New York City | Gluten Free Mike

Posts Tagged ‘New York City’

Laboratoire du Fournil, Le Sarissans Organic Chocolate Fondant

Friday, September 28th, 2012

One of the decadent finds on my recent trip to Switzerland was found at an amazing organic market (Urban Bio, 19, Rue des Alpes) that I literally stumbled across while walking around Geneva a day before heading home to the United States. I typically do a bit of research prior to any trip but as the majority of my trip was in my familiar stomping ground of Montreux, I thought I would wing-it for our final night in Geneva. I have a few other goodies that I picked-up in Geneva and will be reviewing them soon. Now on to the chocolate fondant…

This was an amazingly rich and organic tart that was really more like a small round brownie. It contained just five simple organic ingredients: a buckwheat and rice flour blend; cane sugar, eggs, chocolate, and vegetable oil. While the ingredients were incredibly simple the cake itself was wonderfully complex. It had a rich, nutty, chocolate flavor that had only a very subtle sweetness allowing the chocolate to have the spotlight. It was wonderfully moist but was still dense enough to not be overly fragile – I actually threw this in my carry-on on my way home and it arrived in one piece.

So once again a great gluten-free find popped-up when I wasn’t even looking once again proving that you can get out there and, even without major planning, still navigate successfully as a gluten-free traveler. If you happen to be in Geneva, definitely stop-by Urban Bio as there gluten-free selection was truly amazing.

Just part of the gluten-free section at Urban Bio.

Tags: celiac, cœliaque, Geneva, Genf, gluten free, Laboratoire du Fournil, Le Sarissans, markets, New York City, Schweiz, stores, Suisse, Switzerland, travel, Urban Bio, Zöliakie
Posted in Celiac, Gluten-Free, Products, Reviews, Travel | No Comments

My Holiday Guide to the City

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

I am happy to report that I will be spending the holidays here in my hometown of New York and I could not be happier. You see, this is the first time in about 15 years that I have not been on a plane dashing around the globe to spend it with family. This year Gluten Free Mike’s parents are making their way to the City for a true New York Christmas. It is also the City where they had their honeymoon more than 50 years ago and celebrated their 50^th anniversary high atop it a few years ago. There is something magical about the City during the holidays. The buzz is almost electric and from Radio City (just picked up my tickets to the Christmas Spectacular) to the department store windows to Rockefeller Center – they City really knows how to do the holidays.

Perhaps it is just me waxing nostalgic but I grew up here (well, the East End of Long Island) but there was a time when I would leave school early and come in nearly every day when I was a budding child actor (big surprise, right?). My how times have changed and I’ll soon be receiving a Ph.D. rather than a Tony but I wouldn’t change a thing. It is the memories of another time that make my City magical. Walking around the City, a familiar sight or smell can instantly bring me back to another place in time. Yes, things have changed dramatically but some things just never will.

Alright so where am I going with this? Well, I thought I would take you on a virtual walk through some of my favorite gluten-free or friendly places here in the City. You may or may not have seen the reviews before but I figured if you find yourself in the City around the holidays you might need a place to warm up with some sustenance (food or liquid) to re-charge those batteries. So here goes…

If you happen to be arriving at Grand Central Terminal (which is a must to visit during the holidays with its Holiday Bazaar and light shows) fuel-up with a cocktail at the Campbell Apartment. One of my all-time favorite places to grab a drink. It can be super busy during the week but weekends are a bit more relaxed. Their bartenders are second to none and mix a mean cocktail. There are also light bites available for snacking. If you are looking for a unique dining experience head to the other balcony of Grand Central and check out Charlie Palmer’s Métrazur. It’s balcony location affords a unique view of Grand Central Station and you can enjoy the holiday light show right from your table.

If you find yourself in Midtown East for a bit of retail therapy why not head over to the Four Seasons which will be in its Winter phase with decor and food reflecting the season. They have always been great about accommodating guests with food allergies and you really cannot get more New York than this locale. I have been dining there since I was a child and would not change a thing about it. A bit further East is Leona’s at the New York Helmsley Hotel. Completely renovated and renamed for its matriarch’s namesake it is truly a hidden gem and I have already booked a holiday dinner there for when my parents are in town. They too have always been on top of accommodating guests with food allergies and the bartender mixes a fabulous cocktail. Not up for a meal – pop into Harry’s Bar next to the restaurant and tuck into the comfortable surroundings with a cocktail and some great bar nibbles.

