Author Archives: graciouslygf

Good Karma Coffee House.

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French Toast with a side of Bacon.

Disclaimer: I don’t have celiac disease or a gluten allergy, but I am gluten intolerant. I will write about my experiences and provide what information I can but please always do your research before visiting a new restaurant.

Good Karma Coffee House.

Avondale Estates, GA

Price for two: Around $25

Breakfast foods are my favorite foods. Eggs, French toast, bacon, oatmeal, etc–the list is endless! My boyfriend Rody can attest to the fact that the only meals in which I mostly finish my plate are breakfast and brunch.

Growing up my mom would make breakfast for dinner sometimes, and I loved it! I definitely want to continue that tradition with my own kids someday. Yes, typical breakfast food (i.e. waffles, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, etc.) can be very unhealthy if you don’t throw in some fruit and veggies and cut the sugar, but with my sweet tooth, I am on cloud 9.

You can imagine how much I’d love Good Karma then. This place is a hidden gem. It’s in this cute little town Avondale Estates, and it’s in between a dry cleaner and an animal veterinary eye clinic. The entire restaurant is completely gluten free. Yep, you read that right. Completely gluten free. Amazing, right? They also have dairy free and vegan options if you eat that way too.

Check out these links for their menus and Instagram:

http://www.goodkarmacoffeehouse.com/menus.html

They have some weekly specials, so be sure to follow their Instagram to stay updated.

https://www.instagram.com/goodkarmacoffee/

I’ve actually tried several items here, which I’m pretty proud of myself for that because normally if I like one dish, I’ll get that every time I go. Everything I’ve eaten here is really tasty. In the past, I’ve gotten the “classic waffle” and the “Avondale.” The “Avondale” includes a biscuit, eggs, two pieces of meat, and a side. Their biscuits are unbelievable. They’re so good that Rody said that they were as good as a gluten-filled biscuit if not better! We normally get a cinnamon roll too because I of course love cinnamon rolls.

They keep the cinnamon rolls in a case with other treats like cupcakes, donuts, fritters, and more. You can also buy them frozen, and they’re soooooo good fresh out of the oven. You will for sure need a glass of milk to cut the sweetness though.

They had vegan cinnamon rolls on our last visit. I don’t eat many foods that are specifically vegan, so I was surprised by how good it was. I will say that it wasn’t as good as the other cinnamon roll, but it wasn’t like you were missing out on much.

Vegan Cinnamon Roll.

The cinnamon roll was basically our appetizer. I had the French toast (pictured at the top) with a side of bacon, and I felt like it was a good amount of food for me. The bread was toasted nicely on both sides, so it had kind of a crispiness, but I felt that the inner bits were a little undercooked. Plus, it was falling apart and really needed syrup. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my meal and left very full and very satisfied.

Chick-a-Biddy.

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Fried Chicken Tenders with Handcut Fries.

Disclaimer: I don’t have celiac disease or a gluten allergy, but I am gluten intolerant. I will write about my experiences and provide what information I can but please always do your research before visiting a new restaurant.

Chick-a-Biddy

Atlanta, GA

Price for two: Around $25

I know I’ve been slacking on posting regularly, so I will try to do better about sharing more of the yummy gluten free things I’m eating because there’s some really good stuff!

So to the matter at hand: fried chicken. 

Rody and I have heard a lot about the chicken at Bantam + Biddy, but we still haven’t gotten around to trying it. Chick-a-Biddy is the sister restaurant to Bantam + Biddy and is located at Atlantic Station. We end up at Atlantic Station a lot, so we figured we would try it and save Bantam + Biddy for another time. 

I didn’t get a picture of the menu mostly because I forgot and I’ve realized it’s difficult to take a decent menu photo without there being a reflection. There are menus online that you can download (https://www.chickabiddyatl.com/) under the “Brunch” and “Lunch/Dinner” tabs. These menus are a bit outdated, but the offerings are mostly the same. All the gluten free items have a “GF” next to them.

