finally, a slice of nyc pizza

in lieu of working, i spent the day roaming around the city with a good friend, searching for bookstores, until finally finding the perfect books for the day, catching some great holiday sales, and of course eating gluten-free food. the first place we stopped was mozzarelli's on 38 east 23rd street, another one of these gf-friendly places i have been reading about, but not quite getting too. i have now tried several gluten-free pizzas in various places throughout manhattan, but this place has been called “the best gluten-free pizza in nyc,” then again i have heard that tagline before. but still, i couldn’t help get one review out of my mind i read on yelp or city search, where a brooklynite said he traveled the boroughs just to get a piece of gluten-free pizza this good. so, i found myself standing in the storefront, perusing the menu with a myriad of gluten-free options, and of course, ending up with a slice of pizza. hats off to the guy from brooklyn because this is to date the best gluten-free pizza i have ever had (sorry mom).

it didn’t hurt that the restaurant is located right across the street from madison park, which on this particular day was sunny and inviting. we found a bench, and ate our greasy, cheesy slices on top of the brown paper bags, and paper plates they were served to us on. the weather was great, and even new yorkers seemed to be smiling today—perhaps because we all we not in our cubicles. i went for a traditional slice of cheese with thick marinara sauce smothered underneath the globs of mozzarella cheese, but it was incredible. beyond the flavorful pizza sauce, it was the crust that sold me. let’s be honest, gluten-free carbs are not typically the tastiest. but, this crust was soft inside, crunchy outside, and tasted rich from the buttery dough. i’m smiling just writing about it.

for all the gluten-free people out there, this is a must on the food list. i was pretty satisfied with my midday meal, so after we rested in the park for a bit, we headed up to central park with our books and blanket in hand. by the time we made the trek all up to central park, we had worked up our appetitive again. or perhaps we were just craving dessert on this summer day. we hopped into a little frozen yogurt shop near the park to end this gluten-free dining experience. we took our desserts with us to the park, laid out our blanket, grabbed our books and just relaxed. I must admit, there really isn’t much better than a beautiful day in central park, with an ice cream, blanket and a good book. sometimes, it just takes a day off to make you realize how much there is to enjoy in life.

mac & cheese, please!

another dreary day in the city. i’m talking torrential downpours, the kind that chills you from the inside out—and leaves your whole being just damp and cold. it was one of those days. i was meeting my friend for an early dinner at a gf friendly place that i have been talking about for over a month--s’mac—a restaurant dedicated completely (and i mean completely) to mac & cheese—what a concept. why hasn’t someone thought of this before? i had planned on meeting my friend here before i looked at the weather forecast, but i really could not have chosen a more perfect comfort food than this for the day that we were having. i took a would-be pleasant walk (on a sunny day that is) to the strand to take a look at some books on my way over. i love meaderning over there and just picking up books and reading the first few lines or so. i took a few moments out on my walk to s’mac to peruse the new books at the strand, and was greeted with the a plastic umbrella bag that just makes whatever part of you that’s not wet, wet. i could stay in that store forever, but food beckoned me. so, after a quick pit stop, i was on my way back out to walk in the rain. at this point, i didn’t even see i a need for the umbrella. could i get anymore drenched?

when i reached s’mac, i was pleasantly greeted by warmth, and a soothing aroma of cheese. i walked in the doors, and it was as if the grey from outside was left out there. seriously, it looked like the sun was shining on this place. i couldn’t help but smile. i kidd you not—it was sunny in there! as soon as i entered the cozy restaurant, i was enveloped in warm hues and comforting smells of cheese that wafted through the air. i felt like a just stepped into a giant grilled cheese sandwich, all warm, and orange, or i guess more appropriately, a bowl of mac & cheese?! i took a seat in the corner, next to an old- fashioned radiator, which emitted even more warmth, and i looked up to admire the low-hanging orange lamps, that gave this place a hip vibe and orange hues… ah, now i got it. it really did seem orange in there. beyond the warmth and the soothing ambience, the smell of melting cheese permeated the restaurant. i took a seat and waited for my friend. within minutes i saw her outside, miserable and wet, shaking her head and her umbrella probably for the same reason. i watched her expression as she walked through the door. she stepped in, looked around, and smiled. “this place smells great! and it’s so warm.” if i have not sold you yet purely on the atmosphere, let’s talk food.

the options are limitless. there are so many varieties, sizes, cheeses, toppings of mac & cheese dishes, you could come back everyday and always try a new combo. most importantly for people like me, they have gf options, rice pasta. i was thinking cheesy, like kraft mac & cheese cheesy. i ordered a combo with american and cheddar cheese, broccoli, basil and roasted tomatoes. and yes, it tasted as good as it sounds. each order comes in its own little skillet, and potholder to boot. my friend ordered a variation with feta and parmesan cheese, olives, basil and broccoli. it looked great. the best part is that it is served baked and crusted over at the top, so you have to break into the baked cheese layer to get to the gooey, melty cheese center. the portions are perfect sized also, just enough to fill you up from the rich cheese. everyone was smiling in s’mac that day. it is a ‘must’ on the places to eat in nyc, for the gluten and gluten-free among us.

