Senza Glutine - Travelling to Italy on a Gluten Free diet - Calabria 2013

Amazing pebble beaches in
Marina di Giosia Jonica, Calabria, Italy

Hello everyone, yes we are back! I know it has been a long, long time since we have blogged. You may have been wondering where have we been? And to be honest, we’ve just been enjoying life and enjoying good gluten free food!

But today I want to share with you my recent travels to the beautiful, picturesque land of Italy. What a wonderful place Italy is, from the rhythmic almost sing-song language, to the smells of fresh brewing coffee and wood-fire pizza drifting through the cobblestone streets.

Homegrown chilli plant

Both my parents are Italian, and come from the same small town south of Italy in Calabria, Marina di Giosia Jonica – on one side beach and on the other luscious countryside. On this trip I travelled with my mum for one month of mother daughter bonding. It had been 7 years since I had travelled to my parents hometown, so it was great to catch up with my many aunts, uncles and cousins – and of course my beautiful nonna (my grandma) one of the main reasons we decided to travel this year in the first place.

Gorgeous countryside in Calabria, Italy

A lot had changed in 7 years but most importantly I was now gluten free. My last trip was pre-coeliac (celiac) so I never had to worry about what I was eating. And this was one of my main fears before travelling this time. Was I going to starve? Was I going to miss out on my favourite Italian treats? Boy was I wrong. I had absolutely nothing to worry about! It was actually much easier than I thought and I brought back the extra kilos to prove it!

Fresh homegrown produce - Tomato & Cucumber Salad

Like most Italians, my family loves to eat – they also don’t understand the word ‘no’ when it comes to more food, but hey who’s complaining? Living with my family for one month I was spoilt with lots of home cooked authentic meals. All delicious, all fresh and all made specially gluten free. 

Gluten free pasta with fresh homemade sauce

The great thing about being in a small country town is that everybody grows their own produce. Fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs are plentiful. Most will make their own fresh tomato sauce in the summer to last them throughout the year. Others will make their own olive oil and wine. Some will even have their own animals for fresh eggs, milk and cheese. And although I don’t like to think about it many will raise their own chickens and pigs for their meat and to make Italian traditions like salami, prosciutto and other cold cuts we Australians only know to be sold in delis.

Lemon tree in my aunties backyard

If any of you have been to Italy you will know that an Italian breakfast consists of coffee and sweets – there is no toast, no cereal and definitely no bacon and eggs! This was probably my least favourite meal of the day. There is only so much sugar one can have first thing in the morning. Although having said that towards the end of my trip, I was quite content to chow down on cake or biscotti for breakfast, always washed down with a café latte of course!

Traditional Italian breakfast -
Cafe latte with gluten free amaretti

I was very surprised to find that gluten free products were readily available in supermarkets in the small town of Marina di Giosia Jonica. There were loads of gluten free pasta varieties all of which were fantastic. I’m sure you all know the bad variety I am talking about – the gluggy type, the kind that breaks into a million pieces when stirred. All the pastas I tried in Italy – and trust me it was almost every day – were absolutely amazing! They held their form and could almost pass as normal pasta. I even had a few volunteers try it and they would have all been happy to have their own plate of gluten free pasta.

Delicious gluten free pasta made
with pistachio and prawns

However not only were the supermarkets full of great gluten free pasta, but there were also varieties of biscuits, cakes, bread – the bread rolls were especially good - ice-creams, flours and even frozen ready made meals.

Gluten free aisle in the supermarket

It also surprised me how knowledgeable the Italians were regarding gluten free food and coeliac (celiac) disease. Almost everybody I spoke to understood exactly what I was talking about. All I would have to say is “sono celiaca” or “senza glutine”. Not only would they understand, but they also understood to great lengths, the issues involved with cross-contamination. I found that in most instances, restaurants and cafés (which the Italians refer to as bars) would not offer gluten free options unless they had a dedicated gluten free area in the kitchen. The rules and regulations are much stricter in Calabria, which in one way is a good thing, but on the other not such a good thing as most places will not provide it with the fear of being fined by the health department.

Cheese and salami at the Italian markets

Most gelato in Italy is gluten free as it is all made fresh with natural ingredients. Of course flavours with biscuits or cake need to be avoided, but with the variety of flavours you will not be missing out. You will find simplicity is key for Italians – chocolate, hazelnut, coffee, pistachio and vanilla are usually the most popular. 

