New Gluten-Free Baked Goodie at Risotteria

If you Google "gluten-free bakery manhattan" there's a good chance you'll get hits for Babycakes NYC, the Lower East Side bakery that advertises various gluten-free goodies in addition to various bakery items that are not gluten-free due to the use of spelt.

What doesn't Google up as readily is Risotteria, in the West Village. But you shouldn't count out this restaurant when searching Manhattan for gluten-free cupcakes, cookies and other bakery items. Risotteria, which was one of the first restaurants on the Gluten-Free Restaurant Awareness Program (GFRAP), offers cupcakes, carrot cake, pies, cookies and other yummy bakery treats in addition to its famous breadsticks.

A Black & White cookie was a recent Risotteria addition; more recently, I've noticed an "Orio Cakester" added to the bakery counter. A "creme sandwich" made with two discs of chocolate cake, the Orio has a taste and texture similar to a Devil Dog, even though the shape is not the same. Or so I thought when I ate my first Orio last night. When I had the second one today (there are two per pack) I thought it was more like a marriage between a Devil Dog and an Ore...well, let's say a Hydrox cookie.

On the right you can see an intact Orio (above) and a cross-section of said Orio (below). In case you're interested, it's the one that I ate today.

PS I forgot to mention that Risotteria and Babycakes NYC will be among those supplying desserts at next Thursday's (affordable) modern dance fundraiser at City Center!

Photos: 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!

FOLLOW-UP: GLUTEN-FREE VENDOR FAIR 2007

Now that Erin of Gluten-Free Fun has overcome certain horrific technical difficulties, she's posted a fun slideshow of last month's Gluten-Free Vendor Fair. Welcome back to blogland, Erin!

Other coverage can be found at vendor Mike Eberhart's Gluten Free Blog.

I neglected to mention a bunch of things myself...but...I note that Natural Feast was another vendor who journeyed some distance to attend--from somewhere up in New England!

And remember how I mentioned that Mr. Ritt's was on the move to Millville, New Jersey? This weekend is the official grand opening of the new Garden State site of this gluten-free bakery (at Second and Vine Streets; 856-825-8770), purveyors of assorted baked goodies including sachertorte, linzertorte, cheesecake, and (my favorite) moist cakes with buttercream frosting.

From earlier this year, here's a shot of work on an exterior mural at the bakery's new digs, which for now will be open on weekends and "by appointment."

















Photo courtesy Mr. Ritt's