New York City, You're So Pretty

I cannot visit this city enough to be satisfied.  I just love New York, and it is even better now that I have such good friends living there! S and I went to NYC for Labor Day, not only because we were due for a visit, but also because one of my friends just finished her bar trip and wanted to see two of our other friends that lived there.  We had an awesome college reunion and tried some new places in the process.  Here are some reviews:

First of all, getting there and back: we took the combination of SEPTA and NJ transit to get to the city.  The schedules are online at the NJ Transit website and we bought the tickets at 30th street station for both legs of the trip.  It was super easy and not overly crowded.  It cost about $24 each for one-way tickets.  On the way back, we took MegaBus.  I have had less-than-ideal experiences with them in the past, but that was mostly due to my own fault.  This time, we got reserved seats at a table, which also means you stand in a smaller line.  The outlets did not work and the wifi/air conditioning were iffy, but all in all it was an easy trip, and it cost $42 for both of us to have the reserved seats.

For dinner the first night, we ate at Bistango.  My friends were good and did their research ahead of time to find me a great gluten-free restaurant, and this one fit the bill! Three of our meals were gluten-free even without them asking for that, so I tried all three of those.  I got the spinach ravioli, one friend got the cheese and artichoke tortellini, and the third friend got the steak (it might have been called carne something).  I enjoyed all three, but liked my order the best :)  Then we split a red velvet cake and an apple tart for dessert, which were so good.

We went to some bars in the East Village after that, but I felt sort of ambivalent about all of those -- what made the night enjoyable was the company, not anything in particular that the bars did.

For lunch the next day, we stopped by Mozarellis to pick up something gluten-free for me, then got some cheese, fruit, and chips and made a picnic in Central Park.  Mozarelli's only serves pizza on weekends, and did not open at the time they told us when we called (because it was not posted anywhere).  I had been looking forward to getting a wrap, but the pizza selection was alright, for a gluten free place.  It was a little soggier than I expected, being that it was just made, but it was certainly better than some places. I'd give it a B.

We went to watch the Carolina game at Slattery's midtown.  This is the first game watch they had there.  Carolina's General Alumni Association always does a good job organizing the game watches, so they had buttons and stickers for everyone, the blue cups from He's Not Here in Chapel Hill, and even a raffle at halftime.  However, we only had the bottom floor of the bar, probably due to a low expected attendance, being the first football game.  That made it hard for us to find a table for everyone though, even though my friend emailed ahead and asked to reserve one.  They also had a DJ who really took away from the experience more than he added.  I enjoyed that they played some of the Carolina marching band music, but he also played music way-too-loudly on the commercials, I could not hear the actual game commentary in the bar, and he awkwardly tried to start cheers when they should really just be started organically by the actual game watchers.  As a small note, the song he played after touchdowns was Here Comes Carolina, not the real fight song.  He redeemed himself with the victory song, the alma mater, and the fight song after the game, but overall I am glad that Philly does not have an equivalent person.

After Slattery's we went to Brother Jimmy's to watch some of the Wisconsin game.  I have been here many times, obviously, and still enjoy going there.  We got nachos and a the bucket of wings.  They have a gf menu, so we just took the beans off of the nachos to make them gf and the wings were fine as is.  I thought both were delicious.  I went to bed fairly early that night after staying out too late the night before.

On Sunday, we started with a "boozy brunch" at the Crooked Knife.  I liked the mimosas much more than the bloody marys here, after we tried both.  I liked my omelette, but after going through this whole thing with the waitress about how I was gluten intolerant and asking about the sauce that the mushrooms were cooked in, she brought it out to me with toast on top! I had to send it back, even though I hate doing that, and in the process I clumsily spilled my drink on my friend's food, so she had to get a new plate too! After all the fuss, brunch turned out really well and I think everyone enjoyed their food.  If you are gluten intolerant, make sure to specify that you do not want toast on the omelette, even though it isn't listed.  I got the "cured" omelette, and the chef confirmed (in an Irish accent, I was told) that the brandied mushrooms were cooked in pure brandy).

We went to the Bohemian Beer Garden after that, which was fun, but really does not know gluten free at all.  I had Magner's cider and did not eat the nachos that were ordered, because the chili is apparently not gluten-free.  I would have ordered something else, but I got the sense that they did not know anything about gluten, and did not want to deal with cross-contamination.

