Friday, April 17, 2009

Sette Osteria in Dupont Circle

My sweetie emailed me today asking if I was interested in seeing friends for an impromptu dinner after work. Sure I said...and then learned it was at an Italian restaurant.

Great.

I'm sure there are some who recognize that sinking feeling: oh no, what am I going to eat? This is yet more dicey for those of us who are not carne nor pesce-inclined...

So my post is to report that I was very pleasantly surprised that Sette offered a gluten free pasta substitution for a nominal fee. Despair turned to hope turned to a bunch of cheezy peppery pasta in a bowl in front of me. Yum.

That was preceded by a simple buffalo mozarella salad, very tender and also yum.

Sorry no photos on this one. So, here is one Italian eatery where us GF's have some options!

www.setteosteria.com

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Gluten Free Travels: Madison, WI

I'm back from a family weekend in the land of the cheese curd. Although as any celiac knows, travel away from the comforts of home and your own GF friendly kitchen can have its perils. Not so on this particular trip!

My boyfriend's rellies in Madison hit the bonanza of gluten free items for the home pantry. In fact, his sister Megan made a veritable shrine to GF delights in a corner of her kitchen:


The Silly Yak Bakery of Madison was where she picked up the bread pictured above (a rice flour based loaf) and also a vanilla cupcake with chocolate frosting (eaten before depicted). I grilled the bread in a pan and ate it for breakfast with eggs. As GF bread goes, it was on the better end of what I've had, definitely. The bakery apparently dedicates itself to GF delights on Tuesdays and Saturdays. In getting home and looking at the website, seems like they will ship to you! Megan said there are many more items in the bakery, like cakes, doughs, pizza, and more. Good find if you are in that part of the country.

As to the cupcake, described but not depicted...it was enjoyed and eaten in short order. I haven't eaten that much of a sweet in I don't know how long! Need I say more??

Megan planned a fun family outing (and with 12 in our party, yes this was really a major culinary expedition) of a delicious dinner of middle eastern cuisine at LuLu's Deli & Restaurant. We feasted on stuffed grape leaves, seasoned feta and olives, hummus, baba ghanoush; I ate amazing tart lemony lentil soup:

and Fool, a vegetarian dish of tomatoes, fava beans, chickpeas and rice:

I also ate a bite of her eggplant moussaka, which was deeply seasoned and tender. Mmm. Delicious food and and many vegetarian and gluten-friendly options. The server was great about checking with the kitchen, but it appeared that the main source of gluten was the pita bread (which everyone else quite enjoyed). We feasted at LuLu's until we burst, seated at the "low table" which suited me fine but not Megan's 6'6" fiance...

So if you find yourself in the land of the cheese curd, do not fear there are many friendly GF options (including of course cheese curds themselves, which I did eat and enjoy. Squeaky!).

Sushi from Thai Chef

Home late on a weeknight when my sweetie had other dinner plans, I decided to get some of my favorite veggie sushi...the fabulous garden roll from Thai Chef on Connecticut Avenue in DC. Crunchy, savory, sweet...a unique blend of veggies with the unexpected snap of pear!

So hungry I perched my dinner atop the laptop!

www.thaichefsushibardc.com