Michael Winner
I must be one of the few people who actually like Michael Winner. He makes a refreshing change from most of the politically correct people that pass for presenters and stars these days.
His new program, Michael Winner’s Dining Stars, is either going to be very good or absolutely awful. But after hearing Michael on Richard Bacon’s program on Radio 5 on Wednesday, I’m hopeful that it could be the former. He was his usal outrageous self on that program, name-dropping like a good un’ and generally slagging off things that he didn’t like. But he also praised things that he did like.
I would agree with his comments on the north. He said that food is awful, the people and the countryside are good. But he did say that he’d never had a decent meal in a restaurant up north. Until a few weeks ago, I would have agreed with him, as being a coeliac, asking for a gluten-free meal up north brands you as a food-wimp and a southern softie.
But then, I had that wonderful lunch at The Manor House Inn at Carterway Heads. So perhaps, Michael should try that unassuming pub!
We always associate Michael with violent films, but he did make one of my favourites, Hannibal Brooks. He also produced, directed and wrote that film, which I think says a lot about Michael.
If I had to have a few celebrities at a dinner party, they’d be Michael Winner, David Bellamy, Janet Street Porter and Princess Anne. I’m not allowing dead people, but if I did, I’d include Danny Blanchflower, Ian Dury, John Lennon and my of course my late wife.
A Useful Cook Book
I bought a cook book called “One Pot – low-fuss food for busy people” from Waitrose for £5.99. It is actually published by the Australian Women’s Weekly. The ISBN is 978-186396793-8, but I can’t find it on Amazon.
It is quite simple and although not specifically gluten-free, most recipes seem to be so or are easily modified. I’ve already cooked one recipe for Beef and Mushrooms in Red Wine. It was good and I froze three portions for later.
The only problem is that some recipes talk Australian and use terms like pizza-cheese and smoked ocean trout.
Gluten Free Lunch on Norfolk Line
I travelled out for a quick weekend away hoping to shake off the effects of the flu I somehow caught last weekend. I’ve had the jab too. I drove the Jag to Dover to get on a ferry through the Thursday on afternoon traffic and only just made the boat. The problem was the queues at the Dartford Crossing, as there were just not enough toll booths open to take the £1.50. As I noted previously, when you get there with coins you’re through quickly, but the outside lane is blocked by those without the correct change. People don’t think.
I haven’t eaten on the Norfolk Line boats before, as when I first travelled a couple of years ago, I asked about a gluten-free meal in the restaurant and the friendly steward said he didn’t know if there was any flour in the meals. So I took the sensible action as most coeliacs do and went hungry. But this time as I knew I had a long drive to Holland along the food deserts that coeliacs call motorways, I decided to ask again if there was something that was gluten-free.
So I looked at the menu in the Bistro and asked about the sea bass which looked promising. It came with a salad, fresh vegetables and potatoes. As it was under a tenner, I thought I’d give it a try, as at that price, if I abandoned it, it wouldn’t be a financial disaster.
- Sea Bass Meal – Norfolk Line
I have had better sea bass, but not often and certainly not at £9.50.
I actually ate it in Winterton Class, as I wasn’t travelling with the riff-raff. This meant that for an extra £8, I was in a virtually empty cabin with a steward ministering to my needs with free nuts, fruit, soft drinks and coffee. I also got to be the first off the boat.
Comments on Carluccio’s Gluten Free Menu
Several times in the last year or so, I have gone to various of Carluccio’s caffes in various parts of the country. I’ve tasted it in Docklands, Trafford Centre, Cambridge and St. Pancras and it has been worth the extra wait as it takes a little longer to prepare.
In my view there are two very small problems.
- The staff just bring the gluten-free menu, so you have to ask for the other one as well, as that is the one with the drinks on it. I have contacted Carluccio’s about this and hope they change their training.
- The pasta is very good, but I would love the occasional meat based one. They used to do an Italian sausage one, but in Cambridge last week, they said that they had to discontinue that, as the supplier had declared the sausage not to be gluten-free. It does show that they take us seriously, though.
One manager also indicated that they can do other things from the main menu, by a few simple modifications. For some years, I used to get liver on this basis, but it has dropped off the menu.
I have also heard of only a slight problem at the Trafford Centre, where the waitress was unaware of the menu. As the manager at that caffe, was the person who introduced me to the menu, I suspect it was a training issue. But even there, the customer got the gluten-free menu in the end.
I did pass these comments to Carluccio’s and got a reply by e-mail within the hour. So they take what I said seriously.
Gluten-Free Pasta with Broccoli, Feta and Puttanesca
This recipe is a modified version of one from Waitrose.
