Holy cow. I started this last year, blurted out a ton of thoughts, and then never looked at it again. Is that fair? Sure! Why not? SO, no, as I go through all of my notes of things I wanted to note, I will be typing them out and trying to remember everything I have wanted to say. I am not sure if I should just do it in point form and blurb everything out as it comes, or try to compile and match all of my notes and sudden phone snaps. I hope I can still line up the food with the pictures with the places. I am sure if they made a big enough impact on me, I can!
I was being tested for Celiac and took on a gluten free diet for two months, which was actually quite great. It was challenging, but when travelling as much as me, it is actually really nice to have rules of what I can and can’t eat, otherwise it is too easy to just pig out because my bill is paid – and, it gave me something to do – research restaurants all over the place. So, I discovered a few things:
1. Gluten free food is few and far between
2. It is much easier to just buy your own ingredients and throw them all together in your hotel room
3. Even when you are told your food is gluten free, it isn’t always!
4. Gluten free is an expensive lifestyle
5. I am relieved to find out I am not celiac, however, I am still following the diet whenever I can, but am indulging in my yummy whole grain breads with my weekend brunches.
I think in order for this to make sense, I may need to divide into hotels/restaurants/car rentals/stores etc, otherwise it will get very very confusing. I have no idea why I am even doing this (well, to hope that people read it and can learn and or agree or disagree) but these blogs seem very high maintenance. However, I am a very strong believer in customer service and always provide my feedback when possible, so why not do this!
Actually, maybe I will do it by city as I go – until I am updated.
Who reads these?
Which is funny because I was in Edmonton when I started this blog, and apparently, my next notes to comment are from Edmonton again.
So, one of the gluten free meals I had was in Edmonton at Packrat Louis. It was a delicious piece of halibut with spinach and beets. They are considered “gluten free” specifically so they will change any meal to gluten free. It was very good, however a little too overpriced. $35.00.
As always, the Mettera is such a fantastic hotel. After staying in a few other hotel chains since, I have noticed that some are taking away the fridges, like The Delta chain of hotels (I will get to that in a bit!). I really appreciate my fridge, microwave and the guest room that is open 24 hours a day with coffee, tea and fruit. It makes it a great stay. I think I may be repeating myself a bit, but hey. Big deal.
Pad Thai on 82nd, at the tracks, are very knowledgeable of gluten free foods and well, they never fail me. I always go there my first night in town and never leave unfulfilled, often, too filled! ( UPDATE!!! I am so sad to say this restaurant has been knocked down for condos – and apparently did not relocate. This has really thrown my meal routine over the edge!) I have tried the KING AND I am have never really been that impressed with it, and at, on average, $20.00 for a curry, there is no need to run back.
TORONTO
I managed to make it out to an art show. Julie Fader. Wow. What a spectacular display of paintings. They made me happy, I’m not an artsy type, but they grabbed me. One in particular, this beautiful orange one, made me warm inside and I really wanted to buy it. Maybe one day I will be able to invest in lovely people, and their art. On top of her beautiful paintings, she is also an amazing musician. Check her out!
On that note, there is also a band by the name Sunbear. Kate Boothman, the singer and songwriter, manages to grab a rooms attention and have them somehow question how this beautiful music and pretty damn moving lyrics are coming out of this girl. And the best part of it all, is she has no idea how amazing she is!
I had brunch at Oddfellows in Toronto not long ago. It is great and fun there. I have done their unlimited taco Sundays as well as indulged in a few other delicious moments there. I did order their eggs Benedict with pigs belly a few weeks ago, not “exactly like bacon” as I was told, which is a shame because it was quite slimy and for a kinaesthetic freak like I am, that is not good, but other than that, not too bad.
bbye for now,
Chick P
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