The Soundview Greenport

November 18, 2019May 26, 2021 Red Rose & HoneyLeave a comment

Today’s post is all about our recent stay at the Soundview Greenport along with a travel guide to Long Island’s North Fork (aka the NoFo). We decided to spend a night at the Soundview for a belated anniversary celebration. The Soundview is located directly on the Long Island Sound with absolutely beautiful views from every room.

The Soundview has an ideal layout for its location on the Sound. All of the rooms are water front which is awesome. I personally think this makes the Soundview a special place to stay. Even though the weather was chilly, it was so nice to enjoy the view from our room. I imagine it to be even better during the warmer months when you can sit on the patio {which was huge}. Even with the doors closed at night we could still hear the waves a bit.

The room was on the smaller side, but perfect for two with a queen bed and separate sitting area. I felt like the only flaw of the layout was that the entry door faced a main road, so it could be loud at times. If you are a light sleeper or traveling with children who will nap during the day, it may be worth bringing a sound machine. I did feel like it quieted down a lot at night once we went to bed.

Our room was recently renovated, clean and had a nautical decor vibe. We love that there was a Nespresso machine in the room along with Bridge Lane wine, North Fork Potato Chips and Tate’s cookies {for a fee}. Since we visited in November, we missed the peak season and got a more affordable nightly rate. However, I do think that it was still pricey for the off season, so I am not sure we would necessarily splurge on this spot during spring or summer. Although we opted not to bring Henry {this time} the Soundview is actually pet-friendly.

The Soundview has a bar and restaurant on site, but if you’re looking for gluten free options, I would recommend skipping the Halyard for dinner. Instead get a drink there before heading into town or stop back later in the night if there is live music. The view from the bar and restaurants is just as good as the view from the rooms. All in all, the Soundview is a great spot for weekend getaway.

For a gluten-free dinner in Greenport I recommend the restaurant First and South. It is located in town and less than a 10 minute drive from the Soundview. We had our car, but I did notice there were Ubers in the area too. Almost everything on the menu is gluten-free and they do not cross contaminate the fryers. I also felt that our sever was knowledgeable about their menu and gluten-free restrictions. Bonus points in our book for the awesome dog mural on the wall – if you haven’t figured it out already, we love dogs!

While you’re making your way to the Greenport here is where we recommend you stop on your way.

* Briermere Farms: Famous for their pies (not gluten-free) and jams (gluten-free). It is a must-do on the NoFo and a great stop for local produce.
*Baiting Hallow Farm Vineyard: A small family owned winery and stable. We love their Riesling.
* LIV: Gluten-free vodka and an awesome tasting room.
* Riverhead Cider House: Tons of gluten-free cider options and room for large groups.
* Bridge Lane Tasting Room: Small, cozy and some of our favorite wine ever. I recommend the white merlot and the red blend.
* Shinn Estate Vineyard and Inn: Beautiful indoor and outdoor seating along with our favorite B&B on LI.

Bridge Lane Outdoor Seating – August 2019

Bistango at The Kimberly Hotel | NYC

December 15, 2017August 19, 2020 Red Rose & HoneyLeave a comment

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in New York City is Bistango on 29th and 3rd {read my review here}. Everything on the menu can be made gluten-free. They even serve fresh gluten-free Italian bread. At the original location, the gluten-free tortellini with pesto is my meal of choice. On a recent trip into the city with my co-workers, we made reservations at Bistango at The Kimberly Hotel, a second location, opened in 2014.

Before heading to lunch we stopped a few must-see midtown spots to show a first-time New York visitor around. The library was beautifully decorated for the holidays, as is most of the city. A new stop for me was in Grand Central Station. I’ve been there many times, but I never knew about the Whisper Gallery. Downstairs near the dining area there is a corridor where you can hear whispers across the room. If you stand diagonally across from someone else, your voices will travel across the arched ceiling, and you will be able to hear their voice as if they were standing right next to you.

It was a really chilly morning in the city, so we were all looking forward to warming up with a good lunch. The restaurant is located on the first floor of the Kimberly hotel. It is small, but has enough seating for small groups and a bar over looking the open kitchen. It was cozy and decorated for the holidays too. I’ve heard the roof top bar at the Kimberly is beautiful, but it wasn’t open at the time we were there {another reason to go back}.

I opted for the butternut squash ravioli because I rarely have the option of eating them {welcoming gluten-free ravioli suggestions}. This was a super rich dish! The ravioli were in a brown butter sauce, filled with pureed butternut squash and drizzled with balsamic vinegar. As if that weren’t rich enough, the dish was topped with parmesan and salty peanuts. It was a great lunch.

If you are in NYC and looking for gluten-free Italian food, I highly recommend stopping at either location. Gluten-free or not, the meals do not disappoint!

xo Miss Alyss

Gluten Free Weekend in New York City

June 22, 2017May 26, 2021 Red Rose & HoneyLeave a comment

This past weekend I attended my best friend’s bachelorette party in NYC. I can’t believe my bestie is getting married in a few short weeks. I had such a fun weekend celebrating the her with a great group of girls. In this blog I am going to share some of the restaurants we dined at. All of them had great gluten-free options and I am happy to report no tummy aches! If you are looking for my wedding blogs click HERE and follow me on my own wedding planning journey 🙂

The Frying Pan

The Frying Pan is a super cool spot in the city at Pier 66. It’s actually a boat docked in the Hudson River on the Pier. If you’re living in or visiting the city this summer you should definitely make it a point to stop here. It is really such a great place to enjoy the summer weather. We got a delicious pitcher of mango-blueberry sangria and a light dinner. The menu has “V” and “G” icons to identify vegetarian and gluten-free options. I was pleasantly surprised that the bartender/waitress was actually very knowledgeable of gluten-allergies and assured me that the choices labeled “G” were safe options. I had the fish tacos and a few fries. Yes, FRIES! They are fried separately, so they’re totally gluten-free.

Pardon My French

For brunch we went to Pardon My French which was the perfect spot for a bachelorette. It would also be a good option for a small bridal or baby shower. I loved the rustic, French decor. We sat upfront at the white subway tiled peninsula. They offer a classic or bottomless brunch options. Although no items are marked gluten-free the waiter was understanding of my allergy and said it would not be a problem. Their kitchen does their best to prevent contamination. I had the spinach and tomato omelet with roasted potatoes. The potatoes were actually roasted; not fried and the iced coffee was possible the best I’ve had. I enjoyed my breakfast and can happily report no tummy ahces.

El Toro Blanco

On our second night we went to El Toro Blanco; a Mexican restaurant in Downtown. The guacamole was phenomenal! All of their guacamole is made fresh at the guac bar. Gluten-free foodies beware – the chips are NOT gluten-free. Instead, make sure you ask for a side of raw veggies. The menu is marked with * which indicate which options contain gluten. I had the roasted chicken tacos for dinner which I enjoyed, but wasn’t blown away by. Also keep in mind the servings are small and the margaritas are very strong!

Sans Bakery

We stopped at Think Coffee for a quick pick me up and I was happy to find these Sans Bakery gluten-free doughnuts and muffins. Unlike most gluten-free desserts, this doughnut was not bland and dry. It’s nice to now where you can stop to get a coffee and a treat! I believe the Think Coffee shops are located throughout the city too.