 

Yummy gelato! All labelled gluten free!

Although the base of the gelato is usually gluten free, I had a few occasions where I was told the flavor I desired was not gluten free because they had already scraped the gelato onto a cone. Naturally I was extremely surprised with this! I was also very lucky to find certain gelaterias sold gluten free ice-cream cones, and they were deliciously crunchy!

Gluten free ice cream cones!

As we were travelling during summer we indulged in lots of amazing frozen treats. Frozen yoghurt from the local ‘Yogorino’ (previously Baby Yoghurt) was one of them…delicious frozen vanilla yoghurt served with your choice of fruit, nuts, or even nutella!

Gluten free frozen yoghurt
with strawberries and coconut

Round two...with Nutella topping!

Granita is also a popular Italian summer treat. This is simply flavoured ice traditionally made with sugar and fruit, served naturally or with whipped cream. The texture is like a sorbet however much smoother. Flavours include strawberry, melon, fig, peach as well as coffee or almond. Granita was almost always gluten free, however it’s best to check before ordering. If you are traveling to Italy, Granita is a must!

Gluten free strawberry granita
served with whipped cream...divine!

During my trip I was lucky enough to have a family member who owned a pizzeria, make me a special order of gluten free pizza. Due to regulations they do not offer gluten free pizza on their menu as it would be too hard to have a dedicated gluten free zone. My pizza was prepared before any of the other work was started so there was no chance of cross contamination with flour. Once ready it was placed on a tray in order for it not to touch the wood fire oven floor. I chose my favourite topping – 4 cheeses with a bonus of salami – Yum!

Amazing gluten free pizza with four cheeses
and salami...salivating just thinking about it!

Latte di mandorla (translated to Almond Milk) is a refreshing Italian summer drink, made from fresh almonds, sugar and water. This is commonly found in all restaurants and bars.

Refreshing Latte di Mandorla (almond milk)

And lastly, but possibly my most favourite food experience during this trip, was the gluten free Italian Dolci (sweets) I was able to indulge in.  Thanks to my uncles connections I met an owner of a Pasticceria (Italian cake shop) that had experience in making gluten free sweets including Tiramisù (coffee flavoured dessert), Pan di Spagna (Italian sponge cake) and Bigné (light, puffy pastries) filled with cream, and vanilla & chocolate custard. 

A selection of gluten free Italian Dolci

The dolci were made in a complete gluten free zone, so I knew I was 100% safe. The best way to describe this experience would be to say that I was in absolute gluten free heaven. It had been years since I had indulged in these sweet treats – pre coeliac (celiac) to be exact…so let’s just say I was one very happy girl!

 

Gluten free sweets heaven!!!

Did you know the Italian government provides a monthly stipend to offset the cost of gluten-free foods for those with coeliac (celiac) disease because it is regarded a medical condition? You are also awarded extra time off work each month to offset the time it takes to find and prepare your gluten-free food! How great is that?! I think we need to introduce some of these regulations into Australia!

Freshly picked homegrown strawberries

I had an absolutely fantastic time in Italy, and as you can see there were absolutely no issues with eating gluten free foods as previously feared. Below is a list of a few places to try if you are ever in Calabria, Italy. However remember when all else fails simply indulge in the fresh produce of the land. Happy travels!

Golosia

Via Montezemolo, 3-28 Marina di Gioiosa Ionica, Calabria

Yogorino (previously Baby Yoghurt)

Piazza dei Mille, 12, Marina di Gioiosa Ionica, Calabria

GamberoRosso

Via Montezemolo, 63, 89046 Marina di Gioiosa Jonica

Lido Delle Stele

Lungomare Lato Nord, 89047 Roccella Ionica, Italy




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Relax, Unwind and Breathe...

Awhile back, I was at a point in my life that I was about to crack! Work was so busy and I was struggling to stay afloat, amongst other personal issues, I was left feeling drained and exhausted. I had become a not-so-nice person and I could feel it tumbling down. What had happened to the happy, cheerful, bubbly person I used to be? I had been zapped of all my energy.

Luckily for me I realised what was happening to me and I decided to knock it on the head! After some research I discovered a yoga retreat located at Maraylya (near Windsor) only 45 minutes away from Sydney. I could not wait for my two night stay at Billabong Retreat.

