It’s been more than five (or is it 8?!) years since I started my Gluten-Free Google Map of New York City. I admit that the map had been neglected for a VERY long time. I finally went through the entire map and deleted all of the restaurants that have closed since I started the map. I am also working to update the map as I learn of all the wonderful gluten-free and gluten-free friendly restaurants that have opened in New York City. This is definitely a work in progress because there are hundreds of restaurants in New York City and contacting them all is a LOT of work. I do plan on going through my old posts, past Meetup events, emails, tweets, and more to update this list.
For those of you who have bookmarked this map, the link has not changed. (WHEW!) For those of you looking at this map for the first time, please bookmark and share with your friends via social media. This will be updated and I will continue to include the “updated” date in the top of the map. You can also view the larger map here.
Is your favorite restaurant missing from this list? Send me an email at gfglobetrotter@gmail.com
Note: Restaurants in New York City open and close very quickly. They also often change owners and managers. My recommendations above may become outdated very quickly so I suggest you calling all restaurants before going there to eat a gluten-free meal!
This is an apology letter. It was Celiac Awareness Month in the United States and I only posted three times in May. My bad and I am sorry! My only excuse is that I am on the move. Literally.
Surrounded by moving boxes* (see below for poster details)
After living in Queens New York, the BEST place in the United States according to Lonely Planet, for 11 years, I am moving to Greenpoint, Brooklyn. This is only about 4 miles from where I currently live, but for those of you who know New York City it is worlds away! Brooklyn has become the trendy place to live in New York City which is exactly why I did NOT want to live there. Yet, I was convinced that it isn’t all hipsters and strollers and that it is actually a really fun place to live.
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York City
I am excited my move corresponds with my favorite season. I can’t wait to spend this summer exploring all of Greenpoint, neighboring Williamsburg, and beyond! I am excited that I kicked off this past weekend checking out Manhattanhenge, a natural phenomenon unique to New York City, from the park down the block from my house. I am giddy that I can watch the Macy’s 4th of July fireworks from that same park in just a few weeks. I am swooning over my new roommate, my boyfriend of 2 years Victor.
Look at the view from Transmitter Park, Greenpoint
My travels on a plane might be limited this summer but my travels by foot, bus, bike, and subway will be plentiful. I can’t wait to explore all of the gluten-free options that Brooklyn has to offer. I would love your tips! Please post them in the comments below.
So it is with my apologies but hopefully a good excuse that I haven’t posted yet you stick with me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
* P.S. The poster I am holding in the top photo surrounded by boxes was for the #72HoursforCDF campaign. The campaign may be over, but you can still donate to the Celiac Disease Foundation to help advance celiac disease advocacy, education, and research. Visit www.celiac.org for more information.
If you find yourself in midtown Manhattan now through December 23, 2014, be sure to stop by the Hester Holiday Market at 1 Penn Plaza. Nestled in a pedestrian alley between K-Mart and some smaller stores and right next to Penn Station this is a centrally-located, quaint holiday market from the same people that bring you Hester Street Fair every summer. I used to work right above Penn Station so I was pleasantly surprised when I learned about this holiday market.
Smaller than other New York City holiday markets, such as the one in Bryant Park, I was happy to see that there were a number of gluten-free options in the vendor tents. I also loved so many of the gift tents that I had to resist spending all of my money on the artisan offerings.
Hester Holiday Market, One Penn Plaza, NYC
This is a very limited run market so be sure to stop by this week for some delicious gluten-free treats and unique items for those on your gift list this holiday season.
Some of my favorite finds at this holiday market include:
Squish Marshmallows: gluten-free options of “marshmallows of magnificent magnitude.” I don’t usually like marshmallows but I love anything rocky-road. The rocky-road marshmallow hand-toasted by the owner of Squish was so yummy. I would definitely go back for more! Not all flavors are gluten-free so be sure to ask at the booth which are GF!
Shop B2: funky pillows plus sweatshirts with french fries equal a fun shop to buy novelty gifts this holiday season.
