{2Good2B Bakery & Cafe}

Delicious food for all? For those of us in the gluten-free community options are growing, but for those with more than just gluten-free needs it's difficult to find food that is (what I like to call) everything-free.  How often have you wished for a bakery, deli or even coffee shop where you could completely relax, perhaps even eat and drink everything on the menu? Not possible, right?  Well, I am excited to announce that such a place has emerged.

2Good2B is the name and everything-free food is the game. Located in the heart of San Diego's own seaside town of Encinitas, 2Good2B is an appropriate name for the quality and variety provided by this lovely cafe and bakery.  All items listed on their menu are gluten-free, soy-free, corn-free, peanut-free and occasionally dairy-free and egg-free.  Started by self proclaimed foodies Mike Barbanti and Diana Mourato Benedek, this place brings deliciousness to another level.  Their standard is not limited to the gluten-free or allergy-friendly crowd, but to all.  Their breads and desserts rival and I would say even trump those filled with gluten, soy, corn and many other typical ingredients.  See their website for more about their personal health journeys and the creation of 2Good2B.

Options are wide and favorites have already been established.  With freshly baked choices like chocolate pecan cranberry oatmeal cookies and vanilla bean passion fruit muffins, how could anyone resist? Everything goes quickly, so early orders and pick-ups are recommended.  

I heard about 2Good2B last week and headed straight over! As my husband and I drove up I immediately noticed the beautiful "gluten-free" writing in the window and practically bounded out of the car with excitement.  Entering the cafe we were immediately engulfed by the mouth-watering aroma of freshly baked bread.  In cases near the door, rows and rows of beautiful cupcakes and brownies quickly drew my eye.  I glanced at the menu and my excitement heightened.  Quiches, pizzas, sandwiches, paninis, and salads?  All GF? Really? Then I saw it, the origin of the lovely smell: a case full of fresh breads and gorgeous baguettes.  As I stood staring at the case, a kind voice greeted me and asked if I needed anything.  I introduced myself and met the assistant manager, Jack, who turned out to be one of the most gracious individuals I have ever met.  He sent us home with many tasty treats to photograph and try.  His passion for helping others find safe food is obvious.  The atmosphere he provided clearly stemmed from the heart of 2Good2B's creators, Mike and Diana.

2Good2B focuses on high quality foods, drinks and desserts, using many local and organic ingredients.  You can enjoy a tasty, moist muffin with a steaming loose leaf tea with the knowledge that you're eating well while sustaining your local community! When picking their vendor for coffee and tea 2Good2B chose Virtuoso: a local, certified organic company that carries products known for being easier on the stomach.  Once again, a clear sign that Mike and Diana have thought carefully about every detail, creating the perfect environment for people with sensitive stomachs!

Our lunch that afternoon consisted of many personal recommendations from Jack.  We decided on a delicious panini with the artisan rosemary bread made fresh that morning (which he paired perfectly with vegetable chips) and two refreshing and invigorating drinks, the Moroccan Mint tea with honey over ice and the spicy Virtuoso Chai tea.  We followed the panini with Mike's famous baguette and lemon cupcake.  My favorites were the baguette and rosemary bread.  I felt transported to Paris with each moist and buttery slice.  Heaven on earth.  Needless to say, we savored each bite and devoured every last morsel!

My only hesitation with the breads lies in the teff and millet flours.  I have a sensitivity to these flours.  Even though I can't eat too much, the flavor of the breads is still amazing.  If I may, I would like to put in a request.  I would love to try artisan breads from Mike that incorporate other gluten-free flours. He may even be up for creating the treat I miss the most: the croissant!  He is quite an artist in the kitchen, so perhaps such options will come in the near future!

There are so many varieties and specialties available that I could expand on!  You will just have to discover them for yourself! The menu alone should get you out of your seat, but honestly the atmosphere was what made the entire experience golden.  I hope you all jaunt over to 2Good2B as soon as you can.  It's everything you dreamed it would be.
Enjoy!

{Heads Up}
The bakery and cafe will be undergoing a renovation from Jan 22nd to February 4th.  Menu options will be increasing to include such delights as pot pies, soups, mac and cheese dishes, meatball subs, calzones, cinnamon rolls and cinnamon breads.  Make sure to stop by before they close and then head over after Feb 4th for all the new treats! I'll be there! 

{All photos taken and provided by Sweet and Salty Life}

{October Love - Kauai}

Sooooo we are back! A wonderful and amazing wedding left us beyond grateful for life, love and the many many dear friends the Lord has blessed us with in this season.  We flew off to lovely Kauai for our honeymoon to relax.  We were surprised by a few little bugs that joined us right away.  They took up residence in my sweet Love and had him in bed for most of the trip.  We got to know the local medical community pretty quick, making stops at medical clinics and eventually the Urgent Care, but fortunately we were still able to savor our time there. 

