Sweet Connection - Gluten Free Bakery in Dubai

Before my husband and I embarked on our trip to Delhi & Dubai, we did a lot of research on where to find gluten free food for me.

Well, we did some good research because we found a complete gluten free bakery in Dubai called Sweet Connection. We had thought it was a proper bakery/cafe where you can pick things up. So my husband and I caught a taxi and made our way there. When we go there, we were told we had to put a order in before hand if we wanted something specific. However, the head baker, was very sweet and she said she had some things she had baked fresh and we could take it. We bought a loaf of gluten free banana bread with chocolate chips and two donuts. We had the bread ever morning for breakfast. It was truly amazing. I used to bake fresh banana bread before I was diagnosed and when I tell your this gluten free bread tasted just like it... it was amazing! You'd never, ever think it was gluten free. No after taste, great texture, not crumbly. It was so so great. Even donuts were delicious. If we were there for longer, I would have loved to try some more.

From speaking to the staff, Sweet Connection is a fairly new establishment.  The kitchen is so clean, and the amount of various flours on the shelves is truly amazing. I'm sure once people get a word of it it will become even more popular. If you are visiting Dubai, I highly recommend calling ahead of time and placing an order. I believe they even deliver, so that is great as well!

Costa Coffee Gingerbread Lattes Are Gluten Free

I had recently went to a Costa Coffee and asked the barista if their gingerbread lattes were gluten free... however, they weren't too sure. So i decided to email customer service and find out for sure. Email response is below. It is gluten free, but not sure of cross contamination. Drink at your own risk!


Thank you for your email

I can confirm that the gingerbread latte should not have any gluten in, however there may be a risk of cross contamination,

Kindest regards
COSTA CUSTOMER SERVICES TEAM

Gluten Free in Dubai

Gluten Free section in Mall of Emirates' Carrefour

We recently had an amazing trip to Dubai. Gorgeous city with beautiful weather. And being gluten free wasn't that difficult either.

Dubai is the western world in the east. What do I mean? Well, when its comes to restaurants and brands, Dubai has it all. From American frozen food to British chocolate. The supermarkets are seriously to die for. They have everything! And me being American, I was so happy to see so many U.S. brands. Kind of felt like I was home. At the Mall of Emirates mega big Carrefour they even had this amazing gluten free section. With everything from biscuits to pastas I haven't been able to find in the U.K. The selection was the most impressive I've seen outside the U.S. And U.K.

Mrs. Crimbles at LuLu Hypermarket

Another big brand in the Dubai supermarkets was Mrs. Crimbles. They had all the cakes, brownies, etc. Livwell also had a big section of bread, ciabatta rolls, bagels. Everything I can find here in the U.K. Pretty impressive I must say.

Livwell at LuLu Hypermarkets

 The Mall of Emirates and Mall of Dubai are filled with American and British chains. Actually, any big global chain, you could probably find there. For example, P.F. Changs is on my favourite restaurants. When I went there and asked them about gluten free choices, they let me know which ones they could whip up for me. It was great to go into a restaurant in a foreign country and they actually know what gluten free is… Carluccios in Dubai even had the same gluten free menu you find in the U.K. Eating at big chains was easy. It felt so great to be on a trip that I could actually enjoy dining out! However, few small restaurants we went to that weren't chains, didn't really understand what gluten free is even with my card.

For a coeliac, Dubai is one amazing place to go! Top of my list. If you want any other recommendations, please do email me.

Pizza Hut's Gluten Free Pizza Review

Pizza Hut in the U.K. started to serve customers gluten free pizzas as of October 8, 2012. When I heard they were doing this, I was so, so, excited! Not many restaurants in the U.K. cater to people that are gluten free, so to add Pizza Hut to the list was quite the treat! To be honest, I think my husband (who is a pizza lover) was more excited then me. Because of me, he hasn't really gone for the last two years!

I went a week later to our local Pizza Hut and finally tried the gluten free pizza. It comes in a square shape and you can have any toppings you want and they are gluten free. I had ordered the spicy veggie sizzler. Was very nice. When I think of Pizza Hut I expect the base to be quite thick, but the gluten free option is quite thin so I was a bit sad. However, it was still a very tasty base that does not leave that gluten free after taste. It was delicious! But one thing it does lack is more sauce and cheese. Not as much sauce and cheese made it quite dry, so if you do go, ask for more sauce and cheese.

The menu was also very impressive. They have a NCGI (No containing gluten ingredients) next to other things you can have on the menu. Like the nachos, salad, etc. And at the bottom of every page they tell you what does have gluten. So for example, on the salad bar, bacon bites contain gluten and they make a note of that.







