Cookbooks: The Christmas Presents That Keep On Giving : )

Christmas morning was epic this year. Not only did I come downstairs to a present filled family room, but every gift that I unwrapped was amazing and something that I wanted/will come in crazy handy. Two of the gifts that I received from my mama and dad were cookbooks. Now these were not just any cookbooks but awesomely amazing cookbooks that will make me oh so fat lol.


The first one happens to be a Gluten-Allergy friendly cookbook that looks sa-weeet! Titled Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef and written by Shauna James Ahern (the gluten-free girl*) and Daniel Ahern (the chef), the book is "a love story with 100 tempting recipes." I was particularly excited about getting this cookbook because another book written by Shauna James Ahern, Gluten-Free Girl: How I Found the Food That Loves Me Back...& How You Can, Too, got me through my first few months of being gluten-free and taught me how to not only cope with the diagnosis, but how to still go out in the world and live and eat with the allergy and without gluten. She, truly, got me through some of the toughest times when I felt incredibly frustrated (I would definitely recommend this fyi).

Along with the many yummy recipes in the cookbook, Shauna includes stories about her family and shopping experiences. Not only is it an excellent cookbook but an interesting read as well with fun pictures : )










The second cookbook that I got, although not allergy friendly in the least, looks absolutely delicious! Tartine is a cookbook centered around the Tartine Bakery in San Fransisco, CA. It is written and compiled by Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson and "includes all the basic recipes from the renowned Tartine Bakery the couple founded in 2002: breakfast pastries, cakes, tarts, cookies, and savory items as well." Simply flipping through the cookbook made my mouth instantly! I cannot wait to try out some of these recipes, even though I will have to make gluten and dairy substitutions. In fact, I am making Devil's Food Layer Cake for my mama's birthday on the first! Whoot whoot!! : )

*Gluten-Free Girl's Blog

Christmas Day Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Amazingness!

Every year Christmas morning breakfast is the most amazing, epic, delicious meal of the year. From the coffee cakes, pancakes, cinnamon french toast, waffles, and challah bread, to the whipped cream it is a gluten-ous, dairy filled mine field (for me at least lol). This year, I decided that I would not miss out! With my Cooking for Isaiah recipe book in hand my sissy, mama, and I went to work planning some Stephanie/Food Allergy friendly foods.

Blueberry-Lemon Sourdough Pancakes

After sifting through the yummy breakfast options, we decided to make Blueberry-Lemon Sourdough Pancakes (yum!) and Penny's Apple-Brown Sugar Coffee Cake (double yum!). Jenni took charge of the pancakes and I made the coffee cake. The pancakes went swimmingly and Jenni had them done and ready to go in a snap! The coffee cake, after a bit of a hiccup in batter thickness, went a bit slower but was a ton of fun to make (mostly because I got to lick the bowl and spoon that was covered in brown-sugary deliciousness!).

When we sat down at the table, it was covered in plates pilled with sausage (yuck), bacon (poor piggys), awesome fruit (strawberries, bananas, and blueberries oh my!), challah bread french toast (not tummy friendly but my nose greatly appreciated the scent), the blueberry-lemon sourdough pancakes, and two kinds of coffee cake (my mama's and the apple-brown sugar coffee cake). I was in heaven : )

Penny's Apple-Brown Sugar Coffee Cake

I immediately grabbed three blueberry pancakes with a smidgen of light syrup, blueberries, and strawberries and dug in. From the first bite of the pancake, I knew they would have to be a recurring breakfast staple. I, first, got the taste and smell of the subtle lemon, which was followed by a burst of blueberry...it was awesome!

The coffee cake, due to be thoroughly stuffed from the massive breakfast, I saved for my lunch (healthy right?). It was soft, warm, sweet and had a slight bite from the apple slices...in a word it was euphoric.

Stormy Night Genius Mac & Cheese

Dinner was a throw back to one of my personal favorites, Stormy Night Genius Mac & Cheese with spinach and tomatoes. I was soooo stuffed and it was bellissimo!

