b.good - healthy, local, delicious and gluten free

b.good is a restaurant we fell in love with on a recent trip to Portland and Wiscasset Maine. We visited the Portland store at least three times in our five days in Maine. The other two days we were in Wiscasset.

The Portland, Maine store employees were friendly and helpful in keeping our food gluten free and so delicious. The six of us tried just about every gluten free item on the menu from burgers to salads to kale and quinoa bowls. Everyone absolutely loved everything. Especially awesome are the kids meals. We loved it so much it just didn't seem worth the bother to look up other safe restaurants.

The photo on the right is our last visit up in Maine. Loved the brick and the photos of the local farmers.

So the wait for the Raleigh store seemed ever so long. But open it did last week!

Chris, Joe and I went on Friday for lunch. This was their second day open and the line started clear across the restaurant. We obviously were not the only people anxiously waiting for them to open. The line moved quickly and the young man taking our order was friendly and capable. He quickly told us the couple of items we couldn't have and assured us the rest were safe.

The look of the Raleigh store is fresh and new and the farmer photos are local to our area. I was happy to later hear that JMF Photography took their photos.

We ordered and found a spot at the counter in front of the window to sit.  While I all but stopped drinking sodas years ago, at b.good I indulge with their outstanding Maine Roots soda. My family loves lots of their flavors but I always get the root beer. It's just like what we had growing up ages ago - creamy and perfect.

The guys' burgers and my chicken sandwich were perfect. The toppings are fresh and local, as are the burgers and chicken breasts. The veggie patties are house made and vegan (but not gluten free).

But the fries are amazing. If you're gluten free you know what a big deal safe gluten free fries are but at b.good you can get sweet potato or regular fries. Both are absolutely awesome.

The next day Marc, Marie, Aiden and I ran in for lunch. We arrived just before the doors opened and by the time they did open there was another family waiting with us. Several others filled tables before long.

The crowd Friday at lunch was definitely a work crowd and the Saturday lunch crowd was mostly young families. Steve Woodward, the owner said he was pleased with the lunch turnout but also pleasantly surprised by the dinner crowds, many of whom live in the apartments above the restaurant. How convenient would it be to just pick up dinner and take it right upstairs?? It seems a perfect location for everyone.

Marc and Marie ordered burgers and I ordered the spicy avocado lime kale and quinoa bowl.  It was my first b.good bowl and I ordered it as a healthy and maybe lighter choice. It was such a great combination of fresh veggies with a very spicy and flavorful sauce that I have a new favorite. So fresh and satisfying.

One thing I really love about b.good is their kids meals. Our sweet Aiden loves to eat and Marie and Marc feed him real, whole foods. The kids meals at b.good live up to their requirements and Aiden loves them.

Saturday he enjoyed a bunless turkey burger (freshly grilled and juicy) and a side of veggies. He loved the tomatoes, mushrooms, carrots and kale.

Aiden - so happy and busy with his kid's meal.

It's so nice to be able to walk into a restaurant and know that we can all enjoy healthy, local and delicious food without a worry about gluten. I can't recommend b.good highly enough.

Happily shared on Gluten Free Wednesdays at Gluten Free Easily!

Gluten Free Raleigh - bu ku Global Street Food

Cambodia Roll

Saturday afternoon Chris and I had a date lunch at bu ku Raleigh, a really beautiful restaurant in downtown Raleigh. There's a large patio that would be a perfect spot to sit on a much warmer day than when we visited. While a very elegant restaurant it's also really comfortable.

The wonderful thing about bu ku is they cover so many cuisines that there is really something for everyone and the small plates are meant to be shared. Perfect for spending time together and catching up. What really impressed us was that despite the variety, each dish was true to its heritage. Nothing is dumbed down or homogenized - everything is fresh and full of flavor. Check out their video on their home page to see what I mean.

Their gluten free menu is really large and varied. We chose some small dishes to share and split dessert. It was hard to narrow down our choices to just a few. We decided to really vary our choices rather than sticking to one cuisine.

We started with the Cambodia Roll which is a rice paper summer roll full of shrimp, avocado, carrot, cucumber and lots of spinach and just a bit of fresh herbs. There was a nice creamy peanut sauce to dip. It was a perfect blend of flavors - more spinach that I would have thought could have worked in a summer roll - but it was perfect. It left me wanting to order another that I didn't have to share.

Aloo Chana Chaat

But the Aloo Chana Chaat and Empanadas were being served and I was easily distracted.

