AN ANNOUNCEMENT

You may have noticed The Only Way is Gluten-Free has been very quiet recently and I haven't been posting at all. This is due to a recent devastating family bereavement.

I hope to be up and blogging again very soon. In fact I have a lot of products/venues to tell you about but please bear with me for the time being.

Best wishes from Emma, The Only Way is Gluten-Free

Byron Bay Cookies

I just had to share my recent discovery of Byron Bay Cookies. They are probably the nicest, richest, yummiest cookies I have ever eaten. 

I spotted them in my local Sainsburys in the free from section and they are gluten-free. They had the strawberry and clotted cream flavour only in stock but apparently they do a whole range just check out their  website. Even better they were selling them as clearance (still well in date though) at a bargain price of just 33p! Bonus! I obviously stocked up and bought 6, well it would have been rude not to!

Right from the moment you open the packet you get this wonderful strawberry and cream aroma and the cookie smells like it has just come out of the oven. They taste so luxurious, they are a real indulgent snack, plus they are huge! Check them out...

The white chocolate chunks added a nice bit of crunch to the texture, these cookies are very sweet, and the strawberries and cream flavours are a great taste combination. Lovely.

Cafe's and coffee shops really should take note. It would be great to see these cookies available in more places. As much as I like gluten-free chocolate brownies & bakewell tarts (Starbucks, Costa Coffee), these would make a really nice change.

I'm now on the hunt for the other flavours in the range! Watch this space...

Thornleys Gluten-Free sauce range

My Thornleys Week

This week I have had the pleasure of sampling the whole range of recipe and sauce mixes by Thornleys. There are five different sauces in the range:- spaghetti carbonara, parsley sauce, chilli con carne, creamy chicken and herb sauce, and tuna pasta bake. It was my plan to try all five dishes in one week - challenge accepted!

Thornleys are a family-run business, the owner Gail Brown herself is a Coeliac along with her father and daughter. They definitely take being Coeliac seriously and understand about the gluten-free diet and the restrictions this can sometimes place upon us, particularly when it comes to convenience foods.

What I like about the mixes is the shiny, silver packaging - they certainly would stand out on a shelf in the supermarkets. The sauces all come in powdered form and are therefore a real space-saver in your kitchen cupboards, you could have all five sauces in the cupboard and they would take up hardly any room at all compared to having five different jars or tins of the equivalent sauces. This makes the sauces ideal for taking on a self-catering holiday with you, just pack them in your suitcase. I would definitely consider taking the sauces with me on holiday to Cyprus when I next visit my parents (who are based there) as it means I won't be spending ages in a foreign supermarket trying to decipher the labels on products to check whether they are gluten-free or not.

All five sauces are really easy to use, not even I could go wrong with them! So, how did I get on?

Sunday

On Sunday my brother and sister-in-law came round for lunch. This was the ideal opportunity to use the tuna pasta bake. You simply add milk to the packet contents, bring to the boil, add a tin of tuna and a tin of sweetcorn to your cooked pasta, pop in to a dish, grate cheese on top and grill until the cheese is nice and golden brown. We served ours with a bit of salad and garlic bread.

I really liked this sauce as it was so quick and easy to make. There were very subtle herby flavourings which complimented the tuna really well. Everybody said how nice the sauce tasted and they couldn't believe it was gluten-free.

Monday

Monday in our house usually means Mexican night! We tend to alternate between fajitas or chilli and so it made perfect sense to try the chilli con carne mix. Chilli is my ultimate favourite comfort food, I would have it every single night if I could and I love comparing and contrasting different brands of chilli sauce/packet mixes. The chilli is the only sauce you don't mix with milk, instead you add water, a tin of tomatoes and kidney beans. We actually added two tins of beans though to make the meal go further and a green pepper and diced onion. Because there are only two of us we don't like to waste food and so by adding extra ingredients we actually made six portions rather than four, popping the other four portions in to the freezer. The only thing I will say about the chilli mix is that personally, I would have preferred a bit more chilli and paprika flavours in mine, only because I like my chilli with a bit of a kick. This really isn't a criticism though as the great thing about Thornleys is they have made their chilli family-friendly by just adding a subtle hint of chilli and cumin which means kids will love it too.

Tuesday

On Tuesday we went for the spaghetti carbonara. I was really impressed with this one and it was probably my favourite of all five sauces. I found it so rich and creamy and it didn't taste like it had come from a packet. The sauce thickened up really well and was so full of flavour with lots of garlic which is just how I like it. We also added a few frozen peas to add some colour. We used the exact amount of spaghetti suggested on the packet but halved it for two people however we did find that this didn't give us enough pasta so next time we would add more than the packet states. By only using half of the packet we saved the rest for another day later that week.

Wednesday

On Wednesday I needed something quick and easy as I was going out for the evening so I had left over chilli from Monday, defrosted and heated up again in a pan. It still tasted delicious. To make mine more spicy this time I added a teaspoon of chilli powder and a teaspoon of paprika.

Thursday

Thursday was time to try the parsley sauce which we served with some lovely smoked fish and salad, peas and potatoes. I really loved the lemon flavouring of this sauce, it certainly went well with fish and tasted so fresh and light and cleansing to the palette. We saved the other half of the packet to use next week.

Friday

As usual I went for my Friday night swim after work and so there wasn't much time to cook when I got home so we finished off the remaining carbonara mix which was lovely even second-time round.

Saturday

To round off my Thornleys week nicely we had the creamy chicken and herb mix. This smelt absolutely wonderful as it was cooking and I couldn't wait to taste it. The sauce did not disappoint and was full of herby flavourings and oh so delicious, a perfect accompaniment to the juicy chicken pieces.

Overall, I would give the range a 9/10 as they were so simple to use and really quick - ideal for families on the go and definitely great for taking on holiday either abroad or on a caravan holiday. I wouldn't normally go for a packet mix as I tend to prefer to make my own sauces but for times when I'm in a hurry I would definitely keep a couple of Thornleys packets in the cupboard.

