Gluten-free London

Genius gluten-free tea!

2010-05-18T12:23:00.012Z

Thanks to the lovely people at Mission Media, I was invited to the Genius gluten-free tea at Claridge's last week. It was the start of a genius friendship between, erm, Genius and Claridge's - who will now offer a gluten-free tea, similar to the Ritz (see previous post).

In my humble opinion, Genius bread is the best g-f bread available, and it lent itself amazingly well to crustless, triangle sandwiches with delicious fillings - anyone who didn't know would have struggled to identify the fact that they were sans gluten. As the harpist serenaded us, and champagne glasses clinked, we were brought more and more sandwiches, and then, joy of all joys - GLUTEN-FREE SCONES with cream and jam!

This was something I seriously missed at the g-f Ritz tea and these were small but perfectly formed mouthfuls of pure heaven. Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, the creator of Genius products, is a michelin-starred chef and has spent years developing her g-f recipes. Her passion for creating great g-f food really comes through in the flavours and textures of her products and these scones were no exception! Such a treat. We also scoffed Claridge's desserts that were naturally g-f - raspberry macaroons and gorgeously rich chocolate mousse-cake but nothing triumphed the fact that here we all were, eating gluten-free tea - with finger sandwiches and scones - just like the rest of the gluten-eating world. Genius.
There was a great speech by Lucinda herself, who just proved what a lovely, down-to-earth person she was, and her dedication to the g-f cause is something we should all be very thankful for. With more people like her pushing great g-f products to supermarkets etc, hopefully they will respond by stepping up their game, meaning that g-f products just keep improving! Yay!

New Free From range and 50% off at Sainsbury's...

2010-03-02T16:01:00.003Z

So just a quick update (and an apology that it's been so long...) - just had an email from Sainsbury's promoting their all-new and improved Free From range. Some of it's on offer at 50% off and even the stuff that isn't looks worth trying out! I though the new 'granola-style' cereal looked good - and no nasties in it either - all natural, good stuff - YUM!

Please post a comment if you try any of the new stuff and let us all know what it's like, and I'll do the same.

Fingers crossed it's good...!

Genius bread!!

2009-09-06T16:11:00.002Z

Having just raved about Mrs Crimble's new fresh g-f loaf, I didn't think I would find anything better - at least not for a while... However, I think I have! It's a new product called Genius bread and is made by a mum who has children with allergies (according to the website, anyway!). It's only available in Tesco at the moment I think but it's well worth taking a trip to one to find it. They seem to do a brown and white loaf - I've only tried the brown so far but it's soft, squidgy and absolutely delicious - I made a PROPER sandwich to take to work for lunch last week and it was still soft and fresh after a morning in my bag - YAY!

M&S muffin!

2009-08-23T20:53:00.003Z

Marks & Spencer have started doing a g-f chocolate muffin in their in-store cafes - yay! It's very chocolatey but very light... slightly crumbly but I am absolutely not complaining - to be able to get something properly g-f in a cafe so you can join in with whoever you're with is the all important thing! They're individually wrapped so no worries about contamination either - woohoo!

Brilliant bread!

2009-08-23T20:48:00.005Z

Mrs Crimble has brought out a new loaf of g-f 'fresh' bread - and it's AMAZING!! Able to be eaten without being toasted (for the first couple of days) and it's ALMOST like that spongy texture of fresh normal bread from the pre g-f days... especially good with lots of butter and strawberry jam...! It's dusted with g-f flour and has a lovely farmhouse feel... It's great toasted too.
I've only found it in Sainsbury's so far but it's WELL worth getting hold of some - let me know if you find it anywhere else!

Konditor do new g-f brownies!

2009-07-19T21:13:00.003Z

Konditor & Cook have started doing an AMAZING gluten-free brownie! It's seriously rich, got black cherries in and white chocolate stripes on the top - UBERly good! They're my new favourite - WIN!

G-f snacks delivered to your desk...

2009-05-11T21:12:00.003Z

I recently tried a couple of boxes from Graze. Although they don't yet cater specifically for Coeliacs, this is something they are planning to do in the future. However, you can see a list of all the ingredients by clicking on each product and you can easily fill your boxes with g-f stuff. There are only a few no-nos - mostly the chili-flavoured nuts. You can get fresh fruit, dried fruit and loads of different nuts and seeds etc - and delivery is included in the cost - to anywhere in London.

Lots of fun when it arrives as the packaging is really lovely (and all recyclable) and the combinations of nuts/fruits etc are really imaginative and delicious. When I emailed them to ask about allergy-friendly foods, I got a really lengthy and detailed email in return.

Definitely worth a try!

G-f Hot Cross Buns...

2009-04-11T17:26:00.001Z

I think Sainsbury's g-f hot cross buns are pretty good - nice and spicy and delicious just with butter... Happy Easter!

Ooze risotteria...

2009-04-02T10:44:00.003Z

Went to Westfield the other night for dinner and tried out a risotto from Ooze. The menu is very clearly marked as to what is g-f and most of the risottos, if not all of them, are - yay!

I stupidly didn't take a picture as was so hungry that I wolfed it before I remembered, but I chose one with speck, asparagus and mushrooms and it was very tasty. Great consistency and great to know that it's g-f for sure. Reasonably priced too. There's one in Goodge St too if you're in the centre of town. A great option for a spring supper - especially with a glass of white wine!

Not in London, but still...

2009-04-02T10:34:00.005Z

I recently went down to Charmouth in Dorset for a couple of days and, whilst there, visited Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage Canteen, which is only about five miles away in Axminster, Devon. I had told them of my allergy when we booked and the extremely nice waiter who served us was very knowledgeable and knew what I could and couldn't have. Also, because all the food is local, seasonal produce and cooked fresh, there isn't much call for flour or hidden barley in stock etc - everything is pretty-much homemade...

It was a lovely atmosphere and delicious food - I had lamb's liver with potato gratin and greens in a balsamic gravy, followed by a vanilla yoghurt panacotta with rhubarb.

If you're ever down Devon way, it's well worth a visit!
We stayed at The White House Hotel in Charmouth, which is a great culinary resting place! The owner is a chef and prepares all the food himself - again using only local, seasonal produce. Again, informed them of my allergy and although they don't have g-f bread or anything, the food was all fine for me and extremely tasty, so a good place to stay if you're gluten-free... lovely, friendly people too.

Cotto update...

2009-04-02T10:25:00.007Z

Have been back to Cotto a couple of times and the coeliac owner was as welcoming as ever! He has also now developed his own g-f pizza base which is far superior to the bought ones they offer... for a couple of pounds extra you can have any of the toppings on the homemade g-f base and it's a winner! Absolutely enormous too - felt so stuffed afterwards I couldn't manage any of his famous g-f tiramisu!

However, the time before I had spaghetti carbonara for my main and purposefully left a bit of room to try it - it was OUTSTANDINGLY good! Really sweet, full of brandy and just a delicious, chocolatey, creamy bit of heaven! It often sells out quickly so make sure you book an early table if you want to be sure of getting some!

