The Gluten Free Blog

This is the 3rd part of a four part series on the 2014 Allergy and Free From Show in London. You can read Part 1 and Part 2 for 6 more great GF brands.

Hotch Potch Eggs

Hotch Potch Eggs stand at the Allergy and Free From Show in London

Now for something completely different. Hotch Potch Eggs are scotch eggs with a twist.  Made with gluten free pork mixed with a delicious range of locally sourced fresh ingredients including olives, sweet peppers, apricots these were so popular at the show there were none left by the time we got there but everyone else was raving about them. Selfridges have put an order in.

Find out more at www.hotchpotcheggs.co.uk, on Twitter at @HotchPotchEggs or on Facebook. Read the rest of this entry »

Rossopomodoro Verace Gluten Free Pizza

Have you noticed that a lot of the chains like Prezzo and Pizza Express are doing gluten free pizzas these days? And most of the time they’re not bad.

But if you want a gluten free pizza that has a real taste of Naples about it I can highly recommend checking out Rossopomodoro. There are currently six Rossopomodoro restaurants in London – we went to the one in Wandsworth – and one in Birmingham but hopefully more will be coming soon. Read the rest of this entry »

UPDATE: Unfortunately it seems the Bruschetta restaurant in Kingston has now closed down.

If you’re in the Surrey or south London area you absolutely must visit Bruschetta in Kingston upon Thames. This amazing gluten free Italian restaurant is run by the fabulous Julia and Daniele. And the best bit? The entire menu is gluten free. Yes, there is a ‘regular’ menu for those in your party who want to eat the wheaty stuff. But why would they? The gluten free menu is so packed full of delicious and authentic Italian dishes you can probably convert them for good.

Having visited last Saturday, I can thoroughly recommend the Pizz’Italia pizza with mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, rocket and fresh ricotta. Seriously tasty. My friend had the Finocchiona pizza with mozzarella, tomato, artichokes heart, Italian fennel salami and parmesan. The pizzas are incredibly filling. But we still found room to share a slice of Julia’s chocolate cake. Delicious.

All the gluten free dishes are authentically Italian and prepared in a gluten free kitchen. For opening times and menus visit Bruschetta’s Facebook page (and become a fan!).

When I was diagnosed with having coeliac disease and had to start following a gluten free diet, one of the things I most missed was the frequent visits to my local Italian. All those lovely pasta dishes in creamy sauces were suddenly very much off limits.

So I was pleased to see the recent publication of Gluten-Free Italian written by Jacqueline Mallorca (author of the Wheat-Free Cook) and published by Da Capo Press. This beautiful book, packed full of colour photos, contains 150 gluten free versions of your favourite traditional Italian recipes.

Chapter headings include Soup for Supper; Sweet Things; Risotto and other Grains; Catch of the Day; Contorni/Vegetable Dishes; and Bread, Pizza and Crostini. And contain delicious recipes which will please every member of the family; not just those who are gluten free.

There are recipes for gluten free bruschetta and pizzas, to fabulous pasta dishes and sweet treats like tiramisu. (A personal favourite.)

And there’s a range of recipes as well, from everyday cooking to dinner party meals. Jacqueline also includes cooking tips and techniques; recipe background information; a gluten free shopping guide; and a list of gluten free foods to have in your larder.

All in all, Gluten-Free Italian is a fabulous addition to your cookbook collection. And a must for lovers of Italian cooking.