Satisfactory at Taco Factory and Hannaford Haul

We ate our first gluten-free (and dairy-free) restaurant meal! I wasn’t really planning on it today, but shizzle happens. The Taco Factory in Middletown makes homemade maize (corn) tortillas every day. It’s very authentic food, not the typical over-processed yuck that many Americans have come to know as Mexican food. I haven’t asked them, but I am pretty sure they cook in lard, but I could be wrong about that. It sure tastes and feels like it. We’ve eaten there before and I always get the same thing: pork carnitas!

The place isn’t fancy, it’s pretty much a dive, but their food and friendly, prompt service doesn’t reflect the environment.

We’ve been pleased with the food and service each time we were there, and this visit was no different.

Soooo delicious! I never really cared for cilantro until I had it on their tacos. Now, tacos smothered in cheese and other goop just don’t taste the same. These are so simple yet tasty. You can tell how fresh they are. Oh, and so cheap! For 6 tacos and two drinks: $9.50!! I kid you not. We gave them a $6.50 tip. They deserve it. If you’re in Orange county and in the mood for authentic Mexican cuisine, check this place out. You won’t be disappointed.

After we ate, we stopped by Staples to send a fax and pick up some Sharpie pens. We have a fax machine at home but have never used it, lol. I have NEVER sent a fax in my life—weird, right? I skipped the whole fax machine craze and went directly to email and FTP in the 90s, haha.

Last stop: Hannaford!!! I needed to refill my fresh produce, and you know how that goes with me. I can’t just buy what I intended, I have to buy lots! Honestly, I did want to get a few gluten-free pantry staples. I thought I had a lot more gluten-free pasta and things like that, but turns out I didn’t! So, I stocked up. And got a few gluten-free goodies for Dustin, like canned soup to replace his beloved Chef Boyardee and GF breakfast bars to place his morning donuts. He’s being really cooperative with all of this, so he should definitely eat some of what he enjoys. Plus, he pushes the cart, unloads it onto the conveyor belt, bags, pays for it, and carries the bags into the house. He can have all the $3 cans of soup he wants.

Shopping cart cell phone pics:

Everybody takes pics of their shopping cart… right?

Confession: Some of the goodies were for me, too. Like the milk-free dark chocolate and Pamela’s chocolate chip cookies and Honest Tea and raw dairy-free gelato.

Olives from the olive bar as if I need more salt this week. That head of cabbage is new-to-me. It was only $1.24 so I’m going to eat it. I hope.

I wonder if anyone noticed me taking cell phone pics…

I picked up some gluten/dairy-free condiments. I said I was doing it for Dustin to ensure he had ranch dressing, but truth be told, I kind of want to try it, too.

I got a lot of nice fresh produce. It is what I went for, of course.

3 shapes of brown rice pasta and one corn pasta. More Udi’s bread because it’s THAT good.

Beautiful bunch of kale for only $2.19! Plus radicchio, avocados, brown mushrooms, summer squash (overpriced), spring mix, butter lettuce x 2, and grape tomatoes.

Highlights of my haul: Romano cheese made with 100% sheep’s milk. LOVE romano.

Gluten- and dairy-free BBQ and ranch dressing.

I bought some vegan mayo. I suspect raw eggs are troublesome for me, so I’m going to give this a try. I’m not certain that raw eggs are problematic, but there’s seems to be a link to episodes and when I eat runny yolks or mayo. They didn’t have Veganaise, which I’m sure right now Averie is like—“GET THAT!”

Hummus… err, hommus. heh

Rice pasta

Dairy- and gluten-free “ice cream.” I’ve had this before when I did my raw diet experiment and it’s SO GOOD!

Expensive: $6.99/pint but worth it, IMO.

I may have stolen a bite when I got home.

Edward and Sons gluten-free ice cream cones!! Couldn’t resist.

I tried a cone as soon as we got home and I swear, they taste EXACTLY like regular ones! I would not be able to tell the difference, AND remember: I owned an ice cream stand for half of my life. And get this: only 10 calories each and made with entirely wholesome ingredients. Nothing funky whatsoever. Righteousness.

That’s how I spent my afternoon and early evening. Pretty fun, I’d say. But I’m easy to keep happy. Just feed me tacos and take me to the grocery store. Throw in dairy-free ice cream and I’m good to go for the rest of the day.

Question: Do you enjoy grocery shopping? I love it! Obviously, haha.

Tagged as: carnitas, dairy-free ice cream, gluten-free, gluten-free ice cream cones, loot, Mexican food, restaurants, shopping, tacos, The Taco Factory Middletown NY