idano Blog Network

Safari Champ, a kid’s indoor play center, has opened up in the location previously occupied by Jungle Java.

Our kids were disappointed when Jungle Java closed but now hopefully they will be happier now that Safari Champ has taken its place. We are planning on taking our kids there today to check it out. I will try to snap some pictures while we are there to share.

Here is a link to their website:

safarichamp.com

While going to Sprouts the other day in Round Rock I noticed a candy store in the same complex that I had to check out. I had been craving chocolate covered almonds from See’s Candies in California but unfortunately See’s isn’t in Texas. The place I found was Lammes Candies.

The store looked similar to a See’s Candies store and sure enough they had chocolate covered almonds. I purchased some for my wife and I and also sampled a toffee nut bar and left.

Half way through the toffee nut bar I thought “I wonder if this has gluten in it?”. I had not thought of it before eating because I was so excited about my discovery. I went back inside the store and asked the cashier and she said that they were working on a list of items that were gluten free but did not have it available yet.

When I got home I decided to check out their Facebook page that the cashier had also told me about. I posted on their page inquiring about gluten in their products. Here is the exchange:

Me: I just discovered your Round Rock store today! I was wondering if you guys had a list of which items are gluten free? I checked your website and did not find anything.

Them: Hi Dan, we’re glad you found us! All of our items are gluten-free except our chocolate-covered pretzels. Thanks for your interest!

Groovy! That means I can have good chocolate candies anytime I want.

I can’t wait until they have their chocolate covered strawberries when they have them!

Here is a link to their Facebook page and to our exchange about gluten.

I was a Pei Wei junky before I went gluten free and would eat their chicken teriyaki a couple times a week. I was broken hearted when I found out that regular soy sauce (the base for teriyaki sauce) has gluten in it. Unfortunately Pei Wei does not offer a gluten free teriyaki bowl. They do have a gluten free menu though with some good things on it – specifically the Spicy Chicken.

Here is what is on their gluten free menu:

• Edamame
• Vietnamese Chicken Salad Rolls
• Asian Chopped Chicken Salad
• Pei Wei Spicy Salad
  • Chicken or Shrimp
• Pei Wei Spicy
  • Chicken or Shrimp
• Sweet & Sour
  • Chicken or Shrimp

It is not a huge list but the food is good.

Here is a link to their website where you can download their nutritional PDF that has their gluten free menu. – Pei Wei Nutrition Info.

Before I went gluten free I used to eat at Taco Bueno all the time. I alway saw them as a Taco Bell but with good, fresh food.

Liking them as much as I did I went to their website to see if they had a gluten free menu – they didn’t – so I emails them and they responded. Here is the email thread:

from: comments <comments@tacobueno.com>

to: **************************

date: Mon, Oct 18, 2010 at 10:48 AM

subject: FW: Feedback from tacobueno.com

Hello,

Sorry at this time we cannot recommend our menu as gluten-free as the same fryer is used for both the corn and the flour. A menu item that can be recommended is the Ultimate Gourmet Bowl (offered in limited markets), and black beans and white rice.

—–Original Message—–

From: TacoBueno.com Feedback [mailto:no-reply@tacobueno.com]

Sent: Monday, October 18, 2010 9:54 AM

To: Taco.Bueno@encirclemarketing.com;

Subject: Feedback from tacobueno.com

Store Number:

Feedback Type: Other

Feedback Related To: Ingredients

Feedback:

I would like to know if you have any gluten free items on your menu.

Contact Type: Yes, by email

Name: Dan Masters

Phone Number: ************

from: comments <comments@tacobueno.com>to: **************************date: Mon, Oct 18, 2010 at 10:48 AMsubject: FW: Feedback from tacobueno.com
Hello,
Sorry at this time we cannot recommend our menu as gluten-free as the same fryer is used for both the corn and the flour. A menu item that can be recommended is the Ultimate Gourmet Bowl (offered in limited markets), and black beans and white rice.

—–Original Message—–From: TacoBueno.com Feedback [mailto:no-reply@tacobueno.com]Sent: Monday, October 18, 2010 9:54 AMTo: Taco.Bueno@encirclemarketing.com;Subject: Feedback from tacobueno.com

Store Number:
Feedback Type: Other
Feedback Related To: Ingredients
Feedback:
I would like to know if you have any gluten free items on your menu.

Contact Type: Yes, by email
Name: Dan Masters
Phone Number: ************

So as you can see unfortunately they have a very limited selection of items that would be gluten free. It would be nice if they would get a separate frier in the future that would eliminate cross contamination. I appreciate their quick response though!

The Five Guys Fries that I got to eat last week got me craving french fries even more so I set out to find where I can get some a little closer to Round Rock. After putting on my thinking cap I remember Might Fine Burgers and how they say that all their ingredients are fresh and natural. That had to mean their french fries are possibly gluten free right?

I checked out their website but there wasn’t any allergen information on it so I decided to give them a call.