Be wary of Caffe Nero hot chocolate...

2009-02-24T17:01:00.004Z

Just read on their website - in the 'Nutritional Information' section - that Caffe Nero's hot chocolate contains dextrose derived from wheat... It weirdly says it doesn't contain gluten but I'm not sure how that can be, seeing as how gluten is IN wheat - WEIRD!

Anyway - just thought I'd post and let you know.

Exciting muesli news (mews?)...

2009-02-22T18:13:00.004Z

Calling all breakfast lovers - the best gluten-free cereal has arrived on UK shores - WOOHOO!

It's made by Bakery On Main - a US-based company - and is now available in Wholefoods on High St Kensington.

They have three different g-f ones - I chose apple, raisin and walnut because I'm a sucker for cinnamon. It is AMAZING. Really crunchy texture and seriously delicious (and there's no sugar, or high-fructose corn syrup in there which is a bonus). It's kind of expensive at £3.99 a bag, but I'm glad I forked out and will do again in an instant - am just rationing it by mixing a little with the Doves Farm g-f cereal flakes - a great base that tastes a bit like Special K - from what I remember...!

I couldn't recommend it more highly. Haven't seen it in the Fresh&Wild in Soho when I've been recently, but let me know if it's in your local branch and I'll add that to the post...

Wake up and enjoy a properly good, textureful and delicious breakfast - YUM!

Fish and chips review...

2009-02-18T10:57:00.004Z

Despite having uploaded the pics to my earlier post, I suddenly realised that I didn't actually ever post about what the fish and chips were like when I visited The Mermaids Tail! (Don't ask me why there's no apostrophe)

The gluten-free option is on the menu and all the staff seem to just know immediately what you want when you ask for it - no, "Sorry - what was that? What-free?", they just took the order and it arrived. The batter was really light and crispy and I actually preferred it to my memories of what 'normal' batter was like. I didn't feel overly stuffed after eating it and it wasn't too greasy.

The Mermaids Tail itself looks like a massively touristy 'does everything' restaurant - the signs blaze out a message of 'Surf and Turf!' 'Ribs!' etc etc, but inside there are nice (plastic) red and white checked table cloths and there are lots of different areas to sit in. It's pretty massive inside but once you're seated you don't feel like you're in a huge, open space because of all the different nooks and crannies.

DEFINITELY worth a visit as the g-f fish and chips are really good and provide yet another chance to eat 'normal' food with friends!

More about Scoop - the best gelato in London...

2009-02-16T15:29:00.003Z

I have been going pretty regularly every weekend to Scoop for amazing ice cream. It really is sensationally good and is some of the best ice cream I've ever had - and I lived in Italy for a year... it's properly Italian and the chocolate is to die for. I just thought I'd mention it again as it deserves to be visited... (especially now the weather's a little warmer)

They haven't had the g-f cones when I've been recently, but am presuming they probably get them in for the summer.

Please go and enjoy - if you like ice cream, it's the best treat ever.

Wraps review and pic...

2009-02-16T15:22:00.005Z

So, I just went to Danny's Gourmet Wraps to check out the g-f wraps. It was SO amazing to be able to join the lunchtime queue, get to the front and be able to say, "a gluten-free wrap please - The Sicilian", without any fuss, any ingredients list-checking (that normally takes about 10 mins and makes you feel guilty for holding up the queue) and any worries about anything - YAY!

The corn wraps were soft and didn't tear when folded around the filling and you get 2, as I mentioned in my first post about this place, as they are smaller than the massive flour ones. It's quick, it's tasty and it's GREAT to be able to get a gluten-free sandwich/take-away lunch that isn't soup or a salad - thank you, Danny!

Gluten-free wraps...

2009-02-13T12:58:00.003Z

A great day... I just read about somewhere that does gluten-free take-away wraps in London! FINALLY! Somewhere that means you can get something tasty, with texture and on the go - am very excited.

It's called Danny's Gourmet Wraps and is between Holborn and Russell Square and they have a whole gluten-free menu - they use corn wraps (you get 2 as they're smaller than the flour wraps) and there is a huge selection of both meat and vegetarian ones, and you can choose dairy-free options etc too. They also have a g-f brownie and lemon cake on the menu.

Unfortunately I'm not in London this weekend so going to have to wait until Monday to take a trip there to try one out (I've already chosen which one - The Sicilian) so will let you know how it is afterwards. If anyone else goes this weekend though, please post and let me know what it's like - I can't wait!

(They also say that if you tell them you have an allergy when they order, they'll change gloves/sanitise etc to minimise cross-contamination as obviously they have glutenous wraps there too... seem very clued-up - YAY!)

G-f fish and chips - Leicester Square

2009-02-02T11:49:00.005Z

A quick update on the fish and chips scenario for anyone who read about it from Sue in the comments on the 'Tea at the Ritz' posting...

It IS called The Mermaids Tail and it's in Leicester Square. Walked past it the other night and it's massive - on the right-hand side as you walk through the square from Charing Cross Road towards Piccadilly Circus... It's a big 'surf and turf' place and on their menu it definitely says, "Gluten-free batter available on request."

It's £10.50 for fish and chips and mushy peas, so pretty pricey, but what else would you expect in that area!

Going to try and go there soon to try it out, but if anyone else gets there first - please post and let us all know how it is!

Dal and chapattis

2009-01-28T17:41:00.004Z

I'm a big fan of dal and used to love mopping up leftovers with chapattis - before I knew I was Coeliac. Since then have just been having dal with rice - but found and tried out a great recipe for g-f chapattis today... really simple and very quick.

I used this recipe only I didn't have any ground rice so I just used rice flour and that seemed to work OK.

I've got a lot of Ayurvedic cookbooks which is where I get all my dal recipes from - my favourite is moong dal which is basically just moong dal (available from any local shops which stock Asian/world foods), spices and water. There are lots of recipes online too so just try some out!

The bread would be good with some spices/herbs etc in too - or maybe even nuts or something - will give some varieties a go and let you know!

Apologies and mueslis...

2009-01-27T10:46:00.004Z

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted - I was away a lot over Christmas and New Year and, due to the ever-foreboding 'credit crunch' I just haven't been able to afford to go out for meals, to be honest. I had seriously good intentions of doing a massive Christmas blog about all the good g-f stuff I'd tried - mince pies, M&S stuffing (three out of four of theirs were g-f this year - bonus), Christmas pudding etc etc, but then I didn't. I shall endeavour to do better in 2009. And if I can't go out, I'll put up some more recipes and things I've found in supermarkets etc.

Ooh - one thing I did try that I was very disappointed with was Muddy Cook - bespoke muesli. It was seriously expensive, but I thought I'd treat myself before Christmas and try it out as I love muesli. I make my own sometimes but at the moment I've run out of storage jars to keep all the stuff in...!

