Healthy Eats in NYC

Bryant Park, NYC

One of the many exciting things about big U.S. cities is their variety (& sheer amount) of cuisine.

And New York City is nick-named for being a giant fruit (*The Big Apple*), so it makes sense (with Quinnterested logic, anyway), for NYC to have a nice ole’ selection of healthy eats for us more limited folk.

With that, I bring you a sampling of some of my favorite NYC eateries! Enjoy!

Peacefood Cafe: Uptown (82nd St) & Downtown (11th St)

My Peacefood Favs:

-GF Veggie Biscuit

It’s delightful. From what I remember of eating a whole gluten-y baked good, this is pretty darn close. Very comfortingly chewy–not dry like many GF things–and super well-seasoned!

GF biscuit

-Grasshopper Cookie Sandwich

I sort of can’t. It’s one of the best gluten-free, dairy-free desserts I’ve ever had.

Grasshopper cookie

-Chickpea Fries

They look like Jenga, so that’s just automatically a win, and they taste good, too. Plus they’re just so unique. Get ’em.

Chickpea fries

Hu Kitchen: 5th Ave. and 14th St

Hu Kitchen

This past trip was the first time I’d actual eaten a meal at Hu (rather than just salivate over their numerous unique snacks and baked goods.)

If you’re looking for a truly healthy meal to boost your system after
consuming all the–theater concessions? street food?–then Hu is the place for you. (#unintentionalrhymer…but also that could’ve been minimally planned)

My favorite part of the meal was (besides the restaurant aesthetic–see my artsy fartsy pic below, which some would *dare* call “blurry”) was the grain-free sweet potato bun, which was refreshingly filling without being heavily so. Does that make sense? It was like a “good” filling.

Picture of hamburger from Hu Kitchen with sweet potato fries

The whole meal just felt really good to eat, and it was also quite unique, which made it an important and worthy stop in my book.

Bar Suzette (Chelsea Market): W 15th St (between 9th & 10th Ave)

Chelsea Market

My Bar Suzette Favs:

I regrettably (and embarrassingly) didn’t get any pics of the actual crepe I get when we go here (#bbm…bad blogger moment), but that doesn’t change the facts:

Bar Suzette has vegan/GF crepes made with lentils that are savory and slightly sour, and they pair well with a salty, fatty filling. Since they don’t have vegan cheese for a nice salty fat, I generally go with an egg, ham, and mayo or another condiment. They give it to you in a fan-looking wrap, which makes it super portable to eat while you walk the Highline (just a couple of blocks away).

One note: I’m not sure how seriously Bar Suzette takes cross-contamination, so if you have a severe allergy, I can’t say I’d recommend them as strongly (I believe they use the same crepe pans for GF and regular, and, at most, wipe it down in between.)

Anyway, if you’re more of a “you don’t have to change your gloves for me” type of sensitivity person and you’re looking for a solid eat-while-you-walk option in Chelsea Market, this is my recommendation.

Aunt Jake’s (Little Italy): Mulberry & Grand St.

Aunt Jake's

Wow, another #bbm…no pics of the actual pasta. To be fair, though, the last time I went was before Quinnterested was born, so *insert shrug emoji*.

Regardless, Aunt Jake’s was our Little Italy choice on this particular trip because we heard they had gluten-free pasta. (Always nice when you’re in a gluten-parading area like Little Italy)

What we also found out is that Aunt Jake’s doesn’t just have gluten-free pasta (not such a feat, honestly.) They have homemade gluten-free pasta.
*Interest level and appetite goes from 3 to 17*

So, if you’re currently wandering around Little Italy desperately looking for a way to gluten-free-ly partake in carb-topia, head to Aunt Jake’s and enjoy the extra-special treat of eating pasta that was made by hand.

And, while you’re in Little Italy, I think I’d be remiss if I didn’t include Erin McKenna’s Bakery as a round-the-corner dessert stop.

