Showing posts with label Gluten. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gluten. Show all posts

Friday, July 11, 2014

New products from Udi's Gluten Free

Blog post about some of the new products available from Udi's Gluten Free.

At the recent Allergy and Free From Show in London I spotted some of the new gluten free products from Udi's Gluten Free.

Following feedback from customers since the UK launch in 2013 Udi's have launched 27 new gluten free products.

I was given samples of the new Soft n' Chewy Chocolate Banana Cereal Bars, Chocolate Flavour Sandwich Cookies and the Milk Chocolate Wafers by the Udi's team at the Allergy and Free From Show. So far I've had one of the chocolate banana bars, which was nice
I was given samples of the new Soft n' Chewy Chocolate Banana Cereal Bars, Chocolate Flavour Sandwich Cookies and the Milk Chocolate Wafers by the Udi's team at the Allergy and Free From Show. So far I've had one of the chocolate banana bars, which was nice

Yesterday I received a nice surprise hamper from Udi's!

It's always nice to receive a surprise food hamper! Especially when you know all of the contents will be gluten free and suitable for coeliacs!
It's always nice to receive a surprise food hamper! Especially when you know all of the contents will be gluten free and suitable for coeliacs!

Last December I blogged about the first products launched in the Udi's Gluten Free range, and its going to be great trying the new products which all sound interesting and tasty.

In my pre-Coeliac Disease days, back when I was able to eat a 'normal' diet, I wasn't a big fan of bagels. However, that changed when I tried the Udi's Cinnamon & Raisin Bagels. The chocolate chip ones sound even better. Everything tastes better if its got chocolate in it!

The Soft & Tasty Chocolate Chip Bagels,Soft & Delicious Blueberry Muffins, Soft & Chewy Cherry Flavoured Breakfast Bars, Chocolate Flavour Sandwich Cookies and the Lemon Flavoured Wafers
The gluten free hamper contents were Soft & Tasty Chocolate Chip Bagels,Soft & Delicious Blueberry Muffins, Soft & Chewy Cherry Flavoured Breakfast Bars, Chocolate Flavour Sandwich Cookies and the Lemon Flavoured Wafers

I'll be scoffing my way through the new products in the coming weeks, I think i'll start with a toasted bagel, followed by a blueberry muffin...

Udi's Gluten Free launched here in the UK at the end of last year and have been operating in the USA since 1994. Check out the Udi's website for further details of their range and stockists near you.

The Udi's philosophy is creating great gluten free foods that bring happiness. Read more of the Udi's story, from starting out in Colorado, USA in 1994 to the UK launch on the Udi's website.

Udi's Gluten Free was the headline sponsor of the recent Allergy & Free From Show at Olympia.

A wall of Udi's gluten free products at the Allergy and Free From Show in London
A wall of Udi's gluten free products at the Allergy and Free From Show in London, including some of the 27 new products added to the range

If you missed that event then you can attend the Allergy and Free From Show North that is taking place on the 25th & 26th of October at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool.

Links:
Udi's Gluten Free UK
- Udi's Gluten Free USA

Related blog posts:
Udi’s Gluten Free – more than just mince pies
- Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts from Udi's Gluten Free
- The Allergy and Free From Show 2014 at Olympia
Gluten Free
Coeliac

Monday, July 07, 2014

A blogger's gluten free sandwich

Using Green's Gluten Free Dark Ale Mustard.

While at the 2014 Allergy and Free From Show I visited the Green's gluten free beers stand and as well as sampling a couple of the their beers I hadn't had in a while I was also given a special jar of Green's Dark Ale Mustard!

Green's gluten free Dark Ale Mustard
Green's gluten free Dark Ale Mustard

I asked for some suggestions on Twitter and Green's came back with ideas for Marks & Spencer gluten free sausages (a good idea as I like the M&S gluten free range), a scotch egg (another great idea, perhaps one from Hotch Potch Eggs who I met at the show), or any salad & ham (less of the salad, more of the ham!).

Fellow gluten free blogger Gemma at Coeliac and Me suggested said she'd be making some honey & mustard salad dressing. Sounds nice.