The Aloo Chana Chaat is an Indian dish with a twist. A crispy and spicy potato cake is topped with chickpeas, cucumber, cabbage, raita, tamarind and cilantro chutney. The mix of textures and components that ranged from crispy to creamy, very hot to cool was amazing. There was a bit of a fork war over that one, I will admit to that.

Empanadas

The Empanadas were really a treat as I haven't had one in a decade. These were filled with chipotle braised chicken and topped with guacamole, tomato and queso fresco. The crispy thin crust was to die for. The spicy but not too hot shredded chicken was so good - luckily there were two and we didn't have to battle.

While we were enjoying these last two treats we decided to really indulge and order one more item and chose the Massaman Hot Pot. A yellow coconut curry full of cinnamon and spice but not hot - just flavorful - and full of veggies. There was enough of this warming curry soup for at least two bowls for each of us.

Massaman Hot Pot

Not that we needed dessert after all those wonderful dishes, but we were easily talked into it. The only gluten free dessert the day we visited was the Trilogy of Creme Brulees. While Chris loves a good Creme Brulee but it's never been one of my favorite dishes. This dessert changed my mind.

As with everything we tried the presentation was beautiful. Each little pot was garnished with one berry to compliment its flavor. Between the pots were little slices of strawberry with tiny greens in a balsamic reduction. A nice treat between very sweet bites. The traditional vanilla was very good. The ginger was mild but with just enough ginger to give it a little delicious kick. The chocolate, however, was my favorite. A very grown up chocolate pudding flavor with a creme brulee texture. Perfect!

Our waiter, Alex was friendly, informative and professional and helped make our meal a really nice experience. I can't wait to go back.

Gluten Free Raleigh - The Irregardless Cafe

Laura & Birthday Girl Cara today

Today I met Laura and Cara at The Irregardless Cafe for Cara's birthday lunch. The Irregardless Cafe is a Raleigh institution. It's a little green house turned into an award winning restaurant that is known as a farm to fork, vegetarian and green establishment.

Christmas Laura waiting for her Chili Relleno!

But honestly I wasn't bowled over the first two visits. The first time was an anniversary dinner with Chris a few years ago. He'd checked it out and read they did gluten free meals well. Cute, funky building and great atmosphere made for a nice date night feel. Our new-ish waiter wasn't trained in gluten free and brought out pita bread in spite of careful no-pita ordering on my part. He really didn't get there being a safety issue but begrudgingly brought out another plate. It was a busy night and we never could make eye contact with management. An off night - every place can have one - but it didn't make me want to try it again soon.

Delicious? Yes! Pad Thai? Close.

Fast forward to three months ago when Laura and I met at the Irregardless for lunch. I was excited to try it again - after all gluten free has come a long way since our first visit and I continued to hear or read great things about it so I was ready. It was busy and noisy with Christmas celebrations so we had to wait a while for our server but this gal was spot on - she knew what Laura needed to know to order a yummy vegan lunch and was really helpful in helping me decide on a gluten free lunch between the two, yes just two entree choices.  I settled on the Pad Thai which needs to be carefully ordered because the seitan listed on the menu contains wheat.

While the Pad Thai was good, it wasn't anything like any Pad Thai I've had anywhere else or have made at home. I was initially disappointed because I expected what I know to be Pad Thai, but I could appreciate the freshness and flavors and over all really enjoyed my lunch.

I had even told Chris later that I felt like it was a safe, good gluten free meal and even told him that I'd go back if that is where a friend wanted to go, but it just wasn't a spot I would probably choose myself.

When Laura invited me to join in on Cara's birthday I jumped at the chance to meet Cara who I only knew over the phone. I wanted to try The Irregardless Cafe one more time to see how I felt - I figured it would be a three strikes and you're out or a third time's the charm meal.

While the Irregardless lunch menu only has a few gluten free options, the dinner menu shows many more. When I compared the two I realized one of the things marked gluten free at dinner were on the lunch menu but not marked as gluten free. It was the amazing Chile Rellenos that Laura had at Christmas.

Today the Irregardless was quieter and we had a great waitress. Wait staff can make or break any dining experience but all the more so when you have to avoid gluten. I mentioned to her that I'd looked at the dinner menu and noticed the discrepancies and she assured me the Chile Rellanos were, in fact, gluten free so I quickly ordered them.

Happiness on a plate!

