Coffee and Breakfast in south bank

I discovered a new place for coffee this morning and thought it was worth sharing. 

I've been cycling often lately and finding places that do coffee with Zymil (lactose free milk) is always a bonus. 

Sweetopia at southbank was a bit of a bonus this morning. Not only did they do coffee with Zymil but they also have the delicious Brookfarm Porrij (gluten free porridge) http://www.brookfarm.com.au/where-to-buy/online-shop/australia/brookfarm-porrij/p/5140

The best part was that I didn't specify what type of milk I wanted on my porrij so they came to check if I wanted soy or lactose free as I was ordering gluten free. 

Last but not least was the coffee service. No confusion on who's coffee is for who. 

Top Lunches in West End...

It's been a very long time since I've posted but I'm going to try and do it at least a little more often.

I've been working over in west end lately and have found some fabulous places to grab a bite from:

The top pick has to be SW1 Kitchen (which is only a very recent discovery) is fantastic. While everything on the menu isn't gluten free, everything that is is marked and the staff are very helpful and quite aware of food allergies. The other thing that is great about them is they are cheap and the food is simply fantastic. My favourite pick is the Nachos with Steak (which last time I went was $8.50) and very filling.

Next on the list is a great Korean Place Hong Depot. They have great lunch specials which are generally around the $10 mark and again some great delicious food. Everything that is GF on the meun is marked. My favourite lunch there is the Spicy Pork Bulgogi.. But beware... when they say spicy they really mean it... (even if you order mild).. don't say you weren't warned.

Last on the list is Tsuru Sushi. A great selection of sushi (but only some are gluten free but clearly marked and similarly with their dine in menu (although I've only got take away sushi). My go to is the Smoked Salmon.

Riding and Gluten Free

Last year I took to cycling in a big way (for one reason or another). One of the hardest things though was to find food (that I didn't make myself) to take on the rides. For some of the longer rides (a 600km weekend for example) it just wasn't practical to take made food for this long.

Here's what I found and take for a longer ride.

Hydration

Hydralyte Sports - I switched to this from the standard sport drinks because I thought it worked better (it's probably mostly psychological I know) and the satchels for a 600ml bottle are pretty handy to carry around.

Food

Bonk Breakers -  They have a pretty silly name but they are pretty tasty (for energy bars) and all their products are gluten and dairy free. My favourites are the Apple Pie and Peanut Butter and Jam ones. They are a bit more expensive but they are worth it for the taste (and to find something that is gluten free.

HoneyShotz - I don't like the gels, they are super goopy and sticky. I generally get them all over my hands and jersey before I get any to my mouth. One thing I do love is Honey (who doesn't) and HoneyShotz are perfect for taking on a ride... And added bonus, if you happen to split a tyre the honeyshotz case is perfect for sealing the hole and getting you home.

The cupcake winner for 2011 is Di..licious

For a long time I was a huge advocate for Poppy Cakes and their low gluten cupcake. Today though their thrown was cruelly torn away by Di..licious.

I was out with friends for lunch today and someone brought a whole pile of cupcakes for dessert and very kindly came with a nicely boxed gluten free version.

Heaven in a paper wrapper is about the best way to describe what I ate. No other words could do it justice.

An inconsistent wrap

Chic Espresso
Where:109 Leichhardt Street Spring Hill QLD 4000 (07) 3839 2593
Lunch: Gluten Free Chicken Wrap ($6.50)

This is a great little coffee shop just up the road from me that started doing gluten free wraps (very handy). I say inconsistent about the wrap because I had one the other day that was the most delicious chicken wrap I'd ever had. Today, however it was pretty ho-hum, which was disappointing because I was really looking forward to it. They make them fresh so it could have been a different chef/cook today and that's why it wasn't as great.

Anyway it's still a pretty quick and cheap lunch in the city. And if you get a good one... they are fantastic.

Honestly is there anyone who doesn't like cupcakes?

I don't care how old you are.... cupcakes are delicious!

Poppy Cakes
Where:1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006 (07) 3257 4844
Treat: Low Gluten Cupcake

Now this is another one that you have to be a little careful of depending on how strict you are on the "Gluten Free" front. Poppy Cakes make (in my opinion) the best cupcakes around... for those of us who are gluten intolerant there is good news... They bake gluten free ones. So why the Low Gluten you ask? This is the reason "Classic vanilla made using gluten-free ingredients, baked fresh in the same kitchen as the glutenous cupcakes."

