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?

Last week, I got the opportunity to sample a truly lavish and delicious gluten-free meal at Tantra Restaurant & Lounge, on Peachtree Road.  I left this meal feeling satisfied, full, and thinking about all of the yummy flavor combinations I had just enjoyed.  Since David was traveling for work, I took my gluten-free friend, Jen, to Tantra with me and we wined and dined.

The culinary inspiration behind Tantra wanders the path of the Silk Road, through Asia, the Mediterranean, southern Europe, and Spain.  Each menu item is a unique and flavorful blend of these cultures, different from anything I’ve tried before.  While many Atlanta restaurants emphasize the trend of the moment, “farm to table” (which, don’t get me wrong, I love), Tantra takes its cuisine in another direction, encouraging diners to try new things and go beyond your typical fliet mignon and Ceasar salad.

During our dining experience at Tantra, the chef brought us many dishes to sample, but I didn’t feel sick or bloated, despite the amount of food I consumed.  Every component of the meal was fresh and highlighted the different ingredients on the plate.

Before we indulged in food, we enjoyed some libations including the Seven Year Spice: a spin on a margarita, made with tequila, lime juice, cilantro and jalapeno.  We also tried a bubbly drink that combined champagne and muddled blueberries.  A fun way to start our meal!

Most of Tantra’s menu is naturally gluten free or can be made GF and the chef is eager to accommodate customers.  Part of the Tantra experience is sharing and savoring dishes with others and gluten-free options abound for you to share, allowing you to feel like part of the group, not restricted to hoarding your gluten-free food in the corner of the table.  Just remember to double check with your server, emphasize gluten free, and contamination.  (You might have to convince your dining companions to forego the naan and samosas which will be a true act of love.)  Some of the gluten free dishes I sampled throughout the evening included:

PEI Mussels (no baguette): Mussels aren’t usually the first thing I choose off the menu, but these were darn good.  The red bell pepper coconut broth was delicious too and added a lot of yummy flavors to the mussels.  I know David will want to get the mussels when I return with him.

Hummus Tahini and Sautéed Lamb: The chef substituted beautiful veggies for the traditional naan bread.  If your gluten-eating friends really want the naan, I would ask your server if they can split the order in half so that your hummus doesn’t get contaminated by the naan.  Or get two orders!  This was one of my favorite dishes of the night.  The lamb and hummus taste so different from each other but go together really well.  The crunchy vegetables added another nice texture.

Short Smoked Salmon Roll: This light and tasty bite highlighted the combination of the smoky salmon, contrasted with the basil, mint and parsley.   Yum.

Cucumber & Tomato Salad and Roasted Beets & Arugula Salad: Both of these salads were not your typical starter salad.  Again, the chef used herbs to bring out the flavors of the veggies.  I loved his use of mint, cilantro and lime with the cukes and tomato salad.

Basil Caramelized Scallops: One of the more traditional dishes we sampled, the mashed potatoes that accompanied the scallops were out of this world.  The scallops were cooked just right, perfectly seared on the sides.

Grilled Ostrich Filet: I’ve never tried ostrich before but our server told us this entree was not to be missed.  He was right.  I was pretty darn full at this point, but I just couldn’t resist.  Each piece of the ostrich filet was tender and flavorful and the mushrooms were amazing.  I’m officially an ostrich convert and plan on ordering ostrich over steak whenever given the option.

And for dessert, the chef sent out, Cardamom Panna Cotta with orange and chopped pistachios AND Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee with Chocolate Ganache.  I’m not a huge panna cotta fan…something about the texture gets to me, but I appreciated the use of the pistachios as a contrast in texture.  The crème brulee was a-mazing.  I prefer desserts that involve chocolate so the ganache on the bottom was the perfect end to the meal.

I would highly recommend Tantra whether you’re gluten free or not.  I plan on taking David on a date here really soon.  Even though I sampled lots of dishes, there are still many items that I want to try, including the tuna and short rib.  One of my new favorite spots, I only wish that there was cooler outdoor seating for summertime cocktails.  (It’s pretty dark inside.)

