Melissa F.
Yelp
I found out about this time last year that I have food allergies. My doctor misdiagnosed me with Rheumatoid Arthritis because a blood result I took (due to back pain) came back elevated. My aunt-in-law practices acupuncture and told me to be tested for food allergies. Apparently, the symptoms for both are similar and the RA test measures the amount of inflamation in your tissues which is sometimes caused by food allergens.
On a scale from 1 to 5, (5 being the most allergic and enough so to go into anaphylactic shock and 1 being so small of a reaction that you won't even know you're allergic), I scored about a 3 on everything that I was tested for... All 40 foods. That includes all cow dairy, wheat and yeast (so no bread of any kind - not even spelt; it usually has yeast), black pepper, soy, onion, tomato, cane and beet sugar, pork, beef, white flour, etc.
I thought I could handle it. "So, who cares if I can't eat everything I've been used to eating my entire life. I'll do it with pleasure if this damned back pain will go away."
I figured what the hell? I'll lose weight. My big toe and, maybe, my booty will be all that's left of me. I'll be the healthiest person on the planet if all can eat is grass and drink water. Well, it wasn't quite that extreme, but you try grocery shopping for that type of diet. NEVER have I been so frustrated in my life!
But, I went for a month and was able to completely cleanse my body of all toxins and yes. There were a few that had built up after 27 years of eating foods that I am allergic to (hence the back pain). But, I did it.
Then I hit a brick wall. Maybe I was PMSing. Who knows. I woke up one morning, my husband (then fiancee) mentioned something about making waffles (with our flaxseed flour, of course) and I burst into tears. I couldn't have butter on my waffles! How sad is that?! ESPECIALLY when you are already subsituting rice syrup for regular syrup.
Growing up in Texas, I was used to butter or cheese on EVERYTHING. I can't help it. That's how I was raised. And, that's how I like all my food. "Cover it in butter and/or cheese, please." Yep. That's me.
So, there's my husband, looking at me like I'm crazy. He is still trying to be supportive though, bless his heart. "What about goat products? They make goat cheese, who says they don't make goat butter?" RIGHT! This is why I love him! ...I can eat goat dairy products. I kept forgetting that!
Before moving in with him, I lived in the Highlands for a year. I loved living there - but, that's another review for another day. My roommate and I loved to throw parties. And, my roommate, aka Chef Megan, loved to serve wine and cheese before the main appetizers at every get together. She had had me pick up cheese for her on occasion at this great little cheese shop just north of the 32nd and Lowell intersection. The very day of the butter incident, I booked it to the shop.
And, yes. There is a God. Goats make great, though pungent, butter. Not to mention the cheese. Yum.
I've since found the same brand goat butter at Wild Oats for $2 cheaper. However, no other place I've since shopped holds a candle to the quality, selection and price of the cheeses.