If someone asked me a few weeks ago what I missed the most about sticking to a gluten free diet, I would’ve said pizza. But, luckily that isn’t the case anymore. One of my favorite local Staten Island pizza joints, Joe and Pat’s Pizzeria, has gotten with the program and introduced an extensive GF menu complete with pastas, pizzas, rice balls, mozzarella sticks and more. The pizza joint, which is an institution on the Island of Staten, has always had the best thin-crust pizza around, so I went there Friday night to see if the GF items made the cut.

They key to GF pizza is the crust, in my humble opinion. I think you need to almost burn it to get that crispy texture from the pizza or you run the risk of having it become soggy. Joe and Pat’s does a great job of making the crust perfectly crispy. I ordered my own personal GF pie with my favorite vodka sauce topping. It was cheesy and saucy without being over the top. I felt like a fellow food lover once again as I was able to share a slice with friends and family while they chowed down on the real (flour-filled) thing.

Pizza was not the only thing that stood out on the GF menu. Chef A.J. Pappalardo dazzled us with a cold seafood salad that was extremely fresh and simple, dressed with a light olive oil and lemon dressing. It was a perfect pizza companion; light enough not to way us down with the pizza and tasty enough to keep us going back for seconds. We finished the meal off with GF rice-based pasta in a red clam sauce. Dinner companions of mine marveled at the GF pasta and swore that had I not told them it was rice pasta, they would have never guessed.

I’m not done just yet with Joe and Pat’s. I couldn’t shove everything down in one sitting. Next on the agenda to try are the new GF mozzarella sticks and rice balls. There are certain types of foods I thought I’d never be able to eat when I was diagnosed as gluten intolerant, but there are many new chefs and restaurants challenging those very things and creating healthy, delicious GF alternatives that many people are begging for. The GF fun is certainly not over at Joe and Pat’s.

1758 Victory Blvd
Staten Island, NY 10314

(718) 981-0887

www.joeandpatsny.com

Spring has sprung, so naturally that means I’m hungry and ready to eat. I always have a rotating list of restaurants I want to try, that friends have recommended and newly-opened hot spots I want to check out. Here’s a list of where I plan to be sipping Spring cocktails at in the coming months.

Minetta Tavern- This West Village gem is always being talked about for its Black Label burger that costs $26. And guess what? I have $26 and I like burgers. This has always been on my must-try lists but when I saw Anthony Bourdain chowing down on the burger on a recent No Reservations, I realized times a’waistin.

http://www.minettatavernny.com/

The Red Head- This small, cozy restaurant that boasts tasty American food and a killer friend chicken has been calling me for a while now. There’s a cider pork chop on the menu that I feel is my duty as an American to try. Friends have raved about this place and their yummy peanut brittle.

http://www.theredheadnyc.com/

KO- Since I’ve already hit up Momofuku Ssam Bar and loved it, the next logical step is to log onto my computer, frantically type away and pray that I receive a good reservation in the next 5-10 days.

http://www.momofuku.com/ko/default.asp

Cavo and Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden- Time for a roadtrip! Or a subway trip, whichever. I’ve told friends who live in Astoria that I would come visit them to sample some delicious Greek food and hang out at the popular Beer Garden.

http://www.cavoastoria.com/

The Harrison- I’m a Food Network junky and I watched every single episode of the Next Iron Chef this season. I’m trying to eat my way through some of the better chefs’ restaurants. I’ve been to some (Brad Farmerie’s Public, among others) and now need to try Amanda Freitag’s cooking at the Harrison.

http://www.theharrison.com/harrison.html

Lilli and Loo- One thing I really miss since becoming gluten free is delicious dumplings. A friend recommended Li and Loo on the Upper East Side that has a very extensive gluten free menu that includes dumplings, fried rice and sushi. I’ll let you know if they’re delicious or fall short like gluten free bread.

http://store6.geomerx.com/lilliandloo/index.cfm?fuseaction=

Park Avenue Spring- This choice is purely for ambiance. The restaurant that changes its décor, flowers, colors and menu every season seems so appealing. If I’m being truthful, I’m not going for the food. I’m going to take in the smells and sights of Spring an perhaps have a delightful cocktail or two.

