Eataly — NYC

I was in NYC this weekend for a friends birthday and had been hearing and reading so much about Mario Battali's Eataly, that I just HAD to go. I knew it would be a mob scene, and it definitely was. But it was pretty cool to check out. I would recommend going NOT on a Saturday, or in a few months when the hype dies down.

Inside Eataly

I was mostly interested in getting gelato, cured meats, and some cheeses, if I wasn't gluten free, I'm sure my list would have been: fresh pasta, pizza, and panini, but the other stuff is just as good, and less calories! We managed to find a table with a server and ordered a sampler board that looked like this:


Umm, YUM, all the things I was looking to get! It was really good. They served with a fig, some honey, and oil - and also served with fresh baked bread (which I obviously did not partake in) and to top it off we each got a glass of Bastianich Rosé that was quite good. I would have gotten another glass, but there was no way we were getting the waiter back. Oh - and you can just walk around and shop & buy things, so we also got a container of bistecca was was cooked to PERFECTION. It was $20 for not that much, but totally worth it - my mouth is watering thinking of it.

I had my eyes on the gelaterria, but there was a huge case of desserts and there were at least 5 delicious looking items that were clearly labeled gluten-free. I almost got the tiramasu, pictured, but figure on my return visit I will go for it.

Oh, and PS - they were selling white truffles in there for $2500 a pound!!! Yikes!

Mozzarelli's - not good.

I am soooo disappointed in Mozzarelli's pizza! Ugh.... it was NOT good. Not only was it not good, it was $33 for a pizza with two toppings - that is ridiculous. 

So - the weekend was fabulous. Had a blast at my friends shower and bachelorette -- we were staying in Union Square in NYC, and had apps at Olives. My plan was to get a pizza before that, but I called at 8:30pm to order the pizza, and apparently they closed at 8. SO - what did I do? I ordered a pizza for 'breakfast' on Sunday -- which worked out, because the girls had two enormous bags of delicious NY bagels delivered to our room... sigh (although, i had some gf bread and I had some yummy scallion cream cheese -- why is cream cheese SO good in ny?).

Anyway.... they delivered my pizza (after some serious issues with them not understanding where the W hotel was) and I was SO excited -- I got goat cheese & spinach on it - I sunk my teeth in, and I immediately tasted that gross weird gluten free taste - What is that?!?! It tastes like soap or something. I almost cried. But I toughed it out and ate a piece, tried to add some more goat cheese from another slice, covered it in garlic salt, and pretended I didn't taste the soapiness.

I'm not sure if I was more upset over the price, or the fact that I had heard such great things and I found it un-eatable. I even brought back the leftovers hoping it would taste better cold. Nope. Worse. Just tried it and had to throw it out!

Can someone please tell me what that taste is so I can try to avoid it in the future? It must be one of the flours, I can't pinpoint which one though.

Friedman's Deli - NYC

I was in NYC last week visiting, and every time I go there I make it a point to stop by at least one gluten free establishment I've read about -- usually on Celiac Chicks or A Gluten Free Guide.

So this time - I HAD to go to Friedman's Deli in Chelsea Market. (I apologize in advance for the crap photos -- I was so mad I forgot my camera, and my friend's camera wasn't working) Anyway.... I knew I was going to get a Reuben Sandwich because I saw someone else get it, and that was my FAVE sandwich pre-diagnosis.  I also started with a potato pancake AND got a side of the rosemary fries. Can we say, CARB OVERLOAD???  

It was SO worth it.

The potato pancake was delish -- served with applesauce and sour cream - it was thick and filling. It was like a mashed potato pancake - not the kind that is more like shredded potatoes -- I like both, so it was excellent to me. It was also very filling! But I brought my appetite so I was ready for more....

Next, the fries came out with my friends salad. OK - these fries were GREAT -- I love these kind of big thick fries, and they were mixed in with rosemary & sea salt - but it wasn't too much, it was just right... 

You also might see in that picture two shot glasses that have some chunky stuff -- they gave everyone samples of the fresh homemade juice of the day -- it was a grapefruit/pineapple concoction of some sort, and it was very good, but it was more like eating a piece of fruit than drinking juice.

NEXT.... The Reuben.

YUUUMMM. It was SO GOOD. Sadly, I took one picture, but it's so awful, I won't post it - it makes the sandwich look terrible. It was on Grainless Baker Mock Rye Bread, and was loaded with meat, russian dressing, and sauerkraut. It also seemed that the bread had been generously spread with butter before being toasted/fried, and was absolutely delicious. I ate the entire thing in about 30 seconds, it was probably a disgusting spectacle.

Also -- the servers were great --- I asked my waitress about the bread since it was so good, she told me it was Grainless Baker, and she sold me a loaf! I don't think I've ever seen it in any of my local grocers - and I wanted to make sure I had more.

SO - at the end of the day, I HIGHLY recommend Friedman's Deli -- and Chelsea Market is pretty cool to walk around in, so definitely visit next time you're in NYC.

NYC/Brooklyn Bound!

I am SO excited.

Leaving at 1:30 today from work to head to Brooklyn!! One of my very best friends just got a new apartment there and we have many plans in the works including: shopping awesome brooklyn consignment, drinking large quantities of wine, consuming unhealthy amounts of cheese, and spending too much money eating out at restaurants. 

Tomorrow we're going to head into SoHo  and we're going to Friedman's Deli for lunch... WOOO HOOO!!! Sadly, I left my camera at home, so hopefully my friend will have hers so I can take some pictures. I already have a plan. I'm going to order two entire meals, and take one to go. YES, I'm aware that I'm a pig.

We are also going to go shopping for home items to snaz up my dear friend's new apartment to make it look FAB...... although, I'm sure it already does because she has amazing taste.

Will post when I get back!