hello friends~ Las Olas in New Hampshire

It's been a busy summer and life at campchaos has been one adventure after another. We picked up an old canoe and have been spending time on the lakes of New England and staying cool as these mountain kids readjust to a summer on the humid east coast.

I've found a new gem... a place that makes me miss La Cocina de Luz in Telluride just a little bit more while also satisfying a need for a bit of southwestern cuisine. A place that has a pineapple salsa which has the perfect fusion of flavors and is well versed in the land of gluten free. Las Olas translates to The Waves and it's a perfect name for this seacoast favorite. They have two locations in Exeter and Hampton, New Hampshire. We hit up the original location in Exeter first and loved it so much that the next day found us traveling over to Hampton.  The last two times we've gone I've kicked myself in the parking lot for not having shared this yet. It's clean, simple food that's full of flavor and I can't believe it's taken me this long to blog about it.

 I've been my ususal creature of habit self and typically get two soft corn tacos- one chicken and one steak with pico de gallo and the pineapple salsa. It doesn't disappoint. They only server a few gluten items at Las Olas and the staff is well trained- but as always pay attention. They don't mind changing gloves and will bring toppings out from the kitchen to ensure that there's no cross contamination. Let them know your needs and they are happy to accommodate.
The pineapple salsa left us both craving more so we went home and recreated using the Bronski's recipe from Artisanal Gluten Free Cooking. 

I've also started a new job so I've been adjusting to a new work life balance and some looonnng days behind a computer... it's hard to come home and flip open the laptop while these faces beg for attention.

Life Alive in Lowell, MA Gluten free & organic cafe

How do you judge a good restaurant? The atmosphere,  the menu or the bathroom? I'm happy to share that Life Alive wins on all three... especially the bathroom. The converted dwelling kept the tub and turned it into a wonderful plant oasis. 

A few weeks ago we ventured over to Lowell, MA to meet up with our friend Carol for her birthday. She doesn't eat meat and I don't eat gluten so finding a place to feed us both can be a challenge. Thankfully Life Alive came onto my radar via Urbanspoon and this place fed us not just safely but well.

I enjoyed a Demi portion of the Goddess for lunch and the size was perfect- not too small but I didn't leave the table feeling like I overate.  Life Alive described it in such a way that this non-veggie monster was craving this dish.... (as taken from their website)

Our famous Ginger Nama Shoyu Sauce nurturing carrots, beet, broccoli, dark greens, & tofu gracing short-grain brown rice. 

Somehow they took all my favorite veggies and crafted the dish so well that I didn't miss the meat. I even enjoyed the tofu. The staff was well versed and helped me sub a dressing that was gluten free and paired well. They even had Liz Lovely treats as well... which I couldn't resist but ended up taking home  for later.

We enjoyed a great day with the birthday girl and the pups even snuck in a swim.

Although I'm not sure Sara was too excited about the swim after the monsters shook off onto her...

We were all excited to have a good day with great friends and yummy food and to be able to give the birthday girl her new handknit socks.

It must have been birthday ju-ju as these socks totally knit up as a matching pair- the self stripping yarn doesn't always and it was fun to see them match so perfectly.

Life Alive also has locations in Cambridge and Salem, MA so check them out on your gluten free travels.

Gluten Free Travels to Quebec City

On a recent chilly weekend my dear friend celebrated her birthday and I joined her on a trip to Quebec City to commemorate the occasion. Like any seasoned gluten free traveler I googled my options, downloaded a french restaurant card  and packed a bag full of snacks. French is the sole language of Quebec and although it's less that a four hour drive from our home in Maine it felt worlds away.

 So far away that we thought about taking on new identities....as ice figures. Until we realized that we'd melt eventually.

We did some great sightseeing around the area including the Hotel De Glace for a chilly drink and a ride down the ice slide.

The first night we had dinner at Voo Doo which was near our hotel on the Grande Allee. I had the risotto which was warm and filling on a very chilly night. Thankfully I wasn't around a thermometer to remind me exactly how cold it was but it was a don't-go-outside-without-long-underwear-and-at-least-two-jackets-cold. Our waiter was great and took one of my print outs back to the kitchen. Plus they brought Sara a flaming birthday cake...

The next night we had dinner at a traditional Quebec restaurant the

Aux Anciens Canadiens  and I was delighted when I found Risotto on the menu. Seriously, I'd much rather have risotto on a cold night then a salad! Our waitress was less enthused that our waiter from the night before but double checked with the kitchen for me.

Their risotto was covered in cheese and my favorite part was the veggies. After a chilly walk in which I couldn't even begin to work off that plate of cheese, we ended our night at the revolving restaurant above the city.

It was a great trip and I was glad to be prepared with my bag of gluten free goodies. I managed to eat safely but was pretty nervous with the language barrier at times.

a bit of local love... The Brown Dog, Telluride, CO

Last night we had your average Saturday night. We went into town and had pizza with friends at the Brown Dog, a local sports bar in Telluride. So normal, so average yet so wonderful.

The Brown Dog has come a long way since they brought gluten free pizza to the bar. The pizza scene as a whole has changed in the last year. It used to be a greasy slice we'd grab after a late night out in my gluten eating days and it's evolved into a place that specializes in pizza. They've taken classes and developed thier pies into something to that's craved for dinner not just after a night out on the town.
When they first brought gluten free pies to the scene it was  haphazard... they didn't have them every night and they weren't a highlight on the menu.

 

The Brown Dog's 9" Gluten Free pizza is actually 9" unlike some other places that boast a 10" gluten free pie that barely measure 7" across. The crust has a good sweetness thanks to the tapioca base and it's a thicker dough that fills up your stomach quickly. At a base price of $10.99 and $.79 toppings it's a reasonable price and lasted two meals for one person.

Since we were out with friends Dave split a gluten pie with them while I enjoyed half of my gluten free pizza covered with cheese (more on this) peperoni and pineapple. 

I also knit while waiting for the pizza to come... doesn't everyone knit in a sports bar?  The boys were trading stories of work, climbing and rafting adventures so it wasn't a hard line of conversation to follow.

Cheese... ah.... cheese.... how I love the concept of cheese and the flavor of cheese but hate the aftermath. Last night's pizza then today's leftovers left me with a cheese hangover. I'm running a bit slow on the uptake and my body feels heavy and lethargic. Last year I had a great purge from all things dairy while this summer I have the occasional "cheat". I cook with real butter but avoid dairy otherwise and use almond milk for baking and cereal. The aftermath of the cheesy pizza reminds me why I need to take care of myself. I only had Coke at the bar since I was driving and still feel funky today.

a bit of local love... Oak (the new Fat Alley)

Life changes, people change and of course the backdrop of restaurants in a ski town changes. Sometimes the change is hard to swallow... like when an old favorite moves locations and (gasp) changes it's name. The beauty is that sometimes change is truly for the better and allows the old favorite to grow in a good direction. That is the case with Oaks (aka the old Fat Alley). Robbie moved from his longtime home at the top of Oak Street to Oak Street Plaza at the base of the gondola. The new space has almost twice the table space and  four times the bar space plus it features a patio. The new space isn't a new restaurant location in Telluride as it's formerly been home to X Cafe, Chair 8 and Wildflours but it's new to Robbie and changes the game that he's played for over a dozen years with Fat Alley.

The old space had it's special charm with it's crooked and sometimes sticky floors, and long wood tables that made it a hot spot for locals to celebrate birthdays and other special occasions as well as tourists looking for good BBQ. After all a place can be full of charm but it does take good food and service to make a place last. I've stopped going to a lot of places since going gluten free- we've taken the Chinese food place off speed dial, but I never had to give up Fat Alley. The quarter chicken and side of steamed broccoli was naturally gf and nothing changed with that during the move. We'll still celebrate birthdays and other good times at long tables with dear friends and perhaps a few Mitch Morgan's.

From think outside the breadbox

Yesterday we enjoyed a classic Telluride 4th of July complete with a parade down Colorado Avenue (our Main Street) and an afternoon with friends and their new addition and grabbed a late lunch at Oaks- our new Fat Alley with the same good faces and great food.