Everything is gluten-free and dairy-free, which is just YAY. While it isn’t my most favorite gluten-free bakery in the world (the fact that that means there are other options is just almost too much for my lil’ GF soul to take…thank You, God!), it’s magical nonetheless and worth a stop if you’ve never been.

Erin McKenna’s Bakery (Little Italy/Chinatown-area, with additional locations in L.A. and Orlando): Broome St (between Orchard and Ludlow)

I generally go for the cookie sandwich…

…or maybe a cupcake.

Cupcake

Fun times.

Erin McKenna's — This was actually taken at the Orlando location, so some flavors may be only regionally available

. . .

And that concludes our (first) NYC GF culinary tour!

Honestly, there’s so much more, and so much that I have yet to try, but hopefully this will prepare you enough for your next trip 🙂

Have fun!

Soli deo gloria!

“It’s better heated up!”

If I had $5 for every time my mom has passionately interrupted my caveman-like focus on eating a cold chicken nugget after work–“It’s better warmed up” spoken with a passive-aggressive smile, through clenched teeth, as she nudges past me to the fridge–and I’ve rolled my eyes or groaned in response…

…I’d be quite rich.

giphy

I was thinking about that today, as I journaled about my future husband.
(If PSLs–that’s pumpkin spice lattes to non-millennials–with UGGs and scarves are the epitome of a basic white girl, then journaling about your future husband, adding in an ankle-length skirt for good measure–is the epitome of a basic Christian homeschooler girl.)

I’ve entered that season where pretty much every peer I know is either engaged or married (I’m exaggerating, but sometimes it does feel that way).

It’s great for them, and I hope their marriages are truly blessed! But it’s also like, “Hey, I’m just sitting on this bean bag chair eating peanut butter pretzels and listening to Single Ladies…just put a RING ON IT,” too.

I might feel ready. And I might see a guy who might not meet the necessary standards (for me, loving and following Jesus) but has a couple really cool qualities, and I might feel tempted to settle. But it’s like God’s standing next to me, holding open the microwave door, shaking His head at my settling-ness. He knows just how much better the man He has for me is (but not that He doesn’t love the one I might consider settling for), so watching me give little pieces of my heart away to others is just sad. (A little eye-roll-y, too, I bet.)

Every time I let my desire for marriage get to a point where I’m emotionally giving away those little heart chunks to guys who just don’t need it, that’s one less whole part of me that I’m offering to my future man.

Pause. There’s a whole message about saving yourself for your spouse in here that I’m not really going to hit on today. Just know that, as Christians, we serve a God of grace and truth, who loves us more than anyone. If you’ve done things–or things have been done to you (and there’s a world of difference there)–that you feel make you less “whole” or less worthy, just know that God doesn’t love you any less for that, and you are no less of a person. Just begin again, confessing to Him (if needed–see “world of difference” above), covered in His grace, today.

This floated around Facebook a while back. Think what you will about the physical depiction of Jesus…it still impacted me.

I thought about how, the more I’m like, “Okay, God! Go ahead and bring that man to me now, por favor,” and then I feel my heart start to settle for someone who doesn’t hit the main future hub goal, the more I miss the better gift God has for me. And, to clarify, sometimes that “better gift” doesn’t look like something that I think I want or even need. But, news flash, God knows and loves us better than we do ourselves, and I’m incredibly thankful for that.

Also, waiting (not just romantically; in so many aspects of life) is a gift: waiting on the reply, the post-graduation job, the [insert your scenario here]. It totally doesn’t feel that way sometimes, but, hey, we’re learning to embrace and learn from it, aren’t we?

So, back to the metaphor-type thing from before.

Those cold chicken nuggets are edible, yes. (This metaphor is kinda eww now.)

But, when I wait 20 seconds for the microwave to heat them up, they’re loads better. (My mom is screaming in victory.)

My okay-ness with settling for the lesser nugget is laughable and not a little embarrassing. Thankfully, someone who lived a LOTTA years before me struggled with that first.

