News

I've been very busy, and have been meaning to write something over the past few months. So it will do with some quick updates:

• I was going to write a review of Potatolicious, a "Punjabi Bistro" in Morningside that featured gram (chickpea) flour-based appetisers as well as jacket potatoes with curry. But it's closed, without warning. I'm not sure if it will re-open somewhere else. 
• La Favorita is opening a new restaurant in Morningside, soon. The Leith Walk restaurant can prepare gluten-free pizzas, among other things. If the Morningside location does as well, it will fill a much-needed niche here.
• I've not been to Indaba in a long time: for no other reason than simply not having the time. I was there last night, and enjoyed our meal. And noted that gluten-free items were highlighted on the menu, including a gluten-free boerewors.

Oh yeah, and I'm also leaving Edinburgh in a few months. I've not been very good at keeping this blog up-to-date with reviews, recipes, etc., and have always been looking for contributors/collaborators. Now I'm looking for someone to take this over, perhaps a foodie who will do more with it than I have done.

Gluten-free BBQ

I haven't written much lately, but it is getting to be BBQ season (even if a bit late, and probably a bit brief), and I did have a chance to try some interesting rolls and burgers:

A sample Waitrose "LOVE life" line of gluten-free roll.

Waitrose, like the other major supermarkets in the UK, now has a line of gluten-free products. That includes a package of white rolls.  (Seeded rolls are also available for slightly more.)

The rolls are a wee bit smaller and dryer than typical buns, but they are more than good enough for burgers.  (Actually, I like them a bit smaller, as it improves the bun to burger ratio.) The important thing is that they aren't too dry, and they taste like a hamburger bun should.

But as important as the bun in the filling. Most prepared burgers contain flour, and so aren't gluten-free (and I've found out the hard way...).

I recently tried a line of burgers from The Good Little Company, which lists them as being not only gluten-free but also being made from 88% British beef and having no artificial colours or flavourings., and that they donate a portion of their profits to Christian Aid.  The burgers were tasty, but they were very small: a package of six burgers was only 336g, or about 56g (just under 2 ounces, or an 1/8th of a pound). That wasn't very good for the bun/burger ratio, but it was awkward to fit two on one of the Waitrose buns.

As for other toppings, well, I'm fairly traditional. Ketchup and mayonnaise are fine for me, and those are normally gluten-free.

I'd love to get comments about other brands of baps, burgers or BBQ sauces sold in the area.

Leaf and Bean, Morningside

I recently tried the Leaf & Bean (12-14 Comiston Road EH10 5QE). It's a fairly new cafe near Morningside Station that has the gluten-free bread available for sandwiches and with soups. The decor is bright and comfortable, food was good, the prices very good (you can get a soup or sandwich with a drink for under £5-6), and staff are friendly. They also have free WiFi and loyalty cards for coffee. You can find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Wok & Wine

Apologies for not posting anything in a while. But back in December, I enjoyed a wonderful meal at Wok and Wine (57 Frederick Street EH2 1LH). The food was wonderful, with a separate gluten-free menu (viewable from their website), and includes some "breaded" items. I had spicy bits of John Dory (which doesn't seem to be on the online menu) that were enjoyable. Our meal was more of a tapas-like assortment of "light bites" that we ordered, and seemed to be from a different menu (but possibly because we ate during the holiday season).

The Compass Bar in Leith

The Compass Bar (44 Queen Charlotte Street, Leith EH6 7EX) has been a favourite since I found it over a year ago. It's more of a restaurant than a bar, and has a variety of nuveau-Scottish dishes and friendly service. I've never been disappointed. They don't have a separate gluten-free menu, but many of their dishes are gluten-free, or can be made gluten-free. This itself is not unusual. But I was pleasantly surprised last week when the server came out with some gluten-free bread. That was a nice touch.

Loopy Lornas Shut Down

Apparently Loopy Lornas as shut down their cafe on the corner of Maxwell Street. (Their Churchill Theatre venue is still open, however.)

Guest reviews

The following guest post of reviews comes from Richard Gottfried:

Kings Manor Hotel – Best Western, Brunstane

We booked into the Kings Manor Hotel as they could offer Gluten Free food in their restaurant. We checked in quite late and while we were doing so the manager mentioned that the restaurant also had Gluten Free rolls that we could request with our meal. A nice touch. An even nicer touch was found when we got to our room, as a box of Gluten Free Chocolate Biscuits were waiting for me, along with a letter explaining that the restaurant could offer Gluten Free items, what they were, and also the items available at breakfast. It was very pleasing indeed to see the effort the Kings Manor went to make our stay there comfortable. We had two very good meals in Lauders Restaurant at the Kings Manor Hotel. The menu has a ‘c’ next to any dishes which are ‘Coeliac Friendly’. As I am always as careful as can be when taking the risk of dining out I asked a few questions, stated clearly I was a Coeliac and checked the items listed. All in all our stay at the Kings Manor Hotel was very pleasant. It’s only 7 minutes by train to Waverly Station in Edinburgh City Centre, plus it’s just a twenty minute or so walk to ‘Edinburgh’s seaside’ of Portobello & Joppa and a little further on to Musselburgh. The hotel also has a very good Leisure facility with a Pool, Sauna, Steam Room and Gym.

La Fontana Ristorante Italiano

While having a wander around Edinburgh we had a look at the menu of La Fontana Italian restaurant on Howard Street. The menu offered Gluten Free options.  

The Quay Bar & Restaurant - Musselburgh

While walking along the coast we popped into the Quay Bar and Restaurant in Musselburgh and noticed that they offered Gluten Free options (although the menu said ”Glutin”!?). The food was predominantly Indian, but there seemed to be some good options for Coeliacs dining there.

Café Andaluz

The Gluten Free options were extensive, the food was very tasty and there was very good service too.

We chose seven different Tapas dishes and all of them were excellent. I could have quite happily stayed there for longer and tried every Gluten Free item on the menu (there is plenty of choice).

For dessert I had the Crème brûlée which was the biggest I had ever soon, it’s a seriously big version!

The Mohitos were very good too.