Steeliac

Category: Treats

  • Gluten free waffles at Coffee and…? on Abbeydale Road

    Gluten free waffles at Coffee and…? on Abbeydale Road

    We enjoyed a trip to the rather excellent new cafe, Coffee and…? on Abbeydale Road last weekend. I started to hear great things about the gluten free waffles here on the Sheffield Gluten Free Facebook Group, and I am a big fan of waffles, so this was prioritised.

    As with lots of our trips out these days, this started with a dog walk (the cafe is dog friendly as well – bonus) in Ecclesall Woods and then popped through Millhouses park to avoid spending too much time on the main road.

    Picture of the outside of Coffee and...? on Abbeydale Road. It's got pale pink paint and lots of greenery, with a big crocheted sign int he window. There is a set of mosaic table and chairs outside
    Wooden A frame sign advertising the cafe is open for drinks, cakes and food, to eat in or take away

    I’d already emailed the owner in advance to check out the gluten free credentials. They have a separate waffle maker for gluten free waffles, which is essential. They did, of course, warn about flour and bread being present in the kitchen, but they do take reasonable precautions to minimise cross contamination risk – clean bowls & utensils etc. (As my own kitchen isn’t even fully gluten free, I’m usually happy to give places a go if they sound like they know what they’re doing.)

    We arrived about 12.30 and the place was packed, but we didn’t have to wait too long for a table and we were soon enjoying teas and coffees.

    A cup of brewing tea in an double walled glass cup/mug. Sitting on top is a glass saucer and on top of that is a jug of milk, which is also double walled glass. I can't imagine if you can make sense of this but it looks pretty cool
    This is a decaf flat white coffee in a double walled glass mug, sitting on a white table with a tea in the background

    Also on the menu were some classic breakfasts (gf options available), salads and interesting brunches like Turkish eggs and mushroom Florentine, but I was here for the waffles, so let’s focus on those.

    There are three savoury and three sweet options. For the savoury, a choice of smoked salmon (avo, poached eggs, hollondaise etc), chicken (avo, pickled pink onions, poached eggs, sweet chilli) and mushroom (creamy garlic sauce, spinach, poached eggs). I went for the chicken one but I’m not a massive fan of poached eggs, so I had halloumi instead from the extras.

    I’m sure you’ll agree, this was a rather fine waffle: a really decent portion and generously loaded.

    Loaded gluten free round waffle on a ceramic plate. Piled up with halloumi, avocado, salad leaves, pink pickled onions and a drizzle of pale sauce

    But what you can’t tell from the photo was how good the actual waffle was. I have a waffle maker which I use regularly so I know how heavy a gluten free waffle can be. But the texture of this was very light and airy. I very rarely say this, but you would not know this was gluten free. The owner said the first few attempts at a gluten free waffle had been terrible, but they persevered to improve the recipe, and they have completely nailed it.

    There are three sweet options, which were pistachio and raspberry, nutella and banana, and berries and cream with meringue. My son had the banana one (not the gluten free version) and I was going to upload a picture, but I only took a video of it, so I guess I’ll just have to go back.

    I was way too full for any kind of dessert but we decided to treat ourselves to a little something from the cake counter to take home. There were a few gluten free options including Lamington cake and chocolate and banana bread (stored in the display above all the gluten containing ones). I bought the last piece of GF egg custard, which I enjoyed very much later on with a nice cup of tea.

    Glass cake counter with blue writing on the front. Inside is a gluten free Lamington cake at the top (the writing says so) and a gluten free chocolate banana bread
    White plate with a rather lovely looking slice of gluten free egg custard, accompanied by a single, decorative physalis. In the background sit a hand crafted ceramic mug and an open, brown, cardboard cake box

    Coffee and…? is a small cafe that doesn’t take bookings so either get there early or be prepared to wait a little while – the waffles are worth it.

    Coffee and…?
    984 Abbeydale Road, Millhouses, Sheffield S7 2QF

  • Paradiso Artisan Tiramisu

    Paradiso Artisan Tiramisu

    Gluten free tiramisu is an extremely rare occurrence, so I was fascinated to try the offering from Paradiso Artisan Tiramisu on Sharrow Vale Road. This business has grown from being a conession in Krynkl, the shipping container development, to having their own premises.

