I recently realized that, before this GF diet, I've always been complaining about my stomach pain. I thought I ate something too greasy or I ate too much or too fast. Or it could be stress. But no, I got a stomachache even after a very light meal. I was so frustrated.
But I recently realised that since I have gotten on a gluten free diet, the stomach pain is gone, vanished! disappeared! I could have a very filling meal, and I would feel full and that's it. =) I'm so pleased.
~
The next few weeks are gonna be hectic at work. Will update about Europe after.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Grindelwald Switzerland trip
See update from after the trip here.
I'll be staying in Grindelwald this time.
General guide from CeliacTravel on Switzerland
Seems that various hotels/restaurants in Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald offers gluten free dishes: (I didn't try any of these)
Hotel Hirschen - Im Tuftli, 3818 Grindelwald
Hotel Jungfrau Lodge - Postfach 70, Grindelwald 3818, Switzerland
Hotel Sunstar - Haupstrasse 15, Grindelwald 3818 (A la carte meal cost: Approx. Sfr50 per person excluding wine)
Hotel Belvedere - Galliweidli, Wengen, Jungfrau Region, 3823, SwitzerlandHotel Oberland - Fuhren, 3822 Lauterbrunnen
For update, please refer to my postings:
Germany Reformhaus
Switzerland - Bern
Switzerland - Interlaken
Gluten free Germany (Munich)
I'm travelling again, to Germany and Switzerland.
Will keep updating with information I find online.
Restaurants:
Il Salento Ristorante Pizzeria - didn't try
(M-Sa 1130-230, 530-11, closed Sun)
Hess str. 15 (corner of Luisenstr)
Le Meridien Munich - stayed there but too full to order/try =b
Restaurant manager replied saying that they always have gluten free bread in the house and their chefs can prepare other gluten free meals =)
Bayerstraße 4180335 München
Bayerischer Donisl - dined there but waiter was clueless about gluten-free. I had the most plain dish in the restaurant. Yummy meal.
Traditional , authentic Bavarian cuisine
Weinstrasse 1, D-80333 München, right near the Marienplatz
Telephone: 49 (0) 89 29 62 64
Menu
Taverna Athen Greek and Mediterranean cuisine in Schwabing, Munich - didn't go
Buxs, Vegetarian restaurant, Frauenstraße 9, 80469 München - didn't go
Mercado de Mexico Schulstrasse 38, München - didn't go
Key forum: Toytown Germany (Eng speaking crowd in Germany)
Society: German Celiac Society
Blog reference: Gluten free snacks from Germany
GF Restaurant listing: Celiac handbook (Germany)
My postings:
Germany Reformhaus
Switzerland - Bern
Switzerland - Interlaken & Zurich airport
Will keep updating with information I find online.
Restaurants:
Il Salento Ristorante Pizzeria - didn't try
(M-Sa 1130-230, 530-11, closed Sun)
Hess str. 15 (corner of Luisenstr)
Le Meridien Munich - stayed there but too full to order/try =b
Restaurant manager replied saying that they always have gluten free bread in the house and their chefs can prepare other gluten free meals =)
Bayerstraße 4180335 München
Bayerischer Donisl - dined there but waiter was clueless about gluten-free. I had the most plain dish in the restaurant. Yummy meal.
Traditional , authentic Bavarian cuisine
Weinstrasse 1, D-80333 München, right near the Marienplatz
Telephone: 49 (0) 89 29 62 64
Menu
Taverna Athen Greek and Mediterranean cuisine in Schwabing, Munich - didn't go
Buxs, Vegetarian restaurant, Frauenstraße 9, 80469 München - didn't go
Mercado de Mexico Schulstrasse 38, München - didn't go
Key forum: Toytown Germany (Eng speaking crowd in Germany)
Society: German Celiac Society
Blog reference: Gluten free snacks from Germany
GF Restaurant listing: Celiac handbook (Germany)
My postings:
Germany Reformhaus
Switzerland - Bern
Switzerland - Interlaken & Zurich airport
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Feedback from S. Komatsu, GF Tokyo
I received an email from S. Komatsu regarding my comment that they are no longer offering GF menu (see previous post). So good news to us, they still serve GF!
Here is an extract of Aki's reply:
....it is sad that we had to suspend the gluten-free menu. In reality we still do not use flours that contain gluten in our cooking but as making everything from scratch is so time consuming we have had to resort to buying in some products, like pickles and mentaiko, and therefore cannot guarantee that they are 100% gluten free. There were other issues that made it hard to continue, like inconsiderate guests who, for example, book in as a group of 5 but then only order 2 meals to share amongst them all! ! It is only a small restaurant and we try to make our meals accessible by keeping the prices down, but literally many more hours of work goes into making a stunning gluten-free meal than a regular meal so it is devastating when this is not appreciated, or worse, goes to waste! It is guests like this who ruin it for other guests who really would appreciate our cuisine, because it becomes financially unviable for us to continue. As a result, now we would only consider serving gluten free to guests who not only book in advance with this request but also truly appreciate what we do and accept our menu and pricing structure without pettiness. As you and your partner no doubt discovered, you will get your money's worth of fine dining!
