Tag archive for "GF NYC"

GF Friendly Restaurants, Raw Foods, Travel

Organic Avenue: I’m in Love

6 Comments 27 March 2013

On a recent cab ride into New York City I did a double take as we flew past the orange Organic Avenue sign. This trip suddenly had a new purpose. It was no longer just a weekend away. I had to find out what was in that store. To my delight, I quickly learned that it was located just a few blocks from where we would be staying, which made multiple trips quite convenient.

But it only took one trip to fall in love.

At Organic Avenue L.O.V.E = Live. Organic. Vegan. Experience.

I just had to step inside Organic Avenue once to know that this was a store for me. These were my first three sights:

Cases filled with high quality, organic, cold pressed juices

Protein Smoothies and Nut Mylks

Salads and Raw Food!

Fabulous fare for a traveler like me in search of healthy food while away from my juicer, Vitamix, and dehydrator. But Organic Avenue specializes in raw foods cleanses. They have three levels to choose from: Love Easy, Love Fast, and Love Deep. So whether you are looking for deep detox or a restart, you’re sure to find a cleanse that will work for you.

A weekend in New York is not the time for me to detox. There are just way too many gluten-free goodies to sample, but I made sure to start each day off with a healthy breakfast from Organic Avenue.

Day 1 began with Green LOVE. Crammed with green veggies and lightened with pear and lemon, this juice was absolutely delicious and refreshing. The Husband loved the Green Coco with added Thai Coconut Water.

Day 2 started with smoothies. Since I made the walk to get breakfast that morning I got first choice when I returned home with two options. I think the Chocolate Love Smoothie is one of the best smoothies I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a lot of smoothies. Made with cashews, hemp seeds, dates, Himalayan salt, vanilla powder, cacao powder, and Irish moss, this smoothie was a great way to start the day. The Husband enjoyed the Berry Blast Protein Smoothie so much that he bought one every day for the next week. (Lucky man got to stay in the city while I returned home on Day 3.)

Day 3 started with Berry Chia Tapioca Pudding topped with Cinnamon Raisin Granola. Strawberries, dates, coconut meat and an assortment of nuts and seeds made this a satisfying way to start our last of day trekking through the city.

Organic Avenue isn’t just a place for breakfast. You can enjoy soup, salads, snacks, entrees, and even desserts. The Husband tried their Mexi-Fresh Tacos and gave a report that made me extremely jealous.

I’d highly recommend stopping at Organic Avenue the next time you’re in New York City. It will keep you well fueled for all of the activity you have planned. Like everything else in the City, it is expensive. A bottle of juice costs between $9.00 and $12.00 depending on the size of the bottle, and a smoothie is a whopping $10.00. But considering that you’re fueling your body with high quality, delicious food in the most expensive city on the planet, it may just be a deal! Hey, I was sold!

Readers, dish!

Have you been to Organic Avenue?
Have you tried one of their cleanses?
What is your favorite Organic Avenue product?

GF Friendly Restaurants, Healthy Living, Travel

Terri in NYC: Fast food? Yes, please!

6 Comments 09 January 2013

Since I’m on a juice kick, I thought I’d share a quick post on one of my favorite fast food lunch spots in New York City.

Did she just say “fast food”?

Yes, please!

Terri is a vegetarian quick service restaurant located at 60 West 23rd Street. If you’re anywhere nearby you must make a point to stop in. Grab a juice, a healthy fast food meal, or a sweet treat, and be on your way with nutrition in hand.

Terri makes vegetarian meals that taste like favorites such as a ”Meatball” Subs, “Bacon Chicken” Cheddar Ranch Sandwiches, and Chick Pea “Tuna” Melts. All of their sandwiches can be made on gluten-free bread and wraps with gluten-free tortillas.

Terri strives to use organic ingredients and super foods. Wholesome salads, smoothies, and juices are just a few more healthy options you’ll find.

I love these juices to go.

Now this is one happy, makeup-needing, lady with a green juice to start her day!

Ordering a gluten-free wrap is a rare pleasure. Nashville can’t yet provide me with such an experience. So I always get a wrap when I go to Terri. They’re grilled closed and actually stay together, unlike many gluten-free wraps.

Safe enough to unwrap neatly in a cab.

Grilled so perfectly that they hold together even when racing to the airport at breakneck speed. (When do NYC cabs not race somewhere at breakneck speed?)

