For those of us who are bound to follow a special diet, be it gluten/dairy/wheat/sugar free then Infinity Foods in the North Laines is a must.
It has held its own in Brighton long before we were educated about these things. It is run as a cooperative and supports many of the local farmers, egg producers and small local businesses. There really is every possible alternative food available and the staff are usually always knowledgable.
Sadly it's not cheap, but then organic/decent produce never is. It will be interesting to watch its future as supermarkets start to increase their 'free from' produce. Hopefully they will not drown them out.
Showing posts with label gluten free. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gluten free. Show all posts
Thursday, 26 November 2009
more tea and cake plus coffee
Thought I would expand my list of good places to have coffee/tea and cake...
The Mock Turtle - near Old Steine is one of the long standing success stories for afternoon tea. It is a classic old fashioned tea shop, I imagine as they used to be. It is sort of like sitting in your grannys front room, ultra cosy. The window is always enticing from traditional sponge cakes to huge flavoured meringues.
As far as I can see the kitchen, general setting and decor has remained unchanged for years, and that, I think, is part of it's appeal. A million miles away from the sanitised chains that now dominate our high street.
It is a great place to take a visitor from abroad as it gives them a real taste of England.
The Tea Cosy - off St James St can only be described as mad ! It is an ode to patriotism in it's purest form. Every possible wall space, ceiling, toilet is covered in memorabilia in honour of
our royal family, past and present. There is a self playing piano which randomly plays the national anthem. Standing is expected on Sundays !
The menu has to be seen to be believed as does the page on 'Etiquette'. Forget about trying to answer your mobile, let alone actually use it. You will get short shrift from the camp, unpredictable front of house, complete in nail varnish, frilly shirt and snarl of derision.
The portions are huge, plentiful. Tea is served by the pot, again large, complete with tea cosy.
If you happen to require something gluten free it's not for you, as we are talking wheat overload here, and asking for such recieves a fairly dismissive reply depending on mine hosts mood.
It is all part of the theatre, very Brighton and a great place to take ' open minded' visitors.
Coffee 33 - in Trafalgar Street is a bit too trendy to make me want to linger, but very stylish all the same. Their open display of cakes and savouries are good quality and they offer gluten free...well done. They are also the only place in Brighton that I know of that actually understands what a 'flat white' is and how to make it. I normally have to wait for my visit to Sydney to get that!
Spinelli - tucked away in Kemp Town is another lovely coffee shop. A little more corporate looking, it is owned by the lovely Carlo and partner. (They also own Enzos, the hairdressers, just around the corner in the village). They take coffee seriously. Offer great cakes, at least two gluten free and brownies handmade by Carlo himself, as are some of the savouries.
These men like food...with Italian and Polish heritage they have to !
It deserves the success it has had as they are so friendly, always willing and understand totally the concept of 'service', so lacking in England. You are looked after, remembered and chatted to.
Free internet downstairs.
I wish them every success with their new venture in St James Street, complete with a kitchen so more food I hope.
The Mock Turtle - near Old Steine is one of the long standing success stories for afternoon tea. It is a classic old fashioned tea shop, I imagine as they used to be. It is sort of like sitting in your grannys front room, ultra cosy. The window is always enticing from traditional sponge cakes to huge flavoured meringues.
As far as I can see the kitchen, general setting and decor has remained unchanged for years, and that, I think, is part of it's appeal. A million miles away from the sanitised chains that now dominate our high street.
It is a great place to take a visitor from abroad as it gives them a real taste of England.
The Tea Cosy - off St James St can only be described as mad ! It is an ode to patriotism in it's purest form. Every possible wall space, ceiling, toilet is covered in memorabilia in honour of
our royal family, past and present. There is a self playing piano which randomly plays the national anthem. Standing is expected on Sundays !
The menu has to be seen to be believed as does the page on 'Etiquette'. Forget about trying to answer your mobile, let alone actually use it. You will get short shrift from the camp, unpredictable front of house, complete in nail varnish, frilly shirt and snarl of derision.
The portions are huge, plentiful. Tea is served by the pot, again large, complete with tea cosy.
