Gluten Free Doughnuts that are also Dairy Free, Egg Free, Soya Free & totally suitable for Coeliacs & Vegans… I am NOT lying! Better still, these Gluten Free Doughnuts taste as good as any regular doughnuts.
We all love doughnuts but due to one intolerance or another , it is difficult to find doughnuts suitable for everyone. Ryan Panchoo of Borough 22 has been on a mission to change that. Free From in Ryan’s view does not mean missing out on the best.
Borough 22 is based in London, where Ryan will happily deliver Gluten Free Doughnuts to you all day long! Fortunately his recent amazing idea… The Gluten Free Doughnut Rally! On 28th May 2015 the Doughnut Dash hit Manchester & I was there to grab 12 delicious Gluten Free Doughnuts (Vanilla Glazed).
I rushed home with my gluten free doughnuts, so excited to try them. When I got back Mark was over the moon to find they were also dairy free doughnuts! We love foods that are both gluten free & dairy free, it is great to be able to eat the same foods, it makes it a bit more special.
They smelt great, & tasted better. They were soft, moist & incredibly light. I often find Gluten Free baked goods are often incredibly dense, these were anything but. The flavour was amazing I really felt like I was eating doughnuts made specially for me. They really tingled my taste buds, I must admit, I ate quite a few!!
I would highly recommend the Vanilla Glazed flavour but furthermore they do Nutella, Salted Caramel, Cinnamon Sugared, Raspberry Pistachio & regular monthly specials. If you get a chance, try them all! I cannot wait to get the chance to indulge in ever single flavour!
The Interview with a Free From Baking Genius… Ryan Panchoo!
Meeting the Gluten Free Baking Genius Ryan Panchoo
I quizzed Ryan Panchoo all about his Gluten Free Doughnut Heaven… & what the future hold. Does he have any new Free From baking ideas?! Find out below!
So, why did you start up Borough 22?
I started Borough 22 in a bid to satisfy my wife and my children’s sweet cravings. My wife is both gluten and dairy intolerant and cannot handle processed sugar. My children, at the time, were both dairy intolerant. I have a massively sweet tooth but a sloth-like metabolism so I was getting a little heavy set trying to eat everything I had baked before it went bad. I developed a couple of great recipes that went down really well with my friends and family and so, after much encouragement and several ultimatums, I decided to investigate selling to the public.
What made you decide to do a Doughnut Dash?
I started to get a lot of interest outside of London so l looked at courier services to deliver our goods but the costs were astronomical. We wanted to send our goods as fresh as possible. The solution was The Gluten Free Doughnut Rally. Admittedly Doughnut Dash is easier to say.
What is your favourite flavour doughnut you create? Any flavours you are excited to try out?!
My personal favourite is the most simple. Sugared. I am a firm believer in the simpler the better when it comes to food. A lot of food isn’t getting pimped these days and it just ain’t right! It just ain’t right! I thing you can be too heavy handed. That being said raspberry pistachio is our second favourite. The combination is to die for. I am excited to try out a S’More flavoured doughnut… totally disregarding what I JUST SAID!
Who inspired your cooking and baking style? Or were you born super talented?!
I would say that I’m a bit of a sponge. I love food so virtually every TV Chef has inspired me. My favourite baker without a doubt is Bea Vo of Bea‘s of Bloomsbury. If you ever come to London go and find one of her shops. Please. She is the reason we primarily use Italian butter-cream frosting. She is a legend.
What is the hardest thing about gluten free baking?
The discipline element is hard. Everything has to be carried out meticulously to avoid cross contamination. We are used to it now but at first it was quite exhausting mentally.
What’s your top tip for others trying to bake gluten free?
Read the recipe and prep everything first. Oh and buy an oven thermometer and digital scales. Baking is a science. If you stay as accurate as possible you can’t really go wrong. If it does go wrong, Google the solution. Its out there.
Have you got any other products in the pipeline you would like to create in the future?
All things crumble. I have created a recipe that uses non processed sugar and contains no egg, gluten, soya or dairy that I am SUPER excited about sharing.
Where do you want to see yourself & Borough 22 in 5 years time, what is the ultimate goal?
In 5 years? I hope to see my products in a nice Food Hall and have a small stall somewhere centrally in London with outlets in Manchester, Leeds, Bristol and York and loyal fan base and a killer reputation… for producing the best free from goods in the UK of course. And that is the ultimate goal – to sell quality free from goods. I am passionate about the quality of our products and would like that to remain constant.
Three words that describe you?
Creative, Passionate, Personable!
Will you be my personal doughnut baker forever?
I would love to!
Doughnut Ice Cream Sandwich
So, as much as I adored eating these gluten free doughnuts simply as they are… I had to turn the heat up & take these doughnuts to the next level. One of my favourite places to eat Gluten Free & Dairy Free in the whole world is Cookies & Scream. One of my favourite things to enjoy there is a Doughnut Ice Cream Sandwich! Sounds crazy, indulgent & epic all in one, right? In truth, no words can describe it.
