And for me that means two things: a break from school and lots of good food.

To start off the summer right I want to talk about hamburgers – about the kind you make and the kind you buy.

First, the kind you make. Everyone has their favourite burger patty recipe. And I’m sure we could spend the next three months just talking about that. And since (as it comes to no surprise to all of you) that I don’t make my own, what I’m going to talk about is the bun. A bad GF bun can and will ruin the burger no matter how good it is.

Husband and I were shopping at Whole Paycheck Foods last week and came across Udi’s hamburger buns. At first I wasn’t all that excited because I’ve only found one hamburger bun I liked. ~cough GF Patisserie cough~ That being said, how was I going to be the one to turn down an opportunity to try something new. I mean, it’s not much of a blog if I don’t put myself and my taste buds out there right?!

So we went for it, and as soon as we got home I decided to make some turkey burgers. (actually Trader Joe’s made the burgers, I just thawed them and put them in the pan) When all was said and done, it was time to try it all together. And guess what people, I was really impressed! They were great. They were perfectly sized, they didn’t compete with the burger patty or the millions of toppings that I put on it. And best of all, they didn’t crumble, which means getting to eat my burger WITHOUT a fork and a knife. Sometimes it’s the little things that matter the most!

If you’re unable to find Udi’s in your neck of the woods, try THIS link. It may be of some use.

After all the work of heating up our own pre-made burgers, we moved on to eating burgers completely made by others.

In the last few weeks there has been a lot of talk around DC about this place called Shake Shack. It’s a burger joint with it’s own little schtic; they keep it simple with burgers and hot dogs and fries, oh and milkshakes. After a quick google search we discovered that they had GF options. And I was really excited to learn that they took it seriously and that they knew what the challenges are for people like us.

From the menu, I chose a cheese burger with lettuce and tomatoes – no bun. Husband had a double cheeseburger with the works. For those that are wondering, Shake Shake offers a wide range of milkshakes that are GF, and for a list of the ones that aren’t, just go to their webesite(or you can ask someone that works there – they know what they’re doing). I chose to forgo the milkshake because of that whole lactose intolerant thing, but if any of you have tried one, please let us know what you thought.

And there is some caution to be had with the fries. On their own they are gluten-free and they are cooked in a separate oil from other things. However, at the end of every night the different oils are cleaned together, which means there is potential for a little cross-contamination. I don’t chance that kind of stuff because I suck and my body will tell me when the smallest piece of gluten is in my food. So if you’ve tried the fries and havent had an issue (or have tried them and have) please let us know your thoughts.

Okay, with all that being said, I’m sure you want to know if it was any good. And it was, it was one of the best fast food burgers I’ve had in a long time. It wasn’t greasy, it had flavour and the toppings were fresh, very fresh. The best part, was that all of their condiments were Heinz and GF. Hell ya. (Shake Shack is located is the US only, sorry Canada, I still love you. Please keep it on the list for when you travel!)

It’s happy summer time everyone. So get your burger on!

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This post is a rant and nothing but a rant – so if you’re looking for product information and witty stories about Husband then please move on to the next post.

I was hesitant at first to write this because Glutastic is the place I go to laugh about my life. But this rant isn’t about the funny, it’s about my frustration. But it’s a frustration I’m sure some of you have so I figured it wouldn’t be fair to leave this out.

This last week has been a challenging one. I’m good with challenge, I thrive in challenge, but I don’t do well with challenge brought on by the ignorance of others. And the straw that broke me this week was a GF cookie.

So here’s the deal: Husband and I live and work from home, which means 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week  in the same place. We’ve done well with the ‘togetherness’ of it all, but sometimes we loose our minds over having to be  in one place all the time. As a way to mix things up we usually go to Northside Social at least once or twice a week. It’s a really nice coffee shop/wine bar near campus. We really like it there. It’s become our office away from the office. Sometime ago they started selling GF cookies. After having a conversation or two with some the staff, I managed to teach them the ins and outs of cross contamination at the counter when serving the cookies. They were really receptive to it and I was elated.

At least, I was elated until last week when the manager of the coffee shop told me that they really don’t make an effort to avoid cross contamination in the kitchen when they make them. They call them gluten free because they don’t knowingly bake them with gluten in them but that’s as far as their care and concern really goes. True to fashion, the first thing out of my mouth was “what the hell”. In all the conversations I had with staff before this point, they never made an effort to tell me these things. Turns out that they only mean to sell them to people who have chosen to go gluten free as a lifestyle choice. Again, the first thing out of my mouth was “what the hell” – why wouldn’t they be as clear and transparent as possible about this? Why wouldn’t they care what the possible issues are with taking this less then seriously.

