If you’re living with Celiac’s Disease you know that restaurant dining can be risky. However, a safe culinary experience is waiting to be had on Lexington Avenue at Lilli and Loo, a restaurant that works with the Gluten Intolerance Group to offer patrons gluten-free Asian cuisine in addition to their standard fare.

At this eatery gluten-free isn’t synonymous with flavor-free. Their reasonably priced and generously portioned GF dishes such as pad Thai, (stir fried rice noodles seasoned with tamarind and garnished with peanuts and lime) are as rich as the originals. Tasty appetizers like the Saigon rolls come with a spicy mint dipping sauce. And diners can request wheat-free soy sauce to be used for GF entrees, creating an extensive and diverse gluten-free selection.

In addition to the menu options, the atmosphere at Lilli and Loo is delightful. The space covers two floors, but still manages to feel cozy. It is designed around ornately sculpted, cherry-red walls, and modern furnishings – all of which gives it a contemporary twist on traditional Asian decor.

So, if you’re a Celiac looking for a place to relinquish your dining worries and you’re out and about in the 10021 area, grab some friends and head to Lilli and Loo. Your gluten-deprived taste buds will thank you.

Lilli and Loo
792 Lexington Avenue
www.lilliandloo.com

See what else Cool in Your Code is dishing about here.

Do Food Allergies Dictate Your Dining Choices?

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FoodMayhem creators Jessica Lee and Lon Binder met in early 2006 and bonded over their mutual love of New York, travel, and of course, food! Two and half years later, they are married and eagerly blogging about the good, the bad, and the most unusual aspects of the New York culinary scene. Check out FoodMayhem before your next journey into the chaotic city foodscape!

Tell us about your blog: what is the premise, what are your main coverage
areas, how did you get started? FoodMayhem is all about food, cooking food, buying food, dining in, dining out, snacking, kitchens, chefs, cookbooks, anything food related is fair game. The idea is to share our love of food with everyone, and we hope that our experiences can help other people. The blog started out as a journal for ourselves to remember our dining experiences, good or bad, but apparently people wanted to read it.

What brought you to New York?

We both grew up in NY.

What do you love about living in New York?

We love the availability of different foods in NY, both in terms of ethnic groceries and markets and a wide variety of restaurants. Personally, I (Jessica) love living in NY because I hate cars and sitting in traffic. This city is so walkable!

What do you think makes a New Yorker?

A New Yorker is someone living in NY, who realizes that NY is a melting pot of every type of person. So a true New Yorker doesn’t try to fit a mold.

What surprises you about New York or New Yorkers?

I don’t think anything about New Yorkers surprises us since we both grew up here.

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?

Pizza, bagels, and constant, diverse availability of everything.

Best tips, tricks or insider info?

Never go to a restaurant on Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day!

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?

Rockefeller Center and Wollman Rink…we both grew up as competitive figure skaters (coincidentally).

Best place to dine late night?

Korea Town (a row of restaurants on 32nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenue) has many 24-hour restaurants and the East Village is usually hopping late night too.

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)

Movie – Batman

Best restaurant for people watching?

BLT Steak, Pastis, Nobu…There’s tons in NYC but we’re the wrong people to ask. When we’re at a restaurant, we’d rather not be too crowded and the only person we’d like to see, is the chef.

Best area or neighborhood for international cuisine?

Different ethnic foods tend to group into areas like Chinatown, Korea Town, Little Japan, Indian Row, Spanish Harlem, etc. but the East Village seems to have the widest variety.

Best way to spot a tourist trap?

My first instinct is to say if you see too many cameras, but that could be tourists or food bloggers, haha…and if it’s a lot of food bloggers, it may be a great spot.

Best Brunch spot?

Bouley for a fancy brunch (the type of place you take your girlfriend’s mother to impress her) or Dim Sum at Jade Asian Restaurant or Dong Yi Feng (both in Flushing).

www.foodmayhem.com

Is The Way To Your Heart Through Your Stomach?
Post A Comment Below And Tell Us What Hits The Spot!

In New York City, the stomach rules. Day or night, you can find culinary delights from every corner of the world and in every price range. Thankfully, the NYC Food Guy can help you savor every bite. Lawrence is a native New Yorker whose goal is to let people know where to find delicious and affordable food throughout the city. His Code Words column does just that with reviews, tips and tricks that will keep you sated.

NYC Food Guy loves the East Village for its culinary variety and its old school New York vibe. What better way to celebrate the diversity than a food tour? But with almost 300 eateries south of 14th Street and east of 3rd Avenue, how would I narrow my tour down? Simple, I imposed two requirements: 1) A meal had to be under $10 and 2) There could be no wait staff. Bonus points awarded to late night spots.

