Gluten free at El Piano restaurant in York

A brilliant gluten free and vegan meal at El Piano in York.

While visiting the wonderful city of York I found that I was spoiled for choice when it came to options of where to eat. So many restaurants and takeaways had gluten free options, or stated they could cater for special dietary requirements.

Having so many choices and so little time (and capacity) to eat at all of them on this trip was a nice problem to have. While walking around the city centre on our arrival on the Thursday we'd spotted the El Piano restaurant and the brightly coloured menu outside. It clearly stated that they offered food that is vegan, has no gluten, is nut-free, and without palm-oil. The menu served 'all plant based dishes with no gluten-containing ingredients'.

The brilliant menu at El Piano

The menu also clearly stated that dishes containing soya, coconut, sesame or mustard (4 of the official 14 allergens) were shown in BOLD red text.

We decided that we would definitely dine there on our stay and so after a long day of shopping, postcard hunting, playing Bar Billiards and walking we headed there for dinner on the Friday evening. And I am so glad we did.

It was one of the best meals I've had. There was so much to choose from and we had great service from the friendly and knowledgeable staff. The restaurant looked great and it was so pleasing to see the other diners excited to be eating there too.

We spent a while looking over the menu and there was a lot to choose from. I quite fancied having Bob's Best Burger, but then Emily and I both decided to go for the interesting main courses where you got to 'build your own plate'.

My main course

The options offered gave an around-the-world flavour. You chose a principal dish, added fritters and then a cold salad. There were also Greens gluten free beers available on the drinks menu. Always a nice touch for gluten free diners to be able to choose a beer with a meal.

A very happy Coeliac diner indeed

I went for the Chow Mein, with Pineapple Croquetas (fresh pineapple with a hint of madras) and the Big E Salsa. Emily went for the Mexi Trio, Pestolitos and Hummus. I also treated myself to a side order of Mathematical Chips (square root veg chips) with El Piano ketchup.

Emily's Mexican main course

We couldn't leave without having a dessert. I had a lovely sticky toffee pudding, while Emily had a chocolate mousse pie that she couldn't finish. Unfortunately I had to scoff the last of it.

All of the food was amazing. With so many different flavours and new things to try it was brilliant for us to be able to taste off of each others plates with no fear of cross-contamination. This was the first meal out we'd had since my diagnosis with Coeliac Disease where we weren't scared, or unable, to do this and it felt pretty much 'normal'.

The restaurant is now in its 18th year and long may it continue.

I can't wait to go back to York and we'll definitely be eating at El Piano again.

Visit the El Piano website for more information and menus.

Link:
- El Piano website

Related blog posts:

- Gluten free

- Coeliac
- Gluten free beer

Mini Golf courses in Castleford

There are plenty of options for Adventure Golf in Castleford.

Putting on one of the two outdoor Adventure Golf courses in Castleford

Since our last visit to Castleford in 2010 there have been some more exciting additions to the leisure and retail area just off Junction 32 of the M62.

On Sunday 12 April 2015 we were heading back home to Leagrave after a weekend in York and Knaresborough and decided to stop-off for a look at the courses and a round or two.

The area has become a minigolf hotbed, with six minigolf courses across three sites and a total of 87-holes! This is a huge amount of holes in a relatively small area. And especially so for an inland location.

Most seasides in the UK have some type of minigolf course. Often a Crazy Golf, Putting Green or Adventure Golf, and sometimes a few different types. Largs in Scotland has 81-holes over four grass Putting courses, plus a 9-hole Crazy Golf course. Cleethorpes has 73-holes over five courses, Hastings has 72-holes (54 at the sea front and 18-holes of Putting at White Rock Gardens). At last count Great Yarmouth was home to 69-holes over five courses, while Blackpool had 60-holes across its four sea front courses and Hunstanton has 57-holes spread along the front.

Looking at those places we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour only Skegness outdoes Castleford in terms of the number of holes. Skeggy has 102-holes spread across nine seafront courses.

