Tag: Madison

Low Carb Cafe opening in Madison

 

Madison is getting a low-carb (and largely paleo-friendly) cafe, and they plan to open their doors this Monday!

Have you been waiting for a place that really understands your dietary needs? A restaurant that uses healthy fats, doesn’t rely on grains or dairy in every dish, and uses no added sugars or mysterious ingredients?

Good Food – Low Carb Cafe opens on April 3rd, 2017 11am-8pm, at 4674 Cottage Grove Rd, Madison, WI. Expect to see fare like hot zoodle bowls, grain-free flatbread pizza, lettuce tacos, homemade soups, organic chicken bone broth, salads, appetizers, pasture-raised chicken wings, locally-roasted organic coffee, and a weekend brunch menu.

In addition to the new restaurant, Melanie and Kory also do catering, as well as operate two food carts which are available for private parties. They try to source produce locally when possible, and there are always vegan/vegetarian options.

This information and more is available in their MPR listing, which I’m eager to update with a full review as soon as possible. In the mean time, go check it out for yourself, and leave a comment below!

Good Food Low Carb Cafe
4674 Cottage Grove Rd
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 630-8400
www.goodfoodmadison.com
facebook.com/Good.Food.Madison

Mon – Fri 11am – 8pm
Saturday & Sunday (brunch menu only) 9am – 3pm

 

 

New, more useful restaurant reviews

Check out all the new enhancements to make MadisonPaleo more useful, especially in the local restaurant guide:

 

Updates to main site:

  • Fresh new look
  • Faster and more responsive

 

Madison Paleo Reviews spin-off

  • Restaurant reviews redesigned to be more informative, and easier to use – especially on the go, and moved to a site of their own (still accessible from main site)
  • Works better on a variety of mobile devices
  • New star rating system, scores for various criteria like gluten-free or dairy-free options, low-carb choices, quality meats, organic produce, etc. plus an overall paleo rating
  • New “user ratings” feature too, so it’s not all about what I think -and you can leave even leave your own comments!
  • Quick link in each review to check restaurant’s web site for menu or policies
  • Instantly share, email, or print listings for friends when planning where to eat
  • Sort by style of cuisine, or city
  • Search by name or key words
  • Handy sidebar shows the top rated listings, or switch to most recently reviewed

 

Please try out the new features, and let me know if you have any ideas for improvement, or a favorite restaurant that I should prioritize getting into the guide.

 

 

 

Mayo is back!

 

 

Do you miss mayo because you’re avoiding soy and canola oils? The new paleo-friendly mayonnaise from Primal Kitchen (an enterprise of Mark Sisson from Mark’s Daily Apple) is now available locally at Willy Street Co-op! It tastes amazing, and uses only quality, real food ingredients suitable for paleo/primal diets: avocado oil, organic cage-free eggs, organic egg yolks, organic vinegar (from non-GMO beets), sea salt, and rosemary extract.

Making your own paleo mayo isn’t difficult, but the option to purchase is a convenience many have been waiting for. Previous options, even “made with olive oil” products, are still mostly soy or canola! Often, they also contain sugar, stabilizers, and other junk. I’m happy to report that this is the real thing.

The glass jar contains mayo with a superb silky texture, amazing tangy taste, and none of the worries about poor fat choices or unwanted ingredients. This is easily the best mayonnaise I’ve ever tried, and it worked well both on lettuce wraps and in a tuna salad. It’s a delicious, nutrient-dense food made the way you would if you had the time.

If you don’t live near Willy Street, ask your store to carry it, or you can order from Amazon.

Here’s a good way to enjoy Primal Kitchen paleo mayo:

 

Joe’s salmon spread

Joe's paleo salmon spread

15 oz can traditional style wild salmon, drained
1 cup Primal Kitchen mayo
¼ cup diced carrots
¼ cup diced celery
¼ tsp white pepper

Add more mayo if needed. Mix and stuff lettuce leaves, or spread on your choice of wraps.

 

Madison is getting a paleo bakery!

I’m excited to announce that Madison will soon have it’s first grain-free, dairy-free bakery. Beginning September 7th, you’ll be able to pre-order cupcakes and other treats that are not only gluten free but also free of grains, dairy (except butter), soy, refined sugar, and utilizing only healthier fats like coconut oil and grass-fed butter.  The initial menu of cookies, cupcakes, muffins, crackers, confections and granolas can be viewed at www.paleomamabakery.com. Many ingredients are locally sourced, such as honey from Gentle Breeze in Mt. Horeb and tart cherries from Cherryland’s Best in Door County. No retail store is planned at this time, though sales through other local outlets are being explored. (Ask your favorite spot to bring them in!)

I recently had a chance to taste-test several of the initial products (Thanks, Belle!) and was quite impressed with the quality. My family (wife and two daughters, none of whom are paleo at this time) helped me sample the vanilla salted-caramel cupcakes (pictured), chocolate chip cookies, and raw cookie dough. We agreed all were delicious and perfectly executed. Some were pleasantly surprised by the moist texture of the cupcake compared to some of the other grain-free treats we’ve tried.

As expected, prices are higher than similarly modest portions of mainstream baked goods. Also, despite the extreme attention to using the healthiest possible ingredients, these are definitely treats meant for occasional indulgence, and not something I’d make a frequent part of my diet. (I’d love to see the eventual addition of something a tad more substantial and nutrient dense, perhaps a less-sweet cookie or bar based on the cranberry walnut granola– or maybe some grass-fed gelatin gummy snacks.) Having said that, Paleo Mama’s treats are among the top tier of those I’ve tried, and I would definitely consider buying them, especially if offered somewhere I typically shop or dine. Keep them in mind next time you’re planning a party or event!

Contact information:

Paleo Mama Bakery

6300 Enterprise Lane, Madison WI

608-692-3715

Web:  www.paleomamabakery.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/paleomamabakery

Email:  belle@paleomamabakery.com

Presentations on paleo, grain-free

I recently held another staff training at Willy Street Co-op, focusing on paleo and grain-free diets, and how to better help customers making the transition.

In the picture, I’m demonstrating a spiralizer.  We also sampled two of the deli’s line of grain free dishes, over a lively discussion of antinutrients like gluten and phytic acid.

Wish you were there?  I’m available to do similar presentations.  Drop me an email or Facebook message!