FREE FROM OUT AND ABOUT @ York, Yorkshire, England
Just back from a three night break in York with my Mum. We had a great time, lots of laughs. On the food score board we had some scrumptiously gratifying moments and some serious lows.
(Thurs 11th) Our first stop was Ask Italian on Blake St, where I had the CAPRINA GF pizza with Soft goat’s cheese, rocket, Santos tomatoes and olive tapenade. This was gorgeous and devoured in minutes. I do like Ask Italian, they have a fairly decent non-gluten menu and a vegan menu too, so I just use both to decide. Great place to dine when you've just arrived as you don't have to think too much.
(Fri 12 & Sat 13th) Breakfast, two days in a row, was at a lovely little place called, Café la Tazzina on Blossom St. just along the road from where we were staying, the staff where very helpful. Food was delicious and there was a reasonable choice of free from options. The small breakfast fed the two of us and one pot of tea was more than enough. Gorgeous, if I lived in York I'd never be out of the place.
(Fri 12th) I am a fair expert in afternoon tea, I know what I like and what I expect, I have to say I rarely get that when it comes to afternoon tea. There have been a few places that rank high, but none have actually ticked every box. I have to say that my experience of the Hotel du Vin & Bistro on 89 The Mount in York, ticked none. Here was the menu for what I booked and I did state my dietary requirements of which they said that was no problem and did not ask any further questions;
"Begin with a selection of mini sandwiches and savouries. Including a Severn and Wye smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel, egg and cress mayonnaise brioche sub, ham with Gruyère croissant, heritage tomato and tapenade galette, goat’s cheese and spinach quiche.The next course is a selection of warm scones served with a mixture of Bonne Maman jams, clotted cream and Lescure butter. To finish, a few sweet mini treats of a lemon meringue pie, raspberry and dark chocolate teacakes and rhubarb and custard doughnuts. All topped off with homemade apple candy floss and a choice of teas."
Sounds fabulous and most of that can be substituted by a professional chief or someone who is living and cooking everyday with allergies (GF Bread, Goat's cheese or Violife alternative with coconut, they do an amazing range, GF pancakes are not hard to make, and meringue type Eaton mess is totally acceptable if you use a non dairy cream). Lets just say that one brownie and a fruit shot and a shot of sorbet does not in any way appeal to a woman jonesing for a teacake (can buy these) or doughnut (made these). I can only say that my Mum had the normal afternoon tea and she did enjoy it. And the so called candy floss had no taste and just looked ridiculous. Think I will stop before I start ranting.
(Fri 12th) Dinner @ The Windmill Inn, Blossom St. this was just down the road from our hotel and the Glaswegian Chief is Lactose Intolerant. He has put together a GF menu and its very good, he also stated that whatever I wanted from any menu he would make to my need. Great, only issue was the night I went it he was off. However I found the Spicy Jerk Chicken on the GF menu and the chief that made it did a fantastic job, the whole plate was delightfully scoffed and we spent the whole evening in the place enjoying the atmosphere.
(Sat 13th) I knew that I wanted to visit Molly's Vintage Tearooms at 41 Stonegate, again, because I'd really impressed by their Gluten & Vegan free choices and enjoyed their cake last time I visited, (Oct 16), the staff are friendly and helpful too. So much choice of GF/DF Cake that I wanted them all, but plumped for my fav, Carrot Cake, sandwich and tea. It was fabulous, they even made me a sandwich to take away with me for the train home. Which I will say was lovely packaged, in foil, with a flyer and a napkin in a cake box. I felt very treated on my trip home. I spotted a table of four getting afternoon tea, lets just say that the presentation and assortment, knowing that they do a lot of GF/DF it would tick a lot of my boxes, not all, but a lot. I'll be giving it a try next time I'm back.
(Sat 13th) Something a little different, I chose to go to Café Concerto at 21 High Petergate, for our pre-theatre diner. I'd heard that they were really good and that they had a double sided GF menu. They were really good and they did have a really good menu, unfortunately I have more than one allergy and I couldn't have any of it. I did however end up with the most incredible Club sandwich ever that I thought I'd die with the enjoyment of eating it.
So that was that on the Free From out and about food on the go in York. Looking forward to my trip here in July. See ya later.
