Gluten Free Travel: Brighton

I always had a feeling Brighton would be suitable for coeliacs and I wasn't disappointed... 

For our first night in Brighton we ate at Food For Friends, a vegetarian and vegan restaurant with plenty of gluten-free (GF) options on the menu. We settled for the three course menu and they delivered one incredibly tasty meal after another, to be honest we were a little spoilt by how good the food and service was! For starters we both had Shiitake, chanterelle and smoked ricotta paté with red onion marmalade on a homemade toasted (GF) brioche. 

For the main meal I had a coconut curry with fried aubergine, courgettes and garden peas served with split pea and sesame dumplings, spiced rice and a crunchy fresh papaya, mango and cashew salad - the flavours were amazing! 

They had run out of ice cream for dessert on the set three course menu so the chef kindly offered to make me a dessert from scratch, so.... I chose the lemongrass infused crème brûlée with summer berry salad and a homemade lemon thyme sablé. 

Although the food sounds 'posh' don't be put off - the food was incredible, the atmosphere was lovely and the staff were very accommodating and friendly. This is definitely one of those places were I wish I had a lot more money so I could have eaten there all the time! 

The next day for lunch we decided to try Iydea on Kensington Gardens and I'm so glad we did! Again a vegetarian restaurant, but the generous portions mean you're full for hours and the prices were very reasonable. I fancied trying a dessert but was always too full to stomach one! It cost about £8 each for a substantial lunch, including a freshly squeezed juice. 

I had sweet potato, chickpea and mushroom massaman, with pesto new potatoes, rice and hummus and my boyfriend had the same massaman curry, green beans with almond and dill, broccoli, roast peppers and rocket salad with a coriander and garlic dressing and tahini roasted seeds on top. 

First you choose one main dish, then two hot veg or salads, then pick any two toppings.

The food was so good we went back the next day for more! The one thing I will say is space is quite limited so if you want to eat inside you may have to wait for a table, but if you're not so fussed then you can always get your food to go instead. 

On our second night in Brighton we decided to order in to our hotel from Pizzaface. They were so tasty! The choice of ingredients and selection of pizzas they offer, all on gluten-free bases, was staggering. To be honest we were a little spoilt for choice! So we could try more than one pizza we ordered both on a gluten-free base. First of all we tried the Jakub pizza - chorizo, pork and wild boar salami, caramelised onion, dollops of mascarpone and a sprinkling of dried chilli flakes and oregano. 

AND we tried the Cuca pizza - mozzarella, smoked mozzarella, shiitake and oyster mushrooms, caramelised onions, rosemary and finished with Napoli salami. Oh and a bottle of wine! 

These pizzas were something special and I kind if wish they had a branch in Manchester... 

I hope this brief intro to gluten-free Brighton helps if you're planning on going. As I was only there for a couple of days I sadly didn't get to try all of Brighton's tasty GF options, so here's a list below of some other options:  

Infinity Foods Café -  (Breakfast or Lunch)
50 Gardner Street, North Laines, BN1 1UN (01273 670743)

Donatello -  (evening meal - Italian)

1-3 Brighton Place, The Lanes, Brighton, BN1 1HJ (01273 775477)

Pinocchio -  (evening meal - Italian)

22 New Road, Brighton, BN1 1UF (01273 677676)

Al Duomo -  (Italian)

7 Pavillion Buildings, Brighton, BN1 1EE (01273 326741)

Famous Moe’s Pizza – 20 Southover Street, Brighton,  BN2 9UD (01273 676867)

Indian Summer (curry) - 

69 East Street, Brighton, BN1 1HQ (01273 711001)

Love Fit Café -  (Breakfast or Lunch)

14 Brighton Square, Brighton, BN1 1HD (01273 777941)

The Chilli Pickle (curry) - 

17 Jubilee Street, Brighton, BN1 1GE (01273 900383)

Moorish - 84 Dyke Road, Brighton, BN1 3JD (01273 777765)

Angel Food Bakery - 20 Meeting House Lane, Brighton, BN1 1HB (01273 208404)

Gluten Free Travel

Gluten Free Travel

No matter where you are in the world the same principles apply whether you're eating in or eating out: pre-holiday preparation and research is key to not suffering and starving when you go abroad. I stumbled across a great site which has free coeliac travel cards. They explain what coeliac disease is and what you can and can't eat in 51 different languages, so if you get a little lost in translation on holiday then hopefully these cards will come in handy. I tried them out when I went to Italy this year and they were very useful, as my Italian is quite limited! 

