Gluten free chips for Chip Week 2015

A blog post for Chip Week 2015.

This year Chip Week is taking place between 16 and 22 February.

As someone with Coeliac Disease my life is somewhat dominated by my strict and life-long gluten free diet. However, I try not to let this stand in my way of having a good meal and enjoying one of my favourite dishes - Fish & Chips.

The very first gluten free chip I ate as a newly diagnosed Coeliac in 2008

Obviously, potatoes in their 'natural' form are gluten free. However, in the journey to become chips and to land on your plate they often undergo an interesting journey where they become contaminated with gluten, and therefore unsafe for Coeliacs.

So at home we normally make and cook our own chips, fries and wedges. It's a lot safer, and often tastier that way.

The two bags of oven chips that are always a stock item in our freezer are by McCain. The Original Oven Chips (Fat Chips - Straight Cut) and Quick Cook French Fries are both gluten free. You might think that more oven chips would be gluten free, but you'd be wrong!

On our travels around the UK's seasides we're always on the lookout for gluten free Fish & Chips. After my diagnosis in May 2008 the first place I managed to find some were at Rossi's in Swansea in August of that year.

A large portion of chips, with fish. With a side order of chips. All gluten free and served up at the Fish Factory in Worthing

If you are looking for gluten free chip options when out and about do make sure you double-check on the source, preparation, cooking and serving of the chips to ensure that cross-contamination with gluten-containing food items hasn't and doesn't happen. On a number of occasions I've been told that gluten free food is cooked in the same fryer as gluten-containing food!?

I couldn't of put it better myself. The Quayside Fish & Chip shop and restaurant in Whitby has the right idea

Check out the Chip Week website for more information, recipes, facts, fun and a quiz on chips.

Barley Malt Vinegar isn't safe for Coeliacs as it contains gluten, that's why I'm always pleased to see restaurants and takeaways serving non-brewed condiment with food. You can't beat chips covered in salt and vinegar

This year Coeliac UK will be running it's own Awareness Week between 11 and 17 May and focussing on changing the current state of diagnosis in the UK.

Chip Week Updates:

While shopping in our local Co-op we picked up a bag of potatoes to make some wedges with this week - the bag had a Chip Week sticker on it

Lots of chips for Chip Week. And some tasty veg. And oh look, a rib eye steak is on the plate too

Non-brewed condiment - great with chips and a stock item in my cupboard as Coeliacs can't tolerate barley malt vinegar

Links:

- Chip Week 2015 website
- #ChipWeek
- The Potato Council website
- The Potato Girls on Twitter
- Love Chips on Facebook

Related blog posts:
- Gluten Free Fish & Chips that we've found on our travels
- Coeliac Awareness Week 2015

Novelty Automation amusement arcade in London

An amusement arcade - with a twist - is opening in London!

The Novelty Automation amusement arcade features 16 intriguing, crazy and bizarre 'arcade' games. Believe me, they are certainly not what you'd expect to find in a seaside style amusement arcade!

Each of the games has been created by madcap inventor Tim Hunkin and the Novelty Automation arcade in London's Holborn area is twinned with the renowned Under the Pier Show seaside arcade in Southwold.

Back in 2009 we visited the Suffolk coastal resort and while walking on the very nice pier popped into the Under the Pier Show. We were amazed at the array of mad games to play, having a go on such wonders as Fly Drive and Mobility Masterclass.

A proper fly-ght simulator. Seated on the 'Fly Drive' arcade game at The Under the Pier Show in Southwold

The Novelty Automation can be found at 1a Princeton Street, London WC1R 4AX (nearest tube stations are Holborn and Chancery Lane) and will be open Wednesday to Saturday from 11am to 6pm (7pm on Thursday).

We're big fans of Amusement Arcades (aka The Buttons) - even going so far as holding Tat Challenge Tournaments - and so we can't wait to get along and have a play of the machines at the Novelty Automation arcade. Although I do remember the 'Test Your Nerve' game at the Under the Pier Show was bloomin' scary!

Testing my nerve on the worryingly interactive housebreaking simulator

Visit the links below for more on the Novelty Automation arcade.

Links:
- Novelty Automation website
- Novelty Automation on Twitter
- The Under the Pier Show website

Related blog posts:
- Under the Pier Show - Southwold
- Southwold
- Amusement Arcades

Gluten free Gnocchi from Rustichella d'Abruzzo

Cooking up some dishes with Rustichella d'Abruzzo senza glutine Gnocchi.

While on a recent visit to the West Berkshire town of Newbury we popped into Oldbury's Deli for a look round and were pleased to see they had a gluten free section. It was also nice that there were some interesting and different products on sale.

The one item that really caught our eye was the gluten free Gnocchi. Something that is not a stock item in most shops. Emily has tried to make Gnocchi before, with mixed results, so we decided to buy a bag and give it a go.

Gnoccho di patate senza glutine from Rustichella d'Abruzzo

The Gnocchi (senza glutine) is from Rustichella d'Abruzzo, and is made to strict standards to avoid cross contamination in the production process.

Gnocchi with a tomato and basil sauce

Emily cooked up two sauces and prepared the Gnocchi two ways. We had boiled Gnocchi with a tomato & basil sauce, and a fried Gnocchi with a lemon & sage butter. Both were delicious. I really liked the fried version.

Gnocchi with a lemon and sage butter

Being on a strict life-long gluten free diet can be frustrating and a little boring so it's great when Emily and I spot something new to cook and eat. The 500g bag of Gnocchi cost £5.80. We would buy it again.

Related blog posts:
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac
- Emily's Cooking

Links:
- Rustichella d'Abruzzo website
- Rustichella d'Abruzzo on Twitter
- Oldbury's Deli website
- Coeliac UK

World Minigolf Sport Rankings

New international minigolf ranking lists published by the WMF.

The World Minigolf Sport Federation has published the latest ranking lists for General Class (Adult), Youth and Senior players (dated 31 December 2014).

Emily and I are both ranked in the General Class Rankings.

The Great Britain 3 team at the 2013 WMF World Adventure Golf Masters in Hastings - from l-r John Moore, Emily Gottfried, Richard Gottfried, Craig Patterson. The team finished the event in fifth place

In the Women's World Ranking List Emily is in tied 107th place (110 players) alongside Erika Benke (HUN), Erika Takashima (JPN) and Kinga Szekretar (HUN).

Emily is the reigning WMF World Adventure Golf Masters Women's Champion, winning the title for the second time at the 2013 event in Hastings.

Emily at the WMF Nations Cup in Stockholm, Sweden - an event where she set a new British Women's Record with a round of 24 on the Miniaturegolf (Eternit) version of the sport

In the Men's World Ranking List I am in tied 383rd place (396 players) together with Takaya Asao (JPN), Mislav Bjazic (CRO), Jose Ferreira (POR), Hiroyuki Honda (JPN), Arton Krasniqi (KOS), Scott Lancley (GBR), Pawel Larus (POL), John Moore (GBR), Tiger (Alex) Pragnell (GBR), Jawaharlal Purohit (IND), Craig Small (GBR) and Georgij Srebren (CRO).

At the WMF Nations Cup in Sweden

In the General Class Nation Rankings Great Britain has moved down one place to be ranked 16th of 29 countries. Germany, Sweden and Austria top the rankings. Spain is the biggest mover in the lists entering for the first time at 24th.

The World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) is the umbrella organisation of Minigolf sports association's worldwide and continental associations in Asia, Europe and America.

There are over 38,000 competitive minigolf players registered with the WMF via the 46 member nations, with 900-plus clubs between them. More than 1,000 courses are approved for official competitions and over 1,500 minigolf tournaments are held each year.

The WMF is a member of SportAccord - the union for both Olympic and non-Olympic international sports federations, and organisers of international sporting events.

The Great Britain Minigolf Sport Team is sponsored by UrbanCrazy, suppliers of permanent and portable mini and crazy golf courses.

At the end of the domestic minigolf season I was ranked 12th and Emily 29th of 105 places (161 players) in the BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit.