Using Borough 22’s Gluten Free Doughnuts, Dairy Free Ice Cream & Sweet Freedom Choc Shot, I created my very own Free From Doughnut Ice Cream Sandwich. It was insane. I will do this again & again, every single time I get doughnuts from Borough 22.
I cannot recommend Borough 22 & the Gluten Free Doughnuts they make enough. They are seriously delicious. Ryan is an amazing baker & one of the most genuine, kindhearted people you will ever meet. He just wants the best for everyone who has to live without the likes of gluten, wheat, soya, dairy & egg in the diet.
Look out for more Gluten Free Doughnut Rally’s near you in the future. & if you in London ever… even just visiting, contact Ryan & I am sure he will be able to sort something out for you. Hopefully in the near future, we will all be able to access these amazing Doughnuts even easier across the whole country. Thank you Mr Gluten Free Doughnut Man, you rock!
Let me know if you have tried Ryan’s Gluten Free Doughnuts before by leaving a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter!
I am a cereal obsessed girl. I used to be a little too obsessed & ate it at all times of the day. Fortunately, I have toned it down now & just enjoy one bowl of gluten free cereal for breakfast most mornings.
I am quite picky in terms of which Gluten Free Cereal I eat, but am more than happy to try something different from my regular. So I decided to give the Gluten Free Cereal from Nestle a go. I see it sitting in the regular cereal aisle in the supermarket when Mark chooses his cereal (he has so much choice!!). I got a box of both the regular gluten free cornflakes and also the gluten free honey flakes.
Now I have been having massive issues with my IBS & sugar so the gluten free honey flakes I got for Mark to try out. I thought it would be good for a gluten eater to try them out anyway! Whilst I have been enjoying some gluten free cornflakes this week. So lets go through each!
Nestle Gluten Free Cornflakes: Both cereals come in large 500g boxes, this was a big positive for me as usually the gluten free cereal I eat, I get through very quickly. The cornflakes are also good value at £1.99; another thing that most gluten free cereals are definitely not!
It was actually so nice to have a change & go for cornflakes. You always think of them as quite a plain cereal, the one in a selection pack that never gets eaten by the kids! However, I don’t know if it’s because I’m older, or because I haven’t had them for so long… but I thought they were delicious & had lots of flavour! Especially with a lovely glug of cold almond milk! I have always found Cornflakes are one of those cereals where you can actually taste a huge difference between supermarket own brands & Kellogg’s; I’ve never enjoyed own brand cornflakes at all. The Nestle Gluten Free Cornflakes, however, tasted nothing like the supermarket own brands & tasted very much like regular Kellogg’s Cornflakes. A solid thumbs up from me!
Nestle Gluten Free Honey Flakes:So whilst the Honey Flakes are a tiny bit more expensive, they are again still amazing value in comparison to other gluten free cereals in my opinion (£2.09). However, my opinion doesn’t really count on these Honey Flakes, as I didn’t eat them… Mark did! So instead, I asked him what he thought… ‘As a regular eater of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes, these Honey Flakes were somewhat familiar to me in taste. Minus the nuts they essentially felt exactly the same. I’ve always loved the honey flavour on crunchy nut and the ability they have to turn a regular milk into a heavenly milk! These Gluten Free Honey Flakes do the same job! I think it is also good that Nestle have created a product that is open to even more people, being gluten free & nut free it allows even more folk to enjoy the taste. Personally, to me they taste no different to any similar cereals that contain gluten… it puzzles me why other major cereal brands haven’t done the same yet! I would definitely opt for buying this cereal again, it really is delicious!’
I was also thinking before I started writing this post that maybe I should offer some different ways to use this Gluten Free Cereal. It works amazingly as a breakfast each morning before work or school, but, it could be used in other ways too…
I mean, who doesn’t love cornflake cakes? Chocolate cornflake cakes I very vividly remember enjoying when I was at school or at birthday parties. Gluten Free & Dairy Free ones using dairy free chocolate! & trust me, whatever age you are, you will love them!
I remember making a crispy coating on chicken once with cornflakes, almost to make chicken nuggets.. that would work too!
When I was young I used to make a Treacle Tart using cornflakes too… you could do this & use some Genius Gluten Free Shortcrust Pastry to make it 100% gluten free.
Cornflakes or Honey Flakes work great on ice cream too, if you want a bit of a crunchy texture in an ice cream sundae!
I also used to have cookies that had cornflakes in them, I don’t have a gluten free recipe for them yet, but maybe I’ll recreate one in the future for you all!
How would you use your Nestle Gluten Free Cornflakes if you weren’t using them for cereal? There are so many possibilities! For me personally though, as a ‘cereal for breakfast’ girl, I will likely be enjoying these as a change up from my regular cereal on more than just a few occasions. They taste great & certainly don’t burn a hole in my back pocket!
