Gluten free at Brasserie Blanc

A great meal at Brasserie Blanc in St Albans.

To celebrate the beginning of the festive season I booked a meal at Brasserie Blanc for a group of friends (who also happen to be fellow coeliacs).

Emily and I have dined there before and have eaten from the summer menu, so we were looking forward to seeing what the winter selection had to offer gluten free diners. We weren't disappointed.

There's a good choice on the gluten free menu (which is also marked with vegetarian and dairy free options) so we took our time picking while enjoying some wine. It makes a real change to have a good range of options, rather than having a 'choice' of one dish for starter, main and dessert (if you're lucky).

I had the salt beef salad to start, followed by the pork belly - it had great crackling - and the excellent chocolate souffle for dessert.

What a pudding! The Chocolate Souffle was delicious. The first I've had since my diagnosis of Coeliac Disease in 2008! 

The meal was the third I've had at Brasserie Blanc in St Albans and I've thoroughly enjoyed each one. We're looking forward to returning in the New Year.

As a coeliac dining out gluten free can be fraught, but the staff at Brasserie Blanc are able to answer gluten/gluten free-related questions, or double check with the kitchen, which adds to the confidence that you are going to eat safely.

One thing that is missing, and something I mentioned to a barman there on a previous visit, is the lack of gluten free beer/ale/lager on the drinks menu.

My friend, fellow coeliac and blogger Gemma also had the Chocolate Souffle and we think our friend Cat had #souffleenvy after seeing how great it was!

Links:
- Brasserie Blanc St Albans
- Brasserie Blanc on Twitter
- Brasserie Blanc on Facebook

Related blog posts:
- Coeliac
- Gluten Free

Nacho nacho man

Five new gluten free tortilla chip flavours available at Marks & Spencer.

There are Jalapeno, Fire Roasted Chilli and Nacho Cheese flavour Tortillas, as well as the Lime Salsa Chickpea & Cumin Tortilla Scoops.

After a great early-Christmas meal at the nearby Brasserie Blanc in St Albans our group of Coeliacs headed to M&S as three of the party don't live near a store and were desperate to get some of the gluten & wheat free Scotch Eggs. I was very pleased to see the new range of gluten free Tortilla chips in stock - as were some other shoppers as they were flying off the shelves!

I've had the lime salsa scoops before and they were very tasty. But nacho cheese tortilla chips are a flavour I've missed over the years as you can't always find gluten free packs available.

There is also a lightly salted flavour in the range. I didn't bother getting a packet of those as I've never been a big fan of less-flavoured tortillas.

In the St Albans M&S you can find the gluten free tortillas in amongst the other 'normal' crisps and snacks, whereas in the Ipswich branch the lime salsa tortillas are in the Made Without Wheat section.

Well, that's my week's budget for Nacho Chips blown in one go

While on a lunchbreak last week I popped along to the M&S in Angel, London and was pleased to see two new products in the Made Without Wheat range - a Quiche Lorraine and a Cheese & Onion Quiche.

Hopefully the Luton branch begins stocking more gluten free products (Made Without Wheat Scotch Eggs hint hint).

Links:
- Marks & Spencer website
- Marks & Spencer Made Without Wheat page
- Coeliac UK website

Related blog posts:
- New gluten free products at Marks & Spencer
- New Gluten Free Beer and Cakes at M&S
- Gluten Free blog posts on The Ham & Egger Files
- Gluten Free Finds in London (and beyond) - October 2010

Christmas-themed Crazy Golf

Playing 'Chrizy Golf' in Manchester.

Christmas + Crazy Golf = Chrizy Golf

Two years ago today me and John 'Big Al' Moore headed to Manchester to compete in the first, and to-date only, Chrizy Golf Masters minigolf tournament on a 9-hole Christmas-themed Crazy Golf course.

Me and John 'Thighs' Moore at the Chrizy Golf course in Manchester

The course was the 313th course played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Chrizy Golf!

The Christmas Crazy Golf championship trophy was awarded in November 2012!

Back in 2009 we also played a Christmas-themed course in Devonshire Square, London.

If you know of any Christmas-themed miniature golf courses out there do let me know through the comments below, or via Twitter.

Related blog posts:
- Christmas
- Manchester
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Winning the Chrizy Golf Masters Minigolf Tournament!
- Festive Mini Golf – Christmas jumper themed! by Putterfingers.co.uk

Crazy Golf Crocodiles in Surrey

Or Adventure Golf Alligators in Woking and Epsom.

A big old crocodile at the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course in Woking. Thankfully there are handy rafts to traverse the treacherous waters surrounding the minigolf course

On our recent visit to Surrey we played the new minigolf courses at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking and Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom and we saw a LOT of minigolf reptiles!

Always heed the warnings at a minigolf course

We've seen many crocs and gators on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, but never quite as many in one place as in and around the wilds of the Jungle Island Adventure Golf at Horton Park Golf Club.

