Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts

Saturday, March 02, 2024

Gluten free at The Oxford Place in Leeds

We had another amazing meal at The Oxford Place in Leeds last Sunday.


Pan-Fried North Sea Cod with Crushed New Potatoes, Lilliput Capers and a Prosecco and Brown Shrimp Sauce at The Oxford Place in Leeds
Pan-Fried North Sea Cod with Crushed New Potatoes, Lilliput Capers and a Prosecco and Brown Shrimp Sauce - this was one of the best things I've ever eaten

It was my first meal out since last September!

Mozzarella Carozza with a Rich Basil and Tomato Sauce at The Oxford Place in Leeds
Mozzarella Carozza with a Rich Basil and Tomato Sauce - note the side order of Skinny Fries, another must have to share before the main courses

I've had some brilliant meals there before, and this was right up there with the best food I've had. Delicious.

As someone with Coeliac Disease it's always nice to be able to eat out-of-the-home with safety and peace of mind. And when that is combined with delicious and interesting food (such as the Carozza) and a variety of drink options it makes the experience absolutely marvellous.

Tempura Battered Vegetables with Homemade Sweet Chilli Sauce at The Oxford Place in Leeds
Emily had the Tempura Battered Vegetables with Homemade Sweet Chilli Sauce for her starter

The Oxford Place is a must visit restaurant if you're a Coeliac or on a gluten free diet. I've dined there with people with Coeliac Disease as well as people on 'normal' diets and we've always been impressed by the food and service.

Slow Cooked Belly Pork with Baked Apple, Celeriac Purée, Crackling and a Red Wine Jus at The Oxford Place in Leeds
Emily's main course of Slow Cooked Belly Pork with Baked Apple, Celeriac Purée, Crackling and a Red Wine Jus

I'm really looking forward to my next visit already.

Sticky Toffee Pudding at The Oxford Place in Leeds
99.9% of the time I have the Sticky Toffee Pudding for my dessert when I'm at The Oxford Place

Check out The Oxford Place's website for more information.


Vanilla Cheesecake at The Oxford Place in Leeds
Our friend had the Vanilla Cheesecake - and I nabbed a bit of the ice cream. It's so nice to be able to share meals with friend, something that is very tough for people dining gluten free, unless they're somewhere that is 100% like The Oxford Place

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Robotazia - a robot-themed restaurant in Milton Keynes

On our recent trip to Milton Keynes we spotted a robot-themed restaurant in the Theatre District.


Robotazia - a robot-themed restaurant in Milton Keynes

Sadly it was permanently closed.

Robotazia - a robot-themed restaurant in Milton Keynes

What a concept though.

Robotazia - a robot-themed restaurant in Milton Keynes

The restaurant opened in 2020 and closed earlier this year.

Robotazia - a robot-themed restaurant in Milton Keynes

Robotazia - a robot-themed restaurant in Milton Keynes

Robotazia - a robot-themed restaurant in Milton Keynes

Monday, April 25, 2022

Gluten free at The Oxford Place in Leeds

We had another superb meal at The Oxford Place.


We revisited our favourite restaurant at the weekend and had an excellent three-course meal.

Gluten free at The Oxford Place in Leeds

It was lovely to return and once again were in the nice position of having lots and lots of choices on the 100% gluten free menu.

Emily and Richard Gottfried
A very happy pair of diners

It really does make a massive difference in being able to visit a restaurant, sit down, place an order, be served, and eat great food without once worrying about cross-contamination. The team at The Oxford Place make sure your dining experience is safe and as normal as can be for someone with Coeliac Disease.

Gluten free at The Oxford Place in Leeds

The Oxford Place really is a must visit restaurant for anyone with Coeliac Disease or gluten intolerance.

We were already thinking about what we're going to order on our next visit before we'd even paid the bill for this meal!

Check out The Oxford Place's website for more information.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Cinnabon in the UK

I saw my first Cinnabon in the UK today.


