In Laravel we can setup relationships like so:
class User {
public function items()
{
return $this->belongsToMany(\'Item\');
}
}
For simplicity and symmetry you could create a new method in the User model:
// User model
public function availableItems()
{
$ids = \DB::table('item_user')->where('user_id', '=', $this->id)->lists('user_id');
return \Item::whereNotIn('id', $ids)->get();
}
To use call:
Auth::user()->availableItems();