Tuttoriso covered in Staten Island Advance

Staten Island Advance reporter Pamela Silvestri writes up the GFRAP restaurant Tuttoriso in her September 18, 2008 article "Defloured."

Silvestri writes, "It is important to recognize the importance of Tuttoriso for Staten Islanders, particularly those who suffer from specific carbohydrate, milk protein or wheat allergies. Most importantly, this is one of the few Staten Island restaurants where significant items -- breads and a respectable variety of baked goods -- are being made from scratch. Without a doubt, this vertical control over ingredients helps indemnify a business geared to those with food allergies."

Silvestri praises the baked goods and home cooking as well as the restaurant's efforts to cater to people on special diets, but she also notes slow service (somewhat understandable considering the home cooking) as well as the lack of complimentary "welcoming" appetizers (an absence certainly not unique to this GFRAP restaurant).

I can see where Silvestri's coming from, but I'd like to stress just how good the gluten-free sandwiches, desserts, and drinks can be. (I'm still making my way through the menu, so I'm not yet ready to pass judgment on many other offerings at Tuttoriso.) If you haven't yet sampled the restaurant's breads and baked treats, I urge you to make the journey to Tuttoriso and give them a try—especially while the weather is still pretty good. Only a short walk from the ferry landing, Tuttoriso is a great destination for gluten-free day-trippers, date-trippers, and tourists as well as commuters ferrying between Staten Island and Manhattan. Kerrie at Gluten-Free in the Shaolin goes so far as to call the restaurant a "gift."
















Photo: David Marc Fischer

MY HERO!
















The Staten Island restaurant Tuttoriso joined GFRAP last year on the advanced level, which means that, like Lilli and Loo, it has made an extra investment to assure all that its gluten-free menu is indeed gluten-free. Pictured above is Tuttoriso's delicious Italian hero, which I recently enjoyed with an ice cream soda and some "homemade" baked goodies to go. Among Tuttoriso's strong points are its bakery offerings: breads, cakes, cookies, muffins, etc. You can drop in for a meal, but you can also drop in for something simpler, like a drink or snack.

Another one of Tuttoriso's strong points is its location. A short walk from the ferry terminal as well as Richmond County Bank Ballpark, home of the Staten Island Yankees, the restaurant is very convenient for downtown Staten Islanders as well as commuters and other ferry travelers—especially during the warm weather months.

Have you ever taken the Staten Island Ferry? Currently free, it's a classic "cheap date" of New York City.

You board the ferry in downtown Manhattan. (If you take the 1 train, make sure you're in one of the front cars at the South Ferry stop.)
















On one side of the ferry you can get a great view of the bridges connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. On the other side, you can get a view of this charming old lady. Even at her advanced age, she's especially photogenic in the morning.
















After about 25 minutes, the ferry arrives in Staten Island. There's something very sexy about the way the ferry makes its landing.
















To get to Tuttoriso, you can leave the ferry terminal to the south and take a right on Richmond Terrace; the restaurant will be on the left. You can get out of the ferry terminal by foot...
















...or I guess you could take a bus one stop. They're timed to receive ferry passengers.

















Here is the Tuttoriso storefront...
















...and here's a funky mural on the inside!
















Did I mention that potato salad is on the menu?
















Here's my favorite Tuttoriso cake so far.
















If you have to wait for the ferry to Manhattan, you can enjoy the beautiful fish tanks in the Staten Island terminal.
















EXTRA Tuttoriso owner Helen also hosts the Staten Island Celiac Organization at the restaurant. The next meeting takes place on June 12. Helen also plans to fill out the restaurant's schedule with an assortment of other special events—I believe gluten-free karaoke might be a possibility!

GFRAP ADDS STATEN ISLAND RESTAURANT!

The Staten Island restaurant Tuttoriso (36 Richmond Avenue, 866-801-2240) is now on the roster of the Gluten-Free Restaurant Awareness Program (GFRAP)! Thanks to my Staten Island informant Ellen, I've already heard good things about the place, which is conveniently located on the North Shore near the ferry, so I look forward to floating by to give it a try.

Also new on the GFRAP map: Golden Wok, a Chinese restaurant upriver in Ardsley.

THE GLUTEN-FREE SIMPSON OF STATEN ISLAND

This weekend I visited the Kwik-E-Mart on 42nd Street, just north of the Port Authority.

Homer Simpson greeted me at the door. Somehow I don't think those were Poughkeepsie Soul Dogs in his hands. And way in the back? That's Apu keeping an eye on the guy.


















I found Marge over by the freezer. For some reason I couldn't see any Gaga's Sherbetter inside.


















I even caught a glimpse of Maggie, who seemed content chomping on her gluten-free pacifier.


















I looked for Bart and Lisa, but they must've been out. I hear Bart gets a kick out of skateboarding the Guggenheim, and I imagine that Lisa might've been blowing saxophone duets on the Staten Island Ferry with Allyson Fabes.

Identified as the Big Apple's equivalent of Lisa Simpson in the current Time Out New York, Allyson is a talented ten-year-old Staten Islander who likes math and plays saxophone. And she also has celiac disease, according to Caitlin Hogan in the Staten Island Advance.

A funny thing about this is that the character of Milhouse Van Houten, who has a major crush on Lisa, is allergic to wheat. I'm glad I didn't catch him eating any donuts at the Kwik-E-Mart!


















The next time things sour with Lisa, Milhouse should give Allyson a call and meet her at the Staten Island Outback. I bet she could give him some good advice over a serving of gluten-free Chocolate Thunder from Down Under.

Photos: David Marc Fischer

GLUTEN-FREE GOODIES AT FANCY FOODS SHOW

Take heart, gluten-free foodies, including those of the diabetic persuasion! There was a marked increase in gluten-free items at this year's Fancy Food Show in Manhattan, according to Dianne Weisberger of the well-liked Staten Island health food store Fit Foods (23 Nelson Ave, Staten Island, NY, 718-966-4444). And some of the fancy foods-in-the-making promise to be suitable for people with diabetes as well as celiac disease.

Staff writer Maura Grunlund quotes Weisberger in today's Staten Island Advance article "Increase in healthful foods featured at Fancy Food Show," which refers to gluten-free foods from several vendors including Bone Suckin', New England Herbal Foods, and Terra Nostra Organic Chocolate.

What really grabbed my attention was the mention of a gluten-free cupcake and other baked goodies from Aunt Gussie's Cookies & Crackers, which currently does not market gluten-free food. However, I just spoke with Marilyn Caine, Aunt Gussie's founder, who told me that a new line of gluten-free products was in preparation at a separate facility, and that some of them would be sweetened with the natural sugar alcohol xylitol. She fielded my trick question about whether any of her "gluten-free" foods will contain spelt (they won't) and sounded very excited about meeting the needs of people on special diets.

HEY, STATEN ISLAND!

Staten Island now has an Outback of its very own--and also a Carrabba's Italian Grill of its very own--at the Staten Island Mall!

Both chains offer gluten-free menus created in cooperation with the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG).

Here's a gluten-free menu for Outback (PDF) and here's a gluten-free menu for Carrabba's (PDF).