Back for more: Top 10 gluten-free haunts in Sydney

As I mentioned in my last post, I haven't been that well recently. I've been experiencing bad gut symptoms, getting tests done, and trying some new strategies. 

But today I don't want to focus on managing my gut problems - or not, as the case may be. 

Instead, I want to talk about the great gluten-free cafes and restaurants we have tried here in Sydney. After all, some days a girl just really needs her brunch - regardless of the consequences. 

Smashed avocado might give me a terrible stomach ache, but I am still a millennial, after all. 

These are the top 10 cafes and restaurants that keep us coming back for more. 

Top 10 gluten-free haunts in Sydney

These are cafes and restaurants where we have had good gluten-free experiences in central Sydney. They may not be suitable on the low-FODMAP diet, depending on personal tolerance levels. As always, be sure to speak to the staff about your dietary requirements. 

1. Malabar

Excellent Indian food in Darlinghurst / Kings Cross. The menu is marked with lots of delicious gluten-free options, including a range of starters. Try the Dosai! 

2. Kindness cafe 

Modern, organic Thai food in Darlinghurst. This casual restaurant is vegetarian and vegan with gluten-free options marked on the menu. The food is light, fresh, and incredibly delicious. 

3. Contrabando

Tasty mexican food in the CBD with a separate gluten-free menu. The tacos are amazing and they're served on boards - proper hipster. Plus, they're $3 each on Taco Tuesdays. Why not have five?

4. Mahjong Room

Cantonese food that's just a little bit fancy. The menu is marked at this Surry Hills favourite, but don't forget to check out the specials board - you might find something extraordinary. 

5. Thai Nesia

This bustling Oxford St restaurant is fun, vibrant and flavourful. There's a separate gluten-free menu with a range of items - but we can never go past the beef Massaman curry. 

6. Micky's

You'll find something for everyone at this cafe come causal diner in Paddington. For me, it's gluten-free salt and pepper calamari. Gluten-free options are marked on the menu.  

7. Assembly

Gluten-free Italian noms in Sydney CBD. Excellent pizza options, crispy potatoes and yoghurt panna cotta to finish. The menu isn't marked so ask the staff for assistance. 

8. Silom Soi Song

Another one of Oxford St's gems. The menu isn't marked but the staff are helpful and dishes can be adapted. The Massaman lamb shank is a must try. 

9. Shenkin

Not just any old weekend brunch. With an extensive menu, generous portions, and gluten-free options marked, you'll find Israeli and Australian food aplenty. Multiple locations. 

And last, but by no means least: 

10. Claire's kitchen

Exquisite French food and great service in a gorgeous setting. The perfect option for something a bit special. The menu is marked and the dessert trolley features a range of tempting treats - you won't be able to say no. 

Finally, honourable mentions must to go to Tap, Gumption and Mr Mo who make the best strong flat whites we've had in Sydney to date. 

So long and thanks for all the fish

It's been so long since I last posted. And, to be honest, it might be a while until I post again.

When we moved to Sydney, I was really keen to keep blogging. There aren't many resources detailing where to find gluten-free options here - let alone low-FODMAP options - so I thought I could add something useful by documenting my gluten-free adventures.

Sadly, it hasn't been that easy.

Since moving here, I have struggled to establish safe food options and keep my symptoms under control - even when I think I am being quite strict with regards to FODMAPs. And my unpredictable digestive issues make it difficult to eat out or recommend food with any degree of confidence.

Thankfully, we are in one of the best suburbs for gluten-free options. But there's a catch: a lot of the restaurants and cafes that provide gluten-free options aren't catering for low-FODMAP eaters or coeliacs. They are catering for a health-conscious market, which of course is totally fine.

But it has two downsides.

First, the other ingredients in these "superfood"-packed dishes are often high in FODMAPs, which triggers my symptoms in a really major way. Sugar substitutes, pulses, some vegetables, and fruit juices can all be problematic. And don't even get me started on my super-food nemesis - why must everything contain avocado??

Second, knowledge of gluten-free protocol is sometimes lacking. Sure, there's gluten-free bread aplenty, but basic concepts are sometimes missed - so it's entirely possible that gluten contamination has contributing to my symptoms - I can't know for sure. (Only a few weeks after arriving, I found myself explaining to the kitchen staff of a CBD restaurant that adding wheat-crumbed chicken to a gluten-free burger kind of negates the point. They looked surprised - I kid you not.)

