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Tavistock Country Market

13 Apr

I recently received an email from Alison Carter of Tavistock Country Market offering me the chance to sample some of her gluten free products.  As always my first question was regarding cross contamination, and secondly I am always interested to know what inspired a producer to start baking gluten free.  Alison was able to put me at ease with her reply:

“both my son and I have eaten gluten free for 11 years due to severe gluten intolerance. I have a separate kitchen and oven with all utensils, bowls, tins etc only used for gluten free. I check ingredients on Coeliac UK website and I have avoided using even the gluten free oats as I am not sure whether these are still a problem for some. I have had my kitchen inspected by environmental health when I started a gluten free cake business.  The terminology we have to use at the market is: Made with no gluten containing ingredients in a gluten free kitchen“.

Alison bakes a variety of sweet and savoury gluten free products for the market, which include:

  • Three flavours of quiche
  • Apple pie
  • Treacle tart
  • Lasagne
  • Lemon and Almond Polenta cake
  • Chocolate tiffin
  • Florentines
  • Coconut and pistachio slice
  • Chocolate brownies
  • Moist fruit cake
  • gingerbread men and houses (to order)
  • Blueberry almond cake
  • Carrot cake
  • Ginger or chocolate cookies

Naturally I was keen to try some of these delicious sounding goodies, and Alison kindly personally delivered some for me to try.  It was lovely to have a chat with Alison and her daughter too.  The image below shows the samples I received.

2014-01-30 18.47.11

The products were all of high quality.  The samples included Lemon and Almond Polenta cake, Raspberry White Chocolate cake, Florentines, Chocolate tiffin, Moist fruit cake, Ginger cookies, Coconut and pistachio slice, Apple Pie and Cheese and Tomato Quiche.  I naturally gravitated towards the lemon and raspberry cakes first, closely followed by the tiffin.  All were delicious as was the quiche which had great pastry.  We were heading to London shortly after the samples arrived so the ginger cookies and Florentines came with us as train snacks.  We really liked the ginger cookies which had a really nice chew to them to compliment that lovely ginger flavour.  The Floretines were perhaps one of my favourite things from everything I tried though.  Really tasty and I would definitely buy again.

2014-02-05 19.49.572014-02-05 19.50.18

As a result of tasting these samples I invited Alison along to the Coeliac UK Plymouth AGM last month and she kindly agreed to come along and sell her products.  I hope some of you managed to try her goodies on the day and enjoyed them too.  To buy Alison’s gluten free savoury and sweet treats visit Tavistock Country Market on Fridays between 9.30 and 4.30 in the Tavistock Pannier Market.  Orders can be placed at the market or by phone by calling 01246 261508, but are only available for collection at the market at present.

You can also find the fabulous Traditional Puddings at Tavistock Pannier Market, who I have subsequently discovered were selling Alison’s Christmas puddings at the Christmas Free From Food Fair we held at Ivybridge Community Market at the end of last year.  You can also find Tavistock Country Market on Facebook here.

Kevin, Gluten Free by the Sea

Gluten free night at JD’s Grill

29 Mar

Those of you that follow me on Facebook and Twitter will most likely know how much of a fan I am of JD’s Grill.  This fantastic restaurant in Plymouth serves a range of burgers and steaks and also label gluten free options in their menu.  They have been working hard since my original review to increase the amount of gluten free choices on their menu, and now have gluten free options available for all starters and mains as standard.  They also have a good selection of desserts and often have been kind enough to get me a gluten free beer in too.  The food served is right up my street and I am a regular visitor.  The picture below shows me enjoying the Hoofs and Trotters burger, a half pound beef burger topped with cheese and pulled pork on a gluten free bun.  What more could you ask for, other than gluten free fries which they now serve too.  As you can see this Pleases me!

burgerAs part of my work for the Coeliac UK Plymouth Group, we have been looking to organise a meal out for members.  We struck upon the idea of having a meal during Coeliac Awareness week, and the meal will take place on Monday 12th May.  This gives us an opportunity to get some publicity for the event which can help us raise awareness.  JD’s Grill 110 capacity means we can throw the event open to non-members too, so I would like to invite Gluten Free by the Sea readers to join us.  As you will see below JD’s Grill have provided a fantastic menu for the night, which is completely gluten free.  So please come along and enjoy a night of amazing gluten free food and the chance to chat and share tips with gluten free friends.  You will also be able to enjoy a gluten free beer too!

You can see the Facebook page for the event here.  For full details and booking information please see the details below, I hope to see you there.

Kevin, Gluten Free by the Sea

coeliac awareness week menu

The Coeliac UK Plymouth Group, JD’s Grill and Gluten Free by the Sea invite you to join us for a night of fabulous gluten free food amongst the company of gluten free friends on Monday May 12th at JD’s Grill. JD’s Grill already offer a brilliant selection of gluten free dishes on their menu, with clearly marked gluten free options. Furthermore they have kindly agreed to host a gluten free night in the restaurant as part of Coeliac UK’s Coeliac Awareness week, which this year runs from May 12th – 18th.