Anyway, you choose a base (they have a g-f one) then add whatever ingredients you want to it from a massive list. It arrived promptly and everything but I was SERIOUSLY disappointed with the texture. The base is SO powdery that it literally turns into sludge as soon as you add milk, and to be honest, I tried twice and then rather gave up. So now it's just sitting in the kitchen taking up space and making me annoyed that I spent so much money on it every time I look at it... It might be OK to make bircher out of or something, but I was not impressed.

However, I went to Fresh & Wild the other day and picked up some new granola - also expensive but half the price of the Muddy Cook and I had been given some vouchers so was getting nice things anyway. It's called 'Perfekt' (Perfekt Nutrition) and is made by someone called Karolina Gardiner. There were about four to choose from and one was g-f. Am happy to report that it's REALLY good - YAY! I love granola and have yet to find a good g-f one. I quite like the Southern Alps one but it's very chewy and this is only about 50p more. I didn't want to get through it too fast so I had some with some Dove's Farm Cereal Flakes (if you haven't tried these, they're great - a really good new addition to their fantastic range) and it made for a delicious bowl of cereal! Also had some sprinkled on my rice porridge this morning - it just added something a bit different and tasty so definitely a good investment.

If anyone else has found a great muesli/granola, please do post and let me know...

G-f tea at The Ritz!

2008-11-03T12:35:00.002Z

I went for tea at The Ritz the other day as I am a BIG fan of tea and they do a gluten-free one! You have to say when you book and then they confirm when you arrive... I was seriously impressed with the service (although you should be at the price it is - £37 per person!) and they were very attentive etc and very good re all the gluten-free stuff. You get a lot of food too - I couldn't finish it all (and I am not normally ever full) and the cakes were awesomely good.
The non g-f tea is finger sandwiches, followed by scones and fruitcake, then a selection of small cakes.
The g-f tea is open finger sandwiches (you get a lot of filling on each one), fresh fruit, and then a selection of cakes.
The sandwiches were on what tasted to me like the Dietary Specials white bread - but because all the crusts are cut off etc, and you get really good fillings, and they are open so only one bit of bread, the bread doesn't seem too dry, which I think it is if not toasted. Someone seems to have really thought about it and actually tasted it for themselves...!
The fresh fruit is obviously nice - although not quite the same as a scone! I think that was what made me extra full though - could have missed that out and moved straight onto the cakes...
There were three different cakes - a lovely blackcurrant macaroon filled with lemon cream and what I think was a white chocolate disc in the middle, a seriously rich chocolate dome filled with chocolate mousse, and a very tasty, moist and delicious mini carrot cake with proper cream cheese icing.
You also get a big silver pot of the tea of your choice and there's fresh clotted cream and jam for the scones (the cream was nice with the fruit and the chocolate mousse cake too).
All in all a REALLY good treat if you fancy a splurge - and you won't need much dinner later!
Pictures to follow...

Gluten-free pizza, pasta, gnocchi, garlic bread...

2008-10-23T09:09:00.003Z

So after a recommendation from Rochelle (thank you, Rochelle!), some friends and I visited Italian restaurant Cotto on Westminster Bridge Road for dinner on Tuesday night. As I'd read in many reviews, the welcome was as warm as you could hope for in a restaurant and I felt transported back to when I lived in Florence. It is a family-run, small Italian restaurant that has good food at its heart - and boy, is it good! The owner (who is originally from Naples but has lived in London for years) has been Coeliac for 20 years so he totally understand allergies and there are more g-f things on the menu than I've found anywhere else so far!
I had a pizza, which, although it was a bought base - so smaller and thicker than homemade, it was just so nice to be able to have a pizza in a restaurant and not worry about it! The toppings were delicious and it was such a treat. The non-g-f pizzas looked amazing too. Two friends had gnocchi which they said was absolutely delicious (and they're fairly picky about their Italian food, believe me!) and the other had crespolini (which weren't gluten-free) which were also winning apparently.
For pudding I had tartufo nero which was again, brilliant - and amazing to have more choice than just plain ice cream or sorbet.
Next time (it will be in the very near future, definitely!), I'm definitely going to give either the gnocchi or pasta a go - and try some of the g-f bread they offer too. It really is a lovely place and everyone there was so lovely. I couldn't recommend it more. Plus, if you're visiting, it's really near things like the London Aquarium etc so a great place to pop in and have some g-f, warming lunch.

In summary... if you're visiting London

2008-10-17T10:36:00.008Z

London is pretty good to live in if you’re gluten-free – and it’s not bad for visitors either! Restaurants are certainly becoming more clued up about what gluten is and staff are more friendly than they used to be when you mention allergies… Just don’t expect gluten-free bread or anything in restaurants – there are a couple which provide this but it’s CERTAINLY not the norm… I’ve only ever been offered it once!

More coffee shops are now also offering at least one gluten-free item (usually individually wrapped to avoid contamination), and the supermarkets all have good ranges of g-f products, both their own and other popular brands, so you certainly won’t starve! Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose are the best supermarkets to find g-f stuff – but beware! – lots of the smaller branches which are in central London don’t have anything g-f, so don’t rely on being able to pop in and find something! There’s a bigger Sainsbury’s Central near Tottenham Court Road which has a few g-f things in, but you’re better to go to a bigger branch, which might be slightly further out, and stock up if you’re able.

Below are some places that I like eating in and where I have had good experiences with allergy-friendly food – and also a couple that I haven’t tried yet, but that I’ve heard good things about! I’ve divided things up into ‘Snacks and Treats’, ‘Cheap Eats’ and ‘Restaurants’ – these are the more formal places, but they are all still pretty good value… Enjoy!

Snacks and Treats
If you’re out and about and near a Starbucks, it’s worth popping in to see if they have a gluten-free sandwich. They are literally the ONLY place in London I know of that do one (not even health food shops seem to), but I don’t think they realise the untapped market, and not all of their outlets stock them. Usually if they DO have them, they only have one or two, so if you see one – nab it! The bread they use is quite hard but, to be honest, I always enjoy the novelty of being able to get a take-away sandwich so much that I overlook that… the fillings are good – they seem to rotate them so that you get one flavour in all the shops for a month or so, then they switch to something else… I’ve had the egg mayonnaise one and the tuna – both good. The Starbucks in Waterloo station usually has some if you’re going on a train somewhere and fancy a snack! (Approx. £2.50 per sandwich)
Marks and Spencer have great labelling, so it’s easy to see if a product has gluten/wheat in. They don’t offer much in their ‘Food To Go’ section that is suitable for Celiacs, but if you look in the vegetable section, they have what they call ‘side salads’. These are small tubs of cold stuff, like mixed beans in vinaigrette, or spiced quinoa with sweet potato and are all very tasty – and a perfect size for a snack lunch/picnic. They have disposable cutlery near the tills to eat it with. (Approx. £2.50 per salad pot)
Costa Coffee is a chain of coffee shops that do a great gluten-free cookie – it’s almond and jam flavoured and is really good – great consistency. Comes individually wrapped so handy to have in your handbag/pocket for a teatime moment. (£1.50)
For a real treat, AMAZING cake shop Konditor and Cook do an absolutely delicious gluten-free cake by the slice. It’s called Almond St Clement and is a citrus flavoured sponge (made with ground almonds) with a sticky, marmalade-y topping – it’s SO good! It’s about £2.50 a slice, so pricey – but well worth every penny…!
There are lots of ice cream places that do gluten-free flavours (I like Oddono’s – a gelateria that has an outlet in Selfridges Food Hall), but so far I only know of one place that does gluten-free cones. It’s called Scoop and is in Covent Garden. This is the best Italian gelato in London - no contest! It's really cheap as well as you get MASSIVE portions and can have two flavours in a 'small'. (Approx. £1.50-4 an ice cream) If you’re in that area, there is a great muffin place that does gluten-free muffins – Muffinskis. Definitely worth a visit if you’re nearby and peckish! (Approx. £1.50 a muffin)