    Tiramisu is one of my absolute favourite desserts. I used to work in an Italian restaurant as a teenager (waaaay before my Coeliac diagnosis) and I developed a fondness for it there. It’s not difficult to find brilliant gluten free Italian food in general, but the GF desserts in Italian restaurants sadly almost never feature tiramisu.

    I make a big gluten free tiramisu myself once or twice a year – always at Christmas and sometimes in summer if there’s a worthy occasion. It’s a bit of a labour of love, as I like to make my own Savoiardi biscuits rather than use cake, so the texture is perfect. I soak my biscuits in a mixture of espresso and Kahlua (or rum), and I use mascarpone, eggs and sugar for the silky cream. It’s absolutely wonderful! (Recipe here if you want to try it)

    So I was very excited to call in at Paradiso this afternoon to pick up some takeaway tiramisu to try out, without all the effort!

    A view of the shop front of Paradiso Artisan Tiramisu on Sharrow Vale Road, Sheffield, with some pots of tiramisu visible in the window and a few people queueing outside

    There was a real buzz around the shop on Sharrow Vale Road, with a gaggle of people waiting outside. There are a few tables at the back of the shop where you can eat in – coffees and cannoli are on offer as well as the tiramisu – but most people were taking away, like us.

    As well as their ‘Classico’ tiramisu, there are a variety of flavours on offer such as pistachio and biscoff, although understandably, the gluten free version is the classic one. We kept it simple and bought a Classico one for my husband and a GF one for me, then went home to enjoy them with a coffee.

    A brown paper tub with a lid containing tiramisu with stamped lettering on the tub saying Paradiso Artisan Tiramisu
    Top view of the tiramisu tub, with a transparent plastic lid, cocoa powder visible in the tub and a gluten free sticker
    A brown card tub of tiramisu without the lid, next to a cup of coffee, both on a tablecloth

    So, what’s the verdict? As with many free from foods, the GF tiramisu is also vegan, as well as being free from coffee. And all of Paradiso’s tiramisus are alcohol free. It was a lovely afternoon indulgence, with a very light and sweet cream, and a flavour of coffee – but without the booze and the dairy, it didn’t quite pack the same punch as my own. I’m sorry it’s not a rave review from me, but it’s still great that they’ve gone to the trouble of making a gluten free option and it’s worth a go if you’ve been missing tiramisu, especially if you have a sweet tooth.

    Paradiso Artisan Tiramisu
    345 Sharrow Vale Road, Sheffield S11 8ZG

  • Cosy Chameleon

    Cosy Chameleon

    ***Unfortunately now closed***

    Cosy Chameleon is a cafe and gift shop on Abbeydale Road South in a small run of shops near the Tesco Express. (It replaced Seasons in summer 2024.) It’s a cafe with a difference – offering reptile encounters as well as food and drink. Not at the same time though – there are no animals in the cafe and shop – so don’t let that put you off.

    What’s more relevant for us is that the chef in the cafe has a son who is coeliac, so this is one of those little gems where they really understand cross contamination and have maximised their gluten free offering. Hurrah!

    We popped in for lunch and I was able to have a bacon, brie and cranberry toastie, which came with a salad garnish, coleslaw, bean salad and crisps. As you can see from the picture, it was a generous portion, with plenty of bacon – nice and crispy, just the way I like it.

    A white plate with a big toasted sandwich made from an unsliced white loaf, with bacon, brie and cranberry. Also on the plate are a few crisps, a side salad, coleslaw and beans

    They do a variety of sandwiches, which can be toasted or regular, as well as soup and cheesy jacket potatoes.

    I didn’t really need anything after the toastie, which was quite filling, but I was very keen to check out the sweets, given the great selection on offer, and all being homemade. So I made a bit of room for a mini carrot cake loaf with my coffee. The coffee was also excellent, in my opinion.

    Two cloches on a counter with gluten free cakes in - mini carrot cake loaves and mini Victoria sponges
    Apple tarts and Bakewell sponge cakes in a glass counter
    A close up of a mug of coffee
    A rectangular, grey plate with a round apple crumble, a jug of custard, a spoon and fork. They have also made an outline of a fork as a decoration using icing sugar
    A piece of carrot cake with soft icing on the top and a miniature icing carrot, with a black paper napkin and a fork, on a white plate

    My husband had an apple crumble and custard, which was also gluten free, and was apparently delicious.

