If I could only have one...

Steal my vacation: Grand Canyon and Southwest

noreply@blogger.com (Anne) — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 20:54:00 +0000

I have never been to the Grand Canyon. It didn't seem like such a big deal, but now in my 40s, it started to feel like an oversight. Also, my kid learned about the Mesa Verde in second grade, and has been wanting to see it ever since, so I figured we could spin the two things into one trip, since the Mesa Verde is pretty much in the middle of nowhere.

I'm going to warn you up front: this was definitely a trip, not a vacation, but pretty worth it. Also, now I've done all the research, so you don't have to.

When: We went during Spring break, which was mid-April this year. The weather REALLY ranged on our trip, from a high of 100 degrees in Phoenix to 30 degrees at the Mesa Verde. You want layers and lots of them. Every time I pack for a trip, I look obsessively at the weather, of course, but I also imagine what is the warmest I'll be and the coldest I'll be, and ensure I have clothes for both. Packing for this one was really tricky because I am adamant about carry-on only, and I packed both a wool hat and a bathing suit. (Okay, fine, I always pack a bathing suit no matter where I go because a) it takes no room and b) if there is an opportunity for swimming, I'm taking it. But I also packed shorts.)

Packing (aka buying): Generally I wear the same Everlane t-shirt and green skirt everywhere but since this trip involved some legit hiking, I had to take 17 trips to REI to buy and return things. Just order these key items once and have them delivered:

Hiking pants and hiking shorts. Mostly hiking pants fit weird, and look oddly business-like (like they are those shiny black pants you'd wear to an office in the early 2000s?) but these were pretty cozy, while being protective. All of the other ones were dismissed as "too dorky." Also, all shorts are obscenely short on me, but these managed to be reasonable and light.
Sun shirt: Speaking of business-like, why are all SPF shirts patterned after work button-downs? Seriously, I looked like I was going to take orders at a restaurant in most of the options. This REI version was pretty clutch, though, protecting my arms and neck in the direct sun of the Southwest. Thank you, REI salesperson, for warning me that there is no shade in the Southwest and you need sun-protective clothing. (Also, no, I don't know why all outdoors clothing is in such depressing colors. Maybe the good colors are bad for the environment?)
Rain coat: Somehow I didn't have a raincoat, except for the belted DVF one I got a million years ago that is still the cutest, but not entirely rain-resistant. My plan for "the coldest I could imagine being" was to layer a shirt with a fleece with a light Uniqlo puffer with this Patagonia jacket. It's so many dollars, but I feel like it's something I can buy once and have for the rest of my life?
Boots: I did bring my hiking boots which are maybe kind of dorky, but pretty comfortable. Thank you, Wirecutter.
Day packs: This was the thing I fretted about the most. Alexis got this cutest one, but then I couldn't get the same one because that's just a bridge too far as a gay couple. I tried this version which I loved, but felt too small, and ended up with this one which was pretty good (despite my fear that the drawstring top would be a black hole--it kind of was but it was mostly okay.) But, I'll be honest: it wasn't perfect.
Misc. We got "not the cheapest because it does make a difference" hiking sticks (thanks, Allegra!), some quick-dry towels, and brought so many water bottles.

To do: I tried to keep with the "one thing a day" agenda, but each thing was... maybe pretty long?

Day 1: Fly into Phoenix (closest direct-flight airport--if you are willing to do connecting, maybe consider Flagstaff, which is only one hour away) and rent a car. Don't wait on that insane line at the car rental place for your minivan--join Avis Preferred and go right down to the cars. Stop in Phoenix for lunch & mini-golf, and supplies at Target, and then drive 3.5 hours from the blazing-hot desert to the cooler desert.

To stay: We stayed at the Maswik Lodge, in the park because, even though it was eye-poppingly expensive, I read that lines to get into the park can get long, and I didn't want to have to mobilize a group and a minivan every time we wanted to do something. Maswik was one of the few places with rooms left when I booked 10 months in advance, and I was happy with it. It was nicer than it needed to be and very eco-friendly. The food court was also bright and not-depressing and also better than it needed to be, with Kind bars and kombucha.

(I should also say here that this was the most expensive trip we've taken in a while--even the most moderate of options were pretty expensive. You want an omelet and a coffee at a food court? $20. You want a room in the park? $450 / night. Want to take a tour? That'll be $150 per person. I decided to just go with it, and save up money in advance, but whew I flinched at each cash register.)

