A Silly Thought
I just had a thought. I wonder if they serve gluten-free food?
Labels: restaurant
![]() |
| Home
History
Projects
Ideas
Blogs
Family
Freedom Farm
Travel
Pictures
Links
Contact |
|
Monday, April 07, 2008A Silly Thought I just had a thought. I wonder if they serve gluten-free food? Labels: restaurant Sunday, February 17, 2008El Piano Sounds interesting. We have enjoyed your web-site in the context of Gluten-free-ness. Thanks for making it interesting and accessible. Labels: restaurant Sunday, February 03, 2008I Thought it was Getting Better That is until I read this e-mail :- We went to a wedding last weekend, and stayed at the Stirling Highland Hotel (where the wedding was held). I certainly won't be going to the Highland Hotel in Stirling. Labels: restaurant Friday, January 25, 2008Cart and Horses - Kings Worthy But two of the staff have relatives or close friends who are coeliac or gluten intolerant. So it does show that knowledge and training gets good gluten-free meals. And probably good meals full stop. Labels: restaurant Sunday, October 28, 2007Loch Fyne - Ipswich Afterwards, I went to a party at a friend’s. She knows I’m a coeliac, but there was nothing I could eat except raw vegetables. Lucky I’d had the good meal at Loch Fyne. Labels: restaurant Thursday, October 18, 2007Elveden Estate However, on the menu they now feature a gluten-free meal and highlight it boldly as such. It was a proper chilli con carne and rather nice too. I should say that other items on the menu are gluten-free, but it was nice to see such a statement being made. Labels: restaurant Sunday, October 14, 2007How to be a Gluten-Free Restaurant All dishes are marked accordingly VNG for vegetarian, nuts and gluten-free. The food is at the top-level of gastropub. It couldn't be faulted. Yesterday, we went to The Bluebell Restaurant at Chigwell. Parking was a nightmare last night, but the food was excellent. I hadn’t told them I wanted gluten-free and the owner/manager heard me say something about gluten to Celia. He then told me that everything would be OK except the obvious ones, like the quiche. Both restaurants are not cheap, but being successful in any business is about pleasing your customers and attention to detail. If these two can do it so well, then why can’t everybody else? Labels: restaurant Monday, August 06, 2007J D Wetherspoon This was the reply. I am sorry to hear of your disappointment. I have enclosed the following link to our website that will enable you to search our current menu for food that may be suitable for you. I shall be looking for the logo on the menus. Labels: restaurant Saturday, June 09, 2007The Fox at Willian The pub/restaurant is just off the A1M at Baldock and is worth trying, as they seem pretty allergy friendly. We certainly had a very good meal. Labels: restaurant Wednesday, June 06, 2007Two Brothers It's fish and groundnut-oil fried chips with good wine. I had a very good grilled halibut with boiled potatoes and a tomato and onion salad. I did say I was a coeliac but it didn’t matter with what I had. As they say in the reviews it's a fish brasserie. Labels: restaurant Saturday, June 02, 2007The Talbooth They didn’t make one mistake in making sure I got my gluten-free meal and it made for a very enjoyable evening. The restaurant and hotel isn’t cheap, but if someone wants a special weekend in Constable country, I think it could be worth a try. Labels: restaurant Tuesday, March 06, 2007How to do a Gluten-Free Menu ![]() What is good about it, is that is a single sheet of paper that the customer can take away and not some grand document, that is totally the property of the restaurant. You'll notice that the waiter has written all over the menu, so that there is no confusion as to what is a good meal or not. Labels: restaurant Monday, February 19, 2007Elveden Estate We went into the Deli/Cafe at the Elveden Estate, which is probably the most luxurious farm shop, we've ever seen. There were lots of very interesting products, many of which were gluten free and probably unheard off outside of Suffolk or Norfolk. It was definitely worth a browse. We bought some Suffolk salami and a Suffolk dressing for salad. We also had a coffee in the cafe and they said to mention if you had any allergies. Obviously, this didn't apply to the coffee, but I asked and they said they were very much aware of all the problems and would be happy to provide an appropriate meal. They also have all sorts of other things to do. Labels: food, general, restaurant Thursday, January 11, 2007Arbutus Not cheap, but ideal if like us you were celebrating something in London. Labels: restaurant Monday, January 08, 2007The Gambia Celia and I decided to go to The Gambia, as we needed a break, wanted some sun and it is about the shortest flight where you can get reasonably warm at the New Year. To quote the Lonely Planet guide "For vegetarians, this region can be a challenge." I hoped it wouldn't be the same for coeliacs. But then I'm not supersensitive, it was only a week and there was a lot of interesting things to see like the birds, the forests and the other wildlife. We had a very good time. We did stay in a very good hotel called NGala Lodge which is owned by its Belgian chef and he had been warned. For instance on the first night, I ordered a starter based on grilled fish. Normally, he breadcrumbed them, but for me he did them plain. And they were very good. We ate in a couple of restaurants and I had no trouble at all. Generally, the waiters speak very good English, as it is promoted as the National language. One thing though the holiday rep from Gambia Experience told me, is that no-one minds if you seek