Product Review: Schär comes to the UK!

If you have never heard of Schär, they are Europe's leading gluten free brand, recognisable by their bright yellow packaging and red logo. You may have seen their products when holidaying around Europe. I discovered Schär products back in 2011 during a trip to Paris and was such a fan that I've made it my duty to stock up whenever I've visited Europe since then. I recently learnt that the Dietary Specials brand (owned by Dr Schär) was rebranding to Schär and expanding their range, so I was delighted to receive a package from them, featuring some of their new products. Read on for my reviews!

Cream Crackers

I've tried many gluten free crackers over the years, and up until now, I wasn't particularly fussed on any. Schär's crackers are amazing, however! Even my cream-cracker-loving, non-coeliac fiancé gave them the thumbs up too, and he scoffs Jacob's crackers all the time. Unlike other crackers I've tried, they come in individual packs, which means that they won't go stale if you don't eat them often, like me. To me, they taste just as I remember cream crackers tasting, but they don't leave any cloying after-taste. They're light and flaky and are perfect with a cheeseboard. I'm looking forward to tucking into these with some festive cheese around Christmas! 

Verdict: 9/10 - best gluten free crackers I've ever tasted!



Wholesome Seeded Loaf

Being honest, this was my least favourite of the products I was sent to try. I'm on a quest to find the perfect gluten free bread, and unfortunately I'm still on that quest. The texture of this bread is lovely and soft, and it smells really nice, but the slices are just too small for a decent sandwich. I've yet to try it buttered when untoasted, so I couldn't say how well the structure holds together. Having said that, it does make really nice toast! I've been eating it for breakfast, topped with marmalade and have been enjoying it, but I'm not sure I'd buy it again because of the size of the slices. I want a sandwich bigger than the palm of my hand, Schär! The packaging also lets this loaf down because unlike most loaves, it doesn't have a twist top/seal and I found it hard not to rip the whole bag open, meaning I had to put the rest of the slices in a ziplock bag to preserve the freshness.

Verdict: 5/10 - Potential there, but needs more work to compete with other leading GF brands.




Sweet Brioche Rolls

I remember trying these in Paris where they're called 'Bon Matin'. They were my go-to breakfast every day, straight out of the packet with a little bit of butter. I brought some home with me where I could warm them slightly to refresh them and wished I'd brought a whole suitcase of them back!

These rolls can be eaten straight from the packaging, with no refreshing, but I do prefer them after they've been slightly warmed in the microwave (or toaster!) for 15 seconds. The butter melts into them and makes them lovely and squishy. I do top mine with jam, but they are very sweet like this! The taste of the actual roll is a delicate, vanilla sweetness, but someone I spoke to the other day said they had them with soup! Whatever your personal taste, I guess!

Verdict: 8/10 - Makes a change to have a nice treat for breakfast now and then!


Mini Os

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Mini Os are a good alternative to Oreos (although a lot less rich). They come in a little packet and the biscuits themselves are small too, so be warned because they are very moreish and you can quickly get through most of a packet without realising! ...apparently, ahem.                                                                                                          Verdict: 8/10 - lovely little biscuits, careful how quickly they disappear though!

Custard Creams

Dietary Specials Custard Creams have been a staple in my cupboard for as long as I can remember, and I'm happy to say the Schär ones are no different (I'm not sure if they've changed the recipe!). I like these because they come in individual packets of two, so they're great for when you're out and about. If I know I'm going for a drink with a friend, I usually take a packet of these with me to enjoy with a coffee.

Verdict: 9/10 - Solid staple in a gluten free cupboard.




Chocolix

I'd seen these advertised when I heard about Schär's new range, and I've been looking forward to what people have described as a 'gluten free Twix.'  Chocolix is like a Twix in that it's a caramel-centred chocolate biscuit, but for me that's where the similarity ends. That's not a bad thing though, they're still really nice! I think they could do with a bit more caramel though, because they're quite hollow inside and it feels like they're lacking a bit as a result.

Verdict: 7/10 - Not a Twix, but still good in their own right.





Sadly, I couldn't try the Breakfast Bakes because I can't tolerate oats, but I'd love to know what they're like if you've tried them? I'm going to get my fiancé to give me his opinion, because he loves Belvita biscuits.

The Schär range is now widely available in supermarkets across the UK, and I'm looking forward to seeing what other new products they'll bring out. So far, so good! I'm off to enjoy some crackers!

The Big (Gluten Free) Apple!

For my *cough* 30th *cough* Birthday, my lovely boyfriend (now fiancé after he proposed by a frozen lake in the Winter Wonderland that was Central Park!) whisked me off for a few days in New York.

I visited New York back in 2009, about 6 months pre diagnosis of Coeliac disease, so thankfully I got to experience a 'proper' slice of Pizza, Magnolia Bakery cupcakes, burgers and various other delights. As well as the amazing food, I just love the city and had been pining to go back ever since. And after googling 'gluten free in New York' and seeing the wealth of articles, websites and reviews for places to eat and visit, I was very much looking forward to our trip.

I could write and write and write about my visit but I've decided to list just a few of my favourite places below. Click on the titles to visit their websites!

Lili's 57

Lili's 57 is the Midtown sister restaurant of the Upper East Side's Lilli and Loo, famous for its Asian cuisine and sushi. I ate here after reading about it on the internet and seeing they have their own dedicated gluten free menu. Chinese food is probably my favourite cuisine, and I was not disappointed here. The menu has lots of choice - appetizers, soups, main courses, salads, rice and noodles. I wanted to order everything! I went for a starter of steamed oriental pork dumplings followed by General Tso's Crispy Chicken and Mongolian Beef, which my fiancé and I shared between us. If you like Chinese food you should definitely check this place out. It's not too pricey, the portions are great and the staff seem very clued up about gluten free food. I felt reassured that my food was safe.

Gluten free delights at Lili's 57

Bloom's Deli

Located a stone's throw from Grand Central Station, Bloom's Deli is a cosy little diner open for breakfast right through late night snacks. It doesn't seem to be that popular with tourists, which I liked, as I felt like a New Yorker eating our breakfast with commuters stopping in on their way to work. Bloom's was another place I'd read about before flying out and I was excited to try their pancakes, which did not disappoint - so much that we ate breakfast here every day! As shown in the photo below, the pancakes were huge. They were very fluffy and it was nice to be able to pick different accompaniments to go with them. Their breakfast sausages were lovely!

Delicious gluten free pancakes and syrup

The menu is a coeliac's heaven, with many options for breakfast, salads, sandwiches, burgers and desserts. The staff are very aware and have a separate kitchen area for preparing gluten free meals. The portions are huge - we ate here for lunch one day when I wasn't hungry, so I opted for a salad, but as you can see, there was enough to feed both of us!

My 'small' turkey salad

My one regret about Bloom's is that when we ate here on our first night, incredibly tired and weary from our travel, I chose a burger but didn't know whether my bun was gluten free after taking a bite, so I left it. Turns out it was, and was probably one of the nicest burger buns I'd tried! We planned to go back so I could get another one, but we didn't find the time (or the space in my stomach for their enormous 12oz burgers!)

Check out the menu on their website for more information.

Risotteria

If you're worried about cross-contamination whilst eating out, you need to look no further than Risotteria - an entirely gluten free Italian restaurant located downtown on Bleecker Street. This is a small place that doesn't accept bookings, and I hear it can be very busy in the evening! We opted to go for lunch on a Saturday and were seated immediately. Enormous gluten free breadsticks while you peruse the menu are a nice touch!

Biggest bread stick ever, it was like a baguette!

Risotteria serves pizzas, pasta, sandwiches and a large selection of baked goods, all made fresh in the restaurant. You can also purchase baking mixes and frozen goods to take away with you. Both myself and my non-coeliac fiancé ate here, and even he was impressed with his gluten free panini!

I chose a turkey panini, which I couldn't even tell was gluten free. It was so good, and I was so impressed with this place that I bought some of their pizza dough mix to bring home with us. I could have bought everything on offer if I had a spare suitcase!

Turkey ciabatta from Risotteria

Don Antonio

We chose to eat here to celebrate our engagement upon recommendation from the girl in G-Free NYC (see below for more on this shop). We both love pizza and I was dying to try a proper New York pizza. You will not be disappointed if you visit. Forget vacuum-packed, cardboard bases we get in the UK, this is fresh, homemade dough with plenty of toppings to choose from. I chose to opt for a simple margherita so that I could enjoy the base, which I pretty much inhaled! They also have a restaurant in Atlanta - UK next? *crosses fingers*

Pizza makes us happy, especially when it's
gluten free and looks this good!

G-Free NYC

This was literally our first stop after getting engaged, not because a gluten free shop is my idea of romance (although I was in love with it!), but because we were planning to go there after being in Central Park anyway. I just didn't know a proposal would also feature in our plans! Anyway, this shop is brilliant. It's like a little gluten free supermarket, selling everything you could possibly need or want. Cakes, cookies, sweets, pasta, freshly baked bread and pastries, crackers, baking mixes, sauces and a large freezer selection are just some of the goods on offer here, and this is where I filled most of the space left in our suitcases! Admittedly, I didn't look in the freezer because I didn't want to disappoint myself by not being able to purchase anything, however if you're staying in an apartment or somewhere with cooking facilities, there will be plenty here for you.