If you work your way west to the Rockefeller Center area do not miss the Algonquin lobby bar for a cocktail. It is old New York through and though. The cocktails are amazing, the staff excellent, and you might even get a visit from its resident feline ambassador Matilda. If you are feeling a bit puckish, try the Michelin starred Seäsonal. I had an amazing meal that was allergy-friendly and overseen by a truly welcoming staff. I have sent friends there and they too have fallen in love with this Austrian-influenced locale. They also have quite possibly the most comprehensive Austrian wine list (and wines by the glass) you could hope for. In the mood for Chinese? Stop by Lili’s on 57^th Street for a dedicated gluten-free menu complete with all of your favorites dishes done gluten-free and every bit as delicious.

Perhaps you’ll be at the Time Warner Center before a brisk carriage ride through Central Park (blankets and cocoa are often provided). Why not enter the Mandarin Oriental hotel and head on up to the 35^th floor lobby overlooking Central Park. There you will find Asiate where the food is just as impressive as the view. I had a great meal and the staff were on top of food allergic guests. If a big meal is not what you are looking for, the lobby also have a fabulous cocktail lounge with the same view and small bites.

Maybe you are more of an Uptown Girl (or Guy) and you want to get your soul on this holiday season. Well, then you must head over to Sylvia’s – the Queen of Soul Food. I had a fabulous gluten-free time here and nearly had to be rolled out the door – go hungry. You want to check out the Cloisters at the tip of Manhattan, well there is Bette Midler’s NYRP New Leaf Café. While my reviewed experience was not all that great, I have been back several times and if you can get beyond the sometimes lackluster service the location is truly unique and food good.

If the Upper East Side is more your style than don’t miss Peters’ Restaurant and Grille. An honest to goodness gluten-free diner that has it all from pancakes to Monte Cristos. This is a must stop location for Celiacs in the City. It can get very busy, particularly on weekends but worth the wait or if you live in the area – they deliver. A bit further down is Lumi Italian restaurant which you may remember from the Sex in the City movie. The food is good and I have always left full. It is nice that they have gluten-free pasta options. It is a bit on the pricey side so if a quick pasta fix is more your style head over to Hello Pasta a bit further down and grab some gluten-free spaghetti with your choice of sauce (not all sauces are gluten-free but all are clearly marked). A little birdy told me they will offer gluten-free penne as well in the New Year. One of their founders told me all about their training, practices, and attention to gluten-free guests to ensure we can dine without worry.

Finally, what is New York without pizza? So, my favorite place, Palà, is located the Lower East Side and is not to be missed on your visit to the City. The pizza is definitely my favorite and the other gluten-free options are equally as good.

Okay, so this was a quick trip around the City. If you need additional inspiration, check out my Dining Out section or head on just click on the Restaurants category here in the blog for my recommendations and experiences around the globe.

Here’s wishing everyone a truly happy and healthy holiday season and a wonderful and prosperous New Year.

Tags: celiac, dining out, gluten free, holidays, New York City, restaurants
Posted in Best Of, Cocktails, Dining Out, Favorite Things, Gluten-Free, Holidays, QNYGF, Restaurants, Reviews, Travel | No Comments

Schar Event N.Y.C., Living a Gluten Free Lifestyle

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

I was so happy when I received an invitation about two months ago to attend a Schär luncheon and presentation here at Espace here in New York City. I have long been a tremendous fan of their products and quite honestly when their products appeared at my local grocer, it opened up a new world of taste for me.