And then I found out – Gluten Free is a fad.

It’s a fad that is putting my health in danger.

Gluten Free has become a ‘thing’ that people are choosing not because they have to, but because it sounds like the fashionably healthy thing to do. The bonus of this: it’s increasing the market demand and it’s putting pressure on companies to produce gluten free. The Pitfall: it’s degrading the industry and turning our disease into a fad. Instead of catering to the disease, companies are catering to the fad which means that their products are dangerous to us. The fad doesn’t care about cross contamination, the fad doesn’t care if some of the products aren’t fully gluten free – the fad doesn’t care that their lifestyle choices put the rest of us in danger.

And this is where the tipping point comes for me – I now have to be wary of everything and anything labeled Gluten Free. I have to ask more questions then I use to, I have to read labels looking for things that I never thought to look for before, and worst of all, when I find out that the GF product or menu is meant for the “lifestyle people” I have to go without and the company gets to keep selling products and making money.

I’d like to send out a huge shout out to the ‘lifestyle’ people. I’d like to say thank you for taking your ‘flash in the pan’ choices and using them in ways that make my disease more dangerous to me then it ever has been before. Thank you for playing roulette with my health and thank you for saturating the market with your crap. On behalf of Celiacs everywhere, I’d like to thank you for helping breed a new generation of food providers who are willing to take chances with me so that they can sell something to you.

If you’re curious how far this issue goes, here’s an article that sheds a little light on it. Got to love this chef, because I’m sure he’s not the only one.

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There are so many things that I miss about Calgary and Canada right now. I miss my family, my friends (who are the same as family), my dog and my old boss. I miss how the use of a car horn is reserved for celebrating a win in hockey or to indicate an emergency – and NOTHING else. I miss how no one gets scared when you say hi to them, even when you don’t know them. I miss being able to find East simply by turning my back to the mountains, I miss the letter ‘U’ and I miss local business.

Moving here has been like being re-diagnosed all over again. Nothing is the same, grocery stores are inconsistent and the rules of ppm are different. I miss knowing what’s okay to eat.

So this post is dedicated to my people at home. Here are some gems in your area. Support local and support the GF conscious business near you.

First: I want to send a shout out to GF Patisserie. Why? Because they are awesome. I’ve never kept that a secret. They are a great example of local business that cares, and that takes the time to do it right. Quality over quantity. It matters – trust me. So to the lovely ladies at GF Patisserie and to the Celiac Husband that supports them – you truly are ROCKSTARS.

Second: Copper Pot Creations. Here’s the deal – I never had the pleasure of eating there. This information comes to me from an insider. Yes, I still have spies in Calgary. Be aware, be very aware! I looked over their mandate and the menu and I’m impressed. Their products are 100% free of wheat/gluten, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy/casein, soy, sesame, fish and shellfish. Not going to lie, I had to stop and think: If the are free of all that, then what is left to cook with? And this, is why I am a domestic anti-goddess. There is lots left and they have made meals that look fantastic out it. They also offer free delivery with the city of orders $30/more. Someone please try them out and let us know how it is. I hope it tastes as promising as it looks/sounds.

Third: Wild Horse Bistro. My sister and my mom stumbled upon this gem when they were at the Farmers Market. And because they are so awesome, they sent the Chocolate Cake mix my way. It’s damn good. Nicely packaged, all ingredients included (at least the non-perishable ones) and easy to make. The cake came out fluffy, moist and rich. Wild Horse Bistro for the win! They operate out of Black Diamond, but can be found at Farmers Markets. Visit the site for more details.

So let me end with this. I miss you all. I miss you’re emails and comments. I miss your silent judgment of my culinary ineptness and even more importantly, I miss hearing about your lives. I may be living in the US, but for as long as I can type, I’ll do my best to contribute to your quest for GF greatness.

If anyone is interested in the directions I am going here, please feel free to follow my new twitter feed: @nonresident. A second blog is on it’s way. Because let’s be honest, I’m never short of things to say and living as a non-resident alien has given me more material than I ever thought possible.

Happy Easter My People.

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Bob’s Red Mill makes GF Short Bread Cookie Mix!

Oh ya, you heard that right, Short Bread Cookie Mix. And it’s tasty!

Pluses:

• It makes a super tasty cookie.
• The instructions include options of lactose free butter etc – total bonus.
• Fiance thinks they make the house smell like Christmas!