Day 2: Take a hike. We started with Bright Angel, which was likely a mistake, since the Grand Canyon is actually relatively high-altitude (6800' above sea level), we started kind of late in the morning, there is no shade, and I didn't realize the value of electrolytes. (Buy some Nuun tabs before you do this hike.) We hiked to the 1.5 mile rest stop, and it really is just 1.5 miles down and 1.5 pretty steep up. There was a lot of child-based whining which was annoying until I realized I'd probably dehydrated my kid. I made up for it with ice cream at the Bright Angel lodge (get the mint chip) and supplemented with Gatorade from then on.

Day 3: Well, I messed up and assumed that because Page, AZ was 70 miles away it would take about an hour to get there. Nope! 2.5 hours. So if I were to do it again, I would do these things on leaving the Grand Canyon, but learn from my mistakes.

Horseshoe Bend River Tour: I had wanted to do something on the Colorado, and this seemed like the best thing that wasn't a minimum of 3-nights and $2k (although those look amazing and I want to do them someday). You take a bus for 45 minutes from Page, AZ to the boat launch, and then pile onto a boat of about 20. Our guide, Scotty, was smart and clever and knew a lot about the area and was generally lovely. We floated for a while, saw a big-horned sheep and wild (okay, feral) horses, and gaped at Glen Canyon all around us. At the end, we stopped at a beach for a quick walk to see a petroglyph and the option of a quick swim. The river was 50 degrees, so maybe you don't need to wear your swimsuit. (But you do need to wear your sun shirt.)
Antelope Canyon tour: Apparently this is the most photographed place ever (?), and was made famous by Windows 7 wallpaper. You can only go with a guide, it's not cheap (I probably don't need to say that every time), and it's stunning. We went with a company (there are lot, and they seem to be mostly the same) that takes you in 4x4 vehicles down a long sand wash. The tour was essentially a series of Instagram photo stops, which was not my style since I had to quit Instagram because it made me feel bad, and our guide kind of threw me off by sharing how if it starts raining you're pretty much going to die, but it was still a magical space.

Food options are relatively limited in Page. We went to this touristy brewery with passable bar food (and gluten-free buns) where the waiter told us every one in Page was carrying a gun at all times, but if it had been my choice, we would have gone to this chicken place where I'm 99% sure I couldn't eat anything or this barbecue place. Also: check out how many churches are in Page--all in a row!

Day 4: Try an easier hike this time. Take the free bus to Hermit's Rest and then walk the Rim Trail back to the village. I think it's the best hike in the park that I took, and no one is on it except for scattered European tourists. You get to walk through the woods, and turn corners to jaw-dropping vistas out of nowhere.

Dinners in the park are also limited. The first night, I had scored a reservation for the El Tovar dining room which did, in fact, have delicious food, though everyone was falling asleep at the table. Dinner reservations at the hotel dining rooms open 45 days in advance and let me tell you, they are all taken that day. Put a reminder on your calendar.

We also ate at the Maswik pizza pub which was... not good (when you advertise GF pizza, there better be GF pizza). And I read the Arizona steakhouse is good, but we missed it. There is also a supermarket near the campgrounds if you get one of those fancy rooms with an economy kitchen.

Day 5: You can do hard things--like the South Kaibab trail. On the way out of town we did another down and up hike. This one was maybe shorter and less brutal than Bright Angel, but still pretty rough. Really, you just need the Rim Trail. These other trails are just to feel like you are outdoorsy.

Now, drive (back) to Page to stay in the Under Canvas glamping resort. This was the splurgiest thing I did on this trip, and even though I'm incredibly cheap, I don't regret it. For a cool $700, you get your own tent with private toilet / shower / sink, wood stove, and clear panel above the headboard so you can fall asleep looking at the stars. Do it. The dinner there is also pretty solid, though it feels temporary and provisional, like a seasonal pop-up that might close at any point. The main tent has a gravel area for dining and corn hole and camp-fires and unlimited (yes, unlimited) s'mores kits. And your kid has a reason why they brought their flashlight (it's very dark on the way back to your tent).

Day 6: explore the canyon and slot canyon on property, and then go to Lake Powell, which looks unworldly. You just drive down to the lake. A lake on the moon where there are freshwater mussels. Now drive to Monument Valley, taking definitely-will-be-blurry photos out the window.

In Monument Valley, there are three options for places to stay: 1) The View, which is Native-owned and in Monument Valley proper and sold out when we were there, 2) Goulding's Lodge (which is maybe not Native-owned?) across the street (aka 4 miles down the road) which is weird and like a motel with a bunch of single-wide stand-alone suites with a restaurant, gas station, grocery, and gift shop, or 3) an AirBNB. Our friends stayed at Gouldings while we stayed at an earthen home on a small farm nearby. I'm biased, but I loved the earthen home--it was like sleeping in a cave that was a hug, and I got to pet new lambs and hang out with their three dogs and horses. That said, we did get locked in the earthen home when sand from a storm jammed the lock, and had to learn to pick it with a credit card. So: pros and cons.

Day 7: Monument Valley itself is a bunch of gigantic, cool rocks, buttes, and formations. We took a sunrise tour which was very early and very cold. It was snowing, and was another tour focused on ensuring you got a set of photographs. In retrospect, I might just start telling tour guides I don't care about taking pictures / have quit Instagram, and they should just text me some photos at the end of the tour.

Then drive to the Mesa Verde, stopping at the Four Corners monument, because it's really on your way anyway and it's cool enough and yes, it's worth the $8 per person, if only as reparations. Take your picture while standing in four states at once, pee, get a fry bread, and pick up some reasonably-priced handmade goods from local folks. You've still got another hour in the car.

At the Mesa Verde, there is the Far View Lodge. Stay there or an hour away in Cortez or Durango. The Far View is rustic (no tvs, no wifi in the rooms when we were there, sink outside the bathroom), but the dinner is great. Even on their first day open of the season, the menu was diverse and delicious.

Day 8: The Mesa Verde is so cool. It is the ruins of a settlement of ancient Pueblo people, with homes built into the cliffs. It is open year-round, but the lodge only opens, well, yes, the day we arrived in April, and opportunities to climb around in the ancient homes don't open until May, when rangers are there. But you can still drive around and do some hikes. I highly recommend the Petroglyph Point Trail, which is about 2 miles along the mountain and then back on the rim. It was off and on sleeting and still so worth it. So many caves, areas to scramble around and over, with the payoff of a set of petroglyphs at the far point of the trail.

You're tired now, so go to Durango for dinner and a night (with a TV) in a super-weird 1980s-replicating-the-1880s? Doubletree by Hilton. Get tacos and a margarita, let the kids run around the mall area and check out the best game store I've ever been to, before returning the car and flying out of Durango. Pro tip: you don't not need to get there 2 hours early--there are 4 gates. But, sadly, only connecting flights.

Steal my vacation: Cartageña, Colombia

noreply@blogger.com (Anne) — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 20:26:00 +0000

I've been in a place recently of: "if not now when?" I think it's about getting older and realizing I'm not getting any younger or any more adventurous. And I've never been to Colombia, so why not?

Since we were going in February, I wanted to go somewhere warm and beachy. And with a kid, I find beach / pool to be more of a sure bet than a city vacation. My Brazilian friend, Mari, said that I shouldn't go to Cartegena--all of the Colombians go to Santa Marta. I dutifully looked into going to Santa Marta, but let's be real--Cartagena is accessible from New York with a regular direct flight on JetBlue, so that was going to be my choice.

To stay: I spent a full day panicking about which neighborhood to stay in. Based on my research, the primary "safe" options for American tourists are El Centro, Getsemani, and Bocagrande. (And, fwiw, I felt safe the entire time I was in Cartagena.) For the first time in a new city, I usually go for an known hotel in a touristy neighborhood for safety and comfort. We stayed at the Hilton Cartagena, which seemed to fit the bill with: on-site restaurants, beach & 5 pools and close to, but not in the historic center. Everyone was really nice and I was surprised to meet lots of Colombian tourists staying at the hotel.

To wear: We went in February and it was HOT. Bearable in the morning and evening, but around lunch-time there was really nothing else to do except float in cool water in the shade. I recognize I live in Brooklyn and it was cold here when we left the city, but I tend to think of myself as pretty heat tolerant, having grown up in summers that were "hazy, hot and humid" as the radio would report. Even so, mid-day was only feasible for resting. Put those jeans back on your shelf, you will not need them.

To do: With a kid, I try to schedule one activity a day--anything else is too much, and too many piggy-backs. Here were my picks:

