Monday, September 15, 2008

First Kids WFD Wrap-up

What an amazing afternoon yesterday--our first Worry-Free Dinners event for KIDS!

One aspect, among many, that I value about these Worry-Free Dinners events is that we all come together, virtual strangers, with one thing in common, and leave friends, having laughed, eaten and shared worry-free.

**

Lovely assistant Ami overhead a mom say to her little one: “Everything on the table is safe for you to eat.”

Her child repeated in wonder: “Everything is safe”.

Wow. It was true and I’m kvelling to be a part of it all.

**

A heartfelt thank you to the caring staff at Blue Smoke: Lissa, events manager; Nicholas, general manager; Sous Chef Alex; and our server Steve all of whom ensured that this event was delicious and Worry-Free. You guys rocked!

And a thank you too, to all of the WFD members--what a fun party!

**
Here are some pictures. Our lunch was gluten-free, peanut-free, tree-nut free, fish-free and dairy-free and oh-my-goodness delicious!

Apps of Chicken wings:


App of chopped salad (dressing and feta cheese on the side):


Bradley starting his apps:


Entrees are served:


More entrees:


Texas Salt & Pepper Ribs:


Bucket of enjoyed ribs:



Gluten-Free Burgers:


Dessert time, Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten-Free brownies:


And fruit plate:



Cherrybrook Kitchen's
Table of goody bag-ness:


Inside the goody bag by Cherrybrook Kitchen:



Lexi wearing her new Cherrybrook Kitchen T-shirt:


**

Can't wait to do it all again very soon!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Worry-Free Dinners™ Event for Kids

**SOLD OUT**

(Don't worry, we're planning an October event so keep those applications coming!)



Dear Worry-Free Dinners™ parent,

You've been asking and it's finally here: our Worry-Free Dinners KIDS event.

Come hungry and sign up quickly, this event will sell out FAST!

If you haven't sent in your application, contact us at worryfreedinners@gmail.com to get your family on board.

***

INVITATION: The event will be sponsored by Cherrybrook Kitchen: the Sweet Solution for Food Allergies. Diners will receive an assortment of Cherrybrook Kitchen products and a representative will be on hand to meet and greet!



WHERE: Blue Smoke
116 East 27th Street (between Park and Lexington Avenues)
New York, NY 10016
(212) 447-7733

WHO: Any parent and/or child who is on a diet that is FREE OF: gluten/wheat, peanut, tree-nut, fish and/or dairy.

WHEN: LUNCH, Sunday, September 14th, 2008 11:30am-1:30pm

WHAT YOU'LL GET:
• Members receive tips, insights, support and practice on advocating for their dietary needs at restaurants by Allergic Girl, Sloane Miller, MFA, MSW, LMSW

• Group discussion tailored to your concerns

• Networking with parents who understand your issues

• Chat time with a representative from Blue Smoke

• A delicious "Worry-Free Dinner" lunch at a great NYC kid-friendly restaurant

• Fantastic Cherrybrook Kitchen sponsored allergen-friendly goody bag worth the price of dinner

PARENT'S FEE: $50, includes tax and tip but not beverages.

CHILDREN'S FEE: $30, includes tax and tip but not beverages.

Fee payable through Google Checkout on website.

***

LUNCH MENU: Gluten-Free & Peanut-Free & Tree-nut Free & Fish-Free. Dairy-Free upon request. (Beverages will be on a pay per drink basis.)

LUNCH will be FAMILY STYLE and ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT.

STARTERS
Chipotle Chicken Wings
Chopped Vegetable & Lettuce Salad

MAIN COURSES
Mini-burger in lettuce
Texas Salt & Pepper Beef Ribs

SIDES
Gluten-Free French Fries
Gluten-Free Macaroni & Cheese
Baked Pit Beans with Pork

DESSERT
Provided by Cherrybrook Kitchen

Email worryfreedinners@gmail.com with any questions/concerns.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

WFD & WSJ

Welcome WSJ readers!

