GF in Williamsburg!

I kind of had my mind blown this weekend, by an under-the-radar GF-friendly spot in Williamsburg: Fabiane's. "GF-friendly" is an understatement. Behold:

Nice, right?

I went for brunch this past Sunday, kicking myself for making plans at a new-to-me place on marathon Sunday. As Fabiane's was ON the marathon route, it was packed. Heartened by the GF menu board, I placed my order, made my severe gluten-intolerance clear, and crossed my fingers. At Fabiane's, you order your food at the counter, pay, get a table number, and they bring your order over. Ravenous, I got this to munch on while we waited:

Yucca cake: plain looking but DELICIOUS

Then my baked eggs came:

A gift from the brunch gods

Eggs with prosciutto, scallions, and cheese. And homemade gluten-free toast. Yeah, I said it. HOMEMADE. So good.

But, guys, there's more. So much more:

I had this one. All of it. In about 60 seconds. So good, I worried that it wasn't really GF.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. They have a ton of other pastries, about half a dozen muffin flavors, sandwiches, waffles, and french toast. Just a heads up that the online menu doesn't list the GF options at this point, but I was told that the breakfast items are available all day and the sandwiches can be made on GF bread.

Have I convinced you? Fabiane's is where it's at. Worth a trip for the pastries alone! Want some excellent GF company on your trip? The Brooklyn Gluten-Free Meetup Group is gathering for dinner at Fabiane's in January!

Daikon and Eggs (Egads, a Recipe!)

Contrary to what my posts may indicate, I cook - a lot. I rarely share my kitchen adventures here because I am an incredibly inexact cook and so can't give you the proper measurements, yields, etc. that one expects from a recipe. But I've been obsessed with a dish lately, have a basic recipe, and need to share: 

Yes to daikon and eggs.

What, you were expecting something fancy? Not going to find that here. I tend towards meals of the sort one might call "peasant food", said with all the affection in the world. Rustic vegetables, inexpensive but flavorful proteins, interesting grains, and the like.

This dish is adapted from the book I cook out of most often: Madhur Jaffrey's World Vegetarian. Woman writes excellent recipes - every one I've tried has been a slam dunk.

2lbs daikon, scrubbed clean (peeled, if necessary) and cut into 1" cubes
2T cooking oil (I used olive)
2T soy sauce (San J gluten-free tamari = my favorite)
1T toasted sesame oil
1c vegetable stock (I used 1T Better than Bullion vegetable concentrate & 1 c hot water)
1T sugar (I considered omitting this, but now realize that it's essential)

Sushi rice
Hot sauce of your choice
The best quality eggs you can afford at the moment

Sushi rice: I use the general ratio of 2:1 water to rice. (You can use slightly less water if you like your rice drier.) Rinse rice until water is clear. (I'm supposed to say that, but I often skip this step if I'm not actually making sushi with the rice.) If you have a rice cooker, use that. If not, a medium saucepan with lid will be fine. Bring to a boil, cover, turn heat to the lowest setting, and cook for 15-20 minutes. (Be forewarned: Cooking liquid will most likely stream down the sides of pot.)

Heat the 2T of cooking oil, add daikon and cook for about 5 minutes, until all sides are lightly browned. Add the 2T soy sauce, 1c vegetable stock, and 1T sugar - stir well. Bring to a boil, reduce, cover and cook until very tender, about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Cook eggs: Bring heavily salted water to a boil and then lower as many eggs as you wish to cook into boiling water. Return to boil, cover, turn off heat, set timer for 6 minutes. After 6 minutes, lower pan into sink, pour off hot water, and run cold water over eggs. Egg should be set, but center of yolk should be glossy and creamy, almost like custard. (The ones in my photo are cold, as I made a large batch of eggs yesterday. They still taste delicious, but aren't as pretty as yours will be!)

Once the daikon is tender, remove from heat and drizzle with toasted sesame oil.

Then plate this baby up: Rice, daikon, one or two eggs, and a drizzle of hot sauce. Creamy, bitter, spicy, savory goodness.

Needs pork, you say? Maybe next time.

Lost Count at 40 (GF-Friendly Eateries and Products)

I know I often extol the virtues of the NYC Celiac Disease Meetup to the high heavens - and I'm here to do it again! It's just a great group of folks with a collective wisdom about living GF in NYC that can't be beat. I always leave an event with another GF tip - whether it be a new place to eat or a new product to buy. I also always leave feeling like I can't remember 5 or 10 other great tips because I was busy enjoying myself! To that end, I started taking notes at a recent event. When I explained what I was doing, attendees started listing so many good ideas, that I just passed a notebook and pen around! I typed the list up and sent it to all who attended the dinner.