Our final dinner was at Wave Thai.  WOW, what amazing food!  I had the peanut curry, which the waitress confirmed to be gf, and most others got pad thai.  Everyone was blown away with how good it was.  If you venture into Astoria, definitely check this place out!

Before leaving on Monday, we went to Big Daddy's.  They have gluten-free pancakes so I had the bacon cakes, which I have had before there.  They are a little dry, but it is nothing that cannot be fixed with a little more syrup :)

Another great trip to NYC in the books!

Travel tips for the constantly busy (with celiac suggestions)

I am writing this blog from an Indianapolis hotel lobby.  A work opportunity arose yesterday afternoon that I would have to pack fast, and be flexible if I wanted to take advantage of it.  I have traveled so much recently, I felt confident that I could do so.  I have made many mistakes in the past while traveling, but I think I have also learned much from these mistakes, so I am a much more efficient traveler now. Since I have been thinking about the best ways to travel, I thought I would take this opportunity to share some tips with you!

Leave essential items packed
I always end up forgetting something at home.  I've learned to buy travel versions of the very essentials so I know that I have those packed and ready to go, when I leave packing until the very last minute.  I would suggest at the very least a toothbrush, hairbrush, and some travel medicine (advil, alka seltzer, etc).  I have a whole separate set of makeup that I keep in a bag at all times.  I will pull the eyeshadow out every now and then if I want that specific color, but make sure to put it back in my bag so it's there.  I also have a travel razor, because that is one of my most-forgotten items.  I have separate bags for medicine and liquids as well.  I bought a clear plastic bag from target that fits airline standards and keep my travel shower stuff, lotion, and mascara in.  Then I'm always airplane ready and do not have to scramble at the security gate or deal with ziplock bags falling apart after too much use.  This also helps for non-airplane travel because if something spills, it is separated from the rest of my stuff.  For medicines, I keep an extra baggie or bottle of all my OTC medicines in a bag as well, and just add my prescriptions the day of travel. One extra trip, check all the nooks and crannies of the hotel room before you leave, so you do not forget these little items.  I have lost too many razors to count, because I left them in the shower and forgot to re-pack them!

Label everything
If you have things pre-packed, it might become more difficult to remember what it is exactly that you have packed if it's not already labeled.  Some people like to buy reusable travel bottles and fill them with their shampoo/conditioner/body wash of choice, so make sure to label which one is which.  I also try to separate my OTC meds if they are not in a small bottle, and label the bag.

Make a list for trip-specific packing
I love lists in general, but a few days before a trip, I especially like to get a list started.  I will remember things here and there that I need to remember, so as I think of it, I will write it down.  I prefer lists on my phone, since I always have it with me.  Then, when I am scrambling to pack, I do not have to think of every thing I might possibly need, because I have already written it down.


Find the perfect bag
First, find a bag with many parts/containers.  This is not something that I do well, actually.  I love my Kate Spade, but its big pocket and small opening make my cell phone and wallet almost impossible to find.  But when packing, try to keep in mind that you will not want to unpack and repack your entire bag to find one thing, and pick the bag that has easy access to the stuff you will want the soonest:  your id, money, reading material, snacks, and tech stuff.  My favorite carry on has a side pocket in which I can fit my computer and many smaller pockets up front, one of which I dedicate to my liquids so I can easily pull them out at security. 

Second, look up airline regulations to find an appropriate-sized bag.  Most airlines allow you one bag and one "personal item" like a purse or briefcase.  Both have to fit within certain size requirements.  I have a matching set of polka-dot (of course) luggage that I know which two will be appropriate as carry-ons, then I will pick a purse that will fit some reading material and/or my laptop or iPad.   The small rolling bag I have will only fit in the overhead bin, and only on bigger flights.  This means I can put my purse underneath the seat in front of me and quickly access my reading material.  On smaller flights, to avoid embarrassment, I preemptively ask to gate-check my bag (which gate officials are usually happy to do) so it goes underneath the plane and I can retrieve it right after the flight near the plane.  In short, know thy bag, particularly its size.