Regards,
Totally agree with Aki that the meal was "stunning". Service was amazing. And they baked my bread right when I was there so that it was warm when I got it. I'd hate to see 5 people sharing 2 meals too... maybe those are poor students with no earnings. But in Japan (and in many places), it might not be too appropriate? Especially when it is just a small restaurant that serves amazing dishes. 5500yen for the meal I had at S. Komatsu, was really more than worth it =) It was a real enjoyable experience. I wish I went again when I was in Tokyo but I was in Tokyo for a few days only. I look forward to visiting again!!!
My GF buddies, if you visit them when you are in Tokyo, you can enjoy a carefree traditional Jap dinner in a very private setting, friendly service.
Thanks S. Komatsu's team =)
Here is an extract of Aki's reply:
....it is sad that we had to suspend the gluten-free menu. In reality we still do not use flours that contain gluten in our cooking but as making everything from scratch is so time consuming we have had to resort to buying in some products, like pickles and mentaiko, and therefore cannot guarantee that they are 100% gluten free. There were other issues that made it hard to continue, like inconsiderate guests who, for example, book in as a group of 5 but then only order 2 meals to share amongst them all! ! It is only a small restaurant and we try to make our meals accessible by keeping the prices down, but literally many more hours of work goes into making a stunning gluten-free meal than a regular meal so it is devastating when this is not appreciated, or worse, goes to waste! It is guests like this who ruin it for other guests who really would appreciate our cuisine, because it becomes financially unviable for us to continue. As a result, now we would only consider serving gluten free to guests who not only book in advance with this request but also truly appreciate what we do and accept our menu and pricing structure without pettiness. As you and your partner no doubt discovered, you will get your money's worth of fine dining!
Regards,
Totally agree with Aki that the meal was "stunning". Service was amazing. And they baked my bread right when I was there so that it was warm when I got it. I'd hate to see 5 people sharing 2 meals too... maybe those are poor students with no earnings. But in Japan (and in many places), it might not be too appropriate? Especially when it is just a small restaurant that serves amazing dishes. 5500yen for the meal I had at S. Komatsu, was really more than worth it =) It was a real enjoyable experience. I wish I went again when I was in Tokyo but I was in Tokyo for a few days only. I look forward to visiting again!!!
My GF buddies, if you visit them when you are in Tokyo, you can enjoy a carefree traditional Jap dinner in a very private setting, friendly service.
Thanks S. Komatsu's team =)
Natural products show HK 2010
The Natural Products Asia Show is mainly for people to find distributors / manufacturers in HK. However, there is also an area with many stands for organic shops and health food shops.
I got the following Elderflower cordial. Aroha is still looking for distributor in HK but it seems pretty popular in New Zealand. It is supposed to be antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant... but I got cuz it is an amazing adult juice. You could mix it with gin for cocktail, with soda for a refreshing drink, or just with water as a juice. Yum.
Another thing I got is this brown rice miso from the stand of the Path of Health Ltd. I later found that they have stores in Wan Chai HK (177 Wan Chai Road), Yuen Long, Mei Fu, and Kwun Tong. Their signature products are coconut oil and sweet coconut flake. They are not GF-focus but they do sell the Envirokidz rice krispy (chocolate & p.butter flavour).
Also bought some Himalayan pink salt.
Will I go to the show again next year? If I have time but remember to go early, cuz by around 3pm, many stands were already packing up to leave. At an entrance fee is $20, it isnt a bad weekend activity.
See here for more details of the trade show.
I got the following Elderflower cordial. Aroha is still looking for distributor in HK but it seems pretty popular in New Zealand. It is supposed to be antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant... but I got cuz it is an amazing adult juice. You could mix it with gin for cocktail, with soda for a refreshing drink, or just with water as a juice. Yum.
Another thing I got is this brown rice miso from the stand of the Path of Health Ltd. I later found that they have stores in Wan Chai HK (177 Wan Chai Road), Yuen Long, Mei Fu, and Kwun Tong. Their signature products are coconut oil and sweet coconut flake. They are not GF-focus but they do sell the Envirokidz rice krispy (chocolate & p.butter flavour).
Also bought some Himalayan pink salt.
Will I go to the show again next year? If I have time but remember to go early, cuz by around 3pm, many stands were already packing up to leave. At an entrance fee is $20, it isnt a bad weekend activity.
See here for more details of the trade show.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Not a flavourful day...
Had a late dinner at Amaroni's Little Italy in Kowloon Tong Festival Walk 又一城. It would be unfair to leave a bad comment for the restaurant on a general restaurant review website... since it is a decent risotto. But....
I had their mushroom risotto, and now my stomach is feeling unwell. My face is redden, body itchy =( If done the proper way, risotto should be gluten-free, right? Maybe it is my reaction to other ingredients? Or maybe they added excessive chicken powder (hopefully not MSG)?
What else could I order from Italian restaurant other than a salad with no dressing no croutons?
=( Life is not flavourful everyday...
I had their mushroom risotto, and now my stomach is feeling unwell. My face is redden, body itchy =( If done the proper way, risotto should be gluten-free, right? Maybe it is my reaction to other ingredients? Or maybe they added excessive chicken powder (hopefully not MSG)?
What else could I order from Italian restaurant other than a salad with no dressing no croutons?
=( Life is not flavourful everyday...
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