Back in Genesis 25, there were two brothers who knew a couple things about food.
One–Esau, the older–knew it would satisfy his outta-control hunger pains.
The other–Jacob, the younger–knew Esau’s hunger pains would overshadow the older’s common sense…or lack thereof? (But also, being hangry is a THING.)

The moment Esau got home from a hard day’s work, he wanted sustenance PRONTO.

And, in that moment, Jacob wanted a really big thing from Esau, but he figured he probably couldn’t get it unless he outsmarted (and majorly manipulated) his older brother.

SO, Chef Jacob made some “red stew” (sounds tempting, amiright? I’m guessing the author of Genesis 25 wasn’t a menu-writer…but I’m just spit-balling here), knowing that Esau would be SO stinkin’ hungry that he’d do anything to get that stew.

Honestly, this story is so dramatic. But, like I said, hangry-ness is real. You thought that was a 21st century term. Oh, no–it’s pretty much biblical.

What happen next? Jacob asks Esau for the thing–Esau’s birthright–and Esau (did I mention drama?) says, “Look, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?”

So Esau gives Jacob his birthright in exchange for the ole stew.

Once again, this is kind of an “Ew” metaphor, but my thing is, I’ve been convicted to put a better guard on my heart for my future dude. Those chicken nuggets just shouldn’t be the satisfier of my hunger when I’m seconds away from making them exponentially more tasty. (Still ew, I know.)

I’m not sure how to end this, so I’ll just do so in the very most cheesiest way, just for funsies.

Wait for your nugget. He’s better warm.

(I’m dying)
laughing

Some good nuggets (oh, nuggets of truth *cringe*):

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9

…we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5:2-4

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
-Ephesians 3:20-21

Happy waiting!

Cue simultaneous playing of “We’re All in this Together” and “Single Ladies”

Alive on Purpose

Little girl walking expressively

This can go two ways.

The first way:

If you’re breathing today, you’re alive on purpose. Not of your own accord, but because of the Creator of the world who’s put breath in y-o-u.

V. cool.

His timing is perfect, He loves you, and you’re not a mistake. Trust the God who made you.
(In all seriousness, that’s much easier said than done most of the time, and I’m not trying to belittle tough circumstances. Just sharing reminders of truth in the midst.)

The second way:

My relationship with Ecclesiastes (relationship’s a strong word for a book I read ~once/a few times a year) is…interesting. There are some parts, like the one below, where I’m like, “Yes yes yes yes.”

There are other parts where an eye roll doesn’t quite do it.

In heaven, if people are recognizable, Solomon (author o’ Ecclesiastes) may not be the first author whose book signing line I’m in.

Gif of Gene Wilder

BUT. Read the below verse, and then we’ll chat.

So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 8:15

This may not be the greatest pre-game inspirational speech by any means.

But, when I’m feeling defeated about “not doing enough,” or I’m nearing graduation and if I get asked one more, “So what do you want to do with your life,” I’ll possibly sneeze viciously on them (what?), verse 15 kind of throws a strong hand out in front of me, guarding me from running through life too fast or too stressed.

When was the last time you ate and drank with someone, no phone in arm’s reach, no “Only five more minutes until this is overrrrr“?

For me, the answer would be, not nearly enough.

However, there was a recent night where a few very dear friends and I took a low-quality pic of a fun and food-filled evening that was so, so needed.

It was us simply meeting up, shopping for food that we’re blessed to be able to splurge on for spontaneous occasions like this, and rejoicing in quality time with quality food.
(Food–specifically food that I can eat–is one of my love languages, I’ve decided.)

Friends posing with food

I’m thankful to have friends that go on spontaneous Sprouts runs for an exorbitant amount of “healthy” junk food with me. I think that’s a gift from our good Giver of perfect gifts. (James 1:17)

If we’re alive on purpose, then let’s live on purpose.

Joy is too precious a gift to miss, to not fully embrace.

I need this reminder. If you do, too, then yay! If not, share it with someone who does. Life is too sacred not to.

Go live! Jesus loves us!