The sauces are available to buy on the website http://thornleysglutenfree.co.uk/ and also available in selected farm shops in the North West. They are priced at between £1.95 and £2.20 which I think is very reasonable considering the sauces serve four people.

The Salt Bar, Macclesfield

It's not very often that I get so excited about a restaurant but I literally could not wait to blog about my recent visit to The Salt Bar in Macclesfield. I believe I have found a real gem and Coeliac food heaven which I hope to visit time and time again. Friends and family are probably sick of hearing me rave about this place but if you visit it yourself you will find out what I mean.

Happy Birthday to me!

I heard about The Salt Bar on Twitter about 2 weeks ago and I instantly knew this was where I was going for my birthday meal. The restaurant specialises in Scandinavian food and drink which is a cuisine I've always wanted to try and one you just can't get anywhere else in my local area. The best part - about 75% of their menu is GLUTEN-FREE! They have recently changed dishes on the menu that previously contained breadcrumbs and now use polenta instead. This is amazing news for Coeliacs like me!

What I like about the menu is that it's fairly small but they've obviously worked really hard on perfecting each dish. I found there was still a great selection of dishes to choose from and I actually found it quite difficult to decide what to have - even more reason to go back and try something different! You know you are getting authentic Scandinavian food because it's all cooked by their Swedish chef, Anders.

I was pleased to see that the restaurant was busy which is great especially as they have only been open for about 5 weeks. I can see this place going from strength to strength as more and more people find out about it and spread the word.

What did I have?

To start I went for the leek and potato soup, gluten-free of course. Sadly there isn't gluten-free bread yet but our waiter told us that this is something they hope to introduce once they have established themselves. To be honest though, the soup was so lovely and creamy that I didn't really miss having bread. I could eat a bowl of this soup on its own any day of the week. Delicious!

For my main course I had Swedish meatballs in a cream sauce with fries but you could choose mash as an alternative. The meatballs were absolutely fantastic, like nothing I've ever tasted before, cooked to perfection and so full of flavour. I can't explain how amazing they were you will just have to go and try them for yourself.

My husband went for the Swedish burger with onion sauce and pickles and a side of fries. I was delighted to discover that this was also gluten-free and is something I would love to try next time I visit. Surprisingly this burger didn't have a bun but had an extra burger instead. Meat eaters you will love this.

I was pretty much stuffed at this point but there was no way I was leaving without trying dessert, especially as there was a gluten-free chocolate mousse on the menu! I had assumed this would be a small light mousse but I was so very wrong. It was luxurious, velvety, and rich with swirls of white chocolate. It came served in a cute little jar with a lid - top marks for the presentation.

So yummy

Stick a fork in me, I was done! I can honestly say that this was the most perfect meal out I have ever had - even pre-Coeliac - I just can not fault this place.

The Salt Bar is like a breath of fresh air in an area which is crying out for more Coeliac-friendly places to eat - and just 12 miles from Leek (I actually work in Macclesfield so it's even closer on a work night) it's perfect. Next time I get frustrated by the lack of gluten-free places to eat in Leek and Stoke-on-Trent I'm heading to Macclesfield. I highly recommend The Salt Bar for a sophisticated dining experience, something unique and quirky, in a small intimate setting with amazing Scandinavian food. Definitely book a table though as I can see them becoming VERY busy over the coming weeks and months.

You can follow The Salt Bar on Twitter @thesaltbar or find them on Facebook.

Toaster bags

Hoorah! I have managed to find these nifty little toaster bags in my local Poundland shop again as they've been out of stock for a while now. I'd previously been using the grill whenever I wanted toast but it just doesn't taste the same. You really can't beat toast freshly popped out the toaster!

I love these toaster bags because it means I can have yummy gluten free toast without having to buy a completely new toaster and then having the added stress of finding somewhere to put two toasters in our kitchen, not to mention the expense of buying a brand new toaster. The bags help to avoid cross-contamination with bread crumbs from a 'normal' toaster. It's important that Coeliacs don't use a toaster that has previously been used to toast normal bread because even a tiny crumb from the bottom of the toaster could make us ill. It doesn't matter how clean the toaster is you just never know where those evil gluten breadcrumbs could be hiding. It's really not worth the risk and that's why I was so happy when I discovered toaster bags.

The bags are reusable if you just wash them out after use with hot soapy water and the pack says you can use them up to 100 times, however when I have bought them in the past they have never lasted more than I'd say 20 or 30 uses before snagging or burning. Still, at the bargain price of £1 for a pack of 2 you can't really go wrong.

If you fancy being a bit more adventurous you can even make toasted sandwiches using the bags - just make up your sandwich as normal, pop it into a toaster bag to toast in the toaster and you have yourself a toasted sandwich - genius!

The Movable Feast, wedding catering, nr Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

I LOVE a good wedding! I love everything about them - from the happy couple, the vows, the flowers, 'the dress', the music and dancing, and of course the FOOD - they all play a huge part in making the day special.

Last month we attended a friend's wedding in Suffolk. This was my first wedding as a Coeliac guest. When RSVP-ing to the wedding invite I had obviously indicated that I would require a completely gluten-free meal. I had even asked the Bride and Groom to pass on my phone number to their caterers should they have any queries about what I could eat.

