Gluten-Free Sushi at JW Marriott in Orlando

May 21, 2012

I had the most wonderful experience at the JW Marriott in Orlando (known for their tropical pool area and lazy river).  I was staying at the Ritz-Carlton next door for a conference and headed over to the JW Marriott one night to try some sushi.

I sat at the bar, which was beautiful. I noticed a few other solo diners, probably other people traveling on business, and I was immediately greeted by Roberto.  He took my drink order and handed me the sushi menu.  To be safe I usually just order tuna with avocado and no sauce.  I never ever expect that a place will have gluten-free soy sauce, however, I always ask (nicely of course).

Roberto was gone a while and when he came back he had a bottle of Tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) in his hands.  I was SO HAPPY.  I wasn’t expecting gluten-free soy sauce at all and it was such a great treat!

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My dinner was a great experience. My sushi was perfect not too chewy and perfect portions.  The servers were so nice.  I had one or two others stop by to check on me.  I couldn’t believe the amazing service.

When it was time to close out my check Roberto was nowhere to be found.  Within 5 minutes he came back with a brown paper bag full of gluten-free biscuits, donuts and muffins.  I couldn’t believe it.  He had gone into their refrigerator to see what type of gluten-free goodies they had to give me.  It was such a nice gesture and perfect to have with me for the duration of my trip.  It was probably $30 worth of gluten-free goodness that he would not allow me to pay for.

Who would have thought that a place known for their lazy river and luxurious pool would also be so hospitable for those of us with gluten issues.

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Nutrition: Mila

May 17, 2012

A few weeks ago one of our followers commented on my post about a new nutritional supplement called Mila.  She was adamant about it’s benefits to those of us with gluten-issues. She asked me if I was willing to give it a try and I thought, why not.  I had heard a little about its benefits but was excited to learn more.  I had a hunch this is something Dr. Oz had reported on and sure enough I found a link to a blog post by one of his staff members.

Mila is ground Chia seed.  Chia is known as “a super food” and each serving contains a ton of Omega -3s and 5 grams of fiber per serving. According to the blog post on DoctorOz.com ”The nutritional benefits of chia include fiber, omega fatty acids, calcium, antioxidants and much more – even protein!”

The suggested uses of Mila include:

  • blending with yogurt, oatmeal, hummus, cottage cheese
  • Stir into milk
  • mix into pancakes, muffin, bread or cake mix
  • Toss into a salad or pasta
  • Mix into pizza sauce, pasta sauce, rice, quinoa or other grains
  • Blend into smoothies
I decided to try blending it into my morning smoothie a few times a week (it was suggested to have Mila earlier in the day and drink a lot of water afterwards).

Here is my favorite smoothie:

  • frozen Strawberries
  • frozen chopped bananas
  • a handful of greens (spinach and kale are my favorite)
  • one spoonful of almond butter
  • a few dashes of agave nectar
  • almond milk about 1-2 cups
I mixed 1 tablespoon of mila with 9 tablespoons of water and let it soak in the blender about 15 minutes before I wanted to make my smoothie. Warning, Mila is not very tasty by itself, you need to add it to something with flavor.
According to Seed4change.net Mila is very absorbent when pre-soaked in water.   Pre-soaking Mila enhances the bio-availability of Mila’s nutrients (including fiber), it hydrates and decreases removal of water from the the lower intestine.  Pre-soaking may also help eliminate bloating and stomach discomfort that some may experience (um, probably everyone reading this blog experiences this).
Here is my yummy smoothie!  I know it looks a little weird because of the greens, but I promise it is delicious and nutritious!

After a few smoothies a week I definitely noticed a difference.  I had more energy and the stomach pain and discomfort I usually felt went away.  I am not sure about how much this costs or all of the places you can purchase this, but you can try contacting Jessica at Lifemax.  I would think that you can find it at Whole Foods and Native Sun as well.

Have you tried Mila? What are your thoughts?

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Happy Birthday to Me! Mama B’s

April 26, 2012

I have an awesome job!  I work for Brooks Rehabilitation as Manager of Strategic Marketing.  We are a non-profit hospital system focusing on rehabilitation with an inpatient rehabilitation hospital, outpatient rehabilitation , home health, skilled nursing and rehabilitation, research and on and on and on.

