Product Reviews--Perogies and Ravioli by Conte's Pasta Co.

So, apparently being a student is synonymous with being broke half the year--thus, restaurant reviews are not flowing in as freely as I originally had hoped for. Nevertheless, I haven't forgotten about my blog and my darling fans [all 72 of you on Facebook, and maybe just a few secret lurkers if I'm lucky] !!!

Last week, I was watching Food Network and I became really grumpy, "I wish I could eat perogies" I groaned. My friend insisted that we just 'simply make them' and I was all like "that seems like a lot of work..."
I'm in the midst of finals for school and free-time is a luxury I just don't have right now, thus, any hopes for making our own perogies would just have to wait until finals are done (April 9th omgz!).

I lamented, "I won't bother making them, I figure that soon enough, a company will come out with gluten-free perogies and I will be thankful I didn't waste time and money to failing any attempt to make perogies from scratch."

It was kinda like a freaky-friday moment.

Today, by sheer coincidence, my friend and I ended up at Lifestyle's Market on Douglas St. so I could pick up some gluten-free organic sausages for dinner. As per usual, I browsed the freezer section, hoping I would find some revolutionary new gluten-free goody to make all my dreams come true, if just for a day.

Mid aisle, I look up to the top shelf....I stopped breathing for just a moment and I felt my eyes widen and stop blinking. I turn to my friend and say "No freakin' way!". I hurriedly swung open the freezer door and pulled out a bag of Conte's Spinach and Cheese Ravioli. I squealed once more, handed them to her, and I stretched up again to see what else was hiding on that top shelf of miracles....

For the third time, I squealed. Thankfully my friend doesn't get embarassed too easily, and thankfully she understands the simple pleasures of a new gluten-free find. I bet all of you share this excitement...we're a special bunch, aren't we?

I pulled out a bag of Cheese and Onion Perogies, also by Conte's Pasta Co, and I began to feel the excitement creep up over me. Perogies are definitely one of my favourite foods of all time...and it's been at least 6 years since I've had them, and during those years, I had dreamt of this exact moment. My eyes began watering...yes, I was about to cry in the freezer aisle. You must understand that this is an extraordinarily visceral reaction to potato and dough dumpling, only accomplished by a VERY burnt-out, overtired university student running on coffee and pure adrenaline. I don't expect you to have the same reaction as I did...again, I'm special.

Anyways...

I made the perogies for dinner tonight, boiled, and then fried in butter and sauteed onions, accompanied with Freybe's chicken-turkey Bratwurst and a nice Arugula salad.

The Verdict?
Umm, holy moly!! They taste exactly like regular perogies...chewy and doughy, bursting with savory potato filling. They were DELICIOUS, and I have pretty much nothing else to say about them because, well, it's such a simple food, and to eat such a simple food after craving it over over half a decade results in an experience outside of language.

I'll try the ravioli this week and attach the review to the bottom of this entry.

Sorry for the dramatics...it's been a rough week, but writing this made me feel a little better :)
~~~~****UPDATE****~~~~
Tried the raviolis last week after a few too many glasses of wine. Yes, I 'drunk-kitchen'-ed it. As far as I remember, they were delicious, but I unfortunately just slathered on some Classico sauce in a fit of desperation. Could have been much more delicious with a pesto,some friend porcuitto, sweet peas, and fresh parm.

Restaurant Review: Bin 4 Burger Lounge (180-911 Yates St, Victoria BC)

When I heard that a new gourmet burger joint was opening close to downtown, I had to check in with myself and ponder the many questions and expectations I would have of it. I didn't have much to inform my expectations in a burger eatery, aside from obvious comparisons to Pink Bicycle. I waited patiently for Bin 4 to open...and then they did open, but nothing happened. I was surprised at my passivity for trying out a new burger in town...and I just sat here, waiting for the day I would crave some gourmet meat in a bun.


I was apprehensive. I was worried about gluten-poisoning. I was worried about options. I was worried I'd be stuck with a hamburger salad [Where you don't actually get a bun, just a bed of lettuce]. I approached Bin 4 with caution; I read review after review, I monitored their Facebook page, I studied their website. And finally, this weekend, I decided I wanted a supreme burger and a couple drinks to start my reading break off right.


Now, I kick myself for having waited so long. Seriously, where has this place been my whole life?


Sunday night, we made a reservation just to be safe. This was a smart move as the place was packed when we got there at 6:30. It's a good sign when a restaurant is busy on Sunday night.




Enough small talk, let's get down to business. I looked at the menu and found myself stumped...practically EVERYTHING looked so delicious and making a decision proved to be difficult for both of us.


We started with a couple drinks; Mojitos were on special for I think $4.50 a piece so we enjoyed those pretty quickly. Just to mention, our drinks came super fast despite the crowds.


I made my decision to try the "Bin 4 Bistro Burger" [$13] on a gluten-free Origin's bun [+$1] with a house salad. Here is where my only recommendation will come in...Bin 4 could set themselves FAR APART and ABOVE Pink Bicycle if they were to get a separate fryer for their gluten-free customers. OR, better yet, make their Onion Rings gluten-free so we could all share a fryer. Even though the burger itself was so delicious and indulgent and I was happy to munch down on some leafy greens...the option to have onion rings would be just so wonderful and I could see this restaurant being a mecca for Celiacs.

But, back to the burger. The Bin 4 Bistro Burger consisted of "Island Farmhouse chicken breast, Fraser Valley bacon, brie cheese, balsamic red onion jam, roasted garlic aioli, butter lettuce, tomato". I got hooked on the idea of having brie on my burger...and trust me, it was heavenly. The bun is of course something I'm familiar with by now; however, Bin 4 toasted it just perfectly. Perhaps with butter? And I could tell it was toasted on the flat top, not the toaster. The burger itself was as perfect as I could have hoped a burger could be...in a word, it was QUALITY. In two words, QUALITY GOURMET. It was evident it was put together with serious care, and that all the ingredients were fresh. I also really loved the Butter Lettuce instead of  the predictable Romaine or Green Leaf. The balsamic red onion jam was the perfect condiment...no ketchup needed. (As a ketchup enthusiast, it wasn't easy to admit that.) The side salad I had with the burger was lovely and fresh as well...it was a perfect palate cleanser between bites of that savory burger. Not to mention the portion size was quite generous.

P.S. I also ordered a glass of Red Sangria to sip on while I ate. Just $6 for a generous glass...and it was delicious and refreshing. I consider myself somewhat of a Sangria aficionado, and Bin 4 has made it into my top 3.

Prior to ordering, I informed our server that I have a very serious allergy to gluten and to advise the chefs to take extra precaution when preparing my burger. Without hassle or an apathetic  sigh, she gladly agreed to my request and reassured me I would be well taken care of. Awwww, so nice! We all enjoy a little security from time to time. And for all you super-Celiacs out there, I DID NOT have 'eater's remorse' afterwards...no gluten-poisoning from Bin 4 Burger Lounge!


And now what you've all been waiting for, my verdict: Heck Yes I'll Be Back!  Can't Hardly Wait!


EXTRA MENTIONABLES:


1) The service was great. Everyone was super friendly and accommodating. PLUS, food and drinks came quite fast despite it being a busy night. Server was knowledgeable about gluten allergies and what I could and couldn't eat.
2) The atmosphere is great--I'm quite positive they had an interior decorator come in; the decor is clean and modern with a twist. The lighting was perfectly dim...which is preferred when eating sometimes less elegant meals like burgers.

3) They have other gluten-free dishes and appys if you're not feeling the burger-vibe. 
