AllergyEats Food Allergy Conference

This October, I plan on attending the 3rd Annual AllergyEats Food Allergy Conference in New York City. This conference is for restaurateurs and food service professionals with a focus on "How to Maximize Safety and Increase Customer Engagement, Loyalty, and Revenue."

This year's impressive line-up of speakers includes:

• Matt Abdoo, Chef de Cuisine at Del Posto Restaurant, New York, NY
• Robin Hamm, Director, Food Safety, Quality, and Commercialization at Red Robin International, Inc.
• Jared Schulefand, Owner and Operator of Home, Branford, CT
• Betsy Craig, Founder and CEO of MenuTrinfo
• Julie Kuriakose, MD; Physician, Educator, Author and Co-Founder of Hudson Allergy
• Robert Landolphi, Culinary Development Manager at the University of Connecticut and Author of Gluten-Free Every Day Cookbook, Quick Fix Gluten Free and Cooking Light Gluten Free Baking
• Scott H. Sicherer, MD, Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Professor of Pediatrics, Allergy and Immunology, and Chief of the Pediatric Division of Allergy and Immunology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY
• Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc, Pediatric Allergist for Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Voluntary Instructor of Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital, Co-founder and Content Creator, AllergyHome
• Lisa Giuriceo, Support group leader of the Food Allergy and Asthma Support Group of North Jersey
• Beth Hillson, Founder of the Gluten-Free Pantry, Author of Complete Guide to Living Well Gluten Free and Gluten-Free Makeovers, Food Editor for Gluten Free & More
• Lori Sandler, Owner of Divvies and Author of The Divvies Bakery Cookbook
• Colette Martin, Author of The Allergy-Free Pantry and Learning to Bake Allergen-Free and advisory board member, Kids with Food Allergies 
• Paul Antico, Founder and CEO of AllergyEats and former financial analyst and portfolio manager at Fidelity Investments

I am looking forward to seeing Beth Hilson again and to finally meeting Robert Landolphi and Paul Antico in person. This should be a very interesting event and I am excited to participate.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014 

Beginning at 8:00 a.m. 

Radisson Martinique on Broadway 

49 W 32nd Street, New York City

http://www.allergyeats.com/conference/

Early bird registration is $259 until September 21, 2014. Attendees will also enjoy lunch with the experts, lively Q&A sessions and the opportunity to sample vendors' allergy-friendly products at the event.

About AllergyEats

This conference is organized by AllergyEats,  a free, peer-based website and app where people find and rate restaurants based solely on their ability to accommodate food allergies.  The site, app and related social media forums help families with food allergies reduce the guesswork - and the anxiety - surrounding dining out with food allergies. 

AllergyEats lists more than 750,000 restaurants nationwide, which people can rate, and it also offers web links, menus and more.  Restaurants are easily searchable by geographic location, so people can find allergy-friendly restaurants around town and around the country. 

The organization also offers a variety of opportunities for restaurateurs and food service professionals, including an annual food allergy conference.  For more information, please visit www.AllergyEats.com.

Gluten-Free at Del Posto Ristorante in New York City

I don't even know where to start this post. I am still reveling in the memories of eating one of the best meals of my life last week at Del Posto Ristorante in New York City. I've been watching Del Posto for a while now once I learned they were trying to make a gluten-free version of every item on their menu. Then, after I saw this video, I knew I had to go. Well, restaurant dreams do come true, my friends. Last Friday, I had an impressive multi-course tasting menu carefully prepared by Chef Mark Ladner.

I recently connected with Chef Ladner via Twitter. (God, I love the power of social media). I saw a news item about his upcoming gluten-free Pasta Flyer project and I got excited. (stay tuned for exciting details later this week!) Quick, healthy, and gluten-free pasta bowls for busy people on the go? Where do I get one?! Chef Ladner and I started actively emailing to chat about this new project and then I got invited in for lunch.

PINCH ME! 

The chef himself invited little old ME for lunch. Flattered, honored, and beyond excited are just a few of those emotions that flooded through me. To say I was nervous to eat lunch was an understatement. And this wasn't nerves of being afraid of gluten, this was nervous energy to finally eat at one of my bucket list restaurants in the world!

The beautiful dining room at Del Posto. Behind those stairs sits a live pianist!

My meal was extraordinary. Dish after beautifully-plated gluten-free dish was served to me by a steady stream of extremely professional waitstaff. Service was impeccable and as I watched the busy dining room, I knew I wasn't get special treatment because I am a blogger. This was just how it is at Del Posto. Professional and luxury dining at its best. There is a reason Del Posto has "a four-star New York Times rating, one Michelin star, a Relais & Chateaux distinction, a grand award from The Wine Spectator and five Mobile Diamonds." This is dining at its absolute finest! Chef Mark Ladner is also a 2012 and 2013 James Beard Award nominee!