Minuses:

• The instructions are hard to follow. Clarification Time: The instructions are complicated for me. For you, they may be easy as 1, 2, 3. That being said, I messed up the instructions and the cookies still tasted amazing. So if I can mess it up and it still tastes great, can you imagine what it would taste like when you make them – the right way!

I am constantly amazed by the level of GF products made by Bob’s Red Mill. They have not let us down yet. In fact, they are threatening my svelte figure with all the goodies that I can make. Bob clearly does not care about my waist line. Damn you Bob, damn you.

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Why?

Because a great place deserves a little  more attention.

To steal from a line from a review written about Nectar Desserts – Nectar Desserts is Raising the Chocolate Bar.

Actually, it doesn’t just raise the Chocolate Bar – it takes the Chocolate Bar out back, beats it with a stick and asks it who’s boss!

When going head to head with other dessert bars in Calgary, Nectar Desserts obliterates the competition.

Why?

Because they have class, style, service, and amazing GF options. You can eat in, you can take out, you can do both in the same night.

The staff is so knowledgeable and helpful. They know what they are talking about and that only helps instill a sense of trust and security when ordering and eating. My notable favourite is a server that I will call “Scrumptious”. I choose to call him that for a number of reasons: 1. I don’t like to publish names. 2. He’s the cutesiest morsel of awesome – it’s okay Fiance, I think you’re a cute morsel of awesome as well. 3. His recommendation from the menu was so scrumptious that I had to hold back my desire to squeal with excitement.

No matter who you’re server is, I can guarantee that you will be impressed. They all know their stuff and they all truly care about your health. Going to Nectar is like a hug for your stomach, and a hug for your soul.

My recommendations are:

• Nectar Macarons
• Pavlova
• GF Chocolate Cake
• Fiance loves the: Chocolate Experience.

**Please remember to mention your dietary restrictions. They will need to modify the desserts slightly to accomodate you. They won’t mind, and they will take you very seriously; so feel free to just sit down and ask them what they recommend today for a celiac in need of dessert**

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What am I taking? The only Gluten Free item on the menu.

Open Sesame is a great place. Great atmosphere, great food, great service, just an over all great place. Its a favourite date night spot of almost everyone I know.

The one gluten free item they have is a wonderful bowl of goodness that reminds me of sparkles and sunshine on a Sunday morning.

How it works is: the waitress gives you an empty bowl and a slip of paper that says in big bold letters GLUTEN FREE. You then proceed to fill it with all the vegetables your little heart desires. They have everything from broccoli to chick peas to pineapple and baby corn. You then take your bowl of sunshine to the cute chef at the wok. He then adds a special gluten free sauce, also referred to as the “sprinkles”, and rice noodles and stir fry’s it all up for you.

KABOOM – on the first bite you will achieve Nirvana. And not the 90′s grunge, head banging, smells like teen spirit kind; but the kind where you are in a supreme state free from gluten suffering.

Note:

If I had to choose one thing to comment negatively about, in terms of Open Sesame, it’s that they don’t have any gluten free deserts. I will let it slid for them, its really not the end of the world so I can overlook it.

Open Sesame

6920 MacLeod Trail SE

Calgary, Alberta

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Fiance and I had heard a rumor that the Outback Steakhouse had an extensive GF menu. Shortly after that we also learned that there was no longer one in Calgary. Saddened by the news we just kind of put it out of our minds.

Until Seattle.

There had to be an Outback in Seattle. Two minutes on google and we found it – three blocks from our hotel.

Excited by the discovery we put our shoes on, and skipped the three blocks. Both of us filled with unnatural excitement. We were literally like two giddy little school girls running down the streets of Seattle.

To be honest, this had the potential to be the biggest let down of the trip. We had built it up and in the back of my mind I knew it would only take one misplaced bread crumb to send it all crumbling down around us. No pun intended there.

Alas, the universe provided. It was an awesome meal. The GF menu was extensive. Each dish came with it’s own instructions on what would have to be omitted to make it gluten free, there was GF kids menu, a dessert menu and great little drink menu. It was so detailed that the salad potion of the menu even came with instructions on reminding your server to ask the kitchen staff to use a clean bowl to mix the salad in. The menu literally reached out and hugged you.

We ended up enjoying our first meal so much that we ate there 3 different times. Not once was there contamination issues and not once was I forced to eat grilled chicken with steamed vegetables. I felt like a real person eating in a real restaurant.

