Skip to main content

A Gluten Free Valentine's Day Recap

Happy Valentine's Day from Anthony and I! This is from our engagement photo shoot back in August.


Valentine's Day. A day full of love, dinner, and lots of chocolate. Before I was diagnosed with severe Gluten Sensitivity and a host of food allergies this holiday was an easy no brainer and my fiance would surprise me with chocolate galore and dinner at a nice restaurant, often with a prix fixe menu. While it require a bit more planning and preparation, I have to say this Valentine's Day was a sweet sweet success.

About 2 weeks before Valentine's Day Anthony and I realized that for the first time in about 3 years we were both off from work on Valentine's night so we decided to make dinner reservations. Most of my former go to places were only offering a prix fixe menu that did not allow for substitutions of any kind. Enter Portobello Cafe and my dilemma was solved. When I called to inquire about reservations the hostess was happy to answer all my food related questions and told me that they would be happy to accommodate my dietary needs. (Side note: I've eaten at this restaurant several times since my diagnosis and the staff is extremely knowledgeable and careful.) I booked a 7:30 reservation and was excited to eat a safe, yummy meal.

When we arrived Anthony was highly impressed with the menu and very excited to enjoy a good Italian meal. I scanned the menu and had a few options ready to go. When the waiter came over I talked to him in length about my food and he made a few suggestions based on my needs. I settled on an arugula salad for a starter and steak with asparagus and broccoli rabe for my main course. I then excused myself to use the bathroom and happened to pass the kitchen on the way and heard music to my ears: "Kitchen staff listen up! We have a food allergy alert for table 17. THIS ORDER NEEDS TO BE MADE SEPARATELY AND NOT COME IN CONTACT WITH GLUTEN, DAIRY, EGGS, SHELLFISH, OR FENNEL." The head chef repeated all this info again to ensure that no errors were being made. While I've never had a problem eating here, I now felt so confident and safe that I know I will continue patronizing this place. I shared what I heard with Anthony and he smiled saying, "That's so cool! Good choice babe." This information put us both at ease about our food and we enjoyed a truly romantic night.



I know, you're probably wondering about dessert. Since I follow BED I'm not one who cares much for sugar and most restaurants use one of my allergens in a dessert (dairy, eggs, and coconut knock out most options, even at a vegan place). So I came home and made myself a guiltless sweet treat :)

Quick Fix Chocolate:
1 tablespoon Raw, Organic, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
1 tablespoon Raw Organic Cacao Powder
2-3 dashes of Cinnamon
1 dash Alcohol Free Vanilla
Liquid Alcohol Free Stevia to taste (I use 3-4 drops)

Mix all ingredients together and place into a mold. If you're really in a rush place in the freezer for about 10 minutes or place in fridge for 20-30 minutes. Savor and enjoy this melt in your mouth treat!


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Truth About My Journey With The Body Ecology Diet

It's been a really long time since I've posted here. Some of it was because life's been very busy. A lot of it has been because I've been afraid. I'm afraid of disappointing you, my tried and true readers. I've received so many wonderful messages over the last 3 years since starting the Body Ecology Diet that I'm an inspiration and that my blog has helped you to stay on track and commit to your health. I was afraid that if I wrote that I've been struggling lately that you would be disappointed. I haven't abandoned my beliefs about the wonders of this lifestyle at all. In fact I believe in it 100%. After my wedding 2 1/2 months ago, I had a lot of emotional baggage come up. I'm so happy in my marriage and have the best husband in the world but I no longer have the distraction of wedding planning to keep me distracted from really dealing with my issues; issues that go beyond food. You see Body Ecology taught me that this whole adventure is a mind/b
3 comments
Read more

Autumn Harvests

I am a self-proclaimed summer chic. I much prefer warm sunny days over the cold chilly winter days that accompany the upcoming holiday season. That being said, there is one thing I do love about this time of year and that's the autumn harvest! My favorite squashes are in full bloom and I can't get enough of them. They're warming, a little sweet, and in my opinion nature's own organic comfort food. I mean seriously nature was cool enough to give us a "pasta" plant ready for you to mix up with your favorite sauce! (If you haven't experienced spaghetti squash, I suggest you get your hands on one immediately. No boiling water required and you can even use the "skin" as a bowl!) So what are the different types? Here's a list of my favorites! Delicata squash. It almost looks like a multi-colored cucumber (except with a much firmer exterior). I have made both savory and sweet dishes with this deliciously versatile squash! If you haven&
Post a Comment
Read more
I started this blog as an accountability tool when I began the Body Ecology Diet almost 4 years ago. There have been a lot of life changes this year from marriage to new jobs. When I started my journey it was because I wanted to be healthy and glowing for my wedding day. After the wedding, I can honestly say I felt  a bit lost on my health journey because my motivation was gone. I have a wealth of knowledge about healthy eating, meditation, self-care, and exercise at my fingertips but I became very unsure of my motivations. This morning I'm writing to tell how I've re-discovered my motivation. My husband recently read Louise Hay's book  You Can Heal Your Life  and has been sharing her mantras and guidance with me. I read the book myself a few years back but have found his discussions re-igniting the fire inside me. You see the only way we can make healthy lifestyle changes and truly find happiness is to love ourselves. Last night I went to dinner with some of the most ins
1 comment
Read more