Monday, January 16, 2012

Cupcakes Everywhere in Washington!

Just like in New York, the cupcake craze is alive and well throughout Washington.  The only difference is that a lot of the mainstream cupcake places sell gluten free cupcakes!

My first day in Bellevue, Washington, I visited Pinkabella Cupcakes in Bellevue Square.  Pinkabella also has locations in the Alderwood Mall, Queen Anne, Redmond Town Center and the Southcenter Mall.

Here they keep their delicious gluten free cupcakes in the freezer separated from the regular cupcakes.  It was a gluten free chocolate cupcake with vanilla icing and rainbow sprinkles (photographed above).

For more information, please visit www.pinkabellacupcakes.com.

A few days later, I also got to try the gluten free cupcake at Cupcake Royale.  Cupcake Royale has locations in Capitol Hill, Ballard, Madrona, West Seattle, and Bellevue.  Their gluten free cupcake has a chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream frosting and rainbow non-pareils (photographed below).  It was quite tasty!  They use Bob's Red Mill gluten free flour and organic sugar in their cupcakes.

For more information, please visit cupcakeroyale.com.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Two Other Great Restaurants I Tried in Washington!

Another great restaurant I tried was Black Bottle.  They have a location in both Bellevue and Seattle, Washington.  At first glance, I thought the menu with an assortment of small plates was going to be difficult to navigate for one on a gluten free diet, but then the waiter brought out their Allergy Menu.  This menu breaks up the main menu into sections such as gluten free, nut free, dairy free, sesame oil free, etc.

I tried an assortment of dishes including a seared duck breast cranberry port compote, roasted vegetables verjus, and their famous broccoli blasted!  One thing to note is that this restaurant is only for those 21 and older.  For more information, visit their website at blackbottlebellevue.com.

Cafe Flora was also another one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle.  It is a vegetarian restaurant which has both gluten free and vegan options marked on the menu.  I enjoyed a delicious Gluten Free Three Cheese Florentine Pizza.  This consisted of a gluten free pizza crust topped with smoked mozzarella, parmesan, and feta cheeses with fresh baby spinach, chopped garlic, and house made marinara sauce (photographed below).

For more information, visit their website at cafeflora.com or visit them at:

Cafe Flora
2901 East Madison Street
Seattle, WA 98112

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Italian Cuisine in Washington!

Cantinetta is an Italian restaurant with locations in both Seattle and Bellevue, Washington.  Although, they did not have a gluten free menu they were able to accommodate a gluten free diet.  I enjoyed a roasted vegetable risotto for my entree with cinnamon gelato for dessert.  For more information, please visit their website at cantinettaseattle.com.

One of my favorite restaurants in Seattle was The Pink Door.  The Pink Door has both gluten free bread (Udi's) and gluten free pasta (Bionaturae).  In addition to their selection of gluten free pasta dishes, most of their other menu items can be made gluten free.  To start, I had the La Fettunta which is grilled gluten free garlic bread with fresh olio nuovo.  Unfortunately, the restaurant is very dimly lit so my photographs of the food did not come out.  For more information and to see the menu, visit The Pink Door's website at thepinkdoor.net or visit them at:

The Pink Door
1919 Post Alley, Pike Place Market
Seattle, WA 98101

Friday, January 13, 2012

Asian Cuisine in Washington!

While in Washington, I was able to try two Asian restaurants that were both able to accommodate a gluten free diet.  The first restaurant I went to was Din Tai Fung Dumpling House.

This restaurant has a location in Los Angeles and in Bellevue, Washington, as well as, locations throughout Asia.  They mark gluten free items on their regular menu along with indicating what options are vegetarian.  I had the vegetarian fried rice and sauteed green beans.  Both items were very good!

For more information on Din Tai Fung Dumpling House, please visit their website at dintaifungusa.com.

The second Asian restaurant I tried was Wild Ginger.  Wild Ginger has locations in both Seattle and Bellevue, Washington.  Although there is no gluten free menu, they are able to prepare many of their items so that they are gluten free.  They also provide a gluten free soy sauce.  I was able to sample an assortment of foods that were specially made gluten free.  This included the Thai Chicken Satay, Kung Pao Chicken, Black Pepper Scallops and Pad Thai.  Everything was delicious!

For more information on Wild Ginger, please visit their website at www.wildginger.net.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Ms. Celiac Goes To Seattle!

Hi Everyone!

I recently returned from vacationing in the Seattle, Washington area.  While in Washington, I was able to try a variety of places that either had a gluten free menu or provided gluten free options.  Over the next few days, I will be posting reviews of some of the places I tried.  For a preview of what is to come, see the list below.  If anyone has any suggestions of gluten free places in the Seattle, Washington area please post them in the comments section below.

I hope everyone is enjoying the new year!

~Paige

Preview of Seattle, Washington Features:

  • Black Bottle
  • Cafe Flora
  • Cantinetta
  • Cupcake Royale
  • Din Tai Fung Dumpling House
  • Pinkabella Cupcakes
  • The Pink Door
  • Wild Ginger

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Rise Bars!

I was recently sent a box of Rise Bars!  These are all natural and gluten free nutrition bars that are free of GMOs, preservatives, soy and peanuts.  All rise bars are certified kosher and are vegetarian - select flavors are also vegan.

Rise Bars are available in three basic varieties:  Breakfast Bars, Energy + Bars, and Protein + Bars.  They come in an assortment of delicious flavors including:

Breakfast Bars:

  • Crunchy Perfect Pumpkin
  • Crunchy Macadamia Pineapple
  • Crunchy Honey Walnut
  • Crunchy Cashew Almond
  • Crunchy Cranberry Apple
Energy + Bars:
  • Raspberry Pomegranate
  • Blueberry Coconut
  • Coconut Acai
  • Cherry Almond
  • Apricot Goji
Protein + Bars:
  • Crunchy Carob Chip
  • Almond Honey

Rise Bars are available to purchase at health food stores everywhere.  You can also find them online at risebar.com.

For more information, visit risebar.com or follow Rise Bar on Twitter or "like" them on Facebook!