Wednesday, May, 08, 2013
I have a list of must-visit vegetarian restaurants, spots all over the country. I’ve compiled this list based on recommendations from fellow food writers, friends, sometimes complete strangers who I encounter on this crazy journey of mine. When talking Chicago restaurants, Karyn’s on Green comes up often. I was excited to have an opportunity to dine there recently.
While on a whirlwind one-day visit to Chicago to celebrate my birthday, I ate my way across town. It was cold, in the 40′s, and rained most of the day. But I’m not one to give in to a little weather, especially not in a city like Chicago. Oh, who am I kidding? I could eat way across any city…
Soggy and chilled to the bone, hands full of shopping bags, my favorite fella and I were welcomed into Karyn’s. We were on the early end of dinner, so the restaurant wasn’t full. We were indulged in my request for a table near the windows. I had a sneaking suspicion I would want to take photos of the food, the light streaming in the tall windows on the front of the restaurant was gorgeous. It’s a beautiful space, airy and open, white tablecloths, tables that aren’t crowded together, a large bar area.
We started off with cocktails. Isn’t this fruity margarita concoction pretty? 
While perusing the menu, I noticed only one gluten-free entree on the completely vegan menu. We decided we would piece together a meal of starters and sides instead. I actually prefer this to ordering just one dish, as I get to try out more of the goodness.
We started with the aged cheese platter. If you go to Karyn’s for no other reason than this cheese platter, it will be worth the trip.
Five flavors of cheese were on the platter. One of the green wedges was a cheese made with kale. You know I was in heaven! The other green cheese was made with blue green algae. The cheeses, nut based and raw vegan, are aged a minimum of 3 months. The cheeses were served with raw crackers, microgreens, a sliced apple and a drizzle of agave. I could have gone home happy if we had nothing else, but you know we didn’t stop with just the cheese platter.
Next up was the sunflower hummus. The was one of the creamiest hummus dishes I’ve tried.
We were close to being full at this point but our server said if I was truly a kale aficionado, it was necessary that I try their kale slaw. So we did. Another beautiful dish packed with flavor. I would describe it as more a salad than a slaw.
And because I’m almost as fond of Brussels sprouts as kale, we had the Caramelized Brussels Sprouts in Mustard Vinaigrette. Wow, were these spicy! You know that sneaky heat from the little packet of mustard that comes with Chinese take-out? It was that kind of heat. Not only did this dish taste great, it cleared my sinuses!
Since it was my birthday, we decided to split a dessert. There was only one gluten-free option on the day of our visit, the blondie with ice cream. It was a nice way to wrap up a lovely meal at a spot I had long wished to visit.
Karyn’s on Green is located at 130 South Green Street in Chicago, Illinois. 312.226.6155. You might also like to visit her other spots, including Karyn’s Raw and Karyn’s Cooked. You’ll find info on those here.
Eat With: Very minimal caution. On my visit, the staff seemed very well educated. Our server took a moment to confirm with the bartender which of their signature cocktails was gluten-free. The menu is very clearly marked with GF next to all of the gluten-free offerings. It’s still a good idea to mention to your server what your restrictions are so they can alert the kitchen.
Johnna’s I Ate Here series is not intended as a restaurant review, rather a summary of Johnna’s experience dining out. You may or may not have a similar experience. Menu prices, items and ingredients featured were current at the time of writing. Please read the menu carefully and ask your server for assistance in ordering if you have dietary restrictions. It’s a good idea to call ahead and let the restaurant know of your food needs.
Friday, April, 19, 2013
Two of my favorite things, fresh juice and gluten-free baked goods, are now available in one beautiful spot in South Kansas City. I like this spot so much that you won’t get an even-handed review from me. I’ve got nothing critical to say, just a recommendation that you visit SOON.
T. Loft is located in a small strip mall, close to a QuikTrip gas station. In an area full of sandwich shops and fast food joints, T. Loft is sort of the opposite. Healthy eats, tea, juice, no drive-thru. Everything this girl digs!
It’s comfortable inside, sit and chat.
Have a juice.
Or a lentil salad in a cup. (Offered with OR without cheese, this gets a big YAY from mostly-dairy-free me!)
How about a beautiful cheese and fruit bowl?
Or maybe you’d like a gluten-free sweet potato brownie? Perhaps a chocolate crinkle cookie?
Here’s the really great part: salads, healthy snacks and more are packed for grab-n-go. So what I said about the area being filled with fast food restaurants? It’s possible to run it and grab healthy fast food. I love this!