I've recently stumbled across this website Glutenfreeroads.com and I can't recommend it highly enough - it's a great resource for coeliacs who normally struggle to eat out, especially when travelling! It provides listings on a map of where you can eat out, where you can stay that caters for coeliacs and where to shop in most locations around the world :) Check it out fellow coeliacs! Oh and they also have some hints and tips on travelling gluten-free too. 

In-Flight Food

"I am serious...and don't call me Shirley!"

Another hurdle for many coeliacs, particularly on short flights is in-flight food, on long-haul flights you can request a gluten free meal in advance, just contact your airline or select when booking flights. This year I went to Italy in July, we flew to Amsterdam and changed to fly to Milan. Our flight was at 6am, I woke up at 3am had some breakfast, got to the airport about 4am and was unable to find anything suitable in the airport to eat before and during the flight, which meant when I finally arrived in Milan I was extremely hungry and finding something to eat straight away was difficult. By the time we arrived at the villa on Lake Como at 6pm (via Switzerland - long story!) I hadn't eaten a proper meal since 3am! I was feeling faint, dehydrated, tired and almost delusional from the heat and travel. 

Airlines need and should cater for people with dietary requirements, as there are a growing number of people with food intolerances and allergies who are regular and frequent flyers and are paying the exact same price as everyone else on the plane who do get to eat. It's unfair, discriminatory and wrong. A word of advice, always travel prepared with plenty of gluten free snack bars and munchies in your hand luggage, as taking a ready made pasta meal in a Tupperware box on board is not likely to get through security or a sensible recommendation.

Happy Coeliac!

Airlines, restaurants, shops, venues etc are extremely foolish not to cater for coeliacs and people with other dietary requirements as "between 1999 and 2004, the market for organic and 'free from’ retail products grew by 115% to reach £3 billion, a rate five times faster than that of the eating out market". It is estimated that people who have special dietary requirements spend approximately £5 billion on eating out per year and with increasing awareness of dietary issues, companies willing to accommodate for specific dietary needs will be at a distinct advantage. Mintel report, January 2005 (Impact of Diets on Eating Out). 

Travel Recommendations

My list of gluten free restaurants I have explored on my travels are expanding and this is one of the main reasons for starting this blog, alongside wanting to help other coeliacs who struggle for places to eat in the UK and abroad. So far I've posted guides on eating out when in:

Amsterdam

London

Manchester 

I've nearly finished my Lake Como and Milan gluten free guide, will let you all know when it's done. Next year I'm exploring Edinburgh as a coeliac, I went before being diagnosed so this time will be quite different - no traditional shortbread for me!

Leon Gobi - My Favourite Gluten-Free Meal

This is my favourite gluten-free meal/curry of all time!

*Leon Gobi (serves 6 people)

1 medium onion, halved and thickly sliced

1 carrot, thickly sliced

2 tbsp sunflower or peanut oil

1 red chilli (birds-eye if you like it hot!)

2 thumb-sized pieces of root ginger, washed but not peeled

5 cloves of garlic, peeled

1 large tsp Madras curry powder

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp black onion seeds

1 medium sweet potato, washed and cut into 2.5cm dice

4/5 heaped tbsp ground almonds

A good handful of sultanas

1 cauliflower, broken into florets and washed

1x 400ml tin of coconut milk

150g frozen peas

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

A really big handful of coriander, roughly chopped

Salt

2 heaped tbsp of desiccated coconut to serve (optional)

• In a large saucepan, cook the onion and carrot over a medium to low heat in the oil for 15-20 minutes with the lid on, stirring occasionally. 
• Whilst the onion and carrot are cooking - blitz the chilli, ginger and garlic to a paste in a food processor or pestle and mortar. Stir the paste into the onions once they have begun to soften, along with the spices (Madras curry powder, turmeric and black onion seeds). After another 5 minutes, season with salt, add the sweet potato chunks and the almonds and mix well so everything is coated.
• Turn the heat up a bit and stir in 500ml of water and the sultanas. Bring to a simmer and leave to bubble gently for 10-15 minutes with the lid off, stirring occasionally. 
• Add the cauliflower florets and the coconut milk and simmer for a further 10-15 minutes, covered. (If you're eating it with rice - now's the time to put it on!) Check that the sweet potato and cauliflower are both cooked, turn the heat off and stir in the peas.
• It will need more salt, plus the lemon juice and chopped coriander/desiccated coconut to sprinkle on top.  