Emily cooks up some cracking gluten free food, a specialty of which is a great dish of honey and mustard crusted pork, which we'll use the Dark Ale Mustard for the next time.

In the interim and feeling hungry after a busy day I used the Green's mustard in a beef sandwich. Very tasty it was too.

A late lunch of a beef and ale mustard sandwich (made with Genius Gluten Free bread) and the obligatory Pom-Bear snacks on the side (these are the newish Zoo Friends variety and are 'really cheesy')
A late lunch of a beef and ale mustard sandwich (made with Genius Gluten Free bread) and the obligatory Pom-Bear snacks on the side (these are the newish Zoo Friends variety and are 'really cheesy')

The mustard is made by Cumberland Mustard using Green's Dark Ale.

Check out the Green's Gluten Free Beers website for details of the full range, stockists and how to order online.

Related blog posts:
- The Allergy and Free From Show 2014 at Olympia
- Gluten Free Ales, Beers and Lagers

Link:
- Green's Gluten Free Beers

Saturday, July 05, 2014

The Allergy and Free From Show 2014 at Olympia

Visiting the Allergy and Free From Show at Olympia.

My haul of information and freebies from the Allergy and Free From Show
My haul of information and freebies from the Allergy and Free From Show

Today I visited day two of the three day Allergy and Free From Show at Olympia in London. The event had dozens of suppliers, thousands of free from products and tens of thousands of people with allergies, intolerances, sensitivities and autoimmune diseases, disorders and conditions (such as Coeliac Disease).

Among the thousands of 'free from' products at the event were many I hadn't seen or tasted before, such as those from Delicious Alchemy, Venice Bakery, Focaccia per Tutti and 1-2-3 Gluten Free.

The Allergy and Free From Show 2014 at Olympia
The Allergy and Free From Show 2014 at Olympia

I spent a good four hours checking out the stands, finding out product information and sampling food and drink. It was great to see some of my favourite gluten and wheat free brands at the show, including Celia Lager, Honeyrose Bakery, Eskal Foods, Kabuto Noodles, and the event's headline sponsor Udi's Gluten Free.

Udi's Gluten Free are the headline sponsor of the event and I picked up three of their products I haven't tried yet
Udi's Gluten Free are the headline sponsor of the event and I picked up three of their products I haven't tried yet

I also really enjoyed speaking to a number of people who are really passionate about providing great quality (and interesting) food and drink for people with Coeliac Disease and getting info on their brands.

Visit the Allergy and Free From Show website for details on how to attend the third and final day.

The 2014 Allergy and Free From Show is co-locating with three other shows at Olympia and if you attend you can also visit the V Delicious, Love Natural Love Organic and The Back Pain Show.

If you can't make the final day of the 2014 London show then you can attend the Allergy and Free From Show North that is taking place on the 25th and 26th of October at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool.

Its going to take me a while to digest all the information from the event and I'll be writing more blog posts about my visit and all the great gluten & wheat free food and drink I tried and discovered at the show in the coming weeks.

I'm always keen to find out about gluten and wheat free brands that are suitable for people with Coeliac Disease so please do get in touch if you know of any, or are a producer/supplier.

Links:
- The Allergy and Free From Show
- Udi's Gluten Free
- Coeliac UK
- Gluten Free related blog posts on the Ham & Egger Files

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Funny things about being a Coeliac #8

Being scared of bread!

Well, bread and all manner of other seemingly 'normal' food.

Just ask Emily about the look of fear upon my face if a waiter or waitress brings over a basket of 'normal' bread in a restaurant - it's like a vampire being confronted with garlic!

Links:

Friday, June 13, 2014

Gluten - my Kryptonite

My friend (and perhaps enemy!) Paul O'Conner was recently shopping in London's Chinatown and sent me this photo of what he described as "my kryptonite". He's not wrong!

Photo of some Gluten
Mmmm, Kimlan Peanut Gluten. Warning: Contains Gluten. Photo by Paul O'Connor (June 2014)

I know what I'll be getting from Paul for my next birthday then.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, oats and barley (and peanuts 'cut' with Fried Wheat Gluten by the look of that bottle in the picture). For people with Coeliac Disease gluten is a very dangerous substance that causes all manner of health problems. Check out the Coeliac UK website for more information on Coeliac Disease.

Paul's interesting (and evil) find reminds me of the time Emily and I spotted some terrible merchandising in a health food shop in Kentish Town. On that occasion we found the 'Gluten Free Vegetable Suet' right next to bags of pure 'Gluten'!

One of my bugbears about shopping as a Coeliac is that I often see shops (including the big supermarkets) stocking bags of gluten free and gluten-containing flour side-by-side on the shelf. Such a waste, as due to the cross-contamination I wouldn't touch it with a barge-pole.

A bag of Vital Wheat Gluten Flour. Deadly to Coeliacs
A bag of Vital Wheat Gluten Flour. Deadly to Coeliacs

Related blog posts:
- Hmm, Some Bizarre Gluten & Gluten Free Shelf Stacking!
- Funny things about being a Coeliac
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac

Sunday, June 01, 2014

New gluten free rice noodles from Kabuto Noodles

The team at Kabuto Noodles recently got in touch with me on Twitter to let me know about their new gluten free noodles and see whether I'd like to give them a try.

Of course I was delighted to give them a sample and received a box of six pots of the noodles - three Miso and three Chicken flavour.

Kabuto Noodles
The Miso and Chicken gluten free rice noodles from Kabuto Noodles

The pots look colourful and the instructions are clear (and fun). It's been ages since I've had noodles from a pot - they used to be a favourite snack of mine in my pre-coeliac disease days - so it was great to see Kabuto launching them.

After boiling the kettle it was a mere four minutes (plus a bit of cooling off time) before I was tucking into the chicken rice noodles, and very good they were too. For a tasty and filling lunch, or quick and easy dinner, I'd recommend them.

The packaging is really well designed and fun, with plenty of fun nods to Ninjas, Samurai and Japan. I really like what they've done to the barcode on the pot too.

There are seven flavours of Kabuto Noodles - with two of them being gluten free. Check out the Kabuto Noodles website for more information.

I've tried both the chicken and miso flavours and my favourite is the chicken.

You can find Kabuto Noodles on sale at Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Whole Foods Market, as well as Amazon and Ocado. To find your nearest stockist, or to recommend a shop that could be selling the noodles get in touch with the Kabuto team.

Links:
- Kabuto Noodles
- Kabuto Noodles on Twitter
- Kabuto Noodles on Facebook
- Gluten Free blog posts

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Funny things about being a Coeliac #7

Disappearing flight attendants!

On a flight to Sweden in 2011 I was surprised to see everyone get served an on-board meal. Well, everyone that is apart from a few poor vegetarians who missed out on the meagre offering of veggie sangers, and me.

The serving of the lunch was very puzzling as the BA website didn't allow you to make a dietary selection for the flight!? I mentioned this to the Steward, who said he’d ask his colleagues and have a look.

I never saw him again!

Odd, as it was a very small plane.

I have had some good experiences with airline food, its not always great, nor always gluten AND wheat free, but gluten free 'special meals' do get served before the normal people's meals.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts from Udi's Gluten Free

New Coeliac Disease infographic from Udi's Gluten Free.

The team at Udi's Gluten Free have put out a new infographic with a range of facts about Coeliac Disease to coincide with Coeliac Awareness Week that is running from the 12th to the 18th of May.

Udi's Gluten Free
The Udi's Gluten Free Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts infographic (click on the image to enlarge and also available to view here)

Udi's launched in the UK at the end of 2013 and have been in the USA since 1994. Check out the Udi's website for details of their range and stockists.

Further details about Coeliac Disease and Coeliac Awareness Week can be found on the Coeliac UK website and Twitter. May is also Celiac Awareness Month in the USA and Canada - check out the hashtag on Twitter.