Links:
- World Minigolf Sport Federation
- European Minigolf Sport Federation
- British Minigolf Association
- SportAccord
- UrbanCrazy

WMF Ranking Lists at 31 December 2014:
- General Class
- Youth
- Senior

Related blog posts:
- World Minigolf Rankings for 2014
- End of 2014 minigolf season BMGA rankings
- UK Mini Golf Competitions in 2015

Player profiles
- Miniature Golf Player Profile of Richard Gottfried
- Miniature Golf Player Profile of Emily Gottfried

Bar Billiards and Darts in King's Cross

A look inside the Games Room at The Parcel Yard pub in London.

My fellow pub games enthusiast John Moore recently told me that a friend of his had informed him that The Parcel Yard pub at London's King's Cross train station has a Bar Billiards table! John relayed this information to me, so I had to go and take a look.

On my visit to the pub I couldn't see the Bar Billiards table, but did enjoy having a look inside as I'd never been there before. It's well worth popping in.

Having a look on the pub's website I noticed that the table is in the Games Room, so on my second visit I knew where to look. One of the pub's staff members was happy to show me the Games Room and I must say I was impressed with the setting.

The Bar Billiards table at The Parcel Yard

Unfortunately the room and the games inside are not open for everyday casual play, as the room is often booked out for functions. However, I made an enquiry online and found out that the room can be reserved for events - both corporate and private meetings or parties. For more information drop The Parcel Yard team a line via the website.

As big fans of darts it was great to see there's a board in the Games Room too.

The dart board and oche at The Parcel Yard

If Bar Billiards or darts aren't your thing, then the Games Room also has a Pinball Machine and other traditional games.

I'm looking forward to getting the chance to play the Bar Billiards at The Parcel Yard for a bit of a 'do'. A group of us had a brilliant time on our London Bar Billiards Pub Crawl a couple of years ago and we do enjoy a pub sport meet-up.

Links:

- The Parcel Yard

- Bar Billiards Forum
- The All England Bar Billiards Association (AEBBA)

Related blog posts:

- Bar Billiards
- Darts

- Pub
- Pub games

UK Mini Golf Competitions in 2015

Minigolf tournament calendar for 2015.

The British Minigolf Association (BMGA) has announced its calendar of tournaments for the 2015 season.

Eight BMGA events have been confirmed, with competitions being held on six courses.

Emily playing at Hastings Crazy Golf during the 2014 World Crazy Golf Championships 

- The British Club Championships will be held on Sunday 1 March at the Pirate Adventure Golf course on Hastings seafront in East Sussex.

- The British Masters will be held on Sunday 12 April at Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing, West Sussex.

- The British Championships - a two-day major tournament - will be held on 16 and 17 May at the Pirate Adventure Golf course in Hastings.

Playing at Strokes Adventure Golf course in Margate last year

- The British Open - a two-day major competition - will be taking place on 19 and 20 September at Strokes Adventure Golf in Margate, Kent.

- The day before the British Open tees-off the Players Championship and International Players Championship contests will take place on the Strokes layout.

- The World Crazy Golf Championships - the final major of the season - will be played on 24 and 25 October at the Crazy Golf course in Hastings.



- The Star City Open will close the official BMGA Tour season on Sunday 6 December when it is held at the Adventure Island Mini Golf course in Birmingham.

There will also be various club events during the year, as well as fun friendlies and independent events on courses around the UK.

Playing at Splash Point Mini Golf course in Worthing during the British Masters last season

Club Open competitions announced so far include:
- Midlands Open - Sunday 22 March at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull.
- Splash Point Open - Saturday 25 July at Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing.
- Kent Open - Sunday 15 November at the Lost Island Encounter in Sidcup, Kent.

The World Minigolf Sport Federation will also be holding an event in England this year, with the WMF World Adventure Golf Masters taking place on 6 and 7 June at the Pirate Adventure Golf course in Hastings.

National Miniature Golf Day takes place on the second Saturday in May and this year will be on Saturday 9 May. Miniature Golf Day is always on 21 September, which this year falls on a Monday.

Worldwide there are over 38,000 competitive minigolf players registered with the WMF via the 46 member nations, with 900-plus clubs between them. More than 1,000 courses are approved for official competitions and over 1,500 minigolf tournaments are held each year.

