Gluten-Free Wednesday
The reason I went to Haverstock Hill was not to see the dreadful eyesores, but as it was Wednesday, it was to have gluten-free fish and chips at Oliver’s.
It was a very worthwhile trip and with the exception of some fish and chips at Rick Stein’s in Padstow, which cost probably a lot more, it was the best I’ve eaten. In some ways that is an unfair comparison, as in Cornwall I was with C. And then for many years before I was diagnosed as a coeliac, I never ate battered fish. Something was probably telling me, it was poisoning my gut.
But the plaice and chips today was superb. C hated chips, but she’d have loved these. There can be no better accolade!
Bills Gluten-Free Restaurant
I’ve passed Bill’s Restaurant at The Angel several times on the bus, but as it’s not on any of my walking routes between the tube station, the buses and any of the shops I use regularly, so I’d never checked it out.
Then today, I was looking for some string bags for Christmas present bags and I found that the restaurant sold them at a couple of quid a time. So I popped in to get them and try out the food at lunchtime.
I shall go again, as it’s well-placed for the M&S, Boots and Waitrose, I use several times a week. It’s also got decent wi-fi and is ideally placed to visit if I’m coming home on the bus from say Euston or Kings Cross.
The great thing about this chain, is that they have branches everywhere!
On Your Marks For A Gluten Free Christmas
In my bread bin, in addition to some gluten-free bread, there’s also the remains of a packet of ginger snaps and some mince pies. All are gluten-free from Marks and Spencer. Some of the breads are the sort that sell well in Islington, Sandbanks, Morningside and Alderley Edge.
Today, I went to their store in the back of St.Pancras station and saw this display.
On Your Marks For A Gluten Free Christmas
All of these packets of sausage and bacon based nibbles have the gluten-free sign.
An Alternative Baked Salmon With Parmesan And Parsley Crust
When I cook Mary Berry’s Baked Salmon With Parmesan And Parsley Crust, I inevitably end up with a big tub of cream cheese.
So I tried to cook the dish using a small pack of Saint Agur and a boned and skinned salmon fillet from Marks and Spencer.
The blue cheese gave it a different flavour which some wouldn’t like. But I did and feel that I’ll try the method again.
It certainly produced a nice lunch with some fried potatoes.
The salmon cost £2.90 and the cheese £0.47.
The Yard Cafe At Alexandra Palace Station
My other reason to go to Alexandra Palace station was to look at the Yard Cafe inside the station.
It was certainly worth a visit and I agree with most of what has been said about the place in Trip Advisor.
Every cafe should have at least two different gluten-free dishes, as this one does; lasagne and cottage pie. I shall be going back to have some lunch.
If Modern Railways had an award for best small cafe in a station, this would be a contender.
London’s Best Restaurants For Allergy Sufferers And Gluten-Free
I’m just putting a link to the list of 10 in last night’s Standard.
They missed out my two favourites; Vozar’s in Brixton and Arbutus in Soho.
But that makes a dozen.
Cake Anyone!
I’m not a cake connoisseur by any means, but I just had to put a link to Borough 22, even though I haven’t seen them for real, had a bite, or just a sniff.
As Marie Antoinette said “Let them eat cake! Even coeliacs and others with allergies!”
On The 10:45 From Paddington
I went to Cardiff taking the 10:45 out of Paddington. I chose this train as it features First Great Western’s Pullman Dining.
I had a simple brunch consisting of the most exquisite kedgeree, washed down with juice and a lot of genuine English tea. By the latter, I really do mean tea grown in Cornwall.
This is certainly the way to go to South Wales. First Great Western say this about booking on most trains except the ones that leave around 18:00.
Pullman Dining services are open to all ticket holders although, on busy services, priority is given to First Class ticket holders. Please contact the Pullman Service Leader when you board to request a table in the restaurant. Pullman Dining services do not operate on weekends or public holidays.
When did booking a meal in a high class restaurant be so easy?
The train I was on, also called at Reading at 11:10, gets to Cardiff at 12:46 and then goes on to Swansea, reaching there at 13.44, so it is very convenient for a lot of journeys.
The only problem was that the actual train I was on, didn’t have the wi-fi fully installed. I read that this should be running and free in the New Year.
I do hope that this concept succeeds, as travellers like me, who aren’t strapped for cash, will certainly use this type of service as a treat.
My First Class ticket, which I bought on-line the day before, cost me £31.55 and I paid £18.00 for the lunch, with its excellent food and service.
As I have been known to take the occasional day out in Bristol, I do wish a similar service was offered to there. And what about services to Torquay and Cheltenham?
Obviously, First Great Western know the economics and they certainly have a whole fleet of InterCity125s, with which they can run the service.
So will we still see these magnificent trains reborn as high-class leisure trains serving the West Country for upwards of twenty years in the future? I suspect we will, as these trains seem to have more survival genes, than a whole pack of London mongrels.
Did Terry Miller and his team in Derby realise what they were creating?
Serial Cooking – Quick Pasta For One
I cook this regularly and I always have the Waitrose ham hock and the Rachel’s yoghurt with honey in the fridge, with frozen peas in the freezer. It came originally from Lindsey Bareham, where she called it pulled ham hock and pea pasta with herbs.
It usually takes under fifteen minutes from starting to boil the water to sitting down.
Serial Cooking – Baked Salmon With Parmesan And Parsley Crust
This is one of my favourite quick suppers. It is from Mary Berry and is posted on the BBC Food website.
I actually used some very expensive salmon from Waitrose, that was being discounted, as I think it was even too expensive for Islington. I also got the fishmonger to take the skin off.
The great thing about this recipe, is that it is easily scaled for any number. You just need to guess the breadcrumbs and cheese mixes about right.
The Anonymous Widower 