I love Italian food. In fact, it's probably my favorite cuisine on the planet.
Trust me, the irony isn't lost on me that I'm in love with food that is largely based around bread and pasta.
That's why one of my constant quests is to find formidable gluten free Italian.
It's not that gluten free Italian doesn't exist; it is not impossible to find. Run a Google search for the "gluten free Italian" + NYC, and you'll get at least a dozen results, probably within delivery distance to your front door.
But it is hard to find GF Italian done right. In my experience, if the taste is right, then the texture is all wrong. Or, if the texture is close, then someone screws it up by tossing vegan cheese or some similar abomination into the mix.
On that note, I've been craving panini for a while. To me, there's nothing quite like one of these grilled Italian sandwiches to fill the cavity and tempt the tastebuds. When done right, they're the perfect combo of crunchiness and gooeyness and savoriness. I haven't had one in over a year, simply because I haven't found a place that could do GF panini justice.
Tragic, I know.
So, I'm out in Long Beach at a friend's place a few days ago, and I run across a place along the strip on Park Avenue touting "GLUTEN FREE PANINI."
My inner skeptic immediately thought, "Yeah, right. How good could this be?"
Then I read the menu posted on the door of La Bottega Italian Gourmet and witnessed the cavalcade of ingredients: Prosciutto, figs, fresh mozzarella, artichokes, speck... They even had roast suckling pig as a choice, for crying out loud.
So, I ordered a "Prosciutto e Pere": Thinly-sliced Prosciutto, sliced red pears, and Gorgonzola on gluten free ciabatta bread. And I was not disappointed. In fact, I was blown the hell away.
Granted, the ciabatta was not exactly like its glutenous cousin--it definitely was more dense--the exterior crunch and the mouthfeel overall were fantastic. And, the ingredients inside were a perfect marriage of salty, sweet, and tangy. Kudos to whoever decided that these three ingredients would work well together. (Honestly, I'd suggest changing the name of the sandwich to "Menage a Trois" if it weren't a family establishment.)
Speaking of being a family establishment, the restaurant was founded by Giuseppe & Marisa Ruta, a young couple who originally hail from Italy. A New York story in every way, Giuseppe arrived in Long Island in 1993, started out as a busboy at a restaurant, worked his way up to manager, then decided to realize his dream of opening his own place in 2003 with wife Marisa in the kitchen. Today, they have--are you ready for this?--18 restaurants across Long Island and Queens!
But, I wondered where the passion for Gluten Free came from, because their menu literally has more items that can be prepared sans gluten than can't.
According to the restaurant staff, Giuseppe is himself allergic to gluten and wanted to make sure others who love Italian food could have authentic, good-tasting options.
Awesome, right?
So, if you happen to be in Queens or Long Island, find your nearest location. It will restore your faith in gluten free Italian food, like it did for me.
Mangia!
La Bottega Italian Gourmet - Long Beach
36 East Park Avenue
Long Beach, NY 11561-3501
(516) 442-0982
www.labottegagourmet.com
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