Cheap Eats
Leon is absolutely my favourite place to grab a hot (or cold – depending on the weather), gluten-free, fresh-tasting inexpensive meal. It’s been labelled as healthy fast food, and, even though it’s fast, I definitely don’t want anyone picturing anything like the dreaded ‘golden arches’…! For hot choices they do things like grilled chicken with a variety of sauces, tagines, Thai curry and stews – all served with brown rice and soy-based coleslaw. The cold options are tasty superfood salads – made with quinoa and a variety of vegetarian/meat-based ingredients. It’s really tasty and the menu is all labelled as to whether it’s g-f or not… as a bonus, they sell GREAT g-f cake bars – brownies (with a hint of orange – delicious) and lemon/ginger crunch – YUM! (Approx. £5 for a bigger dish, £8 to include a drink/cake)
Wagamama is a fantastic chain of Japanese noodle bars – they are really aware of allergies and there are a couple of dishes on the menu that are naturally g-f, and they can also adapt a whole host of others… They can use veg stock instead of pork (which has gluten in) and will use rice noodles instead of egg/soba where they can. They also do some rice-based dishes, and some interesting juices etc. One of the best things is that they have gluten-free soy sauce (Sanchi) so you can add some extra flavour. It’s cheap, quick and very tasty! (Approx. £10-15 a head, including drinks)
If it’s sushi you’re after, Itsu is my preference. If you ask what’s gluten-free they will find out for you (particularly on dishes if you’re eating in, they’re not so good on the take-away boxes), and it’s really fresh, tasty sushi. Yo! Sushi is another big chain but last time I went, they didn’t really have a clue what I could/couldn’t eat, so I prefer Itsu. They also have a couple of sweet treats that are gluten-free, such as a chocolate pot – sometimes sushi just isn’t satisfying enough…! (Approx. £20 a head, depending on how much you eat!)
Hell Pizza is my newest discovery – gluten-free pizza in London!! WOOHOO! Finally! It’s based in SW London (they deliver if you’re in that area), and you can eat in or get take-away (in a box and everything! A novelty for me!). They have some very strange flavour combinations on offer, but they offer good-size, crispy, gluten-free bases and I just went for a Margherita when I visited, which was good. I’d maybe recommend adding some veg though – I like rocket, but they didn’t have any! Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area (approx. £7-10 per pizza). Chains Strada and Pizza Express will let you take your own g-f base (if it’s sealed, so from a supermarket or something) and then will add the toppings and cook it in the wood-burning ovens, but you’ll need to take some g-f flour to for them to dust it, and all the supermarket ones over here are very small so it’s not such a good option… You also need to call the branch you’re going to, to make sure the chef is happy to do it.

Restaurants
Da Mario is a great Italian restaurant in Covent Garden that offers gluten-free pasta instead of regular with most of their sauces. It’s very small and very authentically Italian and is a great place for a cosy, cheap, delicious dinner. They use rice pasta and cook it to perfection so it’s not soggy or slimy – there’s no website but if you Google Da Mario gluten-free you should find lots of good reviews! It’s on Endell St, not far from Covent Garden tube station. (Main courses approx. £7-10)
Rasa is one of the best Indian restaurants I’ve ever been to – it’s all Keralan (South Indian) food and is really good value. There are a few branches around London, but I think the best one is the original, vegetarian one up in Stoke Newington (north London) and the one that specialises in fish on Charlotte St near Tottenham Court Road. The food is all really good and the staff are always really friendly and can find out any answers to wheat/gluten queries. However, I’ve always found that I can have most of the dishes – and, even better, there is a really great rice bread on the menu (a good substitute for Naan!) and they do a fantastic basket of snacks as a starter, which are all made out of gram/rice/lentil flour so are all g-f! (Main courses approx. £7-12, plus rice/bread etc)
La Trouvaille is a lovely French restaurant that I’ve only recently visited. The food was really lovely and they were very sweet about the whole allergy thing – I told them when I booked and when we arrived they asked who it was who had the allergy and then assured me that the chef would be preparing my food separately and that he could adapt all but two of the dishes so that I could enjoy a really wide choice. It’s all set menus (£29.50 for two courses, £35 for three) and is very central as it’s just off Carnaby St. Well worth a trip for a more special occasion.
Alloro is another good place that does a good set menu (£35 for three courses). It’s an Italian restaurant in Mayfair (near Green Park tube station) and they are always very good about allergies. There’s no gluten-free pasta or anything, but lots of other things – great salads and things to start, lovely grilled meat/fish for mains and some good ice cream for dessert! Not much more to say apart from that it’s very, very good and a great place for a smarter, romantic meal!

Fifteen - Jamie Oliver

2008-09-24T14:49:00.007Z

Went to Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant near Old Street for their set menu lunch the other day - 3 courses for £30. Lots of gluten-free choice as the menu is Italian - but not pasta and pizza - so was off to a good start... However, to get the lunch deal you have to choose from 2 or 3 options for each course so are more limited.
I had pork carpaccio with tuna mayonnaise - sounds strange but was tasty, then delicious salmon with mussels, then a fruity/meringue/ice cream pudding - I think some sort of berries and elderflower.
Have posted pics as I think they say more than I can! It was tasty though and definitely worth a visit if you fancy a swanky lunch at a bargain price (which I obviously do...!).

Hell Pizza is HEAVEN!!

2008-08-02T21:00:00.007Z

AT LAST!! G-F pizza in London!

I went on a bit of a mission to get to Hell Pizza today - sat in endless traffic in endless roadworks all the way across London, but it was worth it!

They don't just do gluten-free snack size, despite the website implying that - they do big ones too - they're about 12 inches, so perfect!

I was boring and just went for a Margherita, as I wanted to see what the pizza would be like before trying some of their weird and wonderful toppings...