We try our hardest to celebrate birthdays at our office and yesterday my office celebrated my birthday by bringing in Mama B’s Specialties, LLC.  A co-worker of mine lives in the same neighborhood as it’s owner and we have talked on multiple occasions about these delicious treats.

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We enjoyed chocolate chip cupcakes with chocolate chip cake and icing and Sun Butter cupcakes with chocolate chip cake and Sun Butter icing.  I thought they were delicious.  However it was interesting to see how my co-workers (who are not gluten-free) reacted.  Some didn’t try them at all but there were a few who were adventurous and tried atleast a bite or two.

It is interesting how people who don’t follow a gluten-free diet think things that are gluten-free don’t taste good.  I agree, there are numerous gluten-free items I try that are just horrible.  However, these were delicous.

Some of the comments I heard from my coworkers “it is not overly sweet, I like it, ”  ”I like the chocolate chip icing with the chocolate chips best, ”  ”I like the cake consistency, it is like a muffin.”   One of my coworkers even responded “you know, I wouldn’t mind ordering stuff like this on a regular basis for your birthday for the whole group, not just you.”

I am still going to stand that Cookie Momsters is my favorite bakery in town, however it is always nice to have options.

I look forward to trying other Mama B’s Specialties!

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Corner Taco- Gluten-Free!

April 25, 2012

Today was a beautiful day!  I decided it was the perfect day to try out Corner Taco, a place I have heard about for quite some time.

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Corner Taco is a food truck that moves around quite frequently.  However, if you follow them on Facebook they notify you of where they are going on a regular basis.

Once I had my heart set on going, I invited my friend Jennifer and my brother Neil (placing his order above).

The staff was super nice.  Once I told them I wanted to take photos and write for my blog they wanted me to know all about their creations.  Every day, before they open, they cut all of their vegetables, cook their meats and make their corn tortillas on site.

They even invited me into their awesome food truck to see their corn tortilla maker.  They said this thing can make 1,000 corn tortillas an hour.  They make close to 140 each day for their food truck and informed me the only one of its kind (outside of the ones in Mexico) is at Epcot.  These corn tortillas are legit they were tasty and not one time did they fall apart in my hand like most other corn tortillas do.  Usually I have to double up!

I ordered the Tempeh taco and the Carnitas taco.  They were so delicious, I wished I ordered another one.


I was forced to forgo my usual Diet Coke for a Cane Sugar “Mexican” Coca-Cola which was so delicious!


There is a food truck phenomenon happening in Jacksonville.  I invite you to jump on board.  I am still learning about which ones are safe for us, but in the meantime I invite you to join Jacksonville Truckies on Facebook.  They organize events and are constantly promoting food trucks in our area.  I promise as I learn about the ones that are gluten-free I will share what I find with you.  In the meantime, check out Corner Taco, you will not be disappointed…

Corner Taco on Urbanspoon

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April Smart Phone Pics

April 23, 2012

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I am constantly taking photos of food on my phone, I thought i’d share a few of my favorites from this past month…   Have you tried any of these?

1. Gluten-free Creme Brulee from bb’s in San Marco
2. Tuna Tartare with sliced cucumbers instead of crustini at bbs’s
3. Amontillado Hamburger and French Fries (no bun) at Poe’s Tavern, Atlantic Beach
4. New gluten-free menu at PF Changs
5. Gluten-free goodies at World Market
6. Salad from the Sweet Tomatoes salad bar

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European Street: Gluten-Free Options, But at a Price

April 18, 2012

Ever spend $20 for lunch for just one person?  I just did.

European Street, known for their lunch sandwiches, dessert case and  beer selection has locations in Riverside, Beaches, San Marco and Beach Near University. Recently they have started serving Gluten-free and vegan options.

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They get their gluten-free bread from Cookie Momsters so you can have pretty much any of their sandwiches on the menu in addition they have vegan cheeses, hummus platters, salads, etc.

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I had a roast beef sandwich with Gluten-free bread, house chips and pickle.  The bread was a little small which made eating the sandwich a bit messy.  But the roast beef was a little warm and juicy.  It was a tasty sandwich.

