The Happy Tart - Alexandria, VA

Twice during our stay in Alexandria, Virginia, we visited The Happy Tart Gluten-Free Patisserie.  The Happy Tart is a 100% gluten free bakery that makes gluten free versions of classic French pastries.

I found The Happy Tart on the Find Me Gluten Free App, and it was recommended by a blog reader.  

They had an impressive collection of gluten free macarons, but I can buy macarons in Orlando at Le Macaron, so I didn't try them.  

The Happy Tart does have dairy free options, like the s'mores cupcake.  

I was overwhelmed by all the beautiful pastries I had to choose from, like the strawberry rhubarb or pecan tarts.

First time customers can choose a complimentary lemon curd, lime curd, or chocolate tartlet.

I couldn't pass up the frangipane tart, which is almond cake and raspberry jam in a flakey tart shell.  

My husband chose the cream cheese raspberry jam turnover, my favorite treat from our first visit.  I love baked goods with cream cheese, and it was so scrumptiously buttery and flakey.  The baked goods at The Happy Tart could definitely hold their own against their gluten-filled counterparts.  Everything was delicious!  

I didn't try my daughter Emma's chocolate cupcake, but she said it was very good.  My kids are extremely fussy about their baked goods, and have been known to give a big thumbs down to cupcakes we have had at other gluten free bakeries.  

I didn't try Katie's chocolate tartlet either, but looking at it, it reminded me of my mini chocolate chess pies.  

The second time we visited The Happy Tart, it was Sunday morning, and we arrived right when it opened.

I hadn't eaten any breakfast except some strawberries, so I chose a raspberry tart filled with pastry cream and topped with beautiful berries.  

I also picked up some hamburger buns to take to my cousin's house for dinner.  I had to eat one in the car because they were still warm.  The Happy Tart makes the best gluten free hamburger buns I have ever had.  I rarely like gluten free bread, but these buns were impressive.  

After eating lunch, I had a cream cheese raspberry jam turnover.  I wish all gluten free bakeries made pastries this amazing!  

I purchased some dark chocolate crackle and chocolate chip cookies to take to my cousin's house for dessert.  

Everyone was really impressed by how good they were.  The dark chocolate crackle cookies tasted like the chocolate cookies I make for Christmas.

If you are ever in Alexandria, Virginia, you have to visit The Happy Tart.  The only gluten free bakery I have been to that can rival The Happy Tart is Mariposa, which has bakeshops in San Francisco and Oakland.

You can view The Happy Tart's website here.

Have you been to The Happy Tart?  What is your favorite gluten free bakery?

Starbucks Gluten Free Marshmallow Dream Bar

For lunch, I had a plain hamburger without a bun and without fries.  Even though my hamburger was amazing, I was feeling a little sorry for myself today, something I have rarely done since my celiac diagnosis.  That feeling disappeared when I spotted a Starbucks as we walked to the Capitol in Washington, D.C.   

I had recently read that Starbucks is now offering a gluten free marshmallow dream bar, so my family and I headed in to check it out.  Right away, I spotted it, right in the middle of a bunch of gluten-filled baked goods.  

When I ordered, I asked if they had any marshmallow dream bars that weren't in the case, and they took one out of a drawer behind the counter for me.  

I was excited to see that the marshmallow dream bar offered at Starbucks is certified gluten free.  It does contain dairy, and has a warning that it is manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts/nuts.  You can read the ingredient list and see nutrition facts here.  

Taste-wise, I was really impressed.  I have always loved Rice Krispies treats, and make a couple of gluten free versions at home.  You can view my cocoa crispy rice treats recipe here.  I was surprised that the marshmallow dream bar I tried at Starbucks today tasted as good as the gluten free crispy rice treats I make at home.

It's great to see Starbucks introducing a gluten free treat again.  I really miss the gluten free orange valencia cake they briefly sold a couple of years ago.  It was so good!

If you are looking for a list of what is safe to drink at Starbucks, check out The Celiac Diva's blog post about gluten free beverages at Starbucks here.

Update: If you are at the theme parks in Orlando, I have seen the Marshmallow Dream Bar at Universal, the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Downtown Disney.

Have you tried Starbucks new gluten free marshmallow dream bar?  What did you think?

Noodles & Company

I first ate at a Noodles & Company a couple of years ago on a trip back to my hometown.  You can read about all the amazing gluten free food I ate on my most recent trip to Pittsburgh, including a couple of dishes at Noodles & Company, here.  