Reliable options for eating out are really helpful. But it's not just eating out that's tricky. For people with IBS the everyday parts of your diet can make all the difference for symptom management. You can get away with a few indulgences if you know you're eating low-FODMAP the rest of the time. But since we arrived, I've even struggled to find a safe lactose-free yogurt for my breakfast!

I guess my food dramas are all just part of moving country. Many things in our lives are new and different - it's exciting, but it does take some adjustment. I thought my stomach would adjust too, but it hasn't.

I have refined my diet a lot over the past few months but to no avail. So in the past week or so I've gone completely back to basics - cooking all my meals at home, controlling FODMAPs quite strictly, and keeping a food and symptom diary. Hopefully it helps.

My food & symptom diary (and a breastfeeding pen. Hmmm not sure when I stole this - sorry Mum!)

The past few months have been frustrating and painful at times. But right now I'm feeling thankful.

There are things I can do to help alleviate my symptoms. If my FODMAP exclusion doesn't work, then I have a great dietician that I can get in touch with. And there are still lots of things that I can eat.

My recent experience has also made me really grateful for the restaurants and cafes that do cater for people with digestive issues. I hope that I can get my symptoms under control so we can find more such places. But for now I am enjoying the relaxation and creativity of home cooking.  

And I'm especially thankful for the plethora of delicious options we had back home in New Zealand. We were really spoilt with baked goods, a variety of trendy cafes, and restaurants of many cuisines.

Oh and one kiwi classic that I really miss....

Thanks for all the fish. xx

Gluten-free fish and chips from Double 8 on Main in Palmerston North.

Settling in Surry

Welcome to Surry Hills!

The Wellington-esque foodie hub of inner Sydney - and our new place of residence. 

It's now a month since we arrived and we are finally feeling settled, especially now that we have internet.

We have moved into a lovely - albeit frighteningly expensive - apartment. During the move we survived a flooding dishwasher, a Saturday-night initiation that involved 2am drunken yelling from Oxford St bars (#DoDarlo), and the revelation that we do not have air conditioning. But, hey, I've completed my first lunchtime run in 34 degree heat. If I can survive that (just), then I can surely sleep in summer. 

We been acquainted with a pair of cockatoos that live in the tree outside our window, and who may or may not be responsible for our daily 6am wake-up call.

We have been initiated into the experience that is furniture shopping at Ikea. 

In the town-sized store: 

"Oh it's so NICE! And so CHEAP. Oh look, we could buy a WHOLE KITCHEN if we wanted.... How hard can it be to put a set of drawers together?" 

Four hours, 12 different types of screws, and a few touch-and-go moments involving a hammer and my thumb later:

"Hmmm it's a bit wonky.... Do you think you can tell?"

We've settled into our jobs. Work is a scenic 20-minute walk away - twice the commute we had in Wellington, but a third that of an average Sydney commuter. The work is interesting and our colleagues have been really friendly and welcoming. We've discovered some delicious gluten-free lunch options nearby, drinkable coffee (hooray!), and feel like we know the area pretty well. 

(I know Martin Place especially intimately after an inaugural faceplant on my way to work that resulted in me sliding down the street soaked in freshly-bought coffee.)  

We've been exploring our suburb and loving it. Surry Hills is filled with cute wee town houses, leafy streets, cafes, restaurants, and the best coffee we've had by far. There are so many exciting gluten-free options, and all a short walk from our place. As part of our exploring, we've started sampling the exciting, delicious and unique food available. 

But the top attraction of Surry Hills, according to locals and non-locals alike? Sydney's number one dessert option: Gelato Messina. 

After so many rave reviews, well, it would be rude not to. 

The perfect way to settle into our new suburb on a sunny Saturday afternoon. 

I'm a bit of a sucker for ice cream, so it was a huge treat. The gelato is super tasty and there are SO MANY exciting flavours. Gelato Messina are really conscious of food allergies and warn that there is a risk of cross-contamination. But if you aren't too sensitive to take that risk, there are heaps of gluten-free options on offer.

Sitting in the park with white chocolate and salted caramel gelato. 

