When the Moon Hits Your Eye...

I've eaten at Mozzarelli's a few times, but this was the first trip when I actually remembered my camera. :P

Mozzarelli's, located at 38 E. 23rd Street (mere steps from the 23rd street stop on the 6), is a little small, but is a treasure trove for the gluten intolerant, for whom the thought of slices of New York pizza seems like a pipe dream. 

Mz's serves big, fat squares of gluten free pizza, crust made from a "secret blend of brown rice and beans", as well as gluten free pastas and plenty of desserts. 

There's no need to ask for any special menus or to be wary of ingredients because "GLUTEN FREE" is posted everywhere! Mz's is quite clear about which foods are gluten free and which ones aren't, and its staff is also very knowledgeable. 

I have yet to try the pasta, but I've heard rave reviews. I usually order a slice of the bruschetta pizza, which is topped with tomatoes, but this time, I tried the mushroom, tomato, and spinach pie. It's baked right after you order it, so that it's served nice and warm. I didn't inquire about the separation of the kitchens, but the g-free pizza is placed on a separate shelf from the other pizzas, scooped with a separate spatula, and is cooked with a piece of foil beneath it in the oven.

 

The cheese and sauce are a little oily, but other than that, there are no complaints about this pizza. The crust is superb, nice and crispy, and surprisingly airy. It had great crunch. The sauce is zesty! A nice slice indeed, especially at only $5.

One cannot eat at Mz's without getting dessert. My mind nearly exploded with excitement the first time that I ate here and saw the whole case full of g-free desserts, neatly packaged and looking so enticing.

 

Cakes, cheesecake, rice pudding, cupcakes, all kinds of delicious treats, silently seducing my gastronomic appetites. 

The first time I ate here, I had a slice of vanilla/chocolate marble cake that was divine, but the real heaven was found when I had a piece of cheesecake with strawberries. It was just how I remembered cheesecake to taste: soft, creamy, light, and rich. I'm salivating as I remember it. 

One last part of Mz's left to knock your gluten free socks off. The wall of cookies.

Seriously, I was in awe. I have never seen so many different kinds of gluten free cookies in one place before. If one can achieve Celiac nirvana, it might be found in front of these showcases. 

And you know what? They're all delicious! And there's a table where you can sample as many different kinds as you want before you buy, just as an added perk. It's hard to suppress the urge to snatch up a sample of every last kind once you taste the first cookie. They're baked by a company called My Dad's Cookies and retail at 3 boxes for $12. Other allergies and special diets are accommodated as well. I saw cookies and desserts that were dairy and egg free, as well as sugar free.

I recommend the creme brulee cookie. After sampling my fair share *cough* I found them to be the best. Another good one is the chocolate "bing bong". Don't ask me to explain the name; I have no clue. But really. Any kind of cookie urge can be satisfied here. 

Mozzarelli's: A hidden gluten free paradise.

Gluten Free NYC-Updated May 25, 2010

I've been accumulating information about gluten free restaurants in NYC for awhile now, so I thought that I would compile a comprehensive list of them, including location, links, and cuisine information. This list will be updated when I receive information about other gluten free eateries in NYC, so please let me know what I have missed! Happy eating!

Slice the Perfect Food

-build your own pizza

-sliceperfect.com

-1413 2nd ave

Mozzarelli's

-cheap gf pizza, ziti, penne vodka, biscotti, penne alfredo

-mozzarellis.com/gluten-free-pizza.html

-38 e. 23rd street

Bloom's Deli

-omelettes, fish, burgers, fries

-bloomsnewyorkdeli.com

-350 lexington ave

Lilli and Loo

-asian food, including fried rice, teriyaki chicken, pad thai, tempura

-lilliandloo.com

-792 lexington ave

Petit Cafe

-french toast, sandwiches, soups, cookies, brownies

-http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/petit-cafe/

-70 greenwich ave

Sacred Chow

-organic, vegan, kosher meals

-http://www.sacredchow.com/menu1.htm

-227 Sullivan Street

Bar Breton

-buckwheat crepes, many gluten free dishes

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

-254 5th avenue

Candle Cafe (Candle 79)

