On 23rd April 2015 Holland & Barrett took a huge step forward in the Free From World by introducing Store Number 1 in the Holland & Barrett Free From master plan. Based in Chester, this is looking to be the first of many Holland & Barrett stores that focus almost entirely on Free From Foods. Fancy a guided tour? Check out my video below from the opening day!
The new Holland & Barrett More is a huge store compared to any previous Holland & Barrett I have been in. It is easy to get around as there are large signs everywhere showing you what section you are in (that is how big this store is compared to any of their former stores!) For those who have to be careful about what they eat like those with the autoimmune condition, Coeliac Disease or the bowel condition Crohn’s Diease, this is a massive step forward. It is also great news for all of those folk with food intolerances and allergies… Gluten Free, Wheat Free, Dairy Free, Lactose Free, Egg Free, Soya Free, Nut Free & so much more are all covered in the new Holland & Barrett Free From Store. Of course, it is also perfect for those who might like to choose to live a gluten free lifestyle through choice, the store has so much information available & such a variety of products for all.
So, what does the new Holland & Barrett More Store offer?!
Food & Drink
Firstly there are endless new products from so many different brands. (in the new store & online they currently have over 1000 free from products but this is due to rise to 3000 by the summer & even more than that in the future!)
There is a snack station run by VBites where gluten free cake & gluten free wraps are available, amongst other things!
You can purchase fresh fruit & vegetables within the store.
There are chilled counters stacked full of free from options, with plenty of gluten free & dairy free cheeses and desserts.
There are freezers full of free from frozen products, both savoury & sweet. The selection of dairy free ice creams has increased dramatically from previous stores.
There is of course still a huge range of pick & mix nuts and dried fruits in classic Holland & Barrett style!
Skincare & Beauty
There is a nail bar where you can have manicures & your nails painted with natural nail polishes.
There is a huge amount of skin care products from the likes of brands such as Dr Organic who promote natural, organic products. For those with skin irritations there is a huge amount of different brands & products available.
There is a bath bomb station, where you can create your own bath bombs & scrubs by Beauty Kitchen. For me, a long term eczema sufferer this blew my mind as everything is natural. I’ve never been able to have a bubble bath before now!
Lots of natural makeup brands are in the new store as well… I struggle with many high street brands for make up so having natural make up products available is something that really excites me.
Other sections
There is a pet section! If you want to spend a little extra on your dog, feeding them natural & even free from products then the Holland & Barrett Pet section in the new store is great! Having a beautiful dog myself I know how important it is to keep them in good health!
There is the usual section for the gym goers filled with protein powders, tablets & other fitness related products.
& of course what Holland & Barrett is known for (in my past mind).. a huge amount of Vitamins & Minerals to help all types of people in all situations. From digestive health to bone strengthening… there is everything you would expect right in front of you.
Oh & one other thing, not only are the staff in store incredibly helpful and well informed. Holland & Barrett have brought in a nutritionist that you are able to book appointments with. This really does place Holland & Barrett on another level. I have found accessing nutritionists to the very tricky in the past, so to have one in store is a great idea.
The new Holland & Barrett Free From Store in Chester is a great move in the right direction for Free From. The Free From Market has seen a massive surge in growth over the past 5 years and this has been predicted to continue at an even more rapid pace moving towards 2020. Holland & Barrett are already planning a large amount of new stores across the entire country over the coming year to push forward the Free From Concept. I am sure this will encourage other stores to follow in the footsteps of Holland & Barrett.
We had a really great day out in Chester having a nose around the new store & I can’t wait to go back. Fortunately, although I only live 45 minutes from the new store, when I can’t get there the Holland & Barrett Free From website has now been updated to offer even more free from goodies! Oh & watch out in your local Holland & Barrett stores for increases in choice of Free From products.
If you get the chance I would highly recommend a trip to Chester to check it out… & because I discovered Chester is an amazing city for gluten free & wheat free too!
Hi, my name is Becky. I am 24 years old and have been living for the past 8 months in the sunny climates of Manchester. I unfortunately live with a gluten intolerance & have done so since early 2010.
I know that gluten intolerances affect a huge amount of people across the world, as well as other food intolerances, allergies & more serious conditions such as Coeliac and Crohns Disease. So I thought I would share my story with you about how, firstly I acquired my problem, and secondly what it was like to have to contend with this, whilst I completed my university degree and beyond. What is it like to be gluten free?
My story actually starts right here in Manchester, where in 2009 I started a Law Degree. I moved 250 miles away from home and was really excited to start a new life in a vibrant, northern city. I lived with 7 other amazing flat mates, and was really enjoying the social side of university. However, the endless reading and hard work that a law degree brought was making me more and more unhappy.
I had worked really hard at college to get onto the course and I didn’t want to disappoint anyone, but deep down I knew Law wasn’t for me & I needed to quit.
Months went past of me stressing out, wondering what I would do if I stopped Law and what people would think of me. I started to feel more and more run down until April 2010, when I finally left Manchester University for good and returned home.
me & some of my university flat mates!
I had started to notice over the few months prior to leaving Manchester, that I was getting a huge amount of bloating, discomfort & pain whenever I ate certain foods. Initially I just ignored it, but it continued to become frustrating, and at times, quite embarrassing. I remember clearly a night of agony & incessant trapped wind, following a meal out at a local Italian restaurant.
Eventually I decided to visit my GP who sent me off for some blood tests, one of which was to see if I had coeliac disease. Fortunately it came back negative, but that didn’t solve the issues I was having. My doctor recommended I keep a food diary and try removing certain foods from my diet to see if it helped.
I very quickly came to realize that wheat, and soon after, all forms of gluten were the culprits of my discomfort. Whether it was bread, pasta, soy sauce or a custard cream biscuit, anything that contained gluten was making me really unwell. I decided to remove all gluten containing foods from my diet. This was a monstrous & unhappy task at first… who knew that so many foods contain gluten!
I returned to university the following year, new place & a new subject, which I enjoyed a lot more. However my digestive discomfort, upon ever mistakenly eating gluten, never went away. This made university more difficult for me. A night out with friends could no longer end with a kebab; and I was unable to partake in student associated dinners such as pizza & pot noodles! Back in 2010, ‘gluten free food’ was a lot less accessible, as was finding gluten free options in restaurants. I really struggled with this, as well as the sheer cost of gluten free living as a student.
Gluten Free Shops & Restaurants everywhere!
However, as time has moved on more brands have started to creep out of the shadows and provide their own gluten free options; restaurants too have started jumping on the bandwagon. It is great to feel more understood by the wider food community and for the importance of allergens to be taken seriously.
Having to eat a gluten free diet made me a more adventurous cook throughout university, and that continued beyond graduation (I passed!). I started to try things that I wouldn’t have before, & began recreating dishes that I could no longer eat in their original gluten form.
For me, following a gluten free diet has become an insightful & positive experience. I realize this definitely isn’t the case for everyone. A gluten intolerance is incredibly frustrating a lot of the time & can cause a lot of problems. But, at the end of the day, all you can do is make the best out of a bad situation, & that’s exactly what I’ve done. Finding real gems in the rough, in the shape of gluten free products & restaurants is often exciting. Creating my own gluten free recipes that everyone loves is even more exciting.
I have learnt to help myself, and also help others combat the hold that a food intolerance can have on ones everyday life. This, alongside the steps forward the free from food industry have made in recent years, has made the whole experience so much more manageable.
And whilst I wouldn’t wish any food intolerance, disease or allergy on my worst enemy, I am glad that by having a gluten intolerance I have been able to understand and help others suffering from similar problems. Ultimately, whilst I can’t eat any old chocolate cake, I have learnt to make a pretty decent gluten free chocolate cake! & best of all? I am pretty damn happy.
Have you got a food intolerance, allergy or just a story you want to share? Please feel free to share away by leaving a comment below or on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram.
The world of gluten-free has come a long way lately, but dairy-free often seems like a neglected cousin to free from retailers (yes, I am intensely jealous!) But in a discovery that immediately felt like my Birthday and Christmas had come all at once, I found Mars Lactose-Free Mars Milk.
I will often go to the chilled dairy-free section and hunt for a Pudology or other exciting new products in my local Tescos but only ever find disappointment and the same old selection. I’m just after a little innovation in a dairy-free world that is still barely getting the basics down (cheese, yoghurts and milk etc.) Is that too much to ask?
Initially, I missed this product completely. On what planet would I be able to drink Mars Milk anyway?! But luckily as I was walking off, Becky pulled me back to discover the true glory of Lactose-Free Mars Milk. I was speechless. As the chilled dairy-free section in Tescos is commonly next to the ‘evil’ dairy products, I’m quite used to seeing Mars around that area. But not like this.
Being lactose-free, it contains less than 0.1% lactose. So like lacto-free milk, it’s real cow’s milk with the lactose removed and thus unfortunately isn’t vegan friendly. However if you suffer from lactose intolerance like I do, today is your lucky day my friend.
How does it taste? It’s quite simply Mars milk. Forgive me for the lack of poetic description but as a lactose-intolerant, the fact that this merely exists is pure poetry in itself. It’s chocolatey, thick, with an authentic Mars-like caramel aftertaste. It’s everything that you shouldn’t be allowed as a lactose-intolerant, without the days of stomach pain normally required. I haven’t had a taste like this in years and the fact that a company like Mars are branching out into dairy-free makes me excited to see what’s around the corner.
This was a particularly liberating experience overall, as the first time I realised I was becoming lactose intolerant was when I chugged an entire Frijj milkshake in one go (even just thinking about it makes my stomach churn). So to revisit the ‘dreaded milkshake’ without fear was an absolute dream. Thanks Tesco and Mars!
Have you had a chance to try this delicious innovation from Mars? Let me know by leaving a comment below, or on Facebook / Twitter.
Have you ever heard of Muffin Break? I hadn’t until last weekend. It’s an amazing cafe/bakery/coffee shop that provides Gluten Free Muffins & Dairy Free Muffins! You can find them dotted all over the UK, so keep your eyes peeled for some delicious free from delights next time your out & about!
You might think I’m going muffin mad after my recent review of the delicious gluten free range of muffins at BB Muffins… maybe I am! But with good reason! On the very same trip out that I discovered BB Muffins gluten free range I also discovered an entire new cafe that I fell a little bit in love with. Its name? Muffin Break.
I had never heard of Muffin Break before the weekend just gone, however they have over 50 cafe/bakeries across the UK. Click here for a store finder! I was intrigued when I wandered past. It looked like a mix of all the different well known coffee shops moulded into one, but with a little more rustic class!
I rushed in to see that like most cafes they do a selection of muffins, cakes, slices, cookies and scones; alongside quiches, sandwiches, soups, wraps and paninis. And whilst again similarly to most of these institutions there is plenty of stuff on the menu full of gluten.. there is lots of choice without as well! & not only in sweet form but in savoury too!
Gluten Free Muffins
Both gluten free savoury and gluten free sweet muffins are on the menu and with a high degree of variety at that. The savoury gluten free muffins at Muffin Break include a ‘Ham, Cheese & Tomato’ Muffin, a ‘Mushroom, Parmesan & Pesto’ Muffin and a ‘Sweet Chilli & Corn’ Muffin, amongst many others.
The list of gluten free sweet muffins is even more vast: ‘Apple & Cinnamon’, ‘Banana Choc Chip’, ‘Apricot Cream Cheese’ and ‘Banana Berry’ … and thats only the tip of the iceberg of Muffin Break’s gluten free sweet muffin range!
I had to grab another muffin whilst I was out on this day & went for the gluten free White Chocolate and Raspberry muffin from Muffin Break. I kept it for the following day and was so glad that I did the next day! The muffin was still incredibly soft & moist. The white chocolate flavour was perfect, not too sickly but it still provided the muffin with a somewhat creamy texture. Their were also delicious white chocolate chunks on top which were irresistible; so irresistible I kept eating them before I ate the muffin! The raspberries throughout the muffin tasted really fresh and complimented the white chocolate really well. White chocolate & raspberries definitely is a match made in heaven!