If you're happy with those odds then you HAVE to try these cupcakes!

If you're going with someone who is happy with Gluten the red velvets look devine

A pastry magician

Bonjour Patisserie
Where:876 Brunswick Street New Farm QLD 4005
Treat: Lemon Meringue Pie

This place makes it worth while being gluten free. The pastry chef here is an absolute magician with Gluten Free pastry. They have everything from mini cupcakes to chocolate eclairs to lemon meringue pie to the best gluten free pies I've ever tasted. They also have a pretty impressive selection of full size cakes that I've converted my last two workplaces to for birthday cakes.

If you have the slightest sweet tooth you simply must visit this place. The cabinets are just full of gluten free delights, so much so that they mark the non gluten free items with a gold star.

The only thing I could say against them is they have so many things I can never choose. At Christmas time there is a special treat they do a Bûche de Noël. I had one for Christmas a couple of years ago and it was divine.

What to do for lunch today?

Anyone have any suggestions for a lunch venue for today?

Now that's embarrassing

Grill'd
Where:134 Racecourse Road, Ascot QLD 4007
Other Locations
Nutrition Information: http://www.grilld.com.au/section/nutrition/
Meal: Mustard and Pickle ($9.90) + Gluten Free Bun ($1.50)

Well that was a little unplanned, I managed to visit the same chain two days in a row. Early days of the blog and already duplicating... woops. As it happens my client was taking a trip to grill'd for lunch and I was hardly going to turn down a GF lunch option.

This time I took one of my favourite burgers and had the Mustard and Pickle. I will say that it is worth finding a grill'd that you like as many of them use different gluten free buns. The ones they serve here were much more cake like than the ones in the CDB. Still the burger was pretty delicious, cakelike bun aside.

When sometimes only a burger will do

Grill'd
Where:Eagle Street Pier, Brisbane 4000 Ph. 3221 2907
Other Locations
Nutrition Information: http://www.grilld.com.au/section/nutrition/
Meal: Grill'd Caesar's Palace ($11.90) + Gluten Free Bun ($1.50)

This post comes with a bit of a caveat, and a pretty funny one at that. Really there menu board says it all "Gluten Free Bun* $1.50 *May contain traces of gluten".

Basically at Grill'd they've got all the ingredients for the delicious Gluten Free burger around just not the environment for it. So whether you eat here or not comes down to your opinion on the zero gluten policy. Most stores are quite good and cover cutting boards and surfaces for the gluten free orders but there is always that chance. (I've also tagged this post Low Gluten because it might not be gluten free)

Doom and gloom aside Grill'd do make some of tastiest burgers around gluten free or not. The hardest part I find is choosing. My favourites tend to be chicken ones but I often order beef because I'm at a burger place. Today I opted for the "Caesar's palace" which I'd basically the burger equivalent of a caesar salad. Not my number one favorite but every bit as good as it sounds.

My top 3 burgers would have to be:

• Bird and Brie
• Mustard and pickled!
• Baa Baa' Burger

It may not be a 100% gluten free solution but if you need a nice "up market" fast food place and not have to worry about strange looks it might be worth the risk.

A gluten free haven in the heart of Teneriffe

Healthtopia
Where:Suite 2A, 54 Vernon Tce, Teneriffe Qld 4006
Phone: (07) 3162 2964 • Fax: (07) 3319 5515
Email: info@healthtopia.com.au

This place I discovered the other day but I hadn't had a chance to post about it yet. It's a fantastic little health food store that's opened up recently on Vernon Tce in Teneriffe. They have a pretty good range of health food stuff but seems to stock an amazing amount of gluten free products. Today I spotted Dr Schar, Gluten Free bakery, D'lish, along with a host of other bread and pasta products I'd never seen before. I must confess I picked up a couple of the D'lish gourmet pizzas and an interesting looking pasta by L'Abruzzese.

The best news of all is they have a small but good selection of fresh organic produce as well perfect if you need to pick up a few things for lunch/dinner.

The volume of gluten free products is just amazing I can't really do it justice in a quick post. It's certainly a place I'll be revisiting so I might post a better range of their products.

Check it out if you're looking for something gluten free. Chances are they'll have it.