Creamy, sweet and moorish. 

It reminded me just a little bit of home. 

Settling into Surry. Like a boss.

This gluten-free foodie's pre-travel checklist

Moving city calls for a lot of life admin. It's a logistical test that has challenged even this spreadsheet-loving planning enthusiast. 

Lists. So many lists.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Ross and I are moving to Sydney for two-year secondments. We have spent the last week packing our belongings, moving out of our apartment, finishing up at work, saying goodbyes, flying across the ditch, and acquainting ourselves with a new city. 

Of course, we are super excited about our Sydney adventure. But there are lots of things about New Zealand that we will miss. The people, for sure. Plus there are a lot of things about living in Wellington that we we are sad to leave behind, too.

This photo was taken during my last run along the Wellington waterfront. 

One thing that we will miss about Wellington is the food, not to mention the coffee. And this is hardly surprising, given my prolific blogging about it. 

So, to make sure we experienced all of our favourites before leaving, we have been working through our gluten-free foodie pre-travel checklist - arguably the most important list of them all. And being homeless after we handed over our keys means we have had the perfect excuse to do it.

Ross and Liz's pre-travel checklist - gluten-free eats in Wellington

1. Dinner at Long Xiang. This was so good we did it two nights in a row.
2. Cocktails at Alice for a last strawberry doddle (avoiding the biscuit sticks).
3. A visit to Capital Market for delicious Korean food and treats from Miss Kangsta's gluten-free bakery. The chocolate chip cookies are my favourite; Ross goes gaga over the strawberry and cream cheesecake. 
4. Weekday breakfast at Mixed Business for top-notch gluten-free bread and hash browns.
5. Dinner at Great India for the best onion bhajia in town.
6. One last lunch at Pita Pit - my number one low-FODMAP lunch option. 
7. A celebratory dinner at Royal Thai on our last night in Wellington.
8. Followed by decadent gluten-free desserts at Library. 
9. Breakfast at Ti Kouka, eating from their exciting low-FODMAP menu.
10. Lunch at Neo, where they serve buckwheat pancakes made of happiness and dreams.  

Our last night in Wellington, celebrated at Royal Thai.

Caramel-peanut popcorn and vanilla bean sundae from Library.

Buckwheat pancakes from Neo, served with banana, greek yogurt, and cinnamon-crusted almonds.

As I'm sure you can imagine, we had a lot of fun sampling these goodies before flying out. 

And now that we have arrived in Sydney, the eating out continues - and so too do the logistics. 

We are having lots of great adventures over here and we have found some mind-blowing gluten-free options, too (although, I'm not going to lie, I'm starting to crave meat and three veg - emphasis on the veg). 

But then that's a post for next time... 

Our descent into Sydney.

How to survive Christmas shopping in central Wellington

1. Write a list

Then ignore it. 

2. Start adequately caffeinated

Begin your trip right at Old George. It's the best coffee in town. I know that's a pretty big (not to mention, controversial) statement in this town, but I do not say it lightly. It is quite literally the best coffee I have ever had. 

Old George roastery on the Terrace is my weekday morning regular, and the Bowen St cafe is open on weekends - perfect for your pre-shopping coffee. They even have almond milk for a low-FODMAP fix. 

Your coping mechanism.

3. Embrace the chaos

Once adequately caffeinated, use your coffee-fueled resolve to embrace the chaos head on. 

Head to Toy World. There'll be everything you could have possibly imagined - for children and adults alike - in every different theme. (Lego. And Star Wars. At the same time? You bet.) 

A word of caution: try not to stand on any children. 

4. Make hints

Meander down Lambton Quay, wandering in and out of stores - pointing out to your significant other all of the delightful things that you never knew you needed but now simply can't live without.  

For best results, try not to make your hints too subtle. 

5. Keep safe 

Always watch for hazards. Not standing on children is a great start, but avoiding stacks of books is also a good idea. (They are stacked to look pretty, not with structural integrity in mind.)

Be particularly vigilant as you walk into Lush. Allow your eyes to adjust to the brightness; inhale the deliciousness. Then take a quick gauge of the stress levels amongst the customers and staff. Feel your heart palpitate as you glance at the price tag on a nearby gift box. 