All of the chicken is gluten free. Yep, that’s right. ALL OF IT.

I ordered the “Itty Biddies” fried chicken tenders with a side of handcut fries. When I ordered, I actually forgot to say that I was gluten free, but I didn’t have to worry because what I chose was completely gf. However, if I was celiac or extremely gluten sensitive, I would say something just to be cautious.

Since Rody isn’t completely gluten free, I like getting him to try gf foods because he knows what the gluten version tastes like, whereas I’ve mostly forgotten. When he says that something is good, you know it’s amazing. 

This fried chicken was an example of amazing! The tenders were made of quality white meat and all around deliciousness. They’re very crispy and very juicy. With the fries, the meal ended up being a little heavy though. Next time, I’ll probably get some fruit or a salad to lighten the meal.

This is definitely the place to get your fried chicken fix.

Nacho Hippo.

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Carnitas with guacamole, pico, cilantro, onion, pepper jack cheese, fresh lime and choice of corn tortillas.

Disclaimer: I don’t have celiac disease or a gluten allergy, but I am gluten intolerant. I will write about my experiences and provide what information I can but please always do your research before visiting a new restaurant.

Nacho Hippo

Myrtle Beach, SC

Price for Two: Around $25-30

I ate at Nacho Hippo in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina during a work trip. Nacho Hippo is an extremely Americanized Mexican beach themed restaurant. The reviews on the Find Me GF app weren’t too promising, but my coworker was craving tacos and it was close to the hotel.

They do have a gluten free menu, and their gluten free options are listed on their website (http://nachohippo.com/food/). The bottom of the menu states: “We do not recommend our gluten free items for guests who have medical reasons for not consuming gluten.” So, be very cautious with this one.

I ordered carnitas because they tend to be a safe-ish and tasty choice. They came with black beans, yellow rice, and tortillas, as well as a plate of guacamole, pico, cilantro, onion, pepper jack cheese, limes. Make sure to get corn tortillas and specify that you’re eating gluten free! Our waitress flagged my order as having a gluten allergy.

I’m a bit picky about my carnitas because Rody has introduced me to authentic Mexican/Hispanic food. However, these were really good! The meat and beans were flavorful, but the rice was a bit meh. I also really liked the guacamole. Since I eat meals on the smaller side, I feel like this could have maybe fed two people if you’re eating light.

Sweet Loren’s Edible Cookie Dough.

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Birthday Cake Flavor

My mom found this “safe” cookie dough in the refrigerated cookie section, and since I grew up not being allowed to eat raw cookie dough, I was pretty excited to try this! You can either eat it raw or baked. I tried it both ways and preferred it in cookie dough form. It kind of just has this sweet/sugary taste, which is basically what you would expect from anything with a birthday cake “flavor.” The dough itself was difficult to get out of the container, so I suggest getting a spoon and eating it straight from the container rather than trying to make cookies.

Ted’s Montana Grill.

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Cedar Plank Salmon with Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Sautéed Green Beans

Disclaimer: I don’t have celiac disease or a gluten allergy, but I am gluten intolerant. I will write about my experiences and provide what information I can but please always do your research before visiting a new restaurant.

Ted’s Montana Grill

Buford, GA

Price for Two: Around $40-60

Because this past Saturday (May the fourth be with you) was my boyfriend Rody and I’s one year anniversary, we wanted to have a nice meal to celebrate. Rody wanted to go some place where he could get a steak or something of that nature, so we eventually decided on Ted’s Montana Grill. I had gone once for prom and remembered they had tasty burgers, but I wasn’t gluten free at that time which made this feel like a whole new experience.

Before going, I checked their website to see if they had an allergen menu and found the following: https://www.tedsmontanagrill.com/menu/TMGGlutenFreeMenu.pdf. I always try and look at an allergen menu before going to a new restaurant so that I not only know my options, but I can have any questions ready if need be. It also helps me alleviate some anxiety by knowing what I’m going to order beforehand.