From Priest Lake and Happy Birthday USA Day

The little guy is just a few days old but I've managed to finish a sweater for him, which he'll need at Telluride moves from summer into cool nights (it happens fast here...) The pattern was sized for a one year old but I bet this little guy will grow quickly with the fresh mountain air.

From Knitting

A bit of local love... Brown Dog Telluride

From Droid think outside

I feel like gluten free is finally gone more mainstream. I think this as I have options in my small mountain town of Telluride. I mean I can even go out for pizza with my friends like a normal person, in a sports bar, which happens to have a mini- Fenway on the back wall.
This is a very new development. I found out about the Brown Dog offering gluten free pizza about a month ago but when I called to ask about it there was only one chef who would work with the dough and he wasn't working the night that my friends wanted to go out. I called again for the next group outing and it was official- I could get pizza. The pie had a thin crust which I'm fond of, not quiet New York thin but definitely not Chicago Style.
This doesn't help out my effort to ditch the dairy but it's great to have another option and be able to get food with friends at the local sports bar, good thing as it just might be Red Sox season in my house.

a bit of local love.... Rustico Ristorante

I'll be honest. I couldn't have guessed that I'd be back to Rustico... after all it's an upscale Italian resturant in Telluride which specializes in gluten filled pastas. I've had some great meals there and they helped me learn to love spinach. The time between ski season and the busy summer festival season is often called off season here in town and Rustico runs some great off season specials so when friends wanted to gather there for dinner I checked the website and made a phone call before committing to a Big Night Out this past Tuesday.

From Droid think outside

Caprese Salad is not dairy free but is a great love of mine. I'll cheat for dairy but wouldn't even think of cheating with gluten. I do wear the marks of the indiscretion on my face like a scarlet letter and feel sluggish for a day after but the flavor of tomoto, basil and cheese melding makes it hard to behave....

From Droid think outside

For the main course I enjoyed a modified Vitello al Carciofi, they left my thinly sliced veal un-breaded and gently sauteed it with artichokes, capers and white wine. (I could have also enjoyed Risotto too) it was a delight and I easily joined the clean plate club and had a great evening with good friends while avoiding gluten.

a bit of local love... 9545

The 9545 Restaurant is nestled in the boutique hotel The Inn at Lost Creek. The name is the elevation of the establishment and it's located in Mountain Village- Telluride's sister town that's connected via a free gondola. It's upscale and has a small dining room of about 45 seats with a nice ambiance. I had a great dinner last night in the bar and caught up with friends. Leah the bartender was very attentive and helped ensure all my menu choices were gluten free.

I had the Cinnamon Coffee Rubbed Pork Tenderloin and it was a generous cut of meat. The pork was very tender with a good crust of the rub. The menu has a heavy southwest influence that you might expect in Telluride and my entree was served with spanish rice and beans along with roasted veggies. The roasted veggies left me longing for more and wishing I could make veggies taste like that at home.

 As you may know I'm one of the few Mainer's that isn't a fan of fish but the plating of this trout had me reconsidering----almost. I can't recall what the pink sauce was- agave mixed with something red...  Dinner menu entrees range from $19 to $36.

a bit of local love... The Llama

The Llama has become a Telluride nightlife hotspot this winter and is also a great apres scene. This winter they have two for one margs from 3-6pm and $2.50 soft corn tacos with a few filling options- all of which are GF. I'm not sure what they do to their corn tacos but they were warm and soft and didn't mush up and fall apart as I enjoyed them. We ended up there twice last weekend and enjoyed the taco scene while having some much needed and overdue time catching up with friends.

From Droid think outside

a bit of local love.... Fat Alley BBQ

Fat Alley is the a great little BBQ joint on Oak Street in Telluride. Robbie serves up good food, sweet tea, and the famous Mitch Morgan shot or read about it on Wiki here... They also have cheap gluten filled beer that all of my friends are fond of but I stick to Sweet Tea with a kick of vodka if I'm feeling feisty.

It's counter service and not 4 star by any stretch but the food is good and the room is usually rowdy. We tend to celebrate there with birthdays, engagements and the typical ski town goodbye's.