Links:
- British Minigolf Association
- World Minigolf Sport Federation
- European Minigolf Sport Federation

Related blog posts:
- Mini Golf Days in 2015
- End of 2014 minigolf season BMGA rankings

New indoor adventure golf course in Cardiff, Wales

New 36-hole adventure golf course to open in Cardiff.

There's a brand new indoor minigolf course opening in Cardiff, Wales this year - Treetop Adventure Golf!

The themed miniature golf centre will have two 18-hole layouts set in a rainforest environment. One will be called the 'Tropical Trail' while the other is the 'Ancient Explorer'.

Looking at the Treetop Adventure Golf course website the courses will feature a thunderstorm, swamps, talking trees and more. Tree Top Adventure Golf will also have a bar and cafe.

The new indoor adventure golf course is due to open in Spring 2015 and will be located at St David's Dewi Sant Shopping Centre in Cardiff.

We're looking forward to visiting and playing the course as part of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've been to quite a few indoor mini, crazy and adventure golf courses over the years and they're a great way to play the game in all weathers.

Members of the team behind the course have designed and built some great indoor adventure golf courses that we've played for fun and in competitions in places like Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Aberdeen, Manchester and Nottingham, as well as outdoor courses in Hastings.

Playing the Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf course at the Liverpool ONE shopping centre

At Adventure Island Mini Golf in Birmingham's Star City leisure and entertainment complex

Links:
- Treetop Adventure Golf course website
- St David's Dewi Sant Shopping Centre website
- Castle Golf Adventure Golf Developments

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Indoor Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses

Winning at the PDC Unibet Darts Masters in Milton Keynes

A trip to the 'arrers in Milton Keynes.

On Sunday 1 February me, Emily and Marc 'The Roller' Bazeley attended the 2015 Unibet Masters Darts tournament presented by the Professional Darts Corporation and played at the tremendous facility that is the ArenaMK.

Two of the Sajwani Army on manoeuvres at the PDC Unibet Darts Masters in Milton Keynes

As BIG darts fans we were really looking forward to being at the major PDC competition and we weren't disappointed by the event. We had tickets for the semi-finals and the final. We saw some brilliant matches, with the Unibet Masters title won by world number one Michael Van Gerwen. We also got to meet darts legend 'The Prince of Style' Rod Harrington.

'Squire' Richard Gottfried playing a game if Inflatable Darts at the Unibet Masters - to win a Unibet 180 t-shirt you had to score 60 or more with three 'darts' (velcro balls)

Before the action got underway we had a wander around the ArenaMK venue and found that the tournament sponsor Unibet had set up an inflatable dart board where you could compete to win a Unibet 180 t-shirt, we couldn't miss that opportunity so stepped up to give it a go.

Channelling the spirit of darts underdog Peter 'Chatterbox' Sajwani I scored 100 with my three darts! Emily also won on the game, scoring treble-20, 20 and 5. Marc didn't play, but was incredibly happy with the Unibet Trucker Cap he got at the player's walk-on area

Links:
- Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)
- Unibet
- ArenaMK
- Peter Sajwani, Darts player (Twitter and Facebook)
- Darts Performance Centre

Related blog posts:
- Darts
- Milton Keynes

A hidden plaque in Woodbridge

On a recent trip to Woodbridge, Suffolk we had a walk along the banks of the River Deben. With our eyes always peeled for interesting things we noticed an old plaque on a shelter.

The wind shelter on the banks of the River Deben in Woodbridge

The old, painted over, plaque on the shelter in Woodbridge

We really enjoyed our visit to Woodbridge. We've been to pubs and restaurants in the town before, but had never had a wander there. We're looking forward to returning again.

Related blog posts:
- Plaque
- Plaques
- Suffolk
- Woodbridge
- Plaque-ing Interesting

Gluten Free Beer and Lager in Whole Foods Market Piccadilly

Five gluten free beers on sale in Whole Foods Market in London.

While recently in the West End I popped into the Piccadilly branch of Whole Foods Market to take a look at the gluten free products available and my eye was taken by the five different gluten free beers, ales and lagers on the shelf in the beer department.