Healthy Eats in Nashville, Part III

Vegan Vee

There are a lotta fab things about Nashville.

One of them is the amount of gluten and dairy-free food that’s becoming more broadly available.

It’s a joy.

Food: 1
Sad things: 0

(What? I don’t know…it’s been a long day, so you’re just going to have to ride the Quinnterested-Brain-Train with me.)

Here’s one of my new Nashville favs:

Vegan Vee Bakery: West Nashville
VV was on my summer bucket list to try.

Well, *smiling smugly* try it I did. (#feeltheYoda)

My Vegan Vee Favorite:

-Jam Filled Donut Muffin (just let those words, combined into ONE dessert, sink in for a sec)

Jelly-filled gluten-free donuts are, well, in short supply.

The remedy: Stock up at Vegan Vee.

Koko’s Skoop Shop: West Nashville (pair with your trip to Vegan Vee, which is less than 2 miles from Koko’s!)

Ice cream with a cone on top

Koko’s menu isn’t available online (yet), but we really enjoyed the fact that all of their ice cream is dairy-free, in addition to being nut & peanut-free and plant-based! And the gluten-free waffle cone was a mega-added-bonus.

It’s also just a really cute (dare I say “aesthetic”) location, right by a sand volleyball court, so bring your friends and work off that ice cream!

So go have a cute lil’ trip to West Nashville, eat some *actually healthy* ice cream, a jelly filled donut muffin (becausewhereELSE?), tour Vanderbilt or something smart like that, jaunt around music row real fast, and then go grab some din-din in the Gulch (Burger Republic is really good and has GF buns!)

Healthy Eats in Nashville, Part II

My best friends

Welcome back!

Let’s continue our lil’ GF/DF tour of the Nashville-area…

Sunflower Cafe: Berry Hill Nashville

Sunflower Cafe blackboard

Sunflower Cafe is one of the best places for delicious, quality (yet reasonably-priced) vegan and gluten-free food in Nashville.

There are just a lot of things to love about it.

Here’s some of my favs:

-Everything is vegan (except for dairy cheese you can choose to sub for vegan cheese)

-Most food is gluten-free

-Fun, house-made desserts

-Reasonable prices

-Tofu that actually has flavor

-Happy.Hour. (big appetizers for $5!!)

That’s my list. Go to Sunflower, and then tell me what you’d add to your own list.

The only main downside to Sunflower that I can think of is, if you’re going with a strong-willed meat & potatoes-person, prepare yourself for

a Ron Swanson-like emotional breakdown, Ron *

since Sunflower doesn’t have any real meat. If your meat person’s flexible and open to a yummy dish of sunflower rice with seasoned veggies and tofu, or a vegan quesadilla with a side of–did you guess it?—aioli, then you’ll be good.

My Fav Sunflower Dishes:

-Thai Ginger Tofu Bowl (with sunflower rice or subbing extra sesame kale for the grain)

-Garlic Mushroom Veggie Burger

-Spinach and Mushroom Quesadilla on brown rice (GF) wrap (only available during Sunflower Cafe’s Happy Hour)

sunflower 2 — Spinach and Mushroom Quesadilla

The Dotted Lime: Columbia

It’s just magical and beautiful and a land of wonders.

Just read this:

Dotted Lime's

Yeah, that’s right. CINNAMON ROLLS that are gluten-free, dairy-free, etc. By God’s grace and the love that The Dotted Lime’s family pours into their products, these are not taste-free. They are fabulous. My only warning is that they’re addictive and will put you in a sugar-coma, so be careful. I’d recommend splitting one three ways to avoid brain fog!

Other highlights:

…Everything?

One of the best things about Lime is that EVERYTHING is gluten-free (see first pic), so you don’t have to worry about cross-contamination. Woot woot!

Another of my favorite things about Lime is that it’s family-run, so you’ll probably see employees of quite varying ages cooking and bussing tables. They’re all adorable and are gaining great work experience in a really sweet environment. So go support them!

