REVIEW: Zizzi

I have been meaning to do a review of Zizzi for a while now, and after eating there last night, there's no time like the present!

Zizzi is a nationwide chain of Italian restaurants similar to Strada, Prezzo and Carluccio's. They boast an impressive gluten free menu which isn't just limited to a couple of pasta dishes and salad. Their website has a separate 'special diets' menu, which lists all the food safe to eat for vegetarians and various allergies. I find this really helpful as you can plan in advance what you might have to eat, and it is particularly useful if you have trouble trusting the knowledge of the staff. They have copies of this menu within the restaurant, so make sure you ask for it when you're seated. Admittedly, when I asked to see it last night, I was told "oh you can have the pasta dishes, we just use gluten free pasta."  This isn't true. Some of the sauces contain gluten and are not safe, and there are more choices than just pasta, so be persistent in asking for the menu if you aren't offered it!

Having eaten at Zizzi before, I already knew what I wanted to order - the Strozzapreti Pesto Rosso. I love chicken pasta dishes and this one is gorgeous. Spiced creme fraiche sauce with spring onions and torn chicken breast. I am slightly confused by their special diets menu, as this dish is not listed as safe for coeliacs anymore, yet it does say it's fine in the allergen table at the back, providing the pasta is substituted.  I asked my server, and again had to ask twice as initially she said "oh it's probably not gluten free anymore then," and only sought confirmation when I explained about the table in the back of the menu. When she returned, I was told it was still fine and must be a printing error, so I'm going to raise this issue with Zizzi and ask them to recheck their menus. It would be a shame to miss out on my favourite meal because of a printing error.  Needless to say, I did order that and was fine the next day, so I'm confident it's still safe.

  My Strozzapreti Pesto Rosso. (Admittedly, it was hard not to
    divert my eyes towards my boyfriend's Rustica Pizza in the background!

Service aside, the meal was really nice. Ironically, I know I'm eating good gluten free pasta, when every mouthful has me doubting whether or not it is actually gluten free! Even my boyfriend couldn't tell the difference, but I was assured by two separate servers that it definitely was. The pasta they use is Doves Farm, and to my knowledge, I've never bought it before but I might have to add it to my trolley next time!

As with most of the gluten free menus at mainstream Italian restaurants, the only thing missing is pizza/bread options. It is understandable why they don't feature, with cross-contamination concerns etc, but it's still a shame as it would be lovely to have some garlic bread with my pasta. Perhaps they will look into some frozen/premade bread as gluten free options continue to expand and improve? I imagine that with Zizzi, it would be difficult, as their pizzas are cooked in a stone fired oven so I would rather know that what I'm eating was cooked separately and definitely safe. Lack of bread aside, the menu at Zizzi is brilliant for coeliacs. Various pasta and risotto dishes, starters (albeit only olives and prawns!), mains, sides and a couple of nice desserts are all safe, so if you like Italian food, you're bound to find something you like!

Maybe I could sneak a couple of slices of bread in my handbag next time?

Alcoholic Beverages

Picture the scene. You're a recently diagnosed Coeliac. You're going on a night out to celebrate the fact that you will never be able to eat a Greggs Sausage Roll again. You get to the bar and realise you have no idea what you can drink. Allow me to help!

The main alcoholic drink off limits to us is beer. This was no big deal to me, as I can't stand the stuff! However, if my boyfriend was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease, I have no idea how he would ever cope, so I can understand that to some people this would be hell. Fret not though, as you CAN buy gluten free beer in supermarkets now, so you don't have to go without completely. Estrella Damm Daura is one that I've seen, but I haven't tasted it myself. You can even purchase some gluten free beer in La Tasca tapas restaurants. Perhaps they even sell it in some pubs?

Anyway, that's enough about beer. Whiskey (Bourbon, Scotch etc), Guinness, bitter and other ales are all off-limits too. Basically anything that's made from barley, wheat or rye grains.

Safe drinks include but are not limited to:

• Wine
• Port
• Sherry
• Liqueurs
• Cider
• Brandy
• Champagne
• Spirits such as Vodka, Gin and Rum

Be careful with spirits though. There are certain drinks, which are made from grains and even some wine contains gluten (though it is very rare and is usually cheap wine). Distilled spirits are apparently okay for us as they are so highly processed, all traces of gluten are removed. I have not tested this theory myself though, and I am still trying to find out if particular drinks are actually fine for us. Baileys and Southern Comfort in particular.

My usual drinks are wine, cider or Disaronno and I know that they are gluten free so that's good enough for me!

Your best friend here is the internet. I have been known to trawl various forums and websites on my phone while I'm sat in a pub trying to decide what to drink, but it's not ideal. Try getting in touch with the manufacturers of the drink you want information about.

There are plenty of options out there for us, just don't drink so much you forget you're a coeliac and order a pizza or kebab on the way home!