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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For those of you that are not familiar with Whole Foods Market; Whole Foods Market is a grocery store similar to our Community Natural Foods. (I use the word similar loosely)

Low and behold there was one only 2 blocks away from out hotel! Giddy with excitement we went skipping down the block and entered what I now refer to as Wonderland. I’m telling you people, this place is like Disneyland for the hippies and the allergic. It loves us!

There are more GF products in this one store then I bet there are in all of Calgary combined. Different combinations, varieties, types, flavours, choices and price points fill the shelves and our hearts. For a few moments I actually felt like a normal person would at a grocery store. A touch of normalcy among the crazy.

I asked if I could have a Whole Foods Market for my birthday, and I got the same response I did when I asked for a vampire for Christmas – a blank stare, followed by a resounding NO, followed by another blank stare. Oh that’s love for you, straight from the heart love.

You’ll see a picture below of some things I bought while I was there and some things I just thought were AWESOME. Stay tuned for the reviews!

Permission to digress for a moment:

There is one thing about Whole Foods Market that I couldn’t ignore: it was a little over the top with the organic theme. I get the idea behind organic, I can even say I support organic; BUT what’s with the Free Range Organic Chicken Broth? Seriously?

Okay you’ve either just been offended by my statements, or you’re thinking exactly what I am: “I wonder if there’s a market for Free Range Organic Croutons”. Sorry if I’ve offended you.

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