*This recipe is from the fabulous Leon restaurant's book, which I cannot recommend enough to everyone I know. 

Enjoy! 

Eating Out: Gluten Free

Eating out can be a real nightmare for coeliacs. After being diagnosed it took me a long time to gain the confidence to eat out and trust that I wasn't going to be 'glutened'. The first takeaway I tried was curry, as most are gluten free (please make sure to check with the staff for cross-contamination) and it was wonderful to feel relatively normal after such a massive transformation in my diet and lifestyle. I knew the diet would test me from time to time and I'd miss quite a lot of my favourite foods, or so I thought. I actually found it easy to substitute most of what I liked with a gluten free version and consequently sticking to a strict gluten free diet was made easier.

Another issue with eating out is a lack of awareness and training among restaurant staff and owners. Too often have I asked waiters and kitchen staff what might be suitable on the menu and to be greeted with blank, expressionless faces enquiring 'what's gluten'? I bet most just think I'm on some fad diet or I'm a fussy eater, but I can assure you I would like nothing more than to stuff my face with anything on the menu and not pay the price of terrible stomach cramps and diarrhoea for several days! 

Lunchtime can also be problematic. Whether it's a working lunch or you’re out and about - preparation is key to not starving or risk being glutened. Wherever possible I bring my own lunches to work, which not only saves me a fortune, but also ensures there is no risk of cross contamination and I can enjoy a healthy and well-balanced diet.

The best thing to do is do your research. Whether you're meeting a friend in town or on a works night out - make sure you can eat something on the menu and that the staff are aware of your dietary requirements. The most important thing to check for when eating out is cross contamination, this also applies when eating at home.
  

Should I eat oats?

Oats

To eat oats or not to eat oats? This is certainly a sticky and controversial area within the Coeliac community, from dieticians, doctors and coeliacs themselves.

When I first visited the dietician and received a guide on coeliac disease and the gluten free diet, the dietician explained what I couldn't eat, which was wheat, rye and barley. However, she did scribble out the last word, which was oats. This was great news, I loved oats and to continue eating them was a treat! However, as many coeliacs know the only oats you can eat (if at all) are the oats that are not cross-contaminated in the milling process with avenin, which is very similar to gluten, and are 'pure' or uncontaminated (always check the label).  Although some coeliacs are so sensitive that even gluten free or 'pure' oats are not suitable. Before I tried them I wanted to make sure my body was healing properly and my tTg (gluten anti-bodies) was on its way down, so I waited a year after being diagnosed before trying, under the supervision of my dietician. This ensured I was entirely gluten free for a prolonged period and if I did have any reaction to oats, it would be obvious.  

Oats are a great source of soluble fibre (for healthy bowel function), it lowers bad cholesterol, is high in protein, regulates blood-sugar levels, reduces high blood pressure and is a great source of B-vitamins.  Is there a down side? Yes. Although oats are tasty, gluten free oats are très expensive! Not to mention the possibility of having a reaction to them. So....should you eat them? Before you do, make sure to consult your dietician/doctor first and if you get the go ahead consider trying them. I'm due for my yearly blood test and although I've had no obvious reaction to GF oats, is it still damaging my gut? It's very hard to tell, besides having another gastroscopy (no thanks!) or blood work done. I am a little concerned, but if my tTg has increased then it will be a sure sign that oats are not for me, in which case I'll be very sad and miss them a lot. 

Contaminated Oats

Pure Oats?