http://www.parkavenyc.com/

Locanda Verde- Critics, bloggers and New Yorkers everywhere have been raving about Locanda Verde since it opened. And it sounds like my kind of place. It’s casual, it’s cozy and it’s Italian. I’m sold, see you there.

http://locandaverdenyc.com/index.php

Balthazar- Brunch is one of my favorite pastimes and word on the street is that Balthazar does a pretty damn good brunch. I really get into French-style brunches since it’s a toss up if I’m going to go breakfast or lunch. But, let’s get real. They had me at Mimosa.

http://www.balthazarny.com/

The Breslin- If it wasn’t for the lines, I probably would’ve feasted here already, but you can’t fault a place for being popular. This place has pork all over its menu and has a stuffed pig’s foot for two. Who wants to be my date?

http://thebreslin.com/

Have you ever had one of those moments when you step foot into a beautifully lit restaurant for the first time and everything seems right in the world? I seemed to have such a moment when entering Hells Kitchen’s 44 ½ the other evening. Rarely does a restaurant wow me in terms of décor at first sight, but something about the pink-reddish glow of the place put me in a fantastic mood at the very beginning.

And I stayed that way throughout the rest of the night.

A spirited group of us took over a long table at the restaurant, and began to devour some appetizers. I was only able to try the tuna tartare and crab cake, while the others feasted on fried calamari and a veggie flatbread pizza. As for beverages, my friend Josh whose birthday gathering I was attending, had a dirty martini complete with goat cheese stuffed olives. Naturally, I stole an olive from Josh and sincerely enjoyed it. I had a delightfully smooth glass of the Malbec from Argentina, reasonably priced and highly satisfying.

For our mains, I stuck to a strip steak complete with spinach and roasted potatoes. The steak was cooked to my liking and the sides were plain and simple, any gluten-free girl’s dream. The entire menu wasn’t as GF friendly, as there were many pastas, flat breads, and breaded items on the menu. But I made due as us GF folks can never go wrong with a nice piece of grilled meat or fish.

For dessert, we had a cake prepared by Billy’s Bakery in Chelsea. Sadly, I couldn’t partake but the guests said it was a deliciously rich and creamy white cake with a butter cream frosting. As for me, I sat sipping on a nice dessert wine and taking in the pink atmosphere of the restaurant. With red roses on the table and an outside garden decorated in pink and red, the space was truly an aesthetic pleasure. It didn’t hurt that I was surrounded by great company for a very special occasion either.

http://www.44andahalf.com/

Yes, I admit it. I’m a very bad self-proclaimed foodie as it’s taken me this long to have a meal at David Chang’s Momofuko Ssam Bar in the East Village. But after all of the hype I’ve heard and the stories about waiting around for forever to get a table, I went armed with a game plan this past Saturday. My friends and I met at the restaurant at precisely 5pm so we were assured a spot to sample some of the dishes that have been talked about all over New York and beyond. And that was a smart move. By 5:05pm, there wasn’t a seat to be had.

At our nice, comfy table, we ate and then ate some more. We kicked off the meal with fresh oysters with kimchi, which provided a pleasant kick to the dish. Next, we sampled the finchville’s country ham, sliced thin served with a side of mustard-like mayo. I’m a big fan of all thing’s pork—and this ham reminded me of a thinly sliced piece of prosciutto—just the right amount of salt, balanced out by the mayo. My friend’s raved about the agedashi buttermilk with fuji apple dashi, white sesame, which sadly, I could not partake in as it was not gluten-free. All was not lost, though. I instead munched on delicious brussels sprouts with fish sauce vinaigrette and mint.

For our main course we split the roasted diver scallops, the spicy pork sausage and rice cakes, and the pork shoulder steak. The scallops were fresh and simply prepared with some bok choy and garlic. The pork shoulder steak looked a touch fatty when they placed it on the table, but turned out to be just as delicious as anything else I had sampled so far that evening. I was supposed to stay away from the spicy pork sausage. The waitress had informed me that the rice cakes actually contained a touch of soy. I couldn’t help how beautiful it looked, so I snagged a spoonful of just the spicy pork sausage when she wasn’t looking. It was hot, packed with flavor, and just overall yummy. (A big shout-out- thank-you to the gluten-free gods for letting me feel fine after my sinful spoonful.)

