Wish for a Wednesday (Plus Diner Recommendation)

Dear Brooklyn,

Could you please rustle up a diner where I can get safe basic meals like pancakes and omelets, sandwiches, a burger - maybe even an egg sandwich to go? Because I really miss that and could use one of those egg sandwiches on this rainy morning.

Please and thank you,
Carolyn

While I have yet to hear of such a thing in my native borough, Manhattan has one! Peters' Gourmet Diner (yes, the apostrophe goes there - you'll see why once you visit) on the Upper East Side (UES) of Manhattan is GF heaven. Pancakes, salads, burgers, pasta - and not a sad little throwing-us-a-bone GF menu. You can't tell from the Menupages menu, but MOST of the menu is gluten-free. M-O-S-T. There's GF garlic bread to go with your pasta, hot Reuben sandwiches, a dedicated GF fryer for french fries - the works.

I just wish there was a Peters' in Brooklyn! That's the only downside to this spot - they're waaaaay over on the east side at 1st Avenue (1606 1st Avenue betw 83rd & 84th). But it's definitely worth the schlep. They're kid-friendly and have year-round seating on their heated back patio plus additional outdoor seating in front once the weather turns nice. Museum row is just a few avenues over, so it's PERFECT if you're planning a museum afternoon (I've stopped here many times pre- or post). And if you live in the area, they deliver! A win/win. Get thee to Peters' posthaste!

Bogota (Colombian in Park Slope)

Hooray, the weekend is almost here! I'm usually a pretty happy camper during the workweek, but I can't remember the last time I was so happy to see Friday. This has me pondering all manner of weekend-y joys including BRUNCH! To that end, may I present my newest submission for your NYC gf-eating pleasure:

Bogota Latin Bistro! This is my favorite brunch (and dinner, for that matter) spot in Brooklyn. We even had a NYC Celiac Disease Meetup at Bogota recently! They offer gf items including arepas, latin egg dishes, quinoa cakes, and chimichurri. Most of the gf items are not listed on the current menu, so you'll need to ask your server. Bogota is well-known for it's amazing staff - even when they're super busy (as they usually are) the staff are always relaxed and helpful. I'm never made to feel like a pain in the tuchus for requesting details about the gf offerings.

I'll be posting more about Bogota in the near future. If you'd like to get your brunch on there this weekend, drop me a note and I'll send you details on the gf menu items.

Sun In Bloom (The Sweets)

Lemon-strawberry cupcakes. You want one.

Some days, you just need a cupcake. Meeting that need when you're gf? Not so easy. I will admit to baking up a tray of cupcakes from a mix when I'm desperate - and then eating way too much, of course. (Even if I just want ONE, I over-indulge; my sweet tooth doesn't have an off switch.) Or schlepping to an out-of-the way (verrrrry out-of-the-way) gf bakery, only to overindulge yet again because, I trekked ALL the way there, dag nabbit. And (whimper) doesn't little 'ol gluten-free me deserve treats?

Pathetic, I know.

But those days, they are over - thanks to Sun In Bloom (yes, the "I" is capitalized here), a Park Slope eatery that has gf cupcakes every single day, so I can get just one - and get my fix. My favorite is relatively new, the lemon-strawberry pictured above: lemony cake with lemon frosting and fresh sliced strawberries. (I like it best after it's been refrigerated, as it hardens the frosting.)

Want a sweet, but (strangely) not in the mood for a cupcake? They also offer muffins, chocolate chip cookies, whoopie pies, and banana bread (with or w/o chocolate chips) - all gluten-free! 

Carrot cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies.

For all my goings on about their sweets, should mention: Sun In Bloom is a full menu organic vegan and macrobiotic eatery, with the breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus available all day. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday, and the menu changes weekly, with a gluten-free pancake item offered every week. (A recent brunch menu included pancakes with caramelized bananas and fresh strawberries. Nice.) Oh, and: All items are vegan, most can be made gluten-free, and some are raw. (Gluten-free, vegan, raw cheesecake, anyone?) I can't offer savory recommendations, as I haven't sampled them yet (will post an update when I do) - but sweets? They all rock.

Cookie sandwich? Yes, please.

The restaurant space itself is gorgeous and comfortable: farm tables, loads of natural light, and high ceilings. The staff is delightful to a fault, even when presented with surly pre-caffeine, low blood sugar me some mornings. You should go there. You will like it. Open 8am-8pm every day, Sun In Bloom is located at 460 Bergen St. between 5th and 6th Avenues and can be found on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/suninbloom