Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Favorite Products: November 2015

November is a month of indulgence as winter sets in and food takes center stage in the holiday season. 

This month's round up of festive food that caught my eye features a nice trio of products. Party-perfect and sure to please, they may entertaining a breeze with their vibrant flavors and versatility. 

I know I will be enjoying all three as I head into the final stretch of my semester because studying for final exams definitely builds up my appetite.

Roti Mediterranean Grill Review

With my weekend in Washington D.C. ticking down to it's final minutes, I knew I wanted to make the most of a final opportunity to try a new restaurant. 

Arriving at Union Station early to make sure that I did not miss my MARC train back to Baltimore, I took advantage of the extra time on hand to check out Roti Mediterranean Grill, which is a chain I saw in several locations around the city. Roti offers fast casual Mediterranean food in the style of Chipotle, and earns major points for offering gluten-free pita bread, an elusive luxury that is such a treat when you can find it "in the wild." Roti proved to be an excellent stop because it made for the perfect travelling food as I headed out of town.

Pleasant Pops Cafe & Market Review

Before heading out of Washington D.C. I had one last stop on my sightseeing list... a matinee performance of Avenue Q by the Constellation Theater Company. After my taco breakfast, I checked out of my hotel and headed northward to where the theater was, leaving enough time to checkout Pleasant Pops Cafe and Market in the Adams Morgan neighborhood.

Pleasant Pops proved to be a perfect lunchtime spot because it had an array of gluten-free friendly items and totally had a great vibe and impressive focus on supporting local products and producers. Plus, whenever popsicles are on the menu for lunch is a pretty great opportunity!

District Taco Review

After a successful first half of my weekend in Washington D.C., I knew I wanted to kick off my second day and take advantage of the remaining hours I had left in the city before I had to return to Baltimore. 

Setting off early in the morning, I headed over to the National Mall and spent an amazing couple of hours roaming around the monuments from west to east. The definitely highlight was getting to take in the cool, crisp Washington morning from the Lincoln Memorial, which has pretty sweet 360 degree views of the city. 

Having skipped breakfast in my hotel, I definitely worked up an appetite, and was eager for the rare chance to eat breakfast out. Those who have read this blog for awhile might have picked up that I am a huge taco fan, so when I found out that District Taco opens for breakfast, I knew immediately where I would head for the first meal of the day.

Legal Sea Foods Review

Legal Seafood is a northeastern chain that I am definitely familiar with from travels throughout the Northeast, but have never eaten at as a gluten-free diner. After a busy afternoon of visiting the Holocaust Memorial Museum and wandering about the National Mall, I made my way over to Chinatown for an early dinner at Legal Seafood after several recommendations from readers as well as several great reviews of their allergen-handling protocols.

Although the neighborhood was bustling, the restaurant had a serene atmosphere, which was nice after a long day of sightseeing and facing a cold, blustery day. Eager for the rare opportunity to enjoy the delicacy of seafood, I settled in to enjoy my experience. 

Oyamel Gluten-Free and Allergen Brunch Menu

To read my full review of brunch at Oyamel, click here to access it. 

Once I picked out a weekend that would be perfect for a Washington DC adventure, I knew I had to do my homework to figure out where I wanted to stop and eat while in the city. 

Oyamel quickly emerged as a great option after doing a few Google searches and checking out Find Me Gluten Free, my go-to source for restaurant intel when I am travelling. As I discovered, Oyamel has a quite extensive gluten-free menu that was conscious of other dietary restrictions.

Oyamel Review

With less than 48 hours to explore around Washington D.C., I knew I had to plan efficiently to cover all of the sightseeing and restaurant exploring that I wanted to accomplish over this past weekend. 

After rising before the crack of dawn to catch a train into the city I spent Saturday morning exploring the Capital, Supreme Court and Library of Congress. After a sufficient amount of sightseeing for the morning, I made my way to Oyamel Cocina Mexicana for a quick stop for lunch before more exploring later in the day.

Located a few blocks from the National Mall, Oyamel is a great option for those with various dietary needs, because they not only are gluten-free friendly, but aware of other allergens. 

Baba's Mediterranean Kitchen Review

Between my classes, homework, work, and extracurricular commitments, it would be totally fair to say that my free time has definitely had some cutbacks this semester. While I am definitely not complaining, I am finding that my ability to venture off campus and try new restaurants is limited as a result. 

This past weekend however, I had the opportunity to check out a restaurant that has popped up on my radar due to the allure of gluten-free falafel. Despite the dismal weather, I made the rain-drenched trek to Federal Hill in high hopes of delicious cuisine.

Our House Baking Mixes Review: Part 1

This is part one of a two part review. Find part two at this link.

As a college kid who has severed ties with my university's meal plan, I gave up the convenience of on-campus dining in favor of cooking entirely for myself. While I am quite enjoying getting to experiment in the kitchen, I appreciate now more than ever the convenience of baking mixes.

I first came across Our House Baking Mixes in September at the Natural Products Expo East. While I could not try the samples on the show floor, I was impressed by the company's allergen-free and vegan formulation and eagerly agreed to give the brand a full look. When my special delivery arrived at my dorm last month, I eagerly began the delicious task of putting the six mixes I was sent to the test.