In late September 2011 I bought and consumed practically a whole bag of pure oats, which I later found out were contaminated with low levels of gluten. I had been eating the oats for almost a week and was suffering with terrible stomach pains but was confused as to what was causing it. I stick to a very strict gluten free diet and was very concerned why I was feeling this way. It was not until I read a post on one of the coeliac groups on Facebook that I heard an announcement that some pure oats had been contaminated. I later received a letter from Sainsburys saying:
"We understand from our records that you recently bought our Sainsbury's Freeform Pure Oats 450g. The safety of our customers is extremely important to us. We have identified that a limited number of packets of this product may contain low levels of gluten which has not been declared on the packaging....If you have an allergy or intolerance to wheat or gluten, please do not consume this product and take it back to your local Sainsbury's store for a full refund.....Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience caused".
It turns out that the recall was not just from Sainsburys, 5 different companies had to recall their oats and oats muesli, which leads me to the conclusion they all have the same supplier. Oats are very good for you and should be enjoyed as part of a healthy balanced diet, but when you're a coeliac and putting your trust in supermarkets and gluten free products not to make you ill and they do it knocks your confidence. I will try pure oats again, but it has put me off for a little while.
As a coeliac and a consumer I expect foods that are labelled gluten free to first and foremost  be gluten free, also tested thoroughly for safe consumption and all gluten free products to be baked/cooked/manufactured in a safe gluten free area to eliminate cross contamination. 

Gluten Free Travel: Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a great place to visit and there are many coeliac-friendly places to eat and snack. I've been fortunate enough to have visited Amsterdam 5 times, can't get enough of the place! There's so much to do and see in Amsterdam - plenty of culture, beautiful architecture, crazy museums, coffeeshops and vibrant people. This blog is not only to give advice on where to eat gluten free, but also recommendations of places to visit too. Hope you enjoy!

La Place

A great place to eat for coeliacs and non-coeliacs is La Place (inside V&D department store). They have a wide variety of fresh foods and produce, from salads to fish dishes, stir fry to soups, (bring your own GF rolls) cooked how you like it, right in front of you. The prices are very reasonable and they have a great place to sit upstairs to spy on the tourists doing their shopping! Coeliacs be warned, the cake section is very cruel and should be avoided at all costs! They do serve the best pastries and cakes I've tasted in Amsterdam (before being diagnosed that is!). However, they also do the best fruit salads and I'm sure if you asked nicely they wouldn't mind cooking with your GF pasta. 

Food

La Place is not far from Muntplein and the Bloemenmarkt (flower market). La Place is based on Kalverstraat 203, 1012 XC Amsterdam and the Kalverstraat is one of the main shopping streets in Amsterdam and a great place to pick up some bargains!

Bloemenmarkt

Once you've eaten lunch at La Place, check out the Bloemenmarkt (flower market) - the only floating flower market in the world, based on the Singel canal. It certainly is a party for all the senses and hayfever sufferers be prepared! About half way down the flower market there is a beautiful little Japanese shop, which I always go in and stock up on dolly shoes and other nic nacs. I could spend a fortune in that shop.     

Cau

Cau is an Argentinian restaurant on the Damstraat (just off Dam Square). I ate there with my brother last year and the steak was amazing! They offer 4 types of cut - Cuadril Rump, Lomo Fillet, Chorizo Sirloin and Ancho Ribeye, cooked exactly how you like it. I had mine with chips and a peppercorn sauce, nom nom! If you're a vegetarian, don't despair they do an amazing vegetarian  platter with grilled veggies. The food was a little pricey, however it was a treat and we both loved it! Friendly, and helpful staff with a great interior.

Inside Cau

Just to give you a little history lesson; the Argentines have bred and reared Aberdeen Angus cattle organically, since the late 1800s and as a result of their environment the meat is naturally low in saturated fat and high in vitamins and iron. Cau uses the best cuts and you can really tell the difference. The address for Cau is Damstraat 5, 1012 JL, Amsterdam. 

Eberhardt

On a shopping note, one of my favourite shops is on the Damstraat at number 7, called Eberhardt. It's crazy and wonderful at the same time. Downstairs is filled with fairies and all things mystic and upstairs is my fav - a Japanese shop, filled with beautiful ornaments, teapots, incense and the most stunning dresses you have ever seen. I've bought two from there and they are lush!

If you have the opportunity to cook for yourself whilst you're away then this is probably the most economic way of eating gluten free in Amsterdam. I went last month and stayed with my friend Pip and eating gluten free was a lot easier. We got most of our food from the Albert Heijn and the amount of gluten free food was impressive. They don't have a specific gluten free section, however they are very good at labeling their food. 