If you happen to require something gluten free it's not for you, as we are talking wheat overload here, and asking for such recieves a fairly dismissive reply depending on mine hosts mood.
It is all part of the theatre, very Brighton and a great place to take ' open minded' visitors.
Coffee 33 - in Trafalgar Street is a bit too trendy to make me want to linger, but very stylish all the same. Their open display of cakes and savouries are good quality and they offer gluten free...well done. They are also the only place in Brighton that I know of that actually understands what a 'flat white' is and how to make it. I normally have to wait for my visit to Sydney to get that!
Spinelli - tucked away in Kemp Town is another lovely coffee shop. A little more corporate looking, it is owned by the lovely Carlo and partner. (They also own Enzos, the hairdressers, just around the corner in the village). They take coffee seriously. Offer great cakes, at least two gluten free and brownies handmade by Carlo himself, as are some of the savouries.
These men like food...with Italian and Polish heritage they have to !
It deserves the success it has had as they are so friendly, always willing and understand totally the concept of 'service', so lacking in England. You are looked after, remembered and chatted to.
Free internet downstairs.
I wish them every success with their new venture in St James Street, complete with a kitchen so more food I hope.
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Hot chocolate puddings
For anyone who hasn't tried these perfect little desserts I recommend you do...
So quick and easy. They look really pretty too and you can either leave them in the ramekin
or after buttering the inside turn them out and watch the centre ooze out into a
puddle of thick hot chocolate...the ultimate comfort food.
I use 70per cent chocolate with added sugar, but not everyone likes the slightly bitter taste this gives. You can replace this with the chocolate of your choice, remembering the lower the cocoa solid the less likely it is to need any added sugar.
Serves 4 - or 2 if your having a bad day....!
100g chocolate - see above
100g caster sugar - see above
20g plain sifted flour - ( gluten free works as well though the end result is a little denser.)
100g butter
2 organic eggs
Preheat oven to 2oo deg
Butter the inside of 4 ramekins and set aside. Place chocolate and butter in a bowl over a pan of gently simmering water until melted. Leave to cool.
Beat eggs, sugar and flour then add the chocolate mixture.
Pour mixture evenly into the ramekins almost to the top ( cleaning of any spillage. as this is set in the oven making it hard to remove and looks unsightly.)
Place dishes on a baking tray for approx 10 -12 mins. You want to see them risen and slightly
firm to the touch whilst keeping them gooey inside. If you are not successful the first time, don't
be disheartened just take them out 2 mins earlier next time. Remember they will continue to cook once out of the oven.
They will be too hot to eat immediately so after 5 mins either remove them from the dishes and dust with icing sugar or leave them as they are.
I serve them with either very cold pouring cream or ice cream. The sensation of both warm and cold seems to complement.
Yumm...
So quick and easy. They look really pretty too and you can either leave them in the ramekin
or after buttering the inside turn them out and watch the centre ooze out into a
puddle of thick hot chocolate...the ultimate comfort food.
I use 70per cent chocolate with added sugar, but not everyone likes the slightly bitter taste this gives. You can replace this with the chocolate of your choice, remembering the lower the cocoa solid the less likely it is to need any added sugar.
Serves 4 - or 2 if your having a bad day....!
100g chocolate - see above
100g caster sugar - see above
20g plain sifted flour - ( gluten free works as well though the end result is a little denser.)
100g butter
2 organic eggs
Preheat oven to 2oo deg
Butter the inside of 4 ramekins and set aside. Place chocolate and butter in a bowl over a pan of gently simmering water until melted. Leave to cool.
Beat eggs, sugar and flour then add the chocolate mixture.
Pour mixture evenly into the ramekins almost to the top ( cleaning of any spillage. as this is set in the oven making it hard to remove and looks unsightly.)
Place dishes on a baking tray for approx 10 -12 mins. You want to see them risen and slightly
firm to the touch whilst keeping them gooey inside. If you are not successful the first time, don't
be disheartened just take them out 2 mins earlier next time. Remember they will continue to cook once out of the oven.