The event was really very lovely with a gluten-free cocktail hour that gave attendees time to mix and mingle. I met some extremely interesting fellow Celiacs as well as a host of medical professionals, journalists, and food industry folks. The entire afternoon would feature recipes that included items from the Schär product portfolio. The cocktail hour kicked it off with passed antipasti that included: Mixed Mezze (Tapenade, Caponata, Baba Ghanoush, Feta, and Haloumi cheese); Assorted Bruschette with heirloom tomato, green olive, and cucumber dill; and Mini Artisanal Pizza with goat cheese and pest, roasted artichoke with Manchego, and Margherita with buffalo mozzarella. It was an absolute dream to have passed hors d’oeuvres and being able to indulge without having to worry about gluten.

After the initial mix and mingle we headed into the main room for lunch. Again, it was great to finally put real faces to names that had until then only existed online. I was seated with a fascinating mix of people, from a fabulous health coach to a cookbook author to representatives from the Long Island Celiac association and even GFSoupmom (who works for a fabulous company that makes GF soups I must try). Each table also had a representative from Schär USA. The group could not have been nicer and the conversation was so engaging.

I know, you want to know what was for lunch? Well, Espace and Schär did not disappoint. The first course was a baby arugula salad with goat cheese crostini in a citrus white balsamic dressing. It was funny that someone made the comment these are the first thing I normally have to remove referring to the cheese-topped crostini – so true. For the main course there was a choice of herb crusted fluke with fusilli in a heirloom tomato/basil sauce or Stuffed chicken breast with ricotta and red peppers over penne and mixed baby vegetables. I had the chicken which was really very good. It was breaded with Schär bread crumbs (as was the fish) and the stuffing was actually very good. For dessert there was an amazing Tiramisu and the table was presented with a selection of Schär cookies and chocolate covered strawberries. The Tiramisu was out of this world.

Now the afternoon was not just about eating – though it definitely was a major part. There were four very informative presenters throughout the afternoon. First up was Dr. Alessio Fasano who many of you already know as he’s the Director of the Center for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland. He gave a truly informative presentation that started with the history of Celiac disease which, I personally found to be amazing. He then presented some of his research which was equally as interesting. The sheer numbers of both total Celiacs and the cost associated with properly diagnosing across a range of risk categories was staggering.

Next up was Schär USA’s Director of Nutritional Services Anne Roland Lee who talked about living a balance (and delicious) gluten-free lifestyle. We all know that as Celiacs we miss out on some of the fortification that others get from gluten-rich foods. She pointed out that traditional gluten-rich breads are fortified and essentially regulated by the F.D.A. – there are no such standards for gluten-free products. Schär actually uses alternative gluten-free grains in their products to help provide a more well-balanced option for Celiacs and those with gluten intolerance. Schär is committed to providing Celiacs with great tasting and healthful options which is most appreciated because being Celiacs often presents enough challenges.

Hannes Berger, the president and CEO of Schär USA address the group next and gave insight into the history of the company and some future development plans for the company in the United States. Donna George, vice president of Schär USA also spoke briefly on where the company was looking to expand.

The final speaker was perhaps the most riveting. Colin Leslie is an 18 year old with Celiac disease who had what can only be describe as a horrific road to diagnosis that was riddled with misdiagnoses for a host of conditions he never actually had. His story was not that different from many, who after sometimes years of misdiagnoses, finally meet the one doctor who puts it all together and changes your life. What makes Colin so remarkable is that he has been a Celiac advocate since he was 13 starting his own walk for the disease to raise money and awareness for Celiac disease. I highly recommend that you head over to his Web site to learn more about him and his walk. Truly inspiring.

When we left we were presented with a fantastic swag bag of Schär product and there was one surprise in there – their new par baked Mini Baguettes which I have not seen in the United States. I cannot wait to pop them in the oven and give them a try.

The fantastic Tiramisu

Tags: celiac, gluten free, Luncheon, New York City, NYC, Press, products, Schar
Posted in Celiac, Dining Out, Gluten-Free, Products | No Comments

A Hidden Gem in Midtown East

Monday, June 21st, 2010

Being a true New Yorker, I am always happy when I stumble across new locales that turn out to be hidden gems among the sea of options here in the City. Last night turned out to be one of those times when the stars aligned and a truly wonderful experience followed. Now I normally relegate reviews to my Dining section, but wanted to draw some attention to this locale.