Nature hike: I generally try to do as much outdoors stuff as feasible, and to get a better sense of the place. This hike was great--about 45 minutes on a minibus to a simple, delicious outdoor breakfast, and then 15 more minutes to the start of the hike. It was a 4.5 mile hike through the dry forest where we saw cotton-top tamarins in the wild and heard and saw howler monkeys (which sounded bonkers--like a plane or highway in the distance.) We were extensively warned about snakes--my #2 fear in the world, tied with bed bugs--but I didn't see any. Olinto was a great guide--really earnest and knowledgeable with so much love for his country. The hike was moderate and pretty manageable until we got towards noon and a piggy-back ride was requested--then I was dripping in sweat.
National aviary: This was way cooler than it has to be. Apparently, Colombia has incredible biodiversity, and tons of birds you can't see anywhere else. Honestly, I wish it had been slightly cooler because I would have spend more time here. As it was, I had to walk with purpose through the second half of the exhibits because I was melting. Maybe go in the morning, like a smartie. And as for how to get there, there are a lot of tours, but we ended up just getting a car from the hotel to drive us there--it's an hour drive, and I wanted to be on our own in the aviary.
Food tour: I like to start a trip to a new place with a tour, preferably with something to interest a kid, while getting in some history. I found Kristy through her website, Cartagena Connections. She's an Aussie ex-pat who moved to Cartagena, seems to know literally everyone, and somehow looked cool and collected in jeans when I was in a full-body sweat in shorts and a t-shirt. She was incredibly patient with our tired, grumpy kids, and all of the food and drink was delicious. It was kind of like hanging out with your cool friend who happens to live in Cartagena and will take you to the good spots and knows where to find a bathroom for you.
Fishing and crabbing in the mangroves: You want to do this. You get picked up at your hotel, and then drive slightly north of the city to a mangrove lagoon with a translator. The guides load your party into canoes with local fishermen to set crab traps, and try your hand at throwing the fishing net (they make it look so easy). Take them up on the optional trip to the island with turtles and beer.
Mud volcano: This is the best description I read of the mud volcano, and the review that prompted me to try it was from Kristy of food tour fame. I found it incredibly bizarre and magical--there is nothing like the feeling of floating in that mud--you can't sink and THERE IS NO BOTTOM. It is head-spinning.

To eat: The food was great--incredibly gluten-free-friendly, since everything is made with corn, beautiful corn. We didn't get to eat out as much as I would have preferred, but I did make a map of everywhere that was recommended to me (as always).

Cost: Overall, Cartagena was incredibly affordable. Taxis from the hotel to the city center were $5, meals were $20, and the hotel in a fancy room was $200 / night. The most expensive thing, by far, was the flight, so maybe once you get there, stay a while?

There are so many more things I wanted to do in Colombia--take a boat to a private island, spend time shopping downtown, walk around more in Getsemani, but we ran out of time. As my mom says: "we'll just have to go back."

Steal My Vacation: Unrivaled 1:1 Finals in Miami

noreply@blogger.com (Anne) — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 17:50:00 +0000

Let's be honest: Unrivaled Basketball is one of the few brights spots in 2025. All the stars of the WNBA playing a super-fast 3:3 format? Yes, please, distract me from the disaster that is the new administration. We've watched pretty much every single game on Max, and idly looked at games / flights only to realize that nothing in the 8-week schedule was a fit. Bummer.

Then, while watching the 1:1 tournament on Monday, I noticed there were quite a few empty seats in the stands. Even though we're going to Colombia on Sunday, should I book a last minute trip to Miami to see the finals in person? As Alexis said: "this is so stupid, and I love it." There we go.

It was an excellent, stupid decision.

I'll admit, it was feeling more stupid than excellent when our 7:50pm JetBlue flight to Miami was 2 hours late and we ate the worst meal in memory at Terminal 5. Lesson learned: avoid the Custom Burger food court stop--go with the sit-down restaurant. Lowlights: the french fries somehow still tasted frozen, despite being cooked? and the gluten free bun somehow absorbed all moisture from the burger no matter how many condiments were applied. So: don't steal that.

But do steal:

Miami in February: It's 3 hours away, and absolutely perfect weather. The neighborhood most convenient to Wayfair Arena, Doral, was not near the water, but breezy and fancy in a Miami small-dogs way. There was a nice playground downtown and we did not need a car.

Fairmont Inn & Suites Doral. After the debacle of the Hampton Inn in Philly, I paid very careful attention to the reviews on booking. The power of the crowd did not disappoint: clean, pleasant, convenient (~15 minutes from MIA), with free wi-fi breakfast. We got a suite with a pull out couch so we were not three in a bed, and spent much of the day by the pool, watching planes fly startlingly low overhead. And, while the free breakfast was not super-GF friendly unless you like green apples, or strawberry yoplait (why does it taste so weird?), it was extensive and featured a kid-favorite mango sauce for the homemade waffles. And the coffee was actually pretty good.

Lunch: It was a 15 minute walk through a fancy neighborhood to Downtown Doral. There were even sidewalks! We saw a few good options, but settled on Barra Vieja. First, I was drawn in by the adorable outdoor furniture (where do I buy it?) and then was obsessed with the blue color of the walls, but the food was excellent. The lobster tacos with peanuts (?) were the best tacos I've ever had in my life, the romaine salad was great, the guac was excellent, and the french toast was a kid-hit (it had caramel sauce + meringue + strawberries). The fancy margarita was also smooth and delicious. You're on vacation--live it up.

Dinner: Walk back to the same neighborhood and eat at Pura Vida. It's health-conscious in a bougie way, and delicious. I had the GF salmon bowl which had a perfectly cooked piece of salmon, Alexis had the tuna bowl, and the kid meal of chicken + rice was fully consumed (this has never happened before). They also had some branded watermelon + cucumber kombucha, if no alcoholic drinks.

Wayfair Arena: Things to know:

Location: Your rideshare will not be able to find it from the address. The arena is tucked behind an office building called MediaPro. Get off somewhere near there and follow your map.
Fan Fest: We were running a little late because I was accused of eating my bowl too slowly, so couldn't really check it out but it seemed fine, not extensive. It's a corridor outside the building with an Allstate basketball game like at the carnival, and a few photo spots? And free cans of Sprite.
Food: Unless you can get by on an empanada, the arena does not have dinner. Eat beforehand. They do have a few snacks and drinks.
Merch: The gift shop all the shirts, but no sweatpants, so you can't get the full fit. I guess those are online-exclusives?
Seats: Think padded folding chairs. I chose row A directly behind the announcers so we could have a TV cameo, but for watching, you probably want row B. That said, really all of the seats are amazing--the area is small and pretty intimate. It kept feeling unreal that I was really there. Everything is so close. And Aaliyah Edwards came out and signed autographs post game. She was right there!

And then, of course the games were amazing. Huge congratulations to Queen Phee on the win, but really to all the players for a great tournament. Next year I'm hoping it corresponds to mid-winter break, so we can go for a week and see all the games. Or maybe I'll just book another stupid but brilliant 1-day, 2-night trip.

A Slice

noreply@blogger.com (Anne) — Wed, 12 May 2010 01:06:00 +0000

One of the true joys of living in New York is the slice. You know how it goes, you stop by the local pizza place on the way to a party that you don't want to be hungry for, on the way home from drinks that you don't want to be too hungover from. It's perfect: greasy, filling, cheap. One slice takes the edge off, two are acceptable as a meal substitute.

And then there's gluten-free pizza. Available: only at home, only after preparation, only after a 450 degree oven. Or: Mozzarelli's. Available after a visit to the lawyer to discuss partnership agreements. ("$350 an hour? Eh... Next to Mozzarelli's? Where do I sign?")

Some things:

1. Good crust.

2. Greasy, not too greasy.

3. Good topping options (note: pepperoni, above)

4. Available By The Slice.

That's what I'm talking about, people. I love New York. Even More.

Devil's Food Cake and Funfetti icing, too

noreply@blogger.com (Constance) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:50:00 +0000

A couple of months ago General Mills announced a line of Betty Crocker gluten-free baking mixes.

Tonight, a simple trip to the Park Slope C-Town challenged me to bake a birthday cake in honor of all the Leos of our lives. The mix was simple, only three ingredients and 38 minutes later, Devil's Food Cake with Funfetti icing (artificially-flavored vanilla icing with a packet of sprinkles tucked into the lid of the perfect tub). And, it tastes exactly as I remember box cake. How did they do it?

At start, I was wary; the mix was granular, the batter watery but after plumping at 325 and topped with fluffy icing, it's perfect.

Ice cream sandwiches

noreply@blogger.com (Constance) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:50:00 +0000

Lo and behold, ice cream sandwiches! On a recent trip to Union Market, a font of gluten-free pastas, treats and naturally safe fruits and veggies, I created the Brooklyn version of a summertime favorite. A oversized scoop of Ronnybrook vanilla ice cream "smooshed" between two Dr. Lucy's Cinnamon Thin cookies (they are basically Snickerdoodles, but crispier) makes for the perfect ending a summery dinner party. The cookies were so cinnamon-sugary with a subtle hint of salt, the best GF cookie to date. Even gluten-loving guests went in for seconds!

Pancakes

noreply@blogger.com (Anne) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:05:00 +0000

It's the season of the CSA, when the mounds of kale and chard in the refrigerator compete with my normal inclination to just order take out. Right now, for instance, the door swings open to: lettuce, bok choi, kale, broccoli, snow peas, corn, cucumbers, scapes, peaches, and blueberries. And last week's pickles. Oh, and (just checked) scallions, turnips, eggs, and kohlrabi. So delicious and local and good for me... so overwhelming. With more coming on Thursday.

Clearly, I need to take steps. Today's baby step was: blueberry pancakes. (Hey! I admitted it was a baby step.)

