What better way to celebrate my 500th blog post (whoa!) than the official publication (finally!) of Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef. Last week was all about the gluten-free brownies. What can top that? Shauna came to NYC for a visit! If you're a Gluten-Free Girl fan, then you've probably been to one of her events this week. If you missed the events and are reading this, you might still have time to run over to the Union Square farmer's market to meet her at 10am on Wednesday morning. Either way, here's how my week went. Silvana Nardone was hosting a gluten-free potluck party at her home to celebrate Shauna's new book. I chose to make a Tomato and White Bean Salad from the gorgeous Williams-Sonoma Cooking for Friends.
You soak white beans overnight and then simmer them for 45 minutes with garlic, rosemary, and bay leaves. Obviously this dish requires some planning.
And you roast some tomatoes with olive oil, sugar, garlic, salt and pepper for a couple of hours. I used heirlooms from my local farmer's market, so they took a while. Eventually you toss the tomatoes with the beans and make a dressing of champagne vinegar and olive oil, topped with fresh oregano. This was really amazing.
I didn't want to go crazy with my camera, but the party at Silvana's place was really nice. It was my first time meeting Shauna in person, believe it or not. I saw some friends like Jaden Hair and other people I know like Dan Kohler of Renegade Kitchen. And I met a lot of amazing bloggers and food writers for the first time, including Lisa Fain, Jennifer Perillo, and Maggy Anderson Keet.
At this point I'm worrying this post sounds a little braggy. Believe me, I don't mean it that way, but as if that party wasn't cool enough (especially the part about meeting Shauna for the first time), two days later I met with Shauna at Locanda Verde for lunch. Danny and Lucy came too, along with a couple of my buddies from work. I rarely talk about fancy-shmancy meals like this, but I have to rave a little bit. These scallops (which happened to be gluten-free) were a bit of heaven.
And oh my god... the lemon tart, with a lemon granita, and buttermilk ice cream. Next time I'll just order a bath tub filled with this dessert and dive right in. Yes, it was that good. If you've got some money for a splurge, put Locanda Verde on the list.
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39 foodie comments:
Congratulations! I should be coming up on my 500th blog post some time next week and I can't wait!
sounds like you had a wonderful trip! That salad looks delicious. This post isn't braggy at all! It just seems like you had a wonderful experience with great people. However, this post now has me starving. The food at the party looks AMAZING!
Congrats on your 500th post!
I'm jumping in the tub with you..I love lemon! Thanks for sharing your adventure with the GFG. Looking forward to meeting you al In San Fran.
Great to meet you too, Justin! And yes, what a fun weekend it was. Eating delicious (gluten-free)food, meeting new bloggers and finally meeting Shauna, Danny and Lucy!
It was such a great gathering of people and food. So nice to finally meet you too Justin. Congrats on the 500th post!
Sounds like an amazing week! And I am totally jealous that you got to see Shauna TWICE, and had a potluck with such amazing food peeps. Still hoping to lure Shauna to Chicago...
yay--500 posts! congratulations, and what a fabulous weekend! i'm going to make that bean and tomato salad before the tomatoes at the market disappear--thanks for the yummy idea.
Wow, congrats on your 500th post. We're just at 153 posts. Please come visit our blog and let us know what you think.
The food looks amazing!
Bravo!
Jaime and Jen
lucky you! it all sounds fabulous, fun, entertaining and most importantly, delicious! not "braggy" at all!
congratulations on 500 posts!! it seems like just yesterday that you started it all and look where you are now. the heirloom tomato dish was beautiful and delicious. any room in the dessert tub for me?
Congrats! That lemon tart looks like glass...oh to have a bite
Congrats on 500! Those tomatoes are beautiful!
A lovely spread of food. I want some of those roasted tomatoes and scallops. Mmmm...
Congrats on reaching 500. I'm getting there my self very soon. Just when that will be. We'll see. :)
f&f: thanks
sommer: thanks... but i stayed at home. it was just shauna who traveled
strawberry cake: thanks for visiting
maggy: it's funny that we both met shauna for the first time this week
jennifer: totally
jenn: i bet shauna would have fun in chicago
lavenderpug: right, you won't be able to make that salad right for long
jaime and jen: thanks. it's been a while, but you know i've visited your site before!
urban baker: ok, phew
jen: thanks. crazy. definitely room for you.
jennifeurla: thanks. right, i love how that looks
natalie: thanks on both counts
jenn: i want those scallops again for sure
500??? WOwie zowie, and I thought 50 was something. Good for you and thanks for cheering for so many good causes. I know I was so pleased when you were one of the first people to stop by my new blog. May you go on and on with your wonderful stories, congratulations!
The tomato and bean salad looks fantastic and pretty simple to put together. Ever since I got Karen DeMasco's cookbook, Locanda Verde has been on my short list of places to go. Both scallops and dessert look delicious.
Congrats on 500!
deana: 50, 500, it's all good. thanks.
rebecca: simple to put together as long as you have hours and hours to spare! and right, the desserts really stand out at Locanda Verde
Congrats on your 500 posts! Keep up the good work.
Your gluten-free party looks like fun and lots a good food.
Hey Justin, Congrats on your 500th post! I've tried that bean recipe before and love the simply and purity of flavors!
congratulationssss!:) i am sorry. but when i see lemon, i pounce, ignoring pretty much everything else. i want me some lemon tart puh-lease? :)
500th post?? whoah! Im not even 1/4 of it. Wondering how many years will it take me to reach that number of posts? Congrats by the way! The cassoulet with scallops looks divine!!
hanaa: thanks
flb: oh yeah? it's a good one.
chocolatecup: thanks... and i agree about lemon anything
mhel: i can't really believe it either
Just found your blog through "My FIANCE Likes It, So It must Be Good," and I'm already hooked! Can't wait to see what else you've got cookin' up.
500 posts. You are my hero. I am heading in that direction:). I'm so sorry I didn't get to meet you at Silvana's party. You see the red platter on the long buffet table? The one with the mini brownies (gluten free and vegan)? Those were mine. I'm looking forward to meeting you at the blogher conference tomorrow.
best, Ellen
Congratulations on 500 posts! Loved all of the pics in this post and the food shown in them. Yummy. Very cool that you got to finally meet Shauna in person.
500 post! wow! That will take me a couple more years before I can reach that number lol! Congrats and I love that scallops too! Scrumptious!
Congrats, Justin! I look forward to your 1000th post!!
OMG those scallops look so gOOd!!!!
Congratulations!
meister: thanks
ellen: oh really? so did we meet at Blogher? it's all a blur now.
krista: thanks, and yes
jeannie: you'll get there
ninette: thanks
tramie: thanks -- haven't seen you comment in a while
murasaki: thanks
Oh I could go for that lemon tart right now - Congrats on 500 posts!
Everything looks delicious - but I'm especially awed by the dessert. Gluten-free lemon tart, lemon granita, and buttermilk ice cream...YUM!
O, and congrats on 500 posts!
That party sounds amazing!!! Your recipe looks awesome I love William Sonoma's cookbooks!
What a meal. I had to laugh about the bathtub full of dessert.
Congratulations on your 500th post. That's a mile marker.
500th post! My that was awesome blogging you have. That lemon tart dessert is an addiction, even looking at them can't suffice me, I need to order a bath tub filled with that also.
Came across your wonderful blog and am a new follower!!!
- Jessica
http://cajunlicious.blogspot.com
omg I could KILL for that scallop dish!
xoxox,
Mini
everything on this dinner table looks so delicous. all homemade?
Wonderful! Fantastic!
Thanks for sharing, Justin! I enjoyed the visit.
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