Let me know your thoughts on the gluten free cereal that Nestle have produced. Do you like it? Have you been able to get hold of it easily in supermarkets? Leave a comment below or on Facebook/Twitter.
Brighton is a Free From heaven. Gluten Free Friendly Cafes, Restaurants & Supermarkets are evident around every single corner. Here are some of my favourite Gluten Free Brighton Destinations… many of which also cater brilliantly for other food intolerances, allergies & for those following a vegan lifestyle. (In no particular order!!) But first… here’s a Video Guide to Gluten Free Brighton… scroll down for the full post!
Infinity Foods is an independent supermarket situated in the North Laine area of Brighton. It sells a huge range of Gluten Free and Dairy Free products; you name it they’ll have it. They’ll even have Gluten Free products you have never seen before. My favourite part of Infinity Foods however, is their on-site organic bakery. All the bread sold in the Infinity Foods Bakery (towards the back of the shop) is handmade & freshly baked daily by a very small team. The gluten free options are amazing. I am a huge fan of their freshly cooked gluten free pizza slices (they always have pizza that is both gluten free & dairy free/vegan). I also love the gluten free loaves, rolls (simply the best ever) & foccacia breads that are handmade every day. If you are visiting Brighton & think there is no need to visit a supermarket whilst you are there… I beg to differ. You must visit the Infinity Foods shop. Oh, & they also have a Infinity Foods Cafe just down the road too!
2. The Creperie, 2 Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AD.
I’ve been wanting to visit The Creperie ever since it first opened last pancake day. I can’t believe it has taken me so long to get here. Situated very close to the sea front, this is a real gem in Brighton. So, The Creperie is all about pancakes/crepes/galettes.. whatever you call them! The Creperie serves Gluten Free & Dairy Free Galettes (essentially a pancake made of buckwheat flour) with a huge range of sweet & savoury fillings. You can takeaway & sit on the sunny beach or eat in… I would recommend eating in, they have an amazing contemporary interior that makes you want to redesign your home! The Creperie is open for Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks & Dinner… you should probably visit for every meal, I love it. Oh, & you can hire it out for Adult or Children’s Birthday Parties too, a Gluten Free Pancake Party? Yes please!
3. Little Bird, 16 Kensington Gardens, Brighton, BN1 4AL.
You are never short of places to eat freshly baked gluten free cake in Brighton. Little Bird is one of my favourites for this. It’s a small cafe in the heart of North Laine & it rocks! If you manage to get a table inside, you will definitely become the envy of all the people walking past, gawping in the window at the delicious cakes! I always go for their delicious gluten free chocolate, banana & pineapple cake. I would definitely recommend it! There are also dairy free & vegan cake options here… the banana & passionfruit dairy free cake looked especially nice on my last visit! This is a definite go to place in Brighton, don’t miss out! I did a review of Little Bird a while ago, if you want to check the post out then click here!
Oh Cloud 9, I love this place… I think I say that about everywhere in Brighton. Cloud 9 actually have two cafes in Brighton. One is literally opposite Little Bird in the North Laine. The other is situated in The Lanes area, both sell equally delicious cakes! (Though, for the delicious ice creams, head to The Lanes Cloud 9!) Every time I am in Brighton I will always grab something Gluten Free to take away. My absolute favourite is the Gluten Free Cheesecake Brownie. Not only do I recommend the Cheesecake Brownie, but last year my very cheeky dog stole my Gluten Free Cheesecake Brownie I had brought all the way home & gobbled it up! There is always a great variety of gluten free & dairy free cakes & bakes available. Also, if you are looking for a celebration cake, Cloud 9 will make amazing gluten free cakes… I got this one made last year! Cloud 9 have been reviewed on Gluten Free Cuppa Tea before.. Click here for Part 1.. Click here for Part 2!
Pho is definitely one of my favourite restaurants. The first time I visited was back in 2010 in Brighton & since then I have been back to the Brighton restaurant as well as loads of their London locations a thousand times! Pho is Vietnamese; a cuisine which is naturally gluten free. Basically the entire menu is gluten free & any thing that isn’t can be made gluten free. In Vietnamese cooking unlike a lot of other Asian cuisines, soy sauce is not one of the number one ingredients. The Noodle Soups are delicious & the Bun Noodle Dishes are insane! The crispy spring rolls are also gluten free, I would definitely recommend trying them. Pho in Brighton is amazing value, in an amazing location & it’s amazing quality. Please go Here is a past review.
6. Mange Tout, 81 Trafalgar Street, Brighton, BN1 4EB.
Mark & I never visit Brighton without a trip to Mange Tout. We very often nearly don’t get to go as you really should book a table… it gets very busy! Mange Tout is a French Bistro open for Breakfast/Brunch & Lunch every single day & Dinner on Thursday/Friday/Saturday. We always go for brunch, & even at 11:30am it is essential that you book, unless you want a lengthy wait. You can tell it’s a Brighton favourite amongst regulars, which is definitely a sign of a good restaurant. I always go for scrambled eggs & smoked salmon on top of some delicious, freshly baked gluten free bread (toast!). The gluten free bread is out of this world, & everything else is cooked to perfection. This is definitely a top, top tip for any trip to Brighton.