In all honesty, I've never been much of a pancake girl, even before I knew I was celiac. It was always like choosing candy for breakfast--feeling glad that as an adult I can make that choice, but knowing that as an adult I have to live with the consequences of feeling jumpy and hungry for the rest of the day.

So pancakes are a special treat. Particularly using the Kinnikinnick mix. I venture to say that this is one of the few gf items where the gf version is far superior to the traditional. The perfect consistency--spongy but substantial, chewy but light. I don't know how those folks do it. Also, perfect for me: they only require 3 ingredients: 1 egg, oil and water/milk/seltzer/soy milk (I love that choice, as I'm bound to have at least one of those). And fresh South Jersey blueberries that get all melty and juicy and explode in your mouth.

Today I made them as big as my head. Now I'm ready to a) make peach ice cream or b) take a nap.

Yellow Cake on the Horizon

noreply@blogger.com (Anne) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:20:00 +0000

Oh my goodness, so many new things, so long ago my last post.

First, a quick one:

JULY 2, 2009
For General Mills, Wheat-Free Items Are Tricky to Make, Cheap to Market

Mass marketer General Mills Inc. is carving out a niche in gluten-free food after realizing it could reach eager customers without costly ad campaigns.

The company's Betty Crocker brand is rolling out gluten-free mixes for cookies, brownies and cakes. The mixes are the first gluten-free offering from a major, mainstream brand in the cake-mix aisle. Gluten is a key protein in wheat, but many people react badly to it.

Ann Simonds, General Mills's president of baking products, says the company decided to pursue gluten-free products last year after its customer-relations department noticed that customer inquiries about food allergies and sensitivities ...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124649298279583139.html

Or, you know, if they'd been paying attention. I have to say, this is probably the beginning of the crap-ization of gluten-free food, but doesn't a box cake sound kind of dreamy in a summer vacation kind of way?

Chinese meal in DC

noreply@blogger.com (Anne) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:19:00 +0000

When I found out that the menu for our company laser tag retreat this year was "pizza for lunch, Chinese for dinner," I was devastated. Really? Don't they remember that I have celiac disease? And don't they know there is absolutely nothing for me to eat at a Chinese restaurant?

Of course, Alexis contends that there are plenty of things that I can eat at a Chinese restaurant, to which I reply: "Like what? Chicken with that gloopy clearish white sauce? I'll pass, thanks." I mean, no soy sauce, nothing deep-fried, nothing breaded. What does that leave at your standard Chinese place?

Lucky for me, Peking Gourmet Inn in Falls Church, VA, is not your standard Chinese place. For one thing, it's the Bushes' favorite Chinese restaurant, and as soon as I walked in I saw one million photos to prove it. Hmm. One the pro-side: good enough for former leader of the free world. Con-side: he's not celiac.

There was no gluten-free menu, which always makes me a little nervous, but there was a very attentive server who promised me something delicious with no flour or soy sauce. Chicken with garlic shoots it was. I remained suspicious as the Scorpion Bowls arrived, with the dumplings soon after. I had braced myself for this, by envisioning what I'd have from room service before I even sat down.

And then the garlic shoots arrived on the baby-pool-sized lazy susan. What a dream: fresh tasting, not at all bland, and pungent without leaving me smelling of garlic for days. That same fresh taste that the "special greens" at Sushi D have. Success!

I knew the Bushes wouldn't let me down (when it came to Chinese food).

Order of Dumplings

noreply@blogger.com (Anne) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:43:00 +0000

Obviously it would be the pork dumplings at Lily's 57. Oh my god, how much I've missed Chinese food since being diagnosed with celiac.

When people ask which gluten-free treats I miss, I usually keep it to three things: great naan, fresh New York pizza, and real New York bagels. I miss them for their convenience, their chewy deliciousness, their irreproducability.

But lurking behind that neat list is an entire category of delectable Chinese food, entirely off limits. Oh, delicious brown sauce, tempting fried items, greasy egg rolls, steamy dumplings, I admit it: I miss you. Even, you, slightly stale fortune cookies. I miss you, too.

Until now. Based on the Celiac Chicks review, I took my mom, aunt Sue, and Alexis to Lily's 57 after an off-Broadway show last weekend. With low expectations, I requested the gluten-free menu, and was immediately dazzled by the choices. It was like the first time I went to Tao Palate as a vegetarian: you mean I can have *any* of this? Really? In fact, I was so overwhelmed that the manager had to come over to assist me.

His enthusiasm was contagious: "all of the blogs" love the dumplings (one order, please!), the chicken satay is very good (sign me up) and apparently their gluten-free General Tso's is even better than their sister restaurant, Lily and Loo's (sold).