Third, make sure your bags are durable.  There are few things worse than a bag breaking in the gate or when the airline officials are handling it.  I had one of my bags break while I was flying home from my semester in Germany, and I had to buy another (very expensive) suitcase in the airport to make it home.  As a final note: I always try to scale down my packing so I can fit all of my stuff into my carry-ons.  That way, I do not risk the airline losing my bag and I can take all necessary precautions myself to prevent it breaking.

Dress appropriately for travel
I like to wear plenty of layers, because the temperature of airports/airplanes can vary drastically.  I also try to pick long dresses or pants without much metal to get through the security more easily.  If I am not wearing something with pockets, there is no chance I will forget to take something out of my pockets and have to go back through security.  Finally, try to pick easily slipped-off shoes because you will have to take them off for security.  It is difficult to balance clothes that are stylish enough to go somewhere when you land, comfortable enough for long travel, and security-friendly, but with practice, you will find a few go-to pieces that fit all three criteria.  Also remember that if you are taking your normal purse/briefcase with you, rummage through it before you go to make sure that there are not any contraband items in it already.  I have had numerous nail clippers and wine openers confiscated because I forgot they were in my bag.  I even lost a monogrammed Swiss army knife one time!

Get to the gate on time
This seems like a no-brainer but it is worth repeating.  Try to check the traffic a few hours before you leave for the airport so you can leave earlier if you need to, or pick a different route.  For most trips, you need to be at the airport an hour before you are set to leave in order to get through security, but if it is a busy travel day (or you are traveling internationally), give yourself some more time.  If you are leaving in the morning, set multiple alarms so you do not oversleep.  Check in as early as possible (24 hours on U.S. Air) and print the ticket or download it to your phone so you do not have to wait for a kiosk or an airline employee to help you.  When you get to the airport, double-check from which gate the flight is leaving.  In Philly, the airline frequently changes the gate, so I have walked all the way down to the end of one corridor just to find out that the new one is at the very end of the other corridor.  If you are early enough, this will not set you back, but check the monitors before you walk too far just to make sure.

Maximize your entertainment options
I have experienced many trips where I had to buy magazines or books at the airport, or have been bored on the plane, because the entertainment I had planned did not work for some reason.  I now have to hedge my bets by bringing multiple analog or offline options.  Many airlines offer wifi and some have plugs to charge your devices, but these are imperfect and not offered everywhere.  It is best to make sure you have something to do for the whole trip, even if your phone/computer/tablet did not work the entire time.  If I do not have specific work to do, I will bring lawyer magazines and then leave them in the plane seat back when I am done so my load gets progressively lighter. Usually I will tear out the articles that interest me and tear off my name and address before I totally ditch the magazine.  If your best options are digital, make sure that you charge at every opportunity.  Start the trip fully charged, then at every gate, seek out the closest outlet.  This may seem excessive, but there will be times when you will not be able to find an outlet, or a delayed flight leaves you no time in between connections to charge.  I have found it to be necessary to be diligent about charging if I want to enjoy whatever it is that I have on my technology.


Figure out what to do with long layovers
Just a quick (unpaid) plug for the U.S. Air club here.  I have some day passes that I have been hoarding and if I have a couple-hour layover, it is definitely worth it to get out from the crowds and get some free coffee/wifi/snacks.


Tips for celiacs
As someone who has much fewer eating options, traveling is just that much harder for me.  I've figured out a few things to help: 1. I pack extra drink mixes and things that make me feel better, then I can just find a cup and some water to make a little pick me up.  I currently have packed accelerade for post-workouts, magnesium for easier sleep, and l-glutamine for gut repair.  I also pack my probiotics to take every day, and gas relief pills and alka seltzer for slip ups.  Figure out what your go-to is when you get glutened, and make sure you have extra of that packed at all times.  2.  Research ahead of time what might be celiac safe.  If you are meeting up with friends, they might appreciate the suggestion of what you can eat, or you might want to know where you can go in the airport to pick something up.  Knowledge is power, and the internet has lots of reviews by your fellow celiacs (even some by me!).  3.  Pack more snacks than you think you'll need.  I like to bring a bunch of protein bars (I eat think thin, because they are heavy on the protein and certified gf) and some kind of snack food, like almonds.  Even though I usually end up buying something at the airport more substantial, it is nice to know I have a fallback for the whole trip.  4. Hit up the smoothie joint (but research beforehand): if I am feeling really blah and unhealthy, I will try to find any version of a smoothie chain to get some quick fruit and vegetable sustenance.  Many places have vitamin or other nutrient "boosts" that they can add to the smoothie.  Be wary though, on one trip, I went to three different smoothie places and none of the employees at any of them knew which boosts were gluten-free so it is best to research before you get there to avoid a frustrating Q and A. 