I was so nervous about the wedding catering that I took a bag full of Coeliac snacks - Tyrrells crisps, DS-gluten free pretzels, Newburn Bakehouse muffins, that kind of thing - just in case there wasn't much I could eat. The Movable Feast however were absolutely brilliant at catering for my dietary needs, I can't praise them highly enough! On the day itself the caterers knew straightaway I was Coeliac and so when the food started being brought out I had my own server who brought my food out separate from everybody else's. The food itself was amazing, probably one of the nicest wedding breakfasts I have ever had. I had pretty much the same as everybody else which didn't single me out from the rest of the guests. To start we had chicken liver pate with bread, I obviously had gluten-free bread as a substitute. The main course was guinea fowl, something I have never had before. It was really tasty, served with veg and potatoes and I actually think it was exactly the same meal as the rest of the guests. However when it came to dessert I had a lovely panna cotta whilst everybody else had lemon tart. I'm guessing the gluten-free pastry would have been too tricky to master - a little bit disappointing because the tart did look scrummy. I can't complain though because I really enjoyed what I had, I didn't feel singled out as a 'fussy eater' or different to any of the other guests. The caterers were very discrete and considerate of my special dietary requirements and I had 3 courses of amazing gourmet food that really filled me up - the first time I have felt completely stuffed in ages. Sadly there was nothing for me to eat at the evening buffet, which was a BBQ served outside and the risk of cross-contamination was too high with bread crumbs everywhere. To be honest though, even by the time the BBQ was served at 9pm I was still so full from the wedding breakfast that I probably wouldn't have eaten anything even if there was something I could have had so I didn't really mind at all.

Overall it was a beautiful wedding with fantastic food. This was one wedding where my Coeliac snacks definitely stayed in my bag. A big thank you to The Movable Feast for a wonderful meal with fantastic service. The staff are clearly very knowledgeable about gluten-free catering and they definitely try and adapt their dishes to be gluten-free rather than cook something completely different for Coeliac guests.

If you are a Coeliac in the East Anglia area planning a wedding or just planning a wedding with Coeliac guests I would definitely recommend The Movable Feast.

You can contact The Movable Feast on 01359 231 231.

Zizzi, Cambridge

My first taste of gluten-free pasta (not cooked by myself at home) happened at Zizzi in Cambridge as part of my friend's hen weekend. Zizzi is a large chain of Italian restaurants which you will find all over the UK and the great thing about them is they have their own allergen menu's.

They offer a vegetarian, nut free, gluten-free, vegan, soya free, alcohol free, fish free, egg free, and dairy free menu, all separate from the regular main menu - that's quite an impressive list of dietary requirements if you ask me!

I was keen to try their gluten-free pasta dishes as I have found it quite difficult to master the art of pasta cooking at home myself. I've noticed with gluten-free pasta if you overcook it even just by a few seconds sometimes you end up with a sticky mess of pasta all congealed together. Not good! Timing is definitely key.

If you ask for the allergen menu you will soon find the gluten-free section clearly labelled and it's easy to navigate your way down the list. Plus there is actually quite a lot of choice if you love Italian food. Zizzi very helpfully list all their pasta sauces from the main menu that are gluten-free which can all be served with gluten-free fusilli. They also do gluten-free pizza bases which I would love to try next time.

You can view their entire allergen menu online here

I went for the pesto rosso which was a spicy chicken dish with red pesto. Sadly when my pasta arrived it was a little bit undercooked but I blame this on the fact that it was a busy Saturday night and we were part of a hen party of 21 people! The staff were rushing around like mad things trying to get all our meals out at the same time and to be fair they didn't do a bad job. That said, I enjoyed the meal and the sauce was lovely and rich, full of flavour and it tasted pretty authentically Italian too.

So rather than being overcooked my pasta was undercooked which surprised me a little but I would definitely go back again on a quieter night and probably order the same thing to give Zizzi a second chance. Top marks to Zizzi for their allergen menu though!

The Foodamentalists' Gluten-Free Doughnut Mix

The Foodamentalists very kindly sent me a box of their doughnut mix and crumpet mix to sample and review. I wouldn't normally consider using a mix and usually prefer to make things from scratch. But these mixes are great if you are in a rush, plus it also means you don't have to stock several different types of flour in your kitchen cupboards because the flours are already mixed.

I've never made homemade doughnuts myself before but I was so surprised at how easy they were to make and even I couldn't mess these up!

To start with it's great to see that the boxes are clearly labelled gluten-free. I think a few other companies should take note of this. The mixes are also wheat and dairy free and suitable for vegans. All the ingredients are clearly labelled - there are no artificial ingredients - and there is an easy to follow recipe on the back of the box. 

Essentially the doughnut mix is a blend of corn, rice and tapioca flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and xantham gum with just a hint of cinnamon which smells wonderful as soon as you open the box. 

All you need to do is mix 100g yoghurt (I used Alpro soya yoghurt to make mine dairy free too), 12g oil and 2 tablespoons of beaten egg. You then add the doughnut mix and mix together well to form a dough.

I did find that my dough was too dry by adding just 2 tablespoons of beaten egg so I added the rest of the beaten egg. 

Tip - don't throw the rest of the egg away you might need it!

Once the batter is mixed leave it for 15 minutes. Then roll the dough out on to a floured worktop until it's about half an inch thick. 

Use a pastry cutter to cut doughnut shapes. I also used the lid of a coca cola bottle to make the holes for the middle.

Then fry the doughnuts in about 3 inches of very very hot oil (take care!). Fry until they are golden brown on both sides. This literally takes a few seconds on each side. Super quick!

To finish just toss your doughnuts in a bit of sugar and cinnamon. Or if you would prefer to ice them you can, although wait for them to cool first.

So easy to make and they tasted amazing! 

I would definitely recommend eating the doughnuts while they are still warm and the cinnamon really does add a lovely sweet flavour. They are definitely moreish and I'm not sure how long they will last in my house! I loved how fresh they tasted and they weren't too greasy. The dough itself was slightly crispy on the outside but nice and soft on the inside and the smell throughout my whole house was divine. It kind of reminded me of the smell you get when you walk past a doughnut van at a theme park or at the seaside. Mmmmmm.

I made 12 doughnuts from the mix which I thought was a pretty decent number. I think it might be a good idea if the label told you how many doughnuts a pack would make - but this really is my only suggestion. I just like to know what I am getting for my money but that's just me.

The mixes are £2.99 each which I think is very reasonable for the great quality product you are getting.