thanks s’mac… what a great experience! i will definitely be back.

gluten-free evening in nyc

my friend was in town from boston, and we made plans to meet up for dinner in the village. it was one of those dreary, rainy, spring nights, last week. all i wanted to do was to get out of my work clothes, throw on some comfortable shoes, and grab a pizza and piece of chocolate cake—what a perfect evening. nothing better than catching up with a girlfriend over comfort food and comfy clothes. but wait. something just seems wrong with this scene… ah, yes, i’m in nyc, the national capital of impeccably stylish, yet outrageously uncomfortable shoes, and… i can’t eat wheat. already the evening had taken a turn for the worse. i actually don’t mind finding some gluten-free options on random dining menus, but when i have visitors sometimes i just want to enjoy, and not have to rethink the menu options.

luckily for us (not our feet) we were in new york. i hopped on citysearch.com for some gluten free options, and i looked up the address to risotteria restaurant—the gluten free eatery that recently won raves from the new york times. i’ve wanted to go to this place for so long. it is truly a gluten-free gold mind. seriously--- there’s gf pizza menu. when is the last time you actually ordered gluten-free pizza in a restaurant? well, i did just the other day, sicilian style crust none-the-less. it was delicious, and filling. both my friend, who by the way has no aversion to gluten, and i thoroughly enjoyed our meals. to begin with, they offered gluten free breadsticks before we ordered, crispy on the outside and warm and soft inside. i was so excited i had to take a photo of the breadsticks as i was eating them. admittedly, by the time the entrees came, i was so engrossed by the food that i forgot take some pics before i started chowing down. when i thought of it, i have already done too much damage to the food. (please note the photos are from the web site).we split a veggie pizza for an appetizer, and then we both ordered our own entrees of risotto, of course. there was so much food that was so rich, we took home leftovers.

risotteria comes highly recommended for both the gluten-free and non-gluten people out there. it is a quaint restaurant with a great location, right on bleecker street, and truly friendly service. it was a wonderful eating experience. you can buy rice pasta there too! additionally, there are desserts ranging from brownies to apple pie.

by the time the check came around, we were so filled up; we thought it necessary to walk some of our dinner off. we headed down bleecker street in search of a café to end the evening with a warm cup of tea. there are a lot of options on bleecker street. but we ended up in café angelique, which came equipped with antique chairs, with heart-shaped backs, and a menu that is hard to resist. despite our stomachs, we ordered more treats. i did not plan on having dessert, but when i perused the menu, my eyes fixated on the chocolate irish whisky cake (wheat free). at this point in my life, when i see anything wheat free, i am inclined to purchase it. so, that is what i did. it was decadent, rich, smooth, and worth every sinful bite (i went back for another piece over the weekend—it’s that good).

photos from risotteria web site

happy new year… now have a brownie

the holiday season has come and gone in a frenzied fashion. i am finally back to my blog, trying to catch up on all the goodies and scrumptious food i’ve had over the month or so. i was able to see a lot of family for the holidays, so i also was able to eat some amazing varied gf recipes. my contribution--- brownies—not just any brownies, but carol’s caramelicious brownies, with chocolate chips. i actually have a few new recipes and products to share with you all, but for this post let’s talk chocolate.

my first intention was to put a traditional (or at least a gf version of traditional) cookie plate together to bring to the various homes along the way this holiday season. but, i somehow started on a brownie theme, and just kept going with it. i made chocolate chunk brownies, candy cane brownies (a smash hit with the kids) and caramelicious brownies—today’s blog topic. i remembered this recipe from one that my mother, carol, used to make, and it was always a hit amongst the neighborhood kids. there was always something about the gooey sweetness of caramel, infused with the decedent chocolate fudge in her brownies that left you wanting more.

be warned this recipe is ultra rich and incredible sweet, but worth every calorie in it. i used pamela’s fudge brownie mix as a base, added chocolate chunks into the mixture, and drizzled caramel on top. as the caramel melted into the fudge, and the brownies cooled, i sprinkled mini chocolate chips over the caramel. i thought it best to make these treats individual cakes due to the richness of the dessert. i baked each one in individual cupcake tins, and presented them as mini fudge cakes. the kids loved them, and the adults indulged in them. they were actually really easy and fun to make. i’ve learned to be creative with brownies, adding a new twist to each batch.

sadly, i am now paying the price for reinventing the gf brownie... with each new version, came a new round of sampling. every time i had a chocolate craving, i decided to try a new batch. needless to say, i joined a gym! wish me luck.

carol’s caramelicious brownies

• 1 bag pamela’s fudge brownie mix
• 1 large egg (or egg replacer)
• ½ bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ¼ bag mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 bag caramel candy pieces (melt down over double boiler, adding a tad bit of milk along the way)
• vegetable oil

dip off!!!