out the chef and ask his advice. But the good thing is that most of the food seems to be naturally gluten-free. We had one of the local dishes which was effectively beef in a spicy peanut sauce. There is also a lot of good fruit and plenty of things like eggs and bacon at breakfast, even if I had problems convincing them that I didn't want toast. So if you want a nice winter holiday, I'd recommend The Gambia. But I would plan more than I did, as we would have had a better holiday if we had. That is nothing to do with food, but I'd take a bird book, stay perhaps in two places and learn more about the people. Labels: food, restaurant, travel Sunday, December 10, 2006Southampton West Quay Shopping Centre They spent all of this money on the place and then they fill the Food Court with crap. They didn't provide a parking system that was fit for purpose either. We decided to eat in the Cafe Giardino, because I had noticed I could get an omelette. However, in the words of that truly wonderful British catering phrase, "Omelette is off!" Oh! Well! I'll have the baked potato. But then I realised this was the same chain where I'd had a totally inedible one in Ipswich which may have glutened me! So I passed and had a packet of Kettle Crisps, which were stale, but still inside their sell-by date and a tasteless banana. The only compensation was that Celia's panini used cardboard instead of bread and was inedible, so she got less than me. Still if we don't complain, then we'll get this rubbish. At least if you go to some of the slightly more upmarket chains, they at least know what gluten is and tell you where it's in the food. There was no chance in Giardino, as when I asked I got a totally blank look. I don't think the chef spoke English past the menu. To make matters worse, we had to leave early as one of our basset hounds was unwell and didn't eat before we left. Would you believe that between Winchester and Newmarket, there is only one Service Area, Fleet, which is one from the Dark Ages without a decent coffee shop or an M&S Simply Food. The latter is always good for a salad with cutlery. They do have a large selection of amusement machines, so I can see they have got their priorities right. It was good to get home! It is unlikely we will be going to Southampton and the shops again. Bluewater, Bicester and Meadowhall are so much better. Labels: restaurant, travel Sunday, December 03, 2006Konstam One of the things they do is source as much of the food from within the M25. For instance the blue cheese comes from Norbury and the honey from Tower Hill. It was a very good meal and as they cooked everything in a kitchen on one side of the dining room, you could see what they were doing. Labels: restaurant Saturday, November 18, 2006Ooze - Part 2 I had a sirloin steak risotto which because of the red onions resulted in purple rice. Interesting and enjoyable. The wine was good too. I can certainly recommend it to any coeliacs who want something different to eat in London. The only thing against the restaurant is it that the decor is a bit stark and too white for my taste. But then what do I know about modern design? Labels: drink, restaurant Sunday, November 12, 2006Ooze I have since been having an e-conversation with the owner and it sounds promising for those who need a gluten free diet. I shall post a report soon. Labels: restaurant Sunday, November 05, 2006Carluccios Bicester Since then, I'd had a positive reply from Head Office about that and other matters. Try writing to some companies and they ignore you! Yesterday we went to Bicester again and the waitress was a coeliac herself. I said that I'd written after the positive experience of last time and she said that they'd had an e-mail from Head Office complimenting them on their service. It sounds to me like Carluccios have got service and staff relations correct. Labels: restaurant Wednesday, September 20, 2006River Cafe It was one of the best meals we've ever had and although it was expensive, it wasn't that so. But what marked it out was their attitude to me as a coeliac. I said I was when I booked and this was picked up immediately by the waiter, when we sat down. The menu was then gone through by the head waiter, who marked it so there would be no mistakes. Interestingly, only the four pasta dishes were completely off limits, with three other dishes being simply modified. So if you are in West London and want a really special lunch or dinner, I can really recommend the River Cafe. Labels: restaurant Monday, September 04, 2006Waitrose Cafe They had two different GF cakes. I had the Banana from someone like Castle Catering. It was very good. Labels: restaurant Sunday, August 06, 2006Carluccios They knew what I could have and what I couldn't when I said I was a coeliac. We wanted the Massimo Antipasto as a starter, so they split it in two, with bread and the chicken on one plate for my wife and everything else on a large plate to share. They also cooked my liver without flour and it was very good. Interestingly, their new menu asks you to state your allergies to the waitress. Pizza Express does that too, so things are getting better. Labels: restaurant Monday, June 12, 2006Loch Fyne They now have upgraded their allergy stance and ask people to check with the manager about the food. A small but welcome step. Labels: restaurant Wednesday, May 10, 2006Starbucks Labels: restaurant Friday, March 24, 2006Motorway Eating There is also a couple of O’Neills at Clackett Lane. I’m told the latter does gluten-free soup. Or most of their other branches do. Labels: restaurant Sunday, December 18, 2005Train Catering Let’s hope they get to more stations and motorway