They will be too hot to eat immediately so after 5 mins either remove them from the dishes and dust with icing sugar or leave them as they are.
I serve them with either very cold pouring cream or ice cream. The sensation of both warm and cold seems to complement.
Yumm...
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Chocolate guinness cake
A friend sent me this recipe so I tried it out yesterday.. Very good, it has an unusual flavour because of the guinness. Sort of nutty. It is kept moist because of the stout and the added sour cream .
I did a cream cheese topping which sort of looks like the head of the guinness but I think I will try a chocolate icing next time.
I often find cakes are better warm and this certainly lends itself to that especially after a couple of days.
It's not a gluten free recipe but I simply replaced the flour with a gluten free option.. and voila !
Recipe and photo to follow....
I did a cream cheese topping which sort of looks like the head of the guinness but I think I will try a chocolate icing next time.
I often find cakes are better warm and this certainly lends itself to that especially after a couple of days.
It's not a gluten free recipe but I simply replaced the flour with a gluten free option.. and voila !
Recipe and photo to follow....
Tea and cake...
For those of you local to Brighton or just one of the many visitors, I thought you might like some
suggestions for somewhere good to go for afternoon tea... so often it can be a bit of let down, especially when outside London.
Metro Deco in Kemp Town is relatively new as a cafe but has been an art deco furniture shop for quite a while, they have now cleverly combined the two. There is an eclectic mix of furniture and sculpture for sale.The feel is a mix of sitting in someone's home and an art deco tea salon.
It could easily be pretentious but avoids this by the welcoming, easy going ladies who run it.
There is a good choice of cakes on offer and I am always encouraged to see a gluten free option and not the usual odd, dry offering either, but something that anyone would want to eat. There is usually more than one cake on offer, lemon, chocolate and a delicious pineapple one, plus meringues. They have a wide and unusual selection of teas plus coffee of course.
As with most places gluten free only tends toward the 'sweet'. Finding a sandwich, pizza etc remains elusive even though there are several palatable breads available now, sold in all the supermarkets.
Change takes time , so ...heres hoping
Igigi in Hove is a real favourite, again a shop downstairs with a fabulous elegant staircase leading you upward to the delights of the cafe. Everything is displayed with a casual
rustic style that seems easy to replicate yet is clearly incrediably well thought out. It makes you want to go home and immediately redecorate !
This follows through into the cafe, with an open style kitchen where everything is on show, hard on the staff as you tend to watch them, without meaning to as the setting dictates. Fabulous cakes and pastries are displayed opulently under huge glass domed covered cake stands. The staff are knowledgable and very upbeat.
Always a gluten free option and I have even taken my own bread where they will happily toast it for you to go with their soup or salad.
So sensible...10/10
suggestions for somewhere good to go for afternoon tea... so often it can be a bit of let down, especially when outside London.
Metro Deco in Kemp Town is relatively new as a cafe but has been an art deco furniture shop for quite a while, they have now cleverly combined the two. There is an eclectic mix of furniture and sculpture for sale.The feel is a mix of sitting in someone's home and an art deco tea salon.
It could easily be pretentious but avoids this by the welcoming, easy going ladies who run it.
There is a good choice of cakes on offer and I am always encouraged to see a gluten free option and not the usual odd, dry offering either, but something that anyone would want to eat. There is usually more than one cake on offer, lemon, chocolate and a delicious pineapple one, plus meringues. They have a wide and unusual selection of teas plus coffee of course.
As with most places gluten free only tends toward the 'sweet'. Finding a sandwich, pizza etc remains elusive even though there are several palatable breads available now, sold in all the supermarkets.
Change takes time , so ...heres hoping
Igigi in Hove is a real favourite, again a shop downstairs with a fabulous elegant staircase leading you upward to the delights of the cafe. Everything is displayed with a casual
rustic style that seems easy to replicate yet is clearly incrediably well thought out. It makes you want to go home and immediately redecorate !
