Edinburgh – Plane Or Train?
I have just been up to Edinburgh and the Borders to see friends. I went up by EasyJet from Stansted and came back in First Class by East Coast.
I took the 11:50 flight and that meant I left home about eight in the morning. That sounds early, but as I needed to get there as the gate closed at 11:20 and the train took an hour or so, I wasn’t taking any chances. I also wanted to have a good breakfast on the way to the airport, as I know that there isn’t a good gluten-free restaurant air-side at Stansted.
I also had to take my passport for security purposes.
A Passport For Scotland
I suppose if Scotland votes for independence, this will become the norm for every journey across the border.
The plane was a few minutes early and after getting slightly lost in the Terminal, I was met by one of old friends and we were soon on one of the new trams to the city centre.
The flight up had cost me £47.93 for the actual flight, £13.85 to get to Stansted and £9 to get into Edinburgh. Which makes a total of £70.78.
Coming back yesterday, I bought my First Class ticket at nine o’clock in the evening on Wednesday for £64.35.
This cost surprised me and should I say my hosts in the Borders, thought it was good value.
It did of course include snacks on the way down, which I declined, as they we’re gluten-free, but I did keep myself plied with free drink all the way. It was mostly tea, but I did have a miniature of whisky (Scotch of course!) and was offered a second.
On the flight up, all I’d got on board, was an excellent lemonade in a box. Paid for at £2.50. If EasyJet keep selling these, it’ll certainly mean when I fly, I’ll know where to book.
If we look at the time taken. From my house to the centre of Edinburgh, it took me an elapsed time of about five and a half hours. I did give myself a lot of time to get to Stansted, but I needed it, as security took nearly an hour. Gone are the days of turn-up-and-go at London’s third airport.
Coming back, the train left at 14:30 and I just missed the end of the One Show, which means that the time was about seven-thirty. So it was just over five hours.
I don’t think I’ll be flying up to Edinburgh again from Stansted. Both journeys took about the same time, but the train was cheaper, more luxurious and included as much free food and drink as I wanted. Even if as a coeliac, I couldn’t eat the food. On the train, I also got a proper table on which to lay my paper flat out. And of course, security was more noted by its apparent absence.
Over the next few years the train will get faster as new trains, in-cab signalling and track improvement will mean that large portions of the line will be capable of 140 rather than the current 125 mph.
So city centre to city centre travellers like me will probably always take the train. For me, all that East Coast Trains need to do is get some decent gluten-free food. As Virgin do it, why can’t they?
Searching For Food At Edinburgh Waverley
Coming back from Edinburgh Waverley, I booked on-line for the 14:30 train for the princely sum of £64.35. After picking up my ticket, I thought I’d ask if there was any sensible food in First Class. The guy I asked was honest and said, that if he was me, he’d have something before travel. As my friend had said that last time, all she got was sandwiches, I decided to look for a snack. Especially, as I had a cooked sausage and bean casserole in te fridge that just needed heating, so I didn’t need much.
I first tried the First Class Lounge, which was guarded by this notice.
East Coast’s First Class Welcome
There was no food and the coffee machine was broken. So that was a waste of time.
I had plenty of time, so I walked out of the station and to a restaurant I’d eaten in behind Harvey Nicholls. No luck at all!
On my way back to the station, I popped into the Balmoral Hotel and asked if there was anything gluten-free in the bar. The Western European waiter spoke worse English, than all the waiters I’d encountered in Poland. I thought Edinburgh was in Scotland. As he couldn’t understand my dietary needs, I quickly left and went back to the station.
Costa Coffee had what looked like a nice salad, but they’d polluted it with pasta. Why do people ruin perfectly good salads in this way?
I then tried the other coffee outlets and there was nothing I could eat. Even Marks and Spencer were out of gluten-free sandwiches. At least the manager said sorry which is more than anybody else did!
In desperation, I thought I’d look out of the other side of the station and saw this cafe.
