Gluten-Free Options at We Heart Astoria Bash

My friends from We Heart Astoria are throwing a big party on March 27th at the Strand Smokehouse in Astoria, NY. I am really excited to attend the event, eat some meat, and drink some cocktails. I am also looking forward to connecting with blogger and Twitter friends from Astoria, my beloved neighborhood!

I've spoken to and dined at the Strand Smokehouse in the past with no problems. It is always a good idea to check with a restaurant about their gluten-free options if you haven't been there for a while. You never know when a menu might changed! I emailed them last week and the Strand Smokehouse was finalizing their party menu at the time but they said:

"All of our meats, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans and collard greens are all gluten free."

Great news. Count me in! Hope to see you locals there. Don't live in Astoria? All are welcome! Hop on the N/Q train and get off at the Broadway stop. It will be worth the trip!

Buy your tickets today!

Buy your tickets today!

As with any Meetup event or other events I mention on this website, it is dine at your own risk. The Strand Smokehouse does not have a 100% gluten-free kitchen. Gluten-Free Fun is not responsible for your personal dining choices. 

Organics for All Comes to Astoria, Queens

Organics for All is a new health food store in a sea of cheap jewelry and clothing store on Steinway Street in Astoria, Queens. This new store is a welcome addition to this otherwise unhealthy stretch of neighborhood that consists of at least five fast food restaurants and two sit-down restaurants.

Opening in October 2010, Organic for All owner Amir Shukurllaev recognized that neighborhood needed a place to buy organic and healthy foods including gluten-free food.

When you walk into Organics for All, you will first notice a juice bar and a deli counter. All of the deli meats are Applegate Farms, which are gluten-free and organic. There is also a very nice selection of organic fruits and vegetables which seem reasonably priced and fresh. As you continue through the store, you will come to the grocery section which includes snacks, flours, soups, rice, pasta, and more.

I was pleasantly surprised by the wide variety of gluten-free food at Organics for All. Amir said that the store is working with a nutritionist to help decide which food to put on the shelf. Since their grand opening, I would say Organics for All is doing a great job stocking up on gluten-free food.

Some of the gluten-free products and brands on the grocery shelves include: Schär, Nature’s Path cereals, Glutino, Enjoy Life, Mary’s Gone Crackers and Cookies, Pamela’s Products, Eden Organics, Glenny’s, Pacific Soups, TastyBite, Amy’s soups, Arrowhead Mills, coconut flour (this was a new-to-me-product), King Arthur flour mixes, Lundberg rice, and Gillian’s Pasta and Breadcrumbs.

In the frozen section, there were Amy’s Organics Meals, Garden Lite Souffles, Rudi’s Gluten-Free Original and Multigrain Bread, Soy Delicious desserts, and Van’s Gluten-Free Waffles. In the refrigerated section, Organics for All had Chobani yogurts, Bobbi’s Hummus, Applegate Farms sausages, and Evolve Kefir.

I am really impressed with the selection of products at Organics for All, especially the robust selection of gluten-free food. Owner Amir tells me they are still loading up the shelves and will happily order additional products if suggested by customers. This store is conveniently located less than one block from my house so I will most definitely be stopping in there frequently. In addition, Amir hopes to honor coupons and EBT soon but he is just working through logistics at the moment.

There are some grand opening specials that you can take advantage of today, so stop in. Be sure to let Amir know you heard about his store from Erin at Gluten-Free Fun!

Getting to Organics for All is easy. You can take the R or M train to Steinway Street and walk one and a half blocks; the store will be on your left. The Q101 also runs down Steinway Street so you can take that to either the 31st Ave or 30th Ave corners and walk to the store from there.

Organics for All doesn’t have a website yet, but as soon as it is ready I will share it with my readers. In the meantime, you can reach the store at organicsforall@gmail.com.

Organics for All
30-50 Steinway Street
Astoria, Queens
New York