Miss Menu & I hit 6 spots Sunday and were pleased with every spot except one.

First spot we hit up was Vanessa’s Dumplings where we ordered:

Steamed Vegetable Dumplings ($4.49) which despite NYC Food Guy’s carnivorous inclinations, were pretty tasty. Check out the innards. We also ordered a Sesame Pancake with vegetables ($2.49).

Review:
The steamed veggie dumplings were delicious. They were freshly steamed and very flavorful. Inside I found mushrooms, scallions, cabbage, carrot, and a little tofu.
The sesame pancake, despite its lack of sesame seeds, was spot on. It was fluffy inside and crisp on the outside. The vegetables were fresh and flavorful. Cucumber, cilantro, carrot, bean sprouts, and shredded lettuce were all dressed in a very light vinaigrette-like substance.
Total price with two drinks: $9.65
Open until: 10:30PM

Walking south on 14th street, Thai Me Up was next…
You’re looking at just one half of the Black Pearl Sandwich we ordered. Seven vegetables plus chicken in a sweet soy sauce flavored with sauteed Thai seasonings, something our gracious host Amir called “The BBQ sauce of Asia.” Lettuce, tomato, a touch of mayo and some additional spices are added before serving.

Review:
Excellent. When all was said and done, this was my favorite meal of the tour. The Black Pearl Sandwich was a total break from the norm. Steam fried and sauteed mushrooms, corn, cabbage, peppers, carrots, and broccoli, plus lettuce, tomato, a little mayo, sprouts, and some additional spices added post-sautee, all inside a fresh, hollowed out baguette. It was like an entire Thai meal in a sandwich, a revolutionary idea. At first, the Black Pearl Sauce was reminiscent of Hoisin sauce, just spicier and more garlicky. As I continued eating, however, the mayo melded perfectly with the Black Pearl Sauce and the vegetables to create a delicious Thai-flavored juiciness that permeated each crispy, steaming bite.
Here’s how Thai Me Up works:
1. Choose your vehicle: Sandwich, Noodles, or Rice.
2. Choose the filler: Tofu, Chicken, or Beef.
3. Choose a sauce: Black or White Pearl.
Everything is steam fried and sauteed with just a tiny bit of canola oil if necessary and then served to order.
Price: $7.59
Open until: 12AM Friday & Saturday, with later hours come summertime

Turning off of 14th onto 1st Ave, Vinny Vincenz was stop number 3…
Sicilian slices are where it’s at. Here’s a look at the delicious corner slice I ordered. They also make a mean Margarita slice.

Review:
Vinny Vincenz always gets the job done. Their Sicilian slice is light, airy, and crisp with the cheese to sauce ratio favoring the mozzarella, perfect for a Sicilian. The sauce is sweet but mildly bitter and doesn’t overpower the slice. The crust is crispy but not burnt. It’s airy not doughy or gummy like some lesser Sicilians. This is a great late night spot after a night in the East Village. I’ve left Crocodile Lounge, where they give you a free mini pie with every drink, just for a slice of the good stuff at Vinny Vincenz.
Price: $2.35 for a Sicilian Slice
Open until: 4AM Friday and Saturday

While Miss Menu considered waving the white flag, NYC Food Guy was pumped for stop number four, Zaragoza, on Avenue A off 1st…
This chipotle-chicken taco was spicy and delicious. Take a look at the juicy chicken include a nice, light watermelon soda to wash it all down and its a meal you won’t soon forget.

Review:
Forget Tehuitzingo and Tulcingo del Valle on 10th Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen, Zaragoza provided the most delicious and authentic taco I’ve had since the Red Hook Ball Fields. The chicken was moist, tender, and fresh. The bite from the chipotle was subtle at first but combined with the chiles in the tomatillo sauce to provide a serious spice. The tomatillo struck a great balance between the chiles, jalapenos, and garlic, all without being too watery. The double tortilla was essential to support the weight of the lettuce, chopped onions and cilantro, and the chicken and green sauce. The Jarritos, a soda imported from Mexico, was candy-like in its flavor but remained light and not overly sweet.

Zaragoza, unwelcoming and unassuming from the outside, is really just a small Mexican grocery store that happens to serve some homemade delicacies. As I watched the friendly owner sprinkle fresh manchego cheese over a massive burrito, he told me Zaragoza is open until 4AM on weekends, a god send for future East Village nights.
Price: $2.25
Open until: 11PM weekdays, 4AM Friday and Saturday

Good thing stop number five, Crif Dogs, was 6 blocks away on St. Marks and A, I needed time to digest…
Because once we arrived, it was time to feast. NYC Food Guy ordered the Chihuahua, a bacon wrapped hot dog covered in avocado and sour cream ($4.50, add 50 cents for salsa) while Miss Menu went with a Veggie Corn Dog ($4.75)and we split a small order of Tater Tots ($2.50).