Walk out. Quickly, without any sudden movements. 

6. Stop for lunch at Neo 

Shopping is hungry work, and Neo is the perfect place to refresh after trailing the length of Lambton, but before braving the chaos of Cuba. It might even be time for another almond milk flat white.

Neo is our favourite weekend lunch haunt, with its delicious gluten-free, low-FODMAP options. 

Scrambled eggs and smoked tomato. 

From exciting brunch food, to decadent Whitakers chocolate cake. Not to mention great coffee and the best chicken salad and fries in town. 

Parmesan on deep fried potato. Perfection. 

Parmesan fries.

Jerk chicken salad.

Over your delicious food, take time to assess your progress. 

Peruse Mighty Ape to discover all the things you could have bought more cheaply online. Plus all the gifts you were looking for but couldn't find in stores.  

7. Keep some perspective

Take time to think about those people in your life that you are buying for. Be thankful for the resources that allow us to enjoy such extravagance. 

And when you make it home with only half the presents you hoped, cursing the Secret Santa price limit, just remember - Christmas is about much more than shopping and presents.  

Congratulate yourself on surviving the carnage. Extra points for not resorting to violence. 

And definitely don't give up. There's plenty of days left until the 25th. 

Besides, your next shopping trip might be the perfect excuse to try Neo's rich gluten-free chocolate cake. 

'Tis the season

I love Christmas. 

It's a time to be thankful; a time spent with family. Oh, and an opportunity to eat your body weight in scorched almonds.* 

Family, food, and festivities. Seriously, what's not to love?

Plus, with more and more gluten-free Christmas treats like these now available, food intolerances are no barrier to enjoying the Christmas cheer. 

Along with celebrations and credit card debt, Christmas also brings with it summer warmth and delicious berries - meaning it's time to replace my winter rice porridge with delicious summer muesli.

Now finding muesli that's both gluten-free and low-FODMAP can be pretty tricky, especially since most dried fruits wreak havoc on sensitive tummies. 

But this recipe is just the ticket. 

It's light, scrumptious, and tummy friendly. 

Packed with the good energy you need to get you through your Christmas shopping. 

Tummy-friendly summer muesli

Makes 8 servings (3/4 of a cup per serving)

2 cups of gluten free cornflakes 

1 cup of buckwheat puffs

1 cup of millet puffs 

3/4 cup of chopped nuts

1/4 cup of sliced almonds

1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup of dried cranberries

1/4 cup of banana chips (broken into pieces)

1/4 cup of desiccated coconut

Mix all the ingredients until well combined. Keep in an airtight container. 

Serve with a low-FODMAP serving of summer fruit, your milk of choice, and a dollop of yoghurt. 

Note: A serving of muesli is low in FODMAPs. However, some of the ingredients can be high in FODMAPs if eaten in large quantities. 

* Dark chocolate scorched almonds are the business - delicious and low-FODMAP in moderation. But if you do plan to eat your body weight, I can't guarantee that you won't get a stomach ache. 

Korea, rice and shine!

After my posts about the best aspects of Korean cuisine (here, here and here), I promised I'd tell you what the absolute best thing we ate during our trip was.

Well, here it is. The best thing we ate was... rice. 

Bear with me. 

Rice was ubiquitous in Korea and we certainly ate a lot of it. It was available with every meal, served every way imaginable. You could have it hot, cold, fried, steamed, in a weird savoury slop, and even in different colours (but watch out for purple barley). There were certainly plenty of options - if you like rice, that is. 

And because it was everywhere, rice became a bit of a gluten-free, low-FODMAP lifesaver for us. 

At our hotel in Busan, for example, there wasn't much I could eat for breakfast. Just black coffee, orange segments, and - you guessed it - rice. I also can't have too much fructose so I couldn't go crazy on the oranges, either.

So... rice. 

Me going wild at the breakfast buffet.

It was a simple, staple necessity. 

Yet humble old rice surprised us in its gourmet applications, too. 

The best rice we had we discovered on our last day in Korea. We were in the Busan suburb of Gwangan-Dong when we found it.

It being the rice bakery. Should I say that again for emphasis? The rice bakery. 