What are your favorite travel tips?

Philadelphia Update

Monday will mark my one year anniversary of living in Philadelphia.  I love being in a city where there is always something going on within walking distance! Here are some of my favorite spots in this great city, as well as some things still on my to-do list:

Favorite restaurant: Audrey Claire - I have loved this BYO spot since my first time eating there, on a callback interview.  The food is very veggie-heavy, with lots of gluten-free options.  It is delicious without making me feel gross after.  Plus, the outdoor seating options and location are ideal.  Most nights that we go out to eat, Audrey Claire is on the short list of options.

Favorite bar: The Bards -- this Irish bar has that great neighborhood feel: a good selection of drinks without too much frill.  It feels like everyone knows your name, but it would be too much pandering for them to admit it

Favorite group activity: Johnny Goodtimes Trivia --this is related to the above entry.  Johnny does eight quizzes a week, one at the Bards, plus some special events.  I find that the questions are difficult but not impossible.  S and I will sometimes even go alone and give it a shot.

Favorite occasional date night: Paint Nite -- whether you are great or terrible at artistic endeavors, Paint Nite is a fun way to express your creative side.  It bounces around the city in various bars, and a teacher leads you in painting a certain piece.  There is step-by-step instruction, but participants can also make their own adjustments.  The first time we did it, I tried to do exactly what the instructor did but that stressed me out a little too much, so the next two times I added my own creative twists.

Favorite delivery place: Kermit's -- not only does Kermit's makes a great gluten-free pizza, it usually has gluten-free French macarons which are amazing.  It is located south of South street, so it will deliver to Scott's apartment.

Favorite gf bakery: Sweet Freedom -- we discovered this gem when Scott was a summer associate in Philly and I loved it then, now, and always.  I am still convinced the employees bake magic into their cupcakes, because the long list of ingredients that aren't in their goodies includes everything that usually makes baked goods so....good.  Yet even without these things, everything there is incredibly delicious.


Philadelphia bucket list:
 1. Finish the 50 best bars in Philadelphia -- we have a group of friends that are trying to complete the list of bars in a year from the list's publication.  We are about 30 bars in so far, so I cannot wait to hit the rest!
2. Try some more new restaurants -- I feel like we like certain restaurants so much that we are reluctant to go outside the box and try new ones.  In year two, I want to try more new ones! Restaurant week is coming up, so we will hopefully experience some new places then.
3. Go to more outside/special events -- there were some pop up beer gardens and events outside this summer that I did not hit this summer, partially because I traveled so much and partially because I was reluctant to miss out on the tried and true options.  Next year, I want to keep a closer eye on these things and make a bigger effort to attend them.

What are your favorite places in your city? What's still on your bucket list?

Check-In on New Year's Resolutions

Over half of 2014 is over! I feel like it is cliche to remark here, 'where has the time gone?!' but the year really does seem like it is flying by.  Given that we have passed the halfway mark, I feel like now is a good time to go back to my New Year's resolutions and see how I am doing.  I keep a google doc for myself with ALL of my goals that I update each month and then think about on what I should be focusing for the next month, but I did promise to try to update here too. 

I have gathered two lessons from looking at this list so far.  One is adaptability: sometimes, things do not work out as planned and the ideal situation does not happen.  Other times, an equally ideal situation happens instead of the planned situation.  In these situations, sometimes it is best to adapt your goals to fit the new situation, instead of beating yourself up about not completing what you set out.  The second is persistence: there are some goals that frankly need much improvement.  They are still realistic goals, so I do not need to adapt them, I just need to persist in the determination that I will be better.  I may never reach the ultimate goal, but I should strive each day/week/month to get a little better at the goals that are harder for me.