The award winning Foodamentalists have their very own shop at 47 Wheelock Street in Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 9AB (which I am yet to visit) and they sell a variety of gluten and wheat free fresh products such as bread, cakes and pastries and more, as well as their bread, pastry, yorkshire pudding, tortilla and crumpet mixes. Watch out for future blog posts on their tortilla and crumpet mixes which I am also enjoying trying at the moment. 

You can also buy their produce online here and they also appear at farmer's markets in the local area including Treacle Market in Macclesfield which takes place on the last Sunday of every month.

Simply delicious, fool-proof doughnuts - Thank You Foodamentalists!

Gluten-Free Afternoon Tea at Browns, Cambridge

I had the pleasure of visiting beautiful Cambridge at the weekend to attend a friend's hen party. I'll admit, initially the thought of a hen party away from home in a city I've never been to before did fill me with dread. It's hard enough eating out being a Coeliac at the best of times let alone when you have no control of the places where you eat. However, the wonderful organiser of the hen party was really understanding and accommodating of my dietary needs and every place we ate at she managed to arrange a gluten-free alternative for me.

Part of the hen do festivities involved a visit to Browns in Cambridge where I had my first ever gluten-free afternoon tea. Now, I'm probably not your typical afternoon tea type of girl - for a start, I don't like normal tea and only drink fruit tea infusions - so some might say an experience like this is wasted on someone like me. Because I am Coeliac I can't eat normal scones, cucumber sandwiches and fancy cakes that you would normally serve with afternoon tea, however, on their website Browns state:-

"If you have specific dietary requirements, please contact your local Browns and we can advise you on our menu or our chefs (with a little notice) can prepare a dish especially for you".



So definitely make sure you call them in advance! I was grateful to Helen for calling them beforehand on my behalf.

Here it is - gluten-free afternoon tea for one

Here's what I got:- 3 sandwiches each with a different filling including cucumber and smoked salmon (I can't remember what the third was but it was yummy) all served on gluten-free bread, 4 bakewell tarts (yes 4) and fresh strawberries and pineapple to top it all off nicely. I was actually really impressed considering they don't normally cater for Coeliacs on their regular menu. Because they probably had to go out and buy gluten-free products especially for me this really shows how they will make the effort if you have a dietary requirement all you have to do is ask. I guess it would have been nice to have had a choice of cakes rather than just 4 bakewell tarts but really I was just so grateful to be included in the hen party activities.

Browns not only provide afternoon tea but they also do breakfast, brunch and lunch menu's, cocktails, Sunday lunch and even lobster nights.

To make a booking at Browns click here for more info

Treacle Market, Macclesfield

I literally couldn't wait to visit Treacle Market yesterday as I'd heard the Foodamentalists would be exhibiting there. I follow the award winning Foodamentalists on Twitter and have been meaning to try their gluten-free products for a while since reading the many rave reviews online. This was the perfect opportunity to sample their products and purchase some to take home.

The Treacle Market is held on the last Sunday of the month and is a very popular and bustling market. There are over 100 stalls exhibiting arts and crafts, food and drink and antiques. Not forgetting the great live music and the real sense of community you get as you wander around the cobbled streets.

First point of call, naturally, was to head to the Foodamentalists stall. It was great to chat to them and I purchased some of their tortilla mix - I smell homemade fajita's coming soon! (future blog post to follow). Seriously though, I could have spent a lot more money than I did, all of their products looked amazing!

A couple of stalls down we found Mrs P's chilli jam. Oh my goodness, you have to give this a try! It's the most amazing jam I've ever had with a real kick to it and it's gluten-free so this immediately went in to my shopping bag.

Next, we bumped in to Adam and Marinha on their Delicious Sauce stand. I've not heard of this brand before but I was intrigued to try their Portugese and African-style sauces and oils, as you can probably tell by now I am partial to a bit of chilli. Everybody was dipping bread in to the taster pots but the lovely Adam and Marinha were really conscious that I couldn't have any contamination from 'normal' bread and so they gave me the sauces to try on a spoon. Plus thanks to the Foodamentalists I had a few slices of their gluten-free bread to dip in (leftovers from their samples). All their sauces are gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan friendly and use only the freshest and natural of ingredients. If you like chilli then these sauces are for you! I decided on the garlic and chilli sauce in the end after much deliberating mainly because they told me that people use it to make garlic bread with - I was sold! Another blog post to follow I'm sure. I also picked up a bottle of their basil and chilli-infused olive oil.

There was plenty of other food and drink to sample (sadly not for me) but this was a great afternoon out in the sunshine and I will definitely be going again.

You can read more about the market here

Zeffirellis, Ambleside, Lake District - Gluten-free, Vegetarian and Vegan's welcome!

I've saved the best of my Lake District reviews until last because I was just absolutely blown away by my experience at Zeffirellis in Ambleside. I would even go as far as saying this was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had - and that's including my pre-Coeliac days! Not only was the service first class and the food amazing but they really did seem clued up on my dietary requirements. 

This started right from the minute we set foot in the place. The lady showing us to our table had obviously checked the reservation list and noted that I was Coeliac (instant brownie point there from me simply for making the point she was aware I'm Coeliac). She showed me everything on the menu I could have and also said she would personally speak to the chef to remind him that I needed a gluten-free meal. Very good start!

Zeffirellis combines 3 of my favourite things - eating, cinema and music - it's a restaurant with its own cinema and also a jazz bar upstairs. Now there aren't many places where you can do all 3! This is probably my absolute perfect night out and there's no wonder I immediately felt at ease here. There's a wonderful atmosphere once inside. You get the feeling you are in a stylish, contemporary jazz bar with its atmospheric mood lighting, water feature and soft jazz music playing in the background, but you're actually in a restaurant. The decor really is impressive and adds to the experience.