The range of gluten free beers, ales and lagers on sale in Whole Foods Market Piccadilly - Daas Blond, Celia, Mongozo, St Peter's Brewery G-Free and Dark G-Free

Since being diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in 2008 I've tried all five of the gluten free beers (and a lot more besides).

The other fridge in Whole Foods Market contained bottles of Mongozo, Celia and St Peter's Dark G-Free gluten free beer

Having a look on the Mongozo website I noticed the gluten free Mongozo Buckwheat White Beer - one I haven't tried yet.

The Whole Foods Market website lists the New Planet Gluten Free Pale Ale, but I've never seen it in store. The website shows a mix of products that are available in UK and/or US stores.

Check out the links below for more information on the gluten free beers, as well as my blog post about the gluten free beverages I've drunk over the years.

Links:
- Whole Foods Market Piccadilly
- Celia Lager
- Mongozo
- Daas Beer
- St Peter's Brewery

Related blog post:
- Gluten Free Ales, Beers and Lagers

Please Keep Of The Flower Beds

Having read Viz comic for many years I always thought the correct way of saying it was 'Please Keep Off Of'.

Fantasia Adventure Golf in Felixstowe

A visit to the Fantasia Adventure Golf on Sea Road in Felixstowe.

On a recent visit to the seaside resort of Felixstowe, Suffolk we had a stroll along the prom and of course had a look at the 9-hole Fantasia Adventure Golf course on Sea Road.

It was out of season so the course wasn't open

We've played the course a number of times over the years. It was the 7th course we ever played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour way back in November 2006!

The longest second putt in minigolf? I wonder how long the ball has been waiting to be holed out...

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

Gluten free at the Black Tiles Restaurant & Bar

A visit to the Black Tiles Restaurant & Bar in Woodbridge.

Over the years I have provided a number of gluten free food reviews to Travel Gluten Free and the site recently let me know they'd been contacted by the Black Tiles Restaurant & Bar to tell them about their gluten free menu.

We're always searching for new places to visit and often head back to Emily's home town of Ipswich, and Woodbridge is right next to it.

Last weekend we booked a table for a lunch and looked forward to giving the food a try.

There's a lot to choose from on the gluten free menu. I decided to go for one of my favourites, the Slow roast pork belly, bubble & squeak, apple sauce and crackling.

I noticed chips were also on the gluten free menu, and ever vigilant of potential cross-contamination risks, asked how they were cooked. Without hesitation the waitress let me know that they were cooked in a separate fryer to avoid cross-contamination. I ordered a portion as a treat as it's not often I get to eat chips in restaurants.

Gluten free lunch at the Black Tiles Restaurant & Bar in Martlesham, Woodbridge

After a filling meal I wasn't going to have a dessert, but as Emily and her sister Jo both ordered puddings I decided to have an Eton Mess too. And I'm glad I did.

The food and service was very good and the pub was nice. We'd return for another meal.

Check out the Black Tiles Restaurant & Bar website and the gluten free menu.

Related blog posts:
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac

Links:
- Black Tiles Restaurant & Bar
- Travel Gluten Free

Coeliac Awareness Week 2015

This year Coeliac Awareness Week is 11 to 17 May.

Coeliac Awareness Week is taking place from 11 to 17 May. For more information check out the Coeliac UK website and the Awareness Week page over the coming months.

Last year I was Minigolfing gluten free in Margate during Coeliac Awareness Week.

Minigolfer, blogger and (unfortunately) a coeliac. Last year I was playing in a national minigolf tournament at Strokes Adventure Golf course in Margate during Coeliac Awareness Week

Coeliac Disease is a lifelong autoimmune disease caused by intolerance to gluten and the only treatment is to adhere to a strict lifelong gluten free diet.

In the UK it's estimated that 1 in 100 people have the condition.

I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in May 2008 and have been living on a strict, lifelong gluten free diet ever since

It's important to know and remember that Celiac/Coeliac is NOT an allergy, it's NOT a preference, it's NOT a fad, it's NOT a diet, it's NOT an intolerance, it's NOT a choice - it's an AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE.