As you may know I'm a creature of habit and don't venture out much on a menu. Once I find something I like I stick with it. Right now this is a 1/4 chicken and smoked potatoes at Fat Alley for me.

From Droid think outside

I haven't asked about GF options in a while here because of my habit but Robbie the owner is well informed and will steer you in the right direction.

and of course we hit a PF Chang's...

 Our checked bag arrived on Thursday afternoon, a mere 4 days after us. It was an exciting moment to be able to have wardrobe options again plus a more pragmatic pair of shoes then the Danskos I wore traveling and the flip flops I had tucked in my carry on as area was getting pounded with snow and the snowbanks stood 5 feet high.  I had lots of time to work on my knitting and finished a few projects during our visit.

From Droid think outside

On Saturday we packed up and jumped on a bus down to Boston- the roads were getting slick and our early flight on Sunday didn't leave much of a margin for error. We packed our bags with my gluten free snack festival and headed into a hotel near the airport. We checked in and asked about area dining and if the in house restaurant had a gluten free menu- the uncertain look had Dave convinced that my idea of heading to PF Chang's wasn't so crazy after all.

From Droid think outside

 I had used my droid navigation while on the bus to figure out that we could easily take the hotel shuttle to a T stop on the blue line and swap to the green line and end up a block away from PF Chang's. It was a Saturday night and the place had a 50 minute wait so we opted to eat at the bar so we could make it to bed at a decent hour. We even walked through the city a bit after dinner, grabbed Dave breakfast donuts at Dunkin's and made it back to to hotel within 3 hours. There wasn't much time for sleep as we were up at 3:30am and on a shuttle soon after.

From Droid think outside

The best part about our 6am flight on Sunday from BOS to ATL to MTJ was that all worked out we arrived by noon in the mountain time zone, hit a quick food shop were reunited with our monster puppies back in Telluride before the lifts closed at 4pm.

Legal seafood

I'm not a seafood fan but I'm a huge fan of the commitment to the gluten free menu, such a nice change after the ATL airport.

a bit of local love... La Cocina de Luz now serves New Planet

La Cocina de Luz translates to the kitchen of light and has been in Telluride serving up local, organic and wholesome food for over a dozen years. It's a great spot for glutards and has just become a bit better... they now serve New Planet Beer. We tend to go when we're in town and in need of a quick bite and it's popular with both visitor's and locals. It's one of the few places in town that doesn't take a break between the busy summer tourism season and the winter snow riders since it's so popular with the local crew.

Today's fare was enchilada's with garlic roasted veggies and green Spanish rice, OK this was actually Dave's plate. I just went for one chicken enchilada with rice, I am a terrible veggie eater. There- now you know- in case it wasn't obvious from my obsession with all things deserts (whoopie pies).  La Cocina is right on Colorado Avenue which is Telluride's Main Street and has quick counter service and all the makings of a solid Mexican joint with good margaritas with fresh lime juice and all.

a bit of local love....Telluride Ski Resort- Crazy Elk Pizza Gluten Free Pizza

Today Dave and I had a much needed day with friends out on the mountain and cruised some favorite terrain before grabbing a late lunch with the crew. Last season I would have been stuck eating salad or my pocket snacks but this year Telluride Ski Resort has changed the game and has gluten free offerings a few restaurants in Mountain Village. A few weeks ago I had a Philly Cheese Steak on Gluten Free Bread at the Hop Garden and today I had pizza at Crazy Elk Pizza, no more pocket snacks or salads for me after a long ski day!
I also learned through fellow blogger, Pete, that this was National Pizza week. Which makes sense as we all seem to be into pizza lately. Check out Pete's Spicy Buffalo Chicken Pizza and Marlow's review of Briixx gluten free pizza and marvel that Allie was able to get GF pizza delivered right to her door (so jealous), who says gluten eaters get to have all the fun and good food!
I asked the busy young man at the counter what they did to not mix the pizza up with gluten and his answer was so informed I was immediately put at ease. Adam told me that it's a frozen crust that is removed from it's packaging and placed on a special single use tray then which is put on clean pizza pan. They do not cut the pizza so that there isn't a chance for the cutter to use a glutenous pizza cutter germs on it.