We weren't initially aware that it is a vegetarian restaurant and despite neither of us being vegetarian we found the menu was varied and interesting and I can honestly say we didn't miss the meat. I went for the bean chilli with brown rice which was absolutely delicious - fresh ingredients, well presented, an ample portion size and I couldn't fault it at all. My husband went for the broccoli and blue cheese lasagne which he said tasted amazing. They also do gluten-free pizza. Gluten-free options are marked with a GF on the menu and there are also many vegan options to choose from.

I really wish we had known this at the time but Zeffirellis offer a cinema package - a film and 2-course meal for £18.75 - an absolute bargain if you ask me. Next time we visit we will be doing this for sure!

After our meal off we went upstairs to the jazz bar where we had a couple more drinks and enjoyed listening to the live jazz band to round the evening off nicely.

All in all this was a lovely restaurant - a real gem in the Lake District and when we return to this part of the world we will definitely be stopping by again.

I would definitely recommend booking - especially if you want to see a film too.

You can check out their website here

The Honey Pot, Keswick, Lake District

OK, so the service here wasn't great - we were served by a really miserable waitress who didn't seem happy to be there - but the Honey Pot in Keswick does cater for Coeliacs so I definitely wanted to pay it a visit when in the Lake District. Here's their menu...

Looks good so far

It was great to see they actually had a gluten-free section in their menu as not all places do. I really fancied a bacon and cheese ciabatta but sadly they had sold out of ciabatta's so I opted for a toastie instead. I have to admit I was a little disappointed when my food arrived. It wasn't really presented that well and it looked like something I could have just easily made myself at home with a sandwich maker, nothing special at all. Still, I was hungry and ate it although I did find it a little too greasy for my liking (probably the melted cheese).

To cheer myself up I decided to order the New York Cheesecake which was advertised on the specials board as gluten-free. This was much better and it was my first taste of cheesecake since going gluten-free and I really enjoyed it.

I'm kinda hoping I visited the Honey Pot on a bad day because they have the potential to be a really lovely gluten-free venue, they have variety on their menu and the fact they also do Coeliac-friendly dessert gets them an extra bonus point in my book. I just hope they will work on their presentation in the future - just because it's gluten-free doesn't mean it has to look bad - and also they need to make sure they have everything in stock that they advertise on the menu otherwise they will end up with a lot of unhappy Coeliacs.

I did love their pretty tables though!

You can find the Honey Pot at

6 New St  Town Centre, Keswick CA12 5BB 017687 74974

Coeliac friendly at the Crooklands Hotel, Kendal, Lake District

If you are looking for a Coeliac friendly hotel in the Lake District look no further than the Crooklands Hotel in Kendal. 

We stumbled upon this hotel by accident actually. We stayed here  a couple of weeks ago just for a weekend break in the Lakes and I was really surprised to find out that they offered gluten-free bread as part of their continental breakfast. We hadn't opted for breakfast when we booked as I just didn't think it was worth paying an extra £15 or so each for breakfast when it was highly likely that I couldn't eat most things they offered (or so I thought). However, when we first checked in the receptionist having asked if we had ordered breakfast for the  following morning and I confirmed no she then told us that we could add breakfast on to our bill if we wanted to. Obviously I enquired first as to whether they had any gluten-free breakfast options, not really expecting her to say yes but she confirmed they had gluten-free bread on site! Sadly, they had run out of gluten-free sausages otherwise I could have even had a full English.

Anyway, I was able to eat breakfast in this hotel which was a lovely surprise as I just hadn't expected it. I  had gluten-free bread rolls and fresh fruit plus all the Twinings infusions I could drink. It would have been nice if they had had a couple of gluten-free sausages but I enjoyed my breakfast all the same and was just chuffed that I didn't have to check out on an empty stomach.

To check out reviews of the Crooklands Hotel on Trip Advisor click here

Primo Piano, Leek, Staffordshire

Primo Piano is a Ristorante and Pizzeria based in Leek, Staffordshire. Yes, you did hear me right, Leek - that's where I live! Finally, somewhere in Leek I can review, Hurrah! As far as I know this is the only restaurant in my home town offering to cater for Coeliacs (at the moment). But I'm really hoping I can change that soon.

It was a special occasion, our 3rd wedding anniversary, so we decided to book a table there on a Wednesday evening (I've heard it can get quite busy on Friday and Saturday nights so definitely book in advance). Family friends had mentioned that they offer some gluten-free options on the menu and I also checked www.onionring.co.uk in advance too and was pleased to see that "gluten free dishes available" was clearly stated on this website. A quick phone call to the restaurant a couple of days beforehand also clarified this for me. You can find a copy of their menu on onionring (although I'm not sure how up to date this menu is).

Once we were seated at our table the waitress very kindly explained that all the chicken and steak dishes could be prepared gluten-free so I could choose any of those. I had heard that they do provide gluten-free pizza bases so you can also get a pizza there but I decided to go for a steak, it was a special occasion after all, and I never would normally choose steak on a menu.

I must say I was a bit disappointed to see that although there were options I could have on the menu, there was no mention of a gluten-free pizza base on the menu and it would have been nice if there had been a gluten-free pasta option on there too. Still, the meal I had was delicious, steak in a blue Italian cheese sauce with salad and potatoes. The steak was cooked exactly how I liked it and the sauce was absolutely moreish, rich, creamy and filling and yet not too overpowering to the steak. I would most definitely order this again when I go back although I am trying to be careful with my dairy intake at the moment so I have to be careful with creamy sauces like that.

I'm hoping that the more people that get diagnosed with Coeliac Disease (and it is becoming more and more common) and as the demand increases for gluten-free cuisine, smaller restaurants like Primo will develop their menu to include more pasta and pizza dishes in line with some of the bigger chain restaurants that are already doing this. The good thing about Primo though is that it is my local restaurant and they do offer some gluten-free choices so it means I don't have to travel to Manchester for a meal out, however, if you don't like chicken or steak (or you happen to also be vegetarian) I do wonder whether there would be anything for you to have here. Also, the steak dishes happen to be the most expensive meals on their menu rather annoyingly! I do think in the future Primo should work on their menu, maybe highlight on there with a 'GF' symbol all the dishes that are gluten-free so it is really clear and if they could expand their menu to include one pasta dish this would ensure I came back time and time again. Still, I have to give it to Primo for being the first restaurant to openly advertise gluten-free choices in Leek and I'm hoping that other venues in Leek and the surrounding areas will catch on and also do the same.

