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Featured Articles

Restaurant Review: The Culinary Dropout

By Rhonda Leave a Comment

If you’re looking to dine out with friends while enjoying a few nibbles and beverages, then you definitely should give The Culinary Dropout restaurant a try!

The First Impression
My first experience with the Culinary Dropout occurred at Devour Phoenix; there were so many delicious samples. Though I cannot remember what I had, it was enough of a sample to keep this restaurant on my must visit to dine list! When I arrived after searching for the place and waiting in line for parking, I was excited. Once I entered, I noticed that there were two other restaurants connected to the Culinary Dropout, which were on my list, so I must return to try those out.

The Layout
I loved the openness of the restaurant, with very large windows and exposed high ceiling. I especially loved the open kitchen; it was very cool to walk by and watch the chefs flow in harmony as they cooked and plated each of the meals. The restaurant was very large and could definitely accommodate very large crowds and the live bands On the flip side to the large eating area, the restaurant was extremely loud even without the live bands playing.

The Food
During restaurant week there was a set menu, For the first course I started with the gluten free Antipasti plate which included Marcona almonds, marinated olives, fig compote, prosciutto, grilled asparagus and sweet bell peppers, and my husband had the smoked salmon bruschetta. For the entree I had roasted salmon with grilled asparagus, green beans (substituted for the creamy barley), mushrooms and chili vinaigrette dressing. The salmon was perfectly cooked. However, the dish was a little too salty for my liking, but still edible. For the third course there were no gluten-free, vegan options for me, but my husband was happy to sample the desserts, and he enjoyed both of the desserts that he sampled!

Typically before I head out for restaurant week I call the restaurant just to see if they could make some accommodations for me, but after my hectic week I just wanted to eat and didn’t call. Well my server was nice but said that the chef is not substituting and I didn’t want to take that as the final answer and asked if he could ask the chef to replace the creamy barley for something else like an extra side of veggies. After a couple of minutes he returned with a yes and the rest of the service that night was an A+.

The End
So, if you are looking for a restaurant that is centrally located, with a great dining experience, friendly staff, and gluten free offerings you definitely want to add the Culinary Dropout to your list! Be sure to Like their Facebook Page!

Please note that if you have severe allergies, please make sure that you alert the chef or staff member just in case the server looks uncomfortable with servicing you due to your allergies.

[Show as slideshow]
Restaurant_Culinary_Dropout_-_01
Restaurant_Culinary_Dropout_-_02
Restaurant_Culinary_Dropout_-_03
AZ Restaurant Week Menu 2015
Antipasti Plate
Antipasti Plate
Smoked salmon bruschetta
Restaurant_Culinary_Dropout_-_08
Restaurant_Culinary_Dropout_-_09
Grilled salmon and veggies
Baby back ribs
The menu
Salted Caramel Custard w/ Caramel Corn
Salted Caramel Custard w/ Caramel Corn
Bourbon Black Bottom Pie

Filed Under: Featured Articles, Restaurant Reviews

Can Food Really Help Arthritis?

By rhondascooking 12 Comments

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an inflammatory, autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy tissues.[1] Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is something that I have been challenged with since 1995.I spent many years in excruciating pain in my hands; so much pain that I couldn’t even hold my toothbrush or button my pants/shirts. The pain would last for an entire day before calming down and then it would take 3 days before the swelling and soreness would go away. When these situations occurred, this was called a “flare-up” (inflammation). Initially, I would get these about 3 to 4 times per year. I tried every home remedy and drug, (Celebrex, Vioxx, Arava, cortisone drugs/steroids (such as prednisone), hydroxychloroquine, and methotrexate injections, but nothing worked permanently; these were all short term fixes and the pain would always return.

My hand during a flare-up

Rhonda’s hand during a flare-up

After many years of dealing with yearly flare-ups, in 2005 after meeting Dr. Don Colbert, I learned that there were many different foods that could trigger one to have inflammation when diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. After reading his books as well as other studies on arthritis, I decided to put all of that information to the test. I decided to stop eating foods that would make me have a flare-up. The following is a list of foods that could trigger rheumatoid arthritic reactions:

Foods that Trigger Inflammation (“flare-ups”)
Corn Wheat
Pork Oats
Rye Eggs
Beef Coffee
Chicken Oranges
Turkey Grapefruit
Shellfish Milk & dairy products
Night shade plants (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants & bell peppers)

By now, I know that you are in shock! You are asking yourself what are going to eat if you take away these foods. Don’t be alarmed, you can make changes over time.