As many of you know, I have an affinity for all things classic New York. So when I found myself at a late matinee on Sunday, I did a bit of quick research in order to find something new and different for cocktails and dinner afterwards with my other half. I had heard that the New York Helmsley had recently been re-vamped and though why not give it a go. You can say what you want about Leona Helmsley but there are few names that are truly synonymous with New York and impeccable service. Ah, the days when the Palace was the crown in the Helmsley Hotels crown are now long gone but a recent renovation of the New York Helmsley has yielded quite the surprise. A new and fresh Harry’s Bar and a newly re-named (and re-designed) Leona’s restaurant (formerly Mindy’s) make for a welcome addition to the Midtown East scene.

We arrived around 6 o’clock to indulge in a some liquid libations pre-dinner. The color scheme, design, and overall layout of Harry’s are all perfect. It was not crowded on this occasion but one could easily see how you could feel “alone” even if it was a full house. We were a bit hidden from the view of the bar so it took a little time to catch the servers attention but as we were not in any rush really made no difference. We felt welcomed and relaxed and the service did not disappoint. Drinks were so very well-made and came with a side of water and bar nibbles. It is important to note that service is included in your bill in both the bar (15%) and restaurant (19%). I actually do not mind this as it is the same in many places around the world. Some might argue that there is no incentive for staff to provide exceptional service but, in my experience, this is just not the case. The only thing I would change at the Helmsley is adding an additional line to the receipt to tip above the standard included. Sometimes people go above and beyond and it is nice to recognize their efforts accordingly.

After an hour of so of fabulous (and I do mean fabulous) cocktails we headed into the restaurant and we warmly greeted and shown to our table. The first this we noticed is that we had the restaurant to ourselves – I mean completely to ourselves and would remain so for our entire meal. Now, I might normally find this worrisome as an empty restaurant can mean several things but it was summer in the City and the restaurant is in fact open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Perhaps the new branding is also slow in getting out into the mainstream.

The layout of the restaurant is so thoughtfully planned that I can remember few that were so well laid out. While not a huge room, the design affords a level of intimacy that, even if full, I could see still remaining. The restaurant is actually quite beautiful with small touches like contrasting fabrics and backlit onyx (as was the bar top at Harry’s). Fresh flowers and tea light candles make for a pleasant yet unpretentious welcome. Our waiter and his team could not have been nicer or more knowledgeable in their recommendations. Not to mention my food allergies were a non-issue after I explained them. The bread presentation was soon made, I of course could not indulge, but my partner raved at how fresh and delicious his selection was.

Now I have to admit I was concerned at what might come out of the kitchen seeing as we were the only two in the dining room (though room service did appear to be coming from the kitchen as well). Well, my concerns were soon tossed to the wind as our meal progressed. For starters we both had the baby spinach salad with roasted red beets, shaved red onions, and goat cheese in a red wine vinaigrette. I have to say that the salad was so perfectly dressed that it was a subtle undertone to the earthiness of the spinach and beets. I mean to actually achieve this balance really shows that the kitchen knows that they are doing. The saltiness of the goat cheese made for the perfect accompaniment adding another dimension to this simple yet carefully thought-out salad.

For my entrée I had the New York Strip steak but asked for it without any sauce and with haricots verts instead of asparagus and mashed potatoes. My request was not a problem in the least and my steak was beautifully grilled to a perfect medium as requested – perfectly pink throughout and extremely tender. My partner had the grilled rack of lamb with summer squash and griddled potatoes with a rosemary jus. He raved about the dish and is a true lamb aficionado so not the easiest in the world to please. Not only as the lamb cooked to perfection, there were four chops that comprised the rack which was a very generous portion.

Dessert, while good, was nothing exceptional but quite honestly we could have forgone dessert and just had coffee. I had a simple chocolate ice cream that was nicely presented but seemed to have been pre-scooped in the freezer before service started. My partner had the flourless chocolate cake, which we could not confirm whether it was gluten-free, and he said it tasted a bit old. Again, I am thinking that it was a slow night and the desserts were pre-portioned and sitting for a while.