Don’t be intimidated by the restaurant’s name either.  Tantra’s not freaky-deaky or limited as a venue for only hot and heavy dates.  Tantra would be a great spot to meet up with friends for a drink and some small plates.  The restaurant is spacious with plenty of seating so would be a good, last minute place to grab a beverage on a Friday night.

Check out Tantra and let me know what you ordered and enjoyed!

And, if you needed more convincing…

• Tantra has a Scoutmob for 50% off, up to $30 that expires August 13^th
• Monday nights is half price bottles of wine.  Can’t beat that, right?

Tantra Restaurant & Lounge

2285 Peachtree Road Northeast
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 228-7963

Here are a few things happening in the Atlanta area, related to all things gluten free:

Sally’s Bakery has recently changed their hours of operation in response to customer’s requests and will now be open on Saturdays:

Sally’s Bakery New Hours of Operation:

• Tuesday – Friday: 10:00am to 5:30pm
• Saturday: 10:00am – 3:30pm

On Saturday, May 7^th, Dinner A Fare in Northlake will be hosting a gluten-free event from 11:00-3:00.  The folks at Dinner A Fare will be offering samples of gluten-free items from their May menu and a local gluten-free baker will be selling her cakes, pies and pasta.  Yum!  If you’re interested in pre-ordering, send an email to northlake@dinnerafare.com.

And don’t forget May is Celiac Awareness Month!

I recently received this press release, which gives restaurants in the Atlanta area that offer gluten-free options, especially during the month of May, in celebration of National Celiac Awareness Month.  Of course, this is not a comprehensive list of all of the Atlanta restaurants that accommodate gluten-free diners, but my mouth is watering just reading about some of the options.  Check out Gluten Freedom’s Restaurants page to read about other options in our area.  Happy Dining!

CELEBRATE NATIONAL CELIAC AWARENESS MONTH AT

ATLANTA RESTAURANTS WHERE GLUTEN-FREE GOODIES ABOUND

Atlanta Chefs Accommodate Special Dietary Needs on a Daily Basis

ATLANTA (April 7, 2011) – May is designated National Celiac Awareness Month, and thanks to select Atlanta-area restaurants, those who have celiac disease (CD) can enjoy a meal out minus the concern over their dietary restrictions.  This is also a great time for diners who are simply considering a gluten-free lifestyle to let someone else do the cooking.

In addition to serving Estrella Damm Daura, recognized as the best gluten-free beer in the world by Beers of the World, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse also offers an entire gluten-free dinner menu. Antipasti like Blue Hill Bay mussels with Dijon cream mustard; tuna tartare with cucumber salad and ponzu sauce; and butternut squash soup with Georgia apples and aged balsamic will start the meal off right, sans gluten.  At Davio’s, guests suffering from CD won’t have to miss out on pasta dishes. The restaurant offers brown rice gluten free penne pasta with a variety of sauces and toppings ranging from braised beef short rib and black truffle jus to shrimp, smoked bacon, asparagus and garlic olive oil.  Several cuts of steak and a broad selection of seafood including red snapper, lemon sole and pan seared sea scallops cover the gluten-free meat and fish options.  For more entrée selections, the restaurant also offers gluten-free vegetable paella; free-range Statler chicken with creamy mashed potatoes and garlic herb sauce; grilled porterhouse veal chop with vintage port; pan roasted Maine lobster with Yukon Gold potatoes and lemon tarragon butter sauce; and seafood cioppino in spicy tomato lobster broth.

Fifth Group Restaurants®, an Atlanta restaurant company with five dining establishments and a catering arm, is now making it easy for guests with special nutritional needs to enjoy eating out.  All Fifth Group restaurants – Ecco, La Tavola Trattoria, The Original El Taco and South City Kitchen® Midtown and Vinings – have created separate gluten-free menus and offer instructions on how to order the dishes that may have potentially harmful components for those who suffer from CD.  This is a company-wide initiative to cater to guests with food allergies. As Fifth Group’s cuisine options range from Italian and Mediterranean to Mexican to contemporary Southern, guests have endless gluten-free options.  Examples of gluten-free dishes currently offered at Ecco include baby octopus with Gaeta olive, chili and mint; crisp duck leg confit with potatoes and prunes; and roasted pork belly, salted cabbage and cranberry bean salad.  Italian is not out of the question for those with celiac disease at La Tavola Trattoria.  The restaurant’s gluten-free options include grilled calamari; zuppa de pesce; crispy flounder with chickpeas, olives, capers and salsa verde; and veal scaloppine with prosciutto.  The Original El Taco offers items such as spicy shrimp ceviche, a variety of tacos with corn tortillas, wood grilled fajitas and even Mexican pizza minus the gluten.  On the South City Kitchen spring menus, gluten-free options can be found among the brunch, lunch and dinner selections.  Dishes like shrimp and grits, Southern-style eggs Benedict, buttermilk braised pork shank and crab hash make going gluten free a delicious experience.  For more information and restaurant locations, call 678-302-3251 or visit www.fifthgroup.com.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar offers a gluten-free menu with ordering instructions and lists out their gluten-free items on the restaurant’s website in the nutritional guide. Guests are encouraged to tell their servers that they are ordering gluten-free.  The gluten-free items range from appetizers such as tenderloin carpaccio and wicked Cajun barbeque shrimp to gluten-free soups (butternut squash, cream of broccoli, cream of asparagus and lobster bisque) to dinner entrees like Australian lobster, tuna mignon and any of the meat selections.  All salads may be ordered without croutons to ensure a gluten-free experience, and gluten-free deserts include crème brûlée, mixed berries with whipped cream and vanilla ice cream with raspberry or fudge sauce.  Fleming’s is located at 4501 Olde Perimeter Way; 770-698-8112.  For more information about Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, please visit www.FlemingsSteakhouse.com.

The gluten-free concession stand at Philips Arena is officially up and running, after its debut last Friday at the first NBA playoff game.  The Gluten-Free Kiosk is located at the south end of the main concourse at Portal 11.  It will be available on an event-by-event basis but the goal is to have it open for as many events as possible, maybe even NKOTB.

David and I met at  Miller Union for dinner on Thursday night to celebrate the end of my successful lacrosse season and the conclusion of David’s most recent work project.  It was a perfect venue for a romantic and delicious date.

I have a confession: David and I went to Miller Union for dinner the month it opened (over a year ago) with our friend, Chris.  The three of us sat at the bar, and were a little disappointed with our dinner.  At the time, there weren’t many items on the menu, the service was mediocre and the food did not meet my expectations based on all of the hype Miller Union had been receiving.  This underwhelming meal made me sad, as I really like Chef Steven Satterfield, a frequent customer of mine at The Local Farmstand, and I love Miller Union’s mantra of minimal, fresh, local food.

Chef Steven Satterfield (photo from Food & Wine)

Since that dinner, David and I have returned to Miller Union for drinks (we love the bar), and I’ve enjoyed lunch with friends at Miller Union.  Their seasonal vegetable plate is one of my favorite dishes on the Westside and perfect for a lunch date.  The ambiance at Miller Union is bustling, yet relaxed, with the perfect amount of people watching but not so loud that you can’t talk to the person with you.

But last Thursday was our first time splurging on dinner at Miller Union since our so-so evening nearly 18 months ago.  I’m glad we gave it another try.  Nearly everything on the menu is naturally gluten-free, literally almost everything.  The only red flags were the “farrotto” that accompanied the New York Strip and the cream grits fritters appetizer.  (It turns out that the “grits fritters” are normally gluten-free but that night fried chicken was the special so the fryer was contaminated.)

So I oohed and ahhed over the menu for awhile before discussing my top choices with David.  It turns out we were on the same page and were intrigued by the same two entrees.  Since everything we wanted was gluten free, we decided to split two entrees so we could enjoy both.

David went with the fritters for an appetizer and I ordered the soup of the day: spring pea soup, which came highly recommended by our waiter.  Beautifully green, my soup was light yet very flavorful.  A great way to start the meal.

Spring Pea Soup

The first of our entrees was the grilled pork loin, with cranberry beans and braised greens.  The pork loin had an amazing kick to it, due to the apple cider vinegar they use while grilling the pork.  Juicy, flavorful, and meaty, this pork dish is a meat lover’s dream.  Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with plenty of food on the plate.  You won’t go hungry with this order.  The cranberry beans tasted meaty themselves and I loved combining them and the pork in one bite.  The greens were braised with onions and were delicious by themselves, in the juices of the pork.

While David started with the pork, I began to work my way through the sautéed quail with dirty rice and arugula.  I usually stay away from restaurant entrees that involve rice, simply because I just don’t find it all that exciting and I’d rather a vegetable, quinoa or risotto.  Miller Union’s dirty rice, however, is not your ordinary rice.  As much as I love vegetables, everything tastes better with pork and this rice affirms that statement.  The dirty rice is a mix of wild rice with Miller Union’s homemade pork sausage and bacon.  Wow.  I could have eaten just the rice as my entrée.  The quail was also yummy, and simply cooked, with crisp skin and flavorful meat.  I followed the waiter’s suggestion, and ate with my hands.  (If you use your fork and knife, you won’t get very much meat.)  The arugula added a nice bite to the dish and beautiful color on the plate.

I would highly recommend Miller Union for a date night.  While it’s a little pricey, the quality of food and ingredients make the price worth it.  Chef Steven Satterfield really uses as many local, seasonal vegetables as he can access, and supports local farmers.  Many chefs say they do this, but don’t always live the principle (to quote my new favorite show, “Big Love”). I’ll definitely be returning to Miller Union for another date night.

I only wish that I could enjoy Miller Union’s daily ice cream sandwich special!  (Not GF.)

Atlanta often gets a bad reputation because of its traffic, mediocre public transportation, and Tom Wolfe’s interpretation in A Man in Full, but I have been completely wooed by this city in the last 18 months.  The Wall Street Journal shares my love for ATL today in the article “The New New South.” From Piedmont Park to Bacchanalia, to Richard Blais, to Sid and Ann Mashburn to Peachtree Farmers’ Market, the article mentions many of our city’s highlights.

While some of my personal favorites didn’t make the list (Floataway Cafe, Iberian Pig, and Taqueria del Sol to name a few) the WSJ did a pretty good job. They neglected to mention Decatur at all, but I guess it’s not technically part of Atlanta.

What are your favorite ATL spots?

One of my new favorite discoveries in Atlanta is Dogwood Restaurant, located in Midtown, on Peachtree Street.  When my parents were in town last weekend, we took them to Dogwood for dinner Friday night.  We had a great dining experience and all of us left satisfied, despite our distinctly different palettes.  (Let’s just say my dad was mostly excited about going to the Varsity on Saturday.)

Dogwood is great venue for a variety of reasons:

• Dogwood’s spacious interior allows you to drop in for a last minute dinner on a weekend night and it’s okay not to have reservations.
• Chef Shane Touhy not only has a menu with many options, but he understands gluten very well.
• Many menu items are naturally gluten-free so I didn’t have to miss out on sauces and other aspects of the dishes that make them unique.
• The wait staff is eager to double check with the chef and work with gluten-free customers so we can eat what we want on the menu.  Both times I’ve had a wonderful waiter who doesn’t take any chances, and always defers to the chef.
• Dogwood’s not too loud.  I know, I know, I feel like an old woman saying this, but I’ve got to admit, I don’t like a really noisy restaurant.  Call me uncool, but it shouldn’t be a challenge to converse with the person across the table from me.  (But don’t worry, Dogwood’s not too quiet!)
• The food is delicious.  Variety and flavor are prominent on the menu here.  Options range from grits to trout to pork loin to lamb meatballs, each with the chef’s unique spin on the dish.
• Dogwood is entirely underrated.  Just because the chef wasn’t on Top Chef and doesn’t get featured in Bon Appetit regularly doesn’t mean the restaurant’s not worth visiting.  I actually think the food is better at Dogwood than some of the more hyped restaurants in Atlanta.

Both times I’ve been to Dogwood, I’ve had delicious salads.  Most recently, I ordered the local mixed greens, with red wine-mint vinaigrette, “Split Creek Farm” goats milk feta, and toasted pistachios.  The pistachios were delicious and I ate every last one of them.  You can’t go wrong with any of their salads.

I was disappointed that the short rib was no longer on the menu but Dogwood had plenty of other options for me.  On this visit, I went with the almond crusted scallops, with celery root puree, orange segments, green grapes, and brown butter-red wine vinaigrette.  Fruit, scallops and celery root?  I too, thought it to be an odd combination but it was delicious.  The almond crust gave the scallops a crunchy texture that other restaurants might use flour to create.  In every bite I tried to combine all of the action on the plate as I loved how it all fit together.

Who knew grapes and scallops could be so good?

Check Dogwood out for yourself and let me know what you think!  If you’re going to a show at the Fox, enjoy dinner at Dogwood first as the theater is only two blocks away.

Dogwood Restaurant- 565 Peachtree Street – Atlanta, GA 30308- 404.835.1410

This weekend, David and I enjoyed the most amazing meal at Bacchanalia, with two of our friends, who are a big part of the reason we fell in love with Atlanta.  It was a perfect way to celebrate their friendship, and the fact that we are in ATL for good, as well as an excuse to spend an evening together.

I didn’t take any pictures of the meal because well, it just didn’t seem like the right place to be snapping photos, but I really wish I had.  Every dish was so beautiful you don’t want to eat it, yet so delicious that you savor every last bite.

For those of you that don’t know, Bacchanalia is owned by Anne Quatrano, who also owns Floataway Café, Abbattoir, and Star Provisions.  This restaurant is a special occasion splurge, a very special treat.  For $75,  you get a beautiful 4-course dinner, with multiple special treats between courses.  While $75 is a lot of money, for us DC folks, it’s a steal!

Many people have written about Bacchanalia, and we all agree that the food is divine.  I could talk your ear off about my grilled octopus with green curry appetizer or my lamb with spring pesto, followed by a cheese course with plum preserves, or the peanut butter ice cream with caramelized bananas, but I would just make you jealous…really jealous

I will tell you about how Bacchanalia created an especially wonderful for me.  When I made the reservations, they carefully noted that I have celiac and can’t eat gluten.  Normally, even when you tell a restaurant, you still need to remind them when you arrive.  At Bacchanalia, I literally didn’t have to ask a single question the entire meal.  I think every person employed by Bacchanalia knew about my dietary restrictions.  Upon being seated, they removed my bread plate and took care of me every step of the three hour meal.  Since I couldn’t enjoy the cheese biscuits with my dinner companions, the chef gave me a beet salad with micro greens amuse bouche, which was a perfectly refreshing way to start the meal.  (Who needs cheese biscuits anyway?)

One of my favorite treats of the evening was the pre-dessert Panna cotta.  Everyone else’s came with granola on top, but for mine they garnished it with puffed rice.  Pretty awesome.  I had no idea I was a fan of panna cotta but it was delicious, creamy and sweet.

At the end of this amazing meal, even though I’d been eating for the last three hours, I felt completely refreshed, free of bloating, stomach pain or any signs of contamination.  With a 4-course meal and added surprises along the way, there are many variables and chances for a mess up, but not a single mistake was made at Bacchanalia.  I confidently slurped every soup, ate every bite, and devoured each course, without any concern.  (When the server put the peanut butter ice cream and caramelized bananas in front of me, I momentarily panicked at the graham cracker looking, crumbly bits on the plate.  He quickly, and very pleasantly, assured me that it was just crumbled peanuts.)

If you’re looking for a restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, Bacchanalia is the place.  Particularly for those of us with special dietary needs, the chefs and servers will make sure that you have just as wonderful of a dining experience as your gluten-eating, dairy-loving, date.  When you make your reservations, let them know your needs, and they will be happy to serve you.

Have you ever dined at Bacchanalia?  What was your favorite part of the meal?  Highlights?

Check out this article by Melissa Ruggieri in last week’s Atlanta Journal Constitution, “More Options for those eating gluten-free.”  The article highlights the Gluten-Free Examiner’s Jennifer Harris as well as other locals making it easier for Atlantans to enjoy the gluten-free life.  The article discusses baking mixes and restaurants that offer diners gluten-free options.

The Brickery, in Sandy Springs, is mentioned for launching a gluten-free menu recently that includes crab cakes, French fries, and even sweet potato soufflé.  I can’t wait to make a visit!  Have you tried it yet?  Have you made any recent Atlanta gluten-free discoveries?