Cinnabon at Rivington Services
You can get a cinnamon roll at Rivington Services on the M61

There are plans to open 150 Cinnabon outlets in the UK by 2025. The number currently stands at 13 stores.

Cinnabon at Rivington Services

I really fancy a cinnamon roll now.

Cinnabon at Rivington Services
USA vs the UK

It's always interesting seeing new and different brands entering the UK. In recent times Dunkin' and Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs have popped up on the high street.

Monday, August 02, 2021

LAPD Food Stockport

Emily recently had a brilliant takeaway tea ordered from LAPD Food Stockport - they deliver your order in an American police car!

LAPD Food's Delivery Police Car
How cool is this for a delivery vehicle! I love the branding

What a brilliant thing to see driving around Cheadle Hulme.

Thursday, July 01, 2021

National Hot Dog Month and National Hot Dog Day

July is National Hot Dog Month.


This year National Hot Dog Day (in the USA) is on Wednesday 21st July.

In the UK National Hot Dog Day is on Friday 10th September.

Hot dog mascots we've seen on our travels
Some of the Hot Dog mascots we've seen on our travels

As someone with Coeliac Disease it can be tough to find gluten free hot dogs. Luckily we recently found Morliny Berlinki Classic and Cheese hot dogs are gluten free. And very tasty.

Find out more about hot dogs in general, National Hot Dog Month and National Hot Dog Day on the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council website.

Thursday, March 11, 2021

My last pre-pandemic meal out

I had my last pre-coronavirus pandemic lockdown meal out a year ago today. In fact it was the last time I dined out full stop as eating 100% gluten free is tough enough at the best of times, let alone during a pandemic.

Gluten free at The Remedy Kitchen in Manchester 11 March 2020
What a fine last meal out this was

The steak and eggs I had at Remedy Kitchen in Manchester were superb and I can't wait until it's safe to get back out and eat there again.

Tuesday, January 05, 2021

I REMEMBER LITTLE CHEF

Do you remember Little Chef?


Many thanks to Megan Clark-Bagnall for sending me this brilliant badge from her mission to visit all of the remaining Little Chef diners in 2017 - a total of 41.

Every Little Chef badge
A very nice addition to my collection

What a quest. Find out more on Megan's Little Chef website.


While the brand was an ever present through my lifetime, I don't remember stopping at Little Chef's, or even Happy Eaters, when my family were on the road for day trips and holidays. Perhaps there weren't any on the routes from Abingdon to Barry Island or Minehead. I do however remember going to the Little Chef in Berinsfield, Oxfordshire for a meal in the late 80's or early 90's.

We also used to regularly pass by the Little Chef in Flimwell while en route to Hastings for minigolf tournaments.

The last Little Chef closed its doors in 2018. Interestingly the Little Chef website is still online.

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Lunch at The Remedy Kitchen in Manchester

Guess who had lunch* out yesterday?


Marvellous steak and eggs at The Remedy Kitchen in Manchester
Marvellous steak and eggs at The Remedy Kitchen in Manchester

It was delicious.

* technically I should call it 'dinner' since I now live in the North West!

-------

Finding 100% gluten free food.


As someone with Coeliac Disease the challenge to find food that is not only safe, but healthy and tasty when out of the house is massive.



The Remedy Kitchen in Manchester city centre is superb as it's one of the very few 100% gluten free places that are safe for people with Coeliac Disease in the whole of the UK.



I highly recommend a visit.

Check out The Remedy Kitchen website for more information.

The Remedy Kitchen was previously called 3 Squared Cafe and rebranded last year. The name is different, but the approach to serving high quality food is the same.

We first heard about the restaurant last September.

The menu is 100% gluten and wheat free, as well as being diary free and refined sugar free.

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Two more great meals at The Oxford Place in Leeds

Dining 100% gluten free at The Oxford Place in Leeds.


We recently dined at The Oxford Place in Leeds for the first time since the restaurant changed hands. I'm very pleased to report that it is still offering excellent and 100% gluten free food.

