

GF Mac and Cheese two ways

Posted on April 24, 2010 | 1 comment

 

Zucchini and roasted pepper mac and cheese

 

The inspiration for this dish came from when we went to Sangria in Royal Oak, MI for tapas with some of my friends.  Nick and my cousin shared a plate of chorizo and manchego cheese – and he had to figure out a way to make this small plate into a full blown meal.  So, we made gluten-free macaroni and cheese with manchego – Nick added chorizo and roasted red peppers to his, and I added zucchini and peppers to mine.  

Manchego Mac and Cheese

2 oz. chorizo 

or one small zucchini

2 green onions, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup roasted red peppers, diced

8 oz. gluten free macaroni (I used Tinkyada)

3 cups grated Manchego cheese

2 T. butter

2 T. gluten free flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose mix)

2 c. milk

1/4 t. paprika

salt and pepper

8 slices of gluten free bagel

1/8 c. parmesan cheese

Heat up some olive oil in a frying pan and saute the sliced chorizo (or zucchini). Remove the chorizo and saute the green onions and garlic in the chorizo oil (I just threw in the garlic and green onions with my zucchini). Cook the macaroni in boiling salted water until the pasta is just tender. Once it is cooked, drain the pasta and then add the chorizo, green onions, garlic, and the piquillo peppers and mix everything together.  I rinse my pasta in cold water after draining to make sure it doesn’t stick together.  We split up the macaroni into two batches to keep the veggie part separated.  

Mmm...cheesy

 

To make the cheese sauce, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour and let the roux cook for a few minutes while continuing to whisk it together. Slowly whisk in the milk, about 1/4 cup at a time, making sure to get out the lumps.  Season the sauce base with the paprika and let it gently simmer, stirring often, for 10-15 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in 3 cups of Manchego cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Pour the cheese sauce over the macaroni and mix everything together.  Pour into a greased pan, and top with the slices of bagel (I sprayed them first with olive oil spray).  Sprinkle parmesan cheese over top and put into the oven. 

Bake the macaroni and cheese in a 350 F degree oven until the croutons are browned and the cheesy top is bubbling. You can put the broiler on for the last few minutes to really crisp up the top.

Nick's Chorizo Mac (mine's up top)

 

The only downside to this dish is that Manchego cheese is pricey (about $8 for a block).  You could use cheddar and it would be just as good.  The croutons really make the mac and cheese interesting and add a crunchy treat to each bite.  

So yummy.  We ate the whole thing.  And I’d do it again. 

1 Comment

Posted in Recipes

Tagged , ,

Lunch Spot – Blue Dog Cafe

Posted on April 18, 2010 | Leave a comment

This is what I eat for lunch on Fridays.  Why only Fridays?  Because Fridays are for treats, and it gives me something to look forward to for the whole week:

Falafal from Blue Dog Cafe

 

Blue Dog is a mainstay for a lot of people in my office, and they have a daily rotation of fresh salads, soups, and sandwiches.  I’ve never seen the same dishes there, and they use seasonal ingredients which keeps everything feeling new and exciting.  My two favorite are the baked falafal salad, and the baked polenta salad.  Both have these little balls of baked falafel or polenta (both are gluten-free, I’ve asked) and a ton of veggies.

The falafal salad has roasted carrots, asparagus, celery, tomatoes,  zucchini, chickpeas, and arugula.  I opt in on the black olives and feta cheese, but say “no, thank you” to the croutons.

At $7.07 for a small salad, it’s a bit pricey for an everyday item, but for once a week, I’ll take it.  The portion is very filling, and I usually end up putting some in the fridge for a mid-afternoon snack.  

Blue Dog Cafe – 101 West 25th Street (between 6th and 7th Ave).  No website – just go there. 

My usual lunch?  Whole Foods salad bar.  All of the ingredients are listed and organic – and I usually end up paying under $5 for a nice, filling portion.  Spinach/romaine, salmon, beets, some kind of Asian slaw, almonds, quinoa = super salad. 

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , ,

Central Park and Gluten Free Crab Cakes

Posted on April 12, 2010 | Leave a comment

Saturday was the first day in a couple weeks that I’ve had to just relax: go to the gym, explore the city, and cook in with my hunny.

Central Park was in full bloom, and the people/dog watching was great.  All of the good rocks were taken though…sigh.

Orlando Bloom

 

After visiting the park, we went to the Whole Foods in Columbus Circle for dinner ingredients.  And miraculously, it wasn’t a total zoo.  On the menu: crab cakes with remoulade and dijon vegetables:

I made the crab cakes based on the recipe on Hey, that tastes good!

Crab Cakes

1/2 lb lump crab meat, picked over for shells

1/2 onion, minced

one big carrot (I used about 6 baby carrots), grated

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 egg

2T Dijon mustard

2T horseradish

2T mayo

salt and pepper

a little less than 3/4 cup gf bread crumbs (I used Ener-G Breadcrumbs)

1. Cook the onion, carrot, and garlic in 1T of butter until softened.  Let cool on the stove as you mix the other ingredients together (save the breadcrumbs).  Add the breadcrumbs in 1/4 cup at a time until the mixture is not too wet, and comes together into a ball.  Divide mixture into 6 balls (ours made seven).  Coat in a little more breadcrumb.  

Heat 1T butter and 1T oil in a pan.  Cook cakes for about 3 minutes on each side, until they’re brown and crispy. 