so last night we went to a holiday party that everyone was bringing something to. i wanted to find a recipe that was gluten-friendly as well as party friendly. i decided on a spinach artichoke dip that my friend jackie (devourthis.com) shared with me. so, in the midst of wrapping presents, cleaning my house and catching up on all the other holiday- related tasks, i had to make this dip (more like a bake than a dip really). since i am leaving in a day for the holidays i have very little in my house; my dog is packed up and staying with a friend (thanks amy), my presents are packed up, and our kitchen is pretty much bare. so, that meant a trip to the grocery store--- ah, the chaos. i trudged to the store, bought the necessary ingredients, and walked back to begin to bake. the phone rings… someone else is bringing an artichoke dip…oh the pressure. there was no turning back at this point however; i had already committed to the dip, and no sane person goes out twice into the holiday madness. so it began---the first annual “choke off” ( as we called it). the pressure was building. could i possibly win against a full-on gluten-filled dish?!

the dish was actually fairly easy, quick, and believe or not, somewhat low in fat, considering. it was adapted from a weight watchers recipe originally, but i didn’t want to share that information with the jury, worried that it would unduly influence them. the dip was a hit. somewhat on the spicy side, since i overdid with the hot sauce, which i think may have gained me some votes. this may have been my most well received dish yet. really it is a great party plate, or even just to have at home. it is very filling though because the amount of cheese and dairy used, so for those lactose-intolerant people, this may not be the best choice. but, it is gluten and egg free—just like me. for the recipe, see below. feel free to adapt and modify of course. i make a bit spicier than called for with jalapeño hot sauce, and next time i may try parmesan instead of cheddar. please comment if you try this or adapt this, so i can hear other alternatives. that’s it for me. i am off for the holidays.

happy holidays!!!


artichoke and spinach bake

1 tbsp butter
1 cup chopped onions
2 cloves garlic minced
10 oz. frozen spinach thawed and drained and squeezed dry
8 oz sliced water chestnuts, drained and coarsley chopped*
2 small jars marinated artichoke hearts - drained (or 1 14 oz can plain artichoke hearts) and corsely chopped
8 oz. rf sour cream
8 oz. 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1 cup lf shredded cheddar cheese - divided
1 tsp hot pepper sauce ( i use jalapeño hot sauce/ a few more shakes than a tsp.)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 spray cooking spray ( I use butter here)

preheat oven to 350

melt butter in large non-stick skillet over med. heat. add onion & garlic; saute 5 minutes( or until tender). add spinach, water chestnuts and articchokes, saute 2 min; add cream cheese, sour cream, 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese, hot sauce and s & p.

spoon into an 11 x 7 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. top w/ remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese. bake at 350 for 18-20 min. or until thoroughly heated and bubbly. serve with baked tortilla chips.

*** sorry about the photo-- i used my camera phone. it looks much better in person!!! ***

it’s a soup and cracker day

i don’t think i actually have taken a run since my last race… let’s not even try to guess on the date of that. we’ll just say it was hot out; considering today hit a whopping 49 degrees—it’s been awhile. i’m not sure what inspired me to take an am run today, but i battled the cold, armed with under armor and new running sneakers. i forgot what cold weather feels like on the lungs. but, the sun-filled sky, coupled with the smell of fall from the trees i passed, made my run along the river somehow warm. doesn’t that sound picturesque? then i got to washington street, and my view was obstructed by a giant utility truck doubled parked in an intersection (that i coincidentally just got a parking ticket for even being near), and my pace, as pathetic as it may have been, was interrupted abruptly by passerbyers and baby carriages. i blame this for my worsened pace, and painful lungs. and then all of the sudden i felt the cold again, and home couldn’t come soon enough.

by the last block of my run, most likely sooner, i had decided on what i was going to eat—a bowl of hot soup with mini rice crackers from trader joe’s. and as a write, my bowl of soup is cooling down, waiting for me to eat. i can’t finish this blog quick enough. this is one of my favorite soups. it is trader joe’s brand, tomato and red pepper soup. then i add fresh spinach, salt and pepper, and brown rice. i top it off with mini rice crackers, also from tj’s. my photos are sad and do not come close to the taste of this dish. it is the perfect meal on a cold day. it is such a comfort food.

did i mention when i got home the heat didn’t work? really—a good day for soup.

butternut squash and white beans over penne

this is one of my favorites—butternut squash and white beans—sweetness and protein in one savory meal. i eat this comforting concoction even without the pasta, which is how it was actually introduced to me. i first had butternut squash with small white beans in the willett’s kitchen. i actually first had this dish, or a version of it, over a fried corn pattie that the this much-loved chef—a legitimate italian mother, praised for her compassion and cooking abilities—referred to as “pizza”.

i recently improvised a bit with her recipe, and poured my butternut squash and white bean mixture over brown rice penne past ( trader joe’s brand). the sweetness of the butternut squash gives a completely different experience to eating pasta.

this is a simple recipe and could be fairly quick if you take some shortcuts (such as buying the squash precut).

butternut squash and white beans over penne

1 can small white beans (or cannellini beans)
1 whole butternut squash (precut works fine)
extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
rice penne pasta

cube the squash into small pieces (around 1 inch approx)
add the white beans
drizzle olive oil over mixture ( to taste)
salt and pepper to liking
add some water into pot and cook squash and beans on the stove top on simmer until the squash softens
cook penne to liking ( i prefer al dente)
ladle squash and beans over pasta


photo: http://www.pbase.com/pinemikey/image/74743263