Going To The Uk?

[It's Karin with an I]

Hey guys! I've posted her a few times before under a different user name, but this will probably be one of my most important posts to the site. At the beginning of June 2007, my family and I traveled to the UK, and being a Celiac myself, ran into the issue of eating out. I have several places (restaurants and grocery stores) that I will describe that I found helpful and amazing by their awareness of celiac disease.

Restaurants:

Open Original Shared Link: An Italian restaurant where I have the pleasure to report that 75% of their menu is stated to be gluten-free! Small alterations such as gluten-free pasta made piratically all of the pasta dishes available. The food was spectacular --I got the Spaghetti Carbonara, though the De Mer risotto was amazing as well-- and to top off the meal we got a slice of the Flour-less chocolate cake. Best meal of the entire fifteen day trip! Located in Keswick, England in the Lake District.

Open Original Shared Link: A Japanese chain restaurant that offers a great variety of rice, noodles, soups and salad dishes and provide generous portions at a very reasonable price. And even though I was disappointed with my particular choice, I found that they would be worth passing on the information. Located all throughout the UK: London, Windsor, Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Nottingham, Oxford, and much more.

Open Original Shared Link: We made a reservation a head of time to this cute little mom and pop place in London outside the Lambeth North Station underground Tube stop. Calling ahead of time allowed the Celiac owner to purchase gluten-free pasta and pizza shells for me specifically. Wonderful, I know. I chose to go with a Hawaiian pizza because I haven't had one outside my home since being diagnosed. And boy, was it yummy! Not to mention that he even baked me gluten-free bread. A definite must go when in London!

Open Original Shared Link: Looking for Indian food and are in York? Well, you must go here... unfortunately, they didn't have a gluten-free menu, but I was certainly satisfied by their Mackoni Lamb or Chicken entree (Mackhani Chicken/Lamb according to their website) . It has the perfect blend of cheese, cream, and chicken (or lamb). I did even ask about the King Prawn Rajala, so that one should be considered as well. Located in York.

Grocery Stores:

Open Original Shared Link, Open Original Shared Link, Open Original Shared Link: Splendid stores that had a "Free From..." section specifically for us Celiacs and other sufferers of food intolerance/allergies! If you come in contact with one of these stores you MUST buy the Sweet Breakfast Rolls by DietarySpecials, or any other product by them that interests you! Open Original Shared Link' food is really something to marvel at, seriously, get the sweet rolls. I pretty much lived off of these suckers. But according to my father, they don't unfortunately ship to the US or anywhere else other than the UK and the surrounding areas (still confirm) . HOWEVER! If you ever are in the area of the shipping region buy as much of the good stuff as you can. I wish I knew this before... Anyone willing to mail me some of the sweet delicious rolls? I'll pay you back! I swear! ... Yeah, I didn't think so.

If you're not wanting to eat a big lunch or dinner, I highly recommend picking up some of the Sweet Breakfast Rolls (they're aren't just for breakfast, ya know!), your favorite meats, cheeses and other sandwich goodies, a bag of Kettle Chips, a drink and have a marvelous picnic in a park, on the steps of Westminster Abbey or in front of Edinburgh Castle. It's low-cost, and it's great food! My family and I did it almost every day, and now we're totally addicted to those Kettle Chips.

**You all should be warned about chips (aka fries) will most likely be fried in the same fryer as other fried foods (fish). But you can always go to the common back up, Jacket Potatoes! They're just baked potatoes but with funky fillings! Pub going is very difficult if your looking to eat more than a jacket potato and a small salad**

I think that's all I have to report. If you have any questions about the places I've mentioned, please drop a reply and I'll be happy to answer it to the best of my ability!

Yours truly,

Karin

Edit: We flew on United Airlines, and my father put me down for a gluten-free menu. What they gave me seemed to be okay since I didn't react to it: plain chicken with steam veggies and mashed potatoes. But on the way back to the States they had Open Original Shared Link sticky toffee fudge ice cream for dessert claiming to be gluten-free. To my own curiosity, I read the label and it contained malt extract. Just goes to show us that we still have to read the label.

