Gluten-Free Lifestyle

These days, New York City and many other cities across the US are fully accepting and often times embracing a gluten free lifestyle. As such, there is a bevy of new and interesting restaurants, shops, and bakeries that have opened up to either cater entirely to the gluten free crowd, or have at least expanded their menu to include our gluten free buddies. I’ve done a round-up of some of the new and noteworthy players in town and online catering to the gluten free lifestyle in 2016.

New In Town

1. NOGLU:

Head over to the location on Madison and 91st and let your senses do the shopping. Not only is everything delicious, they are also (thankfully) not the standard over sized American portions. Must try items include the Brioche Bread Loaf, and the chocolate banana muffin.

2. The Little Beet Table:

The Little Beet Table is the more formal sit down version of the fast causal, and fast popular, restaurant concept The Little Beet. Created by celeb Chef Franklin Becker, his philosophy around food is simple: serve real food deliciously. Fortunately, for those celiac and gluten intolerant/averse among us, this also includes a completely gluten free restaurant! (No risk of cross contamination – and thus Celiac friendly!). While the food is delicious, for those times you are in the mood for a carb induced hangover, be sure to try the banana bread and ricotta pancakes on the brunch menu at the TLB-Table. At TLB outposts, it’s worth a splurge on the brownie, and the avocado toast is to die for!

3. Le Botaniste:

Le Botaniste is the newest brainchild from Alain Coumont, the master who brought us Le Pain Quotidien some 25 years ago. The menu is 100% organic, gluten free, and botanical – meaning no animal products used. The restaurant aims to increase plant based eating in New York and, as the name suggests, hopes to increase our awareness of how diet directly affects our health. The first location in NYC can be found on the Upper East Side (uptown yogis rejoice!), in the original LPQ location. Must try items include the spicy bean chili served over brown rice (seasonal), and the seedy avocado served with gluten free bread and cracker.

Hu’s desserts simple give up on replicating a traditional dessert and instead have developed their own creations such as chocolate chia pudding and Persian lime pie, to satisfy any sweet tooth.

4. Hu Kitchen:

The union square location of Hu Kitchen has been popular amongst the Paleo crowd for some time now, however they recently opened an Upper East Side location that boasts ample and spacious upstairs seating with amazing natural light and free Wifi. The entire menu is gluten and dairy free and their Paleo treats and desserts are simply divine. Unlike gluten free and bready options you may find at a bakery, Hu’s desserts simple give up on replicating a traditional dessert and instead have developed their own creations such as chocolate chia pudding and Persian lime pie, to satisfy any sweet tooth. The ingredient focus is not on alternative flours, but simply on what can be made into a dessert without the use of grains. So think lots of tasty nuts, nut butters and flours, and natural sugar sources such as honey and dried fruits, and of course chocolate. The crack bar and walnut fudge brownie are my personal favorites.

Favorite items from Rootz Farm Store include the Paleo Loaf and the coconut macaroons.

New Online

1. Rootz Farm Store:

Rootz Farm Store is an online health bakery that delivers fresh organic snacks to your door. Having officially launched earlier this season, in addition to being gluten free, they are also dairy free (does use eggs), soy free, refined sugar free, and grain free. Rootz’s founder, Kim Wellington, created the company out of a passion to fuel her body with healthy ingredients that allow for optimal performance, while still being able to enjoy a life without restrictions. Favorite items include the Paleo Loaf and the coconut macaroons. (After a successful soft launch in the NYC delivery area, Rootz is now proudly delivering nation wide!)

Thrive’s mission centers around sourcing and supplying only the highest quality healthy and natural products, at 25%-50% below their regular retail rate, and doing it all with a commitment to sustainability.

2. Thrive Market:

Think “An online version of Costco for healthy foods and products!”. Thrive Market launched its Beta platform in 2015 and is now fully up and running in 2016. Thrive’s mission centers around sourcing and supplying only the highest quality healthy and natural products, at 25%-50% below their regular retail rate, and doing it all with a commitment to sustainability and social justice. The site is well curated, and organized so that you can shop by diet preference (ie: vegan, gluten free, dairy, free, etc), which can save you a lot of time reading labels and ingredients lists! Excellent pantry staples include Mary’s Crackers and any of the Bob’s Red Mill non-gluten flours.

If you are new to living a gluten free lifestyle, or simply want to mix things up in your diet, it’s worth mentioning these tried and true gluten-free establishments that have been keeping wheat free crowds happy for years: Baby Cakes, Jennifer’s Way, and Tulu’s Bakery. Forever gluten free items at Magnolia Bakery and Ladurée are their coconut and French macaroons respectively.

Happy and healthy tasting!