The New Jersey Foodhound™

  I am an avid biker that commutes during the week and takes long rides on the weekend. Many, if not most of my "fun-rides" are in search of local eateries. I found Daniela’s ice-cream on a hot, early summer ride and have been happy customer on every single visit.  First, I have an egg allergy that makes it hard to find any sort of dessert. The staff at Daniela’s was friendly and accommodating. They took my concerns about an allergy seriously and even double checked with other staff to make sure the food was safe. They did not flinch when I asked them to use a clean scooper. This may not seem like a big deal, but I have encountered MANY eateries that have no idea what is in their food and do make any effort to assist me.  The menu is even labeled for gluten free flavors!   I have tried the Ginger, Rum Raisin, Lavender Honey, Chocolate Chip Mint and Lemon Poppy flavors. They are all incredible and made with high-quality milk and other ingredients. They also off...

On a recent trip to London, it was one of my personal goals to find a gluten free Indian restaurant - Chicken Tikka being one of the unofficial national dishes, it seemed a must-eat. My search brought me to a lovely restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden aptly named, Masala Zone . While the name may not be as "classy" as some of the other establishments, the food, ambiance, and service all exceeded my expectations by a long shot. The Grub: It should come as no surprise that a restaurant called Masala Zone serves Indian food, what is surprising was just how amazing it was. On offer are a number of traditional Indian classics as well as unique spins on old favorites that made me wish I had the time (and ability) to try them all. As I was waiting to order, a quick scan of the other patron's tables clued me into the popularity of the Thali (an Indian-style meal made up of different dishes served on a platter) which is comprised of a main dish along with a selection o...

If you have gluten intolerance or suffer from Celiac disease, you know just how hard it is to find baked goods and breakfast pastries. Especially those that taste the way traditional wheat-based products used to. Well, if you happen to find yourself in London, or just feel like exploring a new destination as a culinary tourist, then Beyond Bread is exactly what you are looking for. The Grub: Beyond Bread is a exclusively gluten free cafe/bakery that offers a fairly wide selection of bread, pastries, cakes and breakfast items that meet Celiac standards. Croissants, scones, buns and twists - it was very exciting to see the variety of baked items available that, quite honestly are almost impossible to find anywhere else (especially done properly). They also offer a delicious gluten free Full English breakfast served with their amazing home-made bread to stop up the runny poached egg. When I saw waffles on the menu - I knew I would have to go back the very next day which was, as e...

Finding gluten free breakfast options can be one hell of a hassle. That is unless of course, you find yourself in London. Never in my life have I seen so many options that cater to individuals with food allergies and intolerance. On a lark my girlfriend launched a quick google search for vegan,(she is allergic to eggs) gluten free (for me) pancakes and lo-and-behold, My Old Dutch Pancake House popped up less than a mile from our hotel. Needless to say, we were thrilled! The Grub: As you would probably surmise, they have pancakes at My Old Dutch Pancake House - and quite the variety at that. Both savory and sweet pancake options can be found on the menu, sort of atypical for the US where savory pancakes aren't often served. Some of the savory options include Greek, smoked salmon, chicken curry and the namesake My Old Dutch with bacon, ham, chicken, peppers, mushrooms, sweet corn and cheese. If you're more in the mood for something sweet, don't worry, they've go...

One of my many goals on my first trip to London was to find a traditional plate of fish and chips. Having been recently diagnosed with Celiac disease, this seemed a bit of a far-fetched prospect. To my delight however, the UK is extremely progressive when it comes to the needs of diners suffering from allergies and food intolerance. After a quick search, I happened upon a little place called The Chipping Forecast - and boy am I glad we stopped in for a bite.  The Grub: The menu features an extensive selection of seafood options all of which sound quite delicious. Most often though it seems that people visit for their fish-and-chips which come in both traditional and gluten free varieties. You can choose from one of three fish options as well: cod, hake or haddock; I suggest the cod as it provides the most traditional experience but the haddock was also very good. The chips were cooked perfectly, chunky almost steak-style along with a small side of minted pea puree - insan...