So all in all the experience was very good and the food well above average. The service is really where this restaurant shines and the layout and design make for a truly transporting experience. I will most definitely be back again and can only hope that word of Leona’s begins to spread because it would be shame to see it change into anything other than what it is.

Tags: dining out, hotels, Leona's, luxury hotels, New York City, New York Helmsely, NYC, restaurants, reviews
Posted in Celiac, Dining Out, Gluten-Free, Meals, Restaurants, Reviews | No Comments

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Blue Smoke NYC Review

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

The other evening I found myself in a part of town that I normally do not frequent while attending a theater production. So I jumped online and did a quick search of restaurants near the theater to get a feel for what was around. I came across a restaurant that I had heard of before but never tried so decided to head on over to their Web site and look at their menu to see if there was even a remote possibility of me dining there. I am a huge fan of BBQ. I like northern, northern, southern, and just about everywhere in between types of BBQ. Dry rub…check. Heavily sauced…check. I was over the moon when I saw that Blue Smoke (the restaurant in question) actually had a gluten-free menu (check it out at the end of this post). Yep, those two magical words appeared larger than most in the word cloud on the restaurant’s site. I quickly made a reservation as images of my BBQ sauce stained fingers passed before me.

When the evening we’d be dining there finally rolled around, I was, to say the least, giddy with excitement to sample this new locale. My other half and I had imbibed for an hour or so prior to heading over to the restaurant at one of my all-time favorite bars – The Campbell Apartment. There is just something about that place that has always drawn me to it. Not to mention early evenings on weekends are far less chaotic than during the week or later at night so I always try to pop-in for at least one cocktail when in the neighborhood.

So after tying on a few, my other half and I headed on down to Blue Smoke. What’s nice about this place is that it features a rather good Jazz club on its lower-level (The Jazz Standard) and the restaurant above. So technically you can binge at the restaurant and then roll yourself down the stairs for some smooth Jazz stylings…but I digress.

The restaurant was hopping when we arrived and we finally made our way to the front desk. We were told our table was just being set and within a few minutes were seated at our table. Oh, I forgot to mention that when the host was grabbing the menus I asked for a gluten-free version which first seemed to surprise him but he quickly grabbed a smaller red-framed menu that offered only gluten-free options.

Now I am always a bit leery of restaurants that have a gluten-free menu but are not really gluten-free establishments. I always wonder how many requests does the kitchen actually get and do they really take it seriously. Well, Blue Smoke definitely shines in this area. When ordering I told the waiter that not only was I Celiac, but that I have a severe (read deadly) allergy to shellfish which he repeated to me and noted on the order ticket. Nice. I opted for the Baked Chipotle Wings as a starter. I cannot remember the last time I have anything remotely related to Buffalo wings when dining out. Not only is the gluten-contaminated oil a factor but most places tend to fry shellfish (and anything else) in a communal fryer. Disgusting I know, but I learned the hard way when I reacted not once, but twice to shellfish laced French Fries – fool me once… So the baked wings seemed like such a fantastic option I could not understand why more places don’t offer such an item. The GF menu noted not to have the bleu cheese dressing. I ordered the lean Brisket of beef for my main which came with a side of mashed potatoes (sans fried onion topping) and my other half and I shared a side of beets.

When the pile of rather large-sized wings arrived at the table I nearly squealed like a school girl but something caught my eye – a small cup of blue cheese dressing was next to a larger bucket of Chipotle sauce. I found it strange but simply removed the offending sauce and pretty much inhaled the plate in front of me. When the waiter came back to clear the dishes, I nicely noted that he may want to tell the kitchen about the blue cheese. He stated that when the plates are dressed the runners put both sauces on because some people tend to order them for a table vs. themselves and like to share . Well, me being a greedy guts (I did share two with my partner, who indulged in the bleu cheese, it made perfect sense.

The Brisket arrived next was a HUGE portion. It was cooked to perfection and the table was filled with a variety of sauces and shakers to accommodate a wide-rage of taste preferences (all of which were GF by the way). The mashed potatoes were heavenly and beets cooked to simple perfection. While completely stuffed, I decided to binge even more and have some plain ice cream and coffee for dessert.

