Gluten Free: Spain

Having just got back from a week in Javea in Spain I thought I'd share my gluten free findings with you all.

Already aware of the numerous gluten free options available in Madrid (including the best ever gluten free pizzas and gorgeous bread at Da Niccola), I thought I'd check out what the supermarkets were offering us in the South East of Spain.

I came back with some yummy bread and cake. The bread comes in tiny squares and is much sweeter than the bread available to us here - it is more like brioche. This makes it much less dry and easier to eat, and is also much nicer to eat without toasting that all the bread available in our supermarkets. Yummy dipped in oil (as I was given in a restaurant) or toasted (the butter soaks in to the bread mmm).

The cake is plum and chocolate cake, also very moist and easy to eat.

Also, literally everything has it marked on the packet if it's gluten free (fruit, yoghurts you name it!) 'Sin Gluten' - if it doesnt say it on the front then it's not gluten free. Simple!

Zizzi's Gluten Free Pizza - My Review!

Well done Zizzi you have done me proud again!!

Check this out...

This was my scrumptious gluten free... yes GLUTEN FREE Pollo al Rosmarino pizza at Zizzi.

After hearing they were trialing gf pizza bases there was no way I was missing out on this one!

So I trekked to the Notting Hill branch to try it out, and it was well worth the trek!!

If you're going to be extremely picky and fussy then yes it was thin, yes it was maybe a tiiiiiny bit soft but come on it's gluten free pizza.... in a chain restaurant (and the outside was nice and crunchy and the toppings were lush).... Exciting stuff I think and I LOVED IT!!

I gave it 10/10, it was a massive treat for me and I think you should all give it a try.

They give you a form to fill out after finishing it to ask for your opinions on it, I just hope I did enough to get it rolled out into all branches.

Enjoying my meal as much as I was I decided to finish up with a chocolate melt (rich, chocolately and gooey) with gelato.

A brilliant feast, thank you Zizzi!

And if you've never tried Zizzi before and would like to know what there is for you to eat before heading there, check out their website where they have a Special Diets Filter http://www.zizzi.co.uk/food#filter=*.filter-gluten-free

Zizzi trial gluten free pizza bases...

The best gluten free related news I've heard since finding out Zizzi did gluten free pasta (still can't get enough of their carbonara!!), Zizzi are trialing gluten free pizza bases in 5 restaurants (the ones they get the most gluten free custom: Notting Hill and Earls Court, London; Bluewater, Kent; Farnham, Surrey and Grey Street, Newcastle.

I'm off to give it a try at Notting Hill on Saturday so I will update with photos and a review!! I can't wait!

My latest new tries...

Genius naan

This gets a massive thumbs up from me - how I've missed dipping a naan into a good curry - curries arent the same without a naan!  Not cheap (what gluten free stuff is!?) but well worth it to go with the odd curry night in.

 

Mrs Crimble's cake mix

A home bake mix to make some yummy muffins (or sponge) - we made choc chip but you can pretty much put what you like in!
And cheaper than buying muffins separately - 2 can cost £1.99, so this is a bit of a bargain at £2.29.

Mrs Crimble's Giant Choc Macaroons

Another new try by Mrs Crimble, she's now doing giant macaroons in single packets, very tasty!

Check out Mrs Crimble's website too for recipes and her other gluten free products. http://www.mrscrimbles.com/recipes/

White Horse: Ramsden Heath, Essex

The White Horse in Ramsden Heath nr Billericay, Essex is another restaurant find with a pretty decent gluten free menu.

It's basically just a selection off the main menu of things we can eat so often things are missing but it definately helps out! And the food is yummy. Shame about the lack of gluten free desserts though!

Another plus point - they also do gluten free gravy so you can enjoy a roast, although serving gluten free yorkshire puddings would make it my fave restaurant ever (yet to find one of these!!)

Truly Scrumptious: Maldon, Essex

I found a treat of a tea room style cafe in Maldon, Essex called Truly Scrumptious.

Here I enjoyed a huge piece of gluten free carrot cake.

They also do gluten free bread and tea cakes and at least one gluten free cake a day (and not forgetting the vast selection of jacket potatoes and other things on the menu we are able to enjoy.)

Teapots and teacups are everywhere in this oldy worldy style cafe and there is even a teapot/ teacup/ cakestand selection for sale in the wonky, creaky old room upstairs - it's a bit like a jumble sale of china!

Full of character this is a lovely little place to enjoy a gluten free treat.

Breakfast Idea

For a yummy breakfast idea why not enjoy some gluten free Eggy Bread!

I make mine with Warburton's bread as that's my fave!