    I felt well looked after here and would happily go back. I would have enjoyed seeing the reptiles whilst I was there, but they are tucked safely away from the cafe area, out of view.

    Cosy Chameleon
    290 Abbeydale Road South, Sheffield S17 3LP

  • Cosy Club

    Cosy Club

    I have eaten at Cosy Club in other cities so I was really pleased to hear one has opened up in Sheffield. They cater really well for allergens and vegans, so I’ve ended up there on work awaydays a couple of times. Plus, I really like their decor that strikes a balance between opulent and kitsch, which makes a nice change from the stripped-back, industrial style of many modern bars and food halls.

    We were out for a pre-cinema meal on our wedding anniversary, so this was a bit of a treat. So, a celebration called for a glass of fizz, which, for the first time ever, came with an allergy sticker on it! I’ve had this on food before, but never on a drink. It certainly gave the impression they are all over it with the allergens. They also have a separate gluten free menu, which is another good sign.

    A glass of prosecco on a wooden table with an allergy sticker on it. Behind is a glass of beer and to the side a lit tealight in a holder

    We decided to share a couple of small plates for starters – Nocellara olives (really big ones!), burrata cheese and smoked piquillo pesto, and chermoula tenderstem broccoli with caramelised butter and pickled red chilli – and they all came with their little allergen flags! There is an excellent choice of gluten free options, including a few to try next time (tempura vegetables and N’duja glazed butterbeans). The broccoli was my favourite, absolutely packed with flavour.

    Three white serving bowls on a wooden table, containing olives, burrata cheese and tenderstem broccoli
    A side plate containing olives, burrata cheese and tenderstem broccoli

    For main course, I had a Massaman cauliflower curry, which also included sweet potato, sugar snap peas and butterbeans, and a side of spring onion rice. This was also really flavoursome, with just enough bite to the cauliflower.

    A bowl containing cauliflower Massaman curry with a red allergen flag in it
    A bowl containing cauliflower Massaman curry and some rice

    There are plenty of meat options to choose from as well, with Spanish chicken, steamed seabass, and various burgers and steaks. Sides include truffle and parmesan fries, twice cooked potato skins and pan fried green beans.

    I hope this place survives as it’s really quite reliable for coeliacs. Granted, it was a Tuesday in September, but it did seem very quiet for somewhere in the middle of the city. I also noticed they have a private dining room upstairs, which looked rather fun.

    We didn’t have time for dessert, as we were off to a show (Jodie Comer in the National Theatre Live showing of her one-woman play Prima Facie in the cinema, which was astonishingly good – highly recommend) so we had a Magnum ice cream and a glass of wine in the cinema instead!

    1 Holly Street, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 4AW

  • Ferrero Rocher ice cream!

    Ferrero Rocher ice cream!

    This was rather a good find in the Tesco Local near me. These are about the size of a Mini Magnum and there are four in a pack. Whilst the Ferrero Rocher chocolates aren’t gluten free, these ice cream bars don’t have any wafer in them, and there isn’t a ‘may contain’ statement on the ingredients either – winner!

    A gluten free chocolate and nut covered ice cream on a stick
    A gold coloured packet containing an ice cream bar
    A packet of Ferrero Rocher ice cream bars, which happen to be gluten free.

    Inside the chocolate and nut exterior, they have a hazelnut flavoured ice cream with a chocolate and hazelnut swirl through it – a welcome treat in the garden last weekend.

  • Nue delicatessen

    Nue delicatessen

    We’ve been very excited about the opening of this fully gluten free deli in Sheffield by the owners of Akentannos. Last weekend we had the chance to check it out, and bought a few bits for a picnic in Endcliffe Park whilst we were on a family walk.

    It was such a lovely feeling to walk in there knowing we could eat everything we could see, and not worrying about cross contamination. The counters were crammed with cooked meats and cheeses, pizzas, arancini balls, as well as various sweet treats – doughnuts, biscuits, croissants and three cakes in a separate display unit.

    Delicatessen counter containing meats, and cheeses
    Delicatessen counter containing arancini, pizzas and salads, all gluten free
    glass cloche containing gluten free sandwiches

    There are a few tables to eat in, but it was quite busy (excellent!) and we were on our walk, so we decided to take away. We ordered a couple of nduja arancini balls, and a mix of deli items in a takeout tray (aubergine, mushrooms, pork balls and courgettes). We had to try a jam doughnut and Steelymcsteel picked an empire biscuit as a second sweet treat.

    Gluten free arancini ball on a paper bag
    deli 'salad' containing pork balls, broccoli and roasted vegetables
    half a gluten free arancini ball
    A gluten free doughnut on a paper bag
    A gluten free jam doughnut broken in halves on a paper bag
    hands holding a gluten free empire biscuit

    I can’t say it was cheap, but I will say it was reasonable value, considering what I know of the cost of gluten free ingredients and challenges in cooking them. We loved the arancini – they were a really generous size and had a crunchy coating, with just the right level of nduja spice. The deli ‘salad’ was brilliant with delicately fragrant pork balls, marinaded vegetables and apparently the mushrooms were the best ever – very flavoursome. No complaints about the doughnut, which had a great texture and lots of tangy jam. The biscuit was an excellent shortbread, with plenty of icing.

    We really enjoyed these treats and are looking forward to our next visit. I hope it stays this busy!

    Nue, 276 Sharrow Vale Road, Sheffield S11 8ZH

  • Pizza Time!

    Pizza Time!

    Hi, I’m finally back!!

    We found an amazing pizza from M&S food, which we have been ordering from Ocado. It had a really good pizza texture [ one of the BEST I’ve had!]. It also tasted phenomenally good for a gluten free base!!

    We have our suspicions that it may be the same recipe as Pizza Express!!

    And, as it is only a base, you can put whatever you want on it! [I wouldn’t recommend a sweet pizza though!]. Overall, it was great for a Friday night tea with sweet potato fries!

  • Rule of Crumb – frozen treats!

    Rule of Crumb – frozen treats!

    I love cooking, but sometimes it’s nice to slack off and take the easy option.

    I have deployed these gluten free profiteroles from Rule of Crumb a few times now for a Sunday dinner pudding, a birthday treat and even on Boxing Day. They are the perfect cheat dessert, as you keep them in the freezer until the morning you need them, then get the box out to defrost. It takes about 5 minutes to assemble them in a bowl and drizzle over the chocolate and salted caramel sauces, then ta-da!

    The great thing is, they do look just like the photo on the packet. (I should say there are two boxes worth in my photo.) And they taste fabulous, if you have a sweet tooth. At £2.99 per box, it’s not even that expensive. Highly recommended!

    Also from Rule of Crumb is this pre-prepared gluten free Chicken Katsu Curry, which I think is a fairly new product.

    You have to make the accompaniments for this, but for the chicken, it’s a case of baking it in the oven for 20 mins or so and microwaving the sauce. You’re supposed to defrost it overnight in the fridge, but we didn’t realise so we cooked it from frozen for a bit longer, and it was fine.

    Great flavour, nice bit of heat, crispy chicken. Lovely.

    This is a great treat meal for those occasions when we really fancy a takeaway but just not another curry, which seems the only takeaway we can easily get these days.

    Rule of Crumb foods are stocked by Sainsburys, Morrisons, Booths, Wholefoods and Ocado, according to their website. Or you can buy directly from their online shop, where you can see their other products.

    Disclaimer: I bought (am still buying) these myself and genuinely think they’re great – this isn’t a promotional post 🙂

  • Tesco gluten free sushi

    Tesco gluten free sushi

    I don’t think this is particularly news, but as I don’t usually shop in Tesco, it was news to me! I am very impressed that they have opted for a gluten free soy sauce in their takeaway sushi packs, giving me a rather splendid work lunch today. This little lot was only £3. Not all the packs are gluten free as one of them had panko breadcrumbs in the sushi, but the plain fish ones will be ok.

    They also had a gluten free cheese and onion pre-packed sandwich, but sushi generally wins over a sandwich for me.

    I also discovered these gluten free KitKat type biscuits, which look rather fine. Will be testing these out over the weekend. It’s a long time since I had a KitKat!

  • Baked – Sharrow Vale free from bakery

    I have been tipped off that a vegan and free from bakery has opened very recently on Hickmott Road in Sharrow Vale recently. I don’t know much about it but according to the Facebook page everything is vegan and gluten free, and the pictures of the produce look totally amazing!

    I will be on my way there at the earliest opportunity. More soon…

    Baked
    14 Hickmott Rd, Sheffield S11 8QF