Dining 100% gluten free at The Oxford Place in Leeds
I had the Ham Hock Terrine starter

We first dined there when it was called 2 Oxford Place in February last year and have tried to visit the restaurant and Leeds as often as possible since then. It really is that good.

Dining 100% gluten free at The Oxford Place in Leeds
The meal was preceded by an appetiser / amuse-bouche of Gazpacho soup

Once again we had two superb meals. After having starters and mains on Friday were were unable to fit in a dessert. But we did leave room for pudding on the Saturday.

Dining 100% gluten free at The Oxford Place in Leeds
Not the most summery of desserts - but the Sticky Toffee Pudding was absolutely delicious. It was a giant portion too

It was brilliant to feast, safe in the knowledge that the meals were 100% gluten free.

Dining 100% gluten free at The Oxford Place in Leeds
Look at the size of the crackling that came with my Pork Belly main course

Dining 100% gluten free at The Oxford Place in Leeds
Some fresh Oysters to start my second meal at 2 Oxford Place

Dining 100% gluten free at The Oxford Place in Leeds
The best burger I've had in years

There are very few places which offer 100% gluten free options and so it's brilliant to find a restaurant able to cater for people with Coeliac Disease.

Little things like NOT having to explain to the waiting staff that I have a medical condition before ordering, or asking to see a 'special' menu, makes a BIG difference. And eating with the knowledge that there is no risk of cross contamination with any gluten containing ingredients is a relief.

Long may The Oxford Place continue offering diners - Coeliac and otherwise - superb food and service. I really hope some other restaurants take a leaf out of The Oxford Place's book and make the switch to 100% gluten free.

Visit The Oxford Place website for more information, opening times and menus.

We are really looking forward to our next meal there later this summer.

Wednesday, February 08, 2017

Tripe in Stockport

A blog post about tripe and the Tripe Marketing Board.


Ever since I first spotted tripe on a butcher's stall at Wigan Market in 2012 I've been following the Tripe Marketing Board with interest. Although not enough interest to have actually given tripe a go. Yet. I'm fairly certain that cow's stomach is something of an acquired taste.

While shopping in Stockport's Produce Hall at the indoor market last weekend I spotted tripe for sale at Deli Delights. The first I've seen since moving to the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport last summer.

Thick seam tripe for sale at Deli Delights in Stockport Market!
Thick seam tripe - a deli delight!

The Tripe Marketing Board tell me that up until the 1960s you could find hundreds of tripe shops throughout Lancashire, with many of the shops run by United Cattle Products (UCP) and offering nose-to-tail food at the attached cafes and restaurants.

The country's last remaining Tripe Shop is in Stalybridge. I'll have to go there when I eventually get round to travelling on the once a week Parliamentary one-way rail service from Stockport to Stalybridge.

Back in December we were in Leeds and saw that there was a new Tripe Counter at Ramsdens Fishmongers at Leeds Kirkgate Market!

Tripe Counter at Ramsdens Fishmongers at Leeds Kirkgate Market

Tripe Counter at Ramsdens Fishmongers at Leeds Kirkgate Market
What a lot of tripe!

I've also seen tripe for sale in Bolton and Blackpool.

Tripe at Bolton Indoor Market
Tripe in Bolton

Tripe at Abingdon Street Market in Blackpool
Tripe in Blackpool

The Tripe Marketing Board are dedicated to educating the public about eating tripe as part of a healthy, balanced diet. The Tripe Marketing Board was an industry-wide response to the continuing post-war decline in tripe sales in the UK. This was due to the ending of rationing, increasing affluence and a widespread perception that it is not fit for human consumption.

Visit the Tripe Marketing Board website for more information about tripe. You can also use Tripe Adviser to locate sellers of the delicacy.

Links:
Tripe Marketing Board website
Tripe Marketing Board on Twitter
Tripe Marketing Board on Facebook
- Stockport Market

Related blog posts:
- Marketing
- Stockport
- Food

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Hot Dog mascots of Southend

On our day out in Southend we spotted quite a few Hot Dog fast food mascots - three of which were in Adventure Island, and two of those were of a style we'd not seen on our travels before.