Macaron Parlour: macarons are usually made from almond flour so many of these flavors should be naturally gluten-free. There was no one in the booth when I stopped by so I didn’t get to ask if all were gluten-free. Please ask before you buy!
Frittering Away: serving up both hot and cold drinks, this is the perfect place to get a warm beverage while you shop in the chilly New York City air.
Kizmet Kitchens: raw, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free chocolates, sunflower seed butter, and raw cocao mix. Some of the bars contain GF oats, so be sure to ask which ones are without if you cannot tolerate oats.
Cafe Patoro: gluten-free Brazilian cheese breads also known as pao de queijo. Baked on site, these warm, little breads are naturally gluten-free and so delicious!
Dempsey & Gazelle: I loved all of the funky rings, earrings, headbands and more at this booth. I wanted to buy at least 10 things in the shop, but resisted. I will definitely need to return before the market closes. They also sell their funky items online.
Mr. Ellie Pooh: their tagline is “conservation through innovation” and these products are certainly innovative, so say the least. All of the paper is handmade from recycled paper and elephant dung. Yes, that’s right, Elephant POO, hence the name of the shop. It’s not as gross as it sounds and they have some really cute items. I love elephants!
Squish Marshmallows
Squish Marshmallows
Toasted Squish Marshmallows
Any store that sells a jacket with my name on it right next to a french fry sweatshirt is the store for me!
A few weeks ago, I received a very exciting email from a publisher in Italy. I learned that Nuok, an online Italian magazine on art, culture, food, and more, included me in their travel guide for New York City. “New York Low Cost” is an excellent guide for tourists who speak Italian looking for inexpensive activities in New York City. Italian-speaking New Yorkers will also find this book to be a great resource for exploring this exciting city.
I believe that Italy is miles ahead of the United States in gluten-free and celiac awareness. Many people wouldn’t think the land of pasta would be gluten-free friendly, but it is! You can buy gluten-free food in the pharmacies in Italy. When I traveled to Italy in 2009, I ate GF pasta across from the Vatican, was given a gluten-free gift basket in Florence, and drank more wine and ate more cheese and chocolate than I thought was humanly possible. To have this Italian publication include me as their Gluten-Free in New York City resource is a great honor. Italy has a very special place in my heart and I hope to get back there one day to thank the Nuok team in person.
If you are traveling to New York City from Italy or looking for a guide to New York City in Italian, visit Amazon.com to order New York Low Cost today. It is available in both paperback and in Kindle format.
Thank you Nuok for including me in your New York Low Cost guide! Grazie mille!
It is that time of year when New York City comes alive with all things Christmas. The lights, the Christmas trees, the music, the markets, the food! New York City is just bursting with holiday cheer. I love being a tourist in my own city during the holidays. There are just so many twinkling lights to see and so many pop-up markets to enjoy.
2013 Bryant Park Christmas Tree
One of the popular holiday markets in New York City is the Bryant Park Holiday Shops, formally known as the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. This “village” takes over the entire park with it’s crown jewel, an ice skating rink, at the center of the park. Gone is the lush grass of summer with the newly laid ice for the winter!
According to the Winter Villagewebsite, “The Holiday Shops include more than 125 boutique-like shops offering exquisite gift ideas from distinctive apparel to jewelry, decorative goods, local foods, and much more. There’s something for everyone – adults, kids, and even pets.”
I noticed that the 2014 Winter Village has more gluten-free choices than ever before. You can now shop, ice skate, see the Christmas tree, and eat your way through the Bryant Park Winter Village.
Bryant Park Winter Village
Holiday shops open daily through January 4, 2015
Ice skating until March 1, 2015
***Tree lighting! December 2 ,2015!***
Bryant Park Winter Village Gluten-Free Options This list in alphabetical order, see the Bryant Park Winter Village map for kiosk location details.
Big Apple Cider: Serving up fresh, New York State, hot apple cider with cinnamon sticks.
Big Apple Cider
Blossom Du Jour: An offshoot of the popular restaurants, this 100% vegan kiosk sells some gluten-free, packaged snacks such as gluten-free gingersnaps and gluten-free chocolate cupcakes. They also sell packages of goji berries, gluten-free energy squares, and dark chocolate. According to the packaging, the products are produced in a shared facility with wheat so use caution when eating.
Gluten-free snacks from Blossom du JourGluten-free gingersnap from Blossom du JourGluten-free cupcake from Blossom du Jour
MissTea’s Organic Tea: Made in Brooklyn, these local, organic teas come in both caffeine-free and with caffeine. You can purchase hot tea to go or you can buy a nice gift set for friends and family.
MissTea’s Organic Hot Tea
No Chewing Allowed: This kiosk is incredibly sweet-smelling and the guys working inside entice you with free samples of their chocolate French truffles. They also sell hot chocolate and chocolate bars. Note, the truffles are not made in a dedicated gluten-free facility.
No Chewing Allowed CandybarsNo Chewing Allowed Truffles
Raaka: This chocolate is not only gluten-free, but it is USDA organic, nut-free, soy-free, vegan, and Kosher!
Raaka Chocolates
The Jam Stand: At this self-proclaimed “Brooklyn’s happiest food company”, you can buy jam in many delicious flavors. The thing that caught my eye is that you could sample the jams on little wooden spoons and not the usual pieces of bread that usually are a major concern for cross-contamination. The jams are made in a gluten-free facility and all are gluten-free except for the Bourbon Jam. The company was quite knowledgeable about alcohol distillation but they said to be on the safe side they would not list the Bourbon Jam gluten-free.
The Jam Stand jams
The Lucky Sailor: FRENCH FRIES!!! This stand has three dedicated fryers and all it sells is gluten-free Belgian fries. The sauces are produced off-site and while the producer says they are gluten-free, the owner of The Lucky Sailor says he cannot guarantee 100%. If you are celiac, you might want to skip the sauce and just go for the fries.
FRIES!!The Lucky Sailor Belgian Frites. YUM!
This Pie is Nuts: I first learned about this company over the summer at the Astoria Flea. Since then, I have followed Diana, the founder of This Pie is Nuts, on Instagram and watched her work like a machine to build her business. I swear, Diana and her husband never sleep! These pies are paleo, vegan, and gluten-free!
This Pie is Nuts
Top Arepa: “The traditional Arepa is a staple food in Colombia & Venezuela and consists of flat round cakes with melted cheese inside.” Arepas are traditionally gluten-free and this kiosk keeps a separate griddle for the gluten-free areaps/toppings.
Top Arepa with two separate griddles
Two Tablespoons:Two Tablespoons gets around… in a good way! I’ve seen them at Madison Square Eats and at Broadway Bites. Now they are in Bryant Park serving up gluten-free chili and loaded baked potatoes. A healthy and gluten-free way to warm up in the park!
Two Tablespoons gluten-free, vegan, and organic!
Woops Macarons: Macarons are made from egg whites, sugar, and almond flour, making them naturally gluten-free. The macarons are filled with either buttercream, jam, or chocolate ganache and come in a wide variety of flavors and beautiful colors. They are not made in a dedicated gluten-free facility. The cookies at Woops are NOT gluten-free.
These macarons are naturally gluten-freeBeautiful rainbow of macarons
It’s been more than five (or is it 8?!) years since I started my Gluten-Free Google Map of New York City. I admit that the map had been neglected for a VERY long time. I finally went through the entire map and deleted all of the restaurants that have closed since I started the map. I am also working to update the map as I learn of all the wonderful gluten-free and gluten-free friendly restaurants that have opened in New York City. This is definitely a work in progress because there are hundreds of restaurants in New York City and contacting them all is a LOT of work. I do plan on going through my old posts, past Meetup events, emails, tweets, and more to update this list.
” is an excellent guide for tourists who speak Italian looking for inexpensive activities in New York City. Italian-speaking New Yorkers will also find this book to be a great resource for exploring this exciting city.