I had asked the waitress if many people order the gluten free base. She said on the day we went, she had two previous orders. Not bad, but I do hope it picks up so they don't get rid of the option!

One downside is, you must go to a restaurant to get the gluten free option. Pizza Hut does not deliver the gluten free option.

Every time I eat out, I always fear that I will get sick. But luckily, I was ok the next day.

A Vaccine For Coeliac Disease

There may be hope for coeliacs according to this Daily Mail article on how a vaccine for coeliacs is in the works.

It's "A vaccine that stops the body reacting to one of the main ingredients in bread could allow thousands of coeliac sufferers to eat a normal diet."

Vaccine trials have started in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, involving more than 100 patients.

Take a read of the article.

Beecher's Gluten Free Macaroni & Cheese

As you know I visited Seattle in August to see my little brother, so this post is a bit overdue.

While walking through Pike Place Market, my favorite place in Seattle, my mom and I noticed a big line outside this shop, so we decided to go in. Once inside, realized it was a cheese shop called Beecher's. Anyone that knows me, knows I loveeee cheesies (as I say :-) )

It was great to see how the cheese was made freshly there was. Quite the process and smelled so cheesy, literally.

The whole trip I kept going on about Mac & Cheese. As we left the shop I spotted "GLUTEN FREE Mac & Cheese" in the freezer. I was so excited, showed my mom. She is like come on lets buy it, since you've been going on and on. It was very expensive, about $14. I thought to myself I can buy a meal in a restaurant for that price. I had it that night. The pasta was good, but the cheese was so so rich. If you don't love rich cheesey flavors, then this isn't for you.

U.K. Pizza Hut Announces Gluten Free Pizza

At first it was a rumor... that Pizza Hut in the U.K. would begin serving gluten free pizzas on October 8, 2012. I had tweeted the rumor to a coeliac friend of mine.

Later that night, she begin to tweet me back and said saw on the Pizza Hut U.K. Facebook page that the news was true! We were both so excited that words cannot express it!!!

Planning on gluten free pizza for dinner on Oct. 8. Review will come shortly.

Gluten Free in Seattle, Washington -- Cinnamon Works

I recently went to go visit my baby brother in Seattle, Washington where he is currently interning! Such a great city. And of course when I visit new places I try to check out gluten free spots for my fellow coeliacs. ;-)

Pike Place market has got to be my favorite touristy spot in Seattle. Such an unreal market, right by the water. They have everything from the most amazing fruit, to dried fruit, spicy/sweet jams, clothes, jewelry, fresh fish! You name it, Pike Place has it. They also have the first ever Starbucks.

So while walking around I came across a stall called Cinnamon Works. I saw a written gluten-free sign and instantly migrated my way towards it. There were so many freshly baked cookies, muffins and brownies! I bought one of them and it was the best cookie I've ever had. My  mom and brother also tried and they said they couldn't even tell it was gluten free! I got one on the first day of my trip and made my way there as well on the last day of my Seattle trip :-)

 They are to die for. They are a bit on the pricey side, $4.95 a pop, but they are so worth it! If you are in Seattle, this is a must-stop gluten free spot.

Pike Place Market = Delicious fruit. "Oh My God" peaches are the best!

Lady Gaga Goes Gluten Free

Sometimes I wonder why celebrities go gluten free. I notice that gluten free foods have more calories then normal foods. The latest celebrity to get on the gluten free band wagon is Lady Gaga. She wants to try and lose 10 pounds, not that she needs to!

What are your thoughts? Do you think being gluten free helps you lose weight? I've been the same since I started… so don't think it helps to lose weight.

Vital Ingredient - Healthy Gluten Free Lunch

I try not to eat out too often as I'm always scared of feeling sick. But every once in awhile I just want to feel normal and go out to grab some lunch with friends at work. Since I can't eat at most places, I don't usually go. I just tend to be a burden to them since I can't eat at most places.

One day a dear friend of mine introduced me to Vital Ingredient. I already had a lunch so I just went to give her some company. As I walked in the the menu was plastered with GF, WF, DF and I was quite impressed. I told myself I had to come back one day…

And that one day is today! I finally made my way back there to actually get lunch. I asked the manager what salad dressings were gluten free and he said one minute and walked away. Few minutes later he came out with a binder and showed me that all the salad dressings were gluten free. It was so nice to see this binder! As most times, employees just say it is gluten free without checking or even knowing what gluten is. I looked through the binder and a majority of soup options are also gluten free.

Vital Ingredient staff were very helpful and I had a very delicious lunch. If you walk by this place in London, I highly recommend coeliacs to sit down and enjoy some food!