  

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- More Fake Crocodiles & Alligators - Bluewater, New Malden & Milton Keynes
- Fake Crocodiles! Or are they Alligators?
- Minigolf Report from the Surrey Invitational Tournament
- Pirate Island Adventure Golf at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking
- Adventure Golf at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom

Links:
- Pirate Island Adventure Golf Woking
- Pirate Island Adventure Golf
- Pirate Island Adventure Golf at Hoebridge Golf Centre
- Hoebridge Golf Centre
- Jungle Island Adventure Golf
- Horton Park Golf Club

Christmas Tree Maze at the Southbank Centre's Winter Festival

Not getting lost in a Christmas Tree Maze in London.

While having a day out in London Emily and I had a wander along the Southbank and spotted a Christmas Tree Maze!

The Christmas Tree Maze at the Southbank Centre's Winter Festival

Unfortunately when we went to the Box Office to buy a ticket (£4 each) we were told that the maze was being resurfaced and wouldn't be open again for a few hours. A bit of a shame.

Bah humbug. The theme of finding things we want to do to be closed, abandoned or derelict, continued at the Southbank Centre's Winter Festival as we weren't able to get lost or find the centre of the Christmas Tree Maze 

Instead we went for a drinking chocolate and bought an excellent prize from the Christmas Market for our upcoming Christmas 'Do' at The Freemason's Arms in Hampstead.

The Southbank Centre's Christmas Tree Maze is filled with 300 Black Forest Christmas Trees and we think it'll look great at night.

Emily's going to another festive 'do' soon at the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, which is also home to a Christmas Tree Maze.

Link:
- Southbank Centre's Winter Festival with NatWest

Related blog posts:
- Christmas
- Maze
- Fun and Games at the Yattendon & Frilsham Village Fete
- Christmas Tree Maze at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens

Come Home at Once postcard book by Guy Atkins

A new book about Edwardian postcards by Guy Atkins.

Postcard collector, writer and blogger Guy Atkins has a book out and it's well worth a look.

Come Home at Once by Guy Atkins. Currently the number one read on our coffee table

Published by Bantam Press the book, 'Come Home at Once', has a lot of great Edwardian postcards (showing both the fronts and the messages on the back) from Guy's collection that he has built up over the last decade.

You can buy the very nice hardback book in the shops and online. More info on how and where to order can be found on Guy's excellent Postcardese blog.

After speaking with Guy via postcards, twitter and email over the years it was great to meet Guy in person at the recent launch event for his book

I've been corresponding with Guy for the last couple of years - mostly by Twitter and Postcard - and he recently wrote a piece in his regular column in Stamp and Coin Mart about my minigolfing and postcard hobbies and how I've combined the two.

Links:
- Postcardese
- Bantam Press
- Picture Postcard Monthly
- Stamp and Coin Mart
- Guy Atkins on Twitter

Related blog posts:
- Postcard
- Postcards

A #GetUpandGo experience at the Travelodge in Hastings

Travelling to Hastings for a minigolfing #GetUpandGo experience.

Greetings from Hastings - minigolf kit laid out and ready for a weekend of Crazy Golf action in Hastings

On our travels around the UK on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Emily and I often stay in Travelodge hotels, and on our many trips to compete in Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf tournaments in the mecca of minigolf - Hastings, East Sussex - we'll often be found checking in at the Travelodge on Bohemia Road.

Playing the skull hole on the Pirate Golf course in Hastings

The hotel is in a good spot, has nice clean rooms, parking and great customer service. It all helps to make a stay there pleasant and with the introduction of new and very comfortable beds we're ready to #GetUpandGo in the many individual and team tournaments we play in at the seaside resort.

The Midlands Minigolf Club line-up ahead of the 2014 BMGA British Club Championships in Hastings

On my latest trip to the town I finished 11th of 26 players in the two-round, 36-hole Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club Open competition played on the 18-hole Adventure Golf course on the seafront.

On the 18th at Hastings' Pirate Golf

I look forward to more stays at Travelodge hotels in the future.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Hastings

Links:
- Travelodge
- Travelodge on Twitter
- Travelodge on Facebook
- #GetUpandGo
- Hastings Adventure Golf 

Another gluten free menu fail

On a recent trip to the seaside town of Hastings I spotted a great typo caveat/warning/disclaimer on a menu in a restaurant.

I'm guessing the word 'FREE' was meant to appear between the words 'GLUTEN' and 'DESSERTS'!

Related blog posts:
- Coeliac-related blog posts
- Gluten Free-related blog posts
- Funny things about being a Coeliac
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #5 - Menu fails
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #9 - Menu disclaimers

Latest Tat Challenges in Hastings

Results of the first-ever 60p Tat Challenges.

Tat Challenge veteran in action at the first 60 pence Tat Challenge in Hastings

Last month saw Kate Kelly crowned the Worlds £2 Tat Challenge Champion at the Old Town Amusements in Hastings and this month saw two more Tat Challenge contests take place in the East Sussex seaside resort.

The variation on the classic format of the sport saw competitors use 60 pence worth of two penny pence pieces to win as much tat from the buttons at the amusement arcade next door and a few from the Old Town Amusements.

The loot won by the winner of the first-ever 60p Tat Challenge

The first shootout took place on the evening of Saturday 22 November and five of the finest exponents of the endurance game took on the challenge to see how much they could win with just thirty bronzes.

The gold medal went to Will Donnelly who scored an amazing four pieces of Tat with his stake.

Will 'The Winner' Donnelly and his haul at the amusement arcade in Hastings

Results from 60p Tat Challenge Player's Championship #2 - Hastings, 23 November 2014
1st - Will Donnelly - 4 pieces of tat
2nd - John Moore - 3 pieces of tat
3rd - Seth Thomas - 2 pieces of tat
4th - Richard Gottfried - 1 piece of tat
5th - Dave Donnelly - 0 piece of tat whatsoever

A happy/surprise John 'Big Al' Moore with three minions in his winnings

Seth 'Two Bits' Thomas and his winnings

Richard Gottfried and a 'lego' man from the tupenny falls

The biggest hands in the sport of Tat Challenging, but Dave Donnelly drew a blank in the first-ever 60p Tat Challenge

Shootout two in the short form of the game saw Seth, Richard and Big Al return and were joined by Huntingdonshire's newest son and avid tatter Steve Lovell. Local competitor John 'Big Top Ted' McIver was unfortunate as he missed the start of the contest, as well as the end, as he was waylaid en route to the arena by his need to buy some chips.

With a bit apiece Steve and Seth picked up the win. The other competitors blanked. But at least Ted got some chips.

Steve Lovell and Seth Thomas are happy with their 'haul'. Each winner got to keep the one piece they'd won

Results from 60p Tat Challenge Player's Championship #2 - Hastings, 23 November 2014
1st (tied) - Steve Lovell and Seth Thomas - 1 piece of tat each
3rd (tied) - John Moore and Richard Gottfried - 0 pieces of tat each
DNS/DNF - John McIver

Following both contests the players continued to amass quite a haul of prize goodies, including an awful lot of minions and 'lego'.

Lots of Minions in the Buttons

A Lego logo above some not Lego bricks and figures in the two pence falls

60p Tat Challenge Hall of Fame
#1 - Will Donnelly
#2 - Steve Lovell and Seth Thomas

Related blog posts:
- Report from the 2014 Worlds Tat Challenge in Hastings
- Tat Challenges

Gluten free chicken and beer

Chicken and beer - a great combination.

Emily's a great cook and makes some delicious gluten free treats - both sweet and savoury. We've blogged about some of them here on The Ham & Egger Files and also posted photos and details on her Twitter feed.

The latest creation Emily has perfected is oven baked cornflake chicken (think kind of southern fried, but healthier if you will).

Southern-style baked chicken coated with crushed Nestle Gluten Free Corn Flakes, served with paprika potato wedges, BBQ beans and an avocado. Washed down with a chilled Estrella Damm Daura gluten free beer. Delicious food, gluten free or otherwise

Since my diagnosis with Coeliac Disease in 2008 I've tried a fair few of the gluten free beers available and Estrella Damm Daura is one of my favourites.

While recently shopping for a gluten free Chocolate Yule Log in Tesco's Free From section I noticed that Estrella Damm Daura were included in a 3 for 2 offer and so twelve bottles of the great gluten free beer were £12 - a great buy for a savvy coeliac like me.

Links:
- Estrella Damm Daura website
- Estrella Damm Daura gluten free beer on Twitter
- Tesco Free From website
- Nestlé Cereals website

Related blog posts:
- Gluten free Ale, Beer and Lager
- New Nestlé Gluten Free Corn Flakes and Honey Corn Flakes

- Coeliac

- Gluten Free

Adventure Golf at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom

A visit to the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey.

On Sunday 16 November 2014 Emily and I headed to Surrey to compete in the inaugural Surrey Invitational Minigolf Tournament against our friends and fellow competition players Matt 'The Don' Dodd, Helen 'Hells Bells' Dodd and Oliver 'The Machine' Florence in a two-round, two-course contest.

The second course we played was the 18-hole Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom.

The course was the 353rd played and 587th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

A round of minigolf at the course costs £9.25 for adults and £7.25 for children. The course is open seven days a week and is open from 9am.

There's currently a limited offer to buy an annual pass to play the Jungle Island Adventure Golf that looks like a good deal.

The limited edition annual pass at Jungle Island Adventure Golf

More information can be found on the Horton Park Golf Club website, Twitter and Facebook.

Links:
- Jungle Island Adventure Golf
- Horton Park Golf Club

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Adventure Golf at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking
- Surrey Invitational Tournament Minigolf Report
- Fake Crocodiles (or are they Alligators?) at Minigolf courses!