I wish I had another one of those muffins, I think I will find it very hard to choose a different one next time, as the raspberry and white chocolate was amazing. But, all the other flavours sounds amazing, so I would feel like I was missing out if I didn’t give them a try! From what I tried of the gluten free muffins at Muffin Break, they definitely taste as good, if not better than a standard gluten muffin. I would highly highly recommend giving a Muffin Break muffin a try!
Dairy Free Muffins
What is special about Muffin Break is that they also have recently started doing a range of Dairy Free Muffins! Muffins often contain milk and sometimes even other dairy products such as yoghurt. So for Muffin Break to create muffins that can be eaten by those with an dairy intolerance or allergy is really great.
The dairy free range at Muffin Break is again fairly substantial and varies from a ‘Black Forrest’ Muffin to a ‘Banana Coconut’ Muffin & even the ever popular ‘Lemon & Poppyseed’ Muffin, plus lots more. It is great to see more and more free from diets are being considered in the mainstream.
The dairy free muffins looked amazing, however my one issue with them is… the dairy free muffins at Muffin Break are not gluten free!! So they have separate gluten free muffins and dairy free muffins… but they currently do not seem to cater for those who cannot eat gluten & dairy. This is disappointing in a way for Mark & I as we really enjoy being able to share our food! I guess, at least we are both catered for at Muffin Break.. it is a lot, lot better than most places!
Have you found a Muffin Break close by to you & tried their gluten free or dairy free muffins? What did you think of them? Let me know on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram!
I really do hope that more cafes turn towards providing a large range of gluten free options, as well as dairy free options. I just hope that Muffin Break & others can go one step further & make muffins that are Gluten Free AND Dairy Free… not Gluten Free OR Dairy Free!
UPDATED GLUTEN FREE GLASTONBURY FOR 2015: So (nearly) every single year it gets to April & everyone starts to get excited for Glastonbury! There is no need to worry if you are Gluten Free at Glastonbury, Glastonbury have got it covered with an amazing choice of places to indulge gluten free! & I have also got it covered with my Gluten Free Glastonbury Guide!
All dishes were gluten and dairy free. I had an amazing King Prawn Caldine served with basmati rice. The queue was insane, I waited for about 20 minutes and it was the best wait of my entire weekend. They also serve a spicy Goan Fish Curry, Dhal dishes and for the early birds an epic sounding Smoked Salmon Kedgeree. If you ever get the opportunity to sample The Goan Fish Company’s delights at a festival I would highly highly recommend it.
Delicious gluten free pancakes were devoured all weekend by yours truly. The gluten free pancake is actually called a Galette which is listed as a savoury pancake; but I asked the guys running La Bonne Crepe and they said I could choose any sweet or savoury filling! So whether it’s a nutella and banana pancake or a ham, cheese and mushroom savoury pancake you fancy you can have one. (Galettes are actually made with Buckwheat Flour if you’re interested!) I tried out both sweet and savoury gluten free delights from La Bonne Crepe and would definitely head back there if I found them at another festival.
Now I know that paella can be something that us gluten intolerants can often eat anyway… but not always, and this paella stall was amazing! They clearly stated they were gluten free on all their signs, which was great too. They do both a vegetarian and meat paellas. I can confirm that they both smelt and looked incredible & further still the meat paella was divine. The huge chunks of chorizo flavoured the paella amazingly. This was one of the first dishes I had at Glastonbury and I can safely say I still dream about it often. Check them out if you see their stand at another festival this summer!
What a find this was! Cake, cakes and more cakes! Not all gluten free but the choice of gluten free cakes was outstanding. From lemon drizzle to carrot cake and even a gluten free sticky toffee pudding with custard! Furthermore they have a huge selection of vegan cakes too, for instance they had a date & walnut cake, a sticky ginger cake and a chocolate cake on offer when I visited. So for those who cannot consume dairy there is something here for you too. The best thing in my opinion about The Cake Hole is that all cakes and puddings are baked right on site… in the field! I don’t know how they do it but they do it brilliantly. The carrot cake was a massive hit in my belly! That is the great thing about Glastonbury its certainly not all burgers and hot dogs, a civilised bowl on pudding with custard is very much an option here.
Now I have always been a massive fan of Honeybuns Bakery as you might be able to tell from previous posts, so to find somewhere like this amongst all the mud at Glastonbury made me feel right at home! Not only did their cakes and bakes taste as delicious as ever but Honeybuns had a lovely little covered area with seats where you could relax whilst you chomped down a cake… or two! All gluten free of course and incredibly friendly means a massive thumbs up from me!
Now of course smoothies are naturally gluten free anyway but this place deserves a mention. I tried my best to keep my already dodgy digestive system functioning at Glastonbury and Smooth Criminals with their delicious range of smoothies made this much easier. The smoothies are full of fresh and delicious fruit and yoghurt. I particularly enjoyed one called ‘Purple Haze’, which I think was raspberry, blueberry and strawberry. These smoothies were incredibly filling and cooling and made me feel great! ☺
As a massive fan of Brighton as a place on this earth I was really excited to get the chance to visit La Choza at Glastonbury who were situated at The Common. I heard they would be serving some tasty gluten free soft corn tortillas and crispy corn tacos, something I love. I love Mexican food so much and so this was something I didn’t want to miss. Yet I did! I never got down to The Common for one reason or another and so I totally missed out. However, I would highly recommend anyone visiting them at a festival this summer or if you are in Brighton go and check them out on Gloucester Road, you won’t regret it!
8) Thai Green Curry from Unknown Named Stand!
Gluten Free Thai Green Curry
I had a delicious Thai Green Chicken Curry from a stand close by to the Somerset Cider bus and the Pyramid Stage but sadly I cannot remember for the life of me what the stall was called! I will mention it anyway however as this was delicious! Served with really flavoursome Thai rice, I couldn’t think of a nicer accompaniment to a bit of Jack White on the Saturday evening! The stall had it clearly stated that gluten free options were available and they were very helpful when I went and asked! I must say everyone was very understanding of gluten free options at Glastonbury so I would urge you to always ask. If you don’t ask, you don’t get!!