Review:
Wow. Kind of mind-blowing. The Chihuahua was ridiculously delicious and decadent. The bacon was crispy and melded perfectly with the juicy, beefy dog. The bun was ordinary but it didn’t matter this was a Dog Show. The Veggie Corn Dog was nothing special. It was huge and the batter at the edges was tasty, but it wasn’t cooked enough in the middle. The fake beef flavor of veggie dog was too strong for me.
The Tots, however, would have made Napoleon Dynamite jealous. They were crispy, wafer-like, and potatoey on the inside, delicious in a way lunch ladies can only dream of. Spicy yellow mustard and ketchup graced the table while RC Cola products populated the soda gun and a two-headed Stewart’s Root Beer/Red Birch Beer fountain sat at the side of the counter.
Not enough? Crif Dogs has two, yes two, Ms. Pac Mans in store. One is the sit down variety; the other is the standard arcade. Need more? They also have a three-game arcade featuring Millipede, Centipede, and Catan, the similar game with the space ship.
Resting on the border between the East Village and ABC City, Crif Dogs has no delusions as to who they may be catering to with their offer of “Stoner Packs”. Four artery clogging mystery bags of Crif Dogs’ delicacies starting at $10 and ascending $10 more from Pack 1 to 4, the latter something they claim you will never be able to finish.
Price: $7.50 each
Open until: 1AM Sun. & Mon., 2AM Tues. thru Thurs., & 4AM Friday & Saturday

Full yet? NYC Food Guy always has room for dessert. But maybe he should have passed on Cecel Cafe Crepe…
Where the unique crepes come shaped like ice cream cones and filled with pastry-cream. I ordered the large Apple Tatin and Miss Menu wanted some straight up Nutella but the crepe-man misheard and added the pastry-cream…

Review:
Disappointing. The crepes, though thin and cooked fresh, didn’t retain any heat as a result of the refrigerated pastry-cream. The cream itself was what you’d find in a cream puff. Tasty but nothing special. The apples in my crepe were also unheated and as a result my overall reaction was lackluster. Miss Menu was even more disappointed. As if it wasn’t enough that she dealt with her botched order, the Nutella was fake. Yes, impostor Nutella. It was obvious something fishy was going on when it was squeezed from a sauce bottle and it was even more obvious upon first bite. It clearly says Nutella on the menu, but unlike a rose, Nutella by any other name, is not still Nutella.
Price: $4 for the small, $6 for the large
Open Until: 12AM Sunday through Thursday, 2AM Friday & Saturday

————–
Phew. Part I is complete. I’m comfortably full. Then again it’s two days later and I’m still comfortably full. I jest. Truly, this was a great experience. I still have about 35 places on my East Village to do list and I’m pretty pumped for Part II, so keep your eyes peeled eaters because the fun has just begun.

To check out more adventures from the NYC Food Guy go to www.nycfoodguy.com

Teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for days. Give a man a Metrocard and he’ll eat anything. Dave Cook began his blog, Eating in Translation, about three years ago when his wide-ranging palate had him trying anything New York City had to offer under two conditions: it had to be authentic, and it had to be cheap. Save the five star dining and new restaurant opening for the New York Times, Dave craves the twice fried, the still swimming, hot off the hibachi, and hard to pronounce. Ever heard of upi java, wax gourd, or nam pla wan? Chances are he hadn’t either, but Dave follows one rule those with more sensitive stomachs just call brave: You don’t know until you try.

We caught up with Dave in between meals and asked him to tell us more about his experimental dining habits and the blog that hosts his field notes, 
www.eatingintranslation.com

What brought you to New York?
College. I went to Columbia, and I still live up in Morningside Heights.

What do you love about living in New York?
It’s hard to be bored, especially when it’s so easy to hop a ride to someone else’s code. My blog’s about food, of course, but you can?t beat New York for museums, shopping, live music, people watching, or just wandering around and exploring.

What do you think makes a New Yorker?
Being energized enough to keep things moving along, and relaxed enough to keep a good attitude about it all.

What surprises you about New Yorkers?
They’ll wait 45 minutes for a table at a Manhattan restaurant, but they won’t consider a half-hour trip to an amazing joint in Queens or Brooklyn where they can sit right down.

Do you know any tricks or insider info?
That weak dollar you hear so much about buys a lot more in the outer boroughs than it does in the Village. And this may be more of an observation, but when I’m out food hunting, many folks ask where I’m from, and often they seem very surprised that I live right here. Maybe it’s the camera around my neck, or maybe it’s the outsider attitude.

When you visit a restaurant (and I use the term very loosely), and you’re trying a cuisine that you don’t know very well, sometimes the best way to discover new food is to act like an outsider: Have them make you a plate of whatever they do best, or whatever looks good at another table. Very likely they’ll tame it for you, too, so be sure to ask for whatever condiments you see at the other tables, too. But use them sparingly, till you know what you’re getting into!

Tell us about your blog.
I launched Eating In Translation about three years ago as a collection of field notes on interesting food I’d tried, or planned to try, in and around New York. Since January 2005 I’ve visited some 1,800 restaurants, lunch counters, cafes, street vendors, fairs, festivals, grocers, and greenmarkets. I prefer casual to fancy; inexpensive is good, too.

I don’t focus on my own code; Eating In Translation includes posts, in words and pictures, on the places I’ve eaten in more than 70 New York neighborhoods. Some neighborhoods I’ve visited less than others, but I’m always open to tips from my readers about what’s cool in their code!

What’s the best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?
No secret: I love Gray’s Papaya, at the corner of 72nd and Broadway. They were way ahead of the curve with their recession special, but even if you’ve got deep pockets, they serve a great hot dog!
Best neighborhood bar?
When I’m in a mood to shoot pool, Tap-a-Keg on Broadway near 104th St.; when I’d rather just hang, it’s even up between Abbey Pub on 105th and Broadway Dive at 101st.

Best late night joint?
If it’s not Tap, Abbey, or Dive, it’d have to be Ding Dong Lounge, near 105th over on Columbus. Iffy pool table, good DJs.

Best fancy shmancy restaurant?
I’m not big on shmancy, but I really appreciate Del Posto; the food, decor, and service are top-notch, and they’ll treat you shmancy even when you come as you are.

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)?
I finally caught The Counterfeiters this weekend (which brings me up to date on last year’s Oscar picks), but by the time you read this I’ll probably have been back to the movies again.

Best moviehouse?
Film Forum, by a mile. Closer to my code, Lincoln Plaza and Walter Reader are pretty good, too.

Best place to meet members of the opposite sex?
The cafe at the McNally Robinson bookstore, when I can get a seat; the aisles, when I can’t.

In NYC, the stomach rules. Day or night, you can find culinary delights from every corner of the world and in every price range. Thankfully, there’s the NYC Food Guy to help you savor every bite. Lawrence Weibman is a native New Yorker who believes, “food is the simplest pleasure in life next to love and laughter.” His goal is to let people know where to find delicious and affordable food throughout the city. His reviews can be brutal, but are always honest, and his adventures are documented with mouth-watering photos. From BBQ to burgers, or diners to delis, don’t waste another bite.

What brought you to New York?
I’m a native New Yorker, born in Queens where I lived for 10 years before moving to Long Island. I went to college upstate and always knew I wanted to experience real city life for the adventure and excitement only New York could provide.

What do you love about living in New York?
New York is unlike any other city in the world. The concentration of opportunities to seize the day are so abundant that you barely even have a chance to think about it before the next experience comes your way. That and there’s no better variety of quality places to eat than in this city.

What do you think makes a New Yorker?
Unfortunately the outsider’s perception of what makes a New Yorker is the prevalent concept: Outspoken and volatile in a DeNiro-Taxi Driver kind of way, trustworthy at first glance but subtly duplicitous due to whatever it is that’s in New York water. It makes me smile because I know it’s partially true. In actuality I think a true New Yorker embodies the characteristics of Dean Moriarty in Kerouac’s “On the Road”, simple yet wide-eyed and curious with a voracious appetite for new experiences and an appreciation for being a tiny cog in the wheel of a big city.

What surprises you about New York or New Yorkers?
What surprises me most about New Yorkers is their willingness to lend a helping hand, offer directions, a word of advice, or some spare change. We’re not as intimidating as the general consensus makes us out to be.

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?
Leaving New York I feel prepared for whatever might come my way, my awareness is heightened as is my appreciation for new surroundings. The thing I miss most however is the familiarity of my surroundings after dark and the knowledge of where to go to find a taco below 14th Street at 4:30 in the morning.

Do you know any tricks or insider info?
Tricks or insider info, eh? In regard to what exactly? Here’s the only way to get a drink at a crowded bar: Get as close to the bar as possible, have your money in hand, and wait patiently with a smile on your face until you make eye contact with the bartender. They will come over to take your order.