Nandos - fast food and gluten free friendly

Today is a bit of a back to earth post after the awesome breakfast yesterday. I was out and about and was looking for some quick easy take away. One of my default fast food options is Nandos. They have quite a few menu items that are gluten free. My favorite is the chicken steak combo with spicy rice. They are relatively quick and heaps of locations (3 alone in the CBD). Relatively though they aren't very cheap for fast food but always pretty tasty and cooked fresh.

Here are some of their other gluten free menu items (always pays to check the menu though they update it quite often)

Flame grilled chicken
1/4 Chicken breast with skin
1/4 Chicken breast without skin
1/4 Chicken leg with skin
1/4 Chicken leg without skin
Grilled Tenderloins 4 pieces

Sides & Salads
Regular Spicy Rice
Corn on the Cob (contains dairy)
Fresh Garden Salad with dressing
Fresh Garden Salad without dressing
Chicken Garden Salad with dressing
Chicken Garden Salad without dressing
Chicken Mediterranean Salad with dressing (contains dairy)
Chicken Mediterranean Salad without dressing (contains dairy)

Nandos
Where: Multiple locations across greater Brisbane
Meal: Chicken Steak combo with spicy rice and a drink ($16.60)

Breakfast degustation

Symposium Cafe

This is one of my favourite local cafes, mainly because they make gluten free Belgium waffles (but that is a story for another post). Symposium is very happy to cater for gluten free and if they can will change any thing on the menu to suite.

This morning we headed off to celebrate a friend's birthday for a fantastic breakfast/brunch idea - Breakfast Degustation!

The menu consist of 4 courses: Fresh seasonal fruit shot with organic yoghurt & homemade honey nut granola, Regal hot smoked salmon with hash cake, scrambled eggs & cottage cheese, Petit fry up with quail eggs & all the trimmings, Sweet brioche with poached strawberries & bourbon cream.

First up the fruit shot and yogurt.

The fruit today was mango and rock-melon and it was delicious, I think I could have had two more helpings. Unfortunately they granola wasn't gluten free so I skipped it and a few other people shared it. The passionfruit with the yogurt was very good, but nothing out of the ordinary (unlike the fruit shot. Have I mentioned the fruit shot?)

Next on the list was the smoked salmon with hash cake (and probably my favourite of the whole meal)

To be perfectly honest I'm not a very big fan of smoked salmon but I really liked this course. I think it was the hash cake that sealed the deal. I don't know I can say much more about this plate, it just seemed to work really well and I polished it off in no time flat.

The last of the savoury courses was the Petit Fry up.

Now first things first, it's name is very apt. It is a petit fry up (we added the dollar coin for some perspective). But don't think that in anyway is a demeaning. The fry up is great especially after the two courses that have gone before (and they are saving the best for last). I think it's the perfect alternative to the"Big Breakfast". It has everything you want cooked perfectly just miniaturised. I loved the grilled cherry tomato touch.

Last was the (deliciously) sweet brioche course.

Now if you're gluten intolerant don't get your hopes up too much, it's not technically brioche... It's gluten free bread treated just like brioche. Fortunately this doesn't make it any less delicious. I'm a sucker for sweet things a breakfast and this probably would have knocked the salmon off top spot except I'm not the biggest fan of strawberries (I know it's a bit strange). It's every bit as good as it looks though.

Overall it's a pretty amazing breakfast, not only because it tastes so good but also they've manage to make the portions just the right size so you're well and truly full but don't fell like you have to lie down for the next 3 hours. Symposium has a pretty relaxed and fun atmosphere and does a pretty busy trade for a Sunday morning (the only day they open on the weekend and the only day they do the degustation). It's going to be a while before I think I'll be able to top that breakfast experience.

Address: Shop 2/26 Commercial Rd, Fortitude Valley
When: Monday to Friday 6am - 5pm, Sunday 7am - 3pm (Degustation only on Sunday)
Menu: Weekday Menu, Weekend Menu
Meal: Breakfast Degustation ($45/head including drinks)

Powerhouse Farmers Markets - Filled with Gluten Free delights

Powerhouse Farmer's Markets

Address: 119 Lamington Street, New Farm QLD 4005

When: 2nd and 4th Saturday of the Month (6am - 12noon)

We took a trip to the Powerhouse markets this morning and here are a couple of the places that cater for the gluten free diets. There are lots of other great places (including gluten free sausages on a stick) but here's a sample.