I had an amazing time, I urge you to check Glastonbury out too!
Glastonbury is a food festival as well as a performing arts festival and so I was pretty excited to see what they could offer me & you definitely should be too!
It is shocking when you arrive at Glastonbury to see literally how many different food stalls exist; it is quite literally off the chain. The variety in cuisine makes you feel like you are on a round the world trip over 5 days. Delicious, authentic and if you take your time… plenty of gluten free goodness is right there.
Obviously the usual dishes that we feel pretty safe eating are all on offer… so jacket potatoes, salads, smoothies, juices, and fruit salads. But when you see your best mate devouring a curry, I can’t be the only one who thinks a banana just doesn’t hack it. (Although submerging my face in half a juicy pineapple from a fruit stall near The Park Stage was scrumptiously memorable!)
I hope if you are going to Glastonbury you have a great time and eat happily and safely gluten free! Have an awesome time! Please let me know if you attend any other festivals this summer whether the gluten free options are as vast, I would be interested to know
Gluten Free Dolly Parton?
If you ever want to chat drop me a line at bex@glutenfreecuppatea.co.uk or check out the Twitter and Facebook pages.
I’ve been searching so far this year for brands & shops that are driving the need for Free From Foods forward, especially for the gluten free diet. Along my search I came across Holland & Barrett who I know have always supported free from foods; but I didn’t realise how much they supported free from diets until now.
It has thanks to Holland & Barrett & the gang!
I know we are quite a way into 2015 now but I still feel like this time of year with Spring in full swing I am still very much into fresh starts. Around this time of year seems to be when a lot of different brands also think about “fresh starts”, or rather, creating new products, new messages & new images.
I’ve got into the habit of constantly searching for new gluten free and free from products wherever I go. Whatever time of day it is, whatever restaurant I visit, whatever supermarket, shop or cafe I venture into; I will always search out their free from sections & menus!
I might be expecting too much, or just dreaming up ideas that aren’t really possible… but product development in the free from space is really important. There are so many people who now follow a free from diet, whether that be gluten free, dairy free, egg free, soya free or another of the 14 allergens (or a combination of many!). With this in mind, it is incredibly important for shops and brands to stay on top of the demand for more free from. Not just for the sake of the free from consumer, but also for their own sake in terms of business… it makes business sense right?!
So I must say last week I was pleasantly surprised by none other than Holland and Barrett! When I was growing up Holland and Barrett only really meant vitamins, minerals & dried fruit to me. It came across as a very medicinal shop.
Over the years, the sort of products that they sell have been developing and becoming more and more popular. With protein based goods, probiotics & the invasion of super foods being central to the success of Holland and Barrett in my view. However, even with so many people turning to trying out these products & hence Holland & Barrett gaining more customers; the whole shopping experience to me still felt very medicinal… until now.
The Holland & Barrett Free From Website allows you to refine your search really well.
I recently went onto the Holland and Barrett website and noticed they have completely recreated the look of the Free From Foods section. It is now colourful, inviting and most importantly easy to understand. It allows you to refine your search to only include foods free from certain ingredients. It has a filter for 19 different free from products including the 14 Most Common Allergens.
A section of the main Free From Site from Holland & Barrett – really easy to follow.
Not only has the website been dramatically improved in terms of easily accessing free from items, they have also added over 200 additional free from ranges to the site & their stores! This is great news for everyone! Now Holland & Barrett Free From is no longer solely full of standard products that basically help you get by everyday; they have a huge range of different products too. They even have a mix of store cupboard, refrigerated & frozen products.
They are also in the process of completely changing their look in stores, particularly in the free from area. Again, a great way to freshen up the free from space & make it more inviting for the consumer. I have recently seen that Holland & Barrett are starting to open a few purely Free From stores! This is exactly what I have been waiting for from a shop as big as Holland & Barrett!
I know this isn’t a post with loads of different delicious pictures of gluten free food all over it, but I am so excited about the prospect of entirely free from shops, that I just had to share this with you guys!
What do you think of the idea? & have you been into a Holland & Barrett recently and noticed any changes?
Let me know by leaving a comment below or on Facebook / Twitter.
I really recommend going onto the Holland & Barrett Free From Website and having a play around. It is really straightforward to select what allergen you might like to remove (or numerous ones) & find what foods are suitable for you. You might even find some new exciting brands!
Now that Holland & Barrett have boosted forward the Free From trend in 2015 we can await some other big companies following. I will be on the look out!!
I recently checked out BB Muffins for the first time in years to find a delicious BB Muffins Gluten Free Range! From the classic Blueberry Muffin to the tastebud tingling Apple & Cinnamon Muffin; I grabbed a couple of BB Muffins Gluten Free delights and gave them a try!
So on a recent trip to Chelmsford, whilst I was back having a few days down south, I was at a loose end as to where to grab a cake & a drink. Of course, Chelmsford has Costa, Caffe Nero, Starbucks & all those other places that offers us gluten free eaters a chocolate brownie etc. But, I wanted something different.
When I came across another popular chain, BB Muffins, I wasn’t holding out for anything. I have very rarely eaten a muffin ever since my gluten intolerance took hold, and if I have it hasn’t been great.
But what I saw on a couple of posters at BB Muffins, made sure a huge smile crept across my entire face.
You what? Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins?!
Gluten Free Apple and Cinnamon Muffins? Hell Yes!
Gluten Free Muffins from a dedicated muffin cafe?! Yes please. I still await the day Millies Cookies go gluten free or even the day I can get a cheeky iced bun from Greggs! I know these might not be the healthiest of places but damn, they taste good and are super convenient!
Anyway, enough of ‘where isn’t serving gluten free yet’ and more on the wonderful BB Muffins! They have currently got 2 different gluten free muffins on the menu. The Blueberry Muffin and the Apple & Cinnamon Muffin – I tried both as I just couldn’t resist!