Link:
- Udi's Gluten Free

Related blog posts:
- Udi’s Gluten Free – more than just mince pies
Coeliac UK Awareness Week 2014 and the Gluten-free guarantee
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Funny things about being a Coeliac #6

Its Coeliac Disease (pronounced see-lee-ack). So I am not:

a celeriac - that's Howard ;-)

a celery - even though my brother thinks I am!

a solero - that's an ice cream!?

Links:
Funny things about being a Coeliac #1
Funny things about being a Coeliac #4
Funny things about being a Coeliac #5
Coeliac-related blog posts
Gluten Free-related blog posts

Monday, May 05, 2014

Funny things about being a Coeliac #4

The look of sheer horror and disgust in the faces of waiting staff when you use the word 'disease'.

Why call your condition an "intolerance" or "allergy", when the word "disease" makes a much better impression and helps put you more at ease on the already terrifying experience of dining out.

For added effect, I've started to ring a bell as I enter a restaurant to signify that I have Coeliac Disease - and I say the D-word in my most stentorian voice.

Links:

Thursday, May 01, 2014

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Funny things about being a Coeliac #2

I live in Luton, but I can't eat Gluten.

Gluton Free not Gluten Free
Gluton (sic) Free menu at the Chicago Rib Shack in London (October 2010)

Gluton Free, not Gluten Free
Gluton (sic) Free sausages at the Arcade Butchers in Hastings (October 2010)

Not the funniest of puns, but the amount of times I've heard the line! If I had a pound...

Links:
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #1
- Coeliac-related blog posts
- Gluten Free-related blog posts
- Luton, Gluten and Gluton - 'typo' signs
- Gluten Free Finds in London (and beyond) - October 2010

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Funny things about being a Coeliac #1

As someone diagnosed with Coeliac Disease I find the labels you get on your gluten free prescriptions quite funny. Not only do they have instructions that you should eat the gluten free food "as directed by your doctor", but also that you should "Keep all medicines out of children's reach."

Gluten Free presecription
The pharmacy guidelines and doctor's orders stuck on my prescribed packet of medicine (Glutafin Mini Crackers)

Glutafin Savoury Shorts
The Savoury Shorts from a prescription with the big guidelines sticker from the pharmacy

On a more serious note you can check out the guidelines for Coeliacs to receive gluten free food on prescription on the Coeliac UK website. The only treatment coeliacs currently have is to adhere to a STRICT gluten free diet - this can be very restrictive indeed - so it's great that some staple products are available on prescription. However, in the dozens of prescription orders I've ever done, I've only had one be correctly prescribed!?

Luckily I followed the doctors orders and didn't overdose by eating too much long-life bread, or too many crackers and pizza bases.

Links:

Sunday, April 06, 2014

Q&A with the Glutenlibre Celiac Awareness website

Check out my recent Q&Q with the Glutenlibre team at "Glutenlibre Q&A with Richard Gottfried."

The Glutenlibre website and brand promotes awareness for celiac* disease and the gluten-free lifestyle.

In my interview I discuss my diagnosis as a coeliac* in 2008, life as a Pro Minigolfer, how I've managed the transition to a gluten free lifestyle, the impact on my life and the wide-range of sports, games and activities I get up to on my travels.

World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings, England
Playing in the final of the World Crazy Golf Championships the year after my diagnosis

Since 2012 Glutenlibre has been using "Gfree performance" to show people they can still have a full, healthy lifestyle despite having to live on a strict and life-long gluten free diet.

Links:

* Celiac in the USA and Coeliac in the UK, but either way it's pronounced "See-lee-ack".

The Simply Cook Gluten Free Box

Trying out the new Gluten Free recipe and ingredient box from Simply Cook.

The Gluten Free Box from Simply Cook


Following the event Karen sent me a sample box including four recipes and ingredients from their first ever Gluten Free Box.

The aim of the kits is to give restaurant quality food in 20 minutes, with you just needing to follow the recipe and add between 4-6 fresh ingredients.

The Gluten Free Box looks good and is well laid out in the smart packaging. The recipe cards and ingredients contained within allow you to make four interesting meals – Malay Laksa (a chicken and butternut squash dish), Pork and Chorizo Beans, Spiced Butternut Squash Risotto and Smoked Haddock Kedgeree.

The recipes are for two people – and we found there was plenty left-over for lunch the next day (or seconds).

Check out our photos of the four tasty meals below.

The first dish we made was the Malay Laksa

One pot cooking

Gluten Free Malay Laksa

The Pork and Chorizo Beans recipe card and ingredients

Dinner is served

The ingredients and recipe card for the tasty Spiced Butternut Squash Risotto - no photo of the finished meal exists as it was quickly scoffed!

The ingredients for the Gluten Free Box Smoked Haddock Kedgeree recipe

I'm a big fan of Kedgeree so this was my favourite meal of the week

Emily enjoyed cooking and eating the dinners, while I enjoyed eating the food Emily and the Gluten Free Box produced. Following our testing of the box we've sent the team at Simply Cook our feedback.

The normal price of the subscription service is £10 a month, which includes postage. Simply Cook has an offer where you can get 50% off when you quote the code 'GFRichard' when making an order on the Gluten Free Box.

Find out more about Simply Cook at the links below.

Links:

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Great gluten free fish and chips at the Quayside in Whitby

While on a recent road-trip we visited the North Yorkshire seaside resort of Whitby.

Emily and I love visiting new seasides and exploring new places and the trip was made even better when we found that a number of places offered gluten free food!

We decided to have a sit down fish and chip lunch at the Quayside Restaurant as we were impressed by the range of gluten free options on the menu, plus the sign in the window that said "Gluten Free is an option, not an afterthought. We are proud to serve 'Gluten Free Fish & Chips'. Not necessary to pre-book, we will cook to order."

The Quayside in Whitby caters for Coeliacs with Gluten Free fish and chips

Peace of mind was further given by a note on the menu that explained that gluten free options are cooked separately to 'normal' food.

Quayside Fish & Chips in Whitby
The Quayside has won multiple awards in the fish & chips and food industry

When I ordered my lunch I stated that I needed gluten free as I am a Coeliac and the waiter also mentioned the separate pans and utensils used for gluten free food.

The Quayside Fish & Chip Shop and Restaurant has lots of gluten free options. The menu is clear and the prices are no different for gluten free options. They also have gluten free vinegar available and the tartare sauce is gluten free too.

They've really gone all out to ensure people who are on a (strict) gluten free diet are well catered for.

I had fish & chips, a gluten free bread roll, tartare sauce and home-made mushy peas. And I'll certainly be back for more. If I hadn't have been driving I would've also had a bottle or two of the Green's Gluten Free lager that's on the menu.

Quayside Fish & Chips in Whitby
A great (gluten free) meal at the Quayside in Whitby

As a bonus, when the bill arrived it came with a specially designed Postcard! I'd heard about this through Brian Lund at Picture Postcard Monthly and it was great to actually receive one of the limited edition postcards.


Links:

Friday, March 07, 2014

Great gluten free food & drink at the Gluugle launch party

Great food and drink at the Gluugle gluten free review website and app launch party.

The gluten free review site Gluugle held a launch party at The Truscott Arms in Maida Vale, London last night and as one of the reviewers I was invited along to meet the team and fellow coeliacs & gluten intolerants, and sample some of the great gluten free food available at the pub.

Upon arriving I was very impressed by the menu at The Truscott Arms, as the vast majority of it is gluten free, or has a GF option available. I'll be heading back there for a full meal soon and I heard the Sunday Roast dinner is brilliant.

Its always great to meet with fellow coeliacs to share tips and especially so when you can also scoff some great food and beer!

The beer at the Gluugle launch was supplied by Celia lager, a beverage I am a big fan of. The food included a selection of what's available on the menu at the pub, with fish & chips, beef shin chips, 'fake rye bread' bruschetta and black pudding scotch eggs!

Some of the Fish & Chips and Celia lager from the Gluugle launch event - I was too busy eating to get photos of all the food!

I also noticed that the pub serve Pork Scratchings too! Another snack I'm a big fan of.