4) YESSSS! They have Bard's gluten-free beer to go with your perfect gluten-free burger. Drink up, Eat up!

Exciting Gluten-Free Products!

Hello all! I am writing this in protest of finishing a pressing paper due tomorrow. I guess I've been so wrapped up in school, I've kinda lost the balance in my life I usually take great pride in having. So, in an effort to bring balance to my evening (and to procrastinate just for 15 more minutes), I bring you a special blog post...

 I wandered around Lifestyle's Market (Douglas location) a couple weeks ago as an opportunity for me to spend money on 'specialty' foods that I probably can't afford. I only do this once every few months, so I somehow can justify it. Anyways, to my delight I found some really amazing gluten-free goodies just waiting to be sampled:

1) Goldbaum's Gluten-Free Chocolate Sugar Cones: a far cry from those styrofoamy goblets we enjoyed as youngsters. it's an ice cream cone...that tastes like a COOKIE! It's likely just another simple privilege that gluten-eaters enjoy regularly, but seriously, when was the last time you had a sugar cone? A must-buy as a wonderful little treat for yourself (goodness knows, you deserve it) [12 cones for about $6]

2) Mountain Top Bakery Sausage Rolls: the little fat kid inside of me loved sausage rolls--flaky dough wrapped around a log of meat?! Sounds promising, right? These little gems made for a couple perfect lunches, yet were a tad expensive. Found in the freezer section. [ 4 rolls for $10]

3) Annie's Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese: I feel like I should have known about this sooner--I feel like I was a deprived student because I didn't eat KD twice a day, and I really hoped for an authentic university experience. This lovely box of super-salty cheese dust and dehydrated elbows (pasta shape, not body part) made a perfect midnight snack while I was studying. I feel slightly more complete. [ 1 box for about $4]

4) Glutino's Chocolate Covered Pretzels: I feel like this doesn't even need justification, but in case you haven't convinced yourself that you deserve this, I'll give you some motivation. It's pretzels....covered in chocolate. Sweet and salty crunchy morsels of indulgence; super addictive, super deadly. I suggest asking your significant other to hide them once you've taken a good handful, otherwise, you'll find yourself walking back and forth from your laptop to the kitchen cupboard in an attempt to satisfy your basic human need to eat chocolate covered pretzels. Good luck with this one. [ 1 bag, for $6]

Pink Sugar Cupcakery (773 Fort St, Victoria BC)

Is there anything better than a fist-sized mound of cake and icing? Probably not. The sheer novelty of a cupcake has held up throughout the decades, and now cupcakes aren't just for birthday parties and bakesales anymore. Indeed, cupcake-culture has culminated into a North America phenomenon where the more creative you are equals more happy customers nomming on your sugar-muffins.

Enter...Pink Sugar Cupcakery.

An unassuming, yet vibrantly decorated sweet shop eagerly awaits your patronage in lovely downtown Victoria. For a gluten-free gobbler such as myself, I had come to terms that gluten-free cupcakes were for special occasions, made by myself in my modest kitchen. When I discovered Origin's Bakery had cupcakes, I jumped in on the action and gave myself a killer sugar-hangover. After I recovered, I breathed a sigh of relief "Thank goodness I don't live close enough to Origin's where I'd be tempted to indulge much too frequently"--I thought to myself. Little did I know that only a few blocks from my home was Pink Sugar, baking up gluten-free desserts on a daily basis....just waiting to get me hooked.



The wonderful thing about Pink Sugar is the vast variety you can sample from; every day is different however so if you want to enjoy the same variety I have, frequent visits are encouraged, or simply call ahead. These cupcakes are so wonderful...I wish I had known about them sooner, but I'm happy I could share my discovery with my readers! FYI, they do special orders ;)

Restaurant Review: Baan Thai (1117 Blandshard St, Victoria BC)

I've made a wonderful new friend this semester, and she's obsessed with Baan Thai. She has been known to eat it on her way to class in the morning, or sometimes twice a day. I liked the idea of trying a new Thai restaurant but I was of course nervous given that gluten allergies are not always easy to accommodate. I did my usual research; an in depth look at Baan Thai's website and online menus and to my surprise, they are able to make about 75% of their menu items gluten-free! Everything was looking quite delicious at this point as I saw a world of options open up in front of me, but I wondered to myself, when would I take the leap of faith and try something new? Well, last night was THE NIGHT! And wow...it was something special!

My friend and I ordered two dishes to share, ordered off the "Take Out Menu":
#17: Pad Thai Gai: Rice noodles, flash fried with tender chicken, extra firm tofu, salted radish, tamarind, egg, green onion with fresh bean sprouts topped with roasted ground peanuts.
