Last week I spent time in Norfolk with my sister-in-law, Alden, as she gets settled into her new home in Virginia.  We unpacked, entertained my nephews, Pete and Chip, watched Bachelorette (of course), and did some good eating.  Alden even taught me how to cook tofu and we made delicious tofu Pad Thai.  I’m even willing to say it’s better than chicken pad Thai

We also ventured out for lunch with both boys to Taste Unlimited, a yummy (and very popular) spot, just down the street.  Taste Unlimited’s Hampton Boulevard location offers a large gluten-free sandwich menu and they use a separate sandwich making station and utensils for all gluten-free orders, to prevent cross-contamination.  Their sandwiches are delicious (reminiscent of my gluten-filled college days spent frequenting Bel Air and Take it Away) and I’m a huge fan of their house dressing.  I got their Northender sandwich, which includes the amazing combination of turkey, havarti, bacon and avacado.  The sandwich gods were looking down on me because they put practically an entire avocado on my sandwich.  I went with the house dressing in lieu of the aioli mayo because I just can’t resist the stuff.  (You can buy their house dressing by the container too…this would be way too dangerous for me.)  All in all, my sammy was a messy, delicious masterpiece.

Taste uses Udi’s sandwich bread (a personal favorite of mine) and you can also buy it by the loaf at the store as well.  (They even sell Udi’s muffins and a brand of gluten-free ice cream sandwiches in their freezer section.)

Also, if you check Taste Unlimited’s website, they tell you which of the daily prepared foods are gluten-free.  (They make take out foods like chicken salad, ribs, cucumber salad, etc.)  A perfect weeknight dinner when you don’t feel like cooking OR if you’re going to be entertaining someone with a gluten allergy and feel overwhelmed by the task.  Taste Unlimited is a great option.

Save room for dessert because Taste Unlimited offers glow gluten-free cookies, in multiple varieties, and Tate’s Bake Shop GF chocolate chip cookies.  I bought glow’s chocolate chip cookies and they were yummy.  They don’t skimp on the chocolate chips, which is key for GF baking!  I love their packaging…looks similar to a Chinese food take out box.  There are enough cookies in a box to share with your group. (If you’re feeling generous!)  Their other varieties include snickerdoodle and ginger snap.  You know me, I can’t resist chocolate!

Right now Taste Unlimited offers their gluten-free menu at their Newport News location and this fall they’ll roll it out at their new (and bigger) location in Virginia Beach.  I contacted the folks at Taste to get more details and it turns out that one of their co-owners was diagnosed with celiac in 2009, hence the efforts they’ve gone to in order to accommodate customers with gluten allergies or celiac.  I feel reassured when I know that someone personally involved with a restaurant has celiac because it means they get it, and they’re not just serving GF bread for their sandwiches.  Taste Unlimited is taking all necessary precautions to ensure my safety, for which I am grateful.  AND they make delicious sandwiches!

Taste Unlimited - 6464 Hampton Blvd.- Norfolk, VA 23508 – 757.623.7770

Yum…so easy but so good.

Sliced local tomatoes and cucumbers with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, goat cheese, S&P

Grilled swordfish: If you haven’t tried this fish, you’re missing out.  It’s meaty, not fishy, and worth the financial splurge. Just a little olive oil, some herbs and lemon juice make the perfect marinade.  This time we used a tequila lime rub.

Grilled corn on the cob: shuck the corn, wrap each ear separately in tin foil, with a little butter, S&P, and put on the grill.

My kind of food!  Simple, fresh, easy and highlighting the naturally delicious flavors.  What are your favorite easy suppers?

Summer, summer, summer time.  Wonderful, hot, humid, Atlanta summer is here.  I’ve officially gotten old and I’m not eager to spend every second at the pool, sweating in the sun.  I’m wearing 55 SPF on my face at all times, and keeping the rest of my body lathered, like I probably should have been doing for the last ten years.

Since I’m not spending my hours worshipping the sun, I’ve got a little more time on my hands…

I’m not Oprah but I do have some of my own favorite things right now:

Tina Fey’s Bossy Pants: If you have not yet read Tina Fey’s new book, run to the store and buy it.  (Or download it on iTunes if you don’t have time to read.)  I loved Bossypants and was so sad to see it end.  You know the conflict when something’s so good you don’t want to stop reading it, but you want to savor the final pages as well?  Yep, that’s Bossypants.

Bossypants takes us on a comical re-cap of Tina Fey’s life, from childhood to UVA to her professional career to motherhood.  Some of my favorite chapters include “Breastfeeding vs. Formula,” “Dear Internet,” and the chapter about her honeymoon gone horribly, horribly wrong.  (Hmm, I wonder what that’s like.)

Tina Fey addresses many issues that women face, such as the desire for perfection, constantly comparing ourselves to other women, wanting to have both children and a career, and just being awkward.  She brings up these often depressing topics while adding humor to the truth, to make it a little more digestible.

I’m convinced that Tina (we’re on a first name basis) and I should be best friends.  She’s smart, clever and funny.  David and I sometimes play the game, “What famous person would we most like to be best friends with?” (It’s a pretty self explanatory game.)  At the top of my list are Tina and Justin Timberlake.  I think the three of us could have a pretty good time.

Yes, that's Michael Bolton

Captain Jack Sparrow Digital Short: Imagine this: Michael Bolton, Andy Samberg, a night club, an obsession with Pirates of the Caribbean and clever lyrics…hilarity ensues.  In three years of blogging, I don’t think I’ve ever linked to an online video but you must check out this one.  I don’t want to give too much away so I’ll stop here.

Don't judge me...

Big Love: This HBO drama about polygamist Mormons finished up this spring, but I just discovered it and have been Netflixing all of the seasons.  I’ve always found fundamentalist Mormonism to be fascinating (starting when I taught U.S. History and then reading Under the Banner of Heaven) and this show highlights (and probably exaggerates) this group.  The Hendrickson family is full of their own normal drama, but in the midst of the craziness of the Juniper Creek cult, where Bill Hendrickson and one of his wives, Nikki, was born.  Mormons, casinos, local politics, romance, child rearing, and family bickering: this show has it all.  Of course Big Love also makes me want to see the Tony nominated, Broadway musical, Book of Mormon.

Vanity Fair (July 2011): I’ve been a dutiful follower of Vanity Fair since being introduced to it by my sister-in-law a couple of years ago.  The most recent issue is particularly awesome because of these articles:

“Will and Kate’s New Life:” Sure, this article doesn’t reveal anything all that new about the royal newlyweds, but I still enjoy reading about how down to earth Prince William and Kate are, how Harry peaked back at Kate as she entered the church, and how great Pippa looked at the wedding.  Why do these same stories never get old?  I have no idea.

“A Free Man in L.A.:” This interview with Justin Timberlake highlights the down to earth guy that he is.  And, if JT and I are going to be BFF’s with Tina Fey, I need to know him a little bit better.

What are some of your favorite things right now?