G-Free NYC

The owners are very helpful and gave great recommendations for places to eat and visit. I was also offered various samples while discussing our trip and perusing the goodies and I even left with a printout of restaurants that we could visit.

Some of the haul I came home with!

These were my favourite places to eat, but there are so many more I didn't get chance to visit and others where I ate the food too fast to photograph it, such as:

S'mac - a mac and cheese restaurant where you can 'build your own' pasta dishes, including gluten free and vegan options.

Mozzarelli's - a deli serving gluten free pizza by the slice, pasta, wraps and sandwiches. You can also purchase a big slice of cake, cookies, baking mixes and more!

Friedman's Lunch - Located inside the iconic Chelsea Market, a great place to get a grab and go sandwich, packed full of delicious fillings.

I can't recommend New York highly enough for a coeliac. They are light years ahead of us in terms of food and there was so much on offer it was impossible to visit even a small percentage of the dining options and shops I'd read about, unless you spend a good month or so there! (which I'd be happy to do, in the interest of research obviously)

REVIEW: The No Gluten Baker

Run from their home in Southport, the No Gluten Baker is a family business created by husband and wife team, Richard and Di. They are a relative newcomer to the gluten free market, but they already have an impressive range of cakes, pasties, pies and other delights to choose from. I have met them a couple of times at the Wirral Farmer's Market and the Gluten Free Food Fair in Ellesmere Port and have sampled a few of their products. My personal favourite is their cheesebread. It's like nothing I've ever tasted before and it's delicious!

'Bread' is not really what I'd describe it as to be honest, it comes in a little cardboard loaf tray, but the texture is not really 'bread-like' and it contains no yeast. It's quite difficult to describe the texture, but it's more like a cross between a scone, a dumpling and a crumpet! Quite dense and so full of flavour from the locally sourced cheese that's packed into it.

As such, although the loaf is quite small, two or three slices would be enough for a filling snack. The bread can be frozen in case you can't get through the whole loaf, so I slice it beforehand and freeze it. That way, whenever I fancy some, I can put it straight under the grill from frozen!  You can eat it cold, but I would recommend toasting it and eating hot with a generous spread of butter.

This is definitely going to be a staple snack for me! You can order direct from the No Gluten Baker (check out their Facebook page, as yet they do not have a website) or you can see them at various markets around the North West. I am delighted to hear* that they will be a regular stallholder at the Wirral Farmer's Market until October as it is very close to where I live!




*I am also getting slightly concerned about the effect this is going to have on my waistline..

REVIEW: Penny's Puds

I recently got in touch with Penny from The Litton Larder to enquire about 'Penny's Puds' and she very kindly sent me a sample to review for my blog. I had heard good reviews about them, so I was really excited to try one!

Firstly, a word of warning. Do not save these puddings for a dessert after a large meal unless you're planning to share one, they're very generous portions! They are packaged in a little cardboard tub, with reheating instructions printed on the side which couldn't be easier. Simply place in the microwave for 60 seconds, turn out onto a plate et voila! 

The first thing I noticed was the sauce. I love sticky toffee sauce, and I've been disappointed in the past by other puddings which seem to soak up the sauce and leave none to drizzle. As you can see, there was plenty of sauce on this pudding! And it's amazing; buttery and silky like liquid fudge. The pudding itself is divine. So moist and sticky, while also retaining a light, soft texture, and not crumbly like other gluten free puddings I've tried. I had mine with some vanilla ice cream and half a pudding was more than enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.

Penny's Puds can be stored in the fridge until their use by date, printed on the carton. They can also be frozen and reheated without the need to be defrosted, so they're perfect to hide away for when you just need a nice, comforting pudding!

The puddings can be ordered direct from the Litton Larder website. They are £14 for a box of four, with free delivery. They are also stocked in various shops and cafes in and around the Peak District. Take a look at their website for stockists. Penny and her puds also visit various food fairs and Coeliac UK events around the country.

Hands down, this is the nicest sticky toffee pudding I have EVER tried, even before my Coeliac days, and it's clear to see why Penny's Puds are so popular whether you're gluten free or not. I will definitely be ordering more in future!