Another thing to like about The Dotted Lime: Panzzinos, which are sandwiches on a Naan/pita-style gluten-free bread. It’s happy.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I hope you get a chance to check out these lovely eateries. Please do.

*Thanks to http://highsteaks.com/carnivores-creed/ron-swanson/ for the Ron Swanson meme!

Healthy Eats in Nashville, Part I

Fasten your seatbelts!

We’re about to continue our U.S. tour of gluten and dairy-free eats with today’s stop:

Nashville!

If you’re ever in the Greater Nashville-area, please check out these fab eateries.

Five Daughters Bakery: 12 South Nashville ~ East Nashville ~ Factory at Franklin

Posing in a donut cutout at Five Daughters Bakery in 12 South Nashville Five Daughters Bakery EASILY gets my vote for the best gluten-free doughnut in Nashville. Their glorious Paleo Crushers (pictured below) are the things of legends, basically, and I love them very deeply.

Crushers are no ordinary doughnuts. They’re not even ordinary gluten-free doughnuts. They are grain-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free. And, perhaps most importantly, they taste great. Moist, flavorful and perfectly sweet.

The chocolate chip sea salt (see pic) is my mom’s personal favorite; I like that and generally any others with the paleo vanilla base.

Praise God for Five Daughters Bakery, a company that gets gluten, grain-free and paleo baked goods right!

This is an expert from a review I wrote for school. You can find the whole Five Daughters review here.

Chocolate Chip Sea Salt donut pic — Chocolate Chip Sea Salt Paleo Crusher from Five Daughters Bakery

Mojo’s Tacos: Factory at Franklin ~ various food truck locations

Mojo’s Tacos is a new, super popular restaurant in Downtown Franklin, which is about 15-20 miles south of Nashville. It’s located in the Factory, which is a beautiful historic building filled with other eateries, shoppes, and event spaces. If you’ve been to Atlanta, think of a kinda mini-Ponce Market. If you’ve been to NYC, this is Nash’s mini-Chelsea Market.

Side Note: There’s another Five Daughters Bakery located in the Factory, approx. 50 feet from Mojo’s. Just sayin’. #IwillneverstoppluggingFiveDaughters

Mojo’s has a limited menu of tacos/salads/drinks/etc. that it has epic-ly mastered.

The Brisket taco, pictured above, is my fav. The taco drips with an otherworldly, flavorful juice, the brisket is perfectly moist and rich, and the toppings add a Tinkerbell-style fairy dust on top. Just make sure you get it on a corn tortilla if you’re sensitive to gluten (default is flour tortilla.)

Also, the portions are super kind. By that, I mean they’re plentiful. *YAY* I love a chef who fills me up without breaking my piggy bank. (How rude of said chef to sneak into my house at night, hammer in hand, and crack open my lil’ piggy bank?? I’m so hypothetically offended, Leslie Knope-style.)

Just go to Mojo’s. And, again, if you’re gluten-free, just make sure you ask for a corn tortilla. And, if you’re dairy-free as well, stick to the Brisket, Carnitas, or maybe Adobo Chicken tacos. (Or the Old School, sans-cheese.)

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Burger Up: 12 South Nashville ~ East Nashville ~ Franklin/Cool Springs

Guys, Burger Up is just plain good. Not cheap, so think date night-material, but so so yummy. Their fries are flavorful, especially when paired with the Quinn-loves-this-condiment-so-much aioli (actually, get their Herb Mayo), and you can even ask for them to be fried in their separate gluten-free frier! Love that. Doesn’t that thoughtfulness kinda make you wanna marry the man who thought of that?? #slightlydesperate

You can get a lettuce-wrapped turkey burger, which automatically comes with reg. fries, for $11 (not incl. tax). It’s not cheap, but that’s about their least-expensive burger option, and it’s filling. I also like that their turkey burger normally comes without cheese, so I don’t have to pay for something I’m not getting. Actually, I end up not paying for something I am getting, since I usually get a free aioli/mayo on the side. Ladies and gents, that’s called playing the system. #Iwin

That’s it for this week. Stay tuned for more Nashville-area healthy spots!