The Gluten Free Blueberry muffin, I initially had a sample of at the front of the store. Since when are gluten free samples given out? My lucky day I think. You will be shocked to know that this was my first ever Blueberry muffin, it was amazing. It was incredibly moist & soft. It wasn’t even slightly crumbly or dry like some shop bought cakes & muffins can be (especially gluten free). There were blueberries throughout the muffin which tasted amazing. I have to say I fell in love with this Blueberry muffin, & really do hope I can grab another one soon at a branch local to Manchester!
Beautifully moist Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins.
One of my favourite flavour combinations has got to be apple and cinnamon. I love apple strudels, cobblers & of course a really cinnamon infested apple crumble is the highlight of any meal for me. So when I noticed a tasty looking selection of gluten free apple & cinnamon muffins at the heart of the BB Muffins counter, I knew I had to take one home with me!
The apple & cinnamon muffin from BB Muffins blew my mind. Not only is it gluten free but it literally tastes like a dessert. The aroma you initially get from the muffin is enough in itself, but then, take a bite & its definitely a muffin on another level! It’s soft & moist just like the blueberry muffin, but the top is ever so slightly crisped up to perfection, to make you really feel like this is an apple crumble muffin! The cinnamon flavour is definitely not overpowering, it blends with the apple taste very well, as you would expect!
Gluten Free Apple & Cinnamon Muffins, what a delight!
I was seriously impressed with BB Muffins from this trip. To be able to create two amazing muffins that are gluten free and great tasting is brilliant. I love the choice of flavours they selected for the gluten free muffins too, it is often too easy to jump straight towards a double chocolate muffin (which is definitely not my favourite flavour!). If you are on a gluten free diet, looking for tasty gluten free cakes / muffins when you are out and about, I would highly recommend popping down to your local BB Muffins. I know they are not everywhere, but they do have plenty of stores across the UK & Ireland so keep your eyes open for them now.
One thing I do wish was that they could provide muffins that were both gluten free & dairy free. Whilst I can eat dairy, Mark cannot, & it is a shame that we can’t enjoy a tasty muffin from BB Muffins together. Hopefully, with the increase in dairy free products on the market, more places will start to provide for not only the gluten free eaters but the dairy free eaters too. Fingers crossed.
Have you found anywhere close by to you that sells gluten free and/or dairy free muffins?
Or, have you visited BB Muffins to try a gluten free muffin?
I really hope that more places like BB Muffins follow their good example. Sometimes following a tiring day shopping all you fancy is a convenient place to stop for something sweet. Having a place like BB Muffins that I trust and enjoy gluten free is really great news. Lets see if other places can follow & break away from the standard ‘gluten free brownie!’
Recently on a mid morning shopping trip to Tesco both Mark & I felt incredibly peckish & fancied a hot drink. We often stop off for a drink at Costa at our local Tesco but on this occasion we were at a different Tesco where there wasn’t a Costa. Usually when I see the old style Tesco Cafes my brain groans… there is very little for either of us to eat and certainly very little snack food. So to say my gluten free rumbling stomach was initially a little disappointed to find a Tesco Old School Cafe would be an understatement!
We went up to the counter and saw lots of hot gluten filled meals… pasta, full english, fish and chips; but then we turned round and saw the cold pre made sandwiches.
Obviously by this point I had given up any hope of getting anything and was preparing to nip downstairs to the free from section of the Tesco store to grab a quick snack. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find an Urban Eat Gluten Free Lemon Chicken Wrap (which was pleasingly also dairy free). Mark & I were only looking for a snack as it wasn’t too long till lunchtime so we decided to buy the wrap and have half each with our hot drinks.
I must say I never really think of having something like a wrap as a snack, it screams ‘lunchtime’ at you but really sharing a wrap really is the perfect snack! I was really excited to try the wrap and really hoped it lived up to what I imagine a good Lemon Chicken Wrap should taste like! I wasn’t disappointed. The Urban Eat Gluten Free Wrap was delicious. The wrap, which I think must have been a Newburn Bake House Gluten Free Seeded Wrap was really soft, flexible and well formed. I’ve always loved the Newburn Bake House wraps so it was great to see another brand using them for their pre-made wraps.
The Chicken was moist, well seasoned and plentiful. There is nothing worse than not having enough chicken in a chicken wrap!! The chicken was perfectly complimented by the zesty lemon mayonnaise, which provided an all encompassing freshness to the Urban Eat Gluten Free Wrap. The rocket and tomato finished off this delicious wrap perfectly, giving another dimension of flavour and texture to the wrap. I wished that we hadn’t decided to share the wrap as a snack, I could have quite easily have devoured the other half!
But I Do Wanna Taco ‘Bout Urban Eat’s Gluten Free Wraps!
The Urban Eat Gluten Free Lemon Chicken Wrap is the perfect choice for lunch if you are on the go and happen to drop past somewhere that sells Urban Eat products. Of course I have seen Urban Eat Gluten Free products now in Tesco but I also know that a lot of university campuses also sell Urban Eat products as well as smaller cafes & some public transport hubs; so keep your eyes peeled!
I have just noticed they also do a gluten free egg & slow roasted tomato wrap which sounds amazing. I will definitely be on the look out for that next! Let me know if you have tried it before!
I have also been reliably informed that the Urban Eat Gluten Free range is due to expand later on this year so I will keep you posted if I hear anything more… more convenient lunch options please!
Have you found any other gluten free ready made sandwich brands when you’ve been out and about? Please let me know on Facebook or Twitter, it would be great to have even more options when I’m in a hurry!
We visited Edinburgh for the second time in April 2015 and I found it to be even better than I ever remembered. It is a great place for gluten free & dairy free choices; I would highly recommend it! So here are some of my favourite Gluten Free Edinburgh destinations. (In no particular order!) Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of this post for a Gluten Free Edinburgh video guide!
Loudons is a lovely, open and spacious cafe. It serves amazing breakfasts, brunches, lunches & cakes. There is a huge range of gluten free, dairy free, vegan & nut free cakes which are all baked in their onsite bakery. They also bake all their own gluten free bread downstairs in the bakery – which is amazing! You can even buy a loaf of bread to takeaway. I would highly recommend the Gluten Free & Vegan Banana Coconut Pancakes; plus the Smoked Salmon & Scrambled Eggs (on home baked gluten free toast) was the best I’ve ever had! The staff are incredibly welcoming & knowledgable on allergens so you can definitely rest easy at Loudons!
Urban Angel is a beautiful cafe, tucked away at the lower end of Hanover Street. It is only a few minutes walk from the lovely shopping of George Street & is well worth a trip. Everything on their menu can be made gluten free and the staff are very well informed on all allergens. All the bread including the outstanding gluten free bread is baked by expert baker Caroline at the local Archipelago Artisan Bakery. She also bakes a wide range of cakes for Urban Angel, many of which are gluten free! Urban Angel have a specials menu daily as well as serving a wide selection of brunch & lunch options. I highly recommend trying their smoked haddock, alongside some scrambled eggs, avocado & gluten free toast. The cafe gets very busy so it might be worth getting down early or even booking!
3. Elephants and Bagels, 32 Marshall Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9BJ.
Elephant and Bagels, Edinburgh
Elephants and Bagels is situated not far from the University of Edinburgh. It is always busy with students & locals. It is the sister of Elephant House (the famous “Birthplace of Harry Potter”), but a little less well known. Elephants and Bagels is exactly that… a bagel cafe that loves elephants! The walls are covered in pictures of elephants that customers have drawn whilst indulging in a bagel. Gluten Free Bagels are served here and the choice of fillings is extensive. It is the perfect relaxing breakfast or lunch spot & is perfect for any one on a gluten free diet.
4. MUMS, 4a Forrest Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2QN.
Mum’s, Edinburgh
Mum’s is a charming little restaurant that I have visited on both occasions I have visited Edinburgh. Mum’s is all about Great Comfort Food. They believe ‘gourmet’ should be for everyone, but it doesn’t have to be all ‘poncey’. Gourmet can infact revolve around comfort food! Mum’s is best known for its amazing sausages & mash dish. They do no less than 15 different varieties of mash & have a great selection of different sausages, all of which are 100% gluten free. I really love the whole concept of Great Comfort Food & Mum’s has put this term into practice perfectly. This is a place for everyone, & I highly recommend giving it a try. It’s not a huge restaurant and it does get busy in the evenings so it might be an idea to book.
5. Elephant House, 21 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EN.
Elephant House, Edinburgh
Elephant House is quite a tourist hot spot in Edinburgh due to it’s associations with JK Rowling & Harry Potter. It’s a nice cafe to have a look in and many folk get a little photo outside. The menu in terms of savoury food doesn’t offer a whole lot for those on a gluten free diet, beyond a baked potato, which is somewhat disappointing. However, what it lacks in terms of gluten free, savoury lunch food it makes up for in it’s gluten free cake selection! I spoke to a member of the team whilst in Edinburgh & she told me that the baker is on a gluten free diet & so she dedicates most of her baking time to creating gluten free cakes. A fresh batch of cakes comes in each afternoon around 4pm so we headed down to grab some. The gluten free peanut butter blondie & rocky road I can highly recommend. If you in the area, go & grab some cake!
6. Union of Genius, 8 Forrest Road, Edinburgh EH1 2QN.
Union of Genius, Edinburgh
Union of Genius is known best for its amazing selection of soups. It was Scotland’s first soup cafe & is likely one of the very best across the country. They serve a range of freshly made soups, which change with the seasons and on a daily basis. The soups are all gluten free & many are dairy free as well as there being some vegan options too. All the soups come served in single casserole dishes with a large hunk of bread. You will be pleased to know that you can choose from gluten free sliced bread or a gluten free roll to go with your soup (or GF Oatcakes/Ricecakes if you prefer!). They also offer a range of different cakes, and their are always some gluten free options… 100% amazeballs!
7. Hula Juice Bar, 103-105 West Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2JP.
Hula Juice Bar, Edinburgh
Hula Juice Bar is based just on the edge of the Grassmarket area of Edinburgh. It’s a perfect place to come for breakfast, lunch, a slice of cake or a delicious smoothie. Nearly the entire menu can be made gluten free by switching to gluten free bread which is always readily available. Gluten Free & Dairy Free Cakes are always available too. We tried an amazing gluten free & dairy free coconut & blueberry slice when we visited which was really tasty. My favourite thing about the Hula Juice Bar has to be their selection of smoothies, juices & shakes. They are all made from completely fresh ingredients, nothing false. If I had to recommend you one to try I would go for the Betty Ford (Peach, Strawberry, Banana, Apple)!
8. Mamma’s Pizza, 30 The Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2JU.
Mammas Pizza, Edinburgh
Mamma’s was a favourite for us from our first visit to Edinburgh. Situated right in the middle of the Grassmarket it is easily accessible from the castle area. Mamma’s serves up amazing pizzas on homemade gluten free bases. The bases are really delicious & the extensive variety of topping means you really can create your own pizza. From traditional Scottish toppings to exotic toppings such as Cactus or just delicious toppings like Avocado & Pepperoni, there is something to tantalise everyone’s tastebuds! If you’d prefer something else, there are other non pizza gluten free options too, as well as starters & desserts suitable for the gluten free diet.
9. Tupiniquim, The Green Police Box, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH1 9AU.
Tupiniquim, Edinburgh
Tupiniquim is probably my favourite find of the entire Edinburgh trip! An understated green police box at the very top of the meadows is Tupinquim’s home. It is easy to find, situated in the heart of the city & not far from the University of Edinburgh. Tupiniquim is a Brazilian Crepe House where all crepes/pancakes are 100% gluten free. The selection of fillings is vast and varied, from savoury to sweet & plenty of daily specials too. Tupiniquim also create vegan & dairy free pancakes using an almond milk mixture, which comes out equally as well & tastes really delicious. The couple who run it are very knowledgable on allergens and take a huge amount of pride from running their gluten free pancake stall. It was a pleasure to wait for my Gluten Free & Vegan ‘Monkey Delight’ Pancake (Banana, Agave, Cinnamon & Pecans) in their presence. They bring a touch of Brazilian Street Food to Edinburgh and I’m so grateful that they do! If there is one thing you don’t want to miss out on during your time in Edinburgh, it’s a gluten free pancake from Tupiniquim.
10. Real Foods, 37 Broughton Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3JU.
Real Foods, Edinburgh
Real Foods is the Whole Foods of Edinburgh. It’s like your local health food shop but so much better. It offers a wide range of different free from products, many of which you might regularly see in your local supermarket and a few different ones too. So if you forget anything whilst in Edinburgh or need a free from snack this is the place to come. For us, this was a great find as we were staying in an apartment. We were able to buy our favourite gluten free breakfast cereals at Real Foods as well as fresh gluten free breads from brands such as Just. They also stocked a wide range of dairy free cheeses, milks & even vegan samosas (Mark enjoyed a few of these!). So if you are in need of some free from snacks whilst in Edinburgh, I would highly recommend Real Foods. It’s the perfect place to grab some picnic food for a trip to Edinburgh Zoo… a great day out with limited gluten free options.
11. La Favorita, Various Locations Across the City!
La Favorita, Edinburgh
La Favorita is my number one top pick if you are staying in an apartment whilst you are in Edinburgh (or if you live close by). La Favorita is an amazing Pizza Takeaway and Delivery Service that creates beyond amazing Gluten Free Pizzas. The Gluten Free Pizza Bases are all freshly made and are absolute perfection in terms of thickness, texture and flavour. What is even better about La Favorita is that they also offer Dairy Free / Vegan Cheese on all of their Pizzas. They use one of our favourite dairy free cheeses as well, Mozzarisella! Seriously I would definitely suggest a night in during your trip to Edinburgh just to indulge in a gluten free and / or dairy free pizza from heaven! La Favorita deliver as well, which is a massive bonus if you don’t have a car, you can also order online. I can definitely tell why La Favorita is thought of so highly amongst pizza lovers. I have never eaten a pizza quite as good as the one I had from La Favorita!
Other gluten free and free from destinations in Edinburgh…
Vittoria on the Bridge -An Italian Restaurant that is part of The Vittoria Group which also runs La Favorita! If you want to eat out at a restaurant rather than getting a takeaway you might like to visit Vittoria on the Bridge. It serves gluten free pizzas similarly to La Favorita as well as a wide range of gluten free pasta dishes. The menu is well equipped for all allergies, with plenty of choices available for everyone.
Café Andaluz – A Spanish Restaurant that has an ever changing selection of delicious tapas. There are plenty of Gluten Free options on the menu here & it is situated in a great location on George Street.
Chip Inn – Unfortunately a place I was unable to get to due to not having a car. But I heard plenty of top reviews regarding The Chip Inn. It is the only fish and chip shop in the Edinburgh area that I have found that serves gluten free fish and chips on a regular basis. So if you are able to travel a little further out of the city centre the Chip Inn might be somewhere you would like to try!
Howies – There are a couple of Howies easily accessible in the centre of Edinburgh. Howies has a great selection of gluten free options on the menu & prides itself on its fresh, local, Scottish food. It’s the perfect destination for a lovely lunch or dinner out in the heart of the city.
Roseleaf Bar / Cafe – Again, this is another great destination for allergen friendly food that is a little bit further outside of Edinburgh City Centre. Their menu is wholesome and delicious and runs from 10am every morning till 10pm at night. The menu is jammed pack full of hearty Scottish dishes, plenty of which are gluten free & dairy free. If you fancy a proper cosy meal out of the city in the Port ‘o Leith then the Roseleaf might just be the place for you!
Of course you have all your standard chain restaurants that offer gluten free and allergen friendly menus. The likes of TGI Fridays, Pizza Express, Las Iguanas, Nandos, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Chiquitos, La Tasca & Zizzis are available throughout the city centre of Edinburgh if you would prefer.
Why read about where to eat out gluten free in Edinburgh when you can watch! Check out some of my top tips for Edinburgh below!
Edinburgh is definitely one of my favourite cities and I can’t wait till our next trip. I hope that you all get the chance to visit as well. It’s an amazing city for all ages & at all times of year. Christmas in Edinburgh is beautiful & I’ve heard Edinburgh Fringe Festival is one of the very best. Everyday is a great day in Edinburgh so make the most of it and enjoy plenty of gluten free food whilst your at it!
Loudons Edinburgh is an exciting & delicious cafe situated in the heart of the city. It has an amazing, vibrant atmosphere; and of course, has a menu stacked full of gluten free & dairy free mouthwatering options.
This is the first of a collection of posts documenting gluten free in Edinburgh, make sure to check back & follow me on Twitter / Facebook to keep up to date
I had been given numerous recommendations from fellow gluten free foodies to visit Loudons whilst I was in Edinburgh. Seeing as it was the Easter weekend, & most people were enjoying time off work I was worried we wouldn’t easily get a seat. Fortunately, Loudons is really open and spacious & there is plenty of room for everyone! It is definitely a suitable destination for everyone whether you have kids, want a relaxing place to do some work, a chill out place with friends or a great gluten free foodie experience during Edinburgh Fringe.
Upon arrival at Loudons, I asked our lovely server whether they had many gluten free options. She told me ‘I had come to the right place’! She went on to explain that everything on the menu can basically be made gluten free – plenty is naturally gluten free too. I even went downstairs to discover they have their own onsite bakery where they make all their own gluten free bread and cakes.
On our first visit to Loudons we were overwhelmed by all the choices. However, the environment in Loudons makes you feel so relaxed & happy, that it was nice to take our time perusing the menu. The menu is extensive with a lengthy brunch and lunch menu. Brunch is all about Eggs, Pancakes, French Toast, Quinoa or a Full English (All available Gluten Free). Whilst the lunch menu contains Gluten Free Gnocchi, Gluten Free Quiches & Gluten Free Pizza amongst a range of other delicious delights! Click here for the Loudons’ Menus.
Gluten Free & Vegan Banana & Coconut Pancakes
After much deliberation we chose the Gluten Free & Vegan Banana, Coconut Pancakes as well as the Smoked Salmon & Poached Eggs on freshly baked Gluten Free Toast. It was so hard to decide, so we thought one sweet and one savoury dish to share would be perfect! When the food arrived I was blown away. The presentation made the food look so appetising & the smells coming off our plates were incredible.