Monsieur Macaron

These guys have some great treats. Macarons of course but creme brûlée as well. The lavender macarons are fantastic but it's a close race for first place for the coconut one. I think I could quite easily eat a 20 piece box. This is the small selection we managed to limit ourselves to this morning

Website:http://www.monsieur-macaron.com.au/

Mudgeeraba Spices

It's hard to believe how many different dishes these guys have on offer. All frozen and all gluten free.

• Butter Chicken
• South Indian lamb
• South Indian Lamb Korma
• Beef Vindaloo
• Chicken Tikka Masala
• Madras Lamb
• Pork Chittagong
• Beef Rendang
• Agra Lamb
• Sri Lanka Beef
• South Indian Chicken & Veg
• South Indian Vegetable
• Lamb & Cashew
• Roghan Josh

I've only had a few of the pre-made curries but every one has been fantastic. They are also pretty quick and easy to reheat and eat. Not something that is too easy to find with delicious indian flavours and gluten free

Website:http://www.mudgeerabaspices.com.au/

Market St Cafe - Unlikely Breakfast Location

Market Street Cafe

This is a pretty unlikely spot (at least I thought it was) to find someone with a multitude of gluten free options but tucked away on the corner of Market and Charlotte St the Market St Cafe is not a bad place for a cheap breakfast.

I had the Market St Breakfast with Gluten Free Toast (but they will do GF toast with anything). For $9.90 you get Eggs, Bacon, Mushrooms, Tomato and a glass of Orange Juice. It's pretty good value for breakfast and GF to boot. It's not a gourmet affair but it's a pretty tasty breakfast and I've paid a lot more for a lot worse.

As a bit of a bonus they have quite a few yummy GF nibbles in their cabinet as well. There was a great looking Cupcake that I had to work very hard to resist.

Address: 30 Market Street, Brisbane QLD 4000

Meal: Market St Breakfast ($8.90) + Gluten Free Toast ($1)

My Top 5 Quick CDB Lunches

This was a post I did a while ago but though it was a good one to update for this blog. Here is a list of some great places to go if you're looking for lunch in the CBD.

Cool Beans & Baguettes - Brisbane Square

This is my first choice for a lunch out in the city, they have a great selection of premade gluten free sandwiches (that you can get toasted) for $6.50. They come in a pair and have a range of different fillings each day. They also have a great selection of GF cakes and slices and will make Coffee's with Lactose free milk

Address: 266 George Street Brisbane, Australia

Fav Lunch: Chicken Caeser Sandwich - $6.50

Fav Snack: Peanut Caramel Slice - $4.50

Alen's Espresso

These guys are really close and make fabulous coffee. They usually have a couple of Gluten free options on for the day and have a great selection of cakes and nibbles. Be prepared for a little wait though, their coffee is so good there is usually a line out the door to get one.

Address: 420 George Street Brisbane, Australia
Fav Lunch: Breakfast Quiche

Fav Snack: Caramel Cheesecake

Extract

It's a bit hard to find tucked away on Adelaide st but these guys have a great selection of the Gluten Free Topless Tarts and will often have bread to make up sandwiches with.

Address: Shop 7a / 200 Adelaide Street Brisbane, Australia

Fav Lunch: Spinach Risotto

Fav Snack: Lemon Polenta Cake

Spoon Deli (Festival Towers)

I haven't been down this end of town for ages but this used to be a good staple for my weekday lunches, they have lots of the sol breads in stock and lots of biscuit selections
Address:  Corner Albert and Charlotte Street Brisbane, Australia

Fav Lunch:  Beef Lasagne $8.50

Fav Snack: Gingerbread man

Vapiano

I've saved this one for last because it's not an every day lunch. This one is for when I'm feeling like decadent lunch, a trip to Vapiano isn't the cheapest on the list but their Gluten Free gnocchi is amazing.

Menu: Our Food
Address: Albert Lane Queen St Mall, Brisbane Australia 
Fav Lunch: Pollo E Spinaci $25.90

A journey through Brisbane without gluten

I thought I'd start a blog about all the places I've discovered that cater for those with a Gluten Free diet in Brisbane. While it's becoming quite common it's very much a case of finding places by word of mouth.

Hopefully it's helps a few people find places to eat out.