Verdict - pretty damn good! It's no Risotteria (which is in New York), but I don't think anywhere will ever beat that for me, so the fact that this is top behind that for me means I think it's REALLY good and, to be honest, am just so grateful to them for doing g-f pizza at all - FINALLY! WOOHOOOOO! (I'm excited...)

I would DEFINITELY make the effort to cross London again - on a regular basis - to get more. The base was crispy and thin (think it definitely had some corn in) and the tomato sauce and cheese were really good. So, all in all - A TRIUMPH!

THANK YOU HELL PIZZA! You will make SUCH a difference to Coeliacs all over London - please open some more branches!!

AND - gluten-free ice cream cones!

2008-07-21T13:34:00.002Z

Almost as exciting as the pizza news, there is a gelateria in Covent Garden that does gluten-free cones – YAY!
They are available here: Scoop.
Not sure if they’re the waffle cone ones (which I must say I much prefer) or the cheaper, more synthetic ‘normal’ ones, but I am planning a visit in the very near future so will post the details once I’ve been…
The flavours all sound delicious and it's got great reviews for the quality of the ice cream so double yay…
Much as I love ice cream in a cup, to have the choice is such a rarity that I can’t thank Scoop enough!
Things are looking up for the gluten-free gang…

GLUTEN-FREE PIZZA! IN LONDON!!!

2008-07-21T13:31:00.002Z

I was going to come up with some fancypants, pun-heavy heading about heaven existing – but in hell – or something, but I decided it was more important to just get straight to the point…
There is a GLUTEN-FREE PIZZA TAKE-AWAY/DELIVERY/EAT-IN place in London – woohoooooooooooo!
FINALLY!
Hell Pizza, down in Fulham (unfortunately they only deliver around that area at the moment) do gluten-free bases!! They only do what they call a ‘snack’ size, and you have to pay £1 extra – but who cares?! This is a great advance for gluten-free goodness!
You can custom create your own pizza, choosing toppings etc, or you can choose one of their weird and wonderful creations.
I haven’t been yet to try it out, but I am hoping to VERY soon (despite living miles away!) so will post when I’ve given it a go…

GF sausages

2008-05-13T16:17:00.001Z

I’ve tried quite a few gluten-free sausages in my time, so I thought it might be useful if I posted about where I’ve got good ones from…

The Ginger Pig is a GREAT butcher which has a good selection of (marked) gluten-free sausages. They do a really interesting range, including things like Jamaican Jerk and Lamb Merguez as well as more traditional ones, like Pork and Apple.

I know their Traditional ones aren’t gluten-free, and there are a few others that aren’t, but the butchers are always really helpful and know exactly what’s in their meat so will always help you out – plus there’s a big blackboard with which ones are GF… they don’t always have all of the different ones in, but there’s usually a good choice.

We’ve been going to the one in Marylebone for ages, but there’s a good one in Borough Market too. There’s also one in Hackney but haven’t been to that one.

Also in Marylebone is The Natural Kitchen. They do good chicken sausages that are gluten-free. I don’t like the texture so much if I eat them as sausages, but they’re really good for chopping up and using in rice/pasta dishes etc if you don’t feel like pork. They do two different ones – chicken, coriander and something and a mustard-y one.

Quite a few of Marks and Spencer’s sausages are gluten-free too – and not just the more expensive ones…! Some of their cheaper ones are too as, hooray, they use rice starch instead of wheat and rusk to bulk out the ones with less meat content…

Not all of them are though, so make sure you read the label carefully… they have a good labelling system though which clearly points out if things contain wheat/gluten etc.

Waitrose also have some gluten-free ones – they are actually called ‘gluten-free’ as part of the name – their others have wheat.

Seeing as how BBQ season is upon us, I hope this is useful!

Quick and easy salad

2008-05-12T16:49:00.003Z

Despite working practically IN Borough Market, it's a little expensive to be buying lunch there every day (plus it's only fully open on Thursday-Saturday) so I made a salad this morning to bring in for lunch.

It was REALLY simple, took about 5 mins and was pretty darn tasty - so I thought I'd share.

It consisted of:

2 small carrots - peeled and chopped
Some rocket
Some tinned mung beans
Some cherry tomatoes (chopped in half)
A few (raw) fine beans - chopped
Some chopped beetroot (I bought it fresh and cooked it for 3 hours yesterday, but some of the prepackaged stuff isn't in horribly glutenous malt vinegar - I think Sainsbury's organic stuff is OK and M&S also do baby beetroot that aren't in vinegar)
Some M&S Arbroath hot smoked salmon flakes

Literally mixed all the veg and mung beans together, dressed with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and salt and then when it got to lunchtime, added the salmon.

Enjoy!

Corn spaghetti

2008-05-12T16:48:00.003Z

I tried it - it was good.

I recommend it.

Sainsbury's Free From corn spaghetti.

Seriously, if you can have corn, I really think theirs is the most normal-pasta-like pasta available.

Gluten-free lasagne

2008-04-30T11:39:00.002Z

Just thought I'd share the info that Sainsbury's Free From Corn Lasagne Sheets are really great - I've only ever seen Orgran's mini ones before but the ones from Sainsbury's are full size and work really well - I've been making a good vegetarian one recently and none of my friends said they could tell there was anything different to a normal veg lasagne...

Their corn penne and fusilli is also really good - it has a really good texture and means you can have al dente pasta... the rice ones are good but I find tend to go soggy so quickly.

I haven't tried their corn spaghetti yet but someone told me yesterday that they'd had it and that it was great so I'll let you know when I've tried it...

Their range is also not very expensive compared to a lot of the gluten-free pastas available and is WAY better than Tesco's own-brand Free From pasta which is a mixture of soy flour and other things (that I don't believe need to be there) which turns into mush...

1-0 to Sainsbury's...!

Gluten-free veggie burgers at Borough Market

2008-04-28T15:39:00.004Z

I live and work near Borough Market and always feel very jealous of my gluten-eating friends when I go as nearly ALL the hot food comes in buns/baguettes/panini/wraps etc that I can't have...
Obviously a lot of the cheese/meat samples etc are gluten-free and very tasty, but it's not the same as being able to enjoy a freshly made hot sandwich or whatever.
However, I have recently become a huge fan of The Veggie Table - which is a stall that serves hot, vegetarian food - and one of their burgers is gluten-free - YAY!
It's a quinoa/mushroom burger and is bound with gram flour (it also has a bit of chili and I think some other spices) and is SERIOUSLY flavoursome and a nice texture - if you like quinoa, anyway, which I do...
They usually serve the burgers in a wrap in a box with some salads, but if you ask not to have the wrap you just get LOADS of the salads (there is always a selection) and your burger on top so you can eat it standing up (they have forks) - which means you can join in the al fresco fun of your wrap-devouring friends...
They have fliers with a website on but I haven't been able to find it, so here's a link to an interview with the people who run it from another site - Interview.

Enjoy!