Oh my goodness, third time was the charm! A large poblano pepper is sitting atop a roasted tomato and balsamic reduction - so yummy you want to lick the plate. Between the sauce and the stuffed pepper is a black bean cake. And the stuffed pepper is full of a Spanish ratatouille rice. Every bit of it was amazing. I ordered the vegan version - without the smoked gouda or cream fraiche - I can't imagine it being any better than it was.

So now I want to drag Chris there as soon as we can get him there so he can try it, but I think we'll go for dinner when there are a few more gluten free choices to check out. I'm glad to have tried one more time because now I have a special spot I can really look forward to.

It was so great getting to catch up with Laura and to hear about her move and getting to meet sweet Cara. I felt blessed to have been able to sneak away from my responsibilities for a couple of hours and enjoy some fellowship with these wonderful women.

Check out Laura's post today and her healthy mocha shake. It sounds amazing!

De'Lure' Desserts & Bakery Delivers!

Yesterday I had the nicest gluten free surprise! Ragan, of De'Lure' Desserts & Bakery was making a Valentine dessert delivery to Marie nearby and surprised me with a complimentary baguette.

Ragan is the talented gluten free baker who makes the wonderful gluten free focaccia and chocolate raspberry amore cakes served at Bella Monica. I've gone on about them in our Bella Monica posts before. Being able to go out for a wonderful Italian meal and be able to order nearly anything on the menu safely is such a treat and Ragan works beautifully with the Bella Monica team to make that happen.You can find her goodies at other locations seasonally such as Pullen Park and Koka Booth Amphitheater so follow her on Facebook to keep up to date.

Ragan also did the beautiful desserts for Marc and Marie's wedding and she is absolutely wonderful to work with. She asked lots of questions and made sure she had Marie's vision. She spoiled us with samples to make sure Marc and Marie knew just what would be served and were happy with their choices.

Marie's aunts and cousins beautifully arranged the dessert table, decorating the cake with fresh flowers. It was the most beautiful presentation and everything was absolutely yummy and perfect.

Ragan made the wedding cake, French macarons, mini cupcakes and amore cakes and everyone loved everything. Raved about them, actually. This was big. Really big. Why? Because everything at this wedding from appetizer to entree to cupcake was gluten free and delicious.

Should you be so lucky to have her cater your wedding desserts be sure to order more than you think you will need because they will be quickly inhaled by your happy guests.

But back to the baguette! Ragan's baguette is not only gluten free, but also corn free, peanut free and vegan.  And did I mention delicious? The kind of delicious your non-gf friends will also enjoy if you are generous enough to share with them.

Because I was the only one home last night I saved it until today to share. And, since we waited a day to sample the baguette, I can't speak to how it tastes the day it is baked but can tell you it was wonderful today.

Joe wanted black bean hummus and veggies at lunch and the baguette was perfectly suited. I sliced it thinly and toasted it for our meal. We both loved the taste, texture and crunchy crust. It dunked into our hummus and held up well.  No typical gluten free crumbles here.

We pretty much inhaled every crumb of every slice I'd toasted. We saved some for Chris to try when he gets home tonight but I will be surprised if it makes it that long.

Ragan says she likes to slice, toast and serve as Bruschetta which sounds great. Chris and I love Laura's Garlic Herb Dip and I think these baguette slices will be perfect dipped into that garlicky delight. It was also amazing with a small smear of butter.

Ragan charges $5.50 per loaf and her delivery charge in the Raleigh area is only $5. I'm placing an order soon because looking through the wedding photos makes me want one of those delicious French Macaroons.

Thank you to Katelyn McKay Photography for your beautiful dessert photos.

Bella Monica Ladies Lunch

Laura invited me along to a lunch she and her friend Kinde had planned at Bella Monica.  I couldn't refuse a chance to meet a friend of Laura's, see Laura outside work and eat at Bella Monica now could I? Best of all it came at a very good time - Marc had just moved into his apartment and I was having a hard time adjusting to him flying out of the nest.

Amazing Laura has already blogged about our lunch at The Chronicles of DDL and you should check it out. I thought I knew a lot about Bella Monica but I learned more  reading her post. I won't reinvent the wheel so check out her post for our menu selections as well as what everyone thought. =D

It was absolutely wonderful meeting Kinde and her beautiful daughter Vanessa. Kinde works at Trader Joe's with Laura and has been there for five years and somehow we've never met. I am there at least twice a week. I saw her just once a couple of months ago - she had never seen me. I was so glad we got to finally meet. Vanessa is mature beyond her years and just the sweetest girl. Laura took this gorgeous photo of the two of them.