Amici's Pizza-Berkley, MI aka Heaven on 12 Mile : )

My big sissy, always knowledgeable of the best hotspots, has been telling me we had to go to Amici's restaurant in Berkley. Not only do they have many Vegan offerings and a huge variety of delicious and creative martini's, but they also have gluten free pizza! They describe themselves as: "a comfortable place to meet friends, enjoy a gourmet pizza and relax- just like in your own living room or patio. Beer, wine, spirits and martinis are served in a casual neighborhood setting" and I couldn't agree more! A certified green restaurant, Amici's was named MetroTimes Best of 2010 Gourmet Pizza and it is easy to see, smell, and definitely taste why.

Walking up to the cozy restaurant you see an enchanting little garden patio area (that I am sure will be AWESOME come summer time) and twinkle lights all over the outside. You enter into an equally as cozy and warm looking restaurant/bar combo with a bohemian vibe. I was immediately in heaven.

After browsing their extensive martini offerings, I opted to try one that was made with lemon and blueberry flavored liqueur and had blueberries floating on top and at the bottom. It was...in a word: Divine!
When it came time to eat, I went for the build your own pizza option and made a 12-in pizza with gluten free crust, Tofu Mozzarella, basil, and tomato slices. To drink, since my martini was sadly gone, I went for the RedBridge gluten free beer...that's right, this allergy girl had her first pizza and beer experience! I now know why this combination is so celebrated and recommended...it's a-mazing!!
As for the pizza, I could not have been more satisfied. The cheese was melty, the crust was crispy, and the ingredients were as fresh as can be. I, again was in heaven.
When the time came to leave, I reluctantly got up to go...vowing that I would come back before too long.
Jenni, Paul, Drew, and I are totally doing dinner/drinks there next Tuesday : )


Amici's Website with Menu and Location Information as well as other cool tidbits

Stoved Popped Finals Food

As it 'tis the season for jolly happy Christmas songs and yummy Christmas inspired foods, it is also a more sinister time of year, a time that brings great sadness, frustration, and sleep-less nights for college students around the country: Finals time. That's right, finals season is upon us and with it comes stress eating/study eating for many a student, including chips, chocolate, cookies, ice cream, and various other non-allergy friendly foods. What is a Gluten/Dairy Allergic student to do you ask? I have the perfect, healthy, non-calorie/fat filled solution: Stove-Popped Popping-Corn.* This delicious snack, at a whopping 100 calories per 4 cups popped, can be made in a matter of minutes (providing a small, but most likely much needed study break) and does not leave you wanting, broke, or fatter. I make mine and add either I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray Butter and a smidge of salt, or for a sweeter option, spray "butter" and cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top...this truly does the trick and does not disappoint. Want proof? I am not fatter (I hope), used little $$, and passed all of my classes...yay!!

*See Recipes Page for Instructions/Ideas for Stove-Popped Popping-Corn

Christmas Cookie Baking With Sissy

So it 'tis the season...for Christmas cookie baking that is : ) And that is exactly what Jenni and I did one snowy finals "study" night. I did some serious research (via Betty Crocker.com) and discovered a plethora of amazing Gluten Free recipes that, with some minor tweaks, were also made dairy free. So with this wealth of knowledge and deliciousness at my fingertips Jenni and I set out to make three batches of the most amazing food allergy friendly cookies that I have yet to taste. We decided to make Chocolate Crinkles (easily my favorites), Chocolate-Marshmallow Pillows, and Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Bars with Chocolate Frosting.* Three-ish hours and a very messy kitchen later we had three batches of yumminess that can only be described through their pictures below:

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Chocolate-Marshmallow Pillows

  

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Bars with Chocolate Frosting

I whole-heartedly encourage you to go to the recipes page and try these ones out!

