Everything I Ate In New York City

This quick June getaway may have given me COVID, but it also gave me a very happy stomach full of my favourite NYC gluten-free staples.

FRIEDMAN’S

Friedman’s is the only place I’ve discovered (so far) that I can safely eat a pastrami on rye. Their menu is extensive, and with gluten free bread that has shown no signs of cross contamination for me, it’s a place I will always prioritize returning to for breakfast and lunch.

LA ESQUINA

We stumbled on La Esquina by chance. So close to our hotel, we popped in to see if their corn tortillas would be safe for me, and they were! Finding a restaurant that makes a safe gluten-free taco is harder than it should be, but this place fell right into my lap! The chips as guac was delicious, as were my chicken tacos.

ERIN MCKENNA’S BAKERY

I first found Erin McKenna’s in Disney Springs and fell in love with their gluten-free, dairy-free donuts. Their cookies & cream donut got me hooked and still remains one of the only ways I can now enjoy my favourite dessert flavour. Their baked good include cupcakes, cookies, teacakes, cinnamon rolls, brownies, bagels and biscuits. Everything is gluten free & vegan, and I swear, they are the most “normal” tasting gluten free baked goods I’ve ever had.

MODERN BREAD & BAGEL

Even though I heard of Modern Bread & Bagel through word of mouth, they actually have a huge social media presence and I can’t believe I had never stumbled across it before. It’s like everyone had already known NYC’s best kept gluten-free secret, but me! Modern gives me the classic NYC bagel experience that I once knew, and the fast paced energy, along with the hustle and bustle behind the counter, made me extremely thankful that entire store is 100% gluten-free. Half and halves don’t really fly with me. They also sell packaged flours (Blends by Orly, made by Modern’s owner), croutons and bagel bites that I brought back home.