Traveling with a child who has celiac disease can be tricky, takes scrutiny and planning ahead, and requires much extra packing but it is not only possible, it’s worth it! My kids and I travelled to New York for the holidays. Not only did we survive, as my kids would tell you, we had an amazing time together!
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e very detailed!
We learned this one early on at our first stop in Albany. Before leaving Montreal we contacted a restaurant we had been to in the past to make sure they were still open. They were… only I had no idea that they had converted their restaurant into a store. Not sure it was our fault for not asking for that detail or theirs for not telling us about the change, but certainly I would say…..call up and get all details before going anywhere! We weren’t prepared for that and without internet to search for places at the last minute, it was tough finding a substitute.
On the first night of our stay we went to RED ROBIN. It’s a chain with an easy allergen friendly menu. 
We had hamburgers with buns that were soft and warm. YUM! French fries that were also really good and most of all, the server understood our needs and we felt safe eating there. You can go to http://www.redrobin.com/customizer_hub and choose foods based on your list of allergens. What more can you ask for?
For dessert, we went to Walmart and bought some popcorn and then hopped on over to the cinema to see a movie with hot chocolate (we made sure it was safe for us to drink) and the popcorn from Walmart. Easy and everyone happy!
Think Ahead!
We knew we wanted to stock up on breakfast foods and snacks so not all our meals would be in a restaurant. For us Walmart was an important stop because it was there that we found everything we needed; drinks, boiled eggs, tortillas, bagels, guacamole, margarine, meats, fruit, etc…
I would suggest anyone planning such a road trip to do as we did. We packed with us a Panini maker to warm up and a blender for smoothies and my kettle for tea and coffee. This helped a lot!
We ate one large meal a day in a restaurant. We planned for those ahead of time because it was Christmas and either they were very booked or closed for the holiday schedule.
On our second night we went to BLOOMS DELI which didn’t rate high for us. We were frustrated by the waitress. She did not pay much attention to our gluten-free needs and in fact, she kept forgetting we were gluten-free. Strange, because they have a large gluten-free menu. http://www.bloomsnewyorkdeli.com/ShowMenu.tpl?vShowMenu=2095
The food was ok as you would expect a deli to be….and the location was important as it was the most central (40th and Lexington)
We went to Dylan’s Candy bar, M&M’s and Hersheys that first day too but we were so limited in what we could buy. They do not cater to people with allergies for sure!
A Gluten-Free Goldmine
On Day 3 we were on the lower side of Manhattan and we chose RISOTTERIA for supper. (270 Bleecker Street, between 6th / 7th Aves) They’re very busy and don’t take reservations so we were lucky to be seated immediately! We began with the BEST breadsticks ever!!! Salty crispy and soft breadsticks and while most places only offer pizza and pasta, this place offers excellent Risotto, meatballs, paninis, lasagna and gf beer. I didn’t love the pizza, but it was more than acceptable. They make other gluten food and gluten-free dishes as well.
Many people come here as a gluten-free destination. The owner is not gluten-free as you would expect, but because the risotto was naturally gluten-free, it attracted Celiacs and soon many gluten-free eaters sought out this place to eat. We weren’t worried about cross contamination as they have separate ovens and space for baking and we were well-assured the food is safe. They now know much about gluten-free and make mixes, breads, and desserts for take out. The atmosphere is cute and cozy, the portion size generous and the service was by far the best we had.
Day 4 was actually Christmas Day so we had to make reservations as there was not much open. We chose NIZZA! (http://nizzanyc.com/menu ) located on 9th Avenue near 45th street.)
It was neither our most friendly or kid-friendly visit nor best service, but we managed. They offered foccacia bread with olive oil to start which was good. They are known for their Socas, which is a chickpea based crispy crust topped with very fancy combinations of toppings! They also had meatballs, duck pasta and homemade gnocchi. Once again, it was the locals who demanded gluten-free and is a place most gluten-free eaters seek even though they offer both gluten and non gluten choices.
Bang On Bistango
Day 5 was a real yummy experience! The atmosphere and food was really great at BISTANGO and the people were very friendly and helpful. http://bistangonyc.com
(415 Third Avenue at corner of East 29th Street ) It was our last big supper and we went all out! I found the bread (baguette) really tasty and wished I had more….they served it with olive oil and fresh crushed garlic! The owner is gluten-free and turned the restaurant gluten-free 13 years ago. They serve everything on their menu both gluten and gluten-free. This was the first restaurant we went to that actually made their own fresh raviolis. We ate the eggplant stuffed raviolis as it was the only one without cheese, and it was a hit! The portions were not so big and we were still hungry…lol! We tried 3 desserts: the flourless chocolate cake which was super chocolaty, the red velvet cake which I really enjoyed, (made with almond flour, teff and tapioca flours, colored with beet juice and served with real whipped cream) and the key lime pie, which was just ok. Most of their desserts are made with almond flour. There are no peanuts used on the premises at all.
Rutherford Pancake House for Breakfast!
The last place to eat was our breakfast on the way home. We went to Rutherford New Jersey for light and fluffy pancakes, waffles and French toast… very worthwhile. http://www.rutherfordpancakehouse.com
The owner’s nephew is gluten-free and once they started to prepare gluten-free, the community began to ask for it. They make a GREAT brunch!!!
In case you’re wondering, we wanted to try bakeries but they were out of the way and we ran out of time. The only one we did get to was Tu-Lu’s but there were peanuts and no effort to not cross- contaminate. I tried a mini cupcake for $2.50 that was teeny tiny, but good.
Traveling with a child with celiac disease is work, but it’s also adventurous and fun. Sharing new experiences and seeing new places with your child is one of life’s blessings, making all the effort and planning that go into a gluten free trip worth all of the precious memories that are made.
When I’m reacting to things, the list of things I avoid gets very long and complicated. I actually have a list of things, in point form, and plasticized in my purse, for when I’m at a restaurant. They can usually make me a salad on a cleaned surface. They often defrost unseasoned chicken and fry it up with salt and pepper to be completely safe. Having a document with a point form that you can send someone to “check” and see if ANY of these might pose a problem, is a way to open a dialogue. People who truly love you and are responsible will rise to the top of the friend list. Even if you mutually decide that the hotel will be the best course of action.
I am surprised that restaurants in Toronto have a hard time but I guess that the combination is a difficult one to secure. Your kids are so blessed that you are there to guide and support them. You are the reason behind their resilience and good health. Mom of the year award!!! XO
Thanks so much for sharing Monique. It’s wonderful to send these messages to others because often we are at a loss. So helpful! And thanks so much for your kind words. Often I don’t feel like a good mother….but it certainly is special to take the time to acknowledge all the special things we do for our kids to make their lives just a little bit happier! 🙂