Kinde took this pic of Laura and me - doesn't she just glow? I know it's a lot of healthy living but I do think you see the Lord just shine through her eyes!

Our lunch was so fun and time just flew by. Since Laura captured everything so well on her post I'll just let you know about the gluten free details.

Bella Monica is on my very short list of favorite places and not to rattle on and repeat myself but I do think it's important to know why.  It's not just because everything there is wonderful but because we can eat all that wonderful food safely. I can sit down just like everyone else and enjoy myself.

Bella Monica is on top of things. The management and staff really know their stuff and they're all friendly and welcoming - you never feel like you're imposing or a problem diner. As Laura mentioned, this place is always packed. Always. Even so they never seem to miss a beat. They color code the gluten free plates so the wait staff knows what to do. They have a dedicated oven just for gluten free goodies. They even market gluten free flat breads to local grocery stores and they are delicious, too.

At many other restaurants ordering gluten free often means skipping bread, pasta or dessert - you know, the good stuff. Not here. As Marc and Marie will tell you, the Bella Monica stuffed shells are to die for. In fact, Bella Monica is catering their wedding and their wedding guests will all get to know just how good it is! Their Eggplant Parmesan made me swoon a visit or two ago but everything has been wonderful.

The flat bread and desserts are made offsite in a dedicated gluten free kitchen by an amazing woman named Ragan who owns De'Lure Desserts & Bakery.  More about her in a few weeks as she's doing the desserts for Marc and Marie's wedding.

On Monday I enjoyed a delicious chopped salad which worked well with the October Unprocessed Challenge and my hopes of fitting into my mother of the groom dress a little more comfortably. You no doubt have already seen Laura's photo of that salad. It was really satisfying - I just love beans and greens together. The vegetarian version was really perfect although I'm sure it would have been great with the optional chicken. The small square of flat bread really should have been off limits but I did enjoy it. I have to admit it wasn't as fresh and soft as usual it was still very good.

I loved the chance to sit down and discuss food and health over a yummy meal. Each of us started our health journey from different places and it was wonderful to learn more from Kinde and Laura. Vanessa was our sole "normal" eater but I think she eats a lot healthier than most girls her age and is much more aware of making good choices. I love to see that!

Laura surprised me at the end of lunch with a bundle of three foil packages of vegan and gluten free goodies she had baked.  She had wrapped it sweetly in a fall motif napkin and tied it with a bow. I had a little sampling at home that afternoon with some herbal tea and it was such a sweet treat. They were all great but the gingerbread was my favorite and I hope she'll post that recipe in time for Thanksgiving - hint, hint!!

It was such a good time and I hope we can do it again soon!

A Surprise at Spize Cafe!

Saturday Chris and I ran over to the venue for Marc and Marie's wedding so Chris could see it finally and so he could check out the "techie" side of things.  We wanted to check the WIFI to see if we'd be able to Skype his mom in to the festivities since she isn't able to fly out for the wedding. WIFI testing went great and we decided to walk through the gardens a bit when Marc joined us there and wandered a bit with us. The gardens are so beautiful and it will be the perfect spot for their wedding.

Marc left his car there and went with us for lunch and an errand. Ever since going to Spize with the lovely Laura I've wanted to get Chris there to try one of their baguette sandwiches.  Definitely NOT gluten free but their artisan/local baguettes looked like the real deal and something Chris would love.

Chris chose the pork sandwich with lemongrass and a honey mayo. The pickeled veggies and chips rounded out his plate. I had to take this picture quickly or I would have missed it all together but since this is a gluten free blog it really shouldn't be here in the first place! =D

There's an eggplant and mushroom sandwich with basil and chili paste that I want to recreate in a gluten free version - it sounds amazing!

Spize Cafe has the most flavorful sauces and dressings and they take really simple fresh ingredients and make the most delicious combinations.

Marc had the Chicken Thai Red Curry Rice Plate - the chicken version of the veggie meal Laura and I enjoyed.

Marc really enjoyed the fresh veggies - especially the bamboo shoots.

The pickled veggies are more than a pretty plate garnish - each veggie seems to have a different heat to them - all fresh and crispy and yummy.

The red curry is super hot but so flavorful.

This time I chose the White Peppered Shrimp Asian Noodle Salad.