The satay was first, and while I loved not being anxious about whether the peanut sauce had soy sauce in it, the chicken was a little bland, and nothing to write home about. But then came the dumplings: OMG. First, they were filled with pork, which prompted a wonderful flashback to my pre-vegetarian days. Second, the dumpling itself was excellent. Doughy without being sticky, and with good mouth feel. Just thinking about them now, my mouth is watering.

Next time I try a new gluten-free restaurant, I'm making everyone order gluen-free to expand my options, like a real restaurant reviewer. At Lily's I made the mistake of letting everyone choose for herself. Never again.

Because my gluten-free General Tso's tofu (my former vegetarianism dies hard, apparently) was the best dish on the table. Lightly fried, in a spicy/sweet sauce. Perfectly nostalgic. I let everyone try it to determine that I had, in fact, gotten the best thing, and then had to slap their hands away so they wouldn't eat it all.

The owners even brought me out a piece of gluten-free layer cake, on the house, to end my meal. Apparently, it's a work in progress, and when I had it, it was a little... leaden. But I have no doubt that they will get it right by my next visit. Which is, hopefully, tomorrow?

Mexican Meal

noreply@blogger.com (Anne) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:09:00 +0000

Last night I had the most delicious meal ever. For the past few months, I'd been fighting the suspicion that maybe there wasn't great Mexican food in Brooklyn. Sure, there was Bonita (with expensive and seemingly non-alcoholic drinks, and food that was good but not great), and Maria's (excellent guacamole, but weirdly greasy food), and Habana Outpost (do I really want to wait on line for 30 minutes for a taco? I also always find myself doubling up on orders, just to avoid having to wait on line again) and maybe Taco Chulo (also strangely greasy), but nothing quite right. No go to.

And then BrooklynBased delivered a list of delicious Mexican spots in Greenpoint. With a Google Map--the way to my heart.

Last night we went to Papacito's on both Huron and Manhattan (it's L shaped) in Greenpoint. The fluorescent-lit storefront is just a fake-out, the real action is in the alley on Huron. Dim, with picnic tables and a relaxed bar with lots of water on the cement and a faint smell of cat in the corner I was sitting in. Not yet convinced.

Apparently, they have a 36 ounce beer (which means nothing to me, really), but a delicious sangria. Unlike the thick grape-juice concoction at Bonita, this was icy cold, light, refreshing, and filled with alcohol-soaked fruit. Yum.

Starving, we got guacamole and chips which was above par, if not excellent. Although Coop tried to scare me with "are you sure these are corn chips?" I've made the executive decision that all chips are restaurants are corn chips, and I will eat them. I haven't thrown up yet, so it must not have been a terrible decision. Yet. The guacamole was pretty good. Kind of pre-fab, but with some real avocado mushed in. I think Maria's still holds the prize on this front.

But then the tacos, oh, the tacos. Two floppy corn tortillas with: chorizo (perfectly greasy, and well seasoned), aniito pork (not too fatty, and spicy), and carne asada (probably my favorite, with good seasoning, and the perfect texture). Oh, tacos. With good toppings, too: a little sour cream, maybe some lettuce, not too much. Alexis got a fish taco which was also pretty spectacular--spicy, not breaded, or deep fried.

I ate them so fast, I essentially stacked the three tacos in my stomach, which hurt pretty good.

Again, although it means nothing to me, they also have veggie/probably-vegan options of seitan asada, spicy tempeh, and soyrizo. I will be passing on those, but good to know.

Also, like a nerd, I took a photo of the menu with my phone--it's a white board that was far from our table. Start salivating now:

Carbonated Beverage

noreply@blogger.com (Anne) — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:06:00 +0000

As I said, for many years, my beverage choice was caffeine-free diet coke--slightly flat, if possible. Many people argued that it was the same as water, since it had nothing in it. My response was that whatever was in it made it taste so much more delicious than water. Turns out that whatever was in it is not, however, so much more healthy than water. Like a smoker, I always really knew this in the back of my mind, but after reading the Omnivore's Dilemma, I finally quit it.

And delicious seltzer stepped in to take it's place. Oh, seltzer. So delicious, so refreshing, so watery. But also so heavy, and kind of expensive when you drink 2-3 liters a day. At first, Alex would buy it for me at the co-op, but the cost of the car service pretty much negated any cost savings. Then I had FreshDirect deliver it for me. Effective solution, but it also made me feel like kind of a jerk for using all of the human and fossil fuel energy to essentially deliver water to my house.