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For dessert I had the double chocolate gluten-free and vegan cheesecake to go.

Besides being disappointed with a small bun, my meal was not bad.  But DEFINITELY not worth $20.

How did I spend $20? I had nothing special- no cheese, special sauce, add-ons etc.

  • Diet coke $2
  • Plain roast beef sandwich $7.50
  • Gluten-free bread $1.50
  • Dessert was $6
  • Tax and tip $3.19

The cashier obviously has learned to deal with negative reactions to their prices because she just smiled and said “it costs a lot to be good to our bodies.”  I wanted to scream!  You think I am choosing to eat gluten-free?  You think I am on a diet?  No, I have to eat gluten-free for life.  The fact that restaurants can get away with charging more and taking advantage of people that HAVE to avoid food allergens is rediculous.   Jason’s Deli doesn’t charge more for their sandwiches that are gluten-free.  Bonefish in Mandarin doesn’t charge more for me to have gluten-free bread on the table.   It is going to be a long time before I consider going to European Street again.  Maybe if they drop the $1.50 charge for gluten-free bread I will reconsider.

*Please Note: After reading comments and calming down after some initial emotions to the reaction by the cashier I have decided to change my title from Gluten-Free Rip-Off to Gluten-Free Options, But at a Price.  

European Street Cafe on Urbanspoon

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904 Fitness: April 2012

April 11, 2012

Jacksonville has a new magazine: 904Fitness!  904Fitness is FREE monthly magazine covering all things health and fitness related. The magazine is distributed at locations throughout Jacksonville and features great content written by local trainers, dietitians, athletes and more. All articles featured in the magazine are available on 904Fitness.com each month.

I have been asked to be a contributor to the magazine each month.  Since my mission is to spread the word about gluten-free to as many people and restaurants in Jacksonville this seemed like a perfect fit.

The first issue, April 2012, is out.  Here is a sampling of the gluten-free section.  Let me know what you think…

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Travel Dining: Marmalade San Juan, Puerto Rico

April 2, 2012

In Mid March I embarked on Spring Break 2012 with 3 girlfriends of mine.  Each year we go somewhere warm and sunny to sit by the pool, catch some rays, catch up (we live in 3 different cities), relax, drink frozen drinks and EAT!  This year we traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico and stayed at El San Juan in Carolina Beach (about 5 minutes from the airport).  A majority of our trip was spent at the resort by the pool or people watching in the lobby however, one night we went into the square of Old San Juan.  It was very charming and lively due to the proximity to the cruise ship terminal.

We made reservations to eat at Marmalade, a highly recommended restaurant known for flavorful drinks and an exquisite tasting menu. By the time we reached this restaurant I was a little frustrated with my experience in Puerto Rico.  It was really a challenge to explain what my needs were.  I almost cried when I spoke to our server who understood exactly what my needs were and knew exactly what should be substituted to help me out.  I was finally able to relax and enjoy a meal.  So I figured, what the heck- go for the 5 course with wine pairing.  We all did the tasting menu and had a blast sharing food and making yummy food sounds.

The wine pairings were no joke.  They went so well together and included some of my favorite- King Estate Pinot Gris and Conundrum. The white bean soup which is their signature item has dairy in it.  But I am pretty sure it is gluten-free.  They were happy to give me another course instead.  Everyone loved the soup though.


My first course, tuna tartare, was delicious.  Instead of the gluten-containing chips they gave me rice paper chips that were so light and crisp.

My second course was a red snapper ceviche with plantain chips. This was such a great summer/warm weather dish.  There was a distinct orange, citrusy, onion flavor that went so well with the saltiness of the plaintain chips.  It was paired with a glass of Albarino- which is one of my favorite spanish wines.

Since two people at the table were doing a six course sampling, the restaurant offered up smaller tastings for those of us doing less than six courses.  Probably one of my favorite courses- though not intentional- was this Thai inspired corn lemongrass coconut soup, It was delicious and at the bottom were chunks of avocado.  I don’t even think this is on the menu but I have to find out how to make this at home.