-vegan food, pumpkin seed burger, nori rolls, porcini crusted tofu

-candlecafe.com/glutenfree.html

-1307 third ave at 75th street and 154 e. 79th street near lexington

Gus' Place

-greek food like souvlaki (kebabs), grilled octopus, soups, breads, beer

-gusplacenyc.com

-192 bleecker street

Bistango

-upscale italian, lists many dishes and says gf pasta is extra. gf bread

-bistangonyc.com

-415 3rd ave at 29th street

Lili's 57

-chinese food like shrimp rempura, pad thai, fried rice, dumplings, sushi

-store6.geomerx.com/lilis57

-http://store6.geomerx.com/lilis57/index.cfm?fuseaction=category&categoryID=30

-200 W. 57th Street on 7th Ave

Asia de Cuba (at Morgan's)

-expensive asian/cuban food like miso cod, pan seared tuna

-chinagrillmgt.com/adecNY/main.cfm?pp=0

-http://www.chinagrillmgt.com/menuPDF/AdCNY_glutenfree%20(for%20web).pdf

-237 Madison Ave

Risotteria

-italian food, pizza, panini, breadsticks, pasta on tuesdays, "black and whites"

-risotteria.com

-http://www.risotteria.com/web_7.4/risotteriahome//tuesday%20pasta%20menus%20march%202008(1).pdf

-270 bleecker street

S'Mac

-made to order macaroni and cheeses

-smacnyc.com

-http://www.smacnyc.com/glutenfree.html

-345 e. 12th street

Sambuca

-family style italian,

-sambucanyc.com

-http://sambucanyc.com/page/15tas/GLUTEN_FREE.html

-20 w. 72nd street

Lumi's

-upscale italian like salmon tartare, many rice pasta dishes, seafoods and steak

-http://lumirestaurant.com/media/websitelumi.html

-963 lexington ave

Peter's Restaurant

-large menu with pancakes, meatloaf, frittatas, sandwiches, pasta, chicken parmigiana

-petersrestaurant.com

-1606 1st ave

Rice

-asian dishes with different kinds of rice, baked black beans, satay

-riceny.com

-many locations, 115 lexington ave, 292 elizabeth street, 81 washington street, 166 dekalb ave

Market Cafe NYC

-american cuisine

-http://www.marketcafenyc.com/gluten.html

-496 9th Avenue

BabyCakes

-vegan, casein free bakery, cookies, cupcakes, banana bread, cookie sandwiches, muffins, brownies, corn bread

-babycakesnyc.com

-248 broome street

Tu-Lu's Bakery

-muffins, cupcakes, paninis, special order cakes

-http://tu-lusbakery.com

-338 E. 11th Street

Ruby Foo's

-asian food like pad thai, orange chicken, salmon, fried rice, chocolate brownie

-http://www.brguestrestaurants.com/restaurants/ruby_foos_uptown/index.php

-http://www.brguestrestaurants.com/restaurants/menus/RF_gluten_8.13.08.pdf

-uptown: 2182 broadway at 77th street

-times square: 1626 broadway at 49th street

Opus

-italian food with gf versions of everything, like gnocchi, penne, pizza, tiramisu, cheesecake

-no website

-1574 2nd ave

Tuttoriso Cafe

-corn and gluten free, pancakes, beer, cider, bruschetta, grilled cheese, burgers, pizza, pastas, risotto, tamari, shepherd's pie, cakes, cookies

-tuttorisocafe.com

-36 richmond terrace, staten island

Pommes Frites

-fries with many dipping sauces

-pommesfrites.ws

-123 2nd ave

Cafe Viva

-corn crust pizza...only specified as wheat free. azteca has onions, peppers, corn, sausalito has garlic, tomatoes, mexicali has jalepenos, sedona is pesto

-http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/cafe-viva/menus/main.html

-2578 broadway

Pala Pizza

-italian, arancini, beer, pizza, pastas, ravioli, gnocchi, lasagna

-palapizza.com or pala-ny.com

-198 allen street

Rice to Riches

-rice puddings in flavors like chocolate chip flirt, coast to coast cheesecake, sex drugs and rocky road. only ones NOT gf: tiramisu, honey graham, cookies and cream

-ricetoriches.com

-37 spring street

Puff and Pao

-"paolitos" are gf. classic has cheddar, peppers, onion, jalepeno. specialty has chorizo, onion, shiitake, ham

