The Hope Street Hotel
On Friday night, I went to Liverpool for an Alumni Dinner at the University and stayed in the Hope Street Hotel,where the dinner was held. Here’s a few pictures.
One of the reasons, I like the hotel is that it does gluten-free food superbly well. It did in the dinner on Friday night and the food was summed up by the superb smoked haddock and poached eggs that I had for breakfast.
Other hotels should take note about the breakfast as fish and eggs is so simple and also impossible to add gluten.
Hollande Shows He’s A True Champagne Socialist!
There seems to be a big row brewing in France, as President Hollande has upped the tax on beer by a whopping 160%. He left the tax on wine and spirits alone. Read all about it, here in the Belfast Telegraph. This is the first paragraph.
France is planning heavy tax increases on beer, upsetting brewers – even in other countries.
President Francois Hollande is pushing through legislation to increase taxes on beer by 160% to help fund struggling social security programmes as France tries to lower a budget deficit hit hard by the economic crisis. The tax would affect local brews and the 30% of imported beer the French drink.
I suppose though, I’m not bothered, as I’ve never heard of a gluten-free French beer. Although, there’s some passable Belgian and Spanish ones.
Debenhams Drops Stupid Coffee Names
According to this story in the Mirror, Debenhams are to use plain English to describe their coffee.
I suppose it’s their choice, but round here most people know their cappuccinos from their lattes. And I don’t just mean those that went to posh schools or were born outside of Hackney.
Baked Eggs With Tomatoes
I’ve done this recipe for years, but in the move the book with it in has got lost.
- Well butter four ramekin dishes.
- Preheat the oven to 200°C
- Take a large tin of chopped tomatoes and put in a saucepan with a a finely chopped medium-sized onion. Mix well and heat.
- When it is hot, simmer and add two tablespoons of flour mixed with enough butter to make a nice paste.
- Simmer for five minutes or so, adding a teaspoon of sugar and salt and pepper until you get the taste right.
- Spoon the mixture into the ramekin dishes, making a nest in the top of the mixture.
- Add an egg to the nest and cover with grated cheese.
- Bake in the oven until the cheese is cooked.
With practice they can be got to rise like mini-soufflés.
In some ways the great thing about this recipe, is that apart from the eggs nothing has a sell-by date. Usually I have everything required in my fridge and/or store cupboard.
Newmarket Sausage Gets European Protected Status
This has just been announced and about time too.
I actually prefer the Musks brand as does the Queen. It’s just a pity, I find it difficult to get their gluten-free ones in London. Hopefully, now they’ve got the protected status, we might see some promotion by the better food retailers.
I see on the Musks website, that they are offering a gluten-free hamper.
A Pub For Coeliacs?
Yesterday, A pub manager from Islington added a comment to one of my posts. said he’d got a good selection of gluten free beers in his pub called the Florence in Florence Street, Islington.
I went for a drink yesterday and it would appear he’s going to make very good provision for coeliacs with both food and drink. I just had half of Aspalls. And very good it was too!
France Might Tax Energy Drinks
France seems to be planning to tax energy drinks according to reports like this, this morning.
I’ve never drunk one, but judging by the number of cans you see strewn all over place, many do.
First Class Gluten-Free Food
I was travelling First Class both ways on my trip to Yorkshire yesterday.
Going up to York, I used East Coast Trains and although I got coffee, there was nothing else I could eat that was gluten-free. But it didn’t matter as I was going to see friends for lunch.
In some ways I often feel cheated in First Class, as others get all sorts of goodies and I get nothing. It’s usually worse at the weekend, as all that is available is sandwiches.
Coming back from Hull on Hull Trains, I effectively told the steward I was gluten-free by declining the biscuit with the coffee. So when it came to selecting the complimentary meal, she apologised and thought, they might not have anything suitable. But she did say they had one chilli left.
Now my chilli con carnes and many I’ve had in pubs and restaurants have been gluten-free! So I suggest that she checked and she returned a minute or so later with the packet and a big smile on her face.
Gluten-Free Chili On Hull Trains
The pouch said the food was suitable for coeliacs and I gave it a go. There’s more details on the food here.
Chilli With Tortilla
Unfortunately, the tortilla crisps weren’t marked and I just chanced a couple.
The meal was excellent and I got no adverse reaction at all. So my gut liked it too! Perhaps, I should have had more of the crisps.
The steward then got the bit between her teeth and checked all the other things they served including the chocolate. Admittedly, First Class was by no means full.
After all coeliacs may not be that numerous, but statistics show that about one in a hundred of the UK population may have the disease.
The steward had certainly remembered the two things you don’t lose in any form of customer service; enthusiasm and your temper.
It was an enjoyable and enlightening journey after a bad day at the football.
So well done to Hull Trains and their staff! And especially to Steph!
Hot Coffee With Cold Milk
I had coffee coming home and it was served hot with cold milk.
Hot Coffee With Cold Milk
I only know one person, who is specific about having their coffee like that and like the train, she has connections to Hull, as she was born and grew up there.
Perhaps it’s a Hullensian thing.
The Anonymous Widower 