Check out the blog posts and links below for more information on Coeliac Disease and Gluten Free.

Related blog posts:
- Celiac Awareness Day 2014
- Coeliac UK Awareness Week 2014 and the Gluten-free guarantee
- Minigolfing gluten free in Margate
- What a Day, Week and Month! (2013)

- Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts from Udi's Gluten Free

- Gluten Free
- Coeliac
- Funny things about being a Coeliac
- Read my Gluten Free Journey blog on the Udi's gluten free website

Links:
- Coeliac UK
- Coeliac Awareness Week 2015
- National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) / Celiac Central

Crazy Golf in Felixstowe

Revisiting the indoor minigolf course at Manning's Amusements in Felixstowe.

We played the indoor Adventure Golf course at Manning's on our last trip to Felixstowe in November 2014 and we always visit the arcade and course when in town.

On our most recent visit to Felixstowe we noticed the sign for Sands Diner has an arrow pointing out the 'Crazy Golf' at Mannings. There are two other minigolf signs at Mannings - one for 'Indoor Adventure Golf' and one for 'Magical Golf'

We were up and about nice and early on our Saturday morning seaside stroll and saw a sight we'd never seen before - the doors to the Golf-FX Magical Golf course were closed!

We didn't have time to play the course this time, but we'll be back again for a round on the tricky layout later this year.

Check out the links and blog posts below for more information on Manning's Amusements and photos of the course from our many visits over the years.

Links:
- Manning's Amusements website
- Manning's Amusements on Twitter
- Manning's Amusements on Facebook

Related blog posts:
- Felixstowe
- Indoor Crazy Golf in Felixstowe
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Indoor Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses
- Indoor Adventure Golf at Mannings Amusements in Felixstowe

Crazy Golf in Broomfield Park, London

A revisit to the Adventure Golf course at Broomfield Park in Palmers Green.

Broomfield Park in Palmers Green, London has an 18-hole Adventure Golf course

On Saturday 17 January we were visiting my cousins in Enfield and popped to Palmers Green for lunch, which opened up the opportunity to have an unexpected look at the Adventure Golf course in Broomfield Park.

Unfortunately the course wasn't open as it was out-of-season

Broomfield Park's 18-hole Adventure Golf course in Palmers Green, London

We first visited Broomfield Park's minigolf course in May 2007, but didn't play it until April 2010.

A view of Broomfield Park's minigolf course in January 2015

The course was the 169th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Check out the blog post from our visit in 2010.

A view of the Adventure Golf course in London's Broomfield Park. There are some really long minigolf holes there!

You can find Broomfield Adventure Golf at Broomfield Park, Aldermans Hill, London N13 4RB. Check out the course website for opening times and prices.

Broomfield Park's Adventure Golf course is normally open at weekends and during school holidays. Weather permitting

The nearest tube stations to the miniature golf course at Broomfield Park are Arnos Grove, Southgate and Bounds Green. The course is only a short walk from Palmers Green Mainline station. It's not a million miles away from Winchmore Hill either.

To date we've visited 589 miniature golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and played 355 of them. In and around London we've visited 43 minigolf, crazy golf, adventure golf and grass putting courses, and played 26 of them.

On our visit we had a nice walk around the park. We didn't remember the park having so many ponds, many of which were frozen over on this occasion. It was funny seeing the seagulls slipping and sliding as they came in to land.

One of the frozen ponds at Broomfield Park

Link:
- Broomfield Adventure Golf

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - List and links for all Miniature Golf courses visited to date
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in and around London
- London (Broomfield Park) - Adventure Golf

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

Amusement Arcading in Felixstowe and the one penny pence piece pusher

A potential venue and 'course' for a Tat Challenge tournament in the future.

While on a recent visit to the Suffolk seaside resort of Felixstowe we spotted a rare sight in one of the seafront's amusement arcades - a 1p pusher machine!

It's not often in this day and age that you see a one penny pusher in the arcade. They're normally 2p or 10p machines

Related blog posts:
- Amusement Arcades
- Tat Challenge
- Felixstowe