So, without further ado, here are the goals I set out in January and how I am doing so far:

Work resolutions: meet billable hours requirement, publish 5 articles/blog posts
-Billable hours has been a REAL struggle for me.  I am finally coming to terms with what that means in actual time worked, and it is a lot.  The second half of the year is definitely more focused on this, and the last couple of months have already seen an increase in hours billed.
-I have written or co-written three articles so far so I am well on my way to five this year

Health resolutions: cook for yourself on weekdays (Paleo), half marathon, Nerd Academy
-The half-marathon is in September so I should be training for that right now.  I ran a ten-miler in May so I definitely have a semi-long-distance runner somewhere in me, but I have not been training well since then.  I got a slight injury after the ten-miler and found a whole lot of excuses to not run because of/in addition to that.  This is definitely a focus for the second half of the year.
-I really enjoy doing strength exercises.  I am happy to say I am on the 3rd level of the Nerd Academy bodyweight routines, with only a few modifications.  I do this at least once or twice, or optimally, three times a week.  There are two different workouts per week, that you are supposed to rotate.  The basic structure is three sets of: arm exercise, leg exercise, arm exercise, leg exercise, ab exercise, :30 of cardio.  Then there are some additional "level-ups" on the end.  My goal is to get to a real pull up soon!
-I signed up for a CSA - community-supported agriculture -- where I get a big box of veggies each week, some fruit, and some eggs.  This is all organic, sustainably farmed, hippy dippy, etc.  I do not cook a meal for myself EVERY day of the week, and calling it "Paleo" is really cheating.  However, I think it is forcing me to make healthier choices at least 50-75% of the time.

Social/personal resolutions: reach out to a new couple/a new female friend a month, keep up with hobbies (tap, guitar, tennis)
-This goal is my least successful, but one that I have found the opportunity to adapt.  I have been able to keep up with old friends, due to many planned reunions, weddings, bridal showers, etc., but being out of town on the weekends so much makes it hard to make plans with others.  It also makes keeping up with hobbies harder, if I do not have the weekends to catch up on work/errands, then I need to do them on week nights which eliminates much of the time for hobbies.  I did play tennis for a little bit but that fell by the wayside after a few weeks.  This week starts my renewed vigor for tap, after seeing Philadelphia Dance Day with performances from all types of classes.  If those women (mostly) have time to fit a class in here or there, then I do too.  This is my focus for the second half of the year.

Recap: I have made some improvements, but need to focus on: billing, running, cooking, and hobbies. My overall goal is to keep pushing a little harder every day! How are your new year's resolutions looking?

Stitch Fix

I have never been much of a shopper.  I dislike trying on clothes or being in stores for longer than, say, 15 minutes.  So I signed up for stitch fix!  It is a super convenient service that asks you for your preferences in fabric and what kind of clothes you need, then they ship you a box of clothes every so often (they ask you how often you want the shipment).  I wanted to share with you guys what I got in my first two deliveries.

You pay a $20 styling fee for each box, which goes to the purchase price of the items if you do end up buying something.  With these packages, I felt like the stitch fix staff read my mind! It was a great combination of things that I love and things I needed.  I kept two items from the first package: a polka dot sheer blouse with sleeves that roll up to the elbow, and skinny jeans.  I kept the entire second package, which actually gives you a discount from the purchase price. That included: a pink lace dress, a herringbone skirt, a crocheted sweater, a long layering necklace, and some bright blue skinny pants.  All great items!!

If you want to sign up yourself, here's a link While this is not a paid endorsement, in full disclosure, I think I get some money off if my friends register clicking that link.  Here are some pictures:

Polka dot top and skinnies

Close up on the polka dot top

Detail on the sleeve

Herringbone skirt, and the old school swiffer

Side view of the skirt

Blue skinnies (hard to see the color)

Trying to get a better view of the color

Pink dress

Detail of the dress

Crotchet sweater, herringbone skirt, long necklace

Close-up of sweater

My Response to Marc Vetri

DISCLAIMER: this is my own personal opinion, based on my own personal experience.  While I frequently read books and forums on celiac disease and gluten allergy/intolerance/sensitivity, I am not a doctor nor a nutritionist.  If you are experiencing symptoms that you think may indicate food issues, I would urge you to see a doctor and possibly also a nutritionist, despite what might seem like discouragement below.