I know some folks at the resort had been told they are using Udi's crust (love, love, love udi's) and topped my pie with peperoni and pineapple. (I also had a theory that if I went with a funny combo then there would be no chance for confusion at the table) The pizza crust was a bit underdone but it was so nice to grab a slice after skiing I overlooked it for the most part. The group had ordered a large "normal" pie as well and after they devoured that some folks even ventured over to my GF pie.

Cheers to Telluride Ski Resort for the gluten-free offerings and well informed staff and to Udi's for making a good product for a wonderful ski day lunch.

Glutened.....

Last night we hit up one of my all time favorite restaurant's for a friend's birthday. I ordered the same dish I always do in the exact same way- but after dinner my stomach twisted and I felt the evil coming on. I regretted forgetting my pepto at home and tried to fight through the discomfort. We went home and I zoned out while the gluten ravaged my body. This morning I can still feel it lingering. I put my ski boots on for the fourth morning in a row but they felt off. My feet felt contorted inside the hard plastic shell- nothing had changed with my boots from the previous 3 days to today. It was the gluten- my joints are achy, my head is in a fog and I can't get out of my funk.

From Droid for Campchaos

Even the elk crossing the ski trail couldn't do it...

Sugarloaf, Maine Gluten Free Options at the Rack

When we lived at Sugarloaf, you could find us at the Rack at least once a week but usually more often, we had mugs there and loved the selection of Maine mircobrews. It's the local brew pub and the owners are good people and pretty avid skiers and snowboarder's- one even has a few gold medals to his name.  I knew they had Woodchuck so I didn't have beer envy but had resigned myself to a night of salad as I was pretty familiar with the old menu. I was beside myself upon discovering that they had GLUTEN-FREE PIZZA! Say what?

Yes, they partnered with the Portland Pie Company to carry GF crusts.

I had pizza three times in one week (thankfully after the wedding) and it was honestly the best crust I've had in a resturant. It was a thin crust that reminds me of New York Style Pizza.  I don't say this lightly but I was impressed. I thanked the owners and asked Chase why they did it. It turns out there's a demand so they listened to their customers and came up with an option for them.

gluten-free travels

Before our road trip to Maine I did some prep work... I bought a case of chocolate Bumble Bars, a pack of Udi's Bagels, a few boxes of Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks and did some research. We drove from Colorado to Maine along I-70 the snaked up through the East coast on 84, 290 and 95. I'd plan out PF Chang's and Whole Food stops based on distance from the interstate, our hotel or dinner time.

I had all the potenial stops written down with the phone number and address so we could punch it into Gertie, our trusty GPS. We left Colorado at night and took turns sleeping and driving throught the middle part of the country and made it to St. Louis for a much needed sleep and a double whammy- Whole Food's and PF Chang's within 5 minutes of each other and I-70. Love. Love. Love.

  It's kind of a strange obsession but I've never had a reaction to either place. I picked up some trip snacks, cut fruit for breakfast and sandwich meat at Whole Foods and dinner at PF Chang's.

The next day was also a bonus as we drove through Indianapolis for lunch and had enough left over for dinner as well. This was one road trip where I had no chance to feel hungry or deprived.

 

Dave was a good sport about it too. We stopped twice on our drive east (two days in a row) and  three times on the way home (we took our time) and usually ended up with leftovers for the next meal/snack as well.

We did mix it up and the only constant was the lettuce wraps as we both love them so much.

Out of all the Whole Foods we stopped at- Denver St. Louis, Indianapolis, Portland, Maine was our favorite.

They had a great soup bar that I hit twice and options for Dave too. Plus they had a good supply of Udi's products for our time in Maine as well.

I did make a point to stop at our old food store and was shocked that the last year and a half they went from having a small shelf space for gluten-free products to 6 times the space and a lot more products.

 They even had a line of cake mixes I hadn't heard of before. Sara had picked up their strawberry pound cake and it was the bomb, great strawberry flavor with a nice moist texture.

 Cheers to Hannaford  for getting on board and making sure glutards can eat safely.