Our cashier asked if I would like it hot or hotter.  He used the terms medium and burning. Burning seemed like a good choice but in retrospect why it seemed like a good choice is beyond me! The red peppers you see on top of those rice noodles were really and truly burning hot! But once the sweet and tangy vinaigrette mixed with everything it was the most delicious salad I've had in a long time. I'd order it again but I might order a medium next time.

The only thing I'd love to see at Spize Cafe are more gluten free veggie options without tofu. This salad would have been just as good without the shrimp and even better with more veggies. Their gluten free menu is really varied and better than most but that one small thing would thrill me.

Oh, and the surprise?  We bumped into our sweet neighbors!

Justin, Kyle, Andrea and Gabrielle, from left to right. They were in Raleigh for the NC Museum of Natural Science Bug Fest and stopped in for lunch. Empty plates and happy faces are always a good sign.

Lunch with Laura at Spize Cafe!

Today I was able to sneak out for a great lunch with my friend Laura at Spize Cafe in Raleigh. Spize Cafe was at the Gluten Free Expo last month and after sampling their curry and salad dressing we left the expo with a bottle of their yummy salad dressing and a menu. I stuck the menu on the fridge with a magnet so I wouldn't lose it and would remember to give it a try soon.

When Laura and I made plans for lunch downtown Raleigh was the perfect halfway spot but we needed to find a restaurant that would work for both of us. Laura is vegan and I, as you may have noticed by now, am gluten free =D so I checked the Spize menu and noticed their vegan options.

Because I drive like my grandma and took side streets into Raleigh past NCSU during lunch hour, Laura was already there and checking out the menu when I arrived. Spize is small, bright and modern with a tiny but busy kitchen on the right and seating on the left and the staff is friendly and helpful. We ordered our lunches at the counter and waited outside for our lunches. The weather was just perfect for sitting outside and catching up.

We both ordered a red curry rice plate with veggies - nice and hot and full of fresh veggies. I loved the strips of bamboo shoots and cabbage. It was thin and soup-like and had just the perfect amount of kick for me.

(I can't wait to get Chris here - he would love this curry but they also have French artisan baguette sandwiches that sound right up his alley. We never have gluten in our kitchen and he rarely eats anything with it in front of me so I may have to talk him into one of them.)

Laura ordered a vegan won ton appetizer special that looked so yummy. See them in the pretty picture of Laura above?

My appetizer was really enough to make a meal of and for that matter so was the curry - I left quite full and happy.

Isn't this a gorgeous basil shrimp rice paper roll and so much prettier than the rice paper rolls we make!

The anchovy lime vinaigrette was tart and had just the right amount of that fish sauce punch - I could have poured it over a bowl of greens and licked the bowl when I was done.

I loved my meal but I loved getting to sit and visit with Laura much more. We had never met when we went to the same church, or lived in the same town. Laura is our favorite checker at Trader Joe's but we didn't get to know each other there, either. Despite the fact I'm there at least twice a week you don't really have time for much conversation in a store that busy.

In fact, long before we met I remember running in one day to pick up a few things. I don't remember what had been going on but I was really stressed out. Joe was shorter than me so I know it was a long time ago!  Laura walked by and asked how I was. I smiled and said something like "fine, and you?" but she didn't say "fine". She asked me how I was *really* doing. It caught me off guard and I admitted it was an off day but you know the rest of the day was better. It made a world of difference that someone asked. Laura's that kind of person.

Since Marie introduced us we've emailed a lot, had some quick conversations at TJ's and we've prayed for each other. Today I had the opportunity to meet my friend. We caught up on faith and family and their farm. Well, more like we scratched the surface on all three, but we did fit a lot in. =D I hope we have the opportunity to share many a lunch or cup of tea in the future.

Laura gave me a mission for our first lunch - she wanted me to share a favorite verse, person or book of the Bible with her and said she would do the same. Don't you love that?

Laura also had a surprise for me. I knew she was sharing a bunch of fresh chives from her garden but she also gave me beautiful jar of her homemade body balm and I just love it. It lighter than the body butter I make and Laura gave it a light orange scent.

It feels so silky and smells heavenly.

You should check out the body balm post and read about harvesting honey, too. Things are busy at that farm!

I love that girlie purple bow and keep sliding it back on the jar when I use it but I also love what Laura did under the jar.  Check this out:

Such a sweet label - ysic - Your Sister in Christ. The heart and cross means so much. And notice those two little letters - GF! Love that, too.

Sweet friendship and a spicy lunch - not a bad day!

xoxo