Gluten and Dairy and Vacation, Oh My!

Well, I'm on my fourth day back in NYC after a wonderful vacation, and I jumped right back into my routine. Usually, it's really hard for me to leave vacations and return to the city. I used to start crying about 2 days before my return, and then the first few days back in the city were spent in a sort of bed of depression. Literally I would only get out of bed for food, water, bathroom breaks, or work. I'm glad to say those days are a mere memory that I only retain so that I can realize how far I have come.

My vacation was absolutely delicious. I've never been on a vacation to New Orleans before... I only ever went there on field trips when I was in school, or for Mardi Gras or random birthday trips throughout college. I really got to see the city in a new and beautiful way. A walk down Bourbon St. was very reminiscent of a walk through Times Square... Pretty darn awful, and something I would only repeat for special occasions. I suppose I got to see the more residential side of New Orleans... or the more "grown up" side.

That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the bars and night time fun the city has to offer. I mean, the first thing I announced upon arriving in the city was that I wanted a drive through daiquiri!!! That was something I grew up with and didn't really realize was out of the ordinary until I moved elsewhere... and not only are just plain old daiquiri shops non-existent (heck... even FINDING a daiquiri anywhere is tough), but drive through daiquiri shops have become a novelty I tell people about when they scoff about how Louisiana must be a terrible place. (Anywhere that will give you a daiquiri like it's a Happy Meal is NOT a place to scoff about.)

Louisiana is NOT a terrible place.

I had such a wonderful time there. Most importantly, it wasn't as miserably hot as I remember it being...

I went zydeco dancing, to White Linen Night (a night where everyone dresses in white and there is a street fair of sorts on Julia St.), Satchmo Fest (brass bands on Frenchmen St), wedding dress shopping with one of the most beautiful brides to be and one of my oldest best friends, and a steamy day at the zoo that turned into a monsoony day at the zoo. Not to mention catching up with friends I haven't seen in so very long...

With 2 of my favorite ladies on White Linen Night (Lauren changed...)


So, yes, it was a marvelous trip. Exercising was not on the front of my mind, and I suffered tremendously (potential slight exaggeration) trying to maintain my gluten and dairy free diet. I had to cheat a few times... just because there are not a lot of places that cater to a gluten and dairy free diet, and also... I was on vacation!! And since I am not willing to cheat on the vegetarian level... after my first meal where I saw no options and ordered my old standby--the salad--I realized it may be a "mission impossible" to stick to my guns. (At Johnny's po-boy I ordered a salad because I couldn't have any po-boys... and the salad was a huge bed of lettuce with baby carrots, an orange slice, and pickles on top)... well... I just couldn't do that anymore. So I allowed some gluten and dairy to creep back into my diet. Did my tummy suffer? Oh yes. Was it worth it? Heck yes!

However, I did have 2 very delicious vegetarian meals that were gluten and dairy free--one in New Orleans and one in Baton Rouge.

New Orleans:
Slim Goodies on Magazine St.

I was amazed at the options this restaurant had for vegetarians. The idea of vegetarianism is something that I don't think will ever catch on in LA, and I don't blame anyone there. The food is just SO good that to imagine restaurants without crawfish or shrimp is just silly. But to see it acknowledged on a menu that epitomizes a Louisiana breakfast... well, it was appreciated! This restaurant was open all during Katrina (well, not DURING Katrina, but during the recovery), and the only thing they could serve during that time was burger patties. So, they still have this burger on their menu--dubbed the Katrina Burger. However, I ordered a delicious breakfast called the Guatemalan. Eggs, avocado, black beans, and plantains--and I ordered a side of vegetarian chili. The dish was also served with tortillas: your choice of flour or corn. The fact that they had several options for dietary challenged people was great. I was able to have soy milk with my coffee, and they also served fake bacon! One downfall was that the restaurant was out of the corn tortillas while I was there, but the fact that they typically have the option still won them points. Overall, a winner for vegetarians and gluten/dairy challenged individuals!

The Guatemalan (I always start eating before I remember to take a picture...):


Baton Rouge:
Truly Free on Perkins Rd.

Truly Free is a new restaurant in Baton Rouge that was opened after a husband and wife team found that they had severe dietary restrictions, and there was nothing to cater to them in Baton Rouge. The wife found she is allergic to gluten and dairy, and the husband is lactose intolerant, so they decided to open this restaurant so that people just like them could have a delicious place to eat. And boy, was it delicious!! My mom and I spit the veggie avocado burger with baked sweet potato fries. The burger actually came on a gluten free bread, and was topped with onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and some really spicy delicious sneak attack mystery ingredient. The baked sweet potato fries were good, if not a little soggy. We agreed that we would have baked them a bit longer. My friend Rachel ordered Eric's Wrap, which was a very beautifully presented dish indeed! You had your choice of wrap--she chose a rice wrap--and then it was filled with many different fresh vegetables and some turkey, as well.

Avocado Veggie Burger with Baked Sweet Potato Fries:


Eric's Wrap:

Of course, the very best part came at the end of the meal when we split 3 desserts among us. Keep in mind these were all dairy and gluten free. But YUM you wouldn't have known! We got a stuffed red velvet cupcake, peanut butter and chocolate cookie, and a mint chocolate cookie. They were DELISH!! The red velvet cupcake was the groups' favorite, by far. It was just so decadent! The cupcake was dense and moist, but not so dense that it was too much, and the cream cheese icing that was on top and filled the cupcake tasted marvelous. It was creamy and not too sweet--I think because it was soy based... which we could detect, but not in a glaring way. The cookies were very reminiscent of pralines in texture--minus the melt in your mouth quality. They were definitely good, but I suggest trying the cupcakes if you only have room for one dessert!

Delicious Desserts:
Overall, it was quite an amazing trip. I'm glad to be back in New York and back to my routine. I just got home from day 4 of my 30 day yoga challenge, and I head to my second shift back at work this evening. Go whole hog, y'all!