An absolutely gorgeous island, Kauai was lush and green on the Northern end where we stayed. It blends rain forest with ocean so well.  The local people were laid back and easy to relate to in the small towns like Hanalei.  I was surprised by the numerous options for vegan, vegetarian and everything-free diets.  Health food stores covered the island and many restaurants catered specifically to this crowd.  I fell in love with a few spots.  My favorite restaurant by far was Postcards Cafe in Hanalei.  No matter your food preference you will find many delicious options here.  It is a home transformed into a cozy and quaint cafe.  The service is attentive and personal, as well as knowledgeable about food intolerances and allergies. 

I found a darling little GF shop in Kapaa called Sweet Marie's.  Marie gets up at ridiculously early times to guarantee fresh baked goods for all the locals and visitors that crowd her shop for treats.  Next time, I plan to stop there as soon as I land and stock up on goodies for the stay. 

The island's "whole foods" equivalent is called Papaya's Natural Foods.  It has everything you could need and more to live and eat well during your stay.  There are a few on the island, but one is conveniently located across the road from Sweet Marie's for a quick double trip. 

We also ate at a unique restaurant called Bar Acuda.  It was a Spanish inspired dining experience.  We were served small beautifully and artistically displayed dishes. It was a bit pricey, but worth it for the unique experience. 

As recently obsessed coconut eaters, we were excited to try a fresh Hawaiian coconut.  Sadly, it was not anywhere near tasty.  It was a fermented old coconut.  We should have known better.  We'll stick to our fresh young Thai coconuts from now on!

Overall, I was wonderfully surprised by how easily I could enjoy food and life on this island.  I encourage you to visit and try these places as well, you won't be disappointed. 

Aloha!

{October Love with an Every Day Post}

Happy Fall to you all! 

It's here and I can't believe it.  Three days until we marry! The time has flown.  Didn't we just get engaged? It seems like yesterday!

Well here in the sweet town of Carlsbad we are going full speed ahead.  The biggest event of my life is quite a bit of work! I must admit I'm just eager for the party to start.  For a quick update, I baked and frosted my wedding cake today! We chose a simple set up, a rich vanilla cake with blackberry preserve as the filling between the layers and finished it with a creamy, toasted coconut frosting.  It's a tiny, darling little cake with two 6" layers.  My Love is so sweet.  I popped in his room and asked him to come see it.  His reaction was just wonderful.  He loves it and shared how excited he was that we get to have a cake we made oursleves. Isn't that just what every baker bride wants to hear from her fiance? I'd say we're a good match. 

In five days we will be flying off to Kauai for our two week honeymoon! We couldn't be more excited.  I did some research and created a little list of places I want to stop by while there.  Kauai has a few GF and V restaurants, coffee shops and local eateries that sound intriguing and tasty.  My Love has already stated that we will be visiting farmers markets, which of course made me quite excited.  That sounds just perfect! Again, it's as if he knows me.....

I am still going to pack some essentials, just in case the local markets aren't as supplied as the ones here.  The first essential that came to mind was my instant GF oatmeal by Glutenfreeda.  It is perfect for traveling and is my go to for a filling and healthy breakfast.  I also love that it has a little flax in it...just in case traveling is causing a little back up.  Yes, I did just mention that.  Unfortunately it's not sold every where yet.  I have to pick it up at a smaller local GF bakery in Encinitas called Healthy Creations.  I encourage you to try it if it is sold in your local health food store and take it as a morning treat on your travels too!

Wish me luck this wedding week! I will give you a little summary of our Kauai adventures when I return. Enjoy your last week of September!

{Local and Seasonal}

 A rich color of burgundy caught my eye right as I entered the market. Shiny and perfectly plump, I couldn’t help but sample one.  A sweet flavor filled my mouth and warm summer memories flooded my thoughts.  Yes, it’s really that wonderful time again, cherry season!

Many of you may have noticed a new "trend", signs for local and seasonal foods.  Well, it’s more than a trend, it’s a very healthy approach to life.  Here’s a bit about this wonderful movement:

Why eat seasonal? Well, a simple answer could be, it’s cost effective! It also means the produce will be ripe and at its sweetest and most flavorful point.  How do I know what is in season? A wise woman once told me, the best way to tell what produce is at its peak season is by seeing what’s on sale at your local market.  Farmers and markets typically have more than they know what to do with, so the produce is sold for fabulous bargains and you can eat it right away, enjoying the rich flavors!  A pretty nice little situation if you ask me. 

