Emily
#231720 - 12/15/05 03:42 AM
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atomic rose
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 7013
Loc: Maine (IBS-A stable since July '05!)
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It gets easier, I promise.  I'm sorry you've had such bad restaurant experiences; since there's a few other New Yorkers on here, I'm wondering if maybe someone else could give you some suggestions about "good" (accomodating) restaurants? I'd start a new post for that one.
Yup, I know where Bridgeton is. I figured you'd be downstate. I'm 4 hours or so north of where you'll be - LOL! If you *do* decide to do the Appalachian Trail, I live near the northernmost point of it, for sake of reference. Boonies, like I say. Heh.
First Christmas with the fiance's family, and skiing to boot! How exciting! I hope it's a wonderful time!
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I tend toward Asian too, because it's pretty much my favorite anyway, and because it requires the least adaptation. But, it's NYC, sister ... you can be as demanding as you need to be! When I go to a typical American / Italian / Mexican / whatever restaurant, I try to find the item that requires the least adaptation, and then just ask very sweetly and with a great big smile if they wouldn't mind please leaving the cheese off. This works almost every time (unless the sandwiches are pre-made, stuff like that). The only real problem I've had is when the menu isn't descriptive. Once, at Fiddlesticks down in the W. Village, I ordered a pasta that the menu said had fresh tomatoes and basil. It came with cream sauce. I thought that was a pretty big bit of information to leave off the menu, and I didn't mind asking for something new. I just said I'm sorry, I couldn't tell from the menu that this had a cream sauce, and I can't eat dairy. Can I have some plain pasta with a light garlic / oil sauce? Most places are happy to oblige, and I'm more than happy to tip for it.
By the way, in authentic Italian restaurants, it's tantamount to a sin to put anything cheese-related on shellfish. So, with the exception of lobster ravioli in cream sauce, most shellfish dishes will not have any cheese on them, making them a much safer bet. Plus shrimp is yummmmmy.
You said you are uptown. E or W side? I know some good places all around, and would be happy to make some recs. How long have you lived here? I'm going on my third year now.
Hope your commute doesn't get screwed up on Friday!!!!
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
Edited by AmandaPanda (12/15/05 04:01 AM)
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Isn't there also a theory out there, that stress is the ultimate factor, and that the stomach issues are just side effects? Thus in theory, if one could live a completly, and utterly stress free lifestyle, one would be sick so often if at all?? (I may be wrong in this, as i'm sure there is alot of ibs info that may be incorrect...)
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my IBS (if I have it) is also not too bad. Before I even knew of IBS, I've always had to think about what I eat---because I'm allergic to peanuts, and had an iffy stomach since I remember. My grandma always said I inherited that from her!
So after all this time, it's really not "work" anymore to know what I can eat. For instance, certain veggies are OUT. But I can tolerate dairy. Most things I can tolerate well, if I don't overdo it. Or if I REALLY want beans, for instance, I think...what I am doing later? Just in case I will have gas!!
Sometimes I think about people with no digestive problems, and wonder what's it like to just eat whatever, but I think I eat pretty healthy as a result of all this (and have seriously upper my water intake too), so I don't really get bothered. People always used to feel sorry for me about avoiding peanuts, but I hardly expend any effort in that these days, it's like I just subconsciously deal with it.
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Stress is a big factor but even without stress the body would still have a hard time digesting fat, dairy, red meat etc. Yet diet alone is not a cure for IBS.
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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Your experience with the cream sauce sounds exactly like mine. Funny. And I know I should be more demanding, but it's the good little Midwestern/Swiss girl in me that's too polite. Thanks for the recommendations about Italian - I love it, but have always been a little skeptical with all the cream and oil. I'll have to try channeling the picky New Yorker in me...
For my two cents, I love Monsoon on the corner of 81st and Amsterdam. It's a Vietnamese restaurant. Franchia - Park/34th is also good (vegan - yummy yummy desserts, and try the pumpkin noodles). So is Galanga, W4th and 6th - great cheap Thai in a really intimate setting.
I'm on the very upper west side - near 214th and Broadway, within sight of the Bronx. It's a great neighborhood, with lots of parks and families and all that good stuff, but only 2 restaurants worth mentioning. If you have any ideas up this far, I'm all ears. 
I've been in the city about 6 months now, and I have to admit I'm still adjusting. Before this I lived in Chicago, which is pretty relaxed though still a big city, and in high school I lived in Switzerland - very chill. Though - NYC is great for us IBSers, given the wide variety of dining and shopping possibilities. Have you had the lowfat cookies sold everywhere? They're not quite "the real thing" but not too bad ( check this page ).
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Re: Emily
#231940 - 12/15/05 06:57 PM
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Emily H.
Reged: 02/28/05
Posts: 83
Loc: Luxembourg, LU
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Oh, I shouldn't complain too much. Really, it's just one AWFUL experience with excruciating pain/D after eating at an Italian restaurant in Chicago. Put the fear of God into me. But I'm too much of a foodie to stay away for long.
Wow - you really are pretty far north. In the Hundred Mile Wilderness? My fiance is intent on doing the AT and also hiking all of the highest peaks in Maine in the winter (there's a club, apparently), so I have a feeling we'll be up your way someday relatively soon. And I am looking forward to the "first Christmas." His family is fabulous, luckily, and his mom is one of the people I know who suffered from IBS. So they're totally understanding. Relief!
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A completely stress-free life. I wish I could meet that person...Or, well, no, I know how to have such a thing: be a cat. My cats are the most relaxed beings I know.
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Hmm... I could be totally off base here, but don't many people find that if they manage their diet and their stress, that their ibs eventually goes away? I realize this may take years and there's no cure, but this has been the case with both me and my mother. Both of us have been diagnosed with ibs. She is doing fantastic and after four years, I'm doing pretty darn good too (I'm eating popcorn as we speak!) I was always under the impression that if, for whatever reason, the mind-gut dysfunction got better, that perhaps you would too. Thoughts?
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How funny, that's my FAVORITE restaurant. I live about a stone's throw from there! My bff and I go there all the time and we LOVE the soy cheese cake. Have you had it? It's amazing. I daydream about it. Maybe I'll go get a slice right now ...
I definitely don't know any places way the heck up where you are! But yeah, my general rule in NYC restaurants is seek and ye shall find. They are so used to obnoxious, pushy people here with weird diets, that if you just ask very sweetly to leave out the butter or whatever, I've really never encountered an attitude from people. They pretty much just respond to what you put out, you know?
The first six months in NYC can definitely be overwhelming. I've been here since August 2003, and I love it. It really feels like home and I can't stand the idea of not living here anymore. Everything you need is right here. And New Yorkers, in my experience, may be a little rushed and abrupt but are good hearted people. And I like people who tell it like it is!
I haven't had the low fat cookies you're talking about, but I love the vegan cookies from Whole Foods. They have some random Tahini cookies that everyone thinks are gross except for me. They are incredibly filling (sesame paste will do that) but they are super yummy and safe in moderation. But really, the Franchia cheesecake is where it's at. Have you had their iced tea "latte?" Scrumptious. Maybe we should do an NYC get together ...
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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