If you're a restaurant/cafe in Leek, I'm coming for you!!!!

Happy Anniversary to us!

Misco's Chocolates and Truffles, Leek, Staffordshire

I managed to pick up some Misco's Chocolates randomly at an open evening at my local hair and beauty salon a couple of weeks ago where the company were exhibiting their wares. Having never heard of them before I was pleased to discover they are a local company based in Leek, Staffordshire - hurray!

The chocolates are handmade from only the best ingredients and use no artificial colours and the best bit is they are gluten-free.

They come in a variety of flavours including:-

Violet Cream
Coconut & Vanilla
Ginger Wine
Passionfruit & Raspberry
Dark & Gold leaf
Hazelnut Truffle
Port
Champagne & Galliano white or dark truffles
Cherry Kirsch
Intense Coffee
Blackcurrant & Blueberry
Salted Caramel
Strawberries & Cream
Lemon Cream
Raspberry & Vanilla

They all sound amazing, but I opted for a box of 4 for £3.80 which contained Passionfruit & Raspberry, Cherry Kirsch, Champagne & Galliano white truffle and Intense Coffee.

I found the chocolates were incredibly indulgent yet not too rich or sickly, perfect for that little naughty treat every once in a while. The fruity flavours really came through and I was impressed by how fresh they tasted and how crisp the chocolate was. They also melt in your mouth just perfectly. I would definitely consider ordering a box for a special occasion or as a gift for someone special. All their chocolates are made fresh every week and sent out on a Thursday for delivery in time for the weekend.

As they are a local company I am giving my full support to Misco's Chocolates & Truffles who are flying the flag for gluten-free producers in Leek and I am so glad they are! We need more companies like this in Leek! It seems they are going from strength to strength too by appearing at local markets where you can pick up their tasty delights. If you are out and about visiting the Artisan Markets in Staffordshire and Cheshire you may well see them there so pop over and say hi.

****Winner of the Totally Locally Leek Award 2012 for Totally Locally Producer/Maker****

To find out more and to order online you can visit their website here

Or you can follow them on Twitter or Facebook

My diagnosis story

We are coming to the end of a really successful Coeliac Awareness Week and I have read so many great blogs from other Coeliacs this week that it encouraged me to write my own diagnosis story down. It's not easy writing your diagnosis story, I mean, where do you begin? But I'm just grateful to everyone who has been brave and come forward this week and shared their personal experiences. Thank you! I hope by reading my story you may find out a little bit more about Coeliac Disease and how it has affected me.

Having read a few of the other blogs out there it soon made me realise how lucky I was with my relatively short journey to diagnosis - 9 months in total from the onset of symptoms to actually starting the gluten-free diet. I was horrified to read how it can take some sufferers years to get a diagnosis of Coeliac Disease and I can't even begin to imagine what a struggle that must be. In that respect I do feel very fortunate that mine was a short illness but obviously at the time, it was a pretty awful period in my life. It just goes to show how complicated a condition Coeliac Disease is and how its symptoms can take many different forms and can often get mistaken for other illnesses. That's why it's so important to educate GPs and Pharmacists to spot the symptoms sooner and make that diagnosis, which is what Coeliac Awareness Week has been all about. If you want to read more about the work of Coeliac UK please click here.

I first became 'ill' with symptoms in May 2012 just before my brother's wedding, although I had thought I was lactose intolerant for years before then. Looking back now, whenever I had bloating after meals, problems going to the loo or an upset stomach which I thought was due to eating dairy, it was probably the Coeliac Disease and I didn't even know it.

Although those stomach-related symptoms were there, after a while I didn't really pay much attention to them as I'd had them for years and they seemed to stay under control most of the time if I didn't eat dairy products  (although never went away completely). Milk and cream were the worse culprits for me so I just tended to avoid them and use Lactofree substitutes. I never thought it could be anything else other than lactose intolerance, although I never asked to be tested for it.

The symptoms that affected me the most were more neurological in nature and were not your 'typical' Coeliac symptoms such as stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea. In May last year I developed a really painful sore throat, much worse than the typical sore throat you might get with tonsillitis. It was difficult to eat/swallow and I also had really badly swollen and painful glands in my neck (my neck felt and looked huge!), together with extreme tiredness and exhaustion. I was tired every single day no matter how much sleep I had and some days it felt like I wasn't fully awake and walking around in a dream-like state. I went to my GP who at first thought I had some sort of lymph node infection (due to the visible swelling in my neck) although she wasn't entirely sure. I was prescribed a course of antibiotics and sent away. 7 days later there was no change in my symptoms and I had finished my antibiotics so I went back to my doctor who then prescribed me a further course of antibiotics, thinking that this was just a stubborn infection that needed double the dose. During this second course of antibiotics my sore throat was getting worse and I had even begun to wake up in the middle of the night because of the pain. It was the worst sore throat I had ever had, and I had it day after day without any relief - no amount of strepsils, throat sprays, hot drinks, ice lollies helped and believe me I tried everything! The fatigue was also getting much worse and I found myself coming home from work, eating my tea and then falling asleep on the sofa most nights before 8pm. It was so bad sometimes I could have quite easily fallen asleep at my desk at work in the afternoons too.

Naturally, people I knew were worried about me, I mean, I must have looked terrible, and although they were only showing they cared, I was constantly asked "are you feeling better yet?" and then to see the concern and disbelief on people's faces when I told them I wasn't better only added to the distress and depression I found myself experiencing as a result of being so ill and my own doctor not even knowing what was wrong with me. Now, I don't blame my doctor at all for not being able to diagnose me, as the symptoms I presented with weren't symptoms that you would associate initially with Coeliac Disease and at the time pointed to something else. I know my doctor only did what she thought best at the time.

For a couple of months I kept visiting my GP and I just seemed to go from one course of antibiotics to the next - I think I had about 7 or 8 courses in total! During this time I also got a chest infection which meant even more antibiotics and time off work. On one of my many trips to my GP she decided to send me for some blood tests to screen me for a whole host of things including thyroid problems and glandular fever (but annoyingly not Coeliac Disease!). I think she was convinced it was glandular fever at this point (as was I) due to my swollen glands, sore throat and tiredness. She also wanted me to have an ultrasound scan of my neck to check for any problems with my thyroid and a chest x-ray to rule out anything more sinister than that. The blood tests came back clear for everything including glandular fever and my ultrasound scan was fine - no thyroid problems. The chest x-ray was also clear. By this time my GP was rather puzzled - she even called me "a medical mystery".

Next I was sent to the hospital to see a consultant in the 'Infectious Diseases' department - this in itself terrified me! Did I have some tropical disease that no one had heard of - where was Dr House when you needed him? (Little did I know that infectious diseases and tropical diseases were two completely different things!) I honestly thought I had something horrific and immediately feared the worst - I mean this was the department that treated people with HIV, T.B and M.E.

My consultant though was absolutely lovely - she explained everything to me and really took the time to listen. It was at this appointment that M.E. (also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) was first mentioned to me - a lifelong, sometimes debilitating disease - and it was possible that I might have it. The only way to diagnose the condition however is to rule practically everything else out so I was sent for more in depth blood tests -  I was tested for everything under the sun including HIV, T.B, liver and kidney function and, wait for it, dietary conditions! She told me that if it was M.E. all the tests would come back negative and only then could she make the diagnosis of M.E. I was also sent to an ENT specialist just to check that it wasn't a problem with my throat. I had a camera pushed up my nose and down in to my throat (very unpleasant), they had a good look around and concluded that my throat was absolutely fine, not even red or inflamed! Then why was it still hurting me so much?!

When I went back to get my blood test results at the hospital I walked through the door, sat down and the consultant told me that she had found something very interesting with my blood test results - it was Coeliac Disease! I think even she was surprised that anything had shown up on the tests. I had tested very strongly for Coeliac Disease and I was slightly anaemic and my liver function was also slightly low - both of which are consistent with people who have Coeliac Disease. I was already aware of what Coeliac Disease was as my Grandad (on my Dad's side) got diagnosed with it in his 60's. I knew it was something to do with gluten and diet but I didn't really know much else about it. I remember asking the consultant "are you sure it is Coeliac Disease" and she replying "absolutely yes", my symptoms all made sense.

So that was that. I then had my endoscopy and biopsies were taken which confirmed conclusively that I was a Coeliac. I had to wait about 6 weeks though before I had the endoscopy and had to continue eating gluten knowing that it was hurting me. This was quite tough psychologically because although I knew what was causing me to be so ill I had no control over it and couldn't stop it until I'd had the endoscopy because it would have affected the test results. As it was Christmas time I therefore decided to scoff my face with every gluten-containing food I could before I knew I wouldn't be able to. I've now been gluten-free since 4th February 2013 and although I am not completely 100% yet I have noticed a big change in my symptoms and I have so much more energy.

The support I have received from fellow gluten-free bloggers, friends and family has been amazing and has really helped me through the past few months. I'm not saying that changing your diet is an easy thing to do because it's not, but there is absolutely no way I am going back on the gluten and back to how I felt 12 months ago it's just not worth it. People have already started to notice a big change in me physically - no longer do people tell me "Emma you look awful" or "Emma you look so exhausted you might collapse" and I can now quite easily stay up until 10 or 11pm without falling asleep in front of the TV. Bonus!

One thing I will say is that since my diagnosis of Coeliac Disease I have lost quite a lot of weight - I've gone down a whole dress size to a size 6 which has worried me a little. It also means finding something to wear at the moment is a complete nightmare and has knocked my confidence. I'm seriously considering throwing all my clothes away and starting again with a whole new wardrobe but obviously the cost of doing so would be ridiculous.

Since my diagnosis I also asked to be officially tested for lactose intolerance and so I had the hydrogen breath test a couple of months ago but this came back all clear - I'm not lactose intolerant. Despite this I'm still having problems with milk and dairy so I've decided to carry on avoiding dairy as well as gluten for a while. I read a tweet from the GlutenFreeGuerrillas recently that newly-diagnosed Coeliacs should refrain from eating dairy for at least 6-12 months as the villi in the small intestine need time to heal and Coeliacs can continue to have problems digesting lactose for up to 12 months until the gut has healed itself. I'm going to give it a try and see what happens. I'll do anything I can to speed up my recovery.

So that's my story. If you've got to the bottom of this page I applaud you, thanks for taking the time to read my story. I still consider myself to be a newbie Coeliac and I certainly don't know everything these is to know about the condition yet but I'm learning more and more each day. I would say to anyone who has just been diagnosed to be patient. No one ever told me this. A complete recovery does take time and although some people feel fine after a few weeks for others it takes much longer. In fact it takes up to 12 months for the gut to heal itself fully. It can get frustrating at times, I will admit, I just want to be better right now but I'm confident that I'm on the right track now and I'm really looking forward to feeling like myself again very soon.

Thanks for reading and if you have suffered a similar experience to me I'd love to hear from you.

Coeliac Awareness Week and the importance of an early diagnosis

This week it's Coeliac Awareness Week also known as 'Gut Feeling Week' and Coeliac UK are doing an absolutely amazing job at raising awareness of the disease, educating people about what symptoms to look out for and stressing the importance of an early and correct diagnosis.

As you may know I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in February of this year and since then I have made it my mission (together with many Coeliacs across the UK) to spread the word and support others who also have the disease.

