El Toro lunch buffet

With plenty of lunchtime options in Tacoma’s downtown core, only one thing gets me to drive out to the end of Pacific Highway Southwest across from McChord Air Force Base — El Toro’s lunch buffet (which is only served at this location). A quick nine minute drive from downtown makes the buffet totally worth it. Moist seasoned chicken breast, shredded pork, good ol’ greasy ground beef, rice and refried beans sweeten the deal. Toppings of grated cheddar cheese, strips of iceberg lettuce, chopped ruby tomatoes, diced white onion, jalapenos, and sour cream were kept nice and cold. Enveloping white flour tortillas held shredded chicken and cheese. Chili rellenos were cooked until the natural sugars in the peppers were released. Choose between crispy hard shells or warm fluffy white flour tortillas. Not authentic Mexican fare, but deserving of a B+ for price and food quality consistency. — Jennifer Johnson
[Lakewood El Toro, lunch buffet, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., $8.95, military $7.95, 12914 Pacific Highway S.W., Lakewood, 253.536.9735]

Bliss for some

With fall on the way, the carb train will soon pull into town, hitting every stop in the South Sound through football season up to New Year’s Day. For many of us, the next three months are more like a ride on a runaway train, a fast and furious double-fisted eating frenzy that includes too much booze, fat, sugar and flour.

But if you’re the one person in a crowd of 100 with celiac disease, a debilitating inability to digest gluten, all those carbs are strictly off-limits. That choo-choo suddenly feels more like a solo ride on a drifting iceberg. Imagine waking up one day to learn that your small intestine can’t take it anymore, that wheat, barley and rye are the enemy and you’ve got to go cold turkey on the stuff if you want to stay alive.

For many, the opening of Bliss Gluten-Free Baking and Consulting in Tacoma is a welcomed relief. A grand opening is scheduled Oct. 2, 1-7 p.m. at Kitchen2Kitchen, 4312 Sixth Ave.
Bliss Gluten-Free owner Mary Jane Halligan became inspired to create new gluten-free recipes following being diagnosed with celiac disease herself. 

Drop by the grand opening, sample baked goods, nibble on sandwiches, learn about their nutritional services, and jump off that train!

For more information, go to blissglutenfree.com. — Jake de Paul

[Kitchen2Kitchen, Bliss Gluten-Free Baking and Consulting grand opening, Oct. 2, 1-7 p.m., 4312 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, blissglutenfree.com]