So had a couple of days away. Ended up in Cardiff because we visited the Dr.Who experience (that is good fun!!) Booked Holiday Inn in Cardiff City Centre (I knew it was close to the Millenium Stadium, but didn't realise it meant next door!!, and the Castle was across the road.)
On the online booking form it asked for any special request, so naturally I asked for a meeting with the chef as I was Coeliac. Unfortunately what I hadn't realised was that the Hotel would not receive that information until the morning you arrive, so they didn't have a lot of notice. However they did their best and catered for me superbly, now this may not mean much to you but when my fish and chips came out minus chips, I was a bit miffed however, the Chef had noticed that the chips they used were coated in flour so didn't do me any, which was a result, he had realised that they wouldn't be safe for me to eat. When I asked if I could have some chips the Chef did me proper chunky spud chips with the skins left on to go with my slightly unconventional breaded (GF) fish. Pudding all I could have was the fruit salad with ice cream, but that was fine I was full anyway!!
In the morning when we came down to breakfast there was a note against our room number about my dietary requirements, but there was obviously a change in Chef, as the buffet was a little unsafe I asked for my breakfast from the kitchen. I was offered Vegetarian Sausages which was a laugh, because they're worse than ordinary sausages for being stuffed with wheat!! I was then told that the bacon wasn't gluten free (still trying to get my head around that one!!) Anyway I got a very hot plate full of two fried eggs, scrambled egg, tomatoes and mushrooms (I don't like Baked Beans!) and a toasted GF roll, as they didn't have any bread left (on my fish night before methinks!) No questions asked, no funny looks, just catered for.
After the Dr Who experience on Thursday (before we got to the Hotel) we came out and all needed a drink and a snack, so rather than staying at the experience we walked out along the bay and DD1 spotted a sign which said Gluten Free cake available at the Lightship 2000. This was after I had resigned myself to the fact that it may not be possible for me to have a snack, however, when we found the Lightship a toasted GF crumpet with butter was on the menu, which made a pleasant change from just cake or nothing! so I had that (I could have had a Brownie as well, but I didn't as they were pecan ones). Happy number 1.
We then went to the Hotel (see above), but while killing time waiting to see the Chef, we wandered into Cardiff itself, and investigated a lot of the arcades which are the old part of the city. In the process just in case the Hotel couldn't cope with me, we were on the look out for places that understood (apart from the big chains Prezzo, Pizza Hut, Pizza Express etc.) and I was taken aback when we found a little coffee shop in the back of one of these arcades where nearly everything on the menu was marked with the crossed grain symbol, unfortunately we had arrived at 3:55 and the kitchen closed at 4:00pm but we logged it for further reference (It was called 'The Plan' and it wasn't in the Castle Quarter arcade, unfortunately I can't remember which one it was in....now theres a challenge for you if you are visiting Cardiff.) Happy number 2.
We then returned to the hotel and what is explained above happened. On Friday morning after breakfast, we went for a walk to see if we could just get into the Castle grounds (but no it was admission only, and far too expensive for all of us) so we went to Bute Park next door, there was a fab sculpture there of a picture frame, so we took the obligatory photos (unfortunately there weren't many people about so the four of us couldn't get in one photo) and then wandered back to the hotel via a shop specialising in Welsh Love Spoons.
Before we went to Cardiff I had looked up places to eat that would cater for a gluten free diet, what I hadn't banked on was a teeny tea shop just two miles up the road.......all I can say is they are a Coeliac friendly haven and a gem I ought to keep to myself but I can't. For the size of Waterloo Gardens Teahouse their service was impeccable. Cross contamination was well understood, they cleaned the knives or found clean ones for each slice of Cake............and there was a choice of ....wait for it.......Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegetarian, Vegan and even all in one cake!! Plus did I say there was a Choice, yes, I did if you just wanted GF Cake it was clearly labelled as such and I could have eaten most of them, and there were around 16 of them. Added to which there were over 20 different teas to choose from, and I could have had a GF lunch, in this really teeny teahouse, brilliant and I have contacted them to tell them how fantastic they were. Shhhh!! don't tell anyone but here's the link www.waterlootea.com they are very friendly and busy. Happy number 3.
So all in all a nice break in Cardiff and they appear to be Coeliac aware which makes a nice change. If you are going to holiday inn and book online put the note in the special requests, but ring them a couple of days before you go so they can prepare for you. Although as I discovered nothing was too much trouble and they managed to feed me with no problems. I still cannot work out why Bacon wouldn't be gluten free, but there you go. LOL!!
Back to normality today, food didn't just appear.....................for a couple of days break, that I was quite worried about Cardiff came up trumps, and I was impressed, and had a very good break...flying the TARDIS was the best bit though!!
Well done Wales.....well, Cardiff, anyways.
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