Not a Burger

A new type of happy hot dog man mascot - this one is covered in tomato sauce, or tomato ketchup

And another - this one is mustardy

Another example of the classic self- condimentising hot dog man

We also spotted a fair few cannibal chip men too.


Don't forget that July is National Hot Dog Month!

Related blogs posts:
- Hot Dogs
- Hot Dog Man

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems.

You can also now sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter.

Friday, February 26, 2016

New Swingers Crazy Golf course in London

The opening of the brand new Swingers Crazy Golf course is getting closer.


Swingers Indoor Crazy Golf in London

Swingers Crazy Golf is opening on the 27th May 2016 on a brand new site and will have two 9-hole courses - The Lighthouse and The Windmill.

You'll be able to find the new Swingers venue at Swingers – the crazy golf club, 8 Brown’s Buildings (Between Bury Street and St Mary Axe), London EC3A 8AL.

Swingers Indoor Mini Golf in London
We played the original Swingers Crazy Golf course in September 2014

In September 2014 we played a round on the Swingers Crazy Golf pop-up course in Shoreditch, East London. The course became the 581st miniature golf course visited and 347th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Check out our blog from the visit.

Emily in action at Swingers Crazy Golf
Emily in action at Swingers Crazy Golf

For more information check out the Swingers Crazy Golf website.

Related blog posts:
Swingers Crazy Golf in London
Swingers Crazy Golf in Shoreditch, London
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in and around London

Link:
https://swingers.club/uk

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems.


You can also now sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Expanded free from range at Morrisons

Great to see more gluten free products in the Morrisons free from range.

As someone with Coeliac Disease I'm always on the hunt for new and interesting gluten and wheat free food and drink. So I was very pleased to see that Morrisons have really gone to town on their expanded range of Free From products.

Look at that, just look at that. What a sight. What a delight

Yowzers! There are plenty of pie options in the fridge at Morrisons in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire. This time I bought a very nice No-G Chicken, Bacon and Leek Pie for my dinner, and a Lemon Pie for Emily to try. I had a nibble to and it was marvellous. I've also got a Morello Cherry and Chocolate Tart in the fridge. We've also tried some of the products in the Great Food range before and they are very good too. We'll have to try the Pure products in the future

There is also some new gluten and wheat free bread from Newburn Bakehouse now in stock at Morrisons, including a sourdough loaf

Related blog posts:
Gluten Free
Coeliac
Funny things about being a Coeliac

Links:
- Morrisons
- No-G
- Great Food
- Newburn Bakehouse

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

The Chilli Shop in Leeds

While we were up in Leeds to watch some live PDC darts and Hal Cruttenden's stand-up tour we stumbled upon a great shop in the Merrion Shopping Centre.

We were making our way to the First Direct arena for the kick-off of the 2016 PDC Premier League of darts and spotted the Chilli Shop. And what a marvellous shop it is too.

Our haul from the Chilli Shop in Leeds. The flyers for the shop also contain a version of the Scoville scale - a 'Survival Guide' to the hottest things on the planet!

As well as 50 free tasters of the world's best chillies there was all manner of other merchandise and snacks to buy.

Two things caught my eye - the first was 'The Museum of Pain'. This exhibits the hottest chillies in the world, some of which are a mind (and mouth) blowing two million plus on the Scoville scale! As a curator of The Crazy Golf Museum it was great to see the owner of the shop, Frank Jay, has taken the time and effort to display the array of chillies, trinkets, objects and info.

The Museum of Pain - it contains the world's hottest Easter Egg!
The second thing that caught my eye was the Chilli Challenge of the 'Hunger Games' where you got to play some darts, but with the caveat that if you didn't hit the bullseye to win the star prize (a bag of the world's hottest peanuts) you had to do a forfeit.

