Monday, June 28, 2010

Food Allergy Cooking Show?!?!?

C'mon everyone! I think it's high time someone helped the food allergic eat well in a public forum like television! I think I should host it and I will call it "Free Food" - Allergen Free that is!!!

So, I auditioned for The Oprah Winfrey Network and posted my audition video to her site for all to see. If you want to view it, you can watch it and vote for it. Please help me get this show. It is high time we had a voice for we food allergic.

Watch it here:
http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=24401&promo_id=1

VOTE!!! PLEASE!!! THANK YOU!!!! xo

Friday, June 25, 2010

A Little GF/DF in Larchmont Village

I'm sitting at a lovely cafe in Larchmont Village - a sweet section of Los Angeles that has that sleepy town USA kind of feel. Independantly owned boutiques and restaurants line the street here just two blocks from Paramount Studios. Larchmont is a gem in LA.
I'm at Bricks and Scones. Its large garden patio has a secluded feel with potted palms and ficus trees lining the decorative wrought iron fence. In the afternoons it becomes a haven for screen writers who can sit for hours partaking of the free wireless internet connection. Its a little slice of coffee shop heaven.

I wanted a cup of coffee this morning so badly. I just wanted to sit on this patio and enjoy.

As I walked the 5 blocks to get here, I contemplated ordering a soy latte but really did not want the soy reaction of a possible headache and my bowels stopping for a day or two. I pictured myself at the counter ordering and asking, "Can I please bring in almond milk and have you keep it for me, pretty please!"

When I arrived I asked if they had an alternative other than soy milk and they said yes! Almond milk and rice milk. Oh freaking yay! So I sit sipping a delicious almond latte in Larchmont in the morning sun. Beautiful!

As for the GF option, they have this popover looking savory roll that I have yet to try. It's kind of on the large side so I asked if they would consider cutting it in half and making a sandwich out of it. Again, they said yes! When I am hungry for a sandwich, I'll try it and get back to you. They tell me it is a popular item that sells out each day.

So, in this moment I posses a huge amount of gratitude for the idependantly owned food conscious coffee shop here in Larchmont called Bricks and Scones.

Check it out yourself at www.BricksAndScones.com

Friday, June 18, 2010

Cafe Conversations

I'm sitting at Peet's Coffee in Larchmont Village - a very sweet little section of Los Angeles that makes you forget you're in LA. It's very east coast and sleepy little town like. I feel at home here.

When people sit in coffee shops, their conversations are quite audible to the the quiet folks tapping away on their computers next to them (like me right now). I try my best not to listen to what they are saying and just to focus on what I am doing but when I hear the word "gluten", I just have to hear what is being said. After all, it is my world.

This man and this woman were talking about a mutual friend of theirs who is gluten free. They were essentially making fun of her for her fears around cross contamination and getting something in her food that might cause a reaction. It made me think about the issue we food sensitives face: the disbelieving judgment of others.

I try to weigh it out from where they sit. They simply don't understand what it is like to nurse yourself through a reaction that can last for days - things like a nasty rash, a migraine, severe fatigue, bowel distress or painful inflammation in the muscles. I feel like if they had the same problem, they certainly wouldn't make fun of the situation. But then I think by the way they were talking about this person that they weren't crazy about here for a number of reasons. Then I feel a little better.

Seriously though, It is important to feel respected by the people around us. It is hard enough saying no to the home made bread at the table or asking if the chef used flour to thicken the sauce. We don't want to do these things - we have to.

If you find yourself criticizing a friend or being criticized for your food reactions, you are not alone. I think it is human nature to pass judgment on things you don't understand. Just keep taking care of yourself in the best way you can. My Mom has the best advice ever and always says just before I hang up the phone with her - "Take good care of my baby!" Thanks Mom, I will!

Do you have a story similar to this one? Go ahead and share it!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

A Restaurant with Gluten Free Taste

Recently I was at Jonathan's beach club in Santa Monica with a dear friend. I thought to myself that at a high end beach club where the memberships are not cheap, they ought to know what gluten free means. No such luck. The guy at the register actually said, with incredulity "You're allergic to glue?!"

Tonight for dinner was an entirely different experience. I had dinner with the same dear friend at a place called "Taste" and boy does this joint have plenty of it. I was SO impressed with their menu. It was the first time in sixteen years that I ordered pasta with sauteed basil, tomato, garlic and spinach over brown rice penne! This happens to be my favorite pasta dish so I was thrilled.

I savored every bite and happily went to talk with chef Brian about his gluten free option. He was highly knowledgeable on cross contamination and issues facing the gluten free. He said he would re-work any dish he could to satisfy the gluten free eater and with great pleasure.

There are two locations in the LA area. Their menu is inventive and their food well prepared and presented. They use hormone and antibiotic free meats and fresh organic vegetables when available. These are my kind of people.

They have two locations - one at Melrose near La Cienega and one in The Palisades. Go! Eat, drink and enjoy a conscious restaurant choice.

Here's their website: http://www.ilovetaste.com/