I basically changed the pasta for Doves Farm gluten free penne and doubled the quantity, so it served four. It fact, I miscounted as there were five and a half for dinner, but it stretched OK with the addition of a salad.
The ingredients were.
- 100g feta, cubed
- 300g of Doves Farm gluten free penne pasta
- 400g purple sprouting broccoli, cut into short lengths. I actually used broccoli florets cut into small pieces, as I bought the wrong sort. But you can use cauliflowers as well. Perhaps try them mixed.
- 180g jar Waitrose Cooks’ Ingredients Puttanesca Mix
- 50g pine nuts, toasted
- Grated zest of lemon
The method was as follows.
- I cooked the pasta according to the instructions on the packet in a large saucepan, until it was just tender. It was then drained and kept in the pan.
- The broccoli was cooked at the same time. But don’t stew it.
- Add the broccoli, feta, puttanesca mix, pine nuts and lemon zest to the pasta. Toss all together thoroughly and serve on warmed serving plates. I did cook it for perhaps a minute on the low hob of the AGA.
As I said earlier, I served it with a green salad.
I was the only coeliac at the table, but no-one complained about the pasta. So perhaps, gluten-free pasta isn’t always that bad.
I do think though, that of all gluten-free penne works best. After all Carluccio’s serve this type on their gluten-free menu. I think too, that it worked extremely well with the broccoli in this recipe.
Covent Garden Risotto
I bought one a Covent Garden Risotto in Waitrose last week. They seem to be gluten-free.
I had it for lunch today.
Covent Garden Risotto
It tasted one hell of a lot better, than it looked. I’ll try one of the other varieties next time.
Eat Breakfast, Lose Weight
I had my B12 injection on Friday. The nurse took my blood pressure and it was 120/70, which I’m told is good for a man of my age. This chart says that I’m in the right area. But she also said that I looked thin and when she weighed me, I had lost a couple of kilos since August.
Strangely, I am not eating less, but I have changed what I eat. I used to skip breakfast and now I usually eat the same mixture of gluten-free Eat Natural for Breakfast, with yoghurt and two teaspoonfuls of clear honey. I prefer the raisins, almonds, mixed seeds and crispy rice version of Eat Natural.
Eat Natural for Breakfast
Perhaps what they say is right. Eat breakfast and you lose weight. I may be snacking less.
Manor House Inn, Carterway Heads
The other great advantage of the A68 is that it is not a main road and inhabited by crap, boring service areas. There are good pubs everywhere.
I was driving the road around lunchtime and a sign informed me a pub called the Manor House Inn, was coming up. The sign said good food and real ales and as many coeliacs and other allergy sufferers will tell you, real ale pubs are often sympathetic to special diets.
I entered and looked at the special menu on the wall.
Specials Menu, Manor House Inn
I liked the look of the seared venison. I asked the landlord, Neil Oxley, whether it was gluten-free and he said he’d ask the chef. The reply was that the chef would make it so. The pub also had some proper, Weston’s cider. Not as good as my local Aspall, but very safe for coeliacs.
It was one of the best pub lunches I’d had outside of places I know very well in a long time. A lot of coeliacs like their vegetables and I had a choice of five; potatoes, carrots, swede, cabbage and broccoli. All were excellent, as was the venison.
I asked the landlord’s wife, Emma, if everything was local and she said yes.
This is what good pub food should be about. I shall go back again, the next time I’m in the area.
The pub is also a good excuse to burn up the A68. I might even stay there, as the pub has rooms for the night.
Manor House Inn, Carterway Heads
Peebles Hydro
On Sunday, I went for lunch with my friends at Peebles Hydro.
Everything on the menu that was gluten-free was marked as such. All restaurants should follow their example. about half the menu was gluten-free, so I had a lot of choice.
In the end I had melon followed by pork medallions. It was delicious and if you need to a gluten-free meal, then it is definitely a place to try.
They are part of McMillan Hotels. I don’t know if the same policy applies across their five hotels.
Rick Stein
Over the New Year, I went to Rick Stein‘s restaurant in Padstow.
It was expensive, but it was certainly worth it.
Their policy on gluten-free is very simple. They mark up the menu with what is gluten free.
Rick Stein's Gluten Free Menu
Note the detail. They have both normal and gluten-free soy sauce. So they are very prepared for trouble-makers like me.
Although we didn’t try any puddings, there was a good selection for coeliacs too.
The Puddings
Next time I’m in Padstow, I’ll go again. After all it costs a lot to get to Cornwall, so why shouldn’t you indulge.
The Anonymous Widower 