Feel free to look around or email us at worryfreedinners@gmail.com if you have any questions or want to join us for the next Worry-Free Dinner event!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Last Night at Blue Smoke

If the mark of a good BBQ dinner is:

Fat splatter dots on your dress--check.

Contented yummy sounds whilst everyone tucks in--check.

A satisfied calm after the storm including toothpicks and doggy bags--check.

And then the dessert shows up?!

Then, yep, that was our group last night: Worry-Free at Blue Smoke.

Great food, great company and great chat!

Here are some pictures of our dining experience; the plates started small and just kept coming, with more and more!

Please excuse the blurry nature of my pictures, my hands were thick with beef rib goodness and it was all I could do to remember to take them before or during the meal.


Menu:


Chicken wings, sauce on the side, natch:


3 sausage samples, that andouille just killed me:


Chicken and mash:


Texas salt & pepper ribs, with pork and beans and cole slaw:


Mixed berries and GF Cherrybrook brownies:


Plates and plates of goodness, once we had wiped them clean, and my favorite GF BBQ sauce:


BIG THANK YOUS to Lissa, Group Dining and Private Events Manager at Blue Smoke for working with us to put this together; our server Simone; manager Nicholas; pastry chef for making our GF brownies with Cherrybrook mix; and sous Chef Alex for taking such great care of us, and with a sense of humor too!

And THANK YOU to our goody bag contributors:

Goody bag items:


Allergic Living magazine
Amy's products
Cherrybrook Kitchen brownie mix
Nana's No Gluten assorted cookies
Shabtai Gourmet cookies

Quattrobimbi prodcuts
Zen Soy products

You made everyone happy with your products!

Monday, August 4, 2008

Worry-Free Dinners™ Event at Blue Smoke

UPDATE: Event moved to August 4th, same everything else though!

It's official--You're invited to join us for the next delicious Worry-Free Dinners event at Blue Smoke!

The menu will be Gluten-Free, Peanut-Free, Tree-nut Free & Fish-Free. (Dairy-Free upon request.)

If you haven't already done so, please send in your application or send an email to worryfreedinners@gmail.com , as you MUST be a member to join us for these events.


***

INVITATION:

WHERE: Blue Smoke
116 East 27th Street (between Park and Lexington Avenues)
New York, NY 10016
(212) 447-7733

WHO: Anyone on a diet that is FREE OF gluten/wheat, peanut, tree-nut, fish and/or dairy.

WHEN: MONDAY, August 4th, 2008 6:00PM-8:00PM

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 people who understand your issues

• Chat time with a representative from Blue Smoke

• A delicious Worry-Free Dinner at a great NYC restaurant

• Terrific goody bag filled with allergen-friendly foods and products

FEE: $95, includes tax, tip but not beverages. Fee payable through Google Checkout.


DINNER MENU: Gluten-Free & Peanut-Free & Tree-nut Free & Fish-Free. Dairy-Free upon request.

(Beverages will be on a pay per drink basis.)

Dinner will be FAMILY STYLE and ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT.

STARTERS
Chipotle Chicken Wings
Chopped Vegetable & Lettuce Salad
Three-sausage sampler

MAIN COURSES
Applewood-Smoked Chicken
Pulled Pork
Texas Salt & Pepper Beef Ribs

SIDES
Coleslaw
Macaroni & Cheese
Baked Pit Beans with Pork

DESSERT
Provided by Cherrybrook Kitchen

Email worryfreedinners@gmail.com with any questions/concerns.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

About.com & WFD

Welcome food allergies at About.com readers!

If you're in NYC or planning on coming through this month, we'd love to have you join us for a premiere event for food allergic/intolerant adults, Monday July 28th at Blue Smoke.

If however you are the parent of a food allergic/intolerant child, we will be announcing our FIRST Worry-Free Dinner KIDS event very soon so stay tuned!

And feel free to email us at worryfreedinners@gmail.com with any questions or to request an application!

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Gluten-Free Ice Cream Sandwiches from Cherrybrook Kitchen

For the Blue Smoke Worry-Free Dinners event July 28, CBK will be providing dessert. We've been working on some dessert ideas, things to make with their terrific mixes. Here's one idea that sounded delish to me. This can be made with soy dream or rice dream "ice cream" to make a completely dairy-free result.

Recipe courtesy of Cherrybrook Kitchen


Enjoy!

***

Gluten Free Gourmet Ice Cream Sandwiches from Cherrybrook Kitchen


***

Preheat Oven to 350.

Position a rack on the center rung of the oven. Heat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease the bottom of a 16X12X1 rimmed baking sheet. Line the pan with parchment to cover the bottom and the edges of the pan’s longer sides.

Prepare 2 boxes Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten Free Brownie Mix according to directions on the box and then using one hand to anchor the parchment paper, spread the brownie batter with a spoon or spatula. Drag a rectangular offset spatula over the dough to smooth it into an even layer, rotating the pan as you work. Brush or spray a sheet of parchment the same size as the pan with oil, and lay it, oiled side down, on top of the brownie batter. Roll a straight rolling pin or a straight-sided wine bottle over the paper (or swipe it with a dough scraper) to level and smooth the brownie batter. Carefully peel away the parchment.

Bake until a pick inserted in the center comes out clean, 8 to 10 minutes. Set the pan on a wire rack and let cool to room temperature. Place cooled brownie pan in the freezer for half an hour to set the brownie sheet.

***

Layer the cookie with ice cream, then chill.

On a separate clean baking sheet lay two long pieces of plastic wrap in a cross shape.

Remove the brownie sheet pan from freezer and slide a knife along the inside edge of the pan containing the brownie to loosen it. Invert the brownie onto a large cutting board. Peel off the parchment. Using a ruler as a guide, cut the brownie crosswise into two equal pieces. Place one layer, top side down, in the middle of the plastic wrap (a wide, sturdy spatula will help the transfer).

Remove the gluten free ice cream from the freezer and take off the lid. It’s important to work quickly from this point on. (If the ice cream gets too soft, pop it onto a plate and back into the freezer to harden up.) Using scissors or a sharp knife, cut the container lengthwise in two places and tear away the container.

Set the ice cream on its side. Cut the ice cream into even slices, 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick, and arrange them on top of the brownie layer in the pan, pairing the smallest piece next to the largest. Using a rubber spatula, gently yet firmly smear the ice cream to spread it evenly, as shown below. (It helps to put a piece of plastic wrap on the ice cream and smear with your hands; remove the plastic before proceeding.)

Position the remaining brownie layer, top side up, over the ice cream. Press gently to spread the ice cream to the edges. Put a clean piece of plastic on top and wrap the long ends of the bottom sheet of plastic up and over the brownie layers and ice cream. Put the baking sheet in the freezer and chill until the gluten free ice cream sandwich is hard, about four hours and up to two days.

***

Cut and garnish the sandwiches


Take the baking sheet out of the freezer. Lift the package from the pan, transfer it to a cutting board, and line the pan with a fresh piece of plastic. Peel the top layer of plastic off the sandwich (you can leave on the bottom layer.)

Working quickly, use a ruler and a long, sharp chef’s knife to score the brownie, dividing it into twelve: three across the short side and four across the long side. Cut the sandwiches as shown below, wiping the blade clean as needed. (If your kitchen is very warm, put the pieces back into the freezer to firm, or work with one strip at a time, keeping the rest in the freezer).

Garnish the sandwiches, if you like: Fill a small, shallow bowl with your chosen garnish and set it next to your work surface. Garnishes ideas are gluten free chocolate chips, crushed mint candies, or sprinkles. Press some of the garnish onto some or all of the sides of the sandwich. Set the sandwiches back on the baking sheet and return to the freezer immediately. (If your kitchen is warm, keep the sandwiches in the freezer and garnish one at a time.) Once the sandwiches are hard, wrap them individually in plastic and store in the freezer.

Make Ahead Tips
Individually wrapped sandwiches will keep for up to two weeks in the freezer.