Everything I Ate at LA’s Newest Allergy-Friendly Bakery

Like so many of us in the world, when I get an invitation to a party, event, trial, whatever, my first impulse is to panic. Yes, even when food is involved because when you’ve got, ahem, issues, you never know if you’ll starve or get sick.

Naturally, a gluten-free and vegan bakery invite would put that particular worry to rest, yes? Yes. But. The next part of the worry that washes over me like the neurotic lady I am is the biggest fear of all—it’s going to taste like pooh. Or be filled with kale. Either/or.

Pomegranate, a gluten-free and vegan bakery and coffee shop on W. 3rd Street in Los Angeles is happily neither of those things (although they do have a pumpkin kale bread that I’m sure my husband will love), and filled with the most amazing desserts. I should know, I tried every one of them.

You see those lil’ beauties above? While the creme brulee is always a fave, the tiramisu KILLED it. Here’s another lil’ sampler—

Super Snacks for Everyone! Brought to You by Direct Eats

Happy May, everybody! In addition to the blooming flowers, ditching of winter coats and anticipation of summer vacations, May is also the month we talk about food allergies. Hooray for Food Allergy Awareness Month!

Okay, not “hooray” about food allergies, but hooray about spreading some awareness around and talking about how to keep everybody safe and happy this month, and the other 11 months as well. I’ve partnered with Direct Eats, a fab online store that sorts out your groceries as well as beauty items, by allergen. I know, it’s awesome. Their prices are pretty dang good too, which is a bonus when you’re stocking up those cabinets.

Given that it is about time to wrap up school days and kick off road trips and summer camps, it’s the perfect time to talk about snacks. You know, those things that get you through your afternoon slump and what your kids are begging for all the time. If by begging, I mean (car doors opens, seatbelts snap), “Moooommmm! I’m starving!!! I need something in my snack hole RIGHT NOW!!!”

Or maybe that’s just my kids.

Still, if you have a food allergy, or are preparing food for someone with a food allergy, you’re probably already stocked up with your go-tos when the children begin to yell or your stomach starts to rumble. These lists below are designed to expand your repertoire, while also offering 8 main allergen free options in case your peanut allergy is hanging out with a wheat allergy.

While it’s always great to serve naturally allergen-free snacks, life oftentimes requires pre-packaged snacks that do not require refrigeration and can spend an afternoon by the softball field without destroying your snack bag, or survive a care package mailing. (Hint: frozen fruit kebobs do not travel well. Learned that the hard way.) In fact, I would highly recommend providing 8 allergen-free snacks anytime you’re serving a group of kids, or sending it off to a summer camp where many allergic kids may mingle. Don’t panic! It’s really not as overwhelming as you may believe. After all, 2 of the 8 main allergens are fish and shellfish, and let’s just assume we all know neither of those are great ingredients for kid snacks.

So here are two different snacking options, the homemade and the made-for-you. Enjoy!

Super Safe Candies & Cupcakes for the Refined Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Dairy-Free Chocolate Lover

Hey guys! I just got back from the Celiac Disease Foundation Conference & Expo and met these super duper people who are full on committed to making delicious foods for those of us who can’t really be free and easy with our breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert. I know, we’re sad.

Still! I had way too many cookies and good stuff while I was there, and I met this very enthusiastic group of people who were beyond excited to share their cupcakes, chocolate awesomeness and even granola with the likes of us. After tasting, testing and reading the labels I realized it was the perfect product for Bake Sales, cuz’ this stuff is SAFE. For a load of people. Maybe you?

Gluten-Free & Vegan Gefilte Fish for Passover

I’ll be honest. I hate gefilte fish—vegan, gluten-filled, or not. It all began two Passovers ago when I made gluten-free gefilte fish and it spilled all over my brand new car. No, it hasn’t ever smelled right since. So when I saw a recipe for vegan gefilte fish, I thought, “What’s the worst that could happen?”

So I played around with this vegan recipe and made it gluten-free as well, and voila! Completely non-traditional seder food. As someone who does—under non-gefilte fish conditions—prefer to keep it as traditional as possible, I have to say that I would rather eat this vegan, gf version any Passover of the year. Plus, it’s super easy.

Yehuda has been killing it with the gluten-free matzo for awhile now –

So the gluten-free types have been able to enjoy the season for several years already.

As far as the vegan portion, well, I don’t know what that weird jelly is when you buy gefilte fish, but I’m very happy to not have that at my table tonight. Removing the egg for stick-to-it-ness did not seem to effect the final shape of the GFV gefilte either. Which should look like this before you put them in the pot—

But you really do need to watch the clock when you’re cooking, one minute too long and they will fall apart. And since I actually prefer potatoes, parsnips and cauliflower to white fish, well, the vegan’izing of this dish was a-OK with me. Better than OK since I actually ate this version. Now, let’s get on with the hiding of the (gluten-free) matzo!

Happy Pesach!

Here’s how you do it up: