The Best Gluten Free Eggs Benedict Ever!

Thirty-three hours, three flights and three continents later, I finally arrived in Cairns, Australia, at 9:30 in the morning on November 1, 2011. October 31 just disappeared into thin air. Literally. They say there’s no such thing as time travel. I beg to differ. When crossing the International Date Line, you either get two days for the price of one or you lose a day completely. It’s a definite mind trip but one worth taking.

My friend Ly showed up in a taxi with a rice milk latte in hand. She muttered something about her delicious morning drug, came in for a big hug then motioned me in. The warm, wet tropical air filled the cab as we drove through rain forest to downtown Cairns. Our first stop was at a sports betting establishment to bet on a horse for Australia’s biggest sporting event of the year – The Melbourne Cup. I bet on “Drunken Sailor” because I just had to with a name like that.

Next stop was a restaurant with a huge outdoor deck just west of the famed Cairns Esplanade – a long boardwalk along the calm and colorful Pacific Ocean. Perrotta’s At The Gallery has a feel that’s both rustic and trendy. The menu offers an inventive array of gourmet ingredients in mainly Italian cuisine. After perusing the list of Eggs Benedict options, I chose smoked salmon with sautéed spinach on gluten free toast. Yes! You read that right, turns out that many of the places in Cairns have gluten free bread options. If they don't have it, they at least know what it is and don't say things like, "Glue? You want glue?"

I was already sipping a soy Cappuccino when the Salmon Eggs Benedict arrived. The coffee was smooth, rich and locally grown. The froth was so perfectly light I only knew it was soy by taste. With cup in hand I eyed my plate with great pleasure. The two slices of gluten free toast were cut quite thin but they were large. Atop them in layers were sautéed spinach, smoked salmon, poached eggs and finally, hollandaise sauce.

I pierced the egg with my fork and let out a “wow!” when I saw the color of them. I thought they were the healthiest, most deeply orange colored yolks I had ever seen. One bite and I knew they were. The rich flavor of the eggs spilled across the other ingredients to create what was certainly the best Salmon Eggs Benedict I ever had.

Less than an hour in Australia and I was already falling for the place and that was only just breakfast.

For more information on how to live a Delicious and Healthy life, go to www.DeliciousAndHealthy.com

To help guide you or a loved one in eliminating gluten and/or dairy, see my book, Done With Dairy. Giving up Gluten.

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