Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

To Go Or Not To Go To New York City


MJ-S

Recommended Posts

MJ-S Contributor

I would love your thoughts about what I should do with this situation.

My 20-something cousin from Spain is coming to visit for Thanksgiving. We have planned to go to New York City for a few days (Sun - Tue beforeThanksgiving).

She has visited several times before and we've been to New York each time, so she's already seen it,but she is super excited about being there during autumn (something about a movie with Richard Gere lol).

This is the first time she's visited since I went gluten/dairy/and now soy free, and I'm super concerned about getting sick while she's here. It's going to be enough of a challenge hanging out where we live in Boston. I've stopped going to all restaurants for months now, so I'm going to be taking some risks just going out around here, nevermind travelling where I have to do all three meals out.

I haven't yet managed to take a trip without getting horribly sick. No matter what I order, I'm just very sensitive to cross-contamination. When I do get sick, trust me, nobody should be around me. I don't want to make the rest of her trip miserable seeing as how we will be in tight quarters - shared hotel room, car ride, etc. Plus, I will have to do all the driving there and back, no matter what condition I'm in.

To complicate matters, she had a serious allergic reaction of her own this week to possibly anisakis (in fish) and the doctors have said no fish for now, so my only "safe" option - sushi - which I was relying on, is now out.

I'm considering cancelling the New York portion of the trip. She will be disappointed, of course. I don't want this disease to rule my life, but at the same time I'm just not sure if the risk is too high for this particular week. Not only so we can enjoy the week together, but also because I can't afford to be sick for my favorite holiday and first gluten-free Thanksgiving, which I am hosting, AND my birthday, which falls this week as well.

Should I risk it and go? Or wuss out and stay home?


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



jerseyangel Proficient

You're anything but a wuss, but honestly at this point if I were you I'd stay home. You and she can still have fun and a nice visit without you risking getting sick.

In time, you will be able to navigate a trip like that but right now, considering everything, I think you'd be better off sticking closer to home.

Since she's seen NYC already, hopefully she will understand.

Skylark Collaborator

It's only three days. If I were you, I'd pack an ice chest full of safe food for the trip. Hotels usually have ice so you can keep your food cold pretty easily. If you can find a hotel room with a microwave it will make things easier, but you could even get a cheap, small microwave at WalMart or Sears to bring with you. I've seen them on sale as low as $30. Alternatively plan on food that's good cold like salad, fruit, and sandwiches. Eat your breakfasts and dinner at the hotel, and pack a non-perishable lunch that you can eat on the go for Monday.

Gluten-Free Fun Rookie

It makes me so sad to read this post. New York City is a wonderful place for people with Celiac. We have many restaurants that go above and beyond the average restaurant to make a safe meal for those people who require a gluten-free meal. Restaurants like Heartland Brewery (Midtown West), Bar Breton, Nizza NYC, Rosa Mexicano, and so many more are certified in the Gluten-Free Restaurant Awareness Program. They prepare meals safely, fully understand cross-contamination issues, and have well-trained staff members all willing to accommodate you.

We have a 100% gluten-free bakery (Tu-Lu's), a 100% gluten-free store (gluten-free NYC), 5 Whole Foods, 2 Trader Joe's, 2 Fairways, and at least 100 health food stores that sell gluten-free food.

Please reconsider staying home and come to NYC next week. Do not let Celiac take over your life.

modiddly16 Enthusiast

I second that. NYC is an AWESOME place for celiacs. There are so many more options than I think you even realize! Do a google search, or search this site. Definitely bring snacks in case you need something quick but definitely don't let celiac deter you from coming to NYC!

MaryJones2 Enthusiast

There is also Pure Food & Wine (vegan), Risotteria (gluten-free restaurant), Bloom's Deli and a dozen other places that I can't think of that have gluten free menus that can probably handle gluten-free/df/sf to some degree. You can also hit up the NYC Celiac Meetup group and see if they have suggestions.