Below is a copy of our list. It's arranged by neighborhood, borough, state (there are some NJ businesses listed). While one or more of us have eaten safely at many of the venues, it is definitely NOT a guaranteed safe list! Please exercise your usual GF caution before dining, i.e. call ahead, ask about their processes, etc. Personally, I would not eat at a number of the venues below, because I am so very sensitive to even small amounts of gluten. I am listing them anyway because I know there are people who are much less sensitive and would likely choose to dine at many of these eateries.

The venues with asterisks are places where I've personally eaten safely. (If you'd care to make similar notes and share, please do so in comments below!) As I mentioned, the list is arranged by neighborhood. (I am geographically challenged, so please correct any mistakes, please and thank you!)

This list is a work in progress. I'll be updating it with new venues, hyperlinks, and a map (most) every Friday. I hope it helps get you out in the world more often, enjoying safe social eating with the people in your life.

LES:

*Babycakes (Vegan/Kosher/Soy-free/GF cupcakes, cookies, donuts, and more. A must-go when in NYC.)

West Village:

*Risotteria (Italian: risotto (of course), pizza, fantastic breadsticks, and baked goods. Their old-school black and white cookies are amazing; I have made the trip for those alone.)

Gustorganics (Organic. Clearly marked GF items on menus.)
Gobo (Vegan/GF)

East Village:

Pommes Frites (All French fries, all the time)

*Stogo (Vegan/GF ice cream + baked goods/sweets from Babycakes and other vegan/GF producers)

*Tu-Lu’s Bakery (All GF. Offering sweet and savory baked goods, as well as gorgeous panini on homemade bread.)

*S’mac (Mac ‘n cheese.)

*Rice (292 Elizabeth St.) (One of my very favorite places to eat in all of NYC! Ask for the separate GF menu.)

Pala Pizza (Regular pizzeria offering GF options.)

Caracas (Arepas)

Sacred Chow (Vegan/Kosher)

Chelsea:

*Friedman’s Lunch (Many, many GF options for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Located in the historic Chelsea Market.)

Union Square:

*PIE (GF pizza. Delicious. Not available by the slice.)

Flex Mussels

Gramercy/Flatiron:

Bar Breton (Buckwheat galettes)

Blue Smoke (BBQ – with a jazz club one floor away!)

Eleven Madison Park (Offers GF diners a GF breadbasket with a selection of Everybody Eats artisanal breads)

Midtown:

Bistango (Very GF-friendly Italian – and they now have GF cupcakes!)

Times Sq.:

Ruby Foo’s (Asian food. A limited GF menu. Have heard only good things about their food and ambiance.)

Midtown West:

Heartland Brewery (There are multiple Heartland locations in NYC, but this is currently the only site offering a GF menu.)

Nizza (Italian. Separate GF menu.)

Midtown East/UES:

*Lilli and Loo (GF Asian, including sushi!)

UES:

*Lumi (High-end Italian)

Flex Mussels

Candle 79 (Vegan/GF)
Candle Cafe (Vegan/GF)

*Peters’ Gourmet Diner (Upscale diner where most of the menu is GF)

Gobo (Vegan/GF)

UWS:

Café 82

Nice Matin

Café Fiorello

Multiple locations:

Spice

5 Napkin Burger (One member of the NYC Celiac Meetup group reports that they have GF buns and a dedicated GF fryer. As always – be sure to inquire before ingesting!)

We also hear that gluten-free street food is coming to NYC – a kiosk – somewhere in lower Manhattan. Details when I have ‘em. 

Brooklyn, Park Slope:

*Bogota Latin Bistro (2 dedicated GF fryers and a newly expanded GF-friendly menu!)

*Everybody Eats (All-GF bakery, offering beautiful baguettes, bagels, challah, cookies, and more)

*Sun in Bloom (All vegan, many GF menu items – all GF baked goods)

Sheep Station (Carrying Everybody Eats buns for sandwiches and burgers)

V Spot (Vegan with some GF)

Brooklyn, DUMBO: 
Rice (One of my very favorite places to eat in all of NYC! Ask for the separate GF menu.)

NJ, Hoboken:

Filipos

Anthony David’s

Pasta Truck

Bin 14

Basic Foods

Stax – GF pancakes

Hoboken Farms

GF products/places to shop:

*GFree NYC (Of course! NYC’s first all GF store!)