Darts, with a difference

I stepped up and scored a dismal amount that doesn't need to be recorded here. Needless to say that Emily was brave enough and stepped up to take my forfeit of a spoonful of a Chilli and Garlic condiment. I was more fearful of trying it due to cross contamination with all the gluten knocking around from the crackers used for tasters. For once, Coeliac Disease came to my aid!

We did return to the shop the next day and tasted a few other items and picked up some nice bottles of sauce, including the condiment which has a nice kick to it. We also bought a Goan Curry Sauce that is gluten free.

The Chilli Shop is well worth a visit if you're in Leeds. Do check out the Chilli Shop website for more info and details on how to order online.

Links:
- The Chilli Shop website
- The Chilli Shop on Facebook

Sunday, February 07, 2016

Gluten free at 2 Oxford Place in Leeds

Dining out at 2 Oxford Place in Leeds.

Gluten free at 2 Oxford Place in Leeds
2 Oxford Place gets the double-thumbs up from me

Ever since I heard that a 100% gluten free restaurant was opening in Leeds I had been excited to visit. Luckily we got to eat there on Friday. It was certainly well worth the wait.

The kitchen at The Oxford Place is totally gluten free so I was able to dine without fear of cross-contamination. And even better, I was able to order without having to explain I have Coeliac Disease. I haven't done that for well over six months and it's certainly not a regular occurrence!

Gluten free at 2 Oxford Place in Leeds
Delicious food, great drinks, excellent service, 100% gluten free - 2 Oxford Place is brilliant

We'd arrived in Leeds on Thursday but unfortunately found ourselves at 2 Oxford Place between the afternoon and evening opening times.

With my hunger built and a great looking menu I really wanted to treat myself, so when we returned on Friday we went all out, and ordered a grilled cheese sandwich to start. I then had a huge portion of haddock, chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce for my main course.

Gluten free at 2 Oxford Place in Leeds
One of my favourite meals. And something I don't get to eat all that often

Even though we were quite full of delicious food and drink (we opted for Prossecco, wine and cocktails - although there are gluten free beers available) we had to treat ourselves to dessert. And what a dessert it was!

Gluten free at 2 Oxford Place in Leeds
Look at that Assiette!

The last time we'd had a meal out together in a 100% gluten free restaurant was at The Galley in Plymouth in June last year. On that occasion we were blown away by the dessert. And the dessert we were served at 2 Oxford Place over six months later amazed us again. The Assiette of Puddings to share at 2 Oxford Place included crème brulee, chocolate brownie, cake truffles, and mini pavlovas.

Gluten free at 2 Oxford Place in Leeds
We're still eating some of the dessert after having had to take it away!

We really enjoyed the whole experience of eating at 2 Oxford Place. The food, service and venue are all brilliant and we would definitely eat there again.

Check out the The Oxford Place website for further details, menus and opening times.

Links:
- The Oxford Place website

Related blog posts:
- Gluten free
- Coeliac

Saturday, September 12, 2015

World Pickled Egg Championships 2015

The fourth edition of the World Pickled Egg Championships will be taking place at The Brewery Tap pub in Ipswich, Suffolk on Saturday 10th October!

Photo of an egg
An unpickled egg that won me the World Egg Throwing Championships in 2012

The World Pickled Egg Championships (WPEC) is hosted by the pub and there are guidelines on how to enter your potentially prize winning egg in the prestigious contest in the latest newsletter from the pub.

The deadline for entries is midday on the 10th October, with celebrity judging taking place from 6pm and the winner announced at 7pm.

You can find The Brewery Tap on Cliff Road, Cliff Quay, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 0AT. It's a nice spot and they've got a dartboard there too.

As you can imagine, with a blog called The Ham & Egger Files I've got quite a few egg-related stories and posts! One of the highlights of my sporting career was when me and my mate Jas Kukielka became the World Alternative Games Egg Throwing Champions in 2012!

Photo from the World Alternative Games Egg Throwing Championships in Llanwrtyd Wells
A world championship winning throw of an egg in 2012

Links:
- The Brewery Tap website

Related blog posts:
- Ipswich
- Eggs
- Eggheads

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.