Steeliac

Tag: gluten free Italian

  • Borgo

    Borgo

    We have tried to book at table at Borgo, the independent Italian restaurant on Oakbrook Road (near the Greystones/Ecclesall area of Sheffield) a few times but it’s always been fully booked. We eventually managed to secure a table with some friends one dark, wintery evening, and I was very excited to go.

    Whilst it’s not the most renowned for gluten free, it has a great reputation generally, and it does have some GF dishes marked on the menu. We’re talking four out of eleven antipasti dishes, for example, and two out of seven sides – so if you want loads of choice and a separate GF menu, this might not be the place for you. But if you’re looking for high quality, artisanal food and you don’t mind a slightly limited choice, it’s worth a try.

    My husband and I shared starters, which were the Arrosticini Abruzzesi (grilled lamb skewers with lemon and salt to you and me) and scallops in butter sauce with a hint of garlic and chilli. They were both fabulous, with the high quality and perfectly cooked main ingredients speaking for themselves, with just a few simple supporting flavours.

    a plate with five lamb skewers and a slice of lemon
    A plate with three scallop shells on a bed of green leaves, each containing a cooked scallop, topped with micro herbs and accompanied by a couple of lemon wedges

    Unusually for me, I went with more red meat for my main course. Normally I’d have been tempted by the fish dishes like Merluzzo e Lenticchie (pan seared cod on lentils) or Orata alla Pizzaiola (oven baked sea bream) but I must have been especially hungry!

    The steak, cooked medium rare to my liking, came with plenty of shaved parmesan, cherry tomatoes and rocket. Because I couldn’t have the French fries, mine had a side of rosemary roast baby potatoes, which went perfectly with the steak. Simple but hearty fare, well executed.

    A plate with sliced ribeye beef and salad, hiding under a generous amount of large parmesan cheese shavings
    A metal dish containing roasted baby potatoes with rosemary

    Surprisingly, after all that (I’m sure I left a few potatoes!), I still had just enough room for a dessert, which was a pannacotta with cherries. As per the other dishes, simple but wonderful. Soft, creamy pannacotta and the tang of cherries. What’s not to love?

    A decorative dish containing a pannacotta, topped with cherries and red, fruity sauce, and a sprig of mint leaves

    With prices ranging from £13 – 16 for starters (some of the non-GF were a little cheaper) and £27 – 36 for main courses, this isn’t the cheapest of restaurants, but the food was very high quality, the service was attentive and I felt looked after. Despite the disclaimer on the menu, the staff did what was needed to make my food safe, and I would definitely go back.

    Borgo
    139-141 Oakbrook Road, Sheffield S11 7EB

  • Bella Italia

    Bella Italia

    We had a family weekend break to Centerparcs recently, which inevitably involved a fair bit of eating out. We prepared our own breakfasts and lunches in our cabin, but had a couple of evening meals out and one takeaway delivered to the cabin. I have to say, the Centerparcs team seem to have a very good handle on allergens, and although there’s inevitably a bit less choice, I always had confidence in what was served.

    Our Sunday night meal was spent at Bella Italia, after an epic day of crazy golf followed by many hours in the Tropical Swimming Paradise. Other than the meal seeming to take a while to come (we were absolutely starving!), I was very impressed, so I looked up where our nearest one is. It turns out to be at Centertainment to the north east of Sheffield, with the cinema and bowling alley etc.

    So first of all, I was given a separate gluten free menu, which always impresses me. And there was plenty of choice on it, with bread and olives, starters, salads, grills, pasta, pizza and some lighter choices using spiralised veg. (They also have a decent vegan menu.)

    I was also assured that the kitchen staff take good cross contamination precautions, such as separate prep equipment, and separate trays for the gluten free pizzas, which go on the top shelf of the pizza oven. I’ve just called the Centertainment branch and they offered the same assurances.

    For a starter, I went for the Burrata, which is a very creamy version of fresh mozzarella cheese, served with some sun dried tomatoes and an artichoke and red pepper dip. Very nice.

    My main course was a pizza. I chose the Tonno Puttanesca, which included tuna, olives, capers, garlic, red onion, red peppers & chilli on a fiery* tomato base. The menu doesn’t mention mozzarella as a topping, so I asked for that as an extra.

    *Not so fiery, thankfully – just a little bit of heat

    I have to say, I was super impressed with the pizza – the base was possibly the best I’ve had. It was a generous size and there were plenty of toppings. It seemed very much like the real (gluteny) deal – I loved it!

    My friend went for the Risotto Funghi, which also features on the gluten free menu, and was apparently very nice. Mushrooms don’t do it for me, but I’m assured it was lovely, so here it is: 

    We were far too stuffed for desserts, but there’s a choice of pannacotta, ice cream and sorbet – we went back to the cabin for wine and board games instead, once the kids were in bed.

    I also liked the rather cheery ceiling lights, although they might just be at Centerparcs. All in all, a very successful and surprisingly good meal. Next stop, Coeliac UK accreditation..?

    Unit 3, Valley Centertainment, Broughton Ln, Sheffield S9 2EP

     

  • Akentannos, Sharrow Vale Road

    *** Update: this restaurant is now 100% gluten free! – see this updated review***

    This week I heard of yet another Sheffield restaurant with a great report of gluten free food, via @MalSannie on Twitter.

    Akentannos is a restaurant and bar on Sharrow Vale Road specialising in Sardinian food and their website says they have a strong reputation for gluten free dishes. Apparently, the chef is coeliac, which is reassuring when it comes to being confident that cross contamination measures are in place.

    Their menu has gluten free dishes marked on, and there are only a couple of dishes which aren’t gluten free or can’t be made to be. So this place offers plenty of choice. Starters include antipasto, octopus, baked mushrooms and the rather enticing wild boar ham with truffle honey, walnuts, pecorino and rocket.

    There are numerous pasta, meat and fish options for main courses, as well as a traditional Sardinian bread and broth dish called Pane Frattau, which can also be served gluten free.

    Also according to the menu, Sardinians are amongst the longest living people on the planet, which has been scientifically attributed to the local Cannonau red wine and Pecorino Sardo cheese. No further excuse needed.

    Akentannos, 270 Sharrow Vale Road S11 8ZH