I love the occasional sweet indulgence- especially when I am at work all day and need a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. However, now that the weather has warmed up tremendously, the thought of labor-intensive baking and working with the oven really turns me off.
When Pure Genius Provisions reached out to me to see if I would review their allergen-friendly brownies and blondies, I agreed in a heartbeat. First encountering these bean-based baked goods at Expo East (their world debut) last year, I promptly fell in love at first bite and could not wait for my second chance to encounter them again.
Since their debut almost a year ago, Pure Genius' distribution is expanding- they are hitting Whole Foods shelves in the Northeast soon- and the buzz is growing around these table-turning treats. Read on to learn all about these kid-friendly products and enter to win some to try for yourself!
As a gluten and dairy-free blogger, I think of gluten-free expos as fun holidays where I can mingle with brands and fellow gluten-free foodies alike. While industry shows have a lot more going on, local expos are consumer-focused and showcase gluten-free resources in the area.
Last week, I attended the Washington, D.C. Gluten-Free Expo, hosted at the DoubleTree in Bethesda, Maryland. The event, now in its sixth year, is sponsored by the celiac program at Children's National Health System, an integrative center for caring with kids with celiac (more on that later).
As a blogger, I was able to engage in a blogger and brand dialogue before doors officially opened, then hit the show floor to check out brands both familiar and new to me. Though this post may be a bit info dense, there's so much to share- and even a giveaway of goodies I picked up at the expo!
After the DC Gluten-Free Expo (recap coming soon), I knew I needed a hearty helping of healthy food to balance the sugary, carb-laded samples I tried at the event. With some time on my hands before catching the train back to Baltimore, I decided to catch the red line to Dupont Circle to pay a visit to Sweetgreen, a restaurant definitely topping my to-try list.
Sweetgreen regionally has several locations in D.C. and recently opened up one in Baltimore's Harbor East neighborhood. The Dupont Circle location I visited is conveniently located near the National Mall and White House but definitely away from the hustle and bustle of the more touristy parts of the city.
The restaurant is founded on the principles of transparency, sustainability, local sourcing and from-scratch cooking, all of which I am totally a fan of.
Sweetgreen's cuisine is salad or grain bowls, either custom made or from a menu of tantalizing options. Vegan and gluten-free options are noted, and the staff are all aware of what options can be modified to fit your dietary restrictions.
In my last post- I shared the allergen menu from Jaleo, a Jose Andres restaurant with locations in and around Washington D.C. Now, here is my full recap of dinner at this upscale restaurant that takes Spanish tapas to the next level.
Arriving to Bethesda around late afternoon, I dropped my bags at my hotel and ventured right back out a couple blocks to Bethesda Row, a shopping center with a pretty impressive line up of retail and restaurant options.
Arriving earlier than my reservation time, I was seated immediately and settled in for a truly indulgent foodie affair. I rarely get to enjoy restaurants of this caliber- especially outside of Baltimore, so this definitely was a true treat.
After a day in DC, I took the red line Metro to Bethesda to stay overnight for the DC Gluten-Free Expo the following day. There, I stopped at Jaleo in the Bethesda Row shopping complex for a nice dinner. This Jose Andres restaurant (also of Beefsteak and Oyamel fame) like others in the group is really allergen-friendly, and brought out a fully marked menu identifying multiple allergens in every dish.
Because the menu is quite extensive, this post contains the full allergen menu in its entirety. Know that certain menu items might have changed since I visited, and that sometimes specials can be modified to be safe for particular allergies.
Always inform your server of your dietary needs, because they still need to relay them to the chef so that hidden ingredients can be taken out if need be and to prevent cross contamination.
Consider this a preview of coming attractions, as my full review of dinner at Jaleo will be posted shortly (and a link will be attached here).
After exploring around the National Portrait Gallery in the afternoon, I slowly developed a craving for something sweet as an afternoon pick-me-up. I knew I wanted something sweet, but light, because it was a rather hot DC summer day. Sorbet immediately came to mind, and a quick online search revealed that Dolcezza was nearby. Offering coffee, sorbet, and gelato, this old world style shop offers small batch, locally sourced treats.
I have seen Doclezza gelato and sorbet at local markets in Baltimore, never realizing that they are locally made right in the District, and that flavors are sourced seasonally to ensure peak flavor. While I was bummed I could not have the chance to visit the factory (near Union Market), the metro center location definitely served my craving, and surprised me with unconventional sorbet.
After my visit, I will never view boring, one-note sorbet in the same light ever again after visiting this foodie haven.
Knowing that I'd be heading to the DC area for the DC Gluten-Free Expo in Bethesda, I knew I wanted to head down a day early to do some food scouting in DC. Topping the list was Beefsteak, a plant-powered fast casual concept from Jose Andres, the regional super chef behind Oyamel (which I visited last November) and many other restaurants in the city.
Located in Dupont Circle, the Beefsteak location I visited was conveniently location on the Metro red line, making it easy to access. Since I visited on a Saturday, there was not much of a crowd, which definitely made a difference to me- frequenting any Dupont Circle eatery around lunchtime on a weekday is definitely a frenzied experience.