Philadelphia seems to be buzzing these days about an article written by one the city's favorite restaurateurs, Marc Vetri.   Vetri rants about gluten-intolerance in the article, or, more specifically the people who claim it.  I will preface my response by noting that he does recognize celiac as a more serious issue and is not aiming the article at those afflicted by the disease.  Yet, I still could not help being rubbed the wrong way by it.  After waiting tables throughout college, I understand that certain customers are just more infuriating than others.  But I also think that those with food allergies or intolerances are facing a bigger hurdle than someone who thinks cheese is making her fat or that spinach is too slimy to eat.  That hurdle, in a nutshell, is information.

What's Wrong With Me?

We are living in the age of allergies.  At lunch the other day, I was with three other people, two of which had varying levels of gluten sensitivity, one had a dairy sensitivity on top of that (I, too, am "avoiding" dairy), and the fourth was allergic to tomatoes.  At a party the next day, multiple people had crab allergies.  Kids these days are not allowed to bring peanut butter to school for fear that the dust will set off a classmate's severe allergy.  With all the focus that has been put on allergies (this most recent gluten article is not the first ridiculing the "trend," nor will it be the last), one would think that this came with a wealth of knowledge.  One would be wrong.

To start with, allergies are a strange beast.  Most nutritionists and internet resources say the best way to figure out if you should not be eating something is to systematically eliminate and reintroduce common allergens into your diet.  If you feel less cruddy the week you are off gluten, well, then you might be possibly gluten intolerant/allergic/sensitive.  Yes, there are tests to determine some allergies and intolerances, but in my experience, doctors do not recommend many of these, short of the celiac blood test, to the masses.  Many people, myself included, may feel like they're taking stabs in the dark about what is actually making them feel so bad.  And I have an autoimmune diagnosis, so I have MUCH more information than most people trying to figure out what's wrong.

So...What CAN I Eat?

Once someone figures out what they are allergic/intolerant to, then comes a whole maze of information on how best to deal with it.  While I am an extreme case, I think my experience can be enlightening.  I am still figuring out everything that comes with celiac disease, after being diagnosed 4 and a half years ago.  Here is a list, by no means comprehensive, of things that I learned had gluten in them that you might not expect: toothpaste, soy sauce, ketchup, fries that have been fried in a shared fryer, certain wines, vitamins, cosmetics, spices....the list goes on.  All of this can be very overwhelming, especially for those without a photographic memory.  Celiacs are less likely to have that photographic memory because "brain fog" is a common symptom of celiac, leading to memory loss and lack of focus. Even after all of my reading, I frequently end up googling ingredients on my phone in restaurants, grocery stores, and pharmacy aisles, thus contributing to the downfall of a normal dinner experience, from some peoples' perspective.

Then comes the information on how best to manage the disease.  Should I stop eating soy and legumes too? Should I go completely paleo? Should I try to spot and eliminate my other food issues, or go on a rotation diet to prevent further sensitivities? What the heck is a FODMAP? What supplements should I take, if any? How do I heal my body after all of that damage and still go on living a normal life? I have done a significant amount of reading, particularly on celiac and holistic living forums, and it seems like everyone has a different answer.  Some tell me I should not worry too much, and that I can eat out at restaurants like a "normal person".  Others go so far as to dry their own spices to prevent accidental glutening.  And here's the thing: they are all right, for themselves.  Everyone has to figure out which path to take, perhaps with some nutritionist/doctor support, but their own path nonetheless.

While the above questions are more specific to celiac disease, I do not pretend that I am the only one being barraged by information.  It seem science still has not decided on the health effects of eggs and coffee -- either they are going to extend my life for 20 more years or kill me tomorrow.  Vetri's article says "You're most likely listening to some half-truths written in a book by some doctor who is more concerned with the width of his wallet rather than the width of your waistline."  My response: how do we know?  How do I pick the book or the doctor that has the whole truth and is looking out for my best interest?  I try to pick information from people that give it out for free and seem to be the most trustworthy.  Yet, these days, it seems that everyone is struggling with incomplete information. 

Here, I have to respond to Vetri's anecdote about the woman who sent back her risotto dish.  Despite the waiter telling her it was gluten free, she refused to eat it and flagged down Vetri to complain.  While some people may think this is a funny story, I could not help but imagine what her thought process was like.  I sometimes get orzo, risotto, and wild rice confused.  They are all rice-looking dishes but orzo has gluten, and some rice blends may as well.  I imagine this woman had a similar problem as I did.  With my apologies to the hospitality community, I have to point out that sometimes the waitstaff is not knowledgeable.  I have definitely become sick after a meal where a waiter swore up and down that the dish was gluten free.  I am sure the folks at Vetri's restaurants are not this ill-informed, but that is just another area where we have incomplete information. How do I know that this particular waiter has been trained properly and that he/she remembers all the complex information about what is and is not gluten free? How do I even know that I am being taken seriously, particularly with all of the jokes that are made about gluten-free eating? While I am not the type to send back a dish once I order it (I would have googled to make sure I knew what I was talking about), or complain to the restaurateur about a dish, I do not think this woman should be ridiculed for her lack of knowledge.  (However, the fact that she drank a beer after does open her up to more ridicule for sure).

An Important Side Note on Emotions and Eating

For a moment, I will talk about how incredibly emotional all of this is.  My celiac journey has been a series of the seven stages of grief.  I went through all the stages for the diagnosis itself, then I repeat it every time I find out a new aspect of celiac I do not particularly like.  The denial phase lasts the longest for me.  That stage is even worse when you do not have a concrete diagnosis, for sure.  A typical thought during denial might be: "a little gluten/cheese/tomatoes/insert your own allergy here won't really hurt me."  I am still in denial about some things, mainly because of my giant weakness for french fries.  The pain/guilt stage, the anger/bargaining stage, the depression, and hopefully, the upward tick and coping stages -- they are all there, every time.

Let us also not forget how many emotions food carries with it.  People commonly talk about "eating their emotions" but it is not only sadness or stress that leads us to food.  We celebrate with food, and potentially have very happy memories with certain foods.  Whenever I see a great looking bowl of macaroni and cheese or cooked apples, I am reminded of the many happy hours sitting around my great-grandmother's table, eating her southern home cooking.

Vetri seems to forget this in his article.  He discusses, and dismisses, the idea of making common gluten-full foods in a gluten-free fashion.  And while Vetri would never serve something "shrimpy" to a person with a shrimp allergy, many of the gluten-full foods that we can no longer eat are known as comfort foods.  Who does not have good memories with a plateful of pasta or a hot slice of pizza?

Where Do We Go From Here?

So here we are, as a community of people who feel cruddy sometimes/a lot/most of the time.  We are not sure exactly what we are allergic to, in what foods it may or may not be, and what to eat instead of those foods.  We might be missing something that we used to be able to eat, or confused between a lot of concepts that seem the same to me.  So here's my plea: give us a break.  We are all trying our hardest to eat healthily and feel good.  Eating has a multitude of emotions attached and it is hard to be denied something you used to love.  Maybe instead of making gluten the punchline of your jokes, take a step back and realize how hard it is to make reasoned decisions about what, when, and how much we eat.  Aren't we all just trying to figure out how to do what's right for our bodies?

To be honest, I think many of these thoughts had been stewing in my mind and heart for a while, and Vetri's blog (which he admits he titled provocatively, to entice readers) just provided the impetus for me to write them out.  My opinion of Vetri's restaurants, or the good he does in the community, has not changed.  I just felt that many stories did not address the challenges that many people face.  I love food, and sometimes (many times) food does not love me back, and that is, quite simply, hard.  That's really the point here. A quote comes to mind, which is apparently oft-misquoted or misattributed.  Paraphrased from the original Ian Maclaren quote, it says: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." So that's really the moral of the story here: be kind.

Wedding Planning Post #1: Searching for a Venue

What a weekend! After the 4th of July, S and I spent three days visiting almost every single venue in which you could possibly host a wedding in Asheville.  Mostly for my own recollection, here is a quick recap of what we saw and what I thought of it:

1. Country Club of Asheville: I knew I would love this venue, because I grew up right across from the street from it.  I’ve spent countless hours at the pool, tennis, and restaurants here.  More importantly, I have watched countless sunsets from the balcony of the club.  This has a fantastic view of the mountains to the east and when the sun sets, it is just magical.  The club is a top contender for the wedding,

2. Century Room: the CR is above Pack’s Tavern, a popular downtown restaurant.  It is a large loft with a rustic feel, but still central to everything happening on the streets of Asheville.  To me and S, this venue just lacked the “wow” factor – ¾ of the view from the windows was obscured by trees and the other fourth was just downtown, no mountains, no real magic.  It was nice but probably not what we want.  It may remain on the list for price reasons, however.

3. The Venue: a cool upstairs/downstairs space with patios on both levels (each level would only host one wedding), which was nice.  This view was a little better, while the location remained central.  However, two things stood out to us: first, the bathrooms were minimal – only one per gender! No one wants to stand in line for the bathroom when a party is ongoing!  Second, the price seemed to break things down instead of including what we wanted in the initial price.  It may have not become a problem, but I felt like I might experience some hidden costs here.

4. Capital Club: an awesome new venue – it is right behind the church and on the 17th floor of the building with a great patio.  You can see the downtown and views from all around.  It might be a little small for our group but is still in contention.  It is a great space with lots of control for people who like planning the details

5. Avenue M: we dropped by this restaurant as a potential rehearsal dinner spot.  It has a nice neighborhood feel and the private room would be great if we have a slightly smaller room.  They had a projection screen that would have been able to show a slide show or something during the dinner, and I love the food there.  The owner said the kitchen could handle a number of various allergy/food preferences which is obviously needed.  It’s on the list!

6. Grove Park Inn: we did not get an official tour here but really we just grabbed a drink on the terrace here.  The ballroom is nothing to speak of and it is expensive as all get out.  But the views are preeeeeeetttttttyyyyyy

7. Tressa’s: we looked at the top floor at Tressa’s for a potential rehearsal dinner spot.  The downstairs is an awesome jazz venue but the upstairs was a little disappointing in comparison.  I think it would have been too small anyway, although it would have been an easy after party, but ultimately just not our style.

8. Taylor Ranch: we did not have an appointment here, we just drove up and looked at the place.  It was a great rustic feel, on a large property, but with nice bathrooms and other facilities.  The structure was three-fourths walls and one-fourth open, but with plastic that would roll-down to cover the opening in case of bad weather.  It would hold a lot of people and a band, easily, and looked out on a lake.  Great option.

9. Hickory Nut Gap Farm: I used to go to horse and art camp here, and the family that owns it knows my family as well.  It was a great space - the ceremony place was enclosed by the stones and trees around it, and the reception area was nice a big.  The history of the venue was great as well.  The problem for us was that the only bathrooms were port-a-potties and that was not ideal for us.

10. North Carolina Arboretum: this was another self-guided tour  -- it was hard to visualize exactly how things would be set up here and both S and my allergies were flaring up there, so we nixed that idea.

11. On Broadway: this venue’s location is pretty self-evident, right on Broadway street in the heart of downtown.  It has a big, open floor plan and is owned by Celine and Company, a catering company.  Big shocker: my mom knows Celine.  It is a very pretty space and an awesome location, so it is on the short list.

12. Orange Peel: the peel (I just made that up as a nickname) is a concert venue downtown.  I have been to a number of concerts there and it is a really cool space.  My childhood dreams of being a rockstar were definitely piqued in this space.  Definitely on the short list.

13.  Altamount: another concert venue, this one is named for Thomas Wolfe’s pseudonym for Asheville.  This is literally right across the street from the church so it would be extremely convenient.  It was a bit too small for us though, and the bathroom was on the lowest level, past the bar, which might have been a glitch.

14. Homewood: located in historic Montford, Homewood is an old castle-looking building.  Montford is the neighborhood where James Taylor did rehab and wrote ‘Fire and Rain’ and where Zelda Fitzgerald died in a mental hospital fire.  The ceremony location was gorgeous – visitors would walk down a spiral stone path to a secluded, peaceful area and the bride and groom would be standing up a little elevated area.  There were two problems: the first owner was a dookie and modeled Homewood after that gothic architecture; also it was too small, which is really the problem.

15. Biltmore: what can you really say about Biltmore? It’s historic, it’s beautiful, there are so many venues that are available.  However, the price is out of our budget, particularly if we used it for the reception.

16. The Farm: this is a gorgeous, rustic location with some great cabins on the site in which the wedding party could stay.  It had a lot of décor that could be included in a package deal, even some awesome archways under which we could get married.  So pretty, but a bit too pricey for a rustic locale. 

Other things we did that trip: two cake tastings (Short Street Cakes and Blue Ridge Bear – both great, and some fun flavors) and ate dinner at Posana, an all gluten-free restaurant downtown.  The trip was super packed, but also very productive and fun.  I am so excited to plan this wedding!