I'm currently addicted to their tropical juice and ended up bringing a couple of bottles back in my luggage! Breakfast was a passionfruit yoghurt with apricots, lunch was mostly sandwiches which we prepared in the morning for going out and about and there was lots of choice for evening meals at the Albert Heijn. My favourite was chicken wrapped in palma ham, stuffed with Bousin with chips on the side, nom nom!    

Ah, the old trusted favourite - Wagamama. These guys come in so handy, as they have restaurants everywhere! Fantastic gluten free range and helpful staff. The food tastes great and they cater for a wide range of dietary requirements. 

Our Lord in the Attic

Amsterdam has plenty of markets to offer, ranging from nic nacs to flowers, food to clothes. One of my favourites is called Nieuwmarkt which is only open on Sundays and sells really quirky things! Nieuwmarkt is very close to China town and the famous Red Light District. Now, the Red Light District is certainly is an eye-opener at night, however if you fancy giving it a go during the day then there is a wonderful little curiousity called Museum Amstelkring or 'Our Lord in the Attic' which is actually a 17th century church hidden inside a canal house.

Me on boat ride

If it's entertainment you're after then head to Leidseplein.  If  you fancy a chillout with some relaxing jazz head to Jazz Café Alto. For comedy head to Boom Chicago, which is run by a crazy bunch of Americans who certainly now their way around improv. Think Whose Line is it Anyway? For the best boat ride in Amsterdam, head inside Boom Chicago near the bar and sign up for the St. Nicolaas Boat Club of Amsterdam - it's run by the locals and is a 'non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic boats on the Amsterdam canals'. It's free to ride, but they do ask for a donation at the end (well worth it!). As the boats are smaller they go off the beaten track a bit more than the bigger tourist boats, so you get to see the best bits of Amsterdam! 
 

Me and Pip

When I went last month, as an early birthday pressie my friend Pip took me to Artis Zoo which was awesome! The have lots of cool animals and creepy crawlies. At one point we freaked ourselves out in the insectorium by screeching at the spiders they had. Meanwhile small kids aged about 5 were pointing and staring in fascination at the spiders and then us... Lets just say we didn't stay in there too long! *shudder* The zoo is expecting a baby elephant in June 2011 and we saw the mother having a pedicure in one of the enclosures, not something you see everyday! We both came prepared with our sandwiches, I had cheese and ham on some GF bread I'd brought from home and a snack for later on in the day.

Crazy Sea Urchin

I think my favourite part of Artis is the aquarium. They've got loads of crazy fishes and strange underwater creatures. This picture on the left is a really cute sea urchin - I'd never seen one quite like it before! The zoo is a great day out for kids and adults, plenty to do and see.

Me on NEMO

Artis Zoo is not far from NEMO too - an amazing kids museum with plenty of trippy things to do and see. I went with my brother last year and we ended up doing an experiment in the labs there with kitty litter. Quite strange, but oddly enjoyable! If it's a sunny day, check out the views on the top of NEMO, stunning! 

I will no doubt keep adding to the Amsterdam post as time goes on and more visits take place. I love Amsterdam and if you've not been it's well worth it, you'll love it!

Tuna Niçoise Salad

This is one of my favourite meals and so quick and easy to make, great for lunches too! If you don't like tuna, switch to salmon and if you don't like eggs leave them out. Quantity: feeds 2 people and you will need 3 pans and a pestle and mortar. You can also lob in some olives, sun-dried tomatoes, potatoes, or anything you fancy really - you can't go wrong!

1x tin of tuna or fresh if feeling flush!
Green Beans

 2 - 4 cloves of fresh garlic (depends on your taste!)

2 tsps Dijon Mustard

6- 8 tbps Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2-3 tbps Balsamic Vinegar

Rock Salt & Pepper
Pinch of sugar
Gluten free pasta

Eggs (4 eggs for 2 people)

First, boil the kettle and fill the other 2 pans with cold water and place on the heat. Grab the pestle and mortar. Pop in a pinch of sugar, rock salt and pepper. Crush your garlic and use the pestle to make it into a paste in the mortar. Add the dijon mustard, balsamic and olive oil and mix. Have a taste and add more balsamic/garlic/dijon/olive oil, if needed. Once the kettle has boiled pour it into the pan for your pasta. I usually do my eggs for about 6 mins and green beans for about the same, but this is personal preference and also it depends on how quick your pasta cooks! So adjust your timings accordingly. Once cooked drain the pasta, add your mix, green beans, tuna and eggs and serve!