This Thai “Chicken” Wrap passed the bite test.

And more than passed the taste test!

But their Hummus & Avocado Wrap is my favorite.

If only I’d had one more hand to carry one of these Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting. I don’t think they would have passed the cab test.

Healthy, vegetarian fast food is a dream. But at Terri that dream comes true.

I swear someday I’m moving to New York…

Readers, dish!

Have you ever been to Terri?
What’s your favorite healthy fast food joint?
Have you found a place that serves gluten-free wraps?

Terri

60 West 23rd Street

New York, NY 10010

T:212-647-8810

Opening Hours: Monday – Friday, 6am – 11pm; Saturday & Sunday, 8am – 9pm

GF Friendly Restaurants, Travel

The Best GF Cupcake on the Planet

9 Comments 25 April 2012

Sometimes there are no words.

Risotteria, I love you.

270 Bleecker Street
New York City

Readers, dish!

Where do you find your favorite gluten-free indulgence?
Would you prefer a cookie or a cupcake?
Are you a frosting or cake person?
Describe your favorite cupcake!

GF Friendly Restaurants, Travel

A Gluten-Free Birthday from A Matter of Taste to Pala Pizza

6 Comments 11 April 2012

If birthday celebrations have any predicting power of the year to come, I’m in for 365 days of incredibleness!

The day started with a 15-mile training run in Nashville. As the Husband pointed out, “That’s the furthest you’ve ever run and the oldest you’ve ever been.” I considered that to be a compliment!

On the way to the airport, we met a dear friend at A Matter of Taste for a few veggie sandwiches on the most tender, delicious gluten-free bread. A Matter of Taste is now the only Nashville restaurant that makes its own gluten-free bread. Sadly, our two other options (FiddleCakes and Aunt April’s Bakery) have recently closed. Thank you, A Matter of Taste, for delicious sandwiches, and for providing vegetarian choices too. Did you know that on your birthday, whomever you’re dining with has to order your second choice so that you can have bites? (Or do I just have an awesome husband?)

Mediterranean Vegetarian – Eggplant, roasted red pepper, sun dried tomato, pesto & feta cheese

Vegetarian Melt – chopped romaine lettuce, tomatoes, avocado & provolone cheese with creamy ranch dressing

For more information about this delightful little lunch spot, see my first review of A Matter of Taste here. A Matter of Taste is located at Franklin Road across from Thoroughbread Motors, and they’re open Monday through Friday from 11-3. GO there!

Well fueled, were off to the Big City!

After a few hours of sitting on the plane, the effects of the 15-mile run on the legs reminded me that I had just gained another year. So our tradition of walking the streets of New York to dinner was postponed until our next trip.

I’d been looking forward to Birthday Dinner at Pala Pizza for weeks. Maybe months. And sitting across the table from the love of my life on my birthday while awaiting the best pizza on the planet, gluten-free or not, was almost more than I could handle.

Pala has perfected the gluten-free pizza crust. Made with a combination of garbanzo bean, tapioca, fava bean, potato, rice, and white sorghum flours, you would never believe this was a gluten-free crust. And they bake their gluten-free pizzas in a dedicated oven, so you can be certain they are aware of cross-contamination issues.

Here are my Pala Pizzas from the past few visits.

Arrabbiata - Buffalo mozzarella, fresh cherry tomatoes, hot pepper, and garlic

Fungata - Porcini, portobello and shitake mushrooms, parmigiano cheese, mozzarella cheese, and rosemary

Romana - field mushrooms, tomato sauce, pecorino cheese, and fresh parsley

Three amazing pizza experiences, so you can imagine the agony in selecting something that we had never tried before. We were very pleased with our choice.

Pizza Zucchina with marinated zucchini, goat cheese, cherry tomato sauce, mozzarella, and rosemary

We didn’t leave much behind.

But we did leave room for our favorite dessert.

Tortino al Cioccolato - Flourless chocolate cake with almonds and English cream

The next time you’re in New York, you must visit Pala Pizza. They are located at 198 Allen St. between Houston and Stanton. For my original review and photos of even more deliciousness, see this post.

Thanks for all of the birthday wishes! From Nashville to New York City, it truly was a deliciously memorable day!

Readers, dish!

If you could eat at any restaurant on your birthday, where would it be?
What is your favorite birthday meal?
What is your favorite birthday cake?