*See Recipes Page for Three Cookie Recipes

Thanksgiving Feasting, Yes Feasting

As I am sure its probably the same case for everyone who lives in the United States, Thanksgiving=Food Day in my family. A day of bread-pudding, rolls, garlic-bread, pies, ice cream, and other various dairy and gluten filled deliciousness, it did not bode well for me. Luckily, with my ever helpful  EBT cash from the generous Washtenaw County and my amazing Cooking For Isaiah recipe book in hand, I was able to whip together several yummy Thanksgiving worthy dishes that left me equally as stuffed and satisfied (without the after-dinner-food-allergy-belly-bloat I might add) of yesteryears. That's right, "bread" and "dairy" cocktails included! Here's what the spread looked like:

Appetizers: Soy Cheddar and Soy Mozzarella Cheese slices with gluten free crackers and grapes

Dinner: Garlic Pesto on a Gluten Free Baguette (courtesy of my lovely sissy), Quinoa Mac and Veggie Cheese Mac&Cheese, Marshmallow-Topped Yam Bake, and Spinach Salad with Gluten Free Garlic Dressing
(mouth watering yet?)

Pumpkin Pie Martini

Dessert: Gluten Free Pumpkin Cake with Dairy Free "Cream Cheese" Frosting (again courtesy of my lovely sissy), and Dairy Free Pumpkin Ice "Cream"

Cocktails: Wine (naturally) and Pumpkin Pie Martini's (YUM!!)

Needless to say, I did not have to skimp due to diet restrictions (by diet I mean food allergies, not weight watching in the least). Over all, it was an amazing Thanksgiving that left me feeling soooo thankful to all the foodies out there that experimented to create awesome substitutions and my family who all thought of me when making the food : )

Jenni (aka the above mentioned lovely sissy) and Me Cleaning with Wilby handing the floors

Tofu Pad Thai Obsession

So not too long ago my sister convinced me to try something that changed my life forever...Tofu Pad Thai from Siam Spicy in Novi, MI. I was sooo down and bummed because it was a Friday night with mama and Jenni which meant take-out+wine and I couldn't find anything I wanted to/could eat from the places they were ordering from. Then Jenni told me that I should get the Tofu Pad Thai, since it's made with rice noodles, and just ask for no spice or sauce and add my own wheat-free soy sauce. It was amazing!! For $9 you get a massive, and I mean massive, amount of noodles, green onions, bean sprouts, and delicious tofu and all you need to do it add some sauce (which lessens the calories too!) and you are good to go...I die every time I take a bite lol. Now Siam Spicy (and only Siam Spicy) Tofu Pad Thai nights have become a once weekly tradition for me and my sissy and I count down the days till the next one...t-minus 4 days : )

Mouth Watering? Yes.

Siam Spicy Website with Menu, Contact Info, and Location

Accidental Oatmeal Cinnamon Raisin Cookie Crumble

One recipe that I have truly missed since going gluten free was my Mom's/Nana's Oatmeal Cinnamon Raisin Cookies. They were a constant when I was growing up and always made my days that much better, no matter how bad they had been. So when I started experimenting with flours and recipes, it was one of the ones I tried. As I mixed and stirred it all together, it looked and tasted (yes...i eat cookie dough...and revel in it!) almost just as good as my Mom's/Nana's and I was very excited. When I popped them in the oven and pulled them out I so so sad to discover that they didn't set right and essentially decided to give up right then and there. However, my mom, always the voice of calm reasoning, suggested that I just turn it into a crumble and sprinkle it on ice cream and yogurt...so a just crumbled the pieces up and let it be. When I was calm enough to take a bite, I was beyond thrilled to discover that it not only still tasted close to what I remembered, but its new texture was like a new lease on an old recipe. Best part, Noah loved it! I actually made him a bucket full to take up to his dorm room and he ate it all. That was my favorite part, that I was able to make someone else I love happy through the simple act of baking : )

*See Recipes Page

Seva-mazing!

One of my first days back on campus (and one of the first official sissy days of the 2010/11 school year) led me to one of my, now, staple restaurants: Seva. I had passed Seva on my many A2 walks, but had never gotten to try it. Knowing that it has a delicious and almost completely vegan (yay no dairy!) menu, along with a completely separate and long gluten free, I was just dying to try it! So, when my sissy asked where we should go for lunch I jumped on the chance to try it.