And then I was invited to join the Soda Club, and fell in love. Soda Club is a carbonation machine which lets you make your own seltzer by screwing in a reusable bottle and then pressing a button to send carbonation into it . How do I love thee, Soda Club? Let me count the ways:

You are so cheap. I bought the slightly more extravagant Edition One Seltzer Lover Starter Kit for $129. So far I have had about 2 bottles of seltzer a day, and haven't finished one cartridge yet. Yippee!
You make me feel better about myself. I definitely reduced my carbon footprint by eliminating all of those plastic bottles from my life, as well as all that gas needed to get those bottles to my doorstep.
You are endless and delicious. You never run out, not even late at night. You are always there for me.

Now I just need to convince EchoDitto to buy us one for the new office.

Bread Product

noreply@blogger.com (Anne) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:30:00 +0000

It would be Kinnikinnick. Oh, those crafty Canadians and their delicious gluten-free bread products.

I first met Kinnikinnick through their bread mix. After reading amazing reviews, I took the plunge and went for an entire case of Kinnikinnick Kinni-Kwik Bread & Bun Mix, from Amazon. I was not disappointed. Some excellent features:

You only need to add water. If, like me, you have a hard time keeping milk and eggs in your house without rotting, an ingredient list of "water" is ideal. Sure, you can get fancy and use milk or soymilk or ricemilk, but water works just as well.
It's so easy to make. The directions pretty much read: Open package, Add water, Mix, Pour into pan. Just like the Tastybake oven, but with bigger, and fluffier, results.
You can make as much as you want. You can make one bun or an entire loaf.
The resulting bread is springy and delicious. After an hour of baking, your whole house smells like bready goodness, and the result doesn't disappoint. The bread is springy with a firm crust, slightly sweet, and airy. I have no idea how they do it. There is nothing like bread, hot from the oven, with melty butter.

My only recommendation is to not make too much. It molds quickly. Just saying.

Then, when I was in Florida, visiting my aunt and uncle, I met the pre-made bread. The Italian White Tapioca Rice Bread, to be specific. Somehow Naples, FL is a hotbed of gluten-free products. We had delicious BLTs for lunch and the bread:

Did not fall apart
Was as good as the mix
Toasted perfectly

The only negative is that Kinnikinnick is a little hard to find in the neighborhood, and I live in New York City. I would offer to open up a Kinnikinnick store, but maybe in the meantime, Whole Foods could just stock their stuff?

Also, I just found the new Kinnikinnick blog, featuring... doughnuts! Dreams do come true! I'll tell you all about them as soon as I get some.

Sugar Cookie

noreply@blogger.com (Anne) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:17:00 +0000

I grew up in Verona, New Jersey (the Queen of States, in my opinion), which was a lovely suburban town to be a kid in. There was a park at the end the block, a stream in the backyard, and a town within walking distance. Summertime involved a lot of all three of those, especially walks to town to DiPaolo's Bakery. Have I mentioned how much I love bakery cookies? Those kind on the tray that have sprinkles on them, that have sprinkled sugar in multi-colors, that are Neapolitan? Those. Italian bakery cookies. I miss you and long to have you again. In a gluten-free version, of course.

I thought I had an answer in these Kosher for passover cookies at Fresh Direct. The bummer was that they were a little gritty from the rice flour, and came frozen, which I didn't know how to manage (defrost? eat frozen? give up and let them get freezer burn? yes.).

Then, while visiting Alexis's mother in Greenwich, NJ, I found them. Mr. Ritt's Sugar Cookies. They have the perfect buttery, Italian Bakery flavor. They have the granular sugar on top. They taste delicious and not at all gritty. All of her family was asking if they could have one.

Mr. Ritt's website leaves a lot to be desired. To the extent that I want to offer to redo it for a few batches of cookies, but... if you can get beyond that or hike to Philly or south Jers, you're in luck. Delicious sugar cookie luck.

Best Bets

noreply@blogger.com (Anne) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:19:00 +0000

When I was growing up, a staple of all family vacations, trips, and get-togethers was a food-based forced choice game that began "If you could only have one ____." The rules were pretty simple: you had to pick the one food from that category that you would eat for the rest of time. We played so often that I forget what most of my choices were, except that for several years I answered "if you could only have one beverage" with "diet coke" for many years.

I think the fun of the game comes from thinking about eating all of the options, but ultimately only getting to pick one. Some choices were more pragmatic (a baby me posited that "you can make anything out of potatoes..."), while others were more obsession based (if I could only have one dessert, it was "Cadbury Cream Eggs"). There weren't many categories I wasn't sure my answer was the right one.

Now I'm older and gluten-free, but still so confident in my opinion. And when you're gluten-free and looking for a good cookie, I feel it's my duty to report what your one cookie should be.