Healthy Eats in LA, Part II

fullsizeoutput_1455

Behold, the cupcake in all its glory.

Let’s keep sharing LA restaurants, specifically those that offer tasty gluten and/or dairy-free meals.

First stop: An entirely DF ice cream shop.

Hug Life: Orange ~ Garden Grove

Honestly, I kind of can’t say enough good things about Hug Life.

Let’s start with it’s name: Hug Life: Anti-dairy ice cream n’ stuff. The sense of humor there–it’s fab.

Respect gif #respect

Besides being 100% dairy-free, Hug Life offers quite a few gluten-free options. The ice cream is deliciously smooth, creamy (not icy like some DF ice creams), and it doesn’t taste coconut milk-y, which is cool and mysterious and idk how they do it but I’m happy for them. And me. I’m happy for my stomach. Speaking as a rep for my stomach, it thanks Hug Life.

Go there. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed…unless they’re out of the ice cream you wanted when you looked up their flavors ahead of time, like my mom.

She got over it, though. She got two super unique flavors and LOVED THEM.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Nektar Juice Bar: Many locations around L.A. and its outskirts

Nektar Acai Bowl

This is a lovely place for a quick and healthy snack, or even meal, if you go for a big acai bowl. Nektar offers a good variety of fresh, delicious smoothies, acai bowls, juices, and snacks.

You can explore Nektar’s menu here.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Sensitive Sweets: Fountain Valley

We had a lovely experience at this allergy-friendly bakery. The owner and head baker, Melanie Hohman, was super sweet and helpful, giving us suggestions and even offering samples of her delicious gingerbread.

We ended up getting a little mix of goods: garlic rolls, cupcakes (vanilla and midnight), remedy cookie bars, and a pumpkin donut hole.

My personal favorite was the midnight cupcake. The frosting-cake combo was flavorful and it just looked really fun. 🙂

The remedy cookie bars were a deliciously chewy texture, but, as Melanie warned us, they were on the less-sweet side. The donut holes were also on the less-sweet side.

Overall, I’m really glad we went to Sensitive Sweets. It seems like a cool place to support, especially since Melanie was so nice and everything was gluten/dairy-free. Plus it had some beautiful and fun little treats.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Stacked: Huntington Beach ~ Torrance ~ Cerritos ~ San Diego ~ Thousand Oaks

Stacked's physical menu

This place is just so.much.fun. See below for the interactive menu where you can literally digitally build your meal. It just turns me into a five year old. *insert shrug emoji*

If you go, join my family’s new tradition of trying to build the most expensive meal you can–the current highest total is a $30-something entree. No need to order it. 😉

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

One more BONUS, non-healthy option, just for funsies.

BomBurger: Huntington Beach

Lettuce-wrapped burger

BomBurger’s a pretty casual place in the heart of Downtown Huntington Beach. It’s way more on the fast-food side, but they offer a hearty lettuce wrap option for the burgers.

If you’re looking for a quick burger to take to the beach, consider BomBurger as your solution.

That’s a wrap, friends! I’m glad I got to share the fun places my parents were up for trying out!

Comment with your fav healthy eateries!

Healthy Eats in LA and San Fran

Beach picture in Huntington Beach, CA

Gluten-free and dairy-free? Not a prob, friend. I’m (mostly) right there with ya.

Let’s chat about some fab eateries in the Golden State. (That’s California, for all you people who, like me, “forgot” that was its nickname)

(Greater) Los Angeles:

Cafe Gratitude: L.A. ~ Arts District ~ Venice ~ San Diego ~ Newport Beach ~ Beverly Hills

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

We go to Cafe Gratitude every.time. we go to L.A. It’s just a thing.

Their food is delish and clean, their menu extensive, and their service upstanding.

And where else can you get REALLY good (like, unhealthy-good) fries with a BBQ portabella burger on a gluten-free bun and homemade cashew aioli? It’s great.

