Titbits at Tibits

The self proclaimed ‘vegetarian paradise’, Tibits is a few minutes walk from Oxford Circus station and is truly an oasis of calm amongst the hustle and bustle.

        The concept is seasonal, sustainable, and organic where possible.  Although the restaurant markets itself as vegetarian many of the dishes are completely vegan friendly. 35 hot and cold dishes form an oval island in the centre of the restaurant and the tables are situated by enormous windows giving a light, clean atmosphere that is still welcoming and comfortable.

        The dishes are individually marked according to potential allergens. Something I was very grateful for.

V = vegan, i.e. purely vegetable, O = egg, L = lacto, N = nuts, S = celeriac, 

G = gluten.

        My only criticism of their marking system was that there was no marking for wheat, only gluten, and the staff didn’t know which dishes contained gluten but not wheat (they were however happy to find out and called the chef to make enquiries).

        The top layer of the buffet was hot food which was changed regularly and the bottom layer consisted mainly salads and dips. There was also a selection of bread rolls which were gluten and dairy free. The Moroccan carrot salad was simple and moorish and complimented the North African chickpea salad delightfully.

        My main issue with the restaurant was price. Salad can weigh a lot when there isn't a lettuce leaf involved and although it is only £2 per 100g, that quickly adds up without you realising. A fairly full but not over-flowing plate came to £8 and I needed a second helping, another £6, to be full.

        They take no reservations so it is best to arrive early and snag a good seat. I would recommend Tibits, despite the price, for the ease it provided in getting a quick bite to eat in central London.

Great for vegans

Good for everything else

http://www.tibits.co.uk/e/
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Manna

Manna is one of London’s oldest and most established vegetarian restaurants. In recent years they have turned vegan and begun to cater increasingly for gluten free and organic diets. The seasonal menu combines ethical values with gourmet presentation and packs in a variety of cuisines.

       The menu changes from lunch to dinner and includes daily and festive specials.

      Current menu highlights include; 'Spiced jerk tofu, plantain and sweet potato kebab with Caribbean coleslaw, lime cream & toasted cashews'.  'Raw maki rolls- raw 'riced' parsnip, carrots beetroot and avocado, served with tamari, pickled ginger and wasabi pea coulis' and 'Basil & cashew cheese croquettes with homemade chilli jam'.

      The main dish that caught my eye was 'The Spring Thali Plate' - Channa masala, mild kofta cake and vada donut with cashew nut & garden pea rice. Served with papadum and homemade chutneys.

      The main courses are not wonderful for allergy sufferers. Not many dishes are gluten free but it is best to call in advance and check the daily special. There is also a 'Build Your Own' option consisting of 4 sides of your choice. This has some naughty and rarely seen treats such as gluten free onion rings and mash and gravy as well as more healthy grains, beans and greens.

      Dessert triumphs are the gluten free 'Banoffee Trifle' and the 'Cranberry & Orange Cheesecake' which are not to be missed.

      If it is afternoon tea time Manna are proud to offer gluten free, vegan muffins and chocolate brownies.  Sugar free fruit cake and for the lactose intolerant, all the remaining desserts are vegan (and often also wheat free.)

      Manna is something of a special occasion restaurant in its price range and presentation but still low key enough to pop in after a day at London Zoo.

Great for: Vegan, organic.

Good for: Wheat free, gluten free.

Bad for: Nut allergy.

http://mannav.com/

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Vietnamese Food for Virgins

Song Que is situated seconds from Hoxton overground station and has a reputation for being one of the best ‘cheap eats’ in the capital. For me Vietnamese food has been very problematic in the past. I have been sorely disappointed with flavourless soup and flour coated prawns and so was reluctant to persevere with it. I have however, been proved wrong. 


        Today I found out that Vietnamese cuisine does offer a surprisingly huge range of dishes that are wheat free.

        Song Que’s menu is several pages long and details an exhaustive list of traditional Vietnamese dishes. Out of the 150 options, some of the highlights for wheat free dinners are:

        Start with fresh prawn summer rolls, crispy fried seaweed or deep fried tofu. All are served incredibly quickly and with a selection of dips.  Many of the sour soups such as monkfish or tofu are also great for getting your taste buds zinging.

        For main meals the restaurant is known for its Vietnamese stock based soup known as Pho. I had the rare-sliced steak in which the meat cooks on its way to the table. Amazing! The beef stock base was subtle but complex with elements of Vietnamese basil, saw-leaf and chilli. They also provide extra for you to dip (recommended). An oriental mushroom version is available for vegetarians and all Pho dishes come chock full of rice noodles.

        Stir fries are the other main option and have a range of sauces from satay, ginger and spring onion, tamarind and lemongrass. Rice noodles with mixed seafood seemed a popular choice but it is best to speak to your waiter regarding the individual dish.

        The prices are extremely reasonable and it is easy to eat for under £10 a person at Song Que so if you can’t have soya sauce or the stress of trying to get your food without it, try it out.


Great for: Dairy free
Good for: Wheat free, gluten free
Bad for: Nut allergy
No allergy specific menu but friendly staff

         

http://songque.co.uk/

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0207 613 3222

info@songque.co.uk

Comptoir Lebanais

This lively, contemporary Lebanese Cafe offers a selection of dishes that can be tailored to meet your needs. The premise is not perfect but the food is colourful, fresh and most importantly, flexible.