When we visited the Xscape centre in 2010 we played the 199th and 200th courses on our tour at the Cosmic Golf courses.

The Glow-in-the-Dark Adventure Golf course is now called 4D Golf

The 6-hole 'Search for Atlantis' and 9-hole 'Curse of the Mummy in 3D' courses are both indoor black light mini golf layouts. They're now called '4D Golf'.

Under the sea

Playing the Curse of the Mummy minigolf course

Pirate Island Adventure Golf at the Junction 32 Outlet Shopping Centre features 36-holes over two 18-holes courses - Smugglers Bay and Skull Cove.

Emily playing the Smugglers Bay course

Playing at Pirate Island Adventure Golf

Back over at Xscape Yorkshire are another 36-holes of Adventure Golf. The Volcano Falls layout is spread over two 18-hole courses - the Volcano Valley and T Rex Trail.

On hole 18 of the T Rex Trail

Putting on the lucky last hole

Of course if you fancy taking a break from the minigolf while there you can always go shopping at the Junction 32 Outlet Shopping Village or explore the other fun and games on offer at Xscape Yorkshire. There's lots to do and play, including laser tag, a laser maze, amusement arcades, ten pin bowling, a cinema, climbing walls, skate park, indoor ski slope and snow zone, skyride and more.

Links:
- 4D Cosmic Golf website
- Pirate Island Adventure Golf website
- Volcano Falls Adventure Golf website
- Xscape Yorkshire website
- Junction 32 Outlet Shopping Village website

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Castleford
- Indoor Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses
- Cosmic 4D Golf at Xscape Yorkshire
- Pirate Island Adventure Golf at Junction 32 in Castleford
- Volcano Falls Adventure Golf at Xscape Yorkshire

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

Volcano Falls Adventure Golf at Xscape Yorkshire

Playing the Volcano Falls Adventure Golf at Xscape in Castleford.

On Sunday 12 April we were heading back from a short-break in York and Knaresborough and decided to swing into Castleford to play some minigolf.

Xscape Yorkshire is home to Volcano Falls Adventure Golf and its two 18-hole indoor minigolf courses.

Emily tees-off on the T Rex Trail

The T Rex Trail became the 359th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 594th visited overall. The Volcano Valley course was the 595th visited.

While I get scared off of the BIG dino on the course

There are some tricky second putts on the 18-hole course

There's some great theming on the course

Some 'cave paintings' showing the time travelling nature of our journey 65 million years into the past

Emily is lucky on this putt as the wind storm effect had just been on!

Neither of us were lucky on the last hole

In our match-up on the T Rex Trail I beat Emily with a score of 40 to 45.

It was great to see Volcano Falls merchandise on sale at the course. I treated myself to a branded cap

You can find the Volcano Falls course on a 'mysterious island' indoors at Xscape Yorkshire. Its just off Junction 32 of the M62.

In winning the match against Emily I also awarded myself a great Adventure Falls key ring 

For further information, opening times and prices visit the Volcano Falls Adventure Golf website.

After 18-hole on the busy course we escaped unscathed

We're looking forward to returning to play the Volcano Valley course at Volcano Falls Adventure Golf in the future.

We'll be heading past Castleford on another road trip and pop in for a round then

Xscape Yorkshire is a great indoor entertainment centre with loads to see, do and play.

Links:
- Volcano Falls Adventure Golf website
- Volcano Falls Adventure Golf on Facebook
- Volcano Falls Adventure Golf on Twitter
- Xscape Yorkshire website

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

Pirate Island Adventure Golf in Castleford

Playing the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course in Castleford.

On Sunday 12 April we were heading back from a trip in York and Knaresborough and decided to swing into Castleford for some minigolf action.

A view of the Smugglers Bay course in Castleford

We didn't know it when we arrived, but Pirate Island Adventure Golf at the Junction 32 Outlet Shopping Village was celebrating its first birthday, with lots of people out on the two 18-hole courses, despite the chilly weather.