[MySuicidalTurtle]

What a great post, Karin! Thank you for sharing. The U.K. has some really delicious gluten-free products!

[celiac mom]

Karin,

Thank so much for the information. We are traveling to London in spring, 2008 with my celiac son. My daughter will be studying over there, so a spring break trip is being planned. I was going to ship some food ahead of time for her to store, but I wrote down the names of the grocery stores and places to eat that you suggested as well. Are things well marked in London for wheat and gluten? I assume they are more aware of the disease, so it may not be as tough as in the US. Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks again.

Mary Ellen

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Wow, thank you so much for all the valuable information!!!!

Question about the Wagamama--wouldn't the soy sauce make practically everything gluteny?

[It's Karin with an I]

Karin,

Thank so much for the information. We are traveling to London in spring, 2008 with my celiac son. My daughter will be studying over there, so a spring break trip is being planned. I was going to ship some food ahead of time for her to store, but I wrote down the names of the grocery stores and places to eat that you suggested as well. Are things well marked in London for wheat and gluten? I assume they are more aware of the disease, so it may not be as tough as in the US. Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks again.

Mary Ellen

Things are marked exceptionally well. The bread there (especially the sweet rolls) are really amazing. They list all of the Allergy Warnings on the back of things, and are just overall great about things. Just... make sure she tries the DietarySpecial.com's sweet breakfast rolls. I practically lived off of those things.

[It's Karin with an I]

Wow, thank you so much for all the valuable information!!!!

Question about the Wagamama--wouldn't the soy sauce make practically everything gluteny?

I assume that everything on their gluten-free menu would be the ones that don't even need gluten. That would definitely be a question for the manager there. I didn't eat there, but we did go inside... I didn't find anything I particularly liked. ^^;

[gourmetgf]

Yep, no kidding, a celiac traveler has it easy in the UK. MUCH easier than in the USA - fresh bread and rolls and desserts, and nothing has an unpleasant texture.

I've been twice now and always find a gluten-free section in grocery stores: Sainsbury's, Tesco, and Morrison's. People in restaurants, pubs, and B & B's are pretty aware of the issue.

You're right about airplane food, though - perhaps we should fly a British airline!

About the soy sauce post - you probably already know that not every brand has wheat in it.

Thanks for the York tip - I was hoping to read one!

[hathor]

Karin,

Thank so much for the information. We are traveling to London in spring, 2008 with my celiac son. My daughter will be studying over there, so a spring break trip is being planned. I was going to ship some food ahead of time for her to store, but I wrote down the names of the grocery stores and places to eat that you suggested as well. Are things well marked in London for wheat and gluten? I assume they are more aware of the disease, so it may not be as tough as in the US. Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks again.

Mary Ellen

What a coincidence ... we are traveling to London next spring because my daughter is studying there this upcoming school year! Is your daughter also going to UCL?

I haven't started pulling together much food information yet (I'm the one with problems). My impression is that England is much easier gluten-free-wise than the US. Here is one link I've found:

Open Original Shared Link

Please share whatever you find in your research. I'm hoping that my daughter will be able to scope out some restaurants for me, too.

Right now, we're just trying to pull together everything necessary to get her settled over there with everything she needs. She's leaving in a week ... Ack! Oh well, if it weren't for deadlines, I would probably never get anything done

[hathor]

I forgot to include this link:

Open Original Shared Link

This doesn't have as many gluten-free places as you get with the search engine at the other link I provided. I just mention it because most of the places mentioned are locations of Wagamama. So being gluten-free there must be possible ...

[lezleighs]

Hi

I live in Dundee, Scotland and it is relatively easy for coeliacs in the UK.

Food products must be labelled by law with food allergens and most supermarkets have a free from section.

You'll also find that restaurants etc can cater for you (but it is best to phone before hand to check). A general rule is that independant resaurants are more able to cater for you as they buy in fresh ingredients and cook onsite. Chains tend to have pre prepared stuff which is not always labelled clearly.

If any one is heading to Dundee I can recommend some very good restaurants.

Lesley