-puffandpao.com

-105 christopher street

Pizza Bolla

-italian food like garlic bread, parmesan, lasagna, penne vodka

-pizzabolla.com

-102 north end ave

Blue Smoke

-american style, ribs, beef brisket, chicken wings

-bluesmoke.com

-http://www.bluesmoke.com/blue/PDF/glutenFreeMenu.pdf

-116 e. 27th street

Friedman's Lunch

-gluten free sandwiches, pastrami, corned beef, chicken salad

-friedmansdeli.com

-75 ninth ave at the chelsea market

Nizza

-"socca" (chickpea pancakes), pasta, meat dishes, risotto

-nizzanyc.com

-http://www.nizzanyc.com/photoGallery/Gluten%20Free%20Menu%202-18.pdf

-630 9th avenue btw. 45th and 46th

Hampton Chutney

-indian food, rice batter dosas and uttapas

-hamptonchutney.com

-464 Amsterdam ave, btw 82nd and 83rd

-68 prince street btw broadway and lafayette

L'Annam

-Vietnamese cuisine

-121 University Place

Nice Matin

-French cuisine

-201 W. 79th Street

Grom Gelato

-delicious gelato, with gluten free flavors clearly marked

-http://www.grom.it/eng/celiachia.php

-West Village: 233 Bleecker and Carmine

-Upper West Side: 2165 Broadway and 76th

GustOrganics

-organic foods, smoothies, "tapitos" with gf tortillas

-gustorganics.com

-519 6th Avenue

Epstein's Kosher Deli (Yonkers)

-deli foods like lettuce wraps, eggs, a variety of soups, shepherd's pie

-http://www.epsteinskosherdeli.com/Menu/Gluten%20Free/Gluten%20Free.html

-2574 Central Avenue, Yonkers, NY

BoneFish Grill (NJ)

-steaks, chicken, seafood

-http://media.bonefishgrill.com/menus/gluten_free.pdf

-200 Mill Creek Drive, Secaucus, NJ

Note: Gluten free availability can change, and those changes may not necessarily be reflected here. Always check with the restaurant and your server when dining out, and use your own discretion.

Rice-ly Done

Sorry about that bad pun. I had to do it.

Today I adventured out to the 115 Lexington location of Rice, in Murray Hill (28th street subway stop on the 6). It's a comfortable little spot that manages to look modern and spacious, while retaining a cozy traditional Asian feel. It has soft seating, paper lanterns, and the occasional bag of rice making its acquaintance with the chopsticks at the table it so hiply decorates. 

In the background, Beatles music played, enhancing the calm atmosphere and making me feel quite happy. My waiter was also pretty cute, something that never hurts. :P

I didn't see any signage indicating a gluten free menu, but all I had to do was ask, and I was handed this awesome little book:

Terrific! I eagerly opened it up.

Listed were appetizers, two soups, several "classic" dishes, and some specials, as well as 10 different kinds of rice that one can order alongside your main dish. These included basmati, brown, thai black, and Japanese, as well as "special" rices like Lebanese, green, and rice with peas. There were also sides available, like edamame.

I had a VERY difficult time in choosing my meal. It all sounded so good. To begin, I ordered the Mexican Chicken soup. For an entree, I decided to go with a small order of Ratatouille, which came with my choice of rice. I went with the thai black rice.

The soup:

It was quite good. The broth only twinged with spice, and all of the vegetables in it were very fresh. At the bottom of the unusually clear broth were rice and corn. Tomato and avocado floated on top, along with some cilantro. The chicken was most excellent, and avocados happen to be one of my favorite foods. All of the ingredients blended together perfectly, and no one flavor exceeded the others. It was simple, fresh, and delicious, like the best recipes often are.

Next came the Ratatouille and thai black rice.

The Ratatouille consisted of zucchini, eggplant, red peppers, and onions, cooked together into a stew with tomato-like sauce. The taste and texture of the vegetable were a bit jarring to me at first, but I grew to appreciate the distinct flavors of each vegetable. The sauce was a little bit overpowering, but not to a terrible extent. 

The rice was the best part of this dish. It was thick, sticky, and slightly sweet, with a soft taste of coconut. I couldn't stop eating it. It was gone too soon.

I finished this lovely meal with a pot of green gen mai cha tea at the adorable server's suggestion. 

It came in this cute little white pot,  and with four different kinds of raw honey with which to flavor the tea. I didn't take down the different types of honey there were, but I remember that one was something along the lines of "organic desert flower". It was fun being able to blend the tea to my own sweetness, and to feel like a scientist doing taste experiments with the honey in these chemistry-like vials.

All in all, this was a very easy and enjoyable GF meal, and was not very expensive to boot. There were plenty of options to choose from, and I really appreciated the separate, solely GF menu. 

I'm really looking forward to coming here again and trying more of the dishes. The (dessert!) thai banana leaf wraps are calling my name. Seriously. I hear them.