Bread Knots at Bartolotta’s Pizzeria Piccola

                     One of my favorite things to eat at Bartolotta’s Pizzeria Piccola is bread knots.  They are bits of baked dough covered in olive oil, garlic, and oregano and then topped with parmesan cheese.  Bread knots are an absolutely delicious appetizer that comes with a sauce if you feel like dipping.  I never do because I love the bread knots just as they are.

                For a long time I have seen the option to have the bread knots made gluten-free.  It was something that always intrigued me but for some reason never tried.  Now I have and I think they are just as good as the regular.  In some ways I think they’re better.  While the taste is pretty much the same, I find the gluten-free bread knots to be lighter.  They are filling but not to the point where I feel stuffed.  As much as I love the regular bread knots I will admit that after eating only one I can tell I may not have much room left for my entrée.  They could easily be a meal all on their own. 

          Even though I like the gluten-free bread knots, I will most likely stick with the regular. There is a slight price difference between the two, and I do mean slight, and as I usually share my bread knots there is not much of a risk of getting too full too fast. However, if I happen to be dining with someone who is gluten-free and they want to share a plate of bread knots, I’m certainly not going to pass the opportunity up. pizzeriapiccola.com

Desserts at Eataly

              I took my daughter to Chicago for her birthday.  While we were there we went to Eataly, the all things Italian market.  As we looked through the new two level store we came across the Pasticceria, the section of the market that has a wonderful array of beautiful looking desserts.  We found that many of the desserts are gluten-free.  When we called Eataly to confirm what we had seen, they specifically mentioned that they made gluten-free tiramisu and panna cotta but there are many other options as well.  At the moment there is not an online menu for the Chicago Eataly location, but according to the website there will be one soon.  www.eataly.com

Michael Season’s UnSalted Boldness Potato Chips

               I am a chip monster.  I am chip crazy.  This is especially true when it comes to potato chips.  If the chips are flavored, I think they’re even better.

                Recently I found some wonderful, and addicting, potato chips by Michael Season’s.  What caught my eye first was they are unsalted.  Since my allergy is salt consumption, I am always glad to see that word.  Then I saw the interesting flavors: Balsamic Vinegar & Cracked Pepper, Asian Bar-B-Que, and Herb Garden Ranch.  I chose the Vinegar and BBQ chips.  They were delicious. 

                Not only do these chips have no salt and taste delicious, but there are also two other advantages.  One, these chips are reduced fat.  Two, and the reason they are mentioned here, they are gluten-free.

                If you’re an adventurous snack eater, I recommend you find Michael Season’s UnSalted Boldness Potato Chips. I have found them at Woodman’s. www.seasonssnacks.com

Treat Bake Shop Nuts

                Last month my mom and I went to an art show.  Amongst the artists was a table with samples of nuts.  The table was hosted by Treat Bake Shop and visitors were able to sample its Spiced Pecans, Candied Pecans, and Spiced Almonds.  Along with the sample we were told different ways we could use each nut such as putting them on top of a salad.

                After trying the nuts for ourselves we asked our usual question.  Are the nuts gluten-free?  The simple answer to that question is yes.  The ingredients used to make the product itself are gluten-free.  However, the kitchen in which the nuts are made is not.  Before I wrote this post I e-mailed the owner of Treat Bake Shop and had this confirmed.  The kitchen is not gluten-free and those with an extreme sensitivity to gluten may want to be cautious.

                Since trying these nuts at the art show I have only personally found them in one place and that is the Sendik’s Food Market in Wauwatosa.  Fortunately the Treat Bake Shop website (www.thetreatbakeshop.com) has a huge list of places where the nuts are available.  While the list of providers in Wisconsin is quite long, there are also many establishments that are out of state.  This is great for any gluten-free friends or relatives you may have who do not live in Wisconsin as they may be able to find the Treat Bake Shop nuts in their area.         

Pancakes at North Avenue Grill

               There is something about breakfast.  No matter what time of day, breakfast food always seems to work.  This is probably why so many restaurants offer their breakfast menu throughout the entire day.  While I don’t know what the most popular breakfast item is, I would suspect, based on the commercials, it is pancakes.  All the time I see commercials promoting a new topping, flavor, or combination.  However, I don’t recall any commercials about restaurants with gluten-free pancakes.  I’m not saying they don’t have them, I just don’t remember it being advertised.

                One restaurant that does have gluten-free pancakes is North Avenue Grill in Wauwatosa.  I know this not because of a commercial, but because I have been to the restaurant and saw them on the menu.  I tried the regular pancakes with the apples and cinnamon topping one time.  Then I came back and tried the gluten-free with the strawberry topping.  While there was a difference in taste, as often happens when comparing regular and gluten-free foods, both were very good.  Even though I do not need to be gluten-free, I would definitely have the gluten-free pancakes again.

                For more information on North Avenue Grill, visit www.northavenuegrill.com.    

Crunchmaster Grammy Crisps

                When someone learns they have a sensitivity to gluten it goes through their mind what they can no longer eat.  This often includes those childhood snacks you ate when you got home from school.  I served graham crackers and milk to my children, which is certainly not gluten free.

                Now I have found Grammy Crisps by Crunchmaster.  They are small square crackers of cinnamon and sugar with a hint of graham.  There is a puffed rice texture and they taste great with milk.

                So far we have only found Crunchmaster Grammy Crisps at Woodman’s.

Cupcakes at Milwaukee Cupcake Company

                It is not easy to make a gluten-free baked good.  We have tried many times, but somehow nothing turns out quite right.  No matter what we do, there is always this gritty texture that can be really unappetizing.  We’re not sure if we need to change the measurements when using gluten-free flour or what is going on.  It is definitely going to take some more time and experimentation to get things just right.

                One place that seems to have mastered gluten-free baking is Milwaukee Cupcake Company.  They make regular, gluten-free, and vegan cupcakes in a variety of flavors.  The cupcakes are available in two sizes, regular and mini.  For us, who were trying two different flavors, the mini was just the right size.  It let us try a flavor and not be too full for the other cupcake that was sitting there waiting.

                We decided to try both a vanilla cupcake and a chocolate.  Both had very good flavor, and there wasn’t any grit!  To be honest, if I did not know I was eating a gluten-free cupcake ahead of time, I don’t know if I would have ever realized it.  The cupcakes were that well done. 

With so many different flavors available, the menu at Milwaukee Cupcake Company would be a great thing to explore.  Wander down to the bakery and give them a try.  If you know someone who is not gluten-free bring them along.  The can try a gluten-free and be surprised at how good it is, or they can enjoy a regular cupcake.  Or they can have a vegan.  There is not a shortage of possibilities at Milwaukee Cupcake Company.  www.milwaukeecupcakecompany.com