GF Friendly Restaurants, Travel

Candle 79: Another Vegetarian Gem

8 Comments 15 June 2011

Candle 79 has long been on my list of New York City restaurants to try because of their extensive gluten-free menu. But when we’re in the City we are usually so enamored with the wide availability of incredible gluten-free pizza and pasta dishes that the vegetarian restaurants are pushed to the bottom of the list.

But after our incredible experience at Pure Food and Wine, Candle 79 was hoisted to the very top of my must-try list. Plus, I felt so great after eating such clean, raw food that another pizza wasn’t even appealing.

But was it fair to compare any vegan restaurant to Pure Food and Wine after falling in love with it the day before? Could Candle 79 even come close?

We walked the 34 blocks from our hotel to the restaurant, so we were more than ready to find out.

They seated us in the upstairs dining room of the quaint restaurant next to windows that lined the wall providing a few of the city below.

I was thrilled to receive an entire menu of their gluten-free meals.

Not a photocopied menu.

Not a menu with gluten-free options designated with a star.

A real, substantive menu that looked just like the regular menu.

There were so many options that the Husband and I had to compare to see how the two differed.

We started with the Guacamole Timbale which was to die for. Served with flax chips, this timbale was made with chipotle black beans, caramelized onions, cucumber tomato salsa, and ranchero sauce. Delicious!

A raw entree caught my eye, and while there were so many other tantalizing options, I had to have one more raw meal before heading home. I ordered the Live Zucchini Enchiladas. I wish you could see the enchiladas in this picture, but they’re buried beneath the most tender spinach and baby romaine greens, more cucumber-tomato salsa, creamy guacamole (again), and toasted pumpkin seeds. When I found the enchiladas I was so excited try them that I forgot to take a picture. Thin slices of zucchini wrapped cashew cheesy goodness, and with the chipotle-tomato sauce, cashew sour cream, and toppings, it was a fiesta to savor.

I can’t even tell you what the Husband had. I was too in love with my meal. And at this point in our trip there was no reason for him to order off the gluten-free menu so I could try a few bites. When there’s no shortage of amazing gluten-free meals, it’s every man for himself!

Next time you’re in New York City, make a point to try Candle 79. Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, or just plain hungry, you won’t be disappointed.

But you don’t have to make a special trip to enjoy some of Candle’s delicacies. Starting this month, Whole Foods will be carrying Candle Cafe Frozen Entrees.

But that won’t stop me from visiting Candle 79 again soon.

What’s your favorite gluten-free or vegan restaurant that you must visit while traveling?

GF Friendly Restaurants, Travel

Gluten-Free Wedding Gift for Mack and Lizzy!

12 Comments 08 June 2011

This is a personal post for two very special people. I’m using my blog to present it to them, because it’s the best way for Mack and Lizzy to truly understand their wedding gift from me. But I think my readers will enjoy it too, because it’s all about one of my greatest loves.

Mack isn’t just a cousin. He’s like my baby brother, and I’m so excited to know that he has met the love of his life! So Mack and Lizzy aren’t getting a gift off of their registry from me. Oh no, a china place setting isn’t going to do it. Mack and Lizzy are going to dine. And they are going to dine well.

Mack, like most of my family, is gluten intolerant. And if there’s one person in our family who just might enjoy eating more than I do, it would be Mack. So when I found out that Mack and Lizzy were going to be spending part of their honeymoon in New York City, a.k.a. Gluten-Free Paradise, I knew exactly what gift to give them.

Mack and Lizzy, I’m going to make a lot of suggestions, but there are two suggestions that aren’t suggestions at all. They are mandatory.

Open envelope #1

You must have dinner at Pala Pizza in the Lower East Side. There is no question about it. This isn’t just any pizza place that offers the option of a gluten-free crust. This is a romantic bistro with street side tables that has a dedicated gluten-free oven!

Over the years, we’ve enjoyed such delicacies as

Risotto Balls

Fungata Pizza

Arrabbiata Pizza

Romana Pizza

And incredible desserts like

Chocolate ice cream on an almond flour cookie

Tortino al cioccolato, a flourless chocolate cake with almonds and English cream

But they also have great salads and gluten-free pasta options that will blow your mind.

Are you convinced?

Dinner.

Plan on it.

Open envelope #2

The other mandatory meal you must have when you’re in New York City is lunch at Risotteria.