When we got there, I felt immediately submerged in a calm, organic oasis. Boasting "a completely vegetarian menu, as well as a full bar, a fresh juice bar, coffee bar, great service, and a casual, friendly atmosphere," I was in heaven! After receiving the gluten free menu, I was presented with the practically impossible task of picking out what to eat from plentiful menu. Luckily I knew it wouldn't be my last time there so I picked out oven-roasted redskin potatoes with garlic and rosemary and sauteed tofu with wheat-free tamari sauce and garlic. In a word, it was seva-mazing! I left feeling full, happy, and overall relaxed that I could not wait to go back again...and I did not even two weeks later when my mom and Jenni came for another visit. This time I got the veggie nirvana with hummus, which they describe as "rainbow plate of fresh, raw veggies (baby carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, red peppers, grape tomatoes, celery, cauliflower & radishes), with creamy, garlicky hummus!" I couldn't say it better myself and was happy to round out the delicious meal with a gluten-free, vegan chocolate mousse cake depicted as "decadent flourless chocolate cake topped with chocolate mousse, covered with chocolate ganache and drizzled with white chocolate." Again, couldn't have said it better myself and hard the hardest time trying to stop eating it and licking the spoon...I will be back soon!

 Seva Restaurant Website

Cooking for Isaiah: Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Recipes for Easy Delicious Meals

Having moved into the new apartment, I had the urge to find some new fun recipes (aka a new fun cookbook!). So, naturally, I headed straight to Border's between classes and grabbed every allergy friendly cookbook I could find. This led me to the amazing new book, Cooking for Isaiah.  Written by Silvana Nardone, a Italian mom big on delicious fresh cooked/baked meals, I knew it had to be amazing. Coincidentally, she is also the mother of a gluten/dairy intolerant son named Isaiah. When Isaiah was diagnosed with gluten and dairy intolerances, Silvana was bound and determined to still feed him well and feed him what he wanted, while at the same time not having to make separate meals for her husband and daughter. After many trial and errors, Silvana came up with this book and a TON of delicious recipes, from breakfast to dessert, salad to cornbread (yes...bread), everything looks amazing and doesn't cost a fortune or take a store full of ingredients to make.

So far, I have been able to make a couple of her yummy recipes. For a Bestest night, I made the extremely scrumptious macaroni salad with sun-dried tomatoes and olives.  We both absolutely loved loved loved the salad, from the light sauce to the a-mazing sun-dried tomatoes to the crispy celery, I was in heaven. Another recipe I've tried out was the banana pancakes with warm cinnamon goo. One rainy cold Sunday, I went home for a visit with my family and decided to make them a yummy breakfast. Flipping through the book I came upon this recipe and knew with a name like that, it couldn't be bad. It took all of 20 minutes from start to finish and when the plates were cleared, there wasn't a crumb left. The warm cinnamon goo is definitely what made them sooo amazing and was the perfect balance between smooth/light and syrupy/gooey. I absolutely cannot wait to try more of her recipes!!

Cooking For Isaiah on Amazon.com

And We Have Internet!!

It's been a while and a lot has happened: I have moved out of the god awful julie lin apartment (hurray!!), moved back to Ann Arbor with my loves Katie and Kayleah (wooo hooo!!), fallen in love with a cookbook (yummy!!), and started school again (yay??). The move went pretty smoothly, until comcast got involved and we didn't have internet for 2+ weeks! Thankfully, it is all fixed now and we are back in business!

Stormy Night Genius Gluten Free, Dairy Free Mac & Cheese With A Kick

So one thing that I have dearly missed from my dairy/gluten friendly days is Mac & Cheese. The rich creamy cheese tossed with the warm, soft, chewy noodles [spiral or shell, depending on my mood, i.e. playful or sophisticated ;)] was just heaven in my mouth, making any rough, cold winter day melt away with the cheese. After the lactose intolerance diagnosis, I switched to Amy's Kitchen Macaroni & Soy Cheese to get my fix. It was still delicious, rich, not too filling; kinda like a grown-up Kraft Mac & Cheese.