Run by a husband and wife team, Paul and Tory von Bergen, the retreat overlooks a billabong, and is nestled amongst beautiful bushland – it’s a surprise at just how close you really are to civilization.

There is a very warm and homely feel about the retreat. I instantly felt a sense of calm on arrival. The smell of incense brought back memories of Bali. At the front is a gorgeous deck area, with comfortable lounges, hammocks and outdoor seating. This was our home for the next couple of days, where we relaxed in-between classes – reading a book and sipping hot tea – or in most instances taking a little nap.

The rooms are simple, and we opted for the higher end accommodation of ‘The Shed’ – a cute little isolated cabin with 4 beds and basic amenities. There are a variety of other sleeping facilities including tents and cottages with shared toilets and showers.

The food at Billabong Retreat was all vegetarian, and clean, healthy eating – but surprisingly tasty. We spoke to the chef beforehand, and she made sure there were always gluten free options available. Plenty of food was provided daily so there was rarely time to go hungry. However the kitchen was always open if you felt like nibbling on fresh fruit or nuts. And there was always plenty of hot tea (herbal and caffeine varieties) available. My favourite was the ‘sleepytime vanilla’ tea before bed.

On arrival we were greeted with a delicious apple and Chai tea spiced cake. This was gluten free, dairy free and sugar free but extremely tasty!

 

The yoga and meditation room is a circular structure with a high wooden ceiling, surrounded by full-length glass windows overlooking the bushland. There is nothing quite more relaxing than hearing the trees rustle, birds chirping and the beautiful sounds of nature while practicing yoga.

Yoga mats and blankets are provided, and all levels of yoga are welcome (luckily because it had been years since I had attended a class!). Paul was our teacher during the stay, showing us many different aspects of yoga and taking us on a calming and relaxing journey each time. You do not have to attend all classes, however I made sure I did, as this was the reason I was there right?

We got straight into the yoga on the first day, with an afternoon session – learning different breathing techniques and postures, and learning how to still the mind. This is an extremely important part of yoga – one that we all found quite difficult. There were 2 classes a day and each incorporated different yoga and meditation techniques. We also attended a chanting session, which was quite different.

 

For dinner on our first night we were served a red bean stew with corn chips and guacamole, steamed vegetables and salad. And for dessert, a raspberry tofu mousse. I was a bit hesitant by the sounds of this, but it was really yummy! And you wouldn’t even know it was made from tofu!

Breakfast each morning consisted of a selection of boiled eggs, gluten free toast (yay!), gluten free muesli, quinoa porridge, yoghurt and fresh fruit.

On our second day, amongst yoga practice, we also got to experience a tea ceremony, where we meditated during the simple process of making tea – something to be incorporated into our everyday lives. We used all our senses in this class – listening to the water be poured into the cups, watching as the tea bud magnificently bloomed into a flower, feeling the heat from the steam in the cups, and tasting the tea.

For lunch we were served a Thai pumpkin soup, served with raw vegetables on top. This gave the soup a whole new dimension, and was really nice to have that crunch factor. We were also served GF garlic bread!

During your free time, it is also optional to book in for a massage (at an additional cost). I just couldn’t go past it. On the other side of the billabong, a small timber room opens up onto the water and again it took me back to my holiday in Bali. It was perfect to add to my relaxing weekend!

For dinner that night we ate a vegetable curry and dahl, served with rice and a green salad. Dessert was a baked apple filled with a fruit and nut crumble.

That night we all gathered in the yoga room and watched a film called ‘Yoga Woman’. It delved into many different aspects of yoga and what it is used for around the world. It was a truly inspiring and uplifting movie and a nice touch to the retreat!

On our last day of the retreat, we had a delicious roasted vegetable stack and green salad. We were also taught some yoga techniques to take home with us. Only 7 minutes of practice a day is all it takes to keep your mind focused.  Then sadly it was time to say goodbye. And although it was such a short retreat, I felt extremely invigorated and tranquil.

Founder, Paul von Bergen has been kind enough to answer a few questions we had regarding Billabong Retreat.

2SS: Why did you start up Billabong Retreat and what inspired you?

Paul: Living in Thailand and seeing the retreats there, plus having a close family member die of alcoholism and wanting to do something to help people deal with the stresses in life.

2SS: How long have you been teaching/practicing yoga?