The City Art Centre Cafe
So I asked and they said that the beef and red wine casserole was gluten-free.
Beef And Red Wine Casserole
It was a choice I didn’t regret.
It would appear that despite eating many good gluten-free meals in Edinburgh, trying to find one by the main station is a lot more difficult.
But I’d certainly go back to The City Art Centre Cafe again
Lunch At Henderson’s
Henderson’s is a long-established restaurant in Edinburgh. My friend and I had lunch there.
My chilli was excellent.
I Don’t Bake Potatoes Anymore
C usually cooked baked potatoes in their jackets about three times a week.
After she died I did for a time, but since I’ve moved to London, I’ve never cooked them.
I wonder if a subsidiary reason is that I hate food waste. And it seems in this part of London nice single potatoes are hard to buy.
I also tend to buy a microwaveable pack of new potatoes in Waitrose.
Cooking Salmon The Mary Berry Way
I’m trying to get my B12 levels up and to this end. I decided to cook myself some salmon.
I found this recipe on the BBC web site, that was created by Mary Berry. It’s called baked salmon with parmesan and parsley crust.
Cooking Salmon The Mary Berry Way
I cooked it using two salmon fillets from a pack and substituting a slice of Genius bread for the breadcrumbs, by pulverising it with the parmesan and parsley in my Little Chopper.
I shall be cooking it again as it was good and very tasty.
Asparagus Fish Bake
I cooked this recipe on Thursday night and there was enough to warm up the part I didn’t eat for yesterday.
The original recipe is here and as it is an American one, I’ve converted it into sensible units.
I used the following.
- 6 medium fresh asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 2.5 centimetre pieces
- A two-pack of Waitrose haddock
- 1 chopped onion
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon gluten-free flour
- Salt
- Pepper
- 200 mg. milk
- 100 gm grated cheddar cheese
- Two decrusted slices of Genius bread
- 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
And this is the method used.
1. Place the asparagus in a small saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil; cook for 1-2 minutes. Drain and place in a 1.3 litre. baking and top with fish; set aside.
Asparagus Covered By Fish
2. In a small saucepan, saute onion in 1 tablespoon butter until tender. Stir in the flour, salt and pepper until blended. Gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in cheese until melted. Pour over fish.
3. I then sprinkled the breadcrumbs I made with the Genius bread over the top.
Ready For The Oven
4. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until crumbs are golden brown and fish flakes easily with a fork. I nearly did cook it at 350°, but of course that was the little-used Fahrenshite. I used 180°C.
The Cooked Bake
It was delicious and the second portion needed about 15 minutes at 180°C to warm through after twenty-four hours in the fridge.
The more I create crusts with Genius bread, the more I think, it’s an ideal way to cover a bake or pie.
The Missing Jam
My jam and marmalade goes missing most Mondays.
The cleaners always put it in the fridge.
Does anybody else keep their jam and marmalade there?
Are These The Best Crepes In London?
Walking back to the station, I came across this stall in a market selling crepes.
The only reason those in Cafe Breizh were better was that they came on a plate with a drink of cider.
But this crepe was one of the best I’ve ever had. If not the best! And I’ve eaten many with large amounts of Gallic flair under a French sun!
A Gluten-Free Cafe By The River
I went to Richmond for a walk by the river in the sun. I was surprised to find a cafe with a prominent gluten-free menu. So I couldn’t resist a gluten-free cheese and onion quiche with my cup of tea.
A Gluten-Free Cafe By The River
It was excellent. And it was lovely to sit in the sun!
Exploring Heidelberg
In the morning it was still wet, but at least it wasn’t raining hard. So I checked out of the hotel early and moved my bag to a left luggage locker at the station. I then bought myself a one day tram ticket for Heidelberg and started to explore.
I started in the centre and had a good breakfast of an omelette, juice and coffee in a cafe by the Rathaus.
It would appear that this is generally a safe breakfast in Germany for a coeliac, just like it was in Poland.
The Anonymous Widower 