Muffin recipe

2008-04-20T15:13:00.002Z

Sorry it's been so long since I posted - I was in a job where I was commuting 4 hours a day which didn't leave much time to go out for food...! I also just got a puppy so for the last few weeks have been hanging out with him so not been out to eat much at all...

However, to make up for it, I thought I'd post this recipe for banana muffins which I adapted from a couple of others - I think they're delicious and a really great texture, but let me know what you think!

Gluten-free Banana Muffins (makes 6)

3oz Rice flour
1oz Ground almonds
1/2 teaspoon Bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon Gluten-free baking powder
1/2 teaspoon Xanthan gum
Pinch of salt
EITHER 2.5oz of caster sugar or 2oz Fructose
30g Butter
1 egg
100ml buttermilk
2 small bananas

First - turn on the oven to 180 degrees celsius. Then melt the butter in a saucepan and leave to cool.
Then put all the dry ingredients into a bowl - so the rice flour/ground almonds/sugar/salt/bicarb. of soda/xanthan gum/g-f baking powder/salt.
Whizz up the two bananas - I use one of those handheld blender things - about £20 and one of the most useful kitchen tools I think...
Beat the egg in a jug or similar, add the buttermilk and the butter to it and mix.
Make a hole in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid mixture. Stir a bit then add the liquefied banana and mix properly.
You will end up with quite a sticky batter but shouldn't be dry.
Divide between six muffin cases in a muffin tray and put in oven for about 25 mins.
Stick a knife in after this time (or maybe at around 22/23 mins) and if it comes out clean, they're done. I always worry that they feel soggy so put them back in but they will harden as they cool so don't over do them!
Transfer muffins to a rack to cool.

Honestly - this recipe is so easy and I think they're really good. I'm not a big fan of really sugary things so I prefer to use fructose (natural fruit sugar) - you always need less than with normal sugar... However, if you prefer things really sweet then just experiment with what you like. The banana adds a lot of sweetness anyway...

I've also tried blueberry and vanilla ones - add a teaspoon of vanilla essence and instead of mushed up bananas put in a load of blueberries - however, the mixture may need some extra liquid if you do this - I find the liquefied banana really helps the texture.

Let me know what you think!

If you have a sweet tooth...

2008-01-25T16:49:00.000Z

... read on! I have recently eaten the BEST gluten-free cake I've ever had, AND the best biscuit. Honestly, they were both so good and you would never know they were gluten-free...

The cake comes from Konditor and Cook and is called Almond St Clement. It's a moist, spongy, orangey cake with a delicious sticky layer of citrusy goodness on top and really is perfection. I got given a whole one for my birthday recently and I almost ate the whole thing (meant for 12) for breakfast. They also do some other gluten-free things - helpfully pointed out on their 'retail list'.

The biscuit is from, surprisingly, Costa Coffee. It's called 'Gluten-Free Raspberry Shortcake' and so far every branch I've been into (bar one) has stocked them. It tastes a bit like a cherry bakewell (which I love so was instantly sold on flavour) but the best thing is the texture - it has jam in the middle and is like a shortcake cookie on the outside so it's really almost like having a soft cookie (the kind I used to eat from the bakery bit in Sainsbury's - where you get 5 in a bag or whatever - pre-gf days...) - AMAZING.

Seriously, give both of them a try - they are truly delicious and unlike so many of the gf products, are exactly like their wheat-filled friends...

Swanky gluten-free goodness

2007-11-12T16:16:00.001Z

I ate out at two tres posh restaurants this weekend - and both had a lot of things that were gluten-free on their menu... the first was Chez Kristof in Hammersmith, where I had three courses of really good food. I had mentioned when I booked the table that I had allergies and quite soon after we sat down a waitress came over and asked me about it and then told me what I could and couldn't have on the menu, which was helpful - avoided the normal delay of having to ask if something is OK then waiting for them to find out from the kitchen...
I had a really good roasted butternut squash, goats' cheese and pine nut salad to start with, followed by mussels and chips, then a poached pear with cinnamon ice cream - the only mistake they made was that the ice cream came in a brandy snap basket (I didn't actually ask if it had flour in, but as they 99% do I avoided it...). Was really good food and is a cool place.
On Saturday night, I went to Alloro - a swanky Italian in Mayfair. Again, the waiter was really attentive and we got a different amuse bouche than the table next to us, which I presumed was to cater for me, which was nice - especially as they didn't mention it or make a fuss... (we had delicious asparagus with pesto rather than a mini fishcake) I then had baby mozzarella and 'aubergine caviar' (which was huge!), then roasted sea bream with braised fennel. For pudding I had creme brulee.
Both places were really nice and it seemed like they really made an effort to make sure I was catered for, but without making a big song and dance about it. If you fancy a swankadero meal, or are celebrating something, I'd definitely recommend either of these...

Winning gluten-free muesli!

2007-10-29T16:46:00.001Z

The days of powdery, plastic-tasting gluten-free muesli are over - hooray! A Scottish company (who are extremely friendly) called Spoff sent me some samples recently and they were winning.
They do a range of normal mueslis, as well as wheat-free and gluten-free ones and the ones I tried (all g-f, of course) were really good.
I am a particular fan of the Gluten-Free Highland Muesli with Date, Walnut and Sunflower Seed - there is no added sugar but there is a natural sweetness due to the spices they add - I think this one had some cinnamon in, but I may be wrong... I also made porridge out of one of the other samples, which, instead of having that slightly strange taste I've noticed when I've tried heating up other g-f mueslis, had a really subtle (but NOT bland!) hint of spice and all the ingredients just melted into each other to make a really warming and delicious breakfast.
They also do rice flakes for making plain porridge and, joy of all joys, a chocolate version - again no added sugar which is a bonus - just rice flakes and cocoa - perfect for the wintry days ahead...
You can order online, a few independent shops stock their products - and, even more convenient, some Waitrose stores have just got some in so make sure you get hold of a bag somehow - I would say this is the best gluten-free muesli I've ever had - and, believe me, I've tried a few, and even made my own! I'll be leaving it to the experts from now on...

Gluten-free Italian - Covent Garden

2007-09-24T16:52:00.000Z

There is a lovely Italian restaurant on Endell St, near Covent Garden tube (almost opposite swanky media hang-out The Hospital) which does gluten-free pasta. It's called Da Mario and is totally authentic and seems to have been transported straight from Florence to London, complete with comedic waiters. The food is really good and they offer gluten-free linguine or penne and you can have most of the sauces. They also have specials which change regularly - when I went last there was a risotto which was also gluten-free. For pudding there is creme brulee on the menu and also ice creams and sorbets which are gluten-free.

It's pretty reasonably priced too - between £6.50 and £10-ish for pasta dishes and then a bit more for meat/fish mains.

At last - pasta in a restaurant (that isn't a chain...) - hooray! They don't have a website but if you search for Da Mario Endell St you'll find plenty of reviews...

Highly recommended for a girly supper.

Muffins galore

2007-08-15T15:27:00.000Z

I headed to Covent Garden the other day to find a muffin shop that I'd read about online that does gluten-free muffins - Muffinskis. I found it and it was certainly worth the walk from work as they indeed do make gluten-free ones and the one I had was seriously good! There was blueberry and white chocolate and raspberry and white chocolate on offer - I went for the blueberry. It was pretty fricking tasty - crunchy on top and filled with loads of blueberries so gooey inside - great texture and delicious - hooray! The man behind the counter, who I think is possibly the owner, was really friendly too and knew what was in the muffins (no soya flour, thank God) which is always useful. DEFINITELY worth a visit. My trip there inspired me to come up with a better recipe for my own muffins which I did and I have to say they were seriously winning (banana ones). I will post the recipe shortly...

So visit Muffinskis - you can eat in or take away so a good place to meet friends for tea as, for once, you won't have to miss out on the cakes - yay!

Gluten-free Indian food in Soho

2007-08-09T13:13:00.000Z

Rasa will always be my favourite Indian restaurant in London, but for lunchtime take-aways I have a new best friend - Imli. As a restaurant that introduced 'Indian tapas' to London, I have always been suspicious of it and never ventured in, but after Googling "best dal in Soho" and seeing it I thought I'd check out the menu on the website. I then discovered that they do take-away AND that on the Imli To Go menu they mark what is gluten-free - amazing!
I went there to pick up some lunch today and had some of the best tadka dal I've ever had, some rice and a delcious passion fruit lassi - all for £5.97 (you get a 10% discount if you pick it up rather than have it delivered) - bargain!
It really was good and they do three desserts which are all gluten-free, starters, mains and sides. No gluten-free bread available but you get free poppadums with your order anyway. A winner.

Vegan, vegetarian - and gluten-free!

2007-08-09T13:02:00.000Z

Having just started working in Soho, after a lengthy spell of lunchtime-option nothingness in Queen's Park, I have been like a child in a (gluten-free) sweet shop - running around trying all the different options on my lunch hour. I did some Googling to see what came up and found a review for Beatroot - a tiny cafe practically opposite my new office. It has a range of hot and cold options to choose from and three different-sized containers to put them in - ranging from £3.70 - £5.70.
The staff are really friendly and knowledgeable about what's in the food and there are loads of gluten-free options - they even use gluten-free soy sauce in their stir-fries. It's all vegetarian and I think they do lots of vegan things too - including nut/dried fruit cakes etc.
The food I had (dal, rice and some tofu stir-fry) was all really good, simple and nutritious - if I had one complaint it would be that it was slightly bland as not much salt - however, that's good for me so I shouldn't really make an issue out of it...!
Definitely somewhere I'll be returning too - especially as summer dissolves into the cooler months and warming food is on the agenda...

Noodles

2007-06-04T13:33:00.000Z

Wagamama is a cheap, easy, quick option and they have a gluten-free menu (you can see it online too so can plan what you want - online menu). There are a couple of delicious things on the menu that are naturally gluten-free and then there are a few other things they will adapt for you. I've found the one near Leicester Square the best for the waitress really knowing what she was talking about when it came to allergies but they are all very accommodating.

Arbutus and Andrew Edmunds

2007-05-11T11:03:00.000Z

I recently ate out at both Arbutus and Andrew Edmunds in Soho.
Went for a Saturday lunch in Arubutus (they do a great value lunch menu, although in the end I ordered off the normal menu) - the food was good but the main reason I'm posting about them is because the waiter was really thoughtful about what I could and couldn't eat. He checked with the chef what I could eat off the menu etc and was pretty speedy about it so there wasn't the frustrating waiting around that there often is before you can make your order...
The nicest thing though was that he checked what puddings I could have BEFORE bringing the dessert menu, so I was able to just order straight away - made a real difference for a waiter to be so thoughtful - it's the little things...

Andrew Edmunds is a great restaurant that is really good value - an absolutely delicious meal for two (two or three courses each and half a bottle of wine is about £50 plus service) - and the food is really delicious. Simple ingredients combined to be seriously tasty without being fussy. They have plenty on the menu that is naturally gluten-free as they use fresh ingredients etc. I love their dressed crab and they do a great risotto and some lovely fish dishes. The menu changes daily and is hand-written and there are specials on a blackboard inside. Really friendly staff and a lovely atmosphere mean it's always pretty busy... They don't have a website but their number is 0207 437 5708 if you want to book a table sometime... I would.

Honeybuns cakes

2007-05-09T15:18:00.000Z

Honeybuns make absolutely delicious (although quite heavy - but in a good way!) gluten-free shortbread cakes etc.
I am a particular fan of Millionaire's Shortbread and that is something I have really been missing but they do one! It's really good and there are versions with nuts etc on top too - sort of like a rocky road with added polenta/almond shortbread base...
You can get them in loads of places but John Lewis' 'The Place To Eat' is a good bet if you have one of those in your hometown...
I was also particularly excited to discover that they have a stall at Glastonbury so now I don't have to worry about what I can eat for breakfast - woohoo!
They also do brownies and other stuff and you can mail order them from sites like Goodness Direct.

Absolutely amazing salads!

2007-04-04T13:25:00.000Z

My new favourite place is Rainforest Cuisine. I first tried some of their aboslutely delicious salads/flans (which are all gluten-free, sugar-free etc - just lots of seriously tasty vegetables/salads all bound together with themselves) at the farmers market in Lyric Square in Hammersmith one Thursday, and then I discovered that they do Spitalfields on Wednesdays and Sundays and seeing as how I work near there it's become my Wednesday treat!
The food is all so colourful - a lot of it is Caribbean - and it's also all raw and organic and living so it's incredibly healthy...
They also do great cakes - again all gluten/sugar-free etc - made from bananas, dates, cashews, coconut, sultanas etc.
They also do Chelsea market on Saturdays, Alexandra Palace on Sundays and Wednesdays at Swiss Cottage.
If you live anywhere near any of these places, or even if you don't, you should definitely try some of their stuff. The mung bean and lentil salad is especially good.
It's £5 for a salad box, or a (huge) piece of flan and 3 different salads - topped with wonderful homemade hummus and either tomato or spicy sauce.
Y.U.M.

Leon add gluten-free labels

2007-04-01T20:33:00.000Z

Just a quick update - Leon have added the symbol 'GF' to their menu so that you can easily and quickly see what is gluten-free, as well as wheat-free, dairy-free etc... hooray! Makes it even easier to decide what to have off their extensive and coeliac-friendly menu - yay!
Also - they have just changed from the winter menu to the spring one and there are loads of new things to try - delicious.

Sainsbury's add new stuff to Free From range...

