I <3 NYC

I am very fortunate to live in New York City.

Walking down the street in my neighborhood allows me to here a handful of different languages being spoken. I can pop into the MoMa on my lunch break to take a look at the Picassos, Rauschenbergs, and Warhols if I choose. The subways and buses will get me anywhere I wish without having to fill up a tank (and with gas prices now- thank god!). The Celiac Disease Research Center at Columbia where I see my Celiac Specialist Doctors is a subway ride away. And above the access to many different types of foods is endless.

Many specialty food stores dot this city with helpful and knowledgeable staff, people who feel just as passionately about food as I do- and then some. I am so very lucky to have access to a gluten free bakery minutes from my work and a beer shop that carries over 200 types of beer- even some I can safely drink. There are plenty of places beyond Whole Foods and Trader Joe's to purchase my gluten free foods.

To my delight, many of the restaurants I enjoyed before I was diagnosed with Celiac have a gluten free menu upon request! How lucky am I?!

The day after my endoscopy- day 2 of the Gluten Free lifestyle (it's not just a diet, is it?) I had mac-n-cheese. Ooey Gooey goodness that is mac-n-cheese from a wonderful place called S'mac

I had the Mediterranean - Goat cheese, sauteed spinach, kalamata olives, and roasted garlic and GLUTEN FREE MACARONI. As I ordered my mac-n-cheese gluten free I was abruptly shaken out of my personal heaven when the man behind the counter asked if I wanted bread crumbs on top. What? I tried to hold back my tone of annoyance when I told him, "I ordered gluten free- bread crumbs have gluten in them." The cheerful man simple explained that in order to cut down on the cross contamination they only have gluten free breadcrumbs. My annoyance melted into sheer joy as I realized not only will I have mac-n-cheese but I will have toasted breadcrumbs on top! The meal was amazing- and way too rich for me to eat more than half. I would have never of guessed that the pasta was gluten-free. John even ordered his gluten free so I could taste his Indian mac-n-cheese.

If this is being gluten free- I can't wait to see what's in store for me!