AndrewNYC Explorer

I am gluten dairy and soy free and I live in Manhattan so I can provide some advice. While I don't eat out much, two places come to mind that I could survive on for a week in NYC if I had to. They would be Whole Foods prepared foods section and Peters Diner on the upper east side. Blooms deli near grand central is also okay for this diet. The other places people listed in this thread are good gluten free places, but beyond that I am not sure how far you will get with both dairy free and soy free. So if I were you I would stay near Whole Foods Columbus Circle if possible. It has the widest prepared foods area maybe of all the WFs in manhttan and you can get three meals a day there if needed. Ingredients are posted and I have never had a cross contamination issue. The owner of Peters is easily accessible, he just kind of hangs out in the diner all day, and is willing to help with negotiating the menu and checking ingredients. Its like a Dennys menu geared towards gluten free, so a lot of the stuff may have dairy or soy, but I bet he can help you figure that out and still get plenty of variety to eat. Blooms works too but I am not sure there is anyone like an owner there who can help negotiate the menu and the kitchen for you, though the waitresses are fairly knowledgeable.

Often times when I travel I find a chef type service to make food for me that I can store in a fridge at the hotel. I dont have any to recommend in NYC but you might find. I think eating at whole foods will be less expensive for you though.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



maximoo Enthusiast

so did you go to NY or not?

MJ-S Contributor

I did not go. Thank you everyone for the advice and suggestions. The next time I visit NY I will try these places. This time around it was just too much for me to deal with, since I need to avoid dairy and soy as well as gluten. We had a wonderful time in Boston and took some day trips instead. I only risked a couple dinners out, and stayed healthy for the week. Thanksgiving dinner was fantastic, too!

ElseB Contributor

I went to New York for the first time this past September and was overwhelmed by the number of safe places to eat. Now, it took some planning and research. I researched ahead of time so that I knew what restaurants were located where. But some days we ate lunch or dinner twice just to fit in another restaurant! It was the first time travelling when I didn't have to dip into my supplies of snack bars and cereal that I brought with. I agree with all the suggestions other posters have made. Another great restaurant that I don't think anyone mentioned is Candle Cafe.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - nanny marley replied to Mantooth's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Anyone Else Experiencing These Symptoms?

    2. - nanny marley replied to nanny marley's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      New here help needed

    3. - nanny marley replied to nanny marley's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      New here help needed

    4. - trents replied to alimb's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      5

      How to keep water down?

    5. - nanny marley replied to nanny marley's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      New here help needed


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      126,550
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Mantooth
    Newest Member
    Mantooth
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.9k
    • Total Posts
      69.5k

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • nanny marley
      Hello mantooth nice to meet you it's so uncanny what you wrote you sound just like me even the back issues are exactly the same and I'm new here too trying to find out if I have the same had I too have been struggling to find answers with my docters I don't have a diagnosis but I've been struggling like forever and was told ibs and health aniexty was my problem but on researching I've come to the conclusion it's probably more because i cut gluten and lactose out for 6 months and  it was a incredible change for me so although I can't help with diagnosis I can say your not alone in trying  to find answers 😊
    • nanny marley
      I call it the fish because I can't spell the other word at times 🤣 don't want to make myself look silly but yes I have this symbol on many items so nice to see it today wen I'm needing help  gives me faith I'm on the right track 
    • nanny marley
      Yes I have the fish symbol on my car and my ring 🙏 and yes I've been going for years to the docters but I got that feed up ov having to avoid eating out or even visiting people threw aniexty of needing the toilet or of gas or sickness I did some research of my own and I did the elimination diet and what a difference I've had my family think I'm nuts at times saying it's in my head it won't help until they now are doing it too because my daughter's are facing the same issues it's made me feel so ill at times it's so crazy how food can do this to you one night I was up 6 times to the point I had nothing left in my body I didn't go to the toilet for days after and I felt sick has a dog I'm so glad I found this forum I feel a little more human already 😄
    • trents
      Prolonged dehydration can cause kidney damage. How long has this been going on? Are you have diarrhea also? That's what the dyclomine is for I think.
    • nanny marley
      Can I also pick anyone brains of the symptoms I have fatigue body hair loss had low vitamin d for like forever jumpy legs Renaud's contact dermatitis rhinitis body aches tmj heart palpitations I have regular hair loss sleep issues sickness dizziness also with my bowel issues are these any signs of this too because all I've ever been told by my doctors is that I have severe IBS  and health aniexty I've had inflammation flagged up before in blood tests but I have 3 herniated discs and a trapped sciatic nerve so they have put it down to that every time but I've been struggling with my bowels for years and it's got worse had Ive got older and Wen I cut the gluten out it was like omg what a difference then I did the lactose and it was  even better but I still have a few issues going on too so I'm thinking on the lines I could have this any help be appreciated because my docters are terrible 🙏
×
×
  • Create New...