Apparently there is also one of these marvellous inventions in Seoul, but we didn't stumble across it (it is a city of 10 million people, after all). In Busan, all we had to do was take the train to Geumnyeonsan, walk towards the water, turn right at Starbucks, then wander along the beach path - there it was.  

And, trust me, we didn't want to leave. 

Happy bread!

The only way to describe the goods at the rice bakery were, well, "normal". Like they were filled with delicious, gluteny goodness, coated in sugar, and made with love. And don't worry, we triple checked to make sure it was for real - we couldn't believe it either.

They had everything. Pastries that actually flaked. Cakes that were moist. Bread that was actually doughy. Fruit loaves that were - actually I'm not quite sure what people see in these, but they were there aplenty.  

Childhood treats you can only dream of (before the nightmares of gluten-induced stomach pains give you cold sweats).

This is Ross's custard cream pie. 

Happy place.

And here's my soft, squishy cream donut. 

This delicacy was a happy reminder that gluten-free living shouldn't mean deprivation from sugar-induced food comas. 

Cream donut.

Food this amazing should not be so far away. 

And so we finished our trip with a dilemma. 

Do we cancel our trip home and relocate to Busan? (Hmmm possibly a tad extreme.)

Or should we just eat the next week's worth of food all at once? (I know, I know, donuts are a sometimes food.)

Perhaps we could try and smuggle them into New Zealand and hope that it isn't stale in four days time? (The customs fine can't be that bad, right?)

Or - achievable goals - maybe we should just aspire for more in our gluten-free cooking? 

Korea manages to produce better gluten-free baked goods than I have ever seen, and it's not even a "thing" there!

Maybe we just need to get creative. There must be more that can be done sans gluten. Using ingredients like, I don't know, rice.

So we left Korea with a new appreciation for rice, inspired by the endless possibilities.

Oh, and with full bellies too.   

Bye, Korea. It's been a blast.

Best eats in Korea: Not to be missed

Today is my last post about my favourite aspects of Korean cuisine. And the parts of Korean cuisine that I will write about today are not to be missed - mostly because you couldn't miss them if you tried!

You won't have to go far to find these beauties (once you've landed in Korea, that is). 

Kimchi

Now obviously I couldn't write about Korea without talking about kimchi - the traditional Korean favourite. 

Kimchi!

I know that fermented cabbage (or radish) doesn't sound like the most pleasant of food ideas (I can only imagine how the recipe was discovered....). But the first thing you should know is that it is much better than it sounds.

Although it is an acquired taste. While I was willing to polish off the lot at every meal (it was literally everywhere), Ross wasn't so convinced initially. It is an unusual taste, but by the end of our stay he was enjoying it.

You should also be forewarned that it's quite spicy. A Korean once described kimchi to me as "more spicy in the stomach than spicy in the mouth" - you get the idea. 

But maybe that "spicy in the stomach" characteristic is part of the appeal? Kimchi is fermented, so it's full of probiotic goodness, which means that it promotes good gut bacteria and helps with digestion. 

And it's delicious - well, at least I think so!

Street food

Korea is a shopping metropolis - but hunger won't hold you back. Street food is available in many of the main markets and shopping areas. And it's awesome. 

Now maybe I am stating the obvious. Street food is awesome everywhere, right? Everything tastes better deep fried, after all. But the cool thing about Korean street food is that it isn't all just deep fried on a stick. 

You will find fruit, roasted chestnuts, corn cobs, and barbecued squid - all of which are great for cheap, tasty gluten-free snacks. 

And if you want something deep fried on a stick, well, they have that too. 

Deep fried potato (and a slightly scary eating face...)

The best of the West

Korea has mastered some of the best treats from Western cuisine. 

In fact, not only does Korea do the best of the West - in some cases, it's better. Take blueberry lemonade, for example. It might actually be the most amazing thing ever. 

In Korea you'll find lots of fun, exciting drinks everywhere you go, no matter the time of year - flavoured lattes in winter and fruit teas in the sweltering heat. And for every sort of craving imaginable, too.

Now, to be fair, not all these inventions are good ideas - sweet potato and avocado lattes were not on my list of things to try, and cold americanos are dreadful. (DON'T TRY IT. Worst mistake.) But most of the time, the quirky drinks in Korea are a delightfully sweet experience. 

Mango smoothie and refreshing lemonade.

