if all goes well.….

Empire State, originally uploaded by shaunaforce.

…I will be on a plane tonight, winging my way to New York City.

In October, I had intended to make my way through my old, glorious home, walking fast and talking rapid fire in bantering sentences with people I love. And especially, eating great, gluten-free food with dear friends and new ones. It has been too long since I strode through that city, and I couldn’t wait to step foot on its sidewalks.

Unfortunately — and those of you who have been reading regularly will remember this — my foot never stepped on New York City sidewalks in October. Instead, it broke the day before my planned trip, when I tripped down a staircase and spiralled into pain. Bye bye, New York City.

It is February now. So many lovely moments — so many lovely meals — have transpired since that day I winced in pain instead of walking onto the plane. And my foot? Aside from residual weakness, my foot is healthy and ready to walk down Broadway. (I’ll bring the other foot along as well.) So, barring any unforseen accidents or twists of fate, I’ll be flying through the clear black sky tonight, on my way to a week in New York.

Keep your fingers crossed for me. It probably wouldn’t hurt to throw a pinch of salt over your shoulder either.

Rarely have I so looked forward to a vacation. I don’t talk about my job here — and I’m not going to in this post, either — but let’s just say I clearly need a break. It feels like August since I’ve had any proper time off. And August feels like worlds ago now. I have friends in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, the Upper West Side, the Lower East Side, and Pennsylvania who are awaiting my return. I just can’t stop giggling today, thinking about it. Every step I take has a little bounce in it.

And then there is the food.

This will be my first time back to New York since I have gone gluten-free. Of course, there will be no more slices from my favorite pizza place, or bagels from H&H, or loaves of bread from the Silver Moon Bakery. Sigh. But there is Risotteria and Happy Happy Happy, and homecooked meals. And of course, trips to my favorite food stores, including the one hinted at in the photograph above. (If you know it, shout it out.) With all the greenmarkets and coffee shops and specialty stores, I’m not going to feel deprived. I’ll be trying out places, then sharing them with you. I might even update while I’m gone. We’ll see.

In the meantime, if you have any suggestions of places I should go in New York for great, gluten-free food, leave me a comment. Or send me an email. And any lovely, New York food bloggers who might be reading — how about a cup of coffee?

Start spreading the news: Shauna’s back in town.