services. Labels: restaurant Monday, November 28, 2005Bella Italia As we often go to Cineworld there and this seems the best place to eat after, I asked for a menu. The manager then asked me why, as I had said I wasn’t eating. I said I was a coeliac and was seeing, if I could eat something. She said, that they now do gluten-free pasta. Haven’t tried it yet, but have followed this up with their head office. Labels: restaurant Sunday, November 20, 2005Virgin Trains Labels: restaurant, travel Friday, August 19, 2005Gluten Free Fish and Chips Excellent. Strangely the peppers were English! Didn’t know we made them here! As an aside, my wife’s dietician told her, that fish from warm water is better for you. Labels: restaurant Saturday, February 19, 2005Gluten Free Chinese Restaurant Very good and I was assured that they use potato starch instead of flour. We certainly had a very good meal and I had no reaction at all. They also do what seems to be the increasing common thing of wrapping crispy lamb in lettuce rather than pancakes. They also certainly knew very much about the importance of a strict gluten-free diet. Labels: restaurant Tuesday, February 01, 2005Pizza Hut Revisited On the original diary I said they didn't have any nutritional information. As of February 2005, they still don't have any! Despite an all new website. Under their FAQ they have the following :- "13: Why is there no email address to send my comments? Very very bad! Just hide rather than use decent technology. I know one restaurant chain, where I won't be eating in the future. In fact I doubt ever! Labels: restaurant Wednesday, January 12, 2005Worst Restaurant Chain There are only two things on their menu, I can eat! As we were returning late from Chelmsford to home on Friday night, and there wasn't anywhere else to eat, it was starve or eat chicken! We could have gone to Pizza Express (We were actually at Freeport Braintree), but Celia didn't feel we should as we'd eaten there during the week. They at least do have a lot more things a coeliac can eat and are prepared to tell you. Incidentally, their new menu seems to have a few more items that are gluten-free. Labels: restaurant Thursday, November 04, 2004Gluten-Free Restaurant Wars Last night we found another gluten-free restaurant called the Crown and Punchbowl at Horningsea, just off the A14 north of Cambridge. In addition to usual restaurant food, such as steaks, fish, liver etc., they make their own range of gluten-free sausages. I also got a just-made gluten free roll! The restaurant is in the Good Food Guide and no wonder. It is a bit pricey, but you could certainly have a magnificent meal under £20 a head without wine. This means we now have five serious restaurants round Cambridge and Newmarket that are truly gluten-free. Two years ago, they’re wasn’t any! Labels: restaurant Thursday, October 28, 2004Gluten Free Restaurant Excellent! And they know all about gluten! Or should I say how to keep food free of it. Labels: restaurant Saturday, October 23, 2004Pub With a Gluten Free Menu They mark all courses which are gluten-free. Last night all the mains were acceptable. It’s quite expensive, but if you’re in the area, it is worth a visit. Labels: restaurant Wednesday, October 20, 2004Not So Welcome Break Feeling peckish, I went into the Welcome Break at Leicester Forest, to look for something like bacon and eggs. The reason I went there was about six months ago, I had done this and the manager cooked them for me personally. He knew all about coeliac disease and acted properly. No such luck this time, as the irritable cow said they were off. Everything else was not gluten free. Except possibly faggots, but I don't know about them, let along fancy them! Finally when I got to the Walkers Stadium, there was only pies to eat. Not even chips, either inside or outside. The only thing with any nourishment was a normal Pepsi. I shall be complaining! Labels: restaurant Thursday, August 05, 2004Le Petit Blanc A complete gluten free menu was on offer. Excellent. Labels: restaurant Sunday, June 27, 2004Carluccio's Last time, I ate there the choice had been a bit limited, but as it was only lunch, a nice steak and a glass of Sicilian wine had been perfect. But last night, things had very much changed for the better. I could have had several of the starters; plain proscuitto, more than one salad and a potato gnocchi. The friendly staff also told me that a rice dish had breadcrumbs in it after checking with the chef! For the main course, I had liver which they do so well! I could also have had a steak and I think two other dishes. Now I know I’m not a serious coeliac, but I do know when I eat a small amount of gluten! But it certainly looks like one of Britain’s fastest growing restaurant chains is getting its act together properly with respect to gluten. Labels: restaurant Wednesday, June 09, 2004Allergy Friendly Restaurant Excellent food and they have a big notice on the menu saying that all food is cooked individually and that they will take account of all allergies. They did! I had some very nice kidneys! Labels: restaurant Saturday, November 01, 2003Newmarket Races and Football So I left and went to the football at Ipswich. Had a bag of chips for lunch! Labels: restaurant Friday, October 31, 2003Scutchers This restaurant is to be recommended for anyone who has any form of dietary requirement or allergy. As with any restaurant tell them when you book. Labels: restaurant Friday, October 24, 2003Maison Bleu We had a very good meal at Maison Bleu in Bury St. Edmunds. Only problem was the lack of starters. I had smoked salmon without the bread. Labels: restaurant Saturday, October 04, 2003 |