GF in NY BBQ - Blue Smoke Review. Downright Delicious Ribs.

I just returned from my New York trip, visiting a wide range of gluten free places to eat.
Here is the first review.

Blue Smoke - BBQ place near Madison Square Park.
116 East 27th Street, New York, NY 10016
1-212-447-7733 phone
1-212-576-2561 fax (for those of you still living in the late 1990s).

Gluten free menu available online (PDF).

I took the 6 downtown from Grand Central Station and it was about a 45 second walk from the 28th street subway exit to the restaurant.

If you like Jazz or knows someone who does, Jazz Standard is right next door. You get your GF BBQ in NY and they get their Jazz. It's a win/win...like when Kobe shoots 4 for 21 and the Lakers win anyway. But I digress...on to the food.

Blue Smoke.
Their business card claims "Urban Barbecue" but I call it downright delicious (say it with a drawl). Their GF menu is small but the ribs make it great. You order everything separately...

I devoured the Kansas City Ribs (full rack of pork), Mashed Potatoes, and Baked Beans. I also tried the Texas Ribs (beef) when I stole a rib from my girlfriend. Kansas City beat Texas like the Chiefs wish they could beat the Longhorns (football reference).

The pork ribs were a hot mess. Napkins and sauce galore. It's hard to find GF BBQ sauce, and doubly so to find good sauce at a restaurant. Blue Smoke delivered. They also had a handy contraption by the bathrooms...a pedal operated sink. These folks understand the need to get one's hands dirty...and the need to avoid the stigma of being "that guy that got BBQ sauce all over the faucet in the bathroom."

The mashed potatoes were hearty, but I needed to send them back the first time as they forgot to take the onions off (Gluten on the deep fried onions). The beans, sadly, were bland and lukewarm. They have Redbridge GF Beer at a rather exorbitant price. (I reviewed Redbridge previously in my blog). I was also disappointed that there were no dessert offerings. Mr. Blue Smoke...call up Babycakes NYC and get some GF cupcakes from them to offer on your GF menu.

 No dessert, expensive beer, so-so mashed potatoes, bland beans, but bbq pork ribs that make everything great. If you have Celiac Disease and are traveling to New York, Blue Smoke is worth a visit.

Tucked away in a corner of the Men's Bathroom is a little plaque that mentions Blue Smoke is Michelin Food Guide Recommended. It also earned a 2010 Bib Gourmand Rating. Details on what on earth that means after the link. That alone may convince some of you foodies to pay it a visit.

On a baseball note/rant:
Blue Smoke BBQ is slated to be sold at food stands in the new Mets' Ballpark CitiField. Lucky Devils. Here's hoping they sell a GF option. LA Dodgers take note. I won't spend money on a Dodger Dog sans Bun. I would drop serious dough for GF BBQ at Dodger Stadium (bad pun not intended but noticed after the fact...dough better be GF).

Gluten Free Cookbook - the one I use

I currently have only one cookbook that is designated as a gluten free cook book. I think it is the best general guide available in most bookstores...not a ton of ingredients. Different meals. Good tasting. Inexpensive. I bought one, and my parents also have a copy that they acquired. Most things I cook were inspired by recipes that I have modified after reading this book. If you'd like one for yourself or a GF friend, here is the link to get it at Amazon.

Website Review - The Gluten-Free Mall

Someone ordered me some GF food as a holiday gift. They shopped at The Gluten-Free Mall. I checked out the website and discovered..
1. It has been around since 1998.
2. Has lots of categories and food choices and is word searchable.
3. They have secure online ordering and most items are shipped on the next business day.
4. They call themselves "Your Special Diet Superstore"...I prefer, "You are special and so is your diet"...infinitely more cheesy.
5. They have a cool logo (probably should have been number 1, as I am still working on my logo for Celiacs United.)

You can sign up for coupons from The Gluten-Free Mall, and updates from Celiac.com by clicking here.

I'll blog at a later date about the food I was given...still have some to eat first.

Positive GF snack review - Mrs. Denison's Gluten Free Quinoa Macaroon

So I went and checked out Henry's Market, as promised in an earlier post. I went to the Costa Mesa store. They did, indeed, have a small GF section. Most items I had seen before, but something caught my eye.. what? you wonder? (more likely you don't wonder as you read the title of the blog entry before reading the review...unless you start all books with the last page).

I purchased a box of Mrs. Denison's Gluten Free Quinoa Macaroon's. There are 9 in a box. Soft, chewy, deliciousness. I gobbled them down with some tea. As I ate, I hoarded the box like Gollum with his precious. Eventually, however, I saw the light and shared with other people (I can always buy more - it is not the "one cookie to bind all others"). They all enjoyed it also. "They" sounds infinitely better than "Two other people. Quinoa (if you were wondering) comes from the Andes and is an ancient GF grain. I bought a box of a competitor's GF quinoa cookies that I will review in the near future. Mrs Denison's includes traces of dairy and eggs for those of you with other intolerances.

Places to Eat? - Crave Bakery

Crave Bakery: the new Henry's Market in Woodland Hills sells their products. Check their website for their numerous locations.
They describe themselves as follows

Crave Bakery has created a full line of gluten-free, casein-free desserts. Whether you’re on the GFCF diet because you have food allergies, celiac disease, an autistic child or just appreciate alternative and organic ingredients; we have something to satisfy your cravings. Enjoy the handmade flavor of products made with quality dark chocolate, free-range eggs, fresh ground flax seeds and organic brown rice flour.

I'm planning to try out some products and let you know.

GF section at Henry's Farmer's Market? Woodland Hills location

Henry's Farmer's Market - got a hot tip that they have a gluten free section here (much like whole foods south pasadena). I'm planning to check it out soon. There is one in Burbank, and one in Woodland Hills.

Woodland Hills Address and Phone:
21821 Ventura Boulevard. Woodland Hills, CA 91364-1838.
(818) 887-6473

Breakfast Item Review - Ian's Wafflewiches

Ian's Wafflewiches - 2 in a box.
Been craving that processed food flavor? Ian's wheat free/gluten free breakfast sandwiches (with gf waffles as bread...waffle + sandwich = wafflewich...duh.) are here to help!

Sausage and Egg Wafflewich - Tastes like something from a fast food restaurant. Rich flavor, made me quesy, didn't need to eat again for hours...just like the real thing. I didn't really like the sausage, and it could have done with some cheese..wich (pun intended) leads us to the other version.

Egg and Maple Cheddar Wafflewich - the cheddar is an upgrade over sausage, and maple syrup is good with just about anything. I felt like something was missing however, and I added my own strips of GF bacon to the second egg and maple cheddar wafflewich...results...rich, filling, less quesy factor. Great with coffee.

Canadian Bacon, Egg, and Maple Cheddar Wafflewich - doesn't exist, but should. I would pay a little more for this. Ian, if you're listening...er...reading, get it done.