So – what’s hot in the gluten free world?
50 Best is a feature run weekly by the Independent, a quality daily newspaper which sadly let itself down last week by referring to spelt as ideal for the gluten free diet. I offered to come up with a 50 Best Gluten Free, but – not surprisingly! – no response from them. So I thought I’d do it myself.
I’ve tried to avoid just putting down ‘fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, fish …’ because these things are naturally gluten free. I’ve gone for specialist gluten free foodstuffs in preference. I’ve also only listed each thing once. Many, even most, of these will be UK biased, since that is where we live and what we know – but please add your own ideas in the comments …
In fact, if you’d like to come up with your 50 Best Gluten Free, link to this post and let me know in a comment where you’ve posted your list, and I’ll link to your post. That way, people can compare and contrast.
In no particular order, my selection for 50 Best Gluten Free is …
Best blogs (not counting this one!). Too many to cut down to 5, so this is a fairly random selection
- Gluten a go go
- Gluten free mommy
- Pig in the kitchen
- Gluten free girl
- Gluten free gobsmacked
- Gluten free goddess
- Gluten free journey
Best books (these are mostly affiliate links)
- Kids with Celiac Disease
– Danna Korn
- Allergy Free CookBook
- Allergy Free Cooking for Kids
- Gourmet Desserts – Mike Eberhart
- Gluten free bread & cakes from your breadmaker
Best gluten free luxuries
- Selection tray of Kallo Free to Enjoy biscuits (OK, this one is a relatively cheap luxury!)
- Mixing a pack of 12 bars of Green & Black’s chocolate. Choose your own favourites (don’t eat the Mint or Caramel flavours)
- A gluten free hamper from Gifting Direct – for you or for a friend (perhaps they’ll share?)
- Afternoon tea and champagne at the Ritz, the Savoy or the Sheraton (tell them in advance that you’re gluten free)
- A weekend away somewhere you know will cater to your every gluten free need – such as the Halfway Inn, Sidmouth
Best gluten free staples – on prescription
- Wellfoods flour mix (to be available very very soon, I hope)
- Juvela buns
- Glutafin Fresh Select bread
- Juvela pasta
- Dietary Specials pizza
- Glutafin crackers
Best gluten free staples – off prescription
- Moilas pizza (now sadly only available in Finland)
- Ancient Harvest Quinoa pasta (not available here in the UK)
Best for children
- Tescos jaffa cakes
- Heinz baked beans and sausages
- Swedish Glace strawberry cornettos
- TruFree Mini-Os
- Barkat Pretzels
Best for breakfast
- Doves Farm Chocolate Stars
- Eggs – any which way, including pancakes
- Lifestyle croissants
- Lifestyle pain au chocolat
- Oats from a certified-gluten-free source
Best for quick and easy lunches
- A decent gluten free soup, with gluten free french bread from Proceli (with your choice of cheese, meats etc)
- Tuna light lunches from John West
- Gluten free soft wraps from the Cool Chile company (with your choice of filling)
Best kitchen products
- Breadmaker
- Toastabags or a dedicated toaster or lots of kitchen foil
Best mail order companies
Best restaurants
- Smollensky’s on the Strand (great for adults and children)
- TGI Friday (understanding, flexible, family friendly)
- La Tasca (wide-spread chain of Spanish-style restaurants that label things as GF)
- Da Mario’s (we’ve not been here, but recommended by others).
- PJ’s Grill (again, as recommended by others).
Well, that’s my list of 50 Best today. Might be different tomorrow. What would be on your list?
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I’ve written a book summarising what we’ve learnt over 20 years of dealing with the gluten free diet, and it might be just what you’re looking for. It packs the lessons we’ve learned into what I hope is a helpful and straightforward guidebook. It’s available on Amazon, as a paperback or for your Kindle… |
Brilliant information Lucy
Shame about the Moila’s!
:)
Thanks for the mention! Envirokidz cereals, Lundberg rice chips, and Pamela’s Baking Mix (probably U.S. items) are some of my favorites. My new dream is the tea at the Ritz. :)
Hi Dianne and Natalie … thanks for visiting.
I know about Environkidz cereals, and have heard of (though not tried) Pamela’s – but what are rice chips? I suspect that these are what we call crisps – which are usually made of potato – but made of rice? Do they come in a range of flavours, like crisps/chips?
Natalie – I’ve just been to the messageboard, and Nicola has posted her comments on a recent visit to the Ritz. I’m adding her comments here because 1. they’ll disappear off the messageboard in a few days and 2. I thought you might like some details for your dream …
“GF food came out on separate plates – open sandwiches of cheese, ham, tuna mayonnaise, salmon, cucumber and cream cheese.
Then plain, and sultana scones were brought out with other desserts/cakes: fruit meringue, carrot cake, lemon mouse/syllabub type, chocolate meringue and cream stack.
We all ate far too much . . . .
My daughter (aged 7 and had the GF food) thought the bread was lovely and has asked me to check with the Ritz what brand it was.
The cost is £36 per person aged 12 and over and £18 for under 12’s.
For that you get a selection of sandwiches, scones (with cream and jam), and cakes/desserts. I presume they would fill your plate if you so wanted, but none of us had space for more . . .
You also get endless pots of tea/coffee (about 20 teas to choose from), or fruit juices.
And a man playing the harp in the background – lovely.
Just make sure when you book that you state your dietary requirements. “
This is an awesome list and a great resource for someone new or old to the gluten free lifestyle.
Thank you for mentioning Gluten A Go Go. It’s very humbling when people recognize your efforts and like the work you do.
Thanks again and I love your new blog format.
Sheltie Girl @ Gluten A Go Go
Holy Resources, babe! The book list along with your web addy should be printed on business cards for us to hand out every time we shop! Just today i found myself digging for a scrap of paper off the end of my grocery list to write down GF flour names, resources and tips for a shopper who stopped me.
I am humbled to be listed among your top blogs list, really. VERY sweet of you, my dear! THANK YOU!
Kate
Oh – rice chips are like tortilla chips/Doritos but made with rice.
here’s a link:
http://www.lundberg.com/products/chip.shtml
While we are on the Food from the Other Side of the Water topic, just what is Treacle made from and is it GF? =)
Oh wow Lucy… I had to spend a lot of time to read all your posts… very helpful… thank you…
Thanks for your kind words, Sheltie girl, about my new blog format … its a sandbox theme which I’ve customised myself. So I’m pleased you like it.
Kate – do you often find yourself in conversation with complete strangers in the gluten free section of the supermarket? I know I do.
Treacle, is, I think, like blackstrap molasses. You could use ordinary molasses instead – but golden syrup (light treacle or corn syrup) would have quite a different flavour. According to http://www.foodsubs.com you could use dark corn syrup in place of treacle. (I love this site to get translations of American ingredients into English!) And yes, I’m confident its gluten free.
Hi Allergy Asthma Zone – I notice you’ve visited several posts, so I’m glad you’re finding this helpful.
After reading all that and the comments, I want to go the Ritz too! Can we all meet up for a party?
Great list of resources you have here. (And great site in general.)
Best things in the kitchen for me are my Kitchen Aide mixer and parchment paper. I’m still new to all this, so I haven’t figured out what my favorites really are yet. But I have found all these blogs to be a lot of help. Thanks!
Karen. (http://glutenfreesox.blogspot.com/)
Hi Karen. A gluten free party in the Ritz? Great idea! I might have to save up for a while, though.
Yes – parchment paper is one I should have included. And foil. Oh well, perhaps I’ll have to work on a top 20 kitchen implements …
Now you mention it! I’d like to do tea at the Ritz!
how cool would that be!
:)
Great resources and list!! Thanks for sharing this! I’m glad you mentioned Kate and Natalie’s blogs! They are wonderful!!
Best flour on prescription: Valpiform cake & pastry mix, by far the best..their recipe for chocolate cake is superb and it is actually possible to make gluten free pastry with this mix
Lucy,
Hi – just found your blog from blogcatalog. Excellent, valuable post. Thanks! Your blog layout is nice on the eyes as well. I’ll be reading :)
Cindy
Hi carrie, Ann and Cindy – I’m glad you visited. Thanks for the kind words.
Ann, I had forgotten about Valpiform pastry mix – we haven’t had any of that for ages. You’re right, it does make good pastry, though I haven’t tried their chocolate cake.
My chemist can’t seem to get different foods for me which I have had for years. The latest being Valpiform Pastry Mix. Also Schar Crackertoast which I had before instead of Bi-Aglut Crackertoast. So can anyone recommend a good pastry mix and a great crispie crackertoast.
Hi Pat
I’m a little puzzled that your chemist can’t get Valpiform Pastry Mix or Schar Crackertoast: both are still on the prescribables list. I have checked the company websites, but can’t tell whether they’re still making these products – they both have a range of crackers and mixes available, but I’m not sure whether these are exactly what you used to have.
I’m sorry I can’t help. Does anyone else know of a good pastry mix or crackertoast?
Hello…its Wellfoods here…
I want to update you all on whats happening…
Wellfoods items are available on prescription…and have been since 2006.
Loaf, plain and sliced,
rolls,
burger buns, pizzas bases …and the famous flour alternative.
Contact me on wellfoods@talk21.com for more info….
Apricot
Hi Apricot
Nice to see you here – thanks for the update!
Lucy
I recently discovered your blog.. nice informative one.. :)
You forgot the worlds best gluten free pizza at RedBrickPizza.com
The listing was so great! People especially those who are conscious to what they eat will be more aware of those stores or companies that offer the best gluten-free foods.