The decor is inviting. The bench that runs the length of the building is adorned with pillows, it’s perfect for chatting with a friend while having a tea. There’s also a cozy seating area with a sofa. The light fixtures include galvanized washtubs converted into light fixtures and sparkling chandeliers. There’s a counter with a few seats at the front crafted from a reclaimed door.
The baked goodies here are all labeled with ingredients. That’s so handy for folks like me with some dietary stuff going on. The juices on the menu list the ingredients, so you know what you are getting yourself into. When I asked about salads and dairy, it was quickly mentioned that if I wanted a salad that wasn’t in the salad case without cheese, they would gladly make one. Eating well is easy here for me!
Everything here is gluten-free, so no worries there. How nice is that?!? I sampled the brownie and the cookie I mentioned earlier and both were good. None of that funky gluten-free taste that causes me to avoid many gluten-free desserts offered at restaurants. It’s great when a business owner lives gluten-free and understands the challenges we face eating out. Big contented sigh of happiness here! That said, there’s no reason only gluten-free people can eat here and enjoy it. The food is tasty and was enjoyed by my gluten-full friend who met me here. 
There is also tea here, although I didn’t sample any. At least not yet. Something like 30 varieties of tea are offered, but you know I stopped at the juice. If there’s juice with kale in it, not tea will stand in my way. But I will try the Coconut Almond Latte next time.
If you’d like to read more about T. Loft, there’s an article here and a few Yelp reviews here. Perhaps the authors were more critical than I’m able to be. I just can’t find anything to not like about this place, except that I have to drive 30 minutes to get there.
T. Loft is located at 8023 State Line in Kansas City, MO. At the time this was written, their hours were 7 days a week, 7 a.m. to 7 P.M.
Eat With: Wild Abandon! Folks understand gluten-free here and also seem to have a handle on sharing ingredients so you know what’s ok to eat.
Johnna’s I Ate Here series is not intended as a restaurant review, rather a summary of Johnna’s experience dining out. You may or may not have a similar experience. Menu prices, items and ingredients featured were current at the time of writing. Please read the menu carefully and ask your server for assistance in ordering if you have dietary restrictions. It’s a good idea to call ahead and let the restaurant know of your food needs.
Monday, April, 15, 2013
I’ve long been a fan of Chef Rick Bayless. Several times I’ve walked by his community of restaurants in Chicago (Xoco, Frontera, Topolabampo) but was always on the way to a dinner reservation elsewhere or a work commitment. On a recent trip to Chicago, I made sure I wouldn’t walk by again without stopping in for a meal.
And, wow, what a meal!
Before I share too much about my meal, I have to tell you the menu at Frontera changes seasonally. I was there on the last day several of the dishes I ate were offered. Today’s menu may reflect different dishes than what I ate. But based on the six dishes I sampled, I’m gonna guess you’ll be well fed, regardless of the season. Here’s a peek into the dining space:
About eating gluten-free here: while they don’t have a specific gluten-free menu, they have well-informed staff. Our server was quick to point out what was gluten-free and was unsure on only one of the many dishes I asked about. She was incredibly patient and made a trip to the kitchen to confirm one dish that she suggested to us. I felt comfortable eating here.
First up, from the Vegetables (and a little meat) section of the menu, Jicama Street Snack. This dish is so very simple…and so very delicious. Crunchy spears of jicama, cucumber and pineapple with a drizzle of lime juice and sprinkled with guajillo chile. This was the best $6 I spent in Chicago.
Next, I shared a couple of rice dishes with my favorite fella. White rice with black beans, grilled knob onions, morita chile peppers, a basic yet flavorful dish. This is the kind of food I could eat every day. The second rice dish was a red chile rice with lentils and pineapple.
This kale dish, oh the kale. You know I’m a big fan of kale, but this dish would make a believer out of the kale-reluctant. I know, some of you still don’t buy into my kale craziness. This dish, I’m convinced it would change that for you. Black kale with a guajilla chile sauce, little chunks of sweet potato and wood-grilled onions. I’m usually a good sharer of food. I considered stabbing my favorite fella’s hand with my fork every time he reached for some of this. Only kinda sorta kidding.
Then there were a couple of tamale dishes. Fresh corn tamales, two little pillows of masa and corn kernels steamed in banana leaves, were delightful. I know that’s not very descriptive but they truly were delightful. The masa had a fluffiness to it and the pillow shape was the perfect serving size for one. These left me wanting to know more about tamales beyond the traditional corn-husked steamed version.
The second tamale course was huitlacoche tamales. Corn-husked steamed, more like the traditional tamale I’m most familiar with. Huitlacoche seems to be a polarizing food, folks love it or hate it. I’m in the love it corner and it was great in a tamale dish. I suppose if I called these corn smut tamales you wouldn’t like them, but I’d encourage you to try them anyway.