Hen is a fairly new restaurant in Brighton compared to some I have mentioned so far. I have been recommended to visit it a few times now, so I had to check it out. So glad that I did! Hen, as the name suggests calls itself a Chicken Restaurant, but, it is so much more than that. I mean, I didn’t eat any chicken when I visited!! (I must admit Mark went for a Pulled Chicken burger which looked amazing though!) I actually went for Gluten Free Waffles! These waffles are not only gluten free, but sugar free too. I had mine with a sugar free chocolate fudge sauce. I want them again, and again.. and again! They also have tasty sounding daily specials, so keep your eyes peeled. Oh, & the interior is awesome.. they are even up for awards for this alone!
So Boho Gelato is all about ice cream/gelato/sorbet. It’s close to Brighton Seafront & perfect for those on a gluten free diet but better still… its a great place for dairy free. Now, not every single flavour is dairy free, BUT there are dairy free flavours at Boho Gelato that I would never have expected in a million years… & they taste amazing! If you are thinking of going, I would recommend the dairy free (& gluten free!) Peanut Butter Sea Salt Caramel flavour. It is their most popular flavour & for very good reason! Boho Gelato are always changing their flavours to fit in with the seasons and festive occasions too. You will find flavours you will find nowhere else. It rocks.
9. Pizza Face, 35 St Georges Road, Brighton, BN2 1ED.
I have heard amazing things about Pizza Face for a very long time now. Gluten Free Bases… Vegan Cheese & a whole host of delicious toppings. I guess I haven’t had a Pizza Face pizza before because it’s all about Takeaway & I never think to order takeaway when I visit places. On this occasion, it was a rainy eve in Brighton & all I wanted was pizza. They deliver all over Brighton & so we got it delivered straight to the apartment. The gluten free bases are amazing, nice and crisp. I had a pizza called the Parma, which had the most delicious Prosciutto on it & large dollops of Mascarpone Cheese.. it was insane. One of the best ever. Mark had vegan cheese on his pizza & again it was one of the best. A place where you can get have pizza gluten free & dairy free is always a top recommendation from me!
10. Foodilic, 163 Western Road, Brighton, BN1 2BB.
Another Brighton gem that I would recommend especially at lunch time. Brighton has 2 Foodilics, both very centrally located. I recently visited the Foodilic on Western Road & was very impressed. It’s an eatery that prides itself on being not only delicious, but also highly nutritious. The gluten free options at Foodilic are great. It’s a place where you can mix & match, they have a selection of mouthwatering foods freshly prepared. You can have some salmon or chicken alongside sweet potato wedges, salads, quinoa. There are gluten free quiches, savoury tarts, even gluten free custard tarts! Oh & the smoothie selection is great too. It is also perfect for veggies, vegans & even those considering a raw food lifestyle. There really is something for everyone!
So Bagelman is a longstanding Bagel chain native to Brighton. It now has numerous stores across the city & finally they have jumped on the Gluten Free Bandwagon. Now this is BAGELman so I know I am instantly going to disappoint you when I say they currently don’t provide gluten free bagels. But, what they do provide is as good, if not better. The Gluten Free Rolls they provide, come from the amazing Sussex Bread Company. Get this, the Sussex Bread Company is an entirely gluten free bakery! The choices of fillings at Bagelman is extensive, I went for the ‘Funky Tuna’ – Tuna Mayo, Avocado, Olives & Lemon. Delicious. I would definitely recommend it, & I am sure in the future actual Gluten Free Bagels will be on the menu.. just keep pestering!
So, one of the main questions I always see about eating gluten free in Brighton is… ‘Where can I get Gluten Free Fish & Chips.’ I have always found it extremely surprising that Gluten Free Fish & Chips isn’t more of a thing in this seaside town! However… look no further, Wolfies has got it covered! Gluten Free Fish & Chips are available every single day at Wolfies, they use a completely separate gluten free fryer to guarantee no cross contamination. They also have a really wide range of different fish from Red Snapper to your standard Haddock & Cod. Gluten Free options don’t cost anymore either! So if you’re looking for quality gluten free fish & chips in Brighton, head to Wolfies of Hove.
Another amazing place to get Gluten Free Pizza in Brighton is Morelli Zorelli. Here you can sit in or have a takeaway (delivery is an option). All their gluten free pizzas are made on Venice Bakery UK pizza bases; which, if you have been following me a while you know are one of my favourites! They also have vegan cheese available every day too. The selection of toppings is varied and extensive. I am a huge fan of Ham & Pineapple but the Wild Boar pizza I have heard is amazing too. I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed on a trip to Morelli Zorelli.