Katz’s Gluten-Free (Brooklyn)

Gluten-free Shoppe (Brooklyn)

Cider:

*Original Sin cider (I can vouch for this one: D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S.)

Chains:

PF Chang’s

Rosa Mexicano

Pizzeria Uno

California Pizza Kitchen

Bonefish Grill

Carabas Italian

Outback Steakhouse

TGIFriday’s

Le Pan Quotidian – (One member of our group has enjoyed their GF quiche with all buckwheat crust)

Etc:

*Foods by George (To-die for brownies and other baked goods)

*Namaste mixes (Low sugar, "natural" baking mixes)

Jacques Torres chocolates, including Easter chocolate bunnies

GF App for iPhone: http://www.glutenfreeapp.com/www.glutenfreeapp.com/Welcome.html

GF Diner Joy (Peters', With Pictures)

This past Monday was (yet another) grey, rainy day here in NYC. Despite the weather, 12 hungry celiacs attended a NYC Celiac Disease Meetup at Peters' Gourmet Diner. Peter was so very accommodating, setting us up at a nice long table along the center of the restaurant, with plenty of room on either side for people to visit and mingle.

In case you aren't familiar with Peters': It's owned by a Peter and is decorated with photographs featuring (other) famous Peters:  Peter Gabriel, Peter Jackson, Peter Faulk - you get the idea. It has an upscale diner feel, with a handful of booths, many tables, and both a front and back patio. It's equally great for a big family meal and quiet solo dining, you and a book on a weekday night.

All that, and their menu is almost completely gluten-free! Breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner. Pancakes, omelettes, club sandwiches and burgers, chicken parm and pasta. So many options that it took us a good 20 minutes to make up our minds. For the most part, we went old school:

Cheeseburger and fries - can't beat that with a stick.

With a little twist:

Cheeseburger with salsa and avocado

Lighter fare:

Broiled 1/2 chicken with sauteed vegetables. Much brighter and happier than my sad little camera pic lets on.

And the dish I coveted the most (while thoroughly enjoying my burger):

Chicken parm, baby. And, YES, those cutlets are BREADED, gf-style.
 

There were also beautiful salads, stuffed potato skins, sandwiches, GF beer, and more - I didn't want to hold up the chowing down with my picture taking. Forgive the low light of the pics I did take: just wanted to give you some idea of what Peters' has to offer, to encourage you to get on over there!

(And if it helps to put your worried GF mind at ease: half of the kitchen at Peters' is dedicated GF, with its own fryer, toaster, griddle, etc. Peter has been operating this way since the diner's inception, prompted by a good friend's GF diagnosis. About 20% of their clientele is GF. Let's increase that percentage, shall we?)

I also can't overstate what a fantastic time we all had - chatting, sharing stories and recommendations, and just enjoying time with people who get it. If you haven't already, please consider joining the NYC Celiac Disease Meetup, a Celiac Meetup in your area - or starting one if there isn't one where you live!

Tourist Season (Downtown and UWS Eats)

Well, it's about that time, the point in spring when we natives fall in love with the city all over again and the population seems to double with an influx of tourists. Whether you're a resident or visitor, you should be able to ramble and roam the city - not always easy to do when you're gluten-intolerant. Planning ahead is key when you're GF. When I know I'll be out and about with others, I get a ballpark idea of where we'll be in town and get a list of safe places I'll be able to eat when we're there. To that end, here are two of my go-to spots: Hampton Chutney Company on Prince St. and the UWS.

Both sites sell dosas and uttapas (both fabulously gluten-free), which I can best describe as filled crepes (dosas) or pancakes (uttapas) made with a sourdough chickpea/rice flour batter. While the batter is traditional, most of the fillings are not. They do offer a masala potato filling, but most others tend towards upscale sandwich ingredients, i.e. goat cheese, arugula, roasted red peppers, etc. My favorite is actually their breakfast dosa with eggs, spinach, roasted tomato, and jack cheese. Nice, right? And each meal comes with your choice of Hampton's many chutney options.

So if you'll be meandering through the LES or heading out for a stroll in Central Park, put Hampton Chutney Company on your delicious and safe eats list.

Restaurant Update

Did you hear?!? Bogota in Park Slope now has two (two, not one, but TWO) dedicated gluten-free fryers! That means empanadas, fried plantains, and so many other wonderful things that I bet you haven't had in years. (Ever?)

I hope this news tips the balance and convinces you that, yes, you need to come out to Brooklyn for a visit, ASAP.