Amy's Tamale Verde

Brand: Amy's

~ Other reviews of this brand!

Product Name: Tamale Verde

Location Purchased: Safeway

Cost: $4.29



Total From A to Z: 3.5 Stars

A's Review: * * * *

Amy and her crew have tasty frozen meals dialed. Just spicy enough and very satisfying.

Z's Review: * * *
This was a pretty decent frozen meal. However, I did have to zap it about a minute more than suggested on the package to get the tamale to heat all the way through. The tamale was slightly bland, but the green chile was enjoyable. I didn't think the rice and beans were anything special.

Amy's Tortilla Casserole & Black Bean Bowl

Brand: Amy's

~ Other reviews of this brand!

Product Name: Tortilla Casserole & Black Bean Bowl

Location Purchased: Safeway

Cost: $4.49


Total From A to Z: 4 Stars

A's Review: * * * *
Very nice...a tasty pile of food. Surprisingly tasty for something frozen and microwaved. I think beans are wonderful to eat pretty much all the time and the sauce on the casserole was just spicy enough to be fun.

Z's Review: * * * *
The tortilla casserole is a bit mushy, and I'm not exactly sure what is in it, but it tasted pretty good. The black beans with a little bit of cheese on top were delicious. The whole meal also smelled pretty good too. All in all, a pretty good quick meal.

RESTAURANT: Chipotle

A&Z

at
Chipotle

Restaurant: Chipotle

Locations:
National Chain

Location We Visited:
Boulder - 1650 28th Street - (720) 406-0500
Full-scre
Gluten-Free Options: Everything at Chipotle is gluten-free except for the flour tortillas! (Just be careful about cross-contamination if you are really sensitive).

Total From A to Z: 5 Stars

A's Review: * * * * *

It was really fun to see the employees spring into action when Z told them she was GF. One went and got a manager to verify that everything except the flour tortillas was GF. Next they changed the serving spoons for the beans (but if the beans themselves were already cross-contaminated then that doesn't really accomplish much), and grabbed the crunchy corn taco shells. Chipotle has lots of natural, antibiotic-free, growth hormone-free meat to serve, and their guacamole is really good.

Z's Review: * * * * *
When we went into Chipotle and told them I was gluten-free and asked what I could order, at first they had no idea what I was talking about. So I clarified and asked if any of their spices or sauces contained wheat or flour. It took them a while to find the right paperwork, but eventually they brought out an allergens list which showed that the only item at Chipotle that contained wheat were the flour tortillas! That's the way food should be! Don't go sticking wheat in where it isn't necessary! So, since they carried both crunchy and soft corn tortillas, there were actually quite a lot of options for me. They even changed their gloves to minimize any potential cross-contamination. I had some really delicious tacos and will probably go to Chipotle again for a quick meal!

RESTAURANT: Casa Alvarez (Updated!)

A&Z
at
Casa
Alvarez

Restaurant: Casa Alvarez

Locations: Boulder and Lafayette

Locations We've Visited:
Boulder - 3161 Walnut Street - (303) 546 - 0630

Gluten-Free Options: Casa Alvarez has a separate gluten-free menu at both locations. Ask for it when you arrive! It includes gluten-free appetizers, salads, and Mexican favorites. (NOTE: The gluten-free menu is not availible on Casa Alvarez' website yet, but the owner assures us it will be soon! So check back for it!)

Total From A to Z: 5 Stars

A's Review: * * * * *
A pretty good indicator of a restaurant's attitude towards gluten-free diners is how the staff looks at you when you let them know your dietary needs. Casa Alvarez handled it just right. The host grabbed a gluten-free menu right away and our waitress asked all the right questions to make sure our needs were met. Definitely a place where we would dine again.

Z's Review: * * * * *
So long as you order corn tortillas and check for gluten in the seasonings, Mexican food is generally a pretty safe bet when you are eating gluten-free. However, it's still really nice to have a whole menu that you know is safe to order from without having to ask too many questions! (But, if you do have to ask questions, I've found the Casa Alvarez staff to be really knowledgeable.) I've ordered chicken enchiladas and corn tortilla quesadillas from Casa Alvarez's gluten-free menu. The chicken enchiladas were delicious! I personally think quesadillas taste better with flour tortillas, but it's still really nice to have the option to order them if I want to. I was also delighted to discover that Casa Alvarez's refried beans are 100% gluten-free (you never know what might have gluten in it!) as their beans are so good I could eat them for a meal by themselves! And thank goodness margaritas are gluten-free too!

Z's Update:
We returned to Casa Alvarez and once again it was a great experience! This time I ordered the carne asada from the gluten-free menu, which came with rice, Casa Alvarez's fabulous refried beans, and corn tortillas. The steak was melt-in-your-mouth delicious! We also learned that all of Casa Alvarez' chiles and ranchera sauces are gluten-free, which increases the options for us gluten-free people! However, the server told us that although the chips they serve are corn chips, they are fried in the same oil as flour products, so those of you who are really sensitive to gluten might want to stay away from the chips.