As soon as you walk into any Noodles & Company location, you will see a big board with all of their menu choices, including the calories each dish has. 

Today, we ate at the Noodles & Company in Williamsburg, Virginia.  I spoke to Jacob, the general manager, about how they cook their gluten free pasta.  Just like in Orlando, I was told that they cook their gluten free pasta before they cook any pasta with gluten.  Having worked in an Italian restaurant when I was in grad school, I asked if they dip their pre-cooked pasta in boiling water before they serve it.  He said that they do not do that with any sauteed dish, so I was safe getting the Pad Thai.  Jacob did have a gluten free menu to show me, and the cook was told that it was an "allergy" order.

Today, I ordered a large portion of the Pad Thai with shrimp, for a total of 900 calories.  I guess I need to take an extra walk tonight!  :-)

We ate at the new Noodles & Company near Downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista just last week.  

Here's the small portion of Pad Thai with shrimp that I ordered in Orlando, which is only 500 calories.  Noodles & Company describes their Pad Thai as a rice noodle stir-fry with scrambled egg, carrots, cabbage, sweet chile, citrus, peanuts, Asian sprouts and cilantro.  This dish is always consistently good.

Noodles & Company's Pad Thai is gluten free without modification, but they also have a gluten free fusilli that can be used in the following dishes:  penne rosa, pesto cavatappi, pasta fresca, whole grain tuscan linguine, spaghetti with marinara, buttered noodles, and the Med salad.  Other options with modification include the Chinese chop salad, Caesar salad, and the tossed green side salad.  You can read more about the gluten free fusilli here, in my Pittsburgh blog post.

You can view Noodles & Company's nutrition & allergen guide here.  Their allergen menu does remind customers that there is a risk of cross contamination, as there is in any restaurant that isn't 100% gluten free.  This is why I like to dine at Noodles & Company when it is not busy, and I ask a lot of questions about food preparation.  My whole gluten-eating family loves Noodles & Company, and it is very reasonably priced.

You can view Noodles & Company's store locator here.   They have restaurants on State Road 535 in Lake Buena Vista right outside of Downtown Disney, on Sand Lake Road in Dr. Phillips, and a third location on Colonial near Fashion Square Mall.

April 20, 2015 Update

Yesterday, we had lunch at the newly opened Noodles & Company on Colonial Drive near Fashion Square Mall.  The manager told me that they cook their gluten free pasta first in the morning, and that they do not dip it in the same water they use for gluten-filled pasta to reheat it before serving.  I enjoyed a small portion of Pad Thai with shrimp, while my family devoured all their gluten-filled favorites.  I am sure they will be begging to go to Noodles & Company after church every Sunday from now on.

December 13, 2015 Update

Last night, we had dinner at the Noodles & Company on Colonial Drive.  I ordered the pesto cavatappi with grilled chicken and gluten free fusilli.  This dish features pasta with basil pesto, garlic, mushrooms, tomatoes, wine, cream, and Parmesan.  My pasta was al dente, and the sauce was creamy and flavorful.  This is one of my daughter Kate's favorites at Noodles & Company, and I definitely liked it enough to order it again.

What are your favorite gluten free dishes at Noodles & Company?  

Le Yaca - Williamsburg, VA

Tonight, we had dinner at Le Yaca in Williamsburg, Virginia.  Their new location is about a five minute drive from Colonial Williamsburg.  My parents told us that this French restaurant is not to be missed.  It's their favorite place to eat in Williamsburg.  

Right away, I was impressed with their decor, and all the gluten free choices clearly marked on their menu.  

I decided to order from their Three Course Dinner Menu, but they also had an a la carte menu, and a three course summer menu that they serve from Sunday to Thursday.

For my first course, I chose the soup of the day, a cold watermelon soup.  I also could have chosen the house salad.  The watermelon soup was quite good, and with every bite, I kept trying to figure out what, if anything else, was in it besides watermelon.

For my second course, I ordered poached Scottish salmon on fresh sauteed spinach, finished with a heirloom tomato sauce with fresh herbs and extra virgin olive oil.  The lentils that came with my dish were a nice surprise.  This was the only main course marked as gluten free on the Three Course Dinner Menu, but our server told me they could modify other dishes to make them gluten free.  I was so glad I chose the salmon though, because it was one of the best pieces of salmon I have had in a restaurant.  It was perfectly cooked, and seemed to just melt in my mouth.  I enjoyed eating each bit with the lentils, which were perfect with this salmon dish.  I was also impressed by the generous portion I received.

For dessert, I couldn't pass up the Grand Marnier Souffle.  It was a favorite dessert of mine pre-Celiac and I haven't eaten it in at least eight years.  The addition of the berry sorbet was a little unexpected, but the combination of the Grand Marnier Souffle, creme anglaise, and sorbet was amazing!  I love desserts like this one, that have both a hot and cold element and aren't too sweet.  We paid an $8 upcharge for the souffle, but it was worth it.

I was surprised that 5 of the 6 dessert choices on the three course dinner menu were gluten free.  I could have also ordered a creme brulee, chocolate truffle cake with creme anglaise, a sorbet trio, or a lemon mousse served over a thin almond crust, served with fresh berries and a raspberry coulis.

On the Dinner a la Carte menu, there were six gluten free first courses, and six gluten free main courses that are served with a complimentary soup or salad.  You can view Le Yaca's lunch and dinner menus on their website here.

We have found Colonial Williamsburg and the surrounding area to be very gluten free friendly.  I have had great gluten free meals at Chowning's Tavern, The Cheese Shop, Noodles & Company, and Food For Thought Restaurant (click on these links to read my other Williamsburg reviews).

What are your favorite gluten free friendly vacation spots?    

The Cheese Shop - Colonial Williamsburg

The last two days, we have had lunch at The Cheese Shop in Merchants Square in Colonial Williamsburg.  

I knew they had gluten free bread, but I was still excited to see this food allergies sign.  

Yesterday, I ordered a turkey sandwich with swiss cheese on Udi's gluten free bread.  When I saw that my bread had been toasted, I became a little worried about cross contamination, so I headed back to the sandwich counter.  The employee that I spoke to said that that they have a separate station with its own toaster for preparing gluten free meals.  

I also ordered a gluten free, dairy free bean soup.  I thought it was really strange tasting, but my daughter Emma ate it and enjoyed it.

Today, I ordered a corned beef sandwich with swiss cheese on an Udi's bagel, which cost me $1.50 extra.  There is no extra charge for Udi's bread.  I really enjoyed this sandwich, but only ate half the bagel because I have a hard time eating that much bread for lunch.  

I also shared some Route 11 Lightly Salted Potato Chips with my daughter Emma.  They were really good, plus I was happy to see that they were labeled gluten free.  They are also NON GMO Project Verified.  

Both days, I purchased a Justin's gluten free candy bar with milk chocolate, peanuts, caramel, and nougat.  It was super yummy!  

The Cheese Shop also has a huge display of gluten free food.  I have never seen these Stonewall Kitchen gluten free mixes.  They had a cornbread, cinnamon sugar doughnut, brownie, pancake & waffle, and chocolate chunk cookie mix.

The Cheese Shop had gluten free products from Glutino and Tate's Bake Shop, brands I am familiar with, but also some really interesting brands and products I have never heard of.

I wanted to buy one of each of these gluten free flours from Zocalo.  The Cheese Shop had mesquite, sweet potato, purple corn, and kaniwa flour.

I might have to go back and pick up a bag of pasta before we leave.  I have never seen a gluten free pasta like the Rice Riccioli Pasta.  

I did buy several packs of Gin Gins chewy ginger candy today.  I am addicted to this stuff!  It is gluten free and vegan.

Outside of the gluten free section, I found gluten free products from brands like Justin's and Scarpetta, my favorite jarred sauce.  They also had a great selection of gluten free potato chips and Crispin hard cider.  

The Cheese Shop has always been my family's favorite spot to eat lunch in Colonial Williamsburg, so it was great to see their commitment to keeping people with food allergies safe.  I was also excited to see so many gluten free options.  You can check out The Cheese Shop's website here. 

June 5, 2014 Update -- Yesterday, we ate lunch at The Cheese Shop for the third day in a row.  My parents recommended the Virginia ham, so I ordered a Virginia ham sandwich with provolone cheese on an Udi's bagel.  It was very good.  All of their deli meats are gluten free, so there is a lot to choose from.

Have you eaten at The Cheese Shop?

Chowning's Tavern - Colonial Williamsburg

We couldn't visit Colonial Williamsburg without eating in one of the colonial taverns.  Josiah Chowning's Tavern is conveniently located in the center of town on Duke of Gloucester Street.  I have eaten at all of the taverns on previous visits to Colonial Williamsburg, but this was my first experience dining in one since being diagnosed with celiac, and I wasn't really sure what to expect.  

When you enter Chowning's Tavern, you feel like you are stepping back in time.  

Every last detail, from the tables, to the chairs, to the candles, to the dress of your server make you feel like you are in colonial times.  We especially enjoyed the fiddle player that visited our room as we dined.

When I made my reservation, I was asked if anyone in our party had any food allergies before I could even ask about gluten free selections.  When I said that I could not eat gluten, I was told that this would not be a problem, and that it was a frequent request.  

Our server easily named all the gluten free options on the menu.  I ended up choosing the tasting of soups after being told that all of the soups were gluten free.  I enjoyed the Brunswick Stew, the roasted corn chowder, and the white bean & kale soup.  My favorite was probably the roasted corn chowder with leeks, golden potatoes, and Virginia ham dust.  For dinner, my daughters both ordered a bowl of the white bean & kale soup, which is made with sausage, leeks, and carrots simmered in chicken broth.  They both really enjoyed it, and their large bowls of soup disappeared quickly.  The Brunswick Stew, made with chicken and fresh garden vegetables was very tasty too, but I was a little sad I couldn't enjoy it with a corn muffin like my husband.  I might just have to make it at home soon with some corn bread.  I have the recipe for Brunswick Stew in my Colonial Williamsburg cookbook.  

Our server told me that all of the trenchers were either gluten free or could be easily modified to be gluten free.  I chose the barbeque chicken trencher with house-made barbeque sauce and a side of potato chips.  

I was so excited to see that the potato chips were made in house.  There is nothing better than freshly made potato chips!  I also enjoyed the house-made barbeque sauce, which had a little vinegary kick.  I was really impressed by how much food I was given on this plate for $12.  The other taverns can be really pricey, but Chowning's is still pretty reasonable.  

The only gluten free dessert they could offer me was fresh strawberries, which I passed on.  Overall, I was really pleased with our meal at Chowning's Tavern.  I had three soups, two salads, four trenchers, and white bean dip to choose from.  The atmosphere cannot be beat, and the service and food were really good.  

Chowning's Tavern is open for both lunch and dinner.  You can view their hours, address, menu, and the phone number to make reservations, on Colonial Williamsburg's website here.  

Have you ever eaten at any of the Colonial taverns in Williamsburg? 

Food For Thought Restaurant - Williamsburg, VA

Today, we drove from Charleston, South Carolina to Williamsburg, Virginia.  We arrived right around dinner time, and headed straight to Food For Thought Restaurant after unloading the car.  I first learned about Food For Thought on the Find Me Gluten Free App.  All 24 reviews were positive, and the app showed that Food For Thought is GiG trained.  You can read more about the Gluten Intolerance Group (GiG) here. 

I love getting a full size, multi-page gluten free menu when entering a restaurant.  I recently received a large menu like this at Cooper's Hawk in Orlando.  There was almost too much to choose from at both restaurants, which is a good problem to have.  

When our waitress saw that I had a gluten free menu, she offered to bring me gluten free bread.  It was perfectly heated, and very tasty.  I have never had anything like it in a restaurant.  I would say it was some sort of multi-grain roll.  If we go back before we leave, I will ask what brand they use.

For dinner, I ordered the Down South, which is described as creamy cheese grits smothered with lots of sauteed shrimp, bell peppers and mushrooms in a zesty pan gravy.  Hands down, this was the best shrimp and grits I have had in a long, long time.  The grits were just divine!  They were perfectly creamy and cheesy, and were heavenly with the pan gravy.  I was asked if I wanted my Down South mild, medium, or spicy.  I chose a medium spice level, and my dish had the perfect kick to it.  My shrimp were cooked well and tasted fresh, and I loved the addition of the mushrooms and bell peppers.  I highly recommend this dish if you love shrimp and grits like I do.  

For dessert, I chose the Time for Chocolate, a chocolate torte with vanilla bean ice cream and whipped cream.  It was a fudgy, dense cake served at room temperature.  I enjoyed it, but if we go back on this trip, I might try the vegan chocolate cherry brownie or the creme brulee instead.

After dinner, we enjoyed a walk around Colonial Williamsburg, one of my favorite places in the world.   I have such fond memories of my parents bringing me here when I was growing up, and my husband and I took our first vacation in Williamsburg.

You can view Food For Thought's gluten free menu here.  The restaurant is located on Richmond Road, a short drive from the historic area.

What are your favorite gluten free eats in the Colonial Williamsburg area?