It is estimated that 1 in 100 people have Coeliac Disease but only 10-15% of those people have actually been diagnosed - this is shocking! That means there are roughly half a million people out there that are living with Coeliac Disease and they don't even know it!

What is Coeliac Disease?

Coeliac Disease is an autoimmune disease, not an allergy, not a food intolerance and definitely NOT faddy eating. It is caused by an immune reaction triggered by eating gluten - a type of protein found in cereals, wheat, rye, & barley.

For Coeliacs, when they eat gluten the body's immune system attacks its own tissue, damaging the lining of the gut and preventing normal digestion and absorption of food. Newly-diagnosed Coeliacs are therefore often malnourished because they have not been getting enough nutrients from the food they eat.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms are varied and are different for each person but some of the most common ones are:-

• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Constipation and/or diarrhoea
• Anaemia
• Depression
• Vomiting
• Extreme fatigue
• Headaches
• Unexplained weight loss

You don't necessarily have to have any stomach-related symptoms either, for example, some people are more affected by extreme tiredness/fatigue, repetitive infections, swollen glands, headaches/migraines etc, as was the case with me.

Coeliac Disease is often misdiagnosed as IBS as it shares some of the same symptoms but it's really important if your GP thinks you might have IBS you should also ask to have a blood test to screen for Coeliac Disease.

If left untreated Coeliac Disease can lead to further medical complications such as osteoporosis, infertility, miscarriages and even bowel cancer. This is why it is crucial that you get diagnosed.

The only treatment currently is to follow a strict gluten-free diet which means avoiding all foods containing wheat, rye, and barley, this means foods like bread, pasta, pastry, biscuits, cakes, flour etc. The good news is though Coeliac Disease IS treatable and if you stick to avoiding gluten completely you will notice a big difference in your symptoms and eventually over time they will disappear.

There are some great gluten-free products on the market which means you don't have to stop eating the foods you love, such as bread, cereals and pasta - you simply have to substitute them for gluten-free alternatives.

Some of my favourite brands at the moment are:

Juvela

Newburn Bakehouse

Sainsburys free-from range

Tesco free from range

Glutafin

If you think you may have Coeliac Disease it's important that you carry on eating gluten (for at least 6 weeks) until you have been officially diagnosed - which is usually via a blood test which tests for the specific antibody produced and then usually you will have to have a biopsy taken from your small intestine - a procedure called an endoscopy or gastroscopy. Once your results are confirmed positive for Coeliac Disease only then can you begin to cut gluten out completely from your diet.

Other things to note

Coeliac Disease can sometimes run in families so if someone in your family has been diagnosed with the condition it's important that you get checked out by your GP too.

During this week I have really enjoyed reading other people's diagnosis stories and it's been great to see Coeliac Disease making such a big impact on social media and even making a few appearances in the national and local press. If you have been suffering with any of the symptoms of Coeliac Disease I really would urge you to visit your GP and ask for a blood test for Coeliac Disease - it's as simple as that. Coeliac Awareness Week has really highlighted to me the fact that so many people are still putting their health at risk by failing to get diagnosed - it really isn't worth the constant feeling of being ill and not to mention how it could seriously be damaging your health in the long-term. So, make that change today, listen to your gut, visit your GP and you'll soon be on your way to a much healthier and happier gut.

To find out more about Coeliac UK's Gut Feeling Week click here:

Who needs takeaway when homemade pizza is healthier and tastes better!

Last night I faced my first takeaway dilemma since diagnosis- sitting in a room with my husband and friends scoffing a takeaway which I knew I couldn't eat.

So it was a typical Saturday night in - we were invited over to the neighbours house for a takeaway and a couple of drinks - sound familiar? As Coeliacs we all know most takeaway options are off limits, however, I was super organised and had pre-planned my own very special gluten-free takeaway - homemade pizza.  I decided to bake it at home and then take it over to the neighbours house wrapped in tin foil to eat with everybody else when their takeaway arrived.

I used The Gluten Free Student Cookbook's recipe for gluten-free pizza dough and have recreated the recipe below:

Ingredients:

The Base:

225g Gluten-free flour (I used Dove's Farm white bread flour blend)
1 teaspoon Xantham gum
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon caster sugar
1 teaspoon yeast
1 egg
3 tablespoons oil
130ml water

Topping:

Tomato puree
A few slices of salami
Grated cheese

Method:

1. Mix the flour, yeast, sugar, salt and xantham gum in a mixing bowl.

2. Make a well and add the egg and oil and mix together well.

3. Gradually add the water and mix.

4. Knead the dough for a couple of minutes on a floured surface.

5. Leave the dough in a bowl for 30 minutes and cover with a clean tea towel.

6. Pre-heat your oven to 200 degrees and grease a baking tray/pizza tray.

7. Roll out your dough to the thickness you like and place on the baking tray. I had to cut and mould the dough to fit my tray.

8. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes until the base starts to crisp up and go brown.

9. Spread your tomato puree and add your topping of cheese. Generously sprinkle with cheese.

10. Bake in the oven again for another 15 minutes until nice and golden brown.

This was my first attempt at baking pizza dough from scratch and although not perfect it turned out very well. I did find that the dough was a little bit crumbly, especially in the corners, but as a whole it tasted as good as any gluten-free pizza dough I have tried. By the fourth slice I was very full so probably next time I would cut the pizza in half, whack a few frozen chips in the oven to eat with it and save the other half ti eat the next day. Who doesn't love cold pizza for breakfast?

So rather than having to sit and watch everybody eat their kebab and chips, I was able to tuck in to my very own tasty gluten-free pizza which, at the fraction of the cost of a normal takeaway pizza was also far healthier than any takeaway. I felt so good plus no takeaway guilt!

There are bonuses to being a Coeliac - no more greasy, fatty, unhealthy takeaway food! Make-your-own takeaways are definitely the way forward for me now.