It was a shame that my appetite and capacity to eat more has been somewhat decimated by being a Coeliac or I would've eaten a LOT more of the fantastic food laid on by The Truscott Arms and the brilliant Doughnuts from Wild Thexton - the first Doughnuts I've had since 2009!

A selection of the brilliant doughnuts from Wild Thexton - a shame I'd filled up on savoury food else I would've scoffed a fair few more of these tasty treats

Gluugle.com - the ultimate place to share and discover great gluten free places - is packed full of reviews and recommendations of places to dine out gluten free. You can also download the Gluugle iphone app for free.

Gluugle links:

Other links:

Related blog posts:

Friday, December 06, 2013

Udi’s Gluten Free – more than just mince pies

Finding out more about the new range of Udi’s gluten free food.

While shopping in the Dunstable branch of Tesco Emily and I spotted a new range of food in the Free From section of the supermarket.

A selection of the range of Udi's Gluten Free food that I've tried so far

The brand was Udi’s and recently launched in the UK. It’s been going strong in the USA since 1994.

One of the products in Udi’s range of gluten free food are the Rich n’ Fruity Mince Pies. This year I had my first mince pie of the festive season a little later than in 2012, but since that first mince pie in October I’ve bought (and scoffed) at least four more boxes!

The first of Udi's products I tried were the Mince Pies - back in October! Very festive.

On that shopping trip we also bought packs of the Udi’s Ancient Grain crisps – in both Jalapeno Cheddar and Aged Cheddar flavours.

Udi's Ancient Grain crisps also come in a very tasty Aged Cheddar flavour

After seeing “My first gluten free Mince Pie of the festive season” blog post the team at Udi’s got in touch to send me a hamper of their range, which was very much appreciated.

When I received the box of goodies from Udi’s the first product that caught my eye was the Chocolate Chip & Toffee Flavoured Muffins. And they tasted as good as they sound.

One of my favourites among the Udi's range - the Chocolate Chip & Toffee Flavoured Muffins

Next to be tried, though not on the same day, were the Cinnamon & Raisin Bagels. While not a fan of bagels (I've always found them to be very dry, and haven't eaten one since I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease) I found the Udi's ones to be very nice. They were helped by not being plain ones and as the packet says, they taste great toasted.

The Cinnamon & Raisin Bagels. The best I've tried.

Next out of the bag were the Toaster Pastries. These caught both me and Emily's eyes and brought back memories of pop tarts!

The most interesting of the Udi's range are the retro Toaster Pastries!

As we don't own a toaster we simply put them under the grill for a few minutes to heat them up to that perfect molten lava level before allowing them to cool a bit.

Emily is a fan of the Strawberry Flavoured ones, while I liked the Apple Cinnamon ones more, but would be equally happy with either for a breakfast treat.

The products Udi's sent through to me, and those we've seen in-store are just a selection of the range they are bringing to the UK.

Emily also recently bought a pack of the soft white Classic Finger Rolls and we’re going to use them with some frankfurters we found that were gluten free while shopping in Aldi last week.

Looking at Udi’s US website it’ll be interesting to see if the small and large Tortillas they offer will also be an item they’ll be bringing to these shore as we're big fans of Mexican food!

Check out the Udi’s website for details of the full range and to sign-up for the email newsletter

Related blog posts:

Links:

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Check out Gluugle for Gluten Free Reviews

Through Twitter I recently found out about the Gluugle website. It's been set up by Caz from The Gluten Free Foodie blog and to date has reviews and listings for over 1,000 places for Coeliacs (and those following a gluten free diet) to visit, dine out and buy from!

On Gluugle you can:

  • Add places that you've discovered to let everyone else know about great gluten free places
  • Review places you've been and let people know what's good to eat there
  • Search for places near to you and search for places when you travel.

So far I've submitted eighteen reviews and I'll be writing a lot more about the good and great places I find that can cater for people with Coeliac Disease.

Find out more about Gluugle here and do submit your reviews too - it's very quick and easy to do. You can search by keyword or postcode/location to find somewhere near to you and as well as the Gluugle website you can download the free Gluugle iphone app.

Links:
- Gluugle
- The Gluten Free Foodie

Related blog posts:
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac