Diner

Minella’s Diner

Although it may not always feel like it, living in the suburbs of a metropolis, you truly experience the best of both worlds: you get the perks of a small town and the hustle and bustle of the big city. I am constantly reminded of this when I dine at Minella’s Diner. The cozy, family-run diner is packed 24/7. You never fail to run into someone you know. The “small-town” feel makes it a truly special place. And that’s something you don’t want to miss out on just because you’re gluten-free!

Although I am disappointed to say that there is no gluten-free menu, Minella’s expansive menu (it’s 10+ pages!) does have gluten-free options. From french toast to burgers, pancakes to wraps, diners in general can be quite tricky in terms of finding gluten-free choices. Minella’s has a wide variety of salads that are or can be altered to be gluten-free. Additionally, they have omelets, “broiled and grilled” seafoods, and certain “diner classics” that can be made gluten-free. I personally love the Lancaster Ave Salad: mixed greens topped with pecans, cranberries, sliced apples, and blue cheese. The staff are quite flexible and are happy to confirm what is gluten-free with the chef.

Definitely check out Minella’s!!

Cheers!

Anika

Rue 57

Here at Rue 57, a breakfast, lunch, and dinner joint in New York City, we enjoyed a late breakfast after a long morning. We had been standing in line for the Good Morning America Summer Series Concert since around 6 am. We had the pleasure of seeing Imagine Dragons perform at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park! Although we had to be up bright and early, every minute of sleep lost was worth it!

Now, breakfast can be a tricky meal for those of us who are gluten-free. When ordering a la carte, it’s hard to find a dish that is completely gluten-free. So, just ask for one or two ideas to be swapped here and there to create a meal of your choice. In simpler terms, just improvise. The dish I ordered was originally smoked salmon and capers on a whole grain bagel served with cream cheese. I simply asked for the bagel to be substituted with grilled tomatoes. When searching for gluten-free substitutes, a good place to start is the eggs, breakfast sausages, bacon, potatoes, cold cuts, fresh fruit, and yogurt. Now, I can’t guarantee all of these options will be gluten-free at every diner, but it’s a starting point to identify what you may wish to ask if it truly is free of gluten.

Anyways, breakfasts and brunches tend to be easier when it is buffet style, but it is possible to find options a la carte as well! Hopefully that gave you some insight as to eating breakfast out on a gluten-free diet, and I would suggest catching one of Good Morning America’s concerts before summer slips out from under our feet!

Cheers!

Anika