When the ice cream arrived, the runner (not the waiter) said “Ooops, sorry, there is a cookie underneath there. I am sorry, let me get you another”. I thought that was incredible that they knew what to look out for before it even hit the table. Also, after we were finished our waiter came by and said he owed me an apology as he heard the first dessert arrived with a cookie. What? Are we still in N.Y.C.? I though that was such a nice move (though unnecessary) on his part because it shows that they take allergies seriously and it is comforting to know you have a line of two or three people looking out for you.

I could not have been happier with the entire experience and highly recommend Blue Smoke to all of my Celiac and non-Celiac friends out there. Oh, and they mix a mean cocktail, which I can personally attest to .

Tags: BBQ, Blue Smoke, celiac, gluten free, gluten-free menu, jazz, New York City, NYC, restaurants, ribs
Posted in Celiac, Dining Out, Gluten-Free, Meals, Restaurants, Reviews | No Comments

Just A Little Update

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Time for another quick update of what GFM has been up to. In case you missed it, you will not want to miss the fifth episode in my Quintessentially Gluten Free New York (QGFNY) series. This episode finds me dining high above Manhattan at the Mandarin Oriental’s Asiate restaurant. While you are checking this out, don’t miss the previous episodes featuring some of the most unique dining experiences in the City.

Oh, and if you are looking for gluten -free or -friendly restaurants you can find them in the Dining section as well.

GFM will be hitting the road again this week with my travels taking me south to the North Carolina coast. I am looking to sample some of my reader’s favorite places to dine while I am down there gluten-free or otherwise. So, if you are familiar with the coast from Wilmington to New Bern and know of a place I should check out, please contact me and let me know. I am really looking for places you frequent that can at least adapt to dietary restrictions…and remember if it is seafood exclusive it is a no-go for me. See, you knew there had to be at least one condition.

Finally, if you haven’t checked out my Resources and Links section lately, please do. I have added some new GF blogs that are definitely worth a read. If you have a blog that is not listed, just use the blog submission form and I would be happy to add it. All I ask for is a reciprocal link on your blog. I am always amazed at the great quality and wide-range of topics and interests that my fellow Celiacs cover in their blogs. I always learn something new and what better resources than ourselves to help guide us as we continue our journey to gluten-free fabulousness.

So there you have it in a nutshell. Be sure to check out my real-time Tweets and Facebook updates as I make my way down the Eastern seaboard as I am certain it will be a interesting journey – particularly given the amount of snow that is supposed to transpire over the next two days. It should be a very interesting journey indeed.

Tags: Asiate, celiac, dining out, fine dining, gluten free, hotels, Mandarin Oriental, Manhattan, New York City, NYC, QNYGF, restaurants
Posted in Celiac, Dining Out, Gluten-Free, Meals, Products, QNYGF, Restaurants, Reviews | No Comments

The Second QNYGF Locale Is On Deck

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

After the success and positive feedback received since my visit to the Four Seasons, I am happy to announce that the second locale has been chosen. Where will my love of eating gluten free in the most iconic New York City restaurants take me this time? Well, you will just have to wait to find out. But fear not – it will not be a long wait. GFM has his sights set on Labor Day Weekend to see if he can go gluten free at a restaurant that does not cater specifically to Celiacs. This restaurant will in fact be a first for GFM and I love a challenge. I promise not to disappoint as we take a glimpse, yet again, into one of the places that makes New York City a foodie’s paradise. As always, I will be evaluating the establishment on a variety of criteria to measure how it fairs in the allergy (gluten and shellfish) department.

So do stay tuned for updates and I hope you will join me on my journey. Oh, and in November I am taking the series on the road and going international to some very exciting destinations for some gluten free dining on a global scale.

Tags: celiac disease, gluten free, New York City, restaurants, reviews
Posted in Celiac, Gluten-Free, QNYGF, Restaurants, Reviews | No Comments

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry.

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

Well, I hope that you all enjoyed the first restaurant in my QNYGF series. I look forward to bring you to many more iconic New York City restaurants to show that eating well gluten free is possible no matter where you end up. Also, I hope that my rankings of how the restaurants faired will prove useful in your own dining experiences. I had a really great time bringing you the inaugural restaurant and an even better time eating and drinking to bring you the review.