So while there's heaps of wonderful Korean cuisine to try, you'll still have some of the comforts of home. There's familiar coffee chains and fast food all over the place (I was pretty grateful to have Starbucks nearby when my cravings for a soy latte became too much). 

And it was in Seoul, with the help of a couple of lactase tablets, that I discovered the very best that western food has to offer: Baskin Robbins. 

It really will knock your socks off - and in 36 flavours!

In fact, there's only one thing that could beat it. And in my next post that's exactly what I'll be writing about!

The best of the West.

For more about eating in Korea, check out A bit moreish's travel page here.

Best eats in Korea: Just how you like it

What could be more delicious than meat cooked to perfection right in front of your eyes? 

Korean barbecue. That's what. 

Sure, the meat is really delicious. I mean seriously delicious. But Korean barbecue is about so much more than that.

Korean barbecue can make even the cheapest cuts of meat deliciously juicy and tender. In fact, we found the cheaper cuts were actually better. Does barbecued scotch fillet sound pretty good? Don't bother. Short rib is a third the price and, when it's served off the hot plate, it's twice as tasty. Usually thinner slices of meat are better, too. 

The key thing is that the plate is super hot, so everything cooks quickly - the fat renders perfectly but the meat is still tender. 

The cooking about to begin!

Korean barbecue comes with more sides than I could possibly describe here - and it amazed us that every restaurant gave us something a little bit different. The range of condiments always showcased a range of delicious vegetables, textures and flavours. And, if there was something we particularly liked, our bowls were refilled without us even having to ask.

So many yummy sides!

There were also big lettuce leaves that we could use to make lettuce wraps from the meat and sides. I never really got the hang of making them, to be honest, and usually ended up with pickle in my lap. And yet eating the lettuce by itself with chop sticks wasn't straightforward, either - so it was best to just embrace the hilarity (and the pickle, I suppose). 

But all the tasty aspects aside, the best thing about Korean barbecue is that it's communal. We got to cook the meat ourselves with some much-needed guidance from our hosts. And it was just how we like it. 

By the end of our trip, we were real pros. Well, we thought so. 

We certainly had heaps of fun trying!

Me enjoying the deliciousness.

Oh, silly me, did I mention it's also gluten free?

Well, usually. Always check with the language cards - these are a must - so that you can avoid sauces with gluten in them and meat marinated in soy sauce (e.g. bulgogi).  

Despite the language barrier, we had absolutely no problem finding Korean barbecue everywhere we went. 

And, hey, who doesn't love succulent pork belly for dinner every night? 

Guest post: What the gluten-free diet isn't

Recently I got the awesome opportunity to contribute a guest post for Glutey Girl. And here it is! 

Check out this link for my musings on common misperceptions about the gluten-free diet (plus the recipe for my decadent 'cream cheese' bagels).

Best eats in Korea: A healthy appetite

There are many exciting aspects to the food available in South Korea - and many that sadly aren't gluten free. But while eating gluten free in Korea can be tricky at times, there's no need to miss out on all the deliciousness that Korean cuisine has to offer. 

During the next few posts, Il'll take you through what I consider to be the best aspects of the cuisine we tried in Korea - which you can enjoy without all the gluten. 

And here's the first.

So. Many. Vegetables. 

Korean cuisine offers a vast array of wholesome, healthy dishes. The meals are - in my completely non-expert opinion - quite balanced, with delicious proteins and a variety of fresh vegetables. Sure, there's a lot of white rice, but the serving sizes are always quite modest. 

Sometimes we had to have vegetarian meals to avoid marinated meat, so I did have to be careful to ensure I was getting enough iron. But, apart from that, I was really impressed by how nutritious the authentic Korean dishes seemed.

Our favourite lunch choice was Bibimbap, which literally means 'mixed rice'. The dish consists of a range of vegetables and seaweed, served with rice in a big bowl then topped off with an egg (and sometimes meat). 

Hot stone Bibimbap.

Everything is then stirred together just before eating. 

Mixing the rice without flinging it all over the table - an acquired skill.

Bibimbap comes hot or cold, but we liked the hot one especially. The sizzling hot stone pot makes the rice caramalize so that it is deliciously chewy and the warmth gives the dish a real homely feel. 