14. Glutenwise, Brighton Open Market, Marshalls Row, BN1 4JU.
So this post is all about my personal favourite parts of Brighton for Gluten Free. & there is much more to Brighton’s Gluten Free scene than just cafes and restaurants. Glutenwise is in fact a market stall, run by the lovely Zarah every Saturday at the Brighton Open Market. Zarah also takes Glutenwise around Brighton to the various food & farmers markets throughout the year. I came across Glutenwise many years ago now & if I am every in Brighton at the weekend I will always pop along for some delicious gluten free cake. From lemon bakewell tarts, loaf cakes & even gluten free battenburg, Zarah is brilliant at making all our classic bakes gluten free. I’d highly recommend visiting Glutenwise at the Brighton Open Market.
15. Catwalk Cakes, 22 Bond Street, Brighton, BN1 1RD.
Now I know I mention lots of places to get cake in this post. But, the thing is, I love cake and Brighton seems to love providing Gluten Free Cake options. Catwalk cakes is so exception. It’s the sort of place you will stop and stare at as you walk around North Laine. They have amazing cakes in the window & fortunately, some are gluten free & also, some are dairy free/vegan. I had a delicious Salted Caramel Brownie which had little shards of hard caramel sticking out of the top, it was seriously amazing. Catwalk Cakes is a lovely place to sit in or takeaway. They also create amazing celebration cakes, so if you have an occasion coming up, you might like to consider popping into Catwalk Cakes for some gluten free cake chatter!
Amazing news for Brighton is that The Breakfast Club is coming to town. I am a huge fan of The Breakfast Club in London & have been for so many years. Well, as of June 2015, The Breakfast Club has another home in the Brighton Lanes! The Breakfast Club has lots and lots of Gluten Free Options & ‘Breakfast’ is served all day! I love having Smoked Salmon & Scrambled Eggs served on Home-Style Fried Potatoes with Mashed Avocado.. it is insane! They don’t just serve breakfast food, lunch & dinner food is available too. What really makes The Breakfast Club is its vibe & style, I love it. A great addition to Brighton, you must go if you haven’t been before!
Other Brighton Top Picks
Crafty Chooks – The jazziest, hippish upmarket chicken restaurant, full of gluten free goodness!
The Chilli Pickle – Amazing choice of Gluten Free Indian Cuisine & great staff.
Angel Food Bakery – Always gluten free & vegan cupcakes on offer in The Lanes.
There are a few more chains, but I haven’t been everywhere!
Now this list is definitely very minimal & not exhaustive of places in Brighton & Hove that offer Gluten Free Food. I literally would not be able to fit all the places in if I tried. Just trust me, Brighton is one of the best places in the UK if you are Gluten Free (& Dairy Free, Egg Free, Vegan etc). The selection above is some of my favourites that I have enjoyed many times in the past. I lived in Brighton for a year not so long ago & writing this post definitely makes me want to move back!
Now as a child my favourite cereal was not Weetabix. However, it was probably the cereal I ate the most. My parents would always give me a bowl before school! I never imagined many years on that Gluten Free Weetabix would ever be a thing!
I noticed Sanitarium Gluten Free Weetabix (Weet Bix) online a while ago whilst having a lazy Sunday afternoon internet browse for new gluten free products. I found the website Sanza.co.uk, which stocks a large amount of different products to the UK from Australia, New Zeland & South Africa (I’m half South African, fact of the day!). I actually couldn’t resist buying some!
In the past I was always against Weetabix, I used to want chocolate or sugary cereal for breakfast when I was 7, yet chocolate and sugary cereal was banned in my house growing up! Looking back on that, I am really pleased that I never had chocolate cereal, I gradually came to really enjoy the taste of Bran Flakes, All Bran & even Weetabix! Unfortunately, my love of ‘healthier’ cereal was short lived as I developed an intolerance to gluten which meant All Bran & Weetabix were straight off the breakfast menu.
I used to have my Weetabix with semi skimmed milk warmed up gently in the microwave. However, I decided to change it up a bit with this Gluten Free Weetabix, & have it with some cold almond milk! Though it didn’t taste exactly like the Weetabix I eventually came to love; it was definitely the closest thing I’ve tasted thats gluten free. I would recommend trying this out in exactly the same way as you once ate your Weetabix. Whether that be warmed or cold… on it’s own or with fresh fruit. I really think this is something not to be missed.
So, what is it made from, if it isn’t wheat?!
Well, it is made from Sorghum. I must admit I am not overly familiar with Sorghum so I’ll leave you with a link to go and explore what it is yourself.. Click here!
For me these days a very important aspect of my diet is that it ideally needs to be low in sugar. I have a lot of trouble digesting sugar, especially in the morning on an empty stomach. Sanitarium Gluten Free Weetabix is, like most original style whole grain cereals, low in sugar.. good news! For me, the taste that whole grain provides a breakfast cereal is far superior to the taste that sugar provides anyway!