Not only was the food gorgeous and the service great, but the Chef went out of his way to talk to me during and after my meal. I felt very honored that Chef Ladner came and sat with me to talk about the Celiac community, his gluten-free trial and error in the kitchen, and how he wants every diner in his restaurant to be treated equally. There is no judgement if you have allergies, preferences, or Celiac needs at Del Posto. You are a customer and you will be fed. Simple as that.

Now on to the food! My captions will do these dishes no justice. I was too busy eating and admiring each dish to remember the exact names of the food. I just know it was beautiful and delicious and all gluten-free!

Dehydrated rice penne

Local, spring vegetable salad

Veal ravioli with asparagus

The thing that really impressed me most about Chef Ladner is his dedication to getting his gluten-free recipes just right. He uses Thomas Keller's Cup 4 Cup flour blend in the kitchen. He spent YEARS getting the pasta just right. And let me tell you, he nailed it! Fluffy, airy focaccia bread. 100-layer lasagna with the thinnest gluten-free noodles I have seen in my life! Ravioli!!! He puts a tremendous amount of effort into each gluten-free dish to make sure the Celiac customer's dining experience is no different from a "regular" customer. Chef Ladner does not have celiac nor is he gluten-free, he just makes delicious food and accepts the challenge of gluten-free cooking. I truly believe he has gone above and beyond for the gluten-free customer and is one of the most impressive chefs I've ever met who is feeding the gluten-free community.

Gluten-free focaccia bread with rosemary and thyme

I never eat fish because I am always afraid it's going to be "fishy." This halibut was perfect.
Chef, please note, you got me to eat fish. That's a HUGE accomplishment in itself!

100-layer gluten-free lasagna. Yes, you read that correctly... ONE HUNDRED LAYERS

Del Posto is definitely a special occasion restaurant. This would be perfect to celebrate birthdays, retirements, or anniversaries. It might be a bit pricey for some people, but it is definitely worth every dollar. If you are looking to get a taste of what Del Posto has to offer, I highly recommend lunch.  At $39 per person for a prix fixe lunch, you are getting quite a bargain at this high-end restaurant. Make your reservations early because they fill up quickly. This is not a place to be missed.

Palette cleanser: rhubarb granata with rhubarb compote and cucumber ice

Butterscotch semi freddo with plums and cherries

Swan cappucino

Housemade "candies" including edible rice paper filled with champagne vinaigrette caramel.
AMAZING!!

Presented to me as "chocolate with some chocolate on top of chocolate"

Thank you so much Chef Mark Ladner and the staff of Del Posto for such an amazing dining experience. This post cannot really express how much I appreciate what Chef Ladner is doing for the gluten-free community. He has raised the bar for gluten-free dining to a new all-time high! The Chef's approach to making the gluten-free dining experience so "normal" is what stood out to me the most... after the delicious food, of course. Instead of seeing our dietary restrictions as an annoyance, Chef Ladner has embraced the challenge of gluten-free cooking. In my opinion, there are very few people that do this for our community. My lunch last Friday was so special to me and I feel lucky that we made the connection via Twitter.

I cannot wait to help share the Pasta Flyer efforts in the upcoming weeks. If this meal at Del Posto is any indication of what's to come with Pasta Flyer, we are in EXCELLENT hands.

THANK YOU, CHEF MARK LADNER!

Me with Executive Chef Mark Ladner of Del Posto

Del Posto Ristorante
85 10th Ave.
New York, NY 10011


Side note: I met a lovely woman dining next to me who wondered if I was a food critic. I was beyond flattered. I told her I am a gluten-free blogger and she proceeded to tell me her son-in-law had been diagnosed with Celiac Disease just two weeks ago! She said as a big foodie living in Europe, he was devastated. I told her he shouldn't be and that I was living proof that life goes on. I was sitting eating at Del Posto, wasn't I? I wished her son-in-law well and hope that he soon enjoys (gluten-free) food again!

Gluten-Free in Portland: Imperial by Chef Vitaly (in Photos)

I had a decadent, gluten-free meal at Imperial in Portland, Oregon over the summer. You can read my entire review on my Gluten-Free Globetrotter site. In the meantime, these photos should get you hungry!

My Imperial menu for the evening:

Drink: Sleight of Hand: pisco, lillet rose, pamplemousse liquer, flamed negroni mist
Appetizer: Kale and raw vegetable salad with sunflower seed brittle and goat cheese dressing
Bonus dish: Ocean caught salmon belly
Main dish: Tails and Trotters Barrel Planked Pork Secreto with smoked hazlenut romesco sauce and grilled leeks
Dessert: Coffee Toffee Icebox Cake

Imperial
410 SW Broadway
Portland OR 97205
PHONE: 503.228.7222

Gluten-Free Date Night in NYC

I met my friend Kristen, of the world-famous Wine With Kristen, through the NYC Celiac Meetup group many years ago. We crossed that casual support group friendship line ages ago and now we meet on a regular basis for dinner, treats, gossip, and of course, wine. There is something so comforting about meeting up with a fellow Celiac for a meal. You don't have to worry about being the annoying friend that needs to eat gluten-free while no one else does. You can both pick a safe gluten-free friendly place and just go eat. The other day, Kristen and I did just that to catch up and eat. We decided to meet at the new Pip's Place Gluten-Free Cakery on 39th Street and Lexington Ave. in New York City You know you have a really awesome friend who agrees to meet you for gluten-free dessert BEFORE dinner. After we each had dessert as an appetizer, we walked over to S'Mac on 33rd Street and 3rd Ave. for gluten-free macaroni and cheese and a Bard's beer. It was great to catch up with Kristen and safely eat gluten-free and delicious food. Here are pictures from our gluten-free dinner date night in New York City.