Traditionally the dish comes with spicy gochujang sauce, which isn't gluten free - so we had to give that a miss. Now, given this omission, the dish might sound simple and maybe a bit boring. But the seaweed and egg yolk add a tasty, salty edge that really brings out the blend of flavours in the dish. Making it simple, healthy - and incredibly tasty. 

So tasty.

Travelling gluten free: A different adventure of the food kind

You might have wondered why I haven't posted in a while. Or maybe you didn't notice. Or maybe you enjoyed the break from my eternal monologue about gluten-free meals and digestive problems.

Well, I'm back. And back from somewhere pretty amazing. Ross and I have just returned from a trip to South Korea and Hong Kong, where we saw the sights and enjoyed some delicious treats on the way. 

Over the next few posts I will share with you some of the different aspects of our food adventures, starting with our travels in Seoul and Busan - South Korea's two largest cities.

Overlooking the city by the love locks at N Seoul Tower.

Now, full disclosure - in case you're suddenly feeling inspired to jump on a plane to Seoul - eating gluten free in Korea can be quite hard. 

To be honest, I wouldn't recommend a trip to Korea if you are highly allergic to gluten - it's possible to avoid gluten when eating out, but doing so is risky. Thankfully, we didn't have any known gluten reactions during our stay, but it seemed like we could be inadvertently poisoned quite easily. And I came armed with a packet of peppermint capsules in case of that eventuality. 

Sure, we were very careful with what we ate, but there's a limit to how paranoid you can be when the language barrier only allows you to say so much - and the sneaky sources of gluten in food make this quite complicated at the best of times!

When eating gluten free in Korea, you have to be willing to work for your next meal - and by 'work' I mean visit lots of restaurants, get creative in your communication, and spend a decent amount of time just searching the streets.  

Searching the streets of Seoul.

But boy is it worth it. 

To ensure we didn't starve, we went armed with the info from this blog and this nifty travel card. The Korean travel card is particularly good because it highlights a range of gluten-containing ingredients that are common in Korean cooking. 

We asked lots of questions, went somewhere else if we weren't sure, and trusted the travel cards - not to mention the immense effort made by our hosts. 

Koreans are very hospitable people and they were always very attentive when we made our needs known. They would analyse each part of the dish and its (typically numerous) sides. Then they would double check with us if they weren't sure about anything, and take away parts of the meal or turn us away entirely if the food wasn't suitable.

Interestingly, while eating gluten free was tricky, minimizing my consumption of high-FODMAP foods didn't really add any extra complications. All I needed to do was strategically consume lactase tablets on the odd occasion and avoid the enormous garlic and onion pieces we were offered as a side to many dishes.

Despite the effort that it took to eat, we never went hungry. In fact, the food was delicious - as I will show you in coming posts.

And remember, there's no need to jump on a plane, or even take my word for it - amazing gluten-free Korean food can be found right here in Wellington.

The royal treatment

It's really important to celebrate. 

On Thursday night, Ross and I went to our favourite haunt to celebrate a busy but successful week of work - along with my rekindled relationship with garlic and onions.

Royal Thai is our favourite restaurant if we have something to celebrate. We often go there for anniversaries, work successes, birthdays - anything of significance. 

It's our favourite because it's sentimental to us - and delicious. The food is full of fresh, sensational flavours. Just the right amount of spice without being greasy or heavy. 

There's plenty of variety, too. We love the Pad Thai, Pad Phrik King, and Kaeng Mussaman Nau. But everything we have tried has been excellent. We usually have two dishes, a rice each, and share.

Chicken Pad Thai.

Pork Pad Phrik King.

Royal Thai isn't expensive; it's just special.

A meal will only set you back $20 a head, meaning you can splash out on a special bottle of BYO wine to match the occasion - we recommend a riesling or gewurztraminer to complement the vibrant Thai flavours. 

Plus the service is great. And they cater for gluten-free diets - just ask. I can even eat there on my low-FODMAP diet by avoiding high-FODMAP vegetables, altough you may need to be careful if you are sensitive to onions and garlic. 

The only downside is that Royal Thai is a bit of a walk from us. But I suppose that is probably a good thing. If it was any closer, we would probably go there every week. 

And that wouldn't be quite so special, would it? 

Living the dream.