Rockpool Bar & Grill? No way..

So a couple of weeks ago Garrick totally blew me away by announcing that 'we' were going to the fabulous Rockpool Bar & Grill.  NO WAYYYYYYYYYY.

I was just a little bit excited..

I had heard so many wonderful things about this place.  OMG 'we' were actually going!!  I had read that this establishment had taken out three awards at the 2011 Gold Plate Awards -  named Best New Restaurant, Best Steakhouse and Best Wine List

Classy, sophisticated, elegant.. it was all that and more.  This place was really fancy schmancy and just quietly,  I was loving it.   I had visited the hairdresser earlier in the day, had on my LBD & cocktail shoes, Garrick was looking spunkalicious - we were feeling pretty spesh.. we strutted in like we rolled off the set of Saturday Night Fever ha ha.. lame..   We were the FIRST to arrive.  What?? Oh God, we didn't want to appear too enthusiastic and give away our carefully constructed ruse of super coolness (I kid of course.. as if..) but unfortunately our game was up at the bar.. Thinking that the safe bet was to order a timeless classic, a G&T, I was bombarded with a barrage of complex GIN options and not only that but in a french accent.. dear me, I was clearly out of my depth.. I looked at Garrick and pleaded desperately with my eyes to salvage this pitiful and clear lack of street smarts but it was hopeless.. Garrick was as clueless as I was.. we had no bloody idea.. what a bunch of amateurs.. I uttered in defeat.. "surprise me".

.... meanwhile Garrick ordered a beer and the whole vicious cycle started again (Dear God we were in pre-dinner-drinks HELL)  This wasn't the kind of place to be expecting a XXXX Garrick.

It turns out my Hendrick's Gin & in-house tonic with a sliver of cucumber was right on the money.  When our friends arrived moments later 2 of our party very stylishly ordered that exact concoction.  I had mixed emotions.. I mean I had somehow managed to order a very cool drink but clearly by default.. When I say we don't get out much.. that is an understatement of the most mammoth proportion,  we have KIDS, we NEVER go out and we had a lot of catching up to do.. we were hacks.

Our party was escorted to our table.  I might add at this juncture, the decor was fabulous.  The floor to ceiling mesh curtains sectioning various dining areas was complimented by warm lighting and some funky background music.  It was perfect, the  ambiance was lovely.  The chairs were super COMFORTABLE.  So important.  BUT the absolute standout for me was the SERVICE.  I wanted this night to be perfect.  After all, I wasn't sure when we we would be venturing out again. I needed this night to be perfect.. I needed to make the most of this opportunity.

I had contacted the restaurant about a week before and I had explained that I was GLUTEN CHALLENGED, I  was in fact, sadly more than that, I was .. a COELIAC.  I explained my dietary requirements and the importance of food prep for 'said affliction' and was seriously expecting to be met with *groan* "Hey Neil.. we've got one of 'those' again.." (ha ha like he was even there..) but I was way off the mark .  Brilliant.  The staff bent over backwards to make sure I had a good night.  Almost as soon as we sat down, a waitress introduced herself and proceeded to go through the entire menu discreetly, highlighting what I could have rather than what I couldn't - and you know what? The pros far outweighed the cons and I'm not kidding. Anything that was a potential risk, they would endeavour to transform to make the dish gluten free. There were minimal menu options that were off limits - seriously. I'm talking pasta (derr) obvious bread dishes but alot could be converted, fried calamari, the hand cut fat chips - but seriously, do you go to a place like Rockpool to have chips? COME ON. So on this particular night this is what I had -

Wood Fired Grilled Fremantle Octopus with Roasted Autumn Vegetables, Preserved Lemon Pesto
A 250g Cape Grim Dry Aged Fillet 36 Month Old Grass Fed
Sauteed Mixed Mushrooms
Charcoal Roasted Peppers and Red Onions with Marjoram
Green Beans with Creamy Anchovy, Chilli and Lemon Dressing, Toasted Almonds

Now I am going to go out on a limb here and say that my starter was possibly the best thing that I have ever tasted. IN MY LIFE. EVER. Big call I know but I'm putting it out there..

The steak.. well.. I mean these people KNOW steaks. They are STEAK PEOPLE.  I'm talking medium rare hot knife through butter.. GLORIOUS

And the sides? The worst thing I can say about the sides is that we had to share.. pffffft
and all washed down with a cheeky red or two..

Dessert? Look, at this point, I was feeling like a fat little bird.. happy and warm and enjoying my wine.  OK so I didn't stop there.. so I partook in some salted caramel merriment? What? DON'T JUDGE ME

I love FOOD.  I will ALWAYS love food.  Thank-you Rockpool. Thank-you for turning it on.
Thank-you from deep inside my being. Thank-you for looking after my Coeliac-ness.  BEST NIGHT out in a long time. I'll be back.

ROCKPOOL BAR & GRILL
Crown Perth
Great Eastern Hwy
BURSWOOD  WA

Phone: +61 8 6252 1900
info@rockpoolperth.com

Elmar's in the Valley

Did you know that Elmar's has been around since 1987?  Yes! Initially as a smallgoods outlet in Highgate, then another outlet in Myaree, this german success story led to the birth of a wonderful establishment in Henley Brook.

