Last month I got the pleasure of spending a weekend in Paso Robles celebrating a good friend's 40th birthday. It is no secret that I love wine, but finding gluten free snacks and lunches while wine tasting can be tricky. Wineries and tasting rooms don't always have food, and if they do, the offerings are usually crackers, bread or a cheese selection, none of which I can eat. Luckily, downtown Paso Robles is home to a delightful little bakery called Bless Your Heart Speciality Baking which offers gluten free, low glycemic and vegan options. My husband and I stumbled upon it last year and I was thrilled to find the bakery right where we left it.
I'm a sucker for a tasty chicken salad (it was the food I craved the most while pregnant) and so I opted for their house-made rotisserie chicken salad on a gluten free sourdough bun with organic greens and vine-ripened tomatoes. The chicken was so tender. Amidst the tangy mayo was chopped apple, cranberry and celery. The bread was still warm from the oven and had a soft and chewy consistency. It was 11:00am and I was already in gluten free foodie heaven.
The next day, we made a quick stop to the bakery before leaving Paso. I wanted to pick up a loaf of that bread and a couple cupcakes for the road. I opted for the carrot cupcake and the lemon cupcake. Having baked with chocolate lately, I thought they would be a nice change of pace for my sweet tooth.
I'm a sucker for a tasty chicken salad (it was the food I craved the most while pregnant) and so I opted for their house-made rotisserie chicken salad on a gluten free sourdough bun with organic greens and vine-ripened tomatoes. The chicken was so tender. Amidst the tangy mayo was chopped apple, cranberry and celery. The bread was still warm from the oven and had a soft and chewy consistency. It was 11:00am and I was already in gluten free foodie heaven.
The next day, we made a quick stop to the bakery before leaving Paso. I wanted to pick up a loaf of that bread and a couple cupcakes for the road. I opted for the carrot cupcake and the lemon cupcake. Having baked with chocolate lately, I thought they would be a nice change of pace for my sweet tooth.
For me, the lemon cupcake was not a favorite, though the presentation was adorable. On the other hand, the carrot cupcake was exceptional. The cake was so moist and not over spiced. The vegan whipped cream on top had me licking my fingers and wishing I had stayed to ask for the recipe! It was delicious. Light and creamy...I could eat that whipped cream on just about anything. The dusting of aromatic cinnamon complimented the cake perfectly. Mmmm, it was so delicious.
Last week, one of my fellow Pilates colleagues took a trip to Paso. Much to my delight she came back with stories of wine tasting, her praise of this yummy bakery, and...
two carrot cupcakes just for me. ;-)
Cheers for gluten free cupcakes,
Francine
Last week, one of my fellow Pilates colleagues took a trip to Paso. Much to my delight she came back with stories of wine tasting, her praise of this yummy bakery, and...
two carrot cupcakes just for me. ;-)
Cheers for gluten free cupcakes,
Francine