A really nice guy answered and explained that their fries were indeed gluten free because they were fresh cut potatoes fried in peanut oil and lightly salted with sea salt. He also explained that their hamburger was gluten free and even looked up the info on the seasoning that they used on the hamburger – it was gluten free as well. He also let me know that their chili was gluten while he was at it (see below on chili). In fact everything is gluten free except for the buns and the chili that they use. He told me to just let someone know of my allergy when ordering and they will be careful about contamiation.

I went that day to Mighty Fine and got Fries and a bun-less chopped chili cheese dog. While ordering I told them of my gluten allergy and the girl wrote it on my order bag and circled it – cool!

Anyway I was happy that their is a burger joint that is so close that I can good fresh gluten free fries. I will try a convertible bacon cheeseburger sometime here in the future.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Allison from Mighty Fine Burgers was nice and enough to comment below that upon further research that the chili IS NOT gluten free due to the spices that they use in it. Allison also verified that all the shakes the make all use gluten free vanilla ice cream and syrups.  It is great to see Mighty Fine read little guy websites like mine and taking the time to research and comment on them. Thanks Allison! Here is a post on the Might Fine blog confirming the information above – Gluten Free at Mighty Fine.

Personal Note: I am asymptomatic in regard to celiac disease so eating the chili did not do anything to me. I probably could eat all the glutenI want but I know it is not good for me. That is why I do my best to not eat any gluten because I know from time-to-time I may accidentally  eat some.

After calling Taco Cabana they were nice enough to email me their PDF on all of their gluten free items. To sum it up just about everything is gluten free except the things that have flour tortillas.

Below is a pic of my lunch of taquitos (they call them flautas) and chips with queso. Yummy!

Here is the PDF that they sent me – Taco Cabana gluten free

God truly loves me because he has miraculously made Rudy’s BBQ gluten free. Not everything there is gluten free but all the good and important stuff is like all the meats and most of the sides.

Unfortunately they do not have their allergens listed on their website but they do have a card that you can ask for at each location. I did just that and snapped some pictures of the card below. One side is all of their lawyer stuff but the other side is their allergen list. I have eaten there a couple of times since finding out .

I decided to be daring today and try something new.

Now Fire Bowl Cafe is nowhere new to me but the dish I tried is. I tried their gluten free Ginger White Wine sauce with their Spring Veggie Mix on Flat Rice Chow Fun noodles (that’s a mouthfull, no pun intended).

The guy at the counter was nice enough to let me try the sauce before I decided whether to purchase it which I thought was cool.

The meal was very good and I am happy to have found another place and dish that I can add to my menu .

Today I tried eating gluten free at Chik-fil-A for the first time. I can sum it up in one word – Yum! After a week of nothing but Chipotle, Freebirds, and Chili’s Chik-fil-A was a welcome relief.

This is what I had:

• Chargrilled Chicken Club – no bun, lettuce, or tomato with cheese and bacon (no lettuce/tomato is personal preference)
• Waffle Fries
• Ice Tea
• Sauces – Ranch, BBQ, and Buffalo

My Gluten Free Meal at Chik-fil-A

The chicken, cheese, and bacon combination was so good together that I didn’t even use the sauce for it. I did use the sauce for the fires though. The chicken was nice and tender and much more flavorful then the chicken breast in the Margarita Chicken at Chili’s.

The thing that I really like about here other then the chicken is the fact that the sauces are gluten free. There are so many places out there who’s sauces aren’t and it is really a bummer.

I have found a new regular spot to eat . They have definitely been added to My Menu.

Also, here is a link to the gluten free section of their website – Chik-fil-A Gluten Free.

I have been eating at Que Pasa in Round Rock, Texas for several months now and thought that I would give them a shout out. I like Mexican food in general but was severally disappointed in the type of Mexican food that was served here in Texas. The reason for my disappointment was that Mexican food on the West Coast is different then it is here in Texas.

There is a reason that Mexican food here in Texas is called Tex Mex – it’s different. After several months of not having an Mexican food my wife and went to try some Tex Mex with a different mindset – we are trying something new so don’t expect it taste like West Coast Mexican food. With that mindset we loved it and frequent several Tex Mex places in the area.

Back to Que Pasa…

We stumbled upon Que Pasa about 6 months ago when El Arroyo closed near the Baskin Robbins off of Highway 79. We decided to try. From the first day we were impressed. It was West Coast style Mexican food and was great.

I have tried several things on their menu but usually go for their Flautas (made with corn tortillas as opposed to flour). Some times I will opt for a crispy shredded beef taco and/or an enchilada. Their fajitas are good as well. Another thing that I really like about Que Pasa are the prices, they are really affordable.

Some people here in Texas may not like Que Pasa because their food is not traditional Tex Max and that is understandable. I think if they would go there with an open mind, like we did to Tex Mex restaurants here in Texas, then I think that they would be pleasantly surprised.