My third course was an heirloom beet salad with grapefruit paired with one of my favorite wines: King Estate Pinot Gris.  It was so fresh and citrusy.  I am a huge fan of beets thanks to Veggie Bin, I seem to get them in my bin every other week and have really grown to be a big fan!

Wait for it…………………………………

Tada!  My 4th course was the lamb.  While it usually comes on tabbouleh, they  were easily able to give me rice instead.  This dish had amazing Indian spices.  The lamb was tender. Inside were pomegranate seeds, blanched almonds and cilantro.  It was small but extremely filling.

My fifth course was a berry cobbler with home-made almond ice cream, black berries, raspberries and gluten free cookies.  Talk about a dish I rarely get to eat.  I can’t remember the last time I had cobbler. This was delicious! It was paired with a wonderful ruby port.

Cheers to a great dinner, a great trip and great friends!

A great time was had by all.  This Florida girl loved the citrus inspiration at this restaurant!  You definitely must try Marmalade if you plan to take advantage of the non-stop flights to San Juan from Jacksonville!

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What is Love?

March 31, 2012

Behind everyone that has celiac disease is someone that loves them and wants them to be happy and healthy.  I am lucky that I have a great support system.  However, my boyfriend J Ry goes above and beyond sometimes sacrificing his own taste buds for my benefit.

What does he do you ask?

- Brings me gluten-free/dairy-free Sweet Pete’s caramels
- Buys me awesome treats during holidays from Cookie Momsters
- Asks the server not to put bread on the table at the beginning of a meal
- Asks the server if there is a gluten-free menu if I am late to dinner or while I have stepped away
- Makes me gluten-free/dairy-free pizza (yes even including the soy cheese on top) and eating it with me
- Shares gluten-free/dairy-free pizza with me from Mellow Mushroom
- Understands what “gluten” is and what “casein” is- sometimes even calling me from the grocery store to under stand what I can and can’t have
- Never complains that he has to hear my story over and over again when we are in new company and people ask me about celiac disease or when I have to give my usual statement about what I can and can’t have to restaurants
- Explains my needs to his family in Chicago when I go to visit- to the extent that they have cooked an entire meal gluten-free just because of me

Love is when people do things for you without you having to ask them.  I have never asked him to do any of these things, but he does them anyway.  I love you J Ry!

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Gluten-Free Seasons 52

March 14, 2012

Last Night I dined at Seasons 52 at the Town Center.  I have heard a lot about it and had a $50 gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket so I had to go!  Seasons 52 changes their menu 3 times a year and they offer foods that are in season.  In addition, each of their dishes are 475 calories and they have no fryers on site.  As a fan of “clean eating” I was excited to try this place out.  I made reservations ahead of time and notified them of my gluten/dairy/shellfish allergy and when I was seated they handed me a gluten-free menu and confirmed my allergy and said they had it all under control.  The gluten-free menu was a little limited, but I liked that I could feel safe.  Here is a link to their gluten-free menu.  But beware, they are switching their menus on March 20th to the Spring Menu.

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Every thing I read said that the Ruby Red Grapefruit Martini was a must.  This was so true.  I loved this martini and the fact it came with a shaker meant I got a little more than just one glass.  My super helpful waiter Charlie informed me that they let the grapefruit soak in vodka then they add a citrus liquor.  I loved it as a pre-dinner cocktail!

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As an appetizer my boyfriend and I shared the edamame with green tea sea salt.  I have never had green tea sea salt but it was quite yummy and had a really nice green tea flavor that minimized the saltiness of the salt (if that even makes sense, ha).

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For dinner I enjoyed the Grilled Boneless Rainbow Trout with parsley new potatoes, roasted vegetables and broiled lemon. Let me tell you, that broiled lemon was awesome.  It was so easy to squeeze over the fish and the flavor lingered over to the carrots and asparagus on my plate.  It was delicious.  The vegetables were not too salty or over cooked, however the fish had a little blackened taste to it so the flavors of the plate just really went well together.  Everything tasted fresh and there were no overpowering sauces or spices.  The glass of Pinot Grigio I enjoyed with it was perfect.  There was nothing left on my plate!

I had a great experience and can’t wait to go back!

Seasons 52 on Urbanspoon

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