Here are a couple more photos of the space. It’s no surprise this entire stretch of street in Chicago, claimed by Rick Bayless, is full of delicious smells, vivid color and activity. I would eat here again in a heartbeat. I had more gluten-free vegetarian choices here than at many vegetarian restaurants and every dish I tried was something I would happily have again. Except that the menu has now changed. I may need to go back for another round…
Frontera Grill is located at 445 North Clark Street in Chicago, IL. 312.661.1434
Eat With: minimal caution. My experience was that the staff is well-informed and cautious in providing a safe gluten-free meal. I was told that chips are fried in a shared fryer, however I was offered corn tortillas as an alternative. Ask away, questions were welcomed.
Johnna’s I Ate Here series is not intended as a restaurant review, rather a summary of Johnna’s experience dining out. You may or may not have a similar experience. Menu prices, items and ingredients featured were current at the time of writing. Please read the menu carefully and ask your server for assistance in ordering if you have dietary restrictions. It’s a good idea to call ahead and let the restaurant know of your food needs.
Saturday, March, 23, 2013
I planned to eat at Taco Punk once. I ended up eating there three times in a week. The tacos are seriously good here and I could eat them every single day. For a week, I almost did. If it weren’t for the plethora of amazing restaurants in Louisville, I would be happy eating only at Taco Punk.
Prior to eating at Taco Punk, I e-mailed to ask what is gluten-free on the menu and what items would work for a vegetarian. I got a prompt reply telling me which items are gluten-free and vegetarian. On my first visit, it became apparent the staff were also in the know, handling my order with care from the minute I mentioned my order needed to be gluten-free. While the housemade tortillas are not gluten-free, I was offered corn tortillas which are stored separately. Yay!
My favorite dish at Taco Punk is the veggie mole. Usually mole is off limits to me, since many moles are thickened with bread or a gluten-full flour. Taco Punk has a pumpkin seed mole and it’s everything I like in a mole: thick, rich, savory with a hint of sweet. And gluten-free!
The platters at Taco Punk are a great value. For about $10, I got two tacos, chips and salsa plus a side. On two visits, I had guacamole for the side. It’s good stuff! Tacos are dressed to your liking. For me, this means shredded cabbage, pickled onion and pineapple habanero salsa. With chips and salsa plus a side, one taco would have been a plentiful meal, as they are stuffed with the veggie mix that is prepared when your order is placed. I would guess even the heartiest of appetites would be satisfied with the two taco platter here.
Taco Punk is in Louisville’s Nulu neighborhood, the East Market District. I enjoyed window shopping and checking out the other bars and restaurants in the neighborhood. It was nice to have a little time before or after dinner to browse the neighborhood, which was full of other folks doing the same. If you are going on a Friday or Saturday night, be prepared to wait a bit for a table at many restaurants and to park a block or two away.
Taco Punk is located at 736 E. Market Street, Louisville, Kentucky. 502.584.TACO.
EAT WITH: Minimal caution. Be aware that the housemade tortillas are NOT gluten-free, but a gluten-free corn tortilla is available, just ask!
Johnna’s I Ate Here series is not intended as a restaurant review, rather a summary of Johnna’s experience dining out. You may or may not have a similar experience. Menu prices, items and ingredients featured were current at the time of writing. Please read the menu carefully and ask your server for assistance in ordering if you have dietary restrictions. It’s a good idea to call ahead and let the restaurant know of your food needs.
Thursday, February, 28, 2013
Sometimes I overlook sharing recipes for the basic dishes I cook every week, even though one of you fabulous readers could surely put it to good use in your kitchen.
The same is apparently true of the places I eat out most frequently. A reader asked me for a list of restaurants where I eat most frequently in Kansas City and in compiling a list of blog posts to share with her, I realized I have never shared Cafe Gratitude KC.
How is this possible?
I often share photos of what I’m eating at Cafe Gratitude on Instagram. Just last week Shirley teased me that I go there so often, they should have a reserved seat for me. And they kind of do, but not just for me. There’s a seat for everyone at Cafe G, everyone is welcome, come as you are, let them nourish you.
So I know this sounds hippie dippie, crunchy, typical of my Pollyanna thinking, but it’s true at Cafe Gratitude KC. You’ll eat a delicious plant-based meal, they’ll pay attention to your dietary restrictions, you can count on produce being locally sourced as much as possible, the food will for sure be vegan without fake-meat-soy, you won’t leave hungry and every single dessert is gluten-free. Read that last little part again.