2007-03-15T12:34:00.000Z

Sainsbury's have added some great new stuff to their Free From range... Unfortunately they don't seem to still be doing the pitta breads (which were perfect for making a sandwich if I was going on a train journey or something) but they have added frozen fish fingers which I'm very excited about...! They have also now got lots of frozen Free From ready-meals, which are not something I'm a fan of, but it's nice to have the option...
They also stock the Dietary Specials frozen pizza, which, if you add your own toppings, is a pretty good Friday-night-in-with-a-movie option.
They have also re-introduced their pizza bases, but they are now half the size and you get two in a packet... so not ideal for taking to Strada (as mentioned in my last post) but maybe you could take two...
The Sainsbury's near Clapham Common tube has a great selection of all this stuff but you can get a good list of most of the stuff that's available online...
If we're on the subject of supermarkets, I would add that Waitrose always has reallly good selections of Free From stuff in most of their stores, some Sainsbury's have a great selection, some don't (the Angel one didn't last time I checked) and bigger Tesco's are also good.
However, small branches like the Locals or Expresses are generally rubbish and don't stock any Free From stuff. I'm campaigning for this to change (it's not like people with allergies don't suddenly need a loaf of bread or whatever, albeit different bread, or want to be able to nip in somewhere central on the way home or something) so if anyone else wants to email supermarkets to help the cause, please feel free!

Strada - you can take your own pizza base!

2007-03-13T17:08:00.000Z

I lived in Italy for a year and when I came back to London, Strada was the place I went for pizza as theirs were the closest thing to the real deal that I could find (this was before I discovered I was Coeliac). When I found out that I was allergic to gluten/wheat, pizza was one of the things I dreaded not being able to eat most - as I love good pizza (particularly Italian).
However, all was not lost - Strada allow you to take your own pizza base which they will then add delicious toppings to and cook in the wood-burning oven! Amazing!
It's always best to ring the branch you're going to beforehand to check that it's OK, and some of them ask you to bring some gluten-free flour with you too so that they can dust the base to stop it sticking, but they are so lovely that they don't even charge you for a whole pizza - just the toppings that you have!
It is so nice to be able to go out and eat pizza in a restaurant.
However, I am now at a bit of a loss as Sainsbury's, whose bases I found best for this, seem to have stopped doing them since they introduced their new range of Free From foods...
I haven't tried with any others yet as have been making my own and staying in (I'm not sure what the Strada policy is on having to use a sealed base rather than a homemade one as I guess they need to know exactly what's in things in case you claim food-poisoning or something) but am sure there are other good ones out there - suggestions welcome! My problem is that they're all so small and thick...
However, if you're ever in New York you can get the best gluten-free pizza in the whole world ever at this amazing gluten-free Italian (which also does toasted focaccia paninis and cupcakes and stuff - all gluten-free!!) on Bleecker St called Risotteria.
Seriously, it's my new favourite place in the world, but Strada is a pretty good back-up for when you're not in NYC...

Amazing Indian food - with gluten-free bread!

2007-03-12T11:19:00.000Z

Rasa has a few restaurants in London (I don't want to label them a 'chain' as it has the wrong connotations for these friendly, small, lovely places) - I've so far visited the one on Charlotte Street, W1 and the one just behind Oxford St, W1.
The food is really, reallly good and the Charlotte Street one specialises in fish dishes - all of which are absolutely delicious - and there is a vegetarian one in Stoke Newington, which is the original venue.
There is a delicious rice-flour bread, which has onions and garlic and other tasty things in too, and the basket of traditional, crunchy starters are all made with gram or lentil or rice flour so are all gluten-free! Woohoo!
Seriously, if you want a great curry and want to be able to enjoy all the sides that you would have to miss out on in other places, give Rasa a go.
The fish one and the one off Oxford St are pretty reasonable (main curries about £12 - worth it) and the vegetarian one is positiviely bargainous, with delicious vegetable curries for about £6.
Lots of choice for puddings too for Coeliacs - traditional Indian rice pudding and kulfi are winning.
Mmmm mmmm.

Best burgers in town

2007-03-06T13:41:00.000Z

The best burgers I've had so far in London are from Hache, in Camden. The restaurant itself is quite small and decorated in a very cosy, intimate way. The burgers are 100% beef and are seriously tasty. There are loads of different options and most are gluten-free (without the bun obviously). If you ask for no bun you get extra salad, which is always good, and in this case particularly good as the salad dressing is delicious.
Unfortunately, if you're vegetarian and coeliac you won't fare so well on the burger front, as the veggie burgers (there are a couple of different ones) aren't gluten-free, but if you eat fish there is a tuna steak, and there are vegetarian salad options.
The skinny fries are also the best I've ever had (and I've heard the chunky ones are good too but I don't like fat chips so haven't tried them).
I've also never indulged in the puddings as am always too full after the burger, but they do a range of ice creams which I'm sure would be gluten-free as they use really good, fresh ingredients for everything.
It's also very reasonable which is always a plus - I mean we're not talking McDonalds prices, but burgers are under £10 and you get enough chips in one portion to share (and that's coming from someone who loves chips and usually hates sharing them).
Hache is on Inverness St, really near the tube and the market so if you're tired and hungry after shopping, or in need of sustenance before a gig in the Barfly or something, make your way here - you won't be disappointed.

Leon does dinner

2007-03-06T13:39:00.000Z

Since my last post, I have been to Leon to try out their dinner menu - they have some of the same big dishes but then a whole host of different hot and cold mezze that don't feature on the lunch menu.
As expected, it was award-winningly good.
And you can have the gluten-free brownie hot with delicious vanilla ice-cream.
Well worth a visit.

Leon - my favourite place to eat lunch

2007-02-28T17:30:00.000Z

Leon has been touted by any critic who's ever eaten there as the best place to get healthy fast food, but I would say that even using the phrase "fast food" doesn't do it justice, as, in my mind, that instantly creates an image of those despicable golden arches.
Leon is all about really tasty, organic food that will certainly keep hunger more locked up than that evil monster in the Shreddies adverts.
There are superfood salads, snack-size portions of the main meals, soups, wraps and 'big dishes' - delicious grilled chicken, cauliflower and sweet potato curry, meatballs etc - all served with brown rice (with added seeds and spices) and soy-based slaw.
There is also a plethora of drinks on offer - from their winter cold-buster of hot ginger and lemon, to truly thick and wonderful ice cream shakes, and plenty of smoothies, teas and coffees too.
You can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner here and if I was made of money, I would.
The best thing about Leon is that so much of their food is gluten/wheat-free - because it's all freshly made with simple, delicious and nutritious ingredients. The brownies (with a hint of orange oil) and the ginger-lemon crunch cake are both gluten/wheat-free and I can't recommend them more highly.
They are the best brownies I've ever had (and I used to make some pretty good ones) and non-Coeliacs would never notice that they were any different to usual (they're made with ground almonds instead of flour).
Seriously, if you've never been to a Leon, give it a go - you won't be disappointed. It's not cheap but it's totally reasonable for what you're getting.
Such is my dedication to Leon, I will always have a link to their website on the left so click away. I've only visited the Carnaby St and Spitalfields branches but there are more (and I think they're expanding as we speak). Enjoy.