Pirate Island Adventure Golf has two 18-hole courses

With 36-holes of minigolf available we decided to play the slightly less busy Smugglers Bay course and great fun it was too. There were plenty of hole layouts and obstacles we hadn't seen before.

This was a particularly nice looking hole involving a tunnel and plateau

The Smugglers Bay course became the 358th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 592nd visited overall. The Skull Cove course was the 593rd visited.

Watch out for the BIG octopus on this minigolf course

Emily lining up a putt

I almost aced this hole. Almost

Emily about to play through a castle ruin

Firing a shot at the hole

Close, but no cigar. At least it stayed up on the plateau

The giant snake was an interesting obstacle

You can play through the snake, or around it

A tap in for Emily

In our match-up on the Smugglers Bay course I beat Emily with a score of 38 to 44.

I won the gold medal this time (available at the kiosk for only 30p)

For further information, opening times and prices visit the Pirate Island Adventure Golf website.

Before we played the course we bumped into Pirate Island Adventure Golf's minigolf mascot, Stow-Away Sam!

Stow-Away Sam on the course

We're looking forward to returning to play the Skull Cove course at Pirate Island Adventure Golf in the future.

We'll take on Skull Cove next time we're in Castleford

Our tour has also taken us to the Pirate Island courses at the Abbey Hill Golf Centre in Milton Keynes and Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking. We've yet to play the Pirate Island course at Ramsdale Park Golf Centre in Nottingham.

One of the crocodiles (or is it an alligator?) lurking on the course

Links:
- Pirate Island Adventure Golf website
- Pirate Island Adventure Golf on Twitter
- Pirate Island Adventure Golf on Facebook
- Junction 32 Outlet Shopping Village website

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Castleford
- Crazy Golf Crocodiles and Adventure Golf Alligators
- Mini Golf in Castleford

Minigolf at Vista Alegre in Porto Cristo, Majorca

Finding a miniature golf course in Porto Cristo, Mallorca.

The minigolf course at Restaurante Vista Alegre in Porto Cristo

Charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Christopher Gottfried has come up trumps again, as on a recent holiday to Majorca he managed to find an unplayable Minigolf course!

An interesting looking hole

The layout was at the Restaurante Vista Alegre in Porto Cristo.

Restaurant, minigolf and pool

That's quite a big boat obstacle

This looks like a tricky hole to putt on

There's a great sea view from the minigolf course at Porto Cristo

The last course Christopher spotted on his travels was the Crazy Golf at Ladram Bay in Devon, that layout also had a magnificent sea view.

Courses visited by Christopher Gottfried 2011-15:

- Brighton - Crazy Golf

- Paignton Pier - Crazy Golf

- Herne Bay - Mini Golf
- Great Yarmouth - Windmill Theatre Indoor Crazy Golf

- Margate (Cliftonville) - Little Oasis Crazy Golf

- Newquay - Mini Golf

- Letoonia Golf Resort, Belek, Turkey - Minigolf

- Mundesley - Adventure Island Golf

- Ladram Bay - Crazy Golf

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Christopher Gottfried
- Mini Golf in Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote

Links:
- Restaurante Vista Alegre in Porto Cristo on Facebook
- MiniatureGolfer.com's list of Minigolf courses in Spain

My new favourite colour

Putting Green by Dulux.

As a fan of all things minigolf-related I was pleased to see there's a colour of paint called 'Putting Green'!

This is Putting Green

Over the years on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour we've Putted on a number of different coloured playing surfaces including green, red, white, silver, brown, black, white and even blue.

Playing the Mini Golf Grass Putting Green in Ayr, Scotland last summer. One of a number of Putting Greens we've played on our tour

I'll have to get a pot of Putting Green paint for The Crazy Golf Museum.

Check out the Dulux website for more details of the Putting Green colour of paint, products available and coordinating colours.

Links:
- Dulux website
- Putting Green colour on Dulux website
- Dulux on Twitter
- Dulux on Facebook
- The Crazy Golf Museum

Related blog posts:
- Putting Green
- Types and Variants of Miniature Golf visited and played
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour