Coeliac Or Just Gluten Free?
I was asked this question in Jamie’s Italian in Edinburgh.
How professional is that?
I had a very nice rabbit pasta.
East Coast Didn’t Impress
It had been a long time, since I travelled all the way up from London to Edinburgh in one go. Once a few years ago in the days of GNER, I did a trip from Peterborough to Edinburgh and back in a day. That must have been after I had been diagnosed as a coeliac, and I can remember discussing my meals with the on-board chef.
As it was I didn’t get any breakfast on the way up, as they had nothing that was gluten-free. So I might as well have saved money and travelled in Standard Class. Compare this with Virgin Trains, who now serve an excellent gluten-free breakfast.
I also had a seat with a table that rattled a lot and shook tea everywhere. I just think it needed the tightening of a couple of screws.
I think that next time, I go to Edinburgh, I’ll combine it with an intermediate stop like Liverpool or Newcastle or perhaps take the soft option and fly.
Mainly because I was getting distinctly hungry by the time I finished my journey.
I could have taken a packed lunch or bought sandwiches in Marks and Spencer in Kings Cross, but that really nullifies the advantage of First Class. Obviously with a shorter journey to say Leeds, York or Newcastle, this lack of food is less of a problem, as I can eat well at both ends of the trip.
As I Can in Edinburgh, but surely one of the reasons to take long distance trains, is to enjoy the travel and the views and hopefully some well-served food.
Off To Scotland
I’m off to Edinburgh today by train to see an old friend. Then it’s over to Glasgow and on Saturday down to Bolton to see Ipswich play.
I’ll be having a good breakfast at Leon in Kings Cross, as it would appear that gluten-free food on East Coast is a bit thin. I may be wrong, but we will see!
Waitrose And Gluten Free Sausages
If I go to Sainsburys or Marks and Spencer, and stick to their own brands, it is difficult to find sausages with unnecessary gluten.
However in Waitrose you have quite the opposite, as all of their own brand ones, have the unnecessary gluten. I don’t like their Cambridge own brand gluten-free sausages, but it may well be the name, as I lived in the home of Musks Newmarket sausages for nearly twenty years.
I don’t do barbecues, but the head sausage maker at Musks told me, that gluten-free sausages don’t spit on one.
A Meal To Pair With Lindsey Bareham’s Pasta
I like meals that pair up, where you use the same ingredients in separate meals, so that one purchase does two totally different meals. I cook the pasta with pulled ham hock, peas and yoghurt regularly and always have pulled ham hock in the fridge and frozen peas in the freezer.
So when Lindsey Bareham published this Dijon Ham And Pea Gratin, with the same main ingredients of pulled ham hock and frozen peas. I just had to give it a go.
I started by switching the oven on to 200°C and making a sauce for the first time.
I melted about 15 g of butter in a saucepan and stirred in some flour and mustard. Milk was added gradually, stirring constantly to make a thick smooth sauce, which I simmered gently for 5 minutes.
Grated Emmental cheese was then added and a smooth sauce was made. As Lindsey said, I seasoned it with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
The Mustard And Cheese Sauce
The ham hock and the peas, were then stirred into the sauce and thoroughly mixed.
I then put it in an oval dish and covered it with a mixture of gluten free breadcrumbs and grated cheese.
Ready For The Oven
After 20-30 minutes in the oven, it was ready for eating.
Dijon Ham And Pea Gratin
I enjoyed it immensely.
Learning With Lindsey Bareham
I’ve been meaning to put this up for some time, and only now I’ve had a bit of a think, have I found a handle to hang the post on.
It started by Lindsey’s recipe for bangers and mash.
Her method for frying sausages worked well.
Four Of The Black Farmer’s Finest
I just fried them in a little oil for thirty minutes. I think in the past, I’ve always tried to cook them too quickly.
I used four of the Black Farmer’s finest, as like all good sausages they are gluten free. I met the actual Black Farmer once and what a gentleman he is. Long may he continue to be successful!
Lindsey also taught me how to cook the onions.
Heat 2 tbsp oil in a second frying pan and add the sliced onion. Cook briskly, tossing constantly for 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring often, until slippery soft. Add 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar and 2 tbsp water. Let it bubble away. Turn off the heat.
They were delicious, but so was it all.
Bangers And Mash A La Lindsey
Perhaps, I did cook too much potato, but it was the first time I had cold apple sauce with hot sausages.
If the recipe had one problem, there was a lot of washing up.
Too Much Washing Up!
But I’ll forgive Lindsey that!
A Card For A Coeliac?
I saw this poster at Scribbler in Liverpool Street station.
A Card For A Coeliac?
The caption says “gluten free, dairy free, fat free, I love this champagne diet.”
She certainly looks good on what she’s on!
I bought one for a friend!
A Day In Paris
As I wasn’t sure how long it would take to get home, before I left, I booked a ticket on the 21:10 Eurostar from Paris to London.
This effectively gave me nine hours in Paris, so I decided to go to the Louvre and then do some exploration.
Unfortunately, my camera ran out of juice, so there isn’t many pictures.
But I enjoyed myself otherwise!
I did even find a gluten-free creperie in Montmartre, but unfortunately it shuts on Mondays.
This wouldn’t have been a disaster, as I knew I’d get a good supper on Eurostar.
But unfortunately, I’d somehow mixed up getting my gluten-free meal.
The staff however, rustled me up some very acceptable chicken with chick-peas.
I was in my bed in Hackney by just after eleven, after eight trains in seven days.
Being close to St. Pancras means that trains are a very good option, as I can always get a bus home if the train is a very late one.
The
Supper At Savini
Savini is one of the most prominent and well-known restaurants in Milan. It is in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and sitting outside the restaurant, as I did, is one of the best places, I’ve ever found to people watch. Or as C used to say, watch the bimboni!
I had a good meal and thoroughly overfilled myself. I would of course, have had a better meal, if I’d had a suitable bimboni with me. But preferably one with intelligence, style and some worldly experience. If a lady can’t remember the 1960s, she’s too young for me!
When C and I met there, I missed a story, that I could have sold to the tabloids. At the time, there was speculation, that a certain England footballer might be pursuing his career in Milan. He’d gone missing, but turned up at the next table, with his very pregnant girlfriend. I do remember though, that he chose and ordered her meal for her. But at least they didn’t do anything that might have besmirched their good name, that of their club or their country. In fact his politeness to his girlfriend was a complete surprise, as on the pitch he generally didn’t behave as well.
I think that a few years later, they are still together, so it looks like the tabloids got his antics and personality wrong.
A Snack, Italian Style
When I arrived in Milan, I was hungry and so I went into a cafe under one of those big plastic covers, you see all over Italy, to see what I can get.
A Snack, Italian Style
The picture doesn’t show the large glass of excellent Pinot Grigio.
The Anonymous Widower 