Located in the Greenwich Village, this tiny little restaurant will surprise you with its gluten-free appetizers, salads, risotto, pizza, and paninis. You’ll sit elbow to elbow with perfect strangers, at a table that has to be pulled out in order for you to sit behind it, but none of that will matter when they place gluten-free breadsticks on the table. You don’t even have to ask if they are gluten-free. They just always are.

Then you’ll have the hard part of deciding what to have for lunch.

Will it be pizza?

A panini?

It took me 7 years to finally order the Risotto that they are so famous for, because I always had to have their pizza and paninis.

And then there’s dessert. Cupcakes, brownies, cookies, tiramisu, pound cake, carrot cake…

(This is my favorite Risotteria picture because of the guy in the background picking his nose.)

Make sure you leave plenty of room in your suitcase for all of the gluten-free mixes you are going to want to take home with you.

Stock up. I always do.

Their mixes beat EVERY gluten-free mix you’ll ever try.

Promise.

Open envelope #3

Now come the optional stops.

NYC has two gluten-free bakeries that are worth checking out.

Tu-lu’s Bakery is 100% gluten free and only about a mile walk east from Risotteria.

Everything we’ve ever tried has been wonderful. And it’s air conditioned, which you’ll be glad for.

(Lizzy, there are some AWESOME vintage clothing stores all up and down that street!)

And then there’s Baby Cakes, which is a funky little bakery deep in the heart of the Lower East Side.

Your walk may remind you of your missions trip to China, Mack, as you walk right through Chinatown. I seriously thought I was in another country on our way there. First time I’d ever seen squid on the street.

But this quirky little bakery is worth the walk…or cab ride. Not everything is gluten-free, but there are always plenty of gluten-free goodies to choose from.

Optional lunches and dinners also abound.

I know Mack likes Chinese food, so you could check out Lilli and Loo. Their gluten-free menu is extensive, and their food is incredible. Their sister restaurant, Lilli’s 57, is a little closer to your hotel, but we like the ambiance of Lilli and Loo better.

We love their sushi.

But if you’re not a sushi fan there are plenty of cooked dishes to chose from as well.

Bistango is a cute little Italian restaurant that reminds me of DaLuciano’s. I almost kissed the waiter when he told me he could make ravioli gluten-free.

I know you’re planning on seeing several shows, so right around the corner from the Theater District are two great options for late night dining. They are literally right next door to each other.

Five Napkin Burger has delicious burgers with gluten-free buns. Make sure you ask about the sauces!

Nizza has a fabulous gluten-free menu. If you order the pizza, keep in mind that it has a socca crust…delicious, but very different. Their pasta options are awesome.

(Top pizza is gluteny, bottom one is the gluten-free socca.)

And you’ll probably wake up starving at 11am after late nights out and want a hearty breakfast. On one of those mornings, you’ll have to go to Bloom’s Delicatessen. (On the other mornings, you can eat the Risotteria cookies you meant to bring home.)

Yes, it’s greasy diner food, but they have a dedicated gluten-free fryer. So you can have burgers with a gluten-free bun and french fries. Or you could have breakfast like this:

or this

Gluten-free French Toast

Another great spot is Friedman’s Lunch at Chelsea Market. It’s fun to walk the market, but Friedman’s has great gluten-free brunch, lunch, and dinner menus.

Southwestern Turkey Burger with Sweet Potato Fries

And you can walk the High Line for a unique perspective of the City.

And while I’m thinking of it, you MUST walk this.

The Brooklyn Bridge

The great thing about New York City is that you’ll find fresh fruit for snacks from street corner vendors. And you could also head to the Farmer’s Market at Union Square.

Open Envelope #4

Cab fare.

Because you will get blisters, and sometimes you just won’t feel like arriving to dinner sweaty.

Congratulations to you both! I’m so excited about being here for your wedding on Saturday, and I wish you both a wonderful gluten-free honeymoon and a happily ever after.

I love you!

GF Friendly Restaurants

Pure Food and Wine: An Oasis in the City

12 Comments 06 June 2011

As I was planning our trip to NYC I knew we had to visit our favorite gluten-free restaurants and bistros. But I also wanted to try some new places. After learning through April in the Raw just how delicious raw food meals could be, I wanted to try an all raw restaurant. I had seen a great review of Pure Food and Wine by the Pure2Raw Twins, but when I emailed Gena of Choosing Raw for a recommendation, she gave none other than Pure Food and Wine.