Here are some of the foods that I typically eat: 

Foods that Won’t Cause Inflammation
Cold Water Fish Dark Leafy Greens
Ground Flaxseeds Pineapples
Turmeric Sardines
Garlic Whole Grains (no wheat)
Ginger Fresh fruits (no oranges)
Natural Nuts/seeds Olive oil
Flax oil Fresh/Frozen Vegetables

It took time for me to make the transition, but I did it and now I finally feel better than ever since being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis! I can now wake up EVERY morning able to hold my toothbrush and get dressed without a problem! So for me, not eating a piece of chicken or having my favorite coffee was okay.

So how do you get started? Start slow and remember that not all of these foods listed will impact everyone the same. In order to find out if a particular food causes inflammation in your body, you must remove all of the items from your diet for 2 weeks and then slowly re-introduce them back–one per week. If you still having the pain and can’t identify the cause, send me an email because there are a few other things/strategies that you can do to help you live pain free! I am telling you the truth, it really does work!!! I no longer take any medications for rheumatoid arthritis!


[1]Kamhi, Ellen, and Zampieron, Eugene. Arthritis. California: Celelestial Arts, 2006.

Filed Under: Arthritis, Featured Articles, Health Tagged With: arthritis, food allergies, inflammation, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Just Say “No” To Soft Drinks

By Rhonda Leave a Comment

With each passing year, research continues to highlight the multiple health threats posed to those who consume sugary soft drinks–…

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Filed Under: Featured Articles, Food Tagged With: fruit juice, HFCS, high fructose corn syrup, sodas, Soft Drinks

Heart Disease: A Family Affair

By Rhonda Leave a Comment

It is unknown if James Gandolfini had previously been diagnosed with heart disease, but it does appear that his weight and diet may have placed him at risk….

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Filed Under: Articles, Featured Articles, Health, Heart Disease Tagged With: American Heart Association, heart disease, James Gandolfini, Rhonda Peters, Tim Russert

Rhonda’s Cooking Class: Salad Recipes

By Rhonda Leave a Comment

Are you sick and tired of your same ole boring salad? Join Rhonda for a free cooking class on Saturday, June 8, at Whole Foods Market Chandler that’s all about salad recipes for the summer! …

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Filed Under: Articles, Featured Articles Tagged With: Rhonda Peters, Rhonda's Cooking, Salad Recipes, Salads, Whole Foods

Frozen Vegetables Are Healthy

By Rhonda Leave a Comment

Despite what many foodies may believe, frozen vegetables are healthy especially the vegetables that do not have any unhealthy additives and preservatives….

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Filed Under: Articles, Featured Articles, Food Tagged With: Dr. Oz, frozen vegetables, Rhonda Peters, Rhonda's Cooking, vegetables

Are You A Soul Food Junkie?

By Rhonda Leave a Comment

Soul Food is an American cuisine that has been a vital part of African American households. But it’s now time to explore its impact on health. Are you a “Soul Food Junkie”? …

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Filed Under: Articles, Featured Articles, Health Tagged With: Byron Hurt, heart disease, Rhonda's Cooking, soul food, soul food junkies

Diabetes…So, What Can I Eat Now?!

By Rhonda Leave a Comment

Being diagnosed with diabetes can be a traumatic and frustrating experience. Millions of Americans struggle with how to maintain a normal life …

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Filed Under: Articles, Featured Articles Tagged With: diabetes, Rhonda Peters, Rhonda's Cooking, So, So What Can I Eat Now, Stop Diabetes, type 2, Type 2 Diabetes

Let’s Stop Diabetes

By Rhonda Leave a Comment

Diabetes is America’s sixth leading cause of death.[1] As diabetes continue to rise for not only the old, but also the youth, so does the national health care costs for diagnosed diabetes. …

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Filed Under: Articles, Featured Articles Tagged With: American Diabetes Association, diabetes, Juvenile diabetes, Rhonda's Cooking, Stop Diabetes, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes

Small Business Saturday

By Rhonda Leave a Comment

Small Business Saturday is an opportunity for customers to shop small and support small businesses. …

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Filed Under: Articles, Featured Articles Tagged With: american express, economy, shop local, shop small, small business saturday, small businesss

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So What Can I Eat Now?!
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So What Can I Eat Now?!

A digital, vegan edition of the award winning cookbook that fuses Louisiana Soul Food Cuisine with that of heart healthy, gluten free, soy free, egg free and dairy free ingredients.

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So What Can I Eat Now?!

An award winning cookbook that fuses Louisiana Soul Food Cuisine with that of heart healthy, gluten free, soy free, egg free and dairy free ingredients.

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