However, when I was hit with the gluten tummy issue I had to regrettably drop my new found Macaroni fav. In an effort to maintain some normalcy in my new diet I searched the health stores and fancy markets for a gluten free dairy free packaged Mac & Cheese (at this point Amy's did not have the Rice and Soy Macaroni out yet), but there was only one that I found from Annie's Organic which was not for me and I essentially gave up.

Then, after a majorly rained out Tigers game, I returned home in the torrential downpour seeking something warm and comforting. That's when I decided I just had to try and make my own dairy free, gluten free Mac & Cheese. So I dug through our cupboards, pulling out a half-full box of spiral rice noodles, a carton of unsweetened rice milk, a package of Veggie mozzarella shreds, and a package of Smart Beat fat free/lactose free American cheese slices and set to work experimenting.  First I got the noodles started (cause as I'm sure those who have cooked gluten free noodles before know...they take forever!!), then I set to work figuring out how to make a good sauce. Half a carton of milk and a package of cheese slices/shreds later, I had a heaping pot of awesome tasting cheese sauce. My sister, ever the good sport, and I took two big bowls and filled them with noodles and then drenched them in the sauce. After adding a dash of salt and of pepper we were good to go. The first warm gooey bite was beyond anything I had hoped...it was just like the Amy's only creamier and practically half the fat and calories Hurray! I finished the entire bowl and then some!*

During the past couple days, during my post-gum surgery diet, I had started craving this Mac & Cheese and decided to try to make it and add a new twist on it. So I made it like before, then sprinkled in some garlic salt and basil and it was awesome! Soft enough to eat with my gums and the new kick to make-up for everything else bland and watery I had been eating. Double win means a tummy and happy girl : )

*See Recipes Page for Stormy Night Genius GF/DF Mac & Cheese

Coffee Pick-Me-Up Minus the Heat

So part of the post-gum surgery diet stipulates no hot beverages. Unfortunately, I am both an avid tea drinker and a Starbucks Soy Chai drinker, both which are served hot or, in the case of the iced chai, with a straw. I have have been craving caffeine so far and finally got my fix today with an Almost-Famous Dairy Free Mocha Frappe recipe* (turned dairy free of course) courtesy of Food Network Magazine. From the smooth rich coffee (and yes, caffeine!) to the sweet chocolate overtones, I was in caffeine bliss with each spoon full. It was so quick and delicious (and not bad for you calorie/fat wise if you take the dairy free/less chocolate route) that I may just make this a daily staple, not just my post-surgery diet days.

*See Recipes page

Post-Gum Surgery Diet...Or Rather Lack of One

I don't know if anyone reading this (if anyone is reading...hello?) has had a mouth or gum surgery and experienced the not so wide variety of post-surgery foods available. Well if you haven't be prepared; the options are few and if you have specific food allergies, comme moi, they are even slimmer. Two days ago I had gum surgery, which itself was nothing really to complain about (until the last 20 minutes when the numbing shot wore off....ouch.), but the difficult part came when they handed me a packet of dietary and activity limitations for the next week of recovery.

For activities it basically read that I was to remain immobile for the first 2-3 days and then for the rest of the week doing minimal activity (NO working out!! Ahh!!). Of course I ignored this and have been out and about almost all day everyday so far. The results: just some bleeding and loose stitches..no biggie right? Totally plan on yoga tomorrow...can't keep me caged! However, in terms of diet restrictions, I have not been so free. For diet it essentially says a soft, alcohol free [no wine :,( ], cold meal plan for the week. Suggestions from the lovely pamphlet: "soft breads (gluten), soups (gluten), cooked cooled cereals (gluten), juice (yum!), and cooked mashed veggies (baby food??). No salads, crisp vegetables or fruit, nothing chewy or hot, no straws, spitting, carbonated drinks, or fried foods." Yup...

To accommodate my new diet needs, I went on a grocery shopping spree. Here's what I found: instant Jello pudding mix (vanilla and chocolate, sugar free/fat free), sugar free strawberry Jello (10 calories no fat!!), lower sugar maple and brown sugar instant oatmeal (I am okay with eating oats, however other gluten intolerant/celiacs may not be), Crispix cereal, Welch's light grape juice, Haagen Dazs raspberry sorbet, and Mott's sugar free plus calcium applesauce. Needless to say leaving the store I felt pretty good about my mostly healthy selection.When I got home, I set to work making the instant pudding (with rice milk so it was dairy free) mixes and then swirling them together to make a marble vanilla/chocolate pudding, and looking up interesting recipes that fit all the restrictions, new and old. I have had, so far, Crispix soaked in rice milk to make it mushy enough to eat, both the Jello cup and marble Jello pudding, oatmeal left to completely cool in the freezer before eating, Pad Thai noodles with wheat free-reduced sodium soy sauce chopped into ity bitty pieces with no crisp veggies, and a slice of gluten free bread torn into tiny pieces and topped with Tofutti dairy free cream cheese and tiny chunks of sun dried tomatoes, all topped off with a nice glass of grape juice. I've made out pretty well so far, although my calorie count has been semi-low some days (yesterday only hitting 500 something). To make up for the low calories diet, I've added a spoonful or two of reduced fat Jif peanut butter whenever I notice the calorie count drop. Tonight I fully intend on a nice scoop or 2 of Haagen Dazs sorbet for dinner...can't complain about that.

And now, I think I'll take a walk...shhh ; )

Jenni's *ahem* Birthday, Andiamo, and Decadent Chocolate Dairy Free Ice Cream

August 10th, 2010 marked my big sissy's 20-something birthday. Normally she's bouncing off the walls excited for give Jenni presents and love day (i mean...who isn't??), but she was none too enthused about this particular number and the calories that came with the upcoming B-Day Cake. However, the morning of, armed with a freshly baked princess funfetti reduced calorie cupcake, she ventured off to work feeling much better and getting excited for the dinner to come at Andiamo.

Now, given past experience, we wisely phoned ahead to the restaurant to let them know of my particular dietary needs. Thankfully, they assured us that they have at least one dish that contains neither dairy nor gluten, and, best part: its on the lean menu! Whoot Whoot! Three courses all together under 300 calories and completely gluten and dairy free and delicious! Or so I thought...When we arrived at the restaurant, we sat down and waited for the server to take our orders. And waited... Seriously slowest service ever! Luckily we had all of our sparkling personalities and intellect to keep a stimulating and fun conversation...yeah...Anyway once our orders were finally taken (I got the Petto Di Pollo Arrostito with a spaghetti squash in marinara appetizer) and the first course finally served, I was happy to see a nice pile of spaghetti squash twisted into a volcano shape and topped with marinara sauce. Albeit it was the size of an entree and very well could have served as one. The soft spaghetti squash with the tangy marinara and tomato chunks was a welcomed start and I definitely could've kept eating. Next came the main entree: a chicken breast in a watery ?tomato? sauce with chunks of wilted veggies on top...I wanted my squash back. Even though it looked semi unappetizing, I decided to go for it and cut a piece of the chicken and veggies, dipped them in the sauce and took a bite. Not so great. Between the extremely dry chicken and the unseasoned veggies, I was unable to finish more than a few bites. The cherry on top of the dining experience: the dessert was not dairy or gluten free...so much for three courses.

After the less than satisfying dining experience, I had some hope heading home, knowing that churning in my ice cream maker I had Decadent Chocolate Ice Cream, turned dairy free.* When it was done, accompanying the FunFetti cupcakes, everyone was silent and happy. With my first bite, I literally melted from head to toe. The smooth richness of the ice cream reminded my mouth of Ghirardelli Double Fudge Brownies, something I have missed like crazy since going gluten free. I topped it with some gluten free sprinkles and was in heaven.

Overall ratings: Andiamo so-so (good squash, bad otherwise), Decadent DF Chocolate Ice Cream two thumbs up!

Andiamo's Dinner Menu (Lean Section Contains Specific Dish)

*See Recipes Page

Nana Breakfast and Banana Brandy Muffin-Cakes

While vacationing in Traverse City with my mom's side of the family, my Nana decided to do a family breakfast at her condo. She promised to make her famous Mickey Mouse Waffles (amazingly delicious) and her Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake (deliciously amazing) along with a variety of breakfast favorites such as pancakes, Belgium waffles with whipped cream, and English muffins. My immediately thought: gluten, gluten, and more gluten with a side of lactose...I'll bring a banana. But then, after a nice pout session, I decided that I was going to make my own contribution to the gluten-ous breakfast and pulled out a recipe I had recently found that I had not had a chance to try out (kill two birds with one stone right?). The recipe was for Banana Brandy Muffin-Cakes. When I had finished putting them together and brought them to the breakfast I was ecstatic to find that they were extremely moist and that I not only loved them, but that so did everyone else. The recipe was pretty darn easy and absolutely make you melt delicious from the sweet Cherrybrook Kitchen vanilla frosting to the crunchy banana chips on top. I would definitely recommend trying this recipe out and enjoying them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack...really any time of the day would be good :)

*See Recipes page for the complete recipe for Banana Brandy Muffin-Cakes

Aerie Restaurant at the Grand Traverse Resort

August 6th, 2010; the date of my Nana and Papa's 50th wedding anniversary dinner; the date that I had been dreading. It is not to say that I was not thrilled to be spending time with my family or that I was not ecstatic for my Nana and Papa, but the part I was dreading was either pieces of lettuce sans dressing or the unseasoned, unsauced veggies that I would be forced to reckon with while everyone else around me indulged in creamy pastas and fresh baked breads with herb butter...not fair. However, all this ended with a simple suggestion by my mom: call ahead and ask the chef to prepare something allergy friendly. As I was sitting there trying to figure out why I hadn't thought to do that my mom placed the call and received reassurance from the person on the other line that the Chef would prepare something safe and delicious.

When it came time to go to the restaurant, I was cautiously excited. As the plates were being distributed amongst the rest of my family, I was anxious to see what my plate had in store for me. As my plate was laid before me the savory smell of garlic mashed potatoes drifted to my nose. This was followed by the smell of perfectly cooked and seasoned chicken with veggies that looked as if they had just been plucked from the farm. I first took a small slice of chicken and tasted it on its own. The garlic and herb seasoning on the surprisingly moist chicken danced off my tongue like an Italian tarantella. Eager to see what the other components had in store I took a bite of carrot, then a green bean, followed by a turnip and an amazing morel mushroom; all equally as satisfying. As I shoveled a large fork-full of "creamy" almond milk/garlic mashed potatoes into my mouth, the Sous Chef, and creator of my amazing dish walked up to the table to see how I was enjoying the meal. I wanted to jump up and hug him. Covering my very full mouth with one hand and gesturing with the other, I somehow managed to thank the Chef for how much I enjoyed my meal. With a little laugh and smile the very modest Chef went back into the kitchen.

By the end of the meal my plate was almost wiped clean (almost because I decided to get a to-go container so I could have another night of meal bliss), and I was dreading the end of the delicious almond milk cream sauce. Little did I know my mom, always the clever one, had asked the waitress for the recipe. Genius! Not too long after the request, the waitress was walking back with a yellow paper, on which was the recipe for homemade almond milk and almond milk cream sauce,* along with his business card and email which he said I could use to contact him for any advice or recipes if I wanted.

Needless to say I'd give this restaurant and dining experience 5 stars. Not only was the restaurant setting itself gorgeous (simple yet elegantly decorated with quirky chandeliers and a breathtaking 360 view of Traverse City and the Bay) and the food delicious, but the service/staff and Chef were both very friendly and professional as well. I, along with the rest of my family, were very happy customers.

Aerie Restaurant & Lounge













*See Recipes page for Almond Milk/Almond Cream Sauce recipe