Are you a guy waiting at the front of the line to a crowded club and not getting in? Well first off, if it’s past 10pm and you don’t have women with you, chances are you won’t get in, especially if it’s a female door woman. If it’s a guy though, just be patient and friendly, make small talk if the opportunity arises, but never force yourself on them and do not try to trick them into letting you in, it’ll never happen. Let other people make idiots of themselves, roll your eyes at the fools, it’ll only make you look better. Maybe you won’t get in but all this will certainly help your chances.

If you want the best treatment possible at a restaurant i.e. a quick table, a little taste of something special, or a warm and hearty hello, then upon first visit you should introduce yourself the bartenders, the host, and your waiter. Don’t do it right away though because you first have to establish your knowledge of their craft and cuisine and show your appreciation upon completion of a meal. Don’t kiss up, that’s obvious, just make friends and don’t expect anything except making an acquaintance. Take note of people’s names and a little fact about each one of them and then return with your new knowledge. After a few visits you’ll have everyone asking you why you haven’t come back sooner and odds are you may get some freebies or at the very least a much appreciated tip: “Don’t eat the fish tacos today.”

Tell us about your blog… what is the premise, what are your main coverage areas, how did you get started?
I am the NYC Food Guy. My blog has the same name. Food is the simplest pleasure in life next to love and laughter, that’s my philosophy. My goal is to make people aware of delicious and affordable food throughout the city and its neighboring boroughs. I like to provide a little history or information about each place I review and brutal honesty is at the forefront of every entry. I got my start pretty innocently: I was always the person in my group of friends who was depended upon for the next place to go out to and where we could eat thereafter. I enjoyed this responsibility and decided to spread the love through my blog.

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?
I love Times Square at night but only from a distance. Standing at 51st Street and Broadway while looking into the heart of Times Square illuminating the night sky, the hoards of crane-necked tourists milling about hopefully in my city, the place they’ve daydreamed about for years, the place I get to see everyday. I also love skyscrapers, there’s something trippy about looking straight up to their apex and losing yourself in the vertiginous nature of the experience.

Best neighborhood bar?
Best neighborhood bar…. Upper West Side: George Keely on Amsterdam b/t 83rd and 84th, great beer, best Pub burger on the UWS (review on NYC Food Guy), darts, and a great staff of friendly and helpful bartenders. The crowd is ever-changing but a core group of fun regulars keeps the good times rolling. Downtown: Bleecker Street Bar on Bleecker St. between Broadway and Lafayette. Great bar staff, great beer, three dartboards, three pool tables, a photo booth, and always fun times.

Best late night joint?
Late night joint for food: Ziggiz on 25th Street and 3rd Avenue. Best fries in the city. Thin, crisp, and double fried. San Loco with three locations below 14th street and one in Brooklyn serves quality tacos in a laid back setting until 5am on Fridays and Saturdays. Big Nick’s on 77th and Broadway is a 24 hour diner that has everything you can imagine including pizzas. Their menu is 50 pages and the ambiance is quintessential grease pit, a place that brings bouncers and clubbers together for solid grub late night. I recommend a small pizza and some spicy waffle fries.

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)?
Last cultural thing I did was go to Katz’s Deli for lunch for the first time. It’s a New York landmark and the last of a dying breed.

Best fancy schmancy restaurant?
Define fancy? If fancy means hard to get a reservation or ultra expensive along the lines of Per Se, then I have no interest. I’m into a no frills dining experience that’s all about the food. My favorite restaurant in Manhattan is called El Faro and it’s an old fashioned authentic Spanish place with awesome red sangria with subtle brandy-induced kick, fresh flavorful seafood served in worn metal pots, and delicious homemade potato chips. It’s small and the Flamenco Dancer wallpaper hasn’t changed for 50 years but the authenticity of the experience cannot be beat.

Best place to meet members of the opposite sex?
I’m reminded of a Walt Whitman poem called “To You” that I humbly admit I saw on the subway: “STRANGER! if you, passing, meet me, and desire to speak to me, why should you not speak to me? And why should I not speak to you?” Now despite the fact that Whitman would have bed any woman with a heartbeat, that philosophy somewhat rings true.

The beauty of meeting someone in New York is that it can happen anywhere, anytime, you just have to keep your eyes peeled for the magical connection a smile between strangers provides.

Best moviehouse?
I haven’t been to many but Symphony Space on the UWS is intimate. Besides their popcorn, which apparently is pretty weak, I’ve heard good things about the Angelika. The theatre on 30th St. and 2nd Ave has stadium seating and a lot of movies and you can cause some trouble with a lasciviously-minded friend after the show ends if you play your cards right.

www.nycfoodguy.com