Pip's Place Gluten-Free Cakery
127 East 39th Street between Park Ave. and Lexington Ave.
1729-31 First Avenue between 89th and 90th Streets

S'MAC, Sarita's Mac and Cheese
157 East 33rd Street between Lexington Ave. and 3rd Ave.
345 East 12th Street between 1st Ave. and 2nd. Ave

Gluten-Free Greek at Ovelia

Astoria, New York is a very Greek neighborhood. It is also where I call home. My Greek grandmother grew up here and 9 years ago I decided to move here which made my grandma very proud. "You are going back to your roots!" she said shortly after I moved here. I love it in Astoria and cannot imagine living anywhere else. I am a short subway ride from Manhattan and my rent is cheap for a bright, beautiful, BIG 2-bedroom apartment. Take that Manhattanites living in a shoebox-sized apartment.  :-)

With many Greek neighbors, comes lots of Greek food. I have blogged about Ovelia Psistaria in the past but want to share once again about how great this restaurant is to the gluten-free community. Ovelia has been so welcoming to me and feeding me gluten-free food over the past few years. Last year they were even certified gluten-free by GIG. Ovelia has hosted two New York City Meetup events where the entire 8-course meal was gluten-free. Yes, eight courses of gluten-free Greek deliciousness. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about their gluten-free menu, which is clearly marked with GF and V (vegan) icons. I love supporting small businesses and with food this good, I think you should make the trip to Queens the next time you are in Manhattan.

Learn more about Ovelia in this video. Pay special attention around 1:19 to see the GLUTEN-FREE highlighted on the menu.

View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com.

Photo Friday: Ovelia Psistaria

Ovelia Restaurant in Astoria, NY
Join us on May 22: Chef-to-Plate at Ovelia

Cafe Giraffe: Allergen-Free Food Coming Soon to NYC

If there is one thing we are lacking in this wonderful city of New York, it is a restaurant that is 100% gluten-free. Of course there are bakeries and many great restaurants that have gluten-free menu options, but nothing is entirely gluten-free. If you have never been to a restaurant that is entirely gluten-free, you are missing out big time. It is almost like a holy experience walking into a place where you can eat EVERYTHING on the menu. From what I can remember, I only had this experience very few times in my 30 years of living gluten-free; once at Barenaked Bakery on Long Island and once in Vancouver at Panne Rizo.

Amy Kohtz, a fellow member of the NYC Celiac Disease Meetup group, contacted me a few weeks ago to tell me about her new project to open a restaurant in NYC that is entirely gluten-free. Cafe Giraffe will be 100% gluten-free. In order to tackle this endeavor, Amy has launched a Kickstarter project and is asking for funding contributions.

Here's Amy's plan:

Convenient, delicious, allergen-free food is coming soon to NYC. 

The food at Cafe Giraffe will always be free of gluten and will always be mostly free of peanuts, fish, and shellfish. Our delectable offerings can also be customized to exclude the remaining top 8 food allergies and intolerances, including milk, egg, tree nuts, and soybean. 

Our elegant, family friendly venue will literally be a place that has something for everyone. Modernist burgers and sandwiches with hand-crafted sauces, tempting desserts, and delicious drinks will appeal to customers who do not have food allergies but want to try something “better than home cooking” at a great price. 

Cafe Giraffe will open our doors in NYC in spring, 2012. We plan to expand to a city near you within five years. Our EatNo8 (trademark pending) and No-8 (trademark pending) line of sauces will be available for purchase through mail order and on Amazon. 

We first started planning Cafe Giraffe in December, 2009. We're seeking seed funding to secure leases for a retail space and equipment, commission expert help including kitchen design and real estate brokers, and to take the final step toward full financing. 

Your support will help revolutionize the restaurant landscape for people with food allergies. 

Thank you!

Click here to learn more and to make a donation towards Cafe Giraffe.

Buon Appetito Senza Glutine at Bar Italia Madison

Senza Glutine= Without Gluten

Last Tuesday, I had the wonderful privilege of dining with Lindsay aka The Lunch Belle and Jackie of The Promotion Factory at Bar Italia Madison. When Lindsay first invited me after dinner at Ovelia, I was excited to learn that she was going to check out Bar Italia gluten-free menu that was launched in early April. Once we finalized our date, I emailed the restaurant through their Contact Us page and was pleasantly surprised when Bar Italia's manager and partner, Hassan El Garrahy, emailed me directly to assure me there was indeed a gluten-free menu. Mr. El Garrahy and Chef/Partner Denis Franceschini are extremely well-known in the NYC restaurant scene with many years experience at restaurants such as Cipriani, so I felt like I was in good hands for my meal at Bar Italia Madison.