Also, the “Cool” smoothie. If you like fresh mint, try it please.

Delicious

Mother’s Market & Kitchen: Anaheim Hills ~ Brea ~ Costa Mesa ~ Huntington Beach ~ Irvine ~ Laguna Woods ~ Manhattan Beach ~ Santa Ana ~ Signal Hill

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Mother’s wins the “Basically beating Cafe Gratitude” award. Which is a MAJOR award. The thing is, those two are very different–Cafe Gratitude is plant-based and just super healthy. Mother’s has lots of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, but, overall, it’s not as “healthy” as Cafe Gratitude. If you’re looking to give your immune system a major boost, go for Cafe Gratitude. If you’re craving a scrummy (thanks for helping me add this adorbs new abbrev. word to my vocab, Mary Berry) omelette with vegan cheese, mushrooms, and spinach, perfectly-textured gluten-free toast with vegan butter and jelly, and a plentiful serving of roasted potatoes, go to Mother’s.

It’s gluten-free/dairy-free/vegan food at its finest.

Sweet Laurel: Pacific Palisades

Sweet Laurel bakery exterior

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

All gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free. Do I need to say more?

Let me just also add that my occasionally gluten, dairy, and sugar-consuming dad really liked the chocolate raspberry cake he got. So there’s that.

Also, isn’t it just adorable?

Fred’s Mexican Cafe: Downtown Huntington Beach ~ Old Town (near San Diego)

Not the healthiest. But, honestly, it completely hit the spot for me, and I’m still not entirely sure why.

Oh wait, I am now.

2 words: chipotle + aioli

Yep, that’s it.

But, also, the food was delicious, and our waitress (I really wish I could give her credit, but I don’t remember her name) was truly excellent.

I got the Cheeseburger taco without cheese and on a corn tortilla, which came with rice and beans. It wasn’t guaranteed gluten (or dairy, for that matter)-free, but it was substitute-y enough for me. It was fabulous. The portion was huge and I had leftovers for days. #leftoversfordays (If that doesn’t sound like a hashtag, what does?)

Also, the margaritas were really good. Refreshing and not too sweet or too alcohol-y. (Basically I’m an alcohol expert, so those terms are textbook-standards. Just FYI.) 😉

Cheeseburger tacos with a DELICIOUS aioli, beans, and rice — Cheeseburger tacos with the DELICIOUS aioli, beans, and rice

San Francisco:

This was my first trip to SF. I loved it. We knew we’d have a jam-packed day, so we researched several restaurants and activities ahead of time.

I’m thankful to say that the one restaurant I REALLY wanted to go to turned out to be a good choice. Praise God for that!

Wholesome Bakery: Nopa/Haight-area

Wholesome Bakery sign picture

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Guys, it was lovely. This place is all gluten and dairy-free, too, so no worries about cross-contamination.

Trey Kennedy

(Also, total side-note, Trey Kennedy is a fabulous person and you should go watch all of his singing videos.)

The carrot cake was GIANT, and the icing was good, especially since it was dairy-free, and sometimes dairy-free icings can be a little too coconut-y or shortening-y.

One of the biggest highlights was the potato soup my mom got. It was perfectly flavored, and it was deliciously creamy. GET IT IF YOU GO.

What are your favorite restaurants in the Golden State? Comment below with your suggestions!

And HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you His peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

. . .

And that concludes our (first) NYC GF culinary tour!

Honestly, there’s so much more, and so much that I have yet to try, but hopefully this will prepare you enough for your next trip 🙂

Have fun!

Soli deo gloria!

Happy waiting!

*Cue simultaneous playing of “We’re All in this Together” and “Single Ladies”*

Nashville!

Behold, the cupcake in all its glory.

That’s a wrap, friends! I’m glad I got to share the fun places my parents were up for trying out!

Comment with your fav healthy eateries!

What are your favorite restaurants in the Golden State? Comment below with your suggestions!

And HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Cue simultaneous playing of “We’re All in this Together” and “Single Ladies”