#44: Pra Ram Long Song: Tender sliced beef, sauteed with fresh vegetables with Baan Thai's own peanut sauce and chili paste oil. Ordered with a side of Steamed Rice.

To our dismay, we came home with our aromatic paper bag package and opened it up--the portions were much smaller than Little Thai Place and the dishes were slightly more expensive. Usually when we order from Little Thai Place, we have enough food for two dinners under $30. "Nevermind" I told myself  "Let's see how it tastes!" My friend and I sussed out the details, ensuring each of us had the exact same amount of food each...both of us are big eaters and sometimes sharing can be complicated. We emptied out the aluminum pans of every last morsel of goodness and we sat down.

Okay, I'll be honest. Regardless of the cost or the portion size, the food was EXCELLENT. Mouth-watering, savory, and perfectly balanced. This food had serious flavor and I felt bad for judging a book by its cover (or meal by its size). I could finally understand how my new friend could eat this every day...it was everything I wish my homemade Thai food could be. And I didn't get that gross, heavy feeling I usually get after eating oily take-out--this food actually tasted like REAL food. The saddest thing was we finished our plates, and we were both hungry after. Baan Thai was satisfying in every way except it could not tame my big appetite while being friendly to my student-sized wallet. Bottom line, I would DEFINITELY have Baan Thai again, and I would DEFINITELY recommend it to anyone with a gluten-allergy. Just inform your server (or call-taker) that you have a gluten-allergy and they take care of you from there.

An Update: Where I've been, What I'm eating, and What's Next...

                               
My goodness has it been a long time! This has been the busiest time of my life so far, and I wish I was exaggerating. I'm in 3 week long courses that are condensed from the standard 14 week long course, so literally, everyday I'm at school, and every night I'm doing homework. It's super intense! On top of that, we're moving this month and the process has been anything but simple and straight forward. This month has been EXCELLENT for food though. Here's a little briefing of where we've been, and what we've eaten...
1) Noodle Box--Had the Spicy Peanut gluten-free finally and my tummy was delighted!
2) The Pink Bicycle--I had the Lamb Burger with Blue Cheese and Apricot Pesto...to die for!
3) Canoe Club-- A gluten-free success! I had the Cowichan Pulled Chicken Sandwich with a side salad, and my brother had the burger on gluten-free bread. I had heard some mixed reviews regarding their gluten-free foods, but I informed my server that my allergy was very severe and to ask the chefs to be extremely careful. It was great in the end!
4) Little Thai Place and West Coast Waffles--I would tell you more, but I haven't tried anything new from them yet! Still, love them!

I have two new favorite gluten-free products: Hunny Bunny Amazing Dad's BBQ sauce...it seems expensive for $8, but it's 100% organic, and the first ingredient is organic honey. It's SO good! San-J Tamari Peanut Salad Dressing...would be yummy on an asian-inspired salad, or on anything really! Both bought at Thrifty's.

My brother is in town and he's an excellent cook. We've been eating very well you might guess. He bought a deep-fryer just for his visit so we could have huevos rancheros with keffir lime hollandaise, and spicy fish tacos with coleslaw. Since he's been here, we've also had BBQ'd halibut, BBQ'd ribs, and burgers. Every day there has been a meal together, and it's been so delicious. It's been a marathon of food!

The future of this blog is looking very bright. I am discovering countless more places in Victoria that do gluten-free menus or food items and I'm just so excited to try them! The downside of being a student is that I can't dine-out very often, especially not 'fine dining'. Currently, I am at the end of my student loans and awards and all my funds are being set aside for bare basics for the next 25 days (yes, I really am counting down the days).  It seems that gluten-free is expanding all over Victoria and I've compiled a little list of the places I'll be eating at in the coming months.
1) Brickyard Pizza--I'm curious to see how careful they are about cross contamination, but also excited!
2) Jackalope Bistro--A peculiar little place I've walked past a million times, but they have cheap burgers on gluten-free 'corn rounds'...we'll have to wait and see about this one!
3) The Reef--Not a particularly exciting gluten-free menu, but I'm hoping it's delicious still!
4) Bon Sushi--I had this sushi once before, but now I want to pay special attention to what they do to accommodate gluten allergies and what exactly is gluten-free from the menu.
5) SkinnyTato--Polish cuisine for me? The menu looks small, but I'd go just for the cabbage rolls and potato pancakes!
6) John's Place-- They carry Origin's bread for their breakfast menu...eggs benny? Fingers crossed.
7) Pagliacci's-- An exciting pasta menu, available with rice noodles. I'll double check about cross contamination.
8) Smoken Bones--when they open in December, I'm gunna be ALL over this place.

That's it for now guys! I promise to update more come September!