Oh, and I can not gush enough about the desert menu. They have a brownie that is rivaled by no other. It’s moist, chocolaty and delicious. They even ask if you are okay with dairy because it comes with ice cream, whip cream and chocolate sauce (all GF). Each waitress knew that a lot of celiacs were also lactose intolerant so they wanted to make sure that I was getting exactly what I asked for. Staff with extensive knowledge – does it get any better then that?

So now that I have you really excited about a restaurant that isn’t in Calgary, don’t fret. There are Outback Steakhouse’s all over Canada. If you’re ever traveling keep your eye peeled for one. You will not be disappointed. There’s even one in Edmonton, possibly the only redeeming thing about the city! (Just kidding. Edmonton isn’t all THAT bad)

Some notable favourites on the menu:

• Alice Springs Chicken.
• 12oz Strip Loin Steak with all the trimmings.
• Garlic Mash Potatoes.
• Alice Springs Merlot!

Happy eating!

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Admit it people, the answer to that question is yes. You know you want to be a normal. You want to sit down, look at a menu, and know that you are about to order enough food to feed a small village. You want to be able to squish everything between two pieces of bread, drip it in every sauce they have in the kitchen, and then wash it down with something that contains, chocolate, sugar, butter, whip cream and maybe if your lucky, SPRINKLES!

Well people, we have a place where we are normal.

A Tasty Menu is a great restaurant in NE Calgary. They serve ONLY gluten free food. And its normal food- hamburgers, poutine, pizza, chicken fingers and much much more. The desert menu is to die for, and the daily specials are always drool worthy. All items are reasonably priced, you wont have to break the bank to eat like you used to.

The staff are awesome, they know their stuff and aren’t pretentious about it. The owner is an absolute delight – she genuinely cares what you think and how your visit is going. They take gluten free food so seriously, that they ask you not to bring in non-gluten free foods for children. They are more than happy to provide you with gluten free cheerios for the kiddies – they just ask that you respect the safety and freedom of a safe GF food environment.

I simply can’t say enough great things about A Tasty Menu.

Oh wait I can say one more thing – Gluten eaters will love it just as much as the rest of us. Boyfriend never objects to eating there, and Boyfriends dad (a gluten eater) has even opted to eat there on his own volition. Its just that nice of a place to be.

Go and pig out people. Wear loose fitting clothing and take your time. You are about to gorge, and leave bloated – not from accidental gluten poisoning – but from complete and total over eating!

A Tasty Menu
105-4202 17 Avenue SE
Calgary, AB T2A 0T2
(403) 235-0031

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Nice like grandma.

We recently made a trip to the Cactus Club Cafe and I couldn’t find anything to complain about, but I’m not raving about it either.

The event was: dinner with my brother and his wife. Its rare that Boyfriend and I get to see them so we wanted to make sure that we went to a “safe zone”. I pulled the restaurant from the Calgary Celiac Association website and we rolled the dice. I knew that the CCA wouldn’t lead me astray, but there is always the chance that some new hire will cross contaminate or mislead you on your choices. So I went in with caution.

They don’t have a separate gluten free menu but they do have a number of gluten free items available. I had the yam fries and a salad. The best part about the salad is that it didn’t taste like every other salad I have everyday. It had a great assortment of pecans, strawberry’s, avocado, mixed greens and an amazing dressing. (there was may more to the salad but these are the items that stuck out to me) I chose to have it with chicken and my sister in-law had it with salmon. Either choice would be a great choice. The yam fries were nice, I think all yam fries are basically the same so it can’t be elevated above nice.

The portion size was MEGA (which is a step above huge for all you that need specifics!) and it should have been for a $14 salad. Neither my sister in-law nor myself could finish it. I wasn’t happy about the price tag, but that’s because I eat salad EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE, and its tough to pay that much for something I had for lunch! I had mentioned that to Boyfriend and he said my Ukrainian was showing. Yes we people are a bit on the cheap side so don’t let my rant on price deter you.

All in all it was a nice meal in a nice restaurant and it was nice not to be poisoned. I would recommend the Cactus Club to people who want a night out with friends at a place that is less likely then others to poison you. It was NICE.

Warning:

The staff is knowledgeable yes, but they are human and they do make mistakes. The server told me that ALL the salads are gluten free, which is not the case since one of them contains Chow Mein noodles. I obviously knew this but felt it was necessary to let the server know that I had an allergy and the cross contamination was an issue. She was great and they took their time and I didn’t get poisoned. So hey, she is human and made a mistake, one I could catch, I won’t hold it against her. Just a warning to read the ingredients.

The verdict: The Cactus Club Cafe is Nice.

The Cactus Club Cafe
7010 MacLeod Trail S
Calgary, Alberta

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