Why eat local? I believe in supporting the individuals that work hard to produce whole, nutritious and fresh foods.  It has become a lost art as norm of our culture is mass production.  The men and women that fight against the grain to provide quality food for their community should be supported and encouraged.  Thankfully, many markets have picked up on the grassroots movement towards local and seasonal foods.  Whether it’s supply and demand or profit-based, I am grateful for the turn our culture is taking.  We need to reevaluate what we are putting into our bodies and remember the age-old saying, “you are what you eat”.

So head on down to our local farmers market or health food store to find other delicious seasonal produce! Enjoy!

{The Everyday-Trader Joe's GF Oats & Coconut Milk}

Today’s every day post is very exciting! I just LOVE making fun new discoveries in our local stores, especially ones that include inexpensive, quick and easy foods.  Trader Joe's is my hero this Saturday.  After enjoying a wonderful afternoon with Freddi Pakier preparing food for her Sunday cooking class, I stopped by TJ’s and found two wonderful treats.  I truly wish you all could have been there.  I was actually giggling in the aisle.  Definitely got a few confused looks, but I did not care in the least! Trader Joe's now carries GF Rolled Oats! Not a puny little bag, but a whole 2 pounds worth, all for $3.99.  WHAT!?

K, at this point I know some of you are saying….what is she so jazzed about and what are GF Oats?  Let me provide some context.  GF (gluten-free) Oats are Oats that  are not grown or harvested near Wheat, preventing the all too common cross-pollination issue.  If you are new to GF take note, Oats are not safe unless they are labeled GF.  Now to bring it home with TJ’s, when looking in other markets you will discover that the same amount (2lbs) of GF Oats will range between $8-$20 dollars.  Outrageous right? Hence, my excitement for the $3.99 Trader Joe's version.  Are you with me now?

Wow, I’m still excited; now onto my second find.  As many of you may have seen, our lovely TJ’s has begun to carry my favorite, Almond milk.  This has been one of my staples for a while and once again TJ’s version is a dollar or two cheaper than any other market.  While parousing this area I noticed a new addition, Coconut milk! Trader Joe's has finally caught up to the Coconut trend (a favorite trend of mine by the way)! I purchased a little vanilla flavored carton for $1.99 and walked away with a large smile on my face. 

My first action, once out the door, was to call my fiancé.  Not surprisingly the conversation consisted of me  talking about food and how TJ’s has risen back to the top of my favorites markets (Yes, I have a list of favorites and yes, I do visit them all frequently…kinda just live for it).  Needless to say, he is a very gracious and patient man.  I’m truly blessed.  Now, though, I am sharing the fun news with you! These are truly some fun and budget-friendly finds.  Hope you find these tips helpful in your weekly shopping.  Till next time…  Enjoy!

{The Everyday - Snacks}

Welcome to my new {The Everyday} posts! I've decided to take the time to share some of the foods I eat on a more regular basis.  I a finding that many of you have questions about the day to day diet.  Questions like, what do I eat for snacks or breakfast or how do I eat enough protein from a Vegan, Raw and GF menu?  I have my staples and the occasional new treats I find and try, so I thought I would begin to share these with you all.  There are so many options out there.  Let's explore them together!

This week I gave a new brand of tasty-looking granola a try.  I've been bored with my breakfast and wanted to spice it up with something! Typically GF granola is loaded with flaxseed, which I'm not  huge fan of, but this granola had all the ingredients I like to use instead! I was so excited! They had a few flavors and though tempted to try all of them, as is my nature, I limited myself to two.  I'm not going to lie, the price for these little goody bags was not easy to swallow, but such is the game with Raw,Vegan and GF food.  The Cherry Ginger and Cranberry Orange were the flavors that made the final cut and came home with me that day.   Needless to say I did not have the patience to wait until morning to give each a  try.  I popped the bags open on the way home and took a nibble a bit of each.  Wow.  I was even more excited.  Each kind had a perfect blend of spice, nutty oatiness and that tart, yet still sweet, dried fruit! I loved both flavors!

When I got home I sat and read a bit about the company.  A wonderful part about the Vegan, GF and Raw community is the stories behind the process of the food.  Real people, small operations and a passion for the health of others.  Typically you can find out about it all on the packaging, but their websites are always fun to visit as well.  Laughing Giraffe Organics is one such company.  They are the creative geniuses behind these new finds.  A family run business, this company makes all of their products by hand. It's aspects like this that make me ok with paying a greater amount for my food.  Quality over quantity, so the opposite of the rest of our commercialized and processed food.  You get what you pay for!  I also love their vision.  They say it well. Yay for pure and whole nutritious food! 

"Laughing Giraffe Organics provides healthy snack foods that are made from the finest organic ingredients. Because our products are made from real unprocessed foods, they are extremely rich in nutritional value. Small amounts will satisfy your snack needs more than “empty calorie” snack foods. Real foods have real calories that are needed to stay healthy and they taste great!"