I was sold.

The most incredible food experience of our trip by far was lunch at Pure Food and Wine with its raw vegan menu of artistically created meals made from organic vegetables, fruit, and herbs. Nothing is ever heated above 118 degrees in keeping with raw food standards. And every single item I tasted blew my mind. Plus, the ambiance was heavenly.

A little oasis from the craziness of the city streets, Pure Food and Wine provides open air dining on the front porch, indoors, or in the elegant private back garden.

I would have been happy to dine in any of their cozy corners, but I was thrilled when they seated us in the back courtyard. Enjoying the summer breezes under the shade of an umbrella, I perused the menu that I had been waiting for so long to hold in my hands.

I am a girl of contrasts. From this breakfast at Bloom’s earlier that morning to the lunch I’m about to show you, my tastes seem to run the gamut. But this experience left me with an amazingly healthy feeling, incredible memories, and a longing to return soon.

Not everything on their menu is gluten-free. They use nama shoyu in some of their dishes, an unpasteurized soy sauce which contains trace amounts of gluten. But everything that is gluten-free was clearly marked as such, so it was very easy to find something safe and delicious to eat.

We leisurely sipped our drinks while planning our order. It was incredibly hard since everything looked so fresh and delicious. One bite of each, please?

The Husband enjoyed the sangria.

While the mimosa kept me grinning.

To start, I had the Mediterranean salad with arugula, kale, kalamata olives, tomatoes, pumpkin seed macadamia parmesan, tossed with balsamic vinaigrette. I believe it was the most flavor-packed salad I’ve ever enjoyed. The salad was HUGE, and I believe I ate every last bite.

The Husband ordered the Tortilla Wraps with spicy sun-dried tomato filling, corn cilantro guacamole, tomato-lime salsa, and cashew sour cream. These were not gluten-free, but based on the fact that the Husband thoroughly enjoyed his first 100% raw meal, I can assure you it was delicious. (I may even remember a commitment to invest in a dehydrator after he tasted those wraps! Woo hoo!)

I ordered the Zucchini and Tomato Lasagna with sun-dried tomato sauce, pistachio basil pesto, and pumpkin seed macadamia ricotta. It took me so long to take the first bite, and not just because I had to take a zillion pictures first. I didn’t want to destroy the beauty of the presentation. I also didn’t feel any need to dive in. I could take as long as I wanted as there was no fear of my food getting cold. It was a raw lasagna. When I finally began, I ate slowly and mindfully, not wanting this meal to end. With each bite different flavors were more pronounced.

If we were at any other restaurant I wouldn’t have wanted to order dessert. Anything sugary would have ruined that contented feeling after such a beautiful, healthy meal. But this was a raw restaurant, and the desserts would not contain white sugar which would lead to a blood sugar spike and regret.

I chose the Tiramisu made with vanilla cream layered with coffee-sake almond cake. I am not usually a tiramisu fan, but when I asked the waitress which dessert was her favorite, she pointed me toward this dessert. I’ve learned to listen to the experts.

And I’m so glad that I followed her guidance. It was the best tiramisu I’ve ever had.

The Husband ordered a simple Orreo cookie, and I could tell that he was skeptical until it arrived. It was beautiful, and one bite sealed the deal.

Lunch at Pure Food and Wine was definitely the highlight of our trip to New York City. If we lived in the City we’d definitely have to work this restaurant into our monthly budget. It’s not cheap, but with the flavors, pure food, and beautiful moments it’s worth every dollar.

GF Friendly Restaurants

Morning in New York and Bloom’s Delicatessen

15 Comments 01 June 2011

Waking up on a Saturday morning in New York City is a unique feeling.

At home I wake up at 5:10am, even on a Saturday. In New York it’s 9:30 or 10:00.

I usually awaken to chirping birds or meowing cats. In New York it’s banging metal, honking horns, and maid service vacuuming the hallway.

At home I quietly ease into my day. In New York the day hits me with a pulsing energy.

Normally I make a French press or hit Starbuck’s. In New York, well, yeah. We still hit Starbucks.

I usually have a smoothie, oatmeal, or quinoa for breakfast. I’d never dream of starting my day at a greasy diner. But that’s at home. Last Saturday I was in New York City, and I knew that Bloom’s Delicatessen, complete with gluten-free menu, was just around the corner.