Bacon, Mushroom and Blue Cheese Risotto

 I LOVE risottos. They're so versatile, tasty and most of all gluten free! You can make them vegetarian, vegan or a meat feast, whatever floats your boat. The main thing you need to check when making a risotto for a coeliac is to ensure the stock cubes are gluten free. The main ones I use are by Kallo and you can buy them from most health food shops and supermarkets.
I get mine from Sainsburys – see picture below.

 This particular risotto is a favourite of mine. Perhaps not the healthiest, but certainly packed with lots of yummy goodness!  The principle for cooking will be the same, so substitute any ingredients you fancy. This recipe should feed 4 people and you will need 2 pans: 1 for stock and 1 frying pan. 

Risotto rice (1 box for 4 people)
Celery (few sticks)
4 Red or white onions
Unsalted butter
2 stock cubes (pick your fav flavour, for meat risottos I tend to use chicken)
1x pack bacon
1x pack chestnut mushrooms (or whatever is on offer!)
Blue cheese (Stilton, St Agur, Gorgonzola etc)
White wine (optional)

Boil the kettle & crumble 2 stock cubes into a pan. Keep on a low heat throughout cooking. Start chopping the celery and onions and brown them in the frying pan. Meanwhile chop the mushrooms and add to the onions when brown. After a few mins chop up the bacon and fry until cooked.  Once everything is browned nicely, make a well in the middle and add a knob of butter. When the butter has melted pour in the risotto rice in and stir (if adding wine to the mix, add one glass now and wait for it to reduce before adding the stock). Once mixed add enough stock to the main pan to cover the rice. Keep on a medium heat and let it bubble away, stir occasionally. Once the first lot of stock has been absorbed, add some more to cover it again. Keep stirring. Once absorbed try the rice to check the consistency, if it’s soft enough then it’s ready to serve, alternatively if chewy then add more stock until absorbed and it should be done. At this point if it needs any seasoning (salt, pepper, chilli, italian herbs etc) pop them in now. Turn off the heat and flake in some blue cheese and stir it through, serve and enjoy! 

Baileys and Chocolate Cheesecake

100g/3½oz butter
250g/8¾oz gluten free bourbon biscuits (or GF digestives), crushed
600g/1lb 5oz Philadelphia cream cheese
25ml/1fl oz Baileys
100ml/3½oz icing sugar
300ml/10½oz double cream, whipped
100g/3½oz grated chocolate

To garnish (Optional)
200ml/7¼oz double cream (whipped)
cocoa powder (to dust)

Melt the butter in a pan and add the crushed digestive biscuits. Mix well until the biscuits have absorbed all the butter. Remove from the heat and press into the bottom of a lined springform tin. Pop it in the refrigerator and leave to set for one hour. Meanwhile you need to prepare the filling:  lightly whip the cream cheese, and then beat in the Bailey's and icing sugar. Fold in the whipped cream and grated chocolate. When smooth, spoon evenly onto the biscuits and then lick the spoon clean, hehe! Refrigerate and allow to set for a further two hours.

Once set, remove and decorate with whipped cream and cocoa powder dusted over the top. Voila! 

This recipe was inspired by a BBC food recipe.

Jeni's Gluten Free Brownies

115g unsalted butter (room temp)
300g caster sugar
5 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla essence
70g gluten and wheat free flour
70g cocoa powder
230g galaxy chocolate
1 1/2 tsp baking powder (check gluten free or use Xanthan Gum)

Put butter and sugar in a bowl and beat till soft and fluffy, then mix in vanilla. Gradually beat in eggs little at a time. Sift flour with cocoa (and baking powder) into the bowl and stir well. Lastly mix in melted chocolate and spoon mixture into prepared tin, spread evenly. Bake in preheated oven at 160C (325F) Gas 3 for about 20 minutes until 'firm' to touch. Once cooled, cut into squares and stuff your face :o) Happy baking!