Chopped Grapefruit and Mixed Berry Salad

Happy Valentines week to you all! I feel like I'm dancing and floating on clouds this week because I just had the most lovely Valentine's weekend with my Love.  Beautiful sunsets and humorous personality tests paired with a sweet,  fruity treat created the perfect Valentine's.  My man is a lover of anything "pie-ish", so I just couldn't miss the opportunity to whip up a sweet peach-berry pie for him.  It was my first ever, from scratch, and it turned out beyond delicious! I cannot take full credit, haha I actually followed a recipe this time.  He and I felt it was honestly the best we'd ever had, which is saying a lot because it was an everything-free pie! It was the perfect treat for the perfect weekend.

Today, I don't have a dessert for you.  Instead, I want to share a fresh and colorful salad creation! It's been quite a success and is currently a running favorite among friends and family.  As a result, this post is for those of you that asked for my exact ingredients, since I can rarely remember exact amounts in person.

I hope your month of love is a delightful and sweet one for you all!  Enjoy! 

{Chopped Grapefruit and Mixed Berry Salad}

Ingredients:

~Salad for Two

2 Large leaves Organic Rainbow chard

1 Large leaf Organic Collard Greens

¾ cup Organic Spinach

½ ripe Hass Avocado

Organic English Cucumber

¼ Large Yellow Onion

½ cup Organic Blueberries

½ cup Organic Blackberries

½ Ruby Red Grapefruit

Dressing:

3-31/2 Tbsp Organic Applecider Vinegar

1 Tbsp Agave Nectar

Pinch of Pink Himalayan Salt

Wash your Greens and chop into bite size pieces.  Slice and chop the Avocado and Cucumber into bite sizes as well.  Set Yellow Onion top-side up and slice thin strips, moving away from the center, then cut these long thin strips in half. Combine all ingredients, including Berries into a large bowl.  Grab your Grapefruit and cut along the outline of its insides, leaving only the skin.  Slice between each little triangle and then scoop each out over the bowl of salad.  Let the juice fall into the bowl and don’t forget to squeeze the extra in there too! Pour the Vinegar and Agave over your salad, followed by the pinch of Himalayan Salt and then toss to finish!

{Linked To}

Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays
Gluten Free Wednesdays

A Farmers' Market Chopped Salad

A farmers' market inspired salad is what I bring you today.  Besides finding and scouring through cookbooks, strolling through farmers markets is my absolute favorite pastime.  I haven’t visited one in a couple months, so I was way past due for a good long meander through my local market.  Today was glorious.  The sun was shining and the air, though chilly, was fresh and post-rain clean.  I got my cash ready and mozied along the street stopping at various booths that grabbed my attention.  Organic and local produce was prevalent and I couldn’t get enough of breathing in the earthy smell and tasting the sun-ripened sweetness.  Now, if you’ve never understood the draw of local or organic, let me explain.  

Basically, the more local your produce is the longer it’s on the vine, branch, in the ground, etc.  This means it’s not harvested until it is perfectly ready to explode with ripe goodness.  The taste, appearance and texture of the produce will be at its prime. If it’s organic this means the produce received nothing of a chemical nature that could alter the fruit or hurt the consumer.  A nice benefit for those of us that tend to forget about washing the produce before inhaling…like me…is that all we have to worry about is dirt. 

Now compare this to the chain grocery stores’ chemically-induced, oversized, pre-picked, poison-covered produce and perhaps you’ll join me and start visiting the local farmers' market! 

Because of my little trip I was able to create one of my tasty and nutritious chopped salads for lunch! This simple salad is made up of the ingredients I found there with a little help from Trader Joe’s brown rice and black beans.  Salads are not meant to be calculated or exact like some people’s approach to baking, so feel free to reduce or increase the amounts of any ingredient I include. 

{Farmers' Market Chopped Salad}

Kale

Chard

English Cucumber

Fuerte Avocado

Heirloom Tomatoes

Cooked Brown Rice (cooled)

Cooked Black Beans (cooled and salted)

{Fresh Dressing}

~for 2 1/2 – 3 cups of salad

1 TBSP Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

1 TBSP Eden’s Organic Red Wine Vinegar

1 TBSP Raw Organic Blue Agave

Sprinkle of Pink Sea Salt

Wash and chop the lettuce creating one-inch strips both horizontally and vertically.  This will help your body better digest the fibrous salad!  Slice the Cucumber, Tomatoes and Avocado.  Combine these with the Brown Rice and Black Beans and toss with the lettuce.  Drizzle with Fresh Dressing and toss again.  For a creamier dressing, pour in the Fresh Dressing and then mash the Avocado in a separate bowl (instead of chopping), mix it with a sprinkle of Pink Sea Salt and toss throughout salad. 

Enjoy!

{Shared and linked up with some favorites of mine}

 Real Sustenance

Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays

Gluten-Free Wednesdays