Every. Dessert. Gluten-Free.
Yes, every single dessert is edible by folks like me. I have given serious consideration to buying the entire dessert platter when they bring it around. Because I can. This happens pretty much nowhere else for me. Feel me, fellow gluten-free folks?
While they haven’t been open in Kansas City a year yet, it kind of feels like a cornerstone of the community to me. Last year my favorite fella and I had fun seeing how many different people we could share a meal with at Cafe Gratitude. The year ended with a wonderful New Year’s Eve meal at Cafe Gratitude, shared with dear friends who pushed us over 40 friends who shared a meal with us the first year Cafe Gratitude was open in KC. I’ve bumped into a couple of celebrities there, Jason Mraz and Mike Farrell, B.J. Hunnicutt for MASH fans. I’ve seen guys in construction gear wearing hard helmets eating a plant-strong lunch, I’ve seen society ladies all dolled up heading to something at the Kauffman PAC after dinner. Really, everyone is welcome and well-fed here.
Sometimes I go to Cafe Gratitude just for juice. It’s all organic and pressed with a ginormous hydraulic press, described by a server as the size of a car. Whether it is the size of a Fiat or a Hummer, I don’t know. I just know the juices are terrific. My favorite is I Am Healthy, which is kale, celery, cucumber and lemon.
You can even buy a juice cleanse from them, six bottles of goodness a day!
Or if you need to feel super charged, grab wheatgrass shots with friends. Lesson learned, this combined with a maca-rich tonic at 7 PM leads to a sleepless night. And that’s all I’m saying about that. 
There’s plenty of great food beyond the juice and desserts, too.
I like the tacos, a dish named I Am Transformed. Each dish is delivered with an affirmation, such as “You Are Transformed.” The tacos are filled with black beans, brown rice, guacamole, salsa fresca and spicy cashew nacho cheese.
My absolute favorite is the I Am Extraordinary, a coconut-bacon lettuce and tomato sandwich. To make it gluten-free, I get it served on the apple curry wrap. It’s got a spicy kick and that perfect smoky bacon flavor that makes me crave their coconut bacon.
The wonderful #BlogKC group I belong to had a holiday gathering at Cafe Gratitude and they created a special tasting menu for us. We sampled three of their dinner dishes, I Am Humble (a curried lentil dish), I Am Whole (a Macrobiotic bowl with sea veggies) and I Am Grateful. I Am Grateful is a bowl of shredded kale, black beans, quinoa and a garlic-tahini sauce. This dish warms my heart, not just my tummy. See, you can have the I Am Grateful bowl at whatever price you can pay. And if you can pay more than the price, you can pay it forward for someone else.
I’ve sampled several other dishes as well, including the nachos, the tamale, a hefty spoonful of my fella’s chili recently. I’ve never had a dish there that I wouldn’t eat again. When I shared a meal with Valerie of City.Life.Eats, I fell in love with the kimchi atop the I Am Whole, a dish I wouldn’t have ordered on my own but could share with a friend because there are no worrisome ingredients. (Check out Valerie’s post for even more photos of the amazing food!) Recently my doorbell rang and it was Mendy of Fit by Burn with a carryout order of Brussels Sprouts for me. I know of no other restaurant boxing up cruciferous goodness like this, enabling us healthy and somewhat restricted eaters to re-join the community in the joy of shared food. I’m grateful to once again be able to share a meal or a surprise treat from a friend. I’m glad it isn’t a thing of the past for me, this is “breaking bread” reinvented.
The scoop on being gluten-free at Cafe Gratitude is a short, easy one. The menu is clearly labeled. Maybe two or three dishes contain gluten. If you want something that isn’t labeled gluten-free, ask your server if it can be modified. I haven’t been told no yet. I’ve also never been gluten’d there. That alone is reason enough for me to dine there frequently.
A few other things you might want to know about Cafe Gratitude KC: they have a farm in Edgerton, Kansas, where much of their produce is grown. They offer a free community meal on Thanksgiving. Parking is on the street, but if it’s full, don’t park in the paid lot, go around the block and park in the garage on 22nd street at Northwestern. They will validate for you. If you are there on a the weekend, drop into Thistle, the cute vintage store next door.
Cafe Gratitude KC is located at 333 Southwest Blvd. in Kansas City, MO. 816.474.LOVE.
EAT WITH: wild abandon! This is one of the restaurants I feel most comfortable being served a dish that is gluten-free. The staff is knowledgable and empowered, ask away and they’ll make it right for you.
Johnna’s I Ate Here series is not intended as a restaurant review, rather a summary of Johnna’s experience dining out. You may or may not have a similar experience. Menu prices, items and ingredients featured were current at the time of writing. Please read the menu carefully and ask your server for assistance in ordering if you have dietary restrictions. It’s a good idea to call ahead and let the restaurant know of your food needs.
Wednesday, July, 11, 2012
I recently spent a day in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Yep, I visited the Beef State. And I ate really, really well thanks to Pepe’s Bistro. Omaha and Lincoln continue to surprise and delight me with their veg offerings, some of the best meat-free meals I’ve had in the nation!
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| The sign at Pepe’s Bistro |
I heard about Pepe’s from Isa Chandra Moskowitz who tweeted about a Kickstarter project. Pepe is starting a food truck in addition to his bistro. While a veggie food truck certainly caught my attention, it was the bistro that intrigued me. I’m all about immediate gratification and knew I would be visiting Lincoln, so dinner at Pepe’s was planned into the trip.
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| Pepe gave us a tour |
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Here’s what you need to know about Pepe’s…You order at the counter. Pepe cooks the food himself in a small and extremely efficient kitchen. He buys produce from local farmers, farmers that he knows. The menu changes every week, based on availability of produce. Got a dietary restriction? Ask. All I had to do was ask, the fella taking orders and Pepe were both knowledgable. A few dishes on the menu during my visit contained cheese, but they will gladly leave it off. And to top if off, Pepe told me he is looking into a gluten-free flour tortilla option, making more of the menu an option for folks like me.
My favorite fella’s aunt met us for dinner. They both eat gluten and split a sweet potato quesadilla and a sandwich that was drool-worthy. Fresh baked bread with black beans, herb and chile roasted potatoes, onion, garlic, bell peppers, sauteed cabbage and Swiss chard, heirloom tomato pico de gallo and cheese. But the real treat was the guacamole…
Topped with beautiful dehydrated tomato chips and pepitos, I considered moving the bowl to my corner of the table and refusing to share. I didn’t, but I’m still thinking I should have. I make good guacamole at home, but this was GOOD guacamole. Pepe made it fresh when we ordered and served it with chips and salsa. My favorite fella’s aunt really liked the salsa, commenting how fresh the flavors were. I’m not a fan of too much cilantro, but this salsa had just the right amount of cilantro in it.
I had enchiladas for dinner. Black bean and roasted yellow squash enchiladas with a side of rice and a salad. The salad was dressed with a slightly spicy dressing. The rice was tasty with no sauce. I know it looks like plain ol’ rice with cilantro, but it was great by itself. The enchiladas were simply perfect. You know the dish you think you could eat every single day for the rest of your life? I do believe I’ve found it. I’d eat these enchiladas any time I could!
A few other tidbits about Pepe’s…Ride your bike there, save 10%. Take your old bike parts there on Saturdays and barter for a discount on food. Pepe works with a community cycling program, getting bikes into the hands of folks who need them for transportation. The bistro is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Take cash. Go hungry. Order the cucumber lemonade.
Pepe’s Bistro is located at 3227 South 13th in Lincoln, NE. This review was written after a visit to the original location of Pepe’s on Havelock.
Saturday, July, 30, 2011
I recently attended a lecture given by a doctor on the state of health care in America and what all of us, patients and the medical industry, could do to make changes happen. Pretty heavy stuff. The friend I attended with agreed with me that we should stop for a cocktail on the way home. Somehow we ended up stopping for a light meal and a cocktail at NoRTH.
I had the Strawberry and Goat Cheese salad, which was on a bed of baby greens and topped with avocado and toasted hazelnuts. Our server confirmed with the chef that my choice was indeed gluten-free after I ordered and also shared with me that the chef had gluten-free pasta available should I want a heartier meal.
My friend ordered the Grilled Artichoke with lemon aioli. I avoided the aioli, but did try the artichoke. It was delicious. I’m guessing it was steamed prior to being grilled.
Service was great at NoRTH and I felt like my dietary restrictions were nicely handled. Our server went to the effort to confirm my order with the chef without me asking her to do so. I’m adding NoRTH to my list of small chain restaurants that I will visit again!
Update 2013: Since writing this post, I have dined at NoRTH several times. I’ve had pasta safely and when I last asked, they were using Heartland gluten-free pasta. My meals have always been delicious and the staff seems very well-educated in handling gluten-free requests. This is one of the only places in the KC area I feel comfortable eating pasta.
NoRTH is of the FOX Restaurant Concepts company. Locations are in Kansas, Arizona, Colorado and Texas. The location visited for this review is located at 4579 West 119th Street in Leawood, Kansas.