Now the series will not just be limited to New York with Dubai and some European destinations soon to join their New York counterparts. The international component should make for some interesting experiences. Oh, and the locales will not always be five star gourmet restaurants but rather an eclectic mix of places that truly capture what a particular city is all about. The only caveat is that Gluten Free Mike does not eat chain fast food — ever.

So stay tuned for the next installment and I hope you will continue to take dining out gluten free to a whole new level.

Tags: celiac, gluten free, New York City, restaurants, reviews
Posted in Celiac, Gluten-Free, QNYGF, Restaurants | No Comments

Tomorrow Evening It All Begins

Friday, August 7th, 2009

Well tomorrow is the kick-off to my QNYGF series and I am really very excited about this new section and hope that my readers will enjoy it. While the first location is a secret, I can say that it is indeed quintessentially New York without a doubt. Now, we all know I am pretty much a lush and do enjoy the finer things in life so any excuse to dine out is always welcome. Ah, the lengths I will go through for my readers.

On a more serious note this new series is not just about eating fabulous food and indulging in fine wines and spirits. It is meant to educate and demonstrate that, as a Celiac, you are only limited by your imagination when it comes to dining out. This exercise will help you to ask the right questions and make the right choices to ensure that no gluten makes it way into your meal and consequently your digestive system. We only get one spin around the proverbial cosmic roulette wheel so I am placing all my money on fabulous!

Each locale that is chosen for the QNYGF series will be evaluated on set criteria to show how accommodating each place was on everything from menu options to wait staff handling of food allergies. Remember, I am not just a Celiac, I am also deathly allergic to any and all shellfish so without being a pain in the you know what, I am interested to see how each locale handles it.

Finally, I will always be dining with a non-Celiac to help add an additional dimension to the reviews. I do hope you will join me regularly and find the information useful in your living a fabulous gluten free life!

Tags: dining out, New York City, restaurants, reviews
Posted in Celiac, Gluten-Free, QNYGF, Restaurants | No Comments

Get Ready for a Whole New Level of Fabulousness

Friday, July 31st, 2009

It is now only 8 days and counting until I kick off my Quintessentially New York Gluten Free (QNYGF) series. I am so excited about this one and the first restaurant in the series will not disappoint. Remember, the goal of this series is to demonstrate and educate that you can in fact live a full, rich, and most importantly delicious gluten free life in a world full of gluten. While gluten free restaurants or menus are welcome I am bucking convention and going to show you how to make smart choices and ask the right questions at any restaurant. I will be evaluating the wait and kitchen staffs’ receptivity and helpfulness in recognizing not only my gluten allergy but my shellfish allergy as well. Each local will be ranked according to a proprietary scale that will quantify just how gluten friendly they were.

I do hope that you will come along for the journey and the window into what are probably some of the greatest restaurants in the city. Don’t forget GFM is always popping around the globe so look for the QGFNY series to expand to other major cities and wherever my travels might take me. Already in the works is QDXBGF (Quintessentially Dubai Gluten Free).

Tags: celiac, gluten free, New York City, restaurants, reviews
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Posts Tagged ‘New York City’

Laboratoire du Fournil, Le Sarissans Organic Chocolate Fondant

My Holiday Guide to the City

Schar Event N.Y.C., Living a Gluten Free Lifestyle

A Hidden Gem in Midtown East

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Blue Smoke NYC Review

Just A Little Update

The Second QNYGF Locale Is On Deck

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry.

Tomorrow Evening It All Begins

Get Ready for a Whole New Level of Fabulousness

Featured

Applegate Recall and GF “Certification”

My GF Year In Review

GF Guide to the Swiss Riviera, Complete Guide

Lima, Peru GF Travel Guide

Bermuda GF Travel Guide

Featured Product Review: Crunchmaster New Products

Featured Restaurant Review, Harry’s New York Bar

Product Review: Homestead Gluten Free Easy Roll Mix

GFM Helps Kick Off NFCA Blogger A Day Series

GFM on MSNBC.com Travel

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