Paul: I have been practicing 7 years and teaching for 4 years.

2SS: What do you believe are the main benefits of yoga?

Paul: Healthy mind, healthy body.

2SS: How often do you practice yoga when you are not teaching?

Paul: I practice daily.

2SS: The facilities are eco-friendly. Tell us a little more about this and why this came to be.

Paul: Yoga is about connecting not only with your own nature but also with the nature around – being gentle with the nature around us involves using its resources consciously – reduce, reuse and recycle. Much of the retreat is second hand materials plus any new timber is sustainable plantation pine. We have a worm farm waster water system, solar hot water, photovoltaic power and we are fully eco certified.

2SS: What is the philosophy behind the food at Billabong Retreat?

Paul: Whole-foods, locally sourced – foods that our digestive systems have evolved to eat over millions of years – your gran would need to recognise them! Vegetables, fruit and nuts being the key ingredients.

2SS: Have you always been vegetarian and how do you think this helps your lifestyle?

Paul: No we are not vegetarian – we do eat organic meat occasionally but we feel it is good to give guests a taste of how great vegetarian food can be.

Billabong Retreat

41 McClymonts Road, Maraylya NSW

(02) 4573 6080

www.billabongretreat.com.au

This made us giggle...

Mad Mex – Fresh Mexican Grill

I was out and about in Parramatta the other day strolling along Church Street and I noticed a few new restaurants have popped up since I was here last.

Mad Mex Fresh Mexican Grill was one of them. The Corona bottle “chandelier” and over sized drawing on the wall at the entrance was quirky and intriguing enough for me to want to explore their menu.

And I wasn’t disappointed! The menu clearly states what is gluten free, making it very easy to choose what you want. The staff is knowledgeable on what is GF and what isn’t and are happy to answer any questions you might have about the menu.

I can never go past a beef nachos, so this is what I ordered! The menu is designed for you to build your own style, so you choose the base (in my case corn chips) and then you choose the meat (vegetarian is also available) and then the salsa and any condiments or extras you might want. I was really naughty and ordered the lot! 

The food is super tasty and the service was very quick. It’s casual/fast food dining, perfect if you just want a quick bite to eat and run.

Check them out next time you are in Parramatta or look up their website for other locations.

Mad Mex – Fresh Mexican Grill

285 Church Street, Paramatta

(02) 8677 5802

www.madmex.com.au

 

High Tea at The Tea Salon

Enjoying a nice day of shopping at Pitt St Mall in the city surely does work up an appetite! There are a lot of great places to eat in the new Westfield's, but today we chose to spoil ourselves and have high tea at The Victoria Room Tea Salon.

To my delight, they offer a gluten free high tea. I highly recommend that you pre book before going in, as I was advised that they might not always have GF bread & goodies available (as they could run out & you don't want to be left disappointed).

The Victoria Room Tea Salon is enclosed by a cute white picket fence and they serve their tea in an assortment of cute floral cups & teapots. We chose the Classic High Tea, which comes with your choice of tea from an extensive list. They also have the option of high tea with a glass of sparkling wine or Moet, if you are after a cheekier afternoon!

The Classic High Tea comes with delicious sandwiches of chicken & wild herbs; smoked salmon, rocket, lemon & capers; cucumber, crème fraiche & dill; and roast beef, horseradish cream & baby cress. As for the sweets (my favourite part!) there were dark chocolate cups with chocolate mousse, cream & raspberries; mini gluten free cupcakes, and even a gluten free scone served with fresh whipped cream and jam. Yum!

It was a very decadent meal, but oh so worth it!  So next time you are shopping up a storm in the city, stop by for a little treat!

The Victoria Room Tea Salon

Westfield Sydney

Level 4 (Designer Gallery),
Cnr Pitt Street Mall and Market Street, Sydney

(02) 9357 4488

theteasalon.com.au

 

Suddenly 30 at The Cottage Balmain

Last week I celebrated my birthday (yay!). It was a very big milestone in my life… not just any birthday… but the big 3-0!!! So did I freak out? You betcha! It was probably a good 2 to 3 months before my birthday I started having mini heart palpitations. Where had my life gone? How was it even possible that I was nearly 30? I had a life plan and I wasn’t even there yet!