Dijon Vegetables

2 potatoes, cut into half moons (we used Russet, but you could use red-skin too)

2 cups broccoli florets

carrots (as many as your carrot-hating boyfriend will let you put on the pan)

4T olive oil

5T Dijon mustard, or stone-ground

1T basil/oregano/garlic blend

salt and fresh ground pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Stir together oil, mustard, and spices.  Add to vegetables and stir to coat.  Spread vegetables on a greased baking sheet.  

Bake for one hour.  

 

This meal was a definite win.  The vegetables are a great side dish, and so easy to make.  You can stick them in the oven while you prepare the rest of your meal, and they’re done right on time.  

And what’s in that pinkish lumpy sauce, you may ask? 

I’ll give you the recipe, but I’m not going to vouch for how good it is, because it wasn’t perfect.  

Remoulade sauce

1T chopped capers

1T lemon juice

1/3 cup mayo

squirt of ketchup

squirt of mustard

Stir it all together.  Then you’re done. 

 

Nick put hot sauce in his, which I think was a good call.  I mistook cornichons for gherkins in the store, and added those yucky bitter pickle things into mine, so that didn’t really help my case.  

I’ll let you know if I come up with something better.  For now, I’ll say just use tartar sauce or cocktail sauce.

Also, don’t even think about watching the movie 2012.  Nothing can spoil the taste of gluten-free crab cakes like John Cusack and bad special effects.

Leave a comment

Posted in Recipes

Tagged ,

Cafe Habana

Posted on April 11, 2010 | Leave a comment

After work on Friday, Nick and I went to Cafe Habana down in Soho.  We went here primarily for the grilled Mexican-style corn – coated in creamy mayo, rolled in cojita cheese, and sprinkled with chili powder:

Grilled Mexican Style Corn

 

The corn met all of my expectations, and at $4.25 for two pieces, it’s a great cheap eat to share.  

Since we saved on the appetizer, we splurged on some drinks.  A Mojito for me and a Pacifico for Nick: 

Ahh...refreshing

 

The brownish color of the Mojito is due to the face that they use brown sugar instead of white.  So good I had two. 

For dinner I had the Camarones al Ajillo with black beans and yellow rice: 

Spicy shrimp

 

And Nick had the gluten-filled Cuban sandwich and fries:

He says, “It was alright.”  I wouldn’t know, but it doesn’t seem like I was missing much.  One point for the non-gluten eaters of the world. 

The quick-and-dirty: 

  • Great people watching at this joint.  Many mustache sightings. 
  • Fairly cheap dinner for two – if I wouldn’t have gotten two $8 Mojitos we probably could have gotten out of there for about $35. 
  • They also have a couple of other entrees and appetizers that appear to be gluten-free and vegetarian (Sopesitos and a masa boat stuffed with goat cheese, beans, and sun-dried tomatoes)
  • Get here early if you don’t want to wait. 
  • My recommendation = get a Mojito and some corn and move on for dinner. 

To visit Cafe Habana – 17 Prince Street, New York, NY.  (RW to Prince Street or the 6 to Spring Street)

Buenas suerte.

Leave a comment

Posted in Restuarant Reviews

Tagged , , , ,

Revelations

Posted on April 6, 2010 | Leave a comment

So, I just realized after seeing a post on the Gluten Free Facebook Fan Page, that I haven’t had a canker sore since going gluten free.

What a revelation!  Turns out that I had more symptoms of Celiac disease than I thought.

This article from Gluten Free Society describes the correlation between canker sores and conditions that affect the GI tract (like Celiac’s).

Who woulda thunk?

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , ,

Paying Homage to Rainbow Jello – Naturally Gluten Free

Posted on April 5, 2010 | 4 comments

For Easter weekend, I went home to Michigan to celebrate and eat with my wonderful, loud family.  One of our Easter traditions is the Jello Ribbon Salad.  My grandmother made this salad every year to perfection, and I don’t think that any of us appreciated the labor that goes into it until this year, when we had to fend for ourselves.  My cousin graciously offered to make the dish this year, and I think that she’ll pass the torch to me for next year.  Considering this takes about 48 hours and almost constant monitoring to make, it is definitely a labor of love.

This is one of those 1950s hold overs that’s reminiscent of women wearing aprons, men with crew cuts, and kids hula-hooping in the backyard.  If you have idle hands, or want to make a crowd-pleaser dessert – take a stab at it!

Update (7/2011) – This is the original recipe from my grandma’s cookbook.

Happy (belated) Easter, and may your family traditions live long and prosper 🙂

Rainbow Jello salad

Rainbow Jello Salad:

5 (3 oz. each) pkgs. Jello, any 5 different flavors
5 c. boiling water
10 tbsp. ice water
10 tbsp. sour cream

Dissolve one package Jello in 1 cup boiling water.  Pour 1/2 cup into bowl and add 2 tablespoons ice water.  Chill until set in ring mold or pretty glass serving dish (we use a glass brownie pan).  Blend 2 tablespoons sour cream in remaining Jello and pour over gelatin in mold.  Chill until set, about 20 minutes.  Repeat with each flavor of gelatin remaining.  Pour into mold until ribbon is completed.

Time: about 48 hours.

Serve with a big dollop of whipped cream.

4 Comments

Posted in Recipes

Tagged , ,