Bookings are required in advance. To book a place at this event please send an email to plymouth@coeliac.org.uk, and let us know how many places you require. As we will be dining as a large group we ask that you choose a starter, main and dessert from the menu below and let us know your choices when you make your booking. Total price is £19.95 (supplements apply on some choices). We will also require a deposit of £5 per person. This can be paid via bank transfer to the following account, please use your full name as a reference:

Account number: 00060708
Sort Code: 40-52-40

Alternatively you can complete the booking form, and send it along with a cheque made payable to Coeliac UK – Plymouth Branch to:
Lisa Bullard
2 Avent Walk
Plympton
Plymouth
PL7 4DB

Menu: https://gfreebythesea.me/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/coeliac-awareness-week-menu.pdf

Booking form: https://gfreebythesea.me/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/meal-booking-form.docx

All choices on the above menu are gluten free. Please let us know if you have any other dietary requirements when booking. We are aware that many of you also need to follow a dairy free diet, so JD’s have kindly marked the dairy free options on the menu. Please note some of the dairy free choices use buffalo mozzarella (as opposed to mozzarella made with cows milk), so please bare this in mind when making your choice.

You can find JD’s Grill at 17 Derrys Cross, Plymouth, PL1 2SW. We ask people to arrive from 7pm with the first course being served at 7:30 sharp. A big thank you to JD’s Grill for hosting us and helping us to raise awareness of Coeliac Disease.

If you would like to enjoy this menu on the 12th but have your own table rather than join the Coeliac UK Plymouth Group party, please contact JD’s Grill directly on 01752 601605 to make your booking.

For JD’s Grill see: http://www.jds-grill.co.uk/

For info on Coeliac Awareness Week 2014 see: https://www.coeliac.org.uk/get-involved/awareness-week-2014/

For info on the Coeliac UK Plymouth Voluntary Support Group see: https://www.coeliac.org.uk/local-groups/plymouth/

Plymouth

Coeliac UK Plymouth Group AGM and Food Fair

28 Feb

The Coeliac UK Plymouth Group are holding their AGM at the Elm Community Centre on Saturday March 15th from 1pm.  The Elm Centre is situated next to ASDA in Estover, Plymouth.  Following the formalities of the AGM (apologies in advance to anyone who has to listen to me speak!) there will be a gluten free food fair with eight fantastic local gluten free suppliers/producers in attendance, as well as a couple of craft stalls.  This will be another great opportunity to meet and talk to these great businesses as well as stocking up on some fantastic food.  There will also be tea and coffee served, free samples and of course a raffle with some great prizes.

Non-members are more than welcome to come to the event and I hope to see lots of Gluten Free by the See readers there.  For full information, please see the details that have been sent out to Coeliac UK Plymouth Group members below.

For updates please join the Facebook page for the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/363380737133221/

Regards,

Kevin, Gluten Free by the Sea

Plymouth

The Coeliac UK Plymouth Voluntary Support Group invite you to join us at the ELM Centre, ASDA Plymouth, for a short meeting in which we can update you on progress and complete the formalities of the Annual General Meeting.  For new members we will be available to give help with such things as prescriptions and best places to purchase gluten free products.  Committee member Suzanne Stephenson will be available to give advice to parents of coeliac children.

After the short meeting a Gluten Free Food Fair will be held.  This will be a great opportunity to stock up on gluten free products from some of the finest local suppliers.  Present will be Traditional Puddings, Clare’s Gluten Free Catering and Love Free From who sold at our previous Elm Centre meeting in November.  They will be joined by Let Them Eat Cake, St Maurice Bakery, Soupy Do, Alison Carter from Tavistock Country Market and Cupcake Universe.  We are organising a raffle with some excellent prizes such as some gluten free beer from CELIA Lager, a prize from JDs Grill and many more.  There will also be a range of free samples available.

In the Elm Centre we will again have use of the excellent kitchen facilities, were teas, coffees, biscuits and cakes will be available.  For all the bakers out there, we welcome you to bake and share with other members.  There will be a £1 voluntary entrance fee to the meeting and members are also encouraged to bring unwanted prescription items for new members.

We are looking forward to seeing you on the 15th March 2014. Doors will open at 1pm with the meeting starting at 1:30pm. The food fair will then run until 4pm.  We sincerely hope you can attend, and trust you will have a great time.

Programme:

  • Group Organisers Report/future events
  • Treasurers Report
  • Election and re-election of group officers
  • Tea/coffee break with cakes and biscuits
  • Raffle draw
  • Opening of the food fair

Directions/Parking:

The ELM Centre is located in Estover, Plymouth, adjacent to the ASDA Store.  If stood at the ASDA main entrance, turn right down the steps and the centre is at the far end of the courtyard.  Full address is Leypark Court, Leypark Walk, Plymouth PL6 8UE.

There is some community centre parking available, otherwise you can park in the overflow ASDA car park for 3 hours.  Drive straight on rather than turning right into the main car park.

The number 50 City Bus runs regularly to the ASDA store.  You can catch the 27 or 27a if travelling from the City Centre.

For location and directions via Google maps please see link below. To get directions, click the link, press “Get Directions” on the left, enter your start point in the box marked A and then click the blue “Get Directions” button:

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=50.4094,-4.095402&hl=en&sll=52.8382,-2.327815&sspn=10.853098,19.753418&t=m&z=16

Post-Christmas Meal

After some discussion at committee meetings we have decided to hold our meal out during this year’s Coeliac UK Awareness Week which runs from May 12th to May 18th.  This allows us more time to properly plan the event and also gives the opportunity to attract some publicity during Awareness Week.  The meal will be held May 12th at JDs Grill in the city centre. We are finalising plans now and will give an update shortly.

Yours faithfully,

The Coeliac UK Plymouth Voluntary Support Group Committee