The swanky and friendly
Chef Denis Franchescini
and Me

As Lindsay and I met up with Jackie, a PR rep for the restaurant, we were immediately given the royal treatment. The wine flowed freely and we enjoyed the pleasant company of the Bar Italia staff including Chef Denis, the lovely captain Annalisa, and the ever personable (and impeccably dressed) owner Hassan. Chef Denis wanted us to try everything and believe me we did! Just when we thought we ordered enough, Denis and his staff brought out more.

I ate like a gluten-free queen at Bar Italia with everything from bread to appetizers to pasta and pizza and dessert. I was instantly transported back to my trip to Italy in 2009 where I was brought to tears while eating gluten-free pasta and drinking wine outside of Vatican City. Chef Denis went through each dish with us, many of which were naturally gluten-free. He explained how he likes to use less ingredients to bring out the true flavor of the dishes. Hassan echoed his thoughts by explaining they like to have a very "clean" menu. The flavors were rich without being overpowering and I even tried many dishes that were new to me. We started with not one but SIX appetizers, a pasta course, the main course, and dessert with wine at each course. As in Italy, we ate for hours! It was fantastic.

Here was our decadent menu for the night:

Appetizers

• Bruschetta: gluten-free roll with tomato eggplant & roasted peppers. I love when restaurants have gluten-free bread readily available. The bruschetta was fresh and delicious. 
• Polenta Gratinata: polenta with mushrooms. I am not a mushroom fan, but the polenta and the cheese was flavorful even with the mushrooms. This was one of Lindsay's favorite dishes. 
• La Caprese di Bar Italia: mozzarella with cherry tomatoes. I think this was some of the creamiest, melt-in-your-mouth mozzarella that I ever ate. 
• Tuna al Balsamico: seared sliced tuna with fennel and balsamic. Believe it or not, this was my first time EVER of not eating tuna out of a can. This was by far my favorite dish of the night. It was amazing and quelled my fears of eating fish. Thank you Chef Denis for getting me out of the can and onto the plate. ;-)
• Polipetto all Griglia: grilled octopus & chick peas. I couldn't bring myself to eat these little guys. Sorry. 
• Tartare di Salmone: tartare of salmon. Another first for me. This salmon was prepared simply with some avocado. I don't usually eat fish, but this was one of those "clean" dishes that Hassan spoke about and I didn't want to pass it by. I really need to get that "fishy" fear out of my head and enjoy dishes like this more often.
• Insalata di Spinacini: baby spinach, apple, and bacon salad. Simple salad, but amazing flavors.

Pasta

Black Truffle Pasta

• Penne al Tartufo: gluten-free corn-based penne with black truffle and Parmigiano. Yet another first for me. Black truffles are a delicacy with limited and almost exclusive European production. This dish definitely had the richest flavor out of all of the amazing dishes we ate at Bar Italia. Deliziosissima! 

Main courses

• Bianca Pizza with Prosciutto: gluten-free pizza with four cheese and prosciutto. Thin crust pizza, just like in Italy! I shared with the girls and the enjoyed their first gluten-free pizza.
• Gnocchi di Patate con Taleggio e Pere: Potato gnocchi with taleggio and pear. *Not gluten-free. (Jackie's entree)
• Orecchiette al Ragu' di Vitello: pasta with veal ragu. *Not gluten-free. (Lindsay's entree)
  

Dessert

gluten-free tiramisu

• Gluten-free Tiramisu: raw, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free. This was served semi-freddo and was half-way between a cake and an ice cream. This was a decadent way to end a luxurious meal. I was so full but think this gigantic hunk of tiramisu could have been an entree in itself. This was a special dish created by Andree El Garrahy, Bar Italia's gluten-free and raw food gourmet chef. Please note the size of this ginormous piece of tiramisu!
• Mix sorbet: mango, peach, and lemon sorbet. The peach sorbet was out of this world. It tasted like freshly picked peaches and was a great choice in desserts. I could have eaten a whole bowl of the peach sorbet by itself. 

Beverages

When dining with Italians you must be prepared to drink, A LOT! I drank lots of sauvignon blanc throughout the meal since I am not a red wine drinker. I also finished with prosecco and limoncello, an after-dinner digestivo. Also on the menu is a Caprese Martini, which is basically a salad in a glass consisting of tomato vodka, fresh lemon juice, balsamic vinaigrette, cherry tomato, basil, and a Parmesan cheese rim. I did not try this drink but Jackie assured us it is a very rich and unique drink menu item. 

Bar Italia Madison is truly a quintessential New York dining experience. From the decadent Italian menu to the personable and attentive staff, this is a perfect location for a special meal in Manhattan. I highly suggest this restaurant for a celebratory dinner or a special night out; you will not be disappointed. When a meal transports you back to another time and country, I consider that a huge success. I want to point out, the gluten-free menu is only a portion of the full Bar Italia menu so your friends and family will have their pick of Italian dishes for their meal.  

I want to thank Lindsay for the amazing invite to Bar Italia and Jackie for arranging us this decadent meal with her client, Bar Italia. (Disclaimer: the meal was completely paid for so Lindsay and I dined as guests.) I also want to thank both Denis and Hassan for understanding that a gluten-free menu goes way beyond words on a page that say "gluten-free". From the ingredients to the preparation, both Hassan and Denis completely understood that you can still eat an amazing meal while maintaining a gluten-free diet. They went above and beyond and delivered a decadent and safe gluten-free meal.

Click here to read Lindsay's review of Bar Italia Madison.


Bar Italia Madison
768 Madison Avenue
http://www.baritalianyc.com/

Opa! Gluten-Free Feast at Ovelia

"You can't be egotistical about food, you have to explore."

Did you ever have a gluten-free meal with amazing service that almost brought you to tears? Well, I had that last night at Ovelia Psistaria in Astoria, NY. The attentive service, the decadent Greek meal, and the amazing food blogger camaraderie made for a fantastic evening only blocks from my new apartment.

I was lucky enough to be invited to this blogger dinner by Judith, founder and editor of Fooditka.com. Although Judith and I had virtually "met" a few years ago, we never met in person. It was great to finally put a face, blog, and email name together. Also at the dinner were Meg of Harmonious Belly and We Heart Astoria (Another blog Judith also contributes to), Lindsay of The Lunch Belle, and Elena of The Gotham Palete. In my more than 4 years of writing this blog, I think this was the only event where I was the sole gluten-free representative. These ladies couldn't have been more welcoming. They asked me questions about Celiac and gluten-free food and seemed genuinely interested in my dining out habits. I was happy to educate these esteemed foodies about the navigation of a gluten-free diet in a gluten-filled world.

Prior to attending this dinner, I was honestly nervous to go. Ovelia Psistaria had just launched their "Rock n' Ribs Wednesdays" and when I saw the menu online I knew it would be a gluten-filled meal with lots of BBQ sauce and sides I would not be able to eat. I reached out to the restaurant via their Contact Us page and heard back within a couple of days. I got a response from Peter Giannakas, one of the owners and the chef of Ovelia. Peter's response started to ease my gluten-free fears. He said:

I can list all the items that are gluten free but that would be almost the entire menu. So instead I will list the items that you would want to avoid!  Also very important is to mention to your server about gluten-free restriction and to absolutely get a manager, who will be more than happy to address the issue to me and the kitchen so that we can take further precautions while prepping the meal!

Items to avoid:
melitzanosalates, keftedakia, fried feta cubes, fried kalamari, kolokithokeftedes, fried squash and eggplant, spanakopita, monastiraki bifteki, olive brine pork (can be served without dumpling), mousaka, pastitsio, veggie mousaka, ribeye (avoid our genuine steak sauce), all our pasta dishes with the exception of the ouzo stir fry which is prepared with rice noodles

Wow, that was a Greek mouthful but also so reassuring. I was already off to an amazing start with Ovelia. When I responded to Peter that I was coming to Judith's Rock N' Ribs event, he did some kitchen investigation. He then replied:

So the sauces are not gluten free but if you would like i can smoke a rack or a half a rack without basting them with the bbq sauce! And maybe you can bring your own? 

What?? I can bring my own sauce and you will leave some ribs "au natural" for me? Sign me up!! I wrote back to Peter to tell him I would indeed be there and would come with some of the new Guy Fieri BBQ sauce I got last week. BBQ Game On!

When I arrived at the restaurant, I met Peter within minutes. We spoke openly about the menu to come and he eagerly took my BBQ sauce to put on the smoked ribs. As I spoke to Peter with Judith about the menu, I became more and more relaxed. Peter said "You can't be egotistical about food, you have to explore." I am not sure if Peter realized how important this was to hear; these words alone were music to my ears. Peter, thank you for being so open and not brushing off food intolerances as a nuisance!

As the food began to arrive, I slowly drifted into a gluten-free Greek food heaven. Homemade family-recipe greek sausage (Ovelia Loukaniko) with lemon, halloumi (Greek cheese) with prosciutto, and at least 4 other (gluten) appetizers arrived first. The staff clearly pointed out which were safe for me to eat. The new Corn Dog Buttons were deep-fried sausage bites in a corn batter, but Peter mentioned there was not a dedicated fryer in the kitchen. Good to know. Next came out feta cheese infused with jalapenos. This is not a regular menu item but it is the filling to one of the deep-friend appetizers. It was so nice to enjoy a similar dish to what the other women were eating. Peter also brought out some halloumi chips were absolutely amazing. Think thin potato chips made entirely of cheese. You can't go wrong!

Judith, Meg, Lindsay, Elena, and I were quickly getting full off the abundance of appetizers but next up came our dinner. At this point, I barely had any room left but Peter's staff brought me out a rack of ribs made with the Guy Fieri Kansas City BBQ sauce and I couldn't let those pass by. I had three of the ribs which were really good and some of the side dishes including the oven-roasted lemon potatoes (A typical Green side and one of my favorites), french fries, and sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows. I only had enough room for a taste of these dishes and the sides since I was so full.

Throughout the meal, the staff continued to tell me the ingredients of all of the new dishes they brought out and tell me if they were gluten-free or not. Yes, we were at a food blogger dinner but I sensed the generosity and care of the preparation and presentation of the dishes were genuine. Chris Giannakis, the co-owner, "front of the house", and Peter's brother, came out during the meal to introduce himself and make sure everything was good. With all the food we were stuffing in our mouths, all we could do was eagerly nod and mumble thank yous.

If you are looking for authentic Greek food with a staff that understands the need for dietary alterations and seems to really care about their clientele, then Ovelia Psistaria is your place.

Thank you Judith of Fooditka.com for inviting me to dinner and Lindsay, Meg, and Elena for being so cordial and interested in learning more about being gluten-free.

A very special thank you to Chef/Co-Owner Peter Giannakis and Co-Owner Chris Giannakis for going above and beyond for a fantastic, delicious, and most importantly safe gluten-free meal at your restaurant Ovelia! I will be back very soon.

Ovelia Psistaria
34-01 30th Ave.
Astoria, NY

Updated: Read Fooditka's rview of Ovelia here.

And check out her super cute new logo. Love it!



Tasty, rib-sticking convivality – Review of Ovelia Psistaria by The Gotham Palate

Loukaniko at Ovelia by Harmonious Belly

Click here for even more links about dining in Astoria.

How Much Are Food-Allergic Diners Worth?

AllergyEats Founder Calculates the Power of the “Veto Vote”

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the past year, AllergyEats founder Paul Antico has encouraged restaurants to better accommodate food allergic and intolerant diners because it’s the right thing to do. Now, the financial expert is demonstrating another benefit to catering to the food allergy community: it can significantly increase restaurants’ profits.

“Millions of Americans – or roughly 5% of the general population – have known food allergies or gluten intolerance, and restaurateurs should recognize the tremendous spending power of this community”
Antico, a former stock fund manager with 17 years at Fidelity Investments, leveraged his financial analysis background to determine how much economic power the food allergy and Celiac disease community can influence.

“Millions of Americans – or roughly 5% of the general population – have known food allergies or gluten intolerance, and restaurateurs should recognize the tremendous spending power of this community,” Antico explained.

Assuming that 20% of the food allergic population will never feel comfortable dining out, while another 20% will try to eat anywhere, that still leaves 9 million food allergic diners that can be won over by allergy-friendly restaurants. Yet this number dramatically underestimates the true economic value of serving the food-allergic population, given that most diners eat out with other people.

“A key factor for restaurants is the ‘veto vote.’ If one person in a party has food allergies, the entire group will likely go to a restaurant that can accommodate that one individual. The food allergic diner will ‘veto’ restaurants that won’t cater to his or her specific needs,” Antico explained.

“I’ve made a conservative assumption that the average party dining out includes only three people, two of whom do not have food allergies. This estimate is especially conservative given the greater prevalence of food allergies in children, who often eat out with a party of four or more. Therefore, the “winnable” food allergic diner community – 3% of the total US population – actually translates into a 9% or greater potential increase in business for an allergy-friendly restaurant,” Antico continued.

As an example, the casual dining chain Chili’s averages roughly $3 million in sales per restaurant annually. On each sales dollar, Chili’s earns about 15c in profit. Since restaurants have considerable fixed overhead (rent, staff salaries, etc.), it’s reasonable to assume that every additional sales dollar generates 25c (or more) in profit.

Therefore, a 9% increase in sales at a typical Chili’s would equate to approximately $270,000 per year. That translates into an additional $50,000 or more in annual profits for an “allergy-friendly” Chili’s versus a similar but “allergy-unfriendly” restaurant. Even if a restaurant is already at or near capacity during weekend prime times, by becoming more allergy-friendly, they can still increase their profits by tens of thousands of dollars annually.

Savvy restaurateurs understand the financial benefits of providing an allergy-friendly environment. Many restaurant owners are wisely taking extra precautions to accommodate food allergic and intolerant guests, having their employees trained in allergy safety, creating gluten-free menu options, providing ingredient lists, and seeking industry certifications.

“As the father of food allergic children, I avoid restaurants that won’t accommodate my sons’ special dietary requirements. I’d rather take my family of seven to an allergy-friendly establishment instead. Others within the food-allergy community feel similarly,” Antico explained. “The feedback is clear – if a restaurant doesn’t have food allergy protocols in place, these dining parties will take their business elsewhere.”

“From a purely business perspective, it’s in restaurants’ best interests to accommodate the food allergy population, as it can lead to significantly higher profits,” Antico continued. “The objective, peer-based feedback on AllergyEats makes it easier for the food allergy community to find allergy-friendly restaurants and avoid those that don’t measure up.”

AllergyEats is a free, user-friendly website that provides valuable peer-based feedback about how well (or poorly) restaurants accommodate food-allergic customers. Antico started AllergyEats after dining out with his two food-allergic children and becoming frustrated by the inconsistencies in restaurants – some were willing and able to accommodate food-allergic diners and some were not. He created AllergyEats as a resource that offers restaurant feedback specific to food allergies.

AllergyEats lists well over 600,000 restaurants nationwide, which food allergic diners can rate. The site also offers information on restaurants’ menus (including gluten-free menus), allergen lists, nutrition information, certifications, web links, directions and more.

AllergyEats, which launched in February 2010, is experiencing tremendous growth, as word spreads about this valuable resource. Tens of thousands of visitors now use the site monthly, and more than 2,000 social media “fans” follow the site, participating in discussions and posting comments. The overwhelmingly positive response to the site demonstrates that AllergyEats is meeting a tremendous need in the food allergy community.

AllergyEats has received a number of endorsements from highly-respected food, health and allergy organizations, including the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Gluten Intolerance Group, and the Massachusetts Restaurant Association. Additionally, AllergyEats is forming exciting partnerships with other organizations, including restaurant chains, established food allergy non-profits and more.

For more information, please visit www.AllergyEats.com.

Book Review Wednesday: Triumph Dining Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide

Triumph Dining has just published the 5th edition of their book "The Essential Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide". I was very excited to get a copy of this newest edition. I have a copy of the 3rd edition which is full of notes, bookmarked pages, and dog-eared corners. Needless to say, I used the book a lot.

The thing I like about the Essential Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide is that they often list restaurants that you can't necessarily find on the internet. You might find this hard to believe, but not all restaurants have websites. Word of mouth and local support groups are a great way to find out about restaurants offering gluten-free meals, but this book puts it all in one place for all fifty states.


The 5th edition has over 6,500 restaurants listed! That’s over 1,500 more than in the previous, 4th Edition of our guide. Over 2,800 of the restaurants listed have gluten-free menus or gluten-free specialty items. (That means pizza, pasta, cupcakes, cookies, and more!) In addition, Triumph Dining has added over 40 chain menus, which means that there are now over 120 gluten-free lists and menus from chain restaurants across the country!

The symbols used in this guide are really easy to use. Here is a breakdown:
Star in circle: Gluten-free menu is available on site
Star: Gluten-free speciality items, such as bread, beer, pasta, etc., are available
100%: This is a 100% gluten-free establishment. YAY!
A book icon: This is a chain restaurant.

I am very excited to try some new places that I discovered in this 5th Edition Essential Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide in NY, CT, and wherever else the new year takes me. With the holidays right around the corner, I think this would be a great gift for the gluten-free person in your family.

Order your copy of the 5th Edition Essential Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide today by clicking here today!

Gluten-Free New York City Map

Many of my gluten-free friends and readers ask me for restaurant suggestions. Almost two years ago, I started putting together a Google map of places to eat in New York City. Until my redesign of this site is complete, it is hard to find the link to my gluten-free map on Google. I apologize for this. In the meantime, you can see my updated Google map below. It includes restaurants with gluten-free menus, GFRAP restaurants, supermarkets with gluten-free markets, and bars serving gluten-free beer. I love getting tips from readers, so if I am missing anything please let me know.

I am excited to announce that I now have 151 restaurants, markets, and more on this map. Additionally, you can subscribe to the RSS feed for this map to be alerted whenever I update it.

All of these places are suggestions based on me going there myself, articles I have read online, or tips from readers. It is up to you to be diligent and call ahead! Restaurants in New York City come and go very quickly sometimes. I suggest you call or email any place you plan on visiting to see if it is still open. You might also want to call ahead for both a reservation and to confirm that they can accommodate a gluten-free diner.

Gluten-Free in New York City Map by Erin Smith at Gluten-Free Fun


View Gluten-Free in New York City in a larger map

Gluten-Free New York City Map

I thought the new year would be a great time to update my Google map of gluten-free restaurant, bars, and stores that sell gluten-free products in New York City. With over 60 listings, I hope this is one of the most comprehensive maps of gluten-free Manhattan online at the moment. (Send me others if you find any!) This map includes GFRAP restaurants as well as restaurants that provide gluten-free menu items. As with any dining experience, it is best to call ahead to make sure a gluten-free menu is still available. Also, when you get to the restaurant please speak with the waitstaff about your gluten-free dietary needs. Once you have had a great gluten-free meal at one of these places, I encourage you to write a review, email the staff, etc. It is your feedback that will keep these gluten-free menus around! You can also print the map with all of the listings directly from the Google link.

Enjoy! I welcome all feedback or additions that need to be made.


View Gluten-Free in New York City by Gluten-Free Fun in a larger map

New York City Gluten-Free Restaurants Now on Google Maps

My last post was a list of all New York City restaurants that are participants in the Gluten-Free Restaurant Awareness Program (GFRAP). I got a great response from my Long Island Gluten-Free restaurant map (not GFRAP) so I thought I would put the NYC map together. You can find the list of all GFRAP restaurants in Manhattan and the five boroughs here.


View Larger Map

Also visit my Long Island, NY Gluten-Free restaurant Map here.

Gluten-Free Restaurant Awareness Program: Lilli and Loo

The Gluten-Free Restaurant Awareness Program (GFRAP) facilitates a relationship between individuals with celiac disease and other forms of gluten intolerance, and restaurants. The relationship builds a win-win opportunity for restaurants to provide service to people following a gluten-free diet, and to gain increased patronage. Participating restaurants are able to provide gluten-free meals from their regular meals. GFRAP is a program of the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America.

A recent add to the GFRAP is Lilli and Loo on Lexington Avenue, between 61st and 62nd Streets in Manhattan. It is a cute little chic Asian restaurant stuffed between a few bodegas, bars, and across the street for the New York Doll Hospital. Not an exactly hip location, but the Upper East Side of Manhattan is definitely becoming a mecca of gluten-free restaurants. Lilli and Loo has been getting some good press in the gluten-free blogger community (see Ms. Guide's posting here) so I figured I would take my friend Shawn in celebration of his new job.

We arrived around 5:45pm on Friday night and it wasn't yet crowded and was still happy hour (4pm-7pm). If it weren't for the ton of drinks at the company holiday party the night before, I would have definitely had joined him in a congratulatory drink. Anyway, we ordered the Saigon Roll and the Thai Chicken Lettuce wraps to start. We were not disappointed. I actually really enjoyed the Saigon Roll and thought it was quite different from the previous gluten-free wraps I have had at other gluten-free restaurants. For my entrée, I had Manchurian Beef with fresh broccoli and brown rice. Since we had filled up on the Saigon Roll and Thai Chicken Lettuce wraps, I was half full when the entrées came but managed to finish everything. It seemed like the staff was really trying and the waitress even asked me in some broken English "Gluten-Free can't eat fortune cookie, right?" I guess she didn't want to offend me when bringing the cookies with the bill. All in all it was nice to enjoy an Asian meal without the worry or the bloated feeling you sometimes get when eating "Safe".

Kudos to Lilli and Loo for becoming part of GFRAP. Give them a try if you are in Manhattan!


Saigon Wraps: Rice paper wrapper with fresh mango, avocado, iceberg lettuce, cucumber, rice vermicelli and spicy mint dipping sauce (served cool and not fried)


Manchurian Beef with Broccoli


Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Lilli and Loo
792 Lexington Ave
New York 10021
Btwn 61st and 62nd St

NYC Restaurants

There is an awesome site called Menupages.com that lets you review the menus of tons of restaurants in New York City. Rachel F., a member of the NYC Celiac Disease meetup group, recently told me that "gluten-free" is now a drop-down search item in various neighborhoods. Apparently, it only shows up as a choice when there is a restaurant in that neighborhood that has a gluten-free menu or that is aware of gluten-free needs.

Here is a list of the restaurants that Menupages.com indicates have gluten-free items available. These menus can change and some NYC restaurants (especially/unfortunately gluten-free restaurants) have a high turnover rate, so please call before dining.

Asia de Cuba
237 Madison Ave | Btwn 37th & 38th St

Bloom's Delicatessen
350 Lexington Ave | At 40th St

Tropica
200 Park Ave | At 45th St

Candle 79
154 E 79th St | Btwn Lex & 3rd Ave

Lumi
963 Lexington Ave | At 70th St

Slice, The Perfect Food
1413 2nd Ave | Btwn 73rd & 74th St

Peter's
1606 1st Ave | Btwn 83rd & 84th St

Cafe Fiorello
1900 Broadway | Btwn 63rd & 64th St

Sambuca
20 W 72nd St | Btwn CPW & Columbus Ave

Bistango
415 3rd Ave | At 29th St

Chennai Garden
129 E 27th St | Btwn Park & Lexington Ave

Risotteria
270 Bleecker St | Btwn 6th & 7th Ave

Sacred Chow
227 Sullivan St | Btwn Bleecker & W 3rd St

Gobo
401 6th Ave | Btwn Waverly Pl & 8th St

Flor's Kitchen
149 1st Ave | Btwn 9th & 10th St

Viva Herbal Pizzeria
179 2nd Ave | Btwn 11th & 12th St

Babycakes
248 Broome St | Btwn Orchard & Ludlow St

teany
90 Rivington St | Btwn Orchard & Ludlow St