London Baby!

After swearing I would never step foot in halls again, not even one month after leaving I was back again. A bit of a different experience this time though…

It was such a surprise to find such an extensive range of gluten free food to take away and to eat fresh in  the Selfridges food hall. There wasn’t even gluten free ravioli in Italy. I had some ham and cheese tortellini made fresh with tomato sauce and it was delicious, I am certain I will go back next time I am in London.

I really like the way they have these 10 facts about gluten free on the back of their company flyer. Absolutely essential facts for anyone serving food to people with gluten allergies and intolerances.

Finally got a pot of these and of course they lived up to my imagination

They’re so pretty I had to take a photo. I wish my poo looked like that.

A visit to Beyond Bread set new standards for gluten free baking. I ended up buying (well my mum did) 3 baguettes and 2 brownies to take away as well as everything we ate for afternoon tea.

When I was in Paris I may have regretfully consumed a rather sizable proportion of a fresh gluten full french baguette I bought to take home for my sister. Although I regretted it very soon after, it was glorious at the time and there are some things you just have to do when you are in Paris. Now, gluten being such an important ingredient for many reasons in bread (I could go into the science but I don’t want to bore you and I think it is fairly obvious to every one that it is). I never thought I would ever eat a gluten free baguette meeting the french standard but Beyond Bread really did!! I don’t know how, but they have defied many laws of science I and so many other people have failed at. I wonder what their secret is…

The staff were all so lovely and it made me feel so comfortable. When eating in public and eating food I have not cooked, I can get very anxious but this wasn’t really the case this time. They even gave me and my dad an extra free scone and muffin to take away!!

Two words, bacon baguette. Using part of a baguette from Beyond Bread and bacon from the uni canteen-not quite up to the Italian standard but the bread made up for it. And, of course I had to also get a side of cornflakes.

Anyone who is not gluten free with not understand the rarity of gluten free bacon baguettes, a staple to gluten full breakfasts everywhere, so, this excited me A LOT!!

I have visited the V&A many times before, every time I have never been able to find any gluten free food. They seem to have stepped up their game. There is currently a choice of not one, not two but three different gluten free cakes!! Including a chocolate brownie!! There may be a slight issue of contamination but I will give them some credit, they’re trying their best.

One cannot visit London without visiting Liberty haberdashery

I could have spent hours in there, days even. But my time was cut short by my impatient mother and sister-didn’t stop me spending a bit of money though – I mean, that’s what student finance is for, right?

Carnaby Burger Co

Fussy eater FOREVERRRRR- I couldn’t handle eating a burger, even though there was a gluten free option, with gluten free bread! Instead, I did my usual stressed impulse choice of ordering two sides. A rocket and parmesan salad and wait for it,  I branched out on the other – cheese and bacon chips!  Nevertheless, when the food arrived, my immediate reaction was to take it apart and remove all the contamination- I will not ever NEVER eat a tomato.

After a few more shops that ended my time in London, for a week at least…