To wash all of this down, we tried a bottle of the Momofuku sake, which everyone agreed was light and crisp. We must’ve liked it more than we realized after downing three bottles. We didn’t forget to inquire about the bo ssam specialty on the very bottom of the menu. Apparently, drum roll please, it’s a whole pork butt, dozen oysters, kimchi, rice and bibb lettuce meal that can easily feed 6-10 people. I got a glimpse of one order (which you must call ahead to reserve) and it was the size of a Buick. Needless to say, I’ll have to go back to try that out.

Overall, the vibe of the Ssam bar is young and energetic. I do find it a tad bit annoying you have to show up basically for an early bird dinner, just so you can ensure yourself a seat at the table. But then again I did it, didn’t I? That’s gotta say something.

http://www.momofuku.com/

It’s not shocking that Daniel Boulud knows cutting edge food trends in New York City, but it’s certainly nice to know he’s doing something about it. At his laid-back Bar Breton, Boulud boasts an extensive gluten free brunch menu complete with delicious breakfast galettes.

Galettes are buckwheat crepes which originated in Brittany, France and I’m pretty sure Anthony Bourdain sampled some of these yummy breakfast treats on a recent episode of No Reservations. I was so excited to see such a menu, that my dining companions and I had to sample a little bit of everything. To kick off brunch, we started with two galettes, one stuffed with chorizo and onion confit, topped with an over easy egg, and the other stuffed with ham, swiss and topped with a sunny side up egg. Both were delicious and gooey, just how I like my breakfast treats.

For our main course, I went with the gluten free burger (made with prime, short rib and brisket), as I know Boulud does one of the best burgers in town. My guests tried out the wheat filled and caramel stuffed French toast, a burger with the bun, and the eggs benedict with smoked salmon. We didn’t speak for several minutes when we first received our dishes. When we came up for air, we all said the same thing, “amazing.”

We were having such a good meal that we didn’t want it to end. So, naturally, we moved onto dessert. We shared the gluten free chocolate mousse and crème brulee. The mouse was rich and creamy and such a big portion we could’ve ordered only one. The crème brulee was just as tasty and had just the right caramelization of sugar on top.

The beauty of Bar Breton is that everyone can enjoy this meal. For those with food allergies or those without, the menu is exquisite and the restaurant is extremely accommodating. I’m looking forward to going back for dinner, however I will miss my brunch mimosa by my side.

http://www.chefpiano.com/bar-breton

254 Fifth Avenue

N.Y., N.Y.

10001

212-213-4999

Price $$

New York City has been hit hard this winter season with multiple snow storms that have been cluttering up our streets and making it hard to get from place to place, and frankly—I’m sick of it. Unfortunately, if you live in the city you’re expected to go into work and that’s where I was this past Friday morning. I was supposed to be meeting up with a colleague for a business luncheon at a local spot right near my office. I figured it was a pop-in-and-out sort of thing and I could brave the blustering, snowy winds.

She called an hour before we were supposed to meet and said our luncheon spot wasn’t serving due to the storm. But, she found one that was: Eleven Madison Park. “Yes, absolutely, see you there!” was my answer as I hung up the phone. Nothing—not even a dreaded NYC snowstorm—was going to keep me from lunching in one of the best and most beautiful restaurants in all the world.

Now, I’ve been at Eleven Madison twice before and both times were stunning. The food is top notch and the service is impeccable. It’s no wonder that Frank Bruni gave Danny Meyer’s beloved spot the 4-star before heading for the exits. But I haven’t been back since I’ve discovered that I have a gluten allergy, and I was once again so pleased at how accommodating the restaurant was.

The waiters asked immediately if there were any food allergies, and then brought over a gluten free bread basket. They were able to make the tuna tartare, which I desperately wanted, gluten-free by eliminating the soy sauce. My main course was salmon and I’m normally not a big salmon freak, but it was of course amazing. It has pieces of diakon with a citrus sauce drizzled over it that made me feel like I was in Seattle.  

When there’s snow on the ground, I tend to hibernate, dress in layers and drink tons of tea. I’m usually not braving the elements with rain boots and umbrellas, all the while staying alert for falling icicles from Manhattan skyscrapers. But when I heard Eleven Madison was calling—you couldn’t stop me from answering.

Eleven Madison Park

11 Madison Avenue,

N.Y., N.Y.

10010

212-889-0918

http://www.elevenmadisonpark.com/

Price $$$$