The Banana & Coconut Pancakes came warm with a chopped up banana, slices of fresh strawberry & lots of maple syrup. I have never had gluten free pancakes out before and these were beyond insane. They were really fluffy and flavoursome. I loved the strawberries on top and of course the maple syrup just rounded the dish off to heaven. I can’t believe the pancakes were both gluten free and vegan… anyone who tries these pancakes will not of had any better anywhere else!
The Smoked Salmon and Poached Eggs on fresh Gluten Free Toast was equally to die for. The bread was soft and full of delicious seeds. The crust on the bread was like nothing I have ever had from a gluten free loaf before. I just wanted more of the bread! As always smoked salmon & poached eggs is a winning combination. The eggs were cooked to absolute perfection. We finished our lunch feeling mighty satisfied, yet slightly sad that it was over!
Before we left we decided to go to the front counter and gawp at all the delicious cakes. Of course we didn’t just gawp at them, we grabbed a couple to take back to the apartment to eat later on. I went for a gluten free lemon & raspberry cake, whilst Mark went for a vegan fudgey chocolate cake. Loudons had so many cakes I wanted to try out. The Gluten Free Lime & Coconut Squares and Gluten Free Scones looked beyond delicious. There were at least 7 different gluten free cakes amongst their wide selection on our visit. Best of all, they are all made in the bakery literally just below the cafe!
Gluten Free Lemon & Raspberry Cake
Not even 2 days had passed since our last trip to Loudons & even with so many delicious gluten free options in Edinburgh, we found ourselves craving more from Loudons; so we returned again for lunch! Mark & I both decided that on this trip we would both have something different to last time on the menu. This time I opted for one of my all time favourite dishes… Smoked Salmon & Scrambled Eggs with their delicious gluten free toast. Mark decided to try the french toast with maple syrup and bananas on their regular freshly baked bread. (You can always have this dish gluten free if you like, Mark just wanted to try what their gluten bread tasted like too!)
Now I feel like I might be starting to give Loudons a big head with this review, but they thoroughly deserve it. My smoked salmon and scrambled eggs was by far the nicest I have ever had & I have travelled to a lot of amazing restaurants & had this dish before. I loved the idea of mixing the eggs and salmon together. There was definitely no lack of smoked salmon by having it this way & it was seasoned perfectly. The bread was again amazing and was an absolute pleasure to eat!
French Toast with Banana & Maple Syrup – this CAN be made Gluten Free too!
I apologise for posting the above picture as this bread definitely contains gluten but I just couldn’t resist as Mark enjoyed it so much! The best French Toast he has ever had… & to think that they can use their freshly baked gluten free bread to make this dish gluten free makes me want to get the train up to Edinburgh immediately!
Knowing this was our final trip to Loudons this Edinburgh adventure definitely made me a little down. We both decided this is one of the best cafes we have ever been to, possibly the best. The staff are some of the friendliest I have met, they are incredibly knowledgable and very efficient too. Nothing is too much for the staff of Loudons, we felt very welcome!
Freshly Baked Gluten Free Bread to take home
I am very pleased to say I managed to bring a little bit of Loudons Edinburgh home with me in the form of a loaf of their Gluten Free Bread. As I mentioned, it is freshly baked downstairs and you can buy it to take home with you. Most of the loaf is gone now, I have been enjoying it with every single meal!
So if you are based in Edinburgh or are thinking of visiting in the future I would put Loudons at the top of your agenda for a place to go. Whether you fancy breakfast, brunch, lunch or just a slice of cake, it is the perfect destination. The menu delivers on every level for those with intolerances and for those without. They are incredibly understanding of coeliac needs so any coeliacs can rest easy when they visit.
Let me know if you get a chance to visit Loudons Edinburgh & what you think!
I have always loved Cornettos but being gluten free & Mark being dairy free means we just can’t have them. However, now we can thanks to Tesco Dairy Free Ice Cream Cones. The ice cream is completely dairy free, the cone is completely gluten free.. what a perfect combination!
I was extremely excited a few weeks ago when I came across a selection of new Tesco Free From products in their frozen section. Although, Tesco have a reasonable selection of Frozen Free From, in recent months it has started to look a little tired. I really wanted them to produce something different & exciting, that allows me to eat something I couldn’t otherwise.
So when I saw the Tesco Dairy Free Ice Cream Strawberry and Vanilla Cones, which essentially are a gluten and dairy free Cornetto, I was over the moon! I used to love Cornettos, and used to love having them on a summers day out. These looked incredibly similar to a Cornetto and I was definitely intrigued by them… we immediately bought a box!
Upon trying them we were pleasantly surprised that the box contained four full sized ‘Cornettos’, we were expecting the ice creams to be much smaller than usual. The ice cream is completely dairy free and is a mix of vanilla and strawberry with further strawberry ripples throughout. It tastes as good as the ice cream of a cornetto, and the strawberry ripples are definitely a great addition. The ice cream is plentiful and goes a decent way down the cone which is not always common in ice cream cones like these. The cone is waffle style which is my favourite type of cone. I was never a fan of the regular Flake 99 cones, they were very pappy; so to be able to eat a tasty waffle cone that is entirely gluten free was music to my ears. The gluten free waffle cone did not disappoint. It was crispy and flavoursome, which didn’t go soggy upon the ice cream touching it. However, what made the Tesco Dairy Free Ice Cream Cone the ultimate was that the Gluten Free Waffle Cone had chocolate inside it, right down to the bottom! Everyone loves chocolate in the bottom of their ice cream cone right?!
I would highly recommend giving the Tesco Dairy Free Ice Cream (Gluten Free too) a go… it is delicious and a perfect addition to any freezer this spring and summer. It would be great to be able to have these ice creams available at the ice cream van, but for now I am just incredibly grateful that Tesco have made something that Mark & I can really enjoy together!
Have you tried the strawberry and vanilla gluten free & dairy free ice cream cones from Tescos? Let me know if you have and what you think of them on Facebook or Twitter.
