Visit to North West Regional College – Strand Road, Londonderry/Derry

On Friday, 21^st June, North West Regional College held a Corporate Positive Workplace Initiative Event. Gluten Free Ireland was invited to take part by exhibiting and explaining to interested staff Coeliac Disease and the difficult lifestyle it creates.

Including ourselves, there were around a dozen Exhibitors from a wide range of disciplines and the event was well attended by the College Staff who kept everyone busy answering queries.

On our stand we had information about Coeliac Disease and the part we are playing in trying to raise awareness of the illness along with leaflets and / or food samples from a number of Gluten Free food producers.

Locally, we had GF Sausages and a new product – GF Meatballs from Doherty Meats of Pennyburn in Derry and Cakes by Miriam who is also based in the City.

From Kilkenny we had GF Sauces from Nature’s Oils and from Athenry we had GF Biscuits from Foods of Athenry.

Glutafin in GB had also provided us with samples and information leaflets which are always welcome.

Our stand had a steady stream of visitors who, in some cases, just wanted information while others wanted to know more about where to purchase the various products on display.

Here are some website links you may find useful:

www.cakesbymiriam.co.uk Mobile: 07817289509

www.jdm.co.uk Doherty Meats

www.foodsofathenry.ie GF Biscuits etc

www.glutafin.co.uk GF Crackers, Crispbread etc

www.naturesoils.ie GF Sauces

Also attending the Event was Dunola who manufacture and sell Rapeseed Oil and Gluten Free Sauces and we were delighted to meet Martin McLaughlin and his wife Fionnuala who own the business.

There could be some very interesting developments from that particular meeting so watch this space!

Buy their products online or find a retailer near you at – www.dunola.co.uk

Many thanks to Donna Hyndman of NWRC who organised the Event and for her invitation to participate.

Out and about in Londonderry/Derry – UK City of Culture 2013

Apart from attending the Event itself on the Friday Tina and I decided to travel up to Derry on the Thursday and spend some time exploring the Maiden City as it is a while since we last paid it a visit!

On our way up we stopped for coffee at the Oakleaf Restaurant at Glenshane. Unfortunately they had no Gluten Free scones or biscuits so that was a disappointment (especially as they have a Centra Store next door which could be stocking some simple GF biscuits!)

Having found the NWRC building we were delighted to find it is right next door to a Coeliac Friendly eating venue I had identified from our website before leaving home – check it out at www.glutenfreeireland.com

The venue is Quaywest Restaurant & Wine Bar and they lived up to their reputation as a suitable eating place. Dan, our waiter, could not have been more helpful and the GF items on the menu are pretty extensive so they are not just “playing” at catering for Coeliacs!

We had booked overnight accommodation at the Tower Hotel in Butcher Street and here again we found very welcoming staff in the restaurant and they too made sure Tina got a Gluten Free meal.

By chance, we discovered that the famous West End play, “The Mousetrap” was on stage at the Millennium Forum so we spent the evening there watching the play. Very entertaining but if you want to know “who dunnit” – you will need to go and see it yourself as the audience has been sworn to secrecy. No wonder it has been running on stage in London for 60 years non stop!

To cap it all, if you want to have a pre-theatre meal, we discovered that the Encore Brasserie in the Millennium Forum has an extensive GF menu so you will not be stuck!

Derry/Londonderry is living up to its title as UK City of Culture 2013 so, if you get the opportunity, pay it a visit and, if you are Coeliac, you have nothing to fear about eating out!

June 2013