This gluten free weetabix is also endorsed by Coeliac Australia and is produced in a completely gluten free factory. This is great news for coeliacs and gluten intolerants alike. I so often find products state they are gluten free.. but then the factory they are produced in really says otherwise!
I will not say for one minute this is the cheapest option in the world for gluten free weetabix, but right now, Sanitarium seem to be the only company producing a gluten free alternative. If you miss your weetabix and/or intrigued & want to taste it for yourself, I would highly recommend giving this gluten free weetabix a go. Hopefully one of these days a brand readily available in UK supermarkets might give gluten free weetabix a try….
What are your thoughts on a Gluten Free Weetabix? Let me know by leaving a comment below or on Facebook/Twitter.
Anyone else feel like this once upon a time when they ate regular bread? I sure did. Which animal do you most relate to?!
Loving these videos created by Genius Gluten Free. Not only did they bring a relatable smile to my face but I really think they might be able to help bring awareness to others. If you regularly feel bloated after eating bread, or know somebody that does… maybe you/they should consider visiting the doctors & seeing if the bloating problems are related to consuming gluten.
Oh & also, I guess it shows that there are much better things to feed the animals than bread. Birds & ducks were never created with stomachs ready to digest bread… why not feed them something else!
1. Birds!
2. Ducks
3. Hedgehogs
I’m glad that I came to realise that gluten was one of the biggest problems in my diet & I now no longer have these troubles. It might seem tough at first, but really, living a gluten free lifestyle isn’t so bad at all. There are so many naturally gluten free options that you can eat instead. They taste just as good, & won’t hurt you in the short term or long term. There are also plenty of gluten free alternatives available today, that make life so much easier. Gluten Free Cakes no longer have to be dry & crumbly, that ‘Gluten Free’ taste seems to have long departed Gluten Free Breads; there are even Gluten Free Pies & Pastries readily available in cafes & shops now. So there really isn’t any need to keep bloated from gluten. The options are there for you.
“NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS GOOD HEALTH FEELS”
Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below, or on Facebook / Twitter!
Quite liked this little video from BuzzFeed questioning whether You Can Tell If Something Is Gluten Free. When you first started eating Gluten Free alternatives, how much could you tell the difference?!
Personally, when I first made the change & had to start eating Gluten Free I could tell the difference between Gluten & Gluten Free in literally everything. Gluten Free Bread just wasn’t up to scratch a few years ago, neither was gluten free pasta. It is very refreshing that today, telling the difference between gluten & gluten free is much harder. Obviously those diagnosed with Coeliac Disease or any sort of Gluten Intolerance should never try to tell the difference… leave that to a gluten eating friend!
“Everyone should be able to enjoy great tasting food, regardless of their dietary needs. As a nation, we need to open our minds, brush up on our culinary skills and embrace this change.” Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, founder of Genius Gluten Free
What did you think of Gluten Free products when you first started eating them? & what do you think of them today?! A Coeliac/Celiac & gluten intolerants shouldn’t have to eat substandard food. It can be hard work for many living a gluten free lifestyle… so lets make the food taste as good, if not better than gluten filled products! Fortunately, I think many gluten free brands have really stepped their game up over the past year. Long may it continue! Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below, or on Facebook / Twitter!
Videos like this are a good way of bringing awareness to the Gluten Intolerant & Coeliac Disease lifestyle. Awareness is for life not just for the ‘Awareness Weeks & Months’ that we celebrate. So, thanks to BuzzFeed for creating this.
Now you know I am always honest with you guys, well… I think I have found my favourite location for Gluten Free Burgers… Honest Burgers!
In times gone by I have experienced many food destinations where ‘Gluten Free Burger’ is an option on the menu (& many where it is not!), however more often than not this involves being served my burger ‘naked’ without a bun, with my burger placed between 2 slices of gluten free toasted bread or served without chips. None of these options are really ok in this day and age, fortunately Honest Burgers agrees & provides the full experience for a Gluten Intolerant.
Hell yeah, lets dance the gluten free night away!
It feels amazing to walk into a restaurant to be greeted with the ability to have a full meal, not just bits of a meal. The staff at Honest Burgers are amazing too they are really friendly & as soon as I mentioned that I was Gluten Free they explained the menu in detail to me. (The menu is very easy to understand as you can see below!) They explained to me that not only do they provide gluten free burger buns, but they also have gluten free onion rings & gluten free beer on the menu. How exciting! Oh & don’t forget their Rosemary Salted Chips/Fries are Gluten Free too… the best frickin fries ever. Rosemary, salt & potato is a match made in heaven!! Whilst we were in Honest Burgers a huge amount of people came in asking after Gluten Free & were all prepared to wait for a table… it’s that well regarded and delicious!
the delicious, simple menu of Honest Burgers
As I mentioned, the Honest Burgers menu is incredibly straight forward. In my opinion this is what makes it so great. The chefs can really hone their skills to perfection, rather than having a lengthy confusing menu. Whether you fancy chicken or beef their is something for everyone. There is a variety of different toppings you can have within your burger too… & of course each month there is a different Burger Special which can be enjoyed Gluten Free! Everything is incredibly well priced as well. You come away from a central London restaurant feeling like you only paid half the bill!
Right so on with the Gluten Free Grub…..!
what is this heavenly gluten free delight?!
I opted for the classic of all burgers in my opinion. The cheeseburger! You can choose from mature cheddar, red leicester or stilton. After much deliberation I went for the cheddar, however I bet all three taste insane (I love cheese!). The burger came medium pink & was softer, tastier & juicier than any burger I have ever consumed. The gluten free bun was amazing. I have heard such great things about the gluten free buns at Honest Burgers & these really lived up to the hype. They were flavoursome, didn’t crumble & best of all were in no way ‘too bready’. I genuinely haven’t had a better burger in my memory & I will definitely be going back for another asap!
this tastes even better than it looks, & it looks pretty amazing!
Mark opted for the chicken burger in a gluten free bun. The chicken was really moist & flavoursome. A chicken burger can often be such a let down, but this was anything but. It had some delicious mustard mayo smothered on the chicken, which had a perfect subtle mustard taste. Again, Mark absolutely loved the bun & could not believe it was gluten free!
I also mentioned the fries earlier… the Rosemary Salted Fries. I think these deserve their own paragraph, they are insane. I have never thought to add rosemary to my fries before at home (not sure why!), but it seriously is the best combination ever. I am planning to purchase a rosemary plant to I can try and make them myself. The fries come as standard with every meal, and a decent amount too. I would be satisfied with them alone, they were truly sensational!
a very happy gluten free becky!
As you can see this trip to Honest Burgers blew my socks off. Why have I not been before? I used to walk past a hefty queue outside Honest Burgers every single day when I worked in Soho & never ventured inside. I feel like Honest Burgers will be my go to dinner destination in London from now on, I am dreaming gluten free burgers every night at the moment!
I highly recommend this delicious destination for the gluten intolerants, the wheat free eaters, the coeliacs & everyone & everyone whether you can eat gluten or not! I actually cannot wait to go back. Save a seat for me please Honest Burgers!
Have you ever been to Honest Burgers before? What did you think of your visit? Let me know by leaving a comment below or on Facebook/Twitter.
I am now so hungry, & I’m not currently close by an Honest Burgers
A 100% Gluten Free Bakery in the heart of London… That is what Beyond Bread is!
I have been meaning to visit Beyond Bread ever since it opened & never had the chance. However, after a busy morning promoting Coeliac Awareness Week, myself & Founder of Genius Gluten Free Foods, Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne decided to pay Beyond Bread a visit. To say it was love at first sight is an understatement. & apologies to anyone who prefers reading my sweet writing rather than looking at pictures, in this case a picture really does paint a delicious 1000 words. As soon as I saw this extremely friendly sign I knew I had come to the right place. A gluten free bakery in the heart of London? A city where there is plenty of great gluten free options, yet suddenly, this place instantly rocketed to the top of my list.
Upon entering I didn’t really know what to do except to ask in a shocked & excited voice whether everything really was gluten free. I mean, how could I possibly consume everything in this entire bakery?! Everything looked fresh & very homemade. It felt like I was ordering in a really cool deli.. a place where usually the only thing I can eat is a gluten free chocolate brownie. Not today. Today I can eat everything!
A selection of freshly made gluten free quiche are always available too. They looked amazing & can be served alongside a salad to make the perfect gluten free lunch. The chicken & spinach quiche look especially tasty!
From the For Goat’s sake (prosciutto, minted goat’s cheese, fresh rocket & tomato chilli jam on baguette) to the Bang Bang Tuna (wasabi spiced tuna, avocado, fresh rocket & dash of lemon on a soft bun) They do a huge variety of amazing lunch time options. I went for the Caesar Teaser (free range chicken breast in creamy ricotta dressing & fresh rocket on baguette) & I would definitely recommend it. It was one of the best baguettes I have ever had!
The bread selection at Beyond Bread is seriously impressive. To have such variety in gluten free bread is a real luxury. Not to be too greedy I just went for a simple gluten free baguette. I wish I lived closer so I could regularly buy my bread from here, it all looked amazing. The Pumpernickel & Brioche are coming home with me next visit!!
Oh & the cakes and pastries are something to be admired. Such choice! From fresh victoria sponge, to a huge carrot loaf cake. From chocolate muffins to scones & banana bread. Beyond Bread made me weak at the knees. Again, I question thee…. how can you all be gluten free?!
I was rather find of the look of the New York Cheesecake and the Strawberry & Custard Danish. What do you think? When was the last time you saw either of these in gluten free from looking quite this good… I mean… I just had to buy both to take home!!
Now this little beauty is the Gluten Free Chocolate & Custard Danish. I’ve never eaten a twisted style danish before as you certainly cannot get gluten free chocolate twist danish pastries where I come from! This was seriously divine. The pastry melts in your mouth and is all kinds of flakey! I love the combination of the chocolate and custard too. I really should not be able to eat this!!
Seriously, a New York Cheesecake that’s gluten free?! This really is everything that I want in a cheesecake. Smooth, thick & creamy topping with a biscuity base to die for. Last time I was in New York I didn’t get to experience any of their cheesecakes, we never found a gluten free place in our time there. I definitely felt like I was in a New York Diner when I was eating this earlier however!
And here is probably my favourite. I used to love the vanilla custard danish pastry’s I got from my local supermarket and I haven’t had one in a good 5/6 years. This was better! The pastry again was super flakey; the filling…orgasmic. I loved the addition of fresh strawberries on top. It worked really well. I have always said if there was one thing that I could make it would be a gluten free danish pastry, but I don’t think I need to now that I’ve found this. So delicious & fresh. When you go, you must get one of these!!
Here is the delicious baguette I bought. After an extremely tiring day in London, I decided to cook up some gluten free chicken nuggets & put them inside half of the baguette with plenty of ketchup. So simple, but trust me… I was so shattered that this amazing baguette made everything so much better.
This is a place I demand you check out if you haven’t. It is 100% suitable for those with Coeliac Disease & those with an intolerance to gluten. Whats even better, is that the food is truly so delicious & the cafe itself so lovely, that everyone will fall in love with this place the moment they step inside. The staff are brilliant, the food is the best & the environment is perfect. They are doing really well at the moment (rightly so!), so who knows when we might see another Beyond Bread popping up! For now, get down to 2 Charlotte Place, London W1T 1SB & let yourself indulge in gluten free heaven.
Have you been to Beyond Bread before? If you have let me know what you thought! & have you got any other recommendations of your favourite Gluten Free Bakeries? Let me know by leaving a comment below or on Facebook / Twitter.
So I love gluten free chocolate chip cookies BUT.. I wasn’t expecting to be reviewing a Gluten Free Canadian Bakery’s Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies anytime soon on the blog!
But, this week I received an amazing holiday present that travelled thousands of miles to get to me… Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies! These gluten free chocolate chip cookies are also dairy free & egg free (so they’re vegan). & where do they come from? Well, they come from Wendels True Foods in British Columbia, Canada!
Now I’m not sure when I will next get the chance to enjoy anything from Wendels True Foods but that doesn’t mean I can’t review their gluten free chocolate chip cookies! Firstly I must mention the packaging. I love the simplicity of it, I have always loved paper bags rather than fancy packaging, especially when you know it’s come from a bakery across the other side of the world!
Then, I guess you want to know how these cheerful cookies taste. Well these are proper North American style cookies. Think Maryland Cookies but then think, bigger, chunkier & of course gluten free, dairy free & egg free! These cookies are addictive & moorish. There certainly isn’t enough in a packet to satisfy my belly or anybody else’s for that matter. I’d happily travel over to Canada just to go Wendels True Foods! (Though to be fair I would love to go to Canada for many more reasons!) It really would be amazing if we could get some local places stocking Wendels here in the UK.
I really like the little story on Wendels True Foods website that shows why they initially decided to make their menu very friendly & gluten free! So… I’ve put it below:
The ‘Why Gluten Free’ at Wendels True Foods Story!
One day a small boy was crying in front of our pastry case in our cafe and an upset mother tried to comfort him. The little boy was crying because he could not have a cookie. My Mother, Erika, who was our baker, happened to hear the conversation and started talking with the woman. The woman explained that the boy could not eat anything in our case because of a gluten allergy. Well that left my mother speechless, which is very hard to do. A little boy not allowed to eat a cookie in our café was not right; this wouldn’t be the situation for long. She set out to make a cookie from the ingredients she could use and didn’t stop trying to she came up with a cookie that tasted great, just like all our other cookies. Turns out the cookie was really good. We didn’t know that much of the gluten free products available didn’t taste like “normal” baked goods. We only had our standard of great tasting; pure ingredient baking as the benchmark to go by and that is the benchmark we still use today. I like to think that little boy came back and got to have a cookie. I do know lots of others just like him now enjoy our gluten free products.
Not only does Wendels True Foods do these delicious gluten free chocolate chip cookies. They also do a huge range of other gluten free products. Gluten Free Carrot Cake, Black Forest Cake, Chocolate Dipped Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Caramel Cheesecake & West Coast Apple Pie are just a few of the gluten free delights Wendels do! I just wish I had the opportunity to try all of these… one day please!
Has anyone tried any tasty Gluten Free delights from Wendels True Foods before? & also, what are your favourite places to get gluten free treats… but they are too far away from where you live? Let me know by leaving a comment below or on Facebook / Twitter.
Oh & please send me some gluten free treats from Wendels True Foods if you live close by!!!!