This follows through into the cafe, with an open style kitchen where everything is on show, hard on the staff as you tend to watch them, without meaning to as the setting dictates. Fabulous cakes and pastries are displayed opulently under huge glass domed covered cake stands. The staff are knowledgable and very upbeat.
Always a gluten free option and I have even taken my own bread where they will happily toast it for you to go with their soup or salad.
So sensible...10/10
Saturday, 8 August 2009
First time cooking on a boat
Went to London to visit my daughter who lives on a fantastic houseboat opposite Canary Wharf in South East London. Such a dinky little thing all painted out in duck egg blue and white washed inside. Lovely old working wood burner keeps it toasty, original port holes giving a great skyline view of London. You climb onboard and really are transported to another world. She doesn't notice it but you can feel yourself swaying from side to side which is a real reminder that you really are living on water!
Time to eat...made a pastry dish. Puff pastry, serrano ham, roasted vine tomatoes and balsamic glaze and crumbled feta cheese. Really delicious.
Completely normal standard fitted kitchen but there is the odd quirk...whatever goes into the oven or on the hob tilts slightly to the left! Your choice, perfect, or smile and enjoy!
Brownies for dessert, courtesy of my daughter. BEST BROWNIES EVER. If you like rich, gooey, moist, chocolate brownies this is the recipe for you, even better warm with ice cream. Not only that but they are gluten free and you would never know.
Gooey chocolate brownies (gluten free)
Gooey chocolate brownies (gluten free)
Ingredients
300g plain chocolate, broken up
250g butter, plus extra for greasing
5 eggs
300g caster sugar
250g plain gluten free flour
200g chocolate chips
300g plain chocolate, broken up
250g butter, plus extra for greasing
5 eggs
300g caster sugar
250g plain gluten free flour
200g chocolate chips
Method
1. Melt the chocolate and butter together in a large bowl over a pan of gently simmering water. Remove from the heat, stir gently until smooth and allow to cool. Butter a shallow, rectangular ovenproof dish and preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas 4.
2. Beat the eggs with the sugar in a separate bowl. Once the chocolate is cooled, stir in the egg and sugar mixture. (Make sure the chocolate is cool or it will cook the eggs.)
3. Sift the flour over and stir evenly into the chocolate mixture. Fold in the chocolate chips and pour into the prepared dish (also nice with broken up dime bars. Bake in the centre of the oven for 20-25 minutes until just set, I always find slightly undercooking it makes it even more gooey and delicious.
1. Melt the chocolate and butter together in a large bowl over a pan of gently simmering water. Remove from the heat, stir gently until smooth and allow to cool. Butter a shallow, rectangular ovenproof dish and preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas 4.
2. Beat the eggs with the sugar in a separate bowl. Once the chocolate is cooled, stir in the egg and sugar mixture. (Make sure the chocolate is cool or it will cook the eggs.)
3. Sift the flour over and stir evenly into the chocolate mixture. Fold in the chocolate chips and pour into the prepared dish (also nice with broken up dime bars. Bake in the centre of the oven for 20-25 minutes until just set, I always find slightly undercooking it makes it even more gooey and delicious.
Friday, 1 May 2009
Blogging...
Cooking and entertaining for friends and family has been a source of real enjoyment for me over the years. Everyone loves to eat, especially to be cooked for, which really encourages me to try new recipes and friends often suggest new things to taste and try.
Not being able to able to eat gluten and put off by the weird unpalatable choices on offer it is encouraging to at long last see an increase in restaurants and cafes offering decent gluten free options. This still tends toward the sweet variety but well recieved all the same. As demand increases and people become more knowledgeable I am confident it will become mainstream.
Blogging is a new and slightly weird concept to me but I am reassured by my hip, house boat living daughter that it's the way to go, so speak soon !
Not being able to able to eat gluten and put off by the weird unpalatable choices on offer it is encouraging to at long last see an increase in restaurants and cafes offering decent gluten free options. This still tends toward the sweet variety but well recieved all the same. As demand increases and people become more knowledgeable I am confident it will become mainstream.
Blogging is a new and slightly weird concept to me but I am reassured by my hip, house boat living daughter that it's the way to go, so speak soon !
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