Gluten Free Food Fair - Ellesmere Port

On Saturday morning, I went to the Gluten Free Food Fair in Ellesmere Port Civic Centre. This is a once a year event created by Coeliac UK and the Wirral Coeliac Society, showcasing regional and national producers of gluten free foods, coeliac-friendly B&Bs, information about the disease and much more!

Some of the companies present were:

The Foodamentalists
Juvela
Pig & co.
Glutafin
Mummy's Yummys
Orgran
..and many, many more!

Needless to say, I spent a fortune and also got some good freebies of things I'd never tried before. The next few posts are going to be reviewing some of the products, and posting recipes made with some of the ingredients I purchased there.

The next big event like this is the Allergy Show in Liverpool in October. Visit the website here for more information: http://www.allergyshow.co.uk/liverpool/liverpool-home/ 

Meanwhile, take a look at my haul!

 

If there's anything specific that catches your eye you would like a review of, please leave me a comment below. I'm off to have some breakfast - what to choose!

REVIEW: Carluccio's

I have found that Italian restaurants are great at catering for coeliacs, which is good news for us, especially if your first thoughts were "what, no more pizza?!" when you were diagnosed. There are several mainstream Italian eateries that now have dedicated gluten free menus, or at least offer some gluten free options on their main menus.

Carluccio's restaurant in Liverpool

Owned by TV chef, Antonio Carluccio, the menu boasts delicious and traditional Italian food and has it's own separate gluten-free menu, including starters and desserts. Take a look at the menu here

Carluccio's also have a little deli style shop in their restaurants where you can purchase the authentic Italian gluten-free pasta. Their pasta is without a doubt my favourite and I always purchase another bag when I eat here! Their Cioccolato Fondente from the dessert menu is beautiful - "A warm chocolate pudding baked with almonds and Kahlua and served with vanilla ice cream." It is very rich, but definitely worth saving room for.

REVIEW: Pizza Hut

It's here! The Holy Grail to many coeliacs. With such mainstream restaurants as Zizzi and Bella Italia already long on board with gluten-free pizzas, we have all been waiting for the more well-known pizza joints to jump on board for years. We didn't think it was ever going to happen, and then in the space of a week we hear that Pizza Hut, Domino's and Prezzo are all joining in!

I went to my local Pizza Hut last night and am here to give you my opinion!

When we arrived at the restaurant, we were greeted and seated by the manager, so I was able to ask all my questions before we ordered. I asked how they were prepared, how they avoid cross-contamination, how it is cooked etc and placed my order. A short while later, out came my pizza:

Isn't it pretty? I was made up with it! It comes as a standard 9" square base, which I actually think is better than the round pizzas. No crust, but toppings right to the edge!

It tasted fantastic, possibly one of the best gluten-free pizzas I've had to date if I'm honest. I was expecting a thin, concrete base as I have been served in other restaurants, but it wasn't like that. You can still tell it's gluten-free, let's be realistic here. But it was light and not too cloying. The only downside for me is that there wasn't enough sauce on it, but I think that's just down to personal preference and it did not detract from the taste of the pizza.

HOWEVER. PLEASE BE WARNED! At the time the pizzas were launched, Pizza Hut claimed that all of their toppings were now gluten-free. This is not the case. If you look here and scroll down to the toppings section, Pepperoni and Ground Beef are highlighted as 'C' - "'C' means that this allergen is present in the manufacturing site/factory/supply chain & our suppliers believe there is a risk that this allergen could cross-contaminate the food."

It is entirely your choice as to whether you would risk having those toppings based on that information, I personally would not, but as pepperoni is probably one of the most popular pizza toppings, I think it's worth pointing out that risk.

You still get the free salad bowl with your meal at Pizza Hut, but again this is at your own risk as there is quite a high chance of cross-contamination at the salad station. About half of the products there are gluten-free, but there are also a few toppings, coleslaw, pasta, croutons etc to steer clear of and it would only take one tiny spillage to contaminate some of the 'safe' food. Personally, I did take the risk here after inspecting the area. The restaurant wasn't busy at all and everything looked fine. Had it been during a busy period I probably wouldn't have chanced it.

Take a look at the allergy menu above, there are a few other items on there that are safe for coeliacs such as the Nachos (but not the salsa - what's the point?) and the ice cream (but not the sauces!) and a few of the toppings.

Still, it's a great start to be able to have a Pizza Hut pizza, and hopefully they will expand their menu when they see how popular it is. It might also encourage even more mainstream restaurants to jump on board!

I had a great meal, and no nasty after effects either!

Roll on November so I can FINALLY order from Domino's, instead of looking longingly at my boyfriend's takeaway pizza while I tuck into a plate of salad!