But after a few deep breaths and many heartfelt conversations with my sisters and dear friends (usually with a cocktail in hand) I realised that you can’t plan life, and really the overall big plan, in which none of us have control over, has gotten me to where I am today. No regrets. And looking back, boy have I done a lot! Everything that I have faced and accomplished in my life has made me the person I am today, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

So here I am… Suddenly 30!

I remember watching the movie ‘Suddenly 30’ for the first time years ago – thinking 30 is so far away! But how time flies when you’re having fun eh?

I truly love this movie! It’s a great carefree movie and honestly who doesn’t want a Mattie (played by Mark Ruffalo) in their lives?! For those who haven’t watched it check out the trailer below, and rent it out!

So as I came to terms with my new soon to be age, I decided I wanted to have a little get-together with my family and friends – after all it will be awhile before I celebrate another milestone birthday. So I started on my quest to find the perfect venue. I wanted something small, relaxed and casual – nothing too over the top. And it didn’t take me long to find it as it was right under my nose in the little suburb of Balmain.

"Strawberry White Wine Sangria" served to guests on arrival.

‘The Cottage’ is a cute little wine bar that opened up on Darling Street, Balmain in early 2012, set in a sandstone cottage style terrace – hence the name one would assume. It has been renovated and redecorated to feel homely and welcoming. At the front of The Cottage is a cute little garden seating area, head inside and to your right you will find the bar area with high stool seating and to your left more of a ‘restaurant’ style seating with lower tables. Keep walking past the stairs and you will enter a more private terrace dining area. Up the stairs, in the attic, you will find the lounge room. And as soon as I saw this area I knew this was where I wanted my birthday.

Decked out in mismatched furniture and cute little cosy lounges, the upstairs lounge room has a vintage charm. Complete with hanging ferns, odd wooden coffee tables, funky lampshades, and old picture frames. The cottage is quaint and it was the perfect location to host my birthday.

And even better they cater for gluten free dining (cheering!). The Cottage menu consists of a range of share plates, with little GF’s marked up on there for easy reference. The delicious food includes roast pork belly on carrot puree, tiger prawns poached in crazy water, baby beet salad, amongst many other mouth-watering dishes. Gluten free pizza bases are also available, cooked in their huge wood fire pizza oven.

For the night of my party I opted for gluten free pizzas (yes for all) and my guests loved them – they couldn’t even tell they were being served GF! I also included some olives, and cheese and cold meat platters, which were delicious! The Cottage was very accommodating and went to great lengths to make everything work for my birthday, including specially ordering GF lavosh and crackers to go with the cheese platters. I couldn’t have been happier!

To top off all this amazing food I decided to have a lolly bar – an entirely gluten free lolly bar! We did lots of research and searched high and low for as much variety as possible, as well as sourcing some really cute jars and vases. The end product was fantastic and I was so happy with how it all came together! We discovered some good old classics – like Allen’s Freckles and Pascal Pineapple Lumps – that were GF and didn’t even know about. To think we were depriving ourselves all these years. We also added GF cookies, sweet and salty popcorn, strawberry clouds and marshmallows. This was a great way to mix up the party and everybody loved it, especially when they got to take home a lolly bag!

For more GF information on your favourite classics see the links below:

www.nestle.com.au/OurProducts/Documents/Gluten-List-July-2012.pdf

www.cadbury.com.au/Products/Gluten-Information.aspx

And then there was the cake – you just can’t have a party without cake! We decided to make our own and stuck to the vintage and pink theme. We made a giant sized cupcake and complemented it with regular sized cupcakes, all frosted with a raspberry jam butter cream. And then for something extra special close to my heart, we created two cupcakes decorated with chocolate hearts for my mum and dad, as they celebrate their wedding anniversary on my actual birthday!

I had an amazing night with my family & friends and it was definitely the perfect way to say hello to my 30’s!

I can’t help sharing the delicious frosting recipe we used. It’s so easy... simply pipe or spread onto your favourite cupcake or cake recipe. It goes extremely well with chocolate or vanilla flavoured cake.

Enjoy!

{Gluten Free Recipe} RASPBERRY JAM BUTTER FROSTING

175g GF icing sugar, sifted

50g butter, room temperature

1 tablespoon of milk (if needed)

GF raspberry jam (seedless), to taste

2-3 drops GF red food colouring, or to desired colour

Mix all ingredients together with a spatula, until combined well. If the mixture is dry add milk.