The day of we ate lunch around 2 something to build up our hunger and to try and keep ourselves fuller for longer to avoid a large dinner. Ted’s wasn’t too busy during that time, so we were seated shortly after we arrived. Their gluten free menu is separate from the regular menu, so make sure you request one. It’s also the same menu as the one online. Since the gf menu doesn’t list prices, I also had the regular menu open to compare. The bottom of the gf menu does caution that “information was gathered by approved product manufacturers. Products may come in contact with each other during preparation.” If you’re highly sensitive to gluten, I would ask ahead of time if they have any measures in place to prevent cross-contamination.

The hostess brought out “sours” which were cucumbers of some sort. I didn’t try them since I don’t like cucumbers, though. I ordered the Cedar Plank Salmon with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Sautéed Green Beans. I also specified no yeast roll and no gravy on the potatoes. Our waitress asked if me eating gluten free was a preference or an allergy. I’m always a bit wary of saying “preference,” so I said that I had an allergy.

My plate was brought out before Rody’s meal, and our waitress explained that when someone has an allergy, they bring out his or her food separately. I thought the food was delicious and very filling. The mashed potatoes were little yummy clouds in your mouth that you just wanted to eat forever. Because I’m also lactose intolerant, I took a “lactose pill” to prevent any unwanted side effects from eating such creamy potatoes. The salmon was perfectly flaky and the green beans were nice and crisp. I forgot to take a picture before I started eating, but as you can see, I very much enjoyed my meal and ended up not even finishing it because it was so much food.

Bonus: If you sign up to be a Ted’s Insider on their website, you not only get a $5 off of $20 coupon, but you also get a free dessert on your birthday and a free appetizer on your anniversary.

dating gf.

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I thought dating as a gluten free person would be a very difficult thing, and I believe it can be if you’re not with someone who is understanding and is willing to walk with you in that journey. I think there are people out there who won’t understand what it means to be gluten free and what it takes to avoid it. Heck, there are people who believe gluten intolerances are all in your head, so I definitely think it’s possible to date someone who will see you being gluten free as a hindrance and an annoyance. I was afraid of that as a single person. I was afraid that I was going to go on a date and have to eat a salad because I couldn’t eat anything else. Don’t get me wrong I love a good salad, but I also like all sorts of food that are traditionally gluten filled instead of gluten free. I was afraid that the other person wouldn’t care that I needed to eat a certain way.

However, God took that fear and turned it on its head because now I’m in a relationship with someone who even before we were together was already surrounded with people who had to live a gluten free lifestyle. Maybe he didn’t and still doesn’t know everything about what has gluten and what doesn’t, but he’s been willing to learn and to try new foods and restaurants because he knows I can get a gluten free bun here or a gluten and dairy free cinnamon roll there. Me being gluten free has never been an insurmountable obstacle but an exciting adventure in which he can search for the best gluten free places just to see me smile and to have a happy belly.

If you’re a gluten free single person looking to date, my advice is to be upfront about being gluten free. Don’t be embarrassed and discouraged if he or she is confused and asks a million questions; that means he/she is interested enough to know more. You being gluten free isn’t a burden and if that person complains and sees it as such, maybe he/she isn’t the right one for you. That may sound a bit harsh and she might be really funny and he might be really nice, but your health is way more important than a significant other who isn’t willing to go the extra mile to care for you.

Welcome to my gluten free journey!

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Hi, I’m Rachel, a 20-something trying to find her place in the world by loving God and loving people! Welcome to my blog!

This blog has been a long time coming, and I’m honestly a little nervous to publish it. Nonetheless, I’m writing Graciously Gluten Free because I want to use my own experiences to encourage others who are struggling with dietary restrictions. I don’t want to write about living with so called restrictions, though. Being gluten free or dairy free or whatever other food free is freeing because it gives us with certain health issues the freedom to live a healthy and more enjoyable life. I’m writing to share my journey as I continue to navigate gluten free living.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions!