Gluten-Free at DIA - Pour la France Review

Over the past weekend I was fortunate enough to be able to make a quick trip out to Boston to spend some time with Dave (he’s working there for a couple weeks) and also visit friends.  As an inexperienced traveler who has only navigated the airport on my own a handful of times, I was understandably a bit anxious about my trip.  Add to that my dietary concerns, the stress of a couple short layovers, and I had myself pretty worked up!  Luckily, I planned ahead, allowed myself plenty of time, and was able to enjoy a lovely gluten-free breakfast before catching my plane.

Pour La France, Denver International Airport

We all know how stressful it can be to find appropriate gluten-free food offerings, especially when travelling, and this trip was no exception.  On this particular occasion, I found myself desperately in need of an early breakfast since I knew I probably wouldn't be eating a meal again until dinner time.  And so, I was quite pleased to find my departure gate right next to Terminal B’s Pour la France.

Not only was Pour la France open early enough for my 6:00 am meal time (they open at 5:00 am every morning), but I also knew from a prior Google search that they would be able to accommodate my gluten-free diet.  I approached the hostess and asked to take a peek at the gluten-free selections.  She promptly handed me their designated gluten-free breakfast menu.  Of course, it was much smaller than the regular breakfast menu and I certainly didn't see any of those delicious-looking croissants or cinnamon rolls on my menu, but, in all honesty, I didn't care!  

The gluten-free breakfast menu has four meal options, most of which are omelette dishes, but they also offer yogurt, fruit, gluten-free bread, and a few other items in the "sides" section.  I decided to go with the Omelette François (ham, mushrooms, and cheese) and was given a choice of tomatoes or potatoes on the side.  For airport food, my meal was definitely “good enough” and did the trick.  Most importantly, I knew I was eating a meal which would sustain me throughout my travels and NOT make me sick.

The wait staff were extremely attentive, service was quick, and everyone I spoke to seemed to have a basic understanding of “gluten-free. “  Pour la France does offer gluten-free menus for lunch and dinner as well, but unfortunately I did not get a chance to look at these menus.  However, if what I read online is any indication then it's worth a try in the future. All in all, I was pleased that my meal decision was much easier than usual when travelling and now have a go-to gluten-free restaurant at DIA!

Should We Really Save Our Best for Later?

The idea to save our best for later has been around for a very long time.  It wasn’t too long ago that many of the items which we take for granted today were cherished household possessions.  Manufacturing and technology simply weren’t where they are today, and so it was quite costly and fairly difficult to replace items that may have been broken or lost.

Times have changed and we have certainly become more of a “throw away” culture, thriving on inexpensive, short-lived products while our few quality items sit behind glass or tucked away in the attic.  Now, many of the reasons we save our best for later are different.  However, I don’t think the concept to use our best more often is foreign by any means.  Several books I’ve recently read discuss the idea, it’s been mentioned many times on some of my favorite blogs, and I’ve even had a few friends and family members chime in with their take on the topic.  Since I found the same example used again and again, I’ll share it with you all as well:

How many of us have three, four, or even five sets of dishware?   There’s that REALLY nice china set that was a wedding gift or has been in the family for years.  This particular set either sits carefully wrapped in storage or inside a china cabinet, only to be used for very special occasions (or, more accurately, not at all).  Then there’s a set that’s not nearly as fancy as the fine china, but is still nice enough to use when company is over.  Lastly, there’s the regular, everyday set, cracked, chipped, and probably missing a few pieces.  This is what most of us serve ourselves and our families with daily.  Why do we save our best for later (which rarely comes, I might add)?  Why not enjoy what we have, getting rid of those expired dishes and use the nice stuff instead?  If a piece breaks, then replace it with something similar.  While a dish may be beautiful or carry family history, it shouldn’t be treated as a burden or an artifact.  Consider your family, your friends and yourself worthy of enjoying the best.

It makes a whole lot of sense to think about using our best when de-cluttering.  Do you really need to hold on to all those dish sets when one or two will surely be enough?  If you truly love something, why does it sit untouched in a closet year after year?  Clothing, dishware, furniture – many items we own are sometimes considered to be “too nice” to use for most occasions, and then sit, unused, for years!  These items were created to be used and enjoyed, not collect dust!  Some may argue that if we are always using our best, then what do we do when a truly grand occasion comes around?  It’s my opinion that there are always ways to make a day or an event special and, most of the time, it’s simply the joy of that particular occasion that makes it most memorable.  I also firmly believe that in life, it’s often the small moments that are most precious, and so I aim to make each of my “everydays” special.  I challenge you to use your beautiful china for a mid-week meal, drink a glass of that wine you’ve been saving for a “special occasion”, and wear one of those nice outfits in the back of your closet.  What a lovely way to enjoy life!

Slow Cooked Beef Brisket with Homemade BBQ Sauce

Along with whole chicken, beef brisket is another one of those meats that I had no desire to mess around with prior to about a year ago.  When it comes to red meat I tend to stick with the ground variety, largely because I just don’t like the texture of other steak-like cuts.  It wasn’t until I had regularly frequented the farmer’s market for about a year that I finally decided to try something a bit unfamiliar.  Dave suggested the brisket, and I, having no clue what to do with that two and a half pound cut, was understandably a little wary.  I forget how we cooked the brisket that first time, but what I do remember is that it was nothing like what I thought it would be.  Slow-cooking is really the best way to go and I find when properly cooked and served with a flavorful sauce, brisket can be moist and quite delicious.  While brisket isn’t a staple in my weekly menu, I do enjoy serving it from time to time, especially when I see a nice one at the farmer’s market.  Enjoy my recipe below!

For the barbeque sauce:

• 2 cups ketchup (use a corn syrup-free brand)
• 1 cup water, room temperature
• ½ cup apple cider vinegar
• ½ cup honey
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons ground mustard

 

Combine ingredients in a medium saucepan.    

Place over medium-low heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes.  Remove from heat and let cool.

For the brisket:

• 2-2.5 pound beef brisket
• Salt
• Pepper
• 2 cups barbeque sauce (recipe above)

Lightly salt and pepper the brisket.  Place in a slow cooker.  

Smother brisket with barbeque sauce.  Turn slow cooker to low and cook for 2 hours, turning brisket after 1 hour.  

Remove from slow cooker and slice into ½ inch strips.  Serve with remaining barbeque sauce.

What's Your Resolution?

While I’m not too keen on making one single big New Year’s Resolution, I do appreciate the tradition of reflecting on the events of the past year and thinking about how to move forward in the year to come.  If you’re anything like me, you don’t need a special season to set high expectations for yourself; you’ve already got the goals set with a detailed plan in place to ensure they will be reached in a timely fashion.  Ahh, the joys of being a Type A personality! Maybe you have made a single resolution for 2013 or perhaps you’re in the same boat as me, but in any case remember to stick to your guns, regardless of missteps, temptations, and naysayers. 

Don’t be too hard on yourself when you aren’t perfect.  I’ll give you an example:  Dave decided he would start eating 100% gluten-free for the New Year.  Twelve hours into 2013 he grabbed a beer out of the fridge and drank half of the bottle before realizing that his beverage was not gluten-free (another reason to rid your home of everything containing gluten!).  Clearly, this was not intentional, but a misstep still the same.  Instead of throwing his hands up and declaring gluten-free to be an impossible feat, he told me about it, we both laughed and then decided to buy some gluten-free beer to make things easier for him.  Likewise, don’t give up when you make a mistake or feel bummed about making slow progress.  As my husband frequently tells me, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”  So true.

Temptation can present itself in many forms, but we are most likely to give in when feeling vulnerable.  Make a conscious decision to remove yourself from situations that may result in giving in to temptation.  Don’t make exceptions.  Constantly remind yourself of the big picture, whether through gathering with like-minded people once a week, posting words of encouragement in your home, or simply spending some time each day in quiet thought to stay focused. 

Do what you feel is right, regardless of those who may doubt your abilities or ideas.  Remember that we are all here to do the best we can with the time we’ve been given.  Others may not understand your goals, but as long as you can see the big picture and feel you are heading in the right direction then that is all that matters.  Maybe you have noticed that YOU are one of the naysayers from time to time (we all are, really).  In this case, try not to doubt others but instead provide encouragement and learn to appreciate we all have different paths that are waiting to be discovered. 

What are your goals for 2013?  I hope you are able to achieve them and much more in the months ahead.  Cheers!

**If you are thinking about going gluten-free for 2013, take a look at my step by step plan HERE.