        The cheapest options on the menu are wraps, which is unfortunate, but if you can eat wheat and not dairy, they are a great choice. The lentil and vegetable soup, served without bread is the best gluten/dairy free) starter.

        At first glance I was disappointed to find the Mezze platters came laden with problem foods in the form of tabbouleh,(mint, parsley and bulgur wheat salad), a variety of filled savoury pastries and labne (mint and chilli yoghurt.) I thought I was going to have order a tagine, which with lamb and prunes sounded lovely, but a little heavy for lunch.  I was relieved that when I explained my needs to the waitress she was willing to give extra portions of edibles instead. I ended up with my own ‘mezze plate’ of hummus, smoky aubergine baba Ghanuj, falafel and lentil salad. She also served me some extra raw vegetables to replace the traditional flat or pitta bread accompaniment. (Falafel are served with yoghurt, so be sure to request it without.)

        The menu states that all the tagines (slow cooked stews cooked in terracotta pots called tagines) can be served with organic rice instead of couscous.

        A great bonus of the restaurant is the opportunity to buy Middle Eastern cookery equipment such as the aforementioned tagines when you have finished your meal. Also available are spices such as zaatar and sumac, used in many of the dishes, as well as pomegranate syrups and rose water for re-creating that authentic Arabian feeling at home.

        The drinks menu includes the delicious pomegranate and orange blossom Roomana lemonade, fresh juices for topping up your vitamin count and mint tea to soothingly end your meal. 

        You can eat a two course meal with a drink for under £20. Not bad for central London.


Good for: Wheat free, dairy free, vegan.
Helpful staff and flexible menu

http://www.lecomptoir.co.uk/

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Intolerance friendly Italian

My intolerances have created a fear of Italian food. On more occasions than I can remember, attempting to eat Italian fare has made me unwell.The cause has been well meaning chef’s sneaking in some butter or flour because they cannot imagine leaving out such vital ingredients.

Tonight I had dinner at Carluccio’s and was handed the ‘gluten free’ menu, an option I was staggered to discover has been available for quite a long time. I had no idea.

The menu included many of the regular dishes, simply without croutons or bread to accompany. The pasta options were plentiful but many were dairy coated and therefore of no use to me.The waitress was very helpful and happy to talk me through the changes that could be made to accommodate both dairy and gluten free.

Of many options a few that caught my eye included:

Zuppa Di Funghi con Pancetta – A rich soup of mushrooms and Italian bacon (£4.65),

Brazato Di Manzo – Beef stew slow cooked with Chianti and polenta (£12.95),

A whole range of puddings (from £3.95).

I ordered Pasta Al Frutti Di Mare – Pasta with squid, mussels, clams and prawns with garlic, herbs and chilli (£10.95) which was delicious and strongly flavoured. The corn pasta was cooked perfectly and although I will smell of garlic for a week it was nice to have what my friends were having.

It is not the cheapest place to eat but a wonderful addition to my list of place to go and eat without hassle.

Great for: gluten free
Good for: dairy free
Bad for: seafood allergy
Helpful staff and gluten free menu

Check out the website for more information and details of your local branch:

http://www.carluccios.com/

Vegan Feast?

Vegans have can find it as hard to eat in restaurants as those of us with health related dietary requirements. Well thank London for the genius behind ‘Vantra’ who cater for us all and still manage to make a meal of it. Vantra deliver organic, vegan, truly healthy food at an affordable price.

For £14.90 I could fill my plate with unlimited amounts of fresh, delicious and completely safe food. It smelled amazing and to say it was a feast for the eyes was an understatement. More than twenty options greeted me at the buffet and I have to say I was a little overwhelmed! There was everything from salads to soups, curries to casseroles and a selection of dishes I had never sampled the likes of before.

I favoured the Thai Red Curry and the seaweed salad over everything else but I didn’t find a single dish that wasn’t tasty. Vantra have convinced me of the enormous versatility of tofu (despite a personal inability to make it taste of anything) and given me a place to stop for afternoon tea with raw chocolate cake.  I will most certainly be going back.

(Nut allergy sufferers would have to call in advance because I noticed that nut milks featured heavily on the drinks menu and could therefore also be an issue in some of the menu rotations.)

Great for: vegan, dairy free, wheat free, gluten free, organic.

http://www.vantra.co.uk/

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The Best Burger I ever ate, Honest.

Brixton may not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of great food, but it is quickly becoming one of my favourite dining spots. Tucked away in Brixton Village are several wonderful eateries, one of which is ‘Honest Burgers’.

     A small premises with a big personality, Honest Burgers have taken a stereotypically unhealthy and allergy unfriendly meal and served it up with a side of TLC.

     I was greeted by a charming waiter in quirky attire and given the very short wooden menu. It offered me chicken (free range) with salad, mustard and mayo, beef (dry aged) with onion relish or vegetarian fritter burgers with cucumber and yoghurt all served with house chips with rosemary salt. (See the menu for full details) I was overjoyed to be offered my first gluten free bun EVER and enjoyed every crumb. The meat comes medium rare unless otherwise requested but I have to say it was succulent and lean. The beetroot and apple coleslaw was crunchy and tangy, the perfect accompaniment.

     If you feel left out and frustrated by a greasy burger on a lettuce leaf, this is the place to go. The only downside to my reasonably priced meal was that I still can’t afford to have it every day!

Great for: gluten free, wheat free and dairy free
Fantastic staff
Menu signifying allergy free options

http://www.honestburgers.co.uk/

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