As those of you who have studied abroad know, the friends that you make during your semester quickly become your family. Meghan, Gracie, Annie, Tim and James, my “London family,” went through everything together: breakups, makeups, classes, tests, early-morning wandering around London, 24-hour trips to Sweden, countless other trips for that matter, and many, many visits to the pub.

We’ve been lucky enough to stay close, and try to see each other whenever we can (remember Annie and I exploring California’s famous flower fields?). Well Meghan was in New York City for the week, and I was so excited that we were able to get together one night for dinner.

We headed to Risotteria, a gluten-free restaurant on the Upper West Side.

It was wonderful seeing her, and it felt like no time had passed at all!

As a flashback, here we are seven years ago with Gracie in London. Meghan and I were so much blonder then!

This is the three of us exploring the Scottish Highlands and visiting Nessie at Loch Ness.

And here’s our whole London family right before a disco cruise of the Thames. Because what other way would you want to see the Thames, really?

Anyway, back to our dinner. I was a little, shall we say, cautious about gluten free food. I absolutely love bread, and figured gluten free bread must taste like a depressing substitute. Risotteria completely proved me wrong. The breadsticks that we started with tasted like… actual breadsticks! Based on taste alone, I would have had no idea that they were gluten free. Amazing, right?!

Our entrees were equally delicious, and equally gluten free. We shared the Pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella and white truffle oil.

We also shared a bowl of the Classic Risotti with parmesan cheese.

I still can’t get over how good everything tasted, and how you couldn’t taste that the food was gluten free at all. So for those of you who are gluten free, and (clearly) for those of you who aren’t, Risotteria is the place for you!

To find out more information on Risotteria, click here.

Here’s to many more London family reunions!

~A