Ch-Ch-Ch Changes

During these last months of 2009, Worry-Free Dinners is taking some BIG and BOLD steps to improve the WFD experience. Our next events will be in 2010.

In the meantime, check out Allergic Girl's Recommendations for restaurants in New York City and keep those applications coming.

Families, Allergies

I’m looking for some stories of families who support your dietary restrictions. Whether parents, sibs, grands, in-laws, please share! With Thanksgiving soon approaching, we could all use some great supportive family stories. Please share in the comments section!

Earth Balance & WFD

Back in January, I asked a few WFD parents what dairy-free, gluten-free butter substitute they use for cooking and baking. Earth Balance came up again and again as the spread of GF/DF WFD members use and adore.

From the Earth Balance website: Earth Balance is the all-natural division of Smart Balance, Inc. While most of their products contain the same patented blend of oils shown to improve the important cholesterol ratio that Smart Balance® uses, they’re also made with only natural, expeller-pressed oils. They also never contain GMO’s, artificial preservatives, flavors, colors or emulsifiers. Not only that, all of the products are vegan and gluten-free.

So taking our cue from you, our loyal WFD members, Earth Balance became a WFD staple, usually for icing with Cherrybrook Kitchen icing mix. Specifically we utilize the SOY-BASED Vegan Buttery Sticks when appropriate.

The Vegan Buttery Sticks ingredients: Non-GMO INGREDIENTS: Expeller-pressed natural oil blend (soybean, palm fruit, canola and olive oils), filtered water, pure salt, natural flavor, (derived from corn, no MSG, no alcohol, no gluten), soy protein, soy lecithin, lactic acid (non-dairy, derived from sugar beets), colored with beta-carotene from natural sources. Contains soy.

Earth Balance supports the Worry-Free Dinners program with delicious GF/DF Earth Balance products.

Thank you Earth Balance team!

FAMILY WFD EVENT: Dos Caminos, October 4, 2009

*** SOLD OUT ***

Worry-Free Dinners® is a membership group and you MUST be a member to eat with us. It's super easy to join. Just send an email to worryfreedinners@gmail.com to request an application.

You may have read about our first event as BRGUEST’S DOS CAMINOS or even Allergymom Gina’s lovely story about her experiences with Dos Caminos 3rd Avenue.

Now you can experience it for yourself.

The FAMILY WFD Dos Caminos Soho menu will be: gluten free, peanut free, tree nut free, sesame seed free, fish free, shellfish free, dairy free and egg free. Please note this menu is corn heavy therefore NOT for anyone with corn sensitivities.

The meal will be served family style as in everyone gets a little bit of everything, with seconds and thirds when you want them. As always, beverages are on you.


***

INVITATION

WHEN: October 4, 2009, 530-730pm

WHERE:
Dos Caminos Soho
212.277.4300
475 W Broadway (at Houston Street)
New York, NY 10012

WHO: Anyone whose diet is gluten free, peanut free, tree-nut free, fish-free, shellfish free dairy free and egg free. Additional food allergies or other concerns *may* be accommodated with prior notice.

WHAT YOU'LL GET:
• Coaching around issues of food allergies/food intolerances by Allergic Girl, Sloane Miller, MFA, MSW, LMSW
• Group discussion tailored to your concerns
• Networking with families who understand your issues
• Chat time with Executive Chef Meghan Young
• A delicious Worry-Free Dinners® event at a top NYC restaurant

***

Dos Caminos Soho menu:

APPS
Guacamole with corn tortillas, fresh cut vegetables, trio of salsas
Plantain Empanadas - Plantain masa, ham & sweet potato, chipotle aioli

ENTREES
Al Carbon Tacos - Grilled chicken, orange salasita, guacamole
Asada Tacos - Grilled skirt steak, pico de gallo, guacamole
Dos Enchiladas - Pastor marinated chicken, roasted corn, tomatillo verde sauce

SIDES
Mexican Red Rice
Refried Black Beans

DESSERT
Sorbet TBA
Pineapple Banana Empanadas

Dining with Allergies, NYC

WFD Members:

Want to go back to Blue Smoke where you've experienced WFD goodness?

Just use www.opentable.com when booking and mention "Worry-Free Dinners" along with your dietary requests in the "Special Requests for the Maitre D'" section.

The restaurant will have your info on file.

Cool, right?

Going elsewhere? This Allergic Girl link has my BEST tips.

Ming Tsai, Blue Ginger

Ming Tsai, who is quickly becoming the voice for parents of food allergic kids and for the culinary community on how to take care of patrons with food allergies, writes in this month's Atlantic Monthly magazine.

And he's featured in Cookie magazine as well.

WFD FAMILY LUNCH: July 26, 2009 - Round Up

Yesterday's Family WFD at Blue Smoke was so much fun! Just look at some of pictorial highlights from Danielle Amedeo (©Allergic Girl Resources, Inc.) and you’ll see what I mean. Thank you WFD Families!

***
The next Blue Smoke WFD FAMILY LUNCH event is Sunday, September 13.

And we have our first WFD FAMILY DINNER event at Dos Caminos, Sunday, October 4.

Save the dates!

***

Wings of Wonder:


Raucous Ribs:


Free-From-Allergens Fries:


Bodacious Brisket & Brocs:


Fantastic Fruit:


Cherrybrook Kitchen Cupcakes & Frosting, Rid-ic!