As a family we have frequented Elmar's in the Valley many times.  Situated in the heart of the picturesque Swan Valley, we really are spoilt for choice - with so much on the menu, fabulous surroundings but perhaps best of all (in my opinion anyway), so much GLUTEN FREE.

Yes my Coeliac friends & gluten intolerant compadres, Elmar's will not disappoint. Their menu options are extensive and delicious (I can vouch for this!) If you would like to peruse their menu click here.



You will notice that many menu options have a © or a ©* next to them.  This indicates that the menu item is either Gluten Free or can be prepared Gluten Free.  Happy days!

Chloe from Elmar's in the Valley was more than happy to speak to me about 'gluten free options' and 'food preparation'.  She referred directly to the chef who advised the following -

“We ensure quality control in the kitchen based on strict HCCP guidelines. This means all food must be cooked, prepared and stored properly. The majority of our sauces are made from scratch so we know exactly what is going into our food, and ensure everything is prepared properly.”

What about the small goods you ask?  Are they Gluten Free?  This from their website -

"Elmar uses only the highest quality products and freshest ingredients in all of his traditional smallgoods recipes. In addition to this, all of the Elmar's Smallgoods products are GLUTEN FREE, and free of any artificial colours or flavours. This allows customers with most allergy problems the ability to happily indulge in Elmar's delicious products without the risk of allergic reactions".

More information can be found about Elmar's Small Goods here

Click here to source other locations for Elmar's Small Goods 

Elmar's also host the fabulous Elmar's in the Valley OKTOBERFEST - Saturday 13th/Sunday 14th and Sunday 21st October - a weekend full of live music, German food and beer (PLEASE NOTE ELMAR'S BEER IS NOT GLUTEN FREE) - but PLENTY of other gluten free beverages available of course!

So it's all good really.  Feel like a trip out to the beautiful Swan Valley?  Go on.. your tummy will thank you for it :)

The restaurant is open for lunch on Wednesday and Thursday and both lunch and dinner from Friday to Sunday.

Guten Appetit!

Elmar's in the Valley
8731 West Swan Rd, Henley Brook
Tel (08) 9296 0058 Fax (08) 9296 6356

www.elmars.com.au

Focusing on a nutritious diet for our GF kids

A great article here and worth a read -

http://www.skillforkids.com/0-3-years/benefits-of-exercise/nutrition/10-0-3-years/63-benefits-of-exercise/67-nutrition/1219-Food-Choices-for-Children-with-Coeliac-disease.html


Don't forget that there are great GF substitutes for breadcrumbs such as rice crumbs or corn crumbs - some familiar ones from Orgran http://www.orgran.com/gluten-free,
Caslare http://www.casalarepasta.com/, or indeed GF bread crumbs - maybe try Macro wholefoods market brand or LifeStyle Bakery http://www.lifestylebakery.com.au/page.asp?parentid=2&parent2id=81.

Milo is not an option because of the barley it contains however what about Nestle's Chocolate Nesquik?
http://www.nestle.com.au/OurProducts/Documents/Gluten-List-July-2012.pdf

Massel do powdered and liquid stocks that are gluten free
http://www.massel.com.au/products/gourmet_plus.shtml

Eskal do gluten free ice cream cones
http://www.eskalfoods.com/eskal-gluten-free-products-1

and don't forget, a lot of products are gluten free by ingredient so it pays to make sure you are reading labels correctly.  The Coeliac Society of Australia is a great resource and individual states offer label reading workshops or supermarket tours.  Check them out.

Abbey's Birthday

Abbey recently turned 5.  WOW that went super fast!

3 and a bit of those 5 years living happily gluten free.  Here are some images of another happy birthday that we would like to share with you. Enjoy!

New Scooter

Cupcakes

Lalaloopsy

Birthday BBQ Salads

Dolly Cake

The Birthday Watermelon

Inside Dolly

Mini Cupcakes

Hillarys Boat Harbour

and so.. school holidays are upon us.. lets doooooooooo something..

OK how about AQWA? (Perth's Underwater World as it was formerly known) we haven't been for eons and I'm sure the kids would LOVE it.  So off to Hillarys we went and it would have been SUPER AWESOME except for the fact that Ben had not had a sleep and so.. let the screaming begin <groan>.  It was like flying blind.. we should have KNOWN better.  Thinking that this little moment of hysteria would soon pass was madness BECAUSE IT DIDN'T..

Apologies to the other AQWA patrons for our mid afternoon performance. Yes it did continue FROM the car TO the aquarium.. no he DID NOT wish to get IN the stroller, madness ensued.. yes we dared to enter the CROWDED walkthrough acquarium - the largest in AUSTRALIA..
Had we lost our minds?? CLEARLY.  He would not be held, contained, consoled.. we were ever hopeful.  Masses of critical stares burning into every side of my skull.. EVEN FROM THE FISH. 

and then.. we were out.. FINALLY but.. please.. someone explain to me.. WHY must people stand in little groups right in the middle of a busy NARROW thoroughfare and even though I had a pained DISTRESSED expression and was clearly struggling with a STROLLER AND a SCREAMING almost 2 year old who was not going to CALM DOWN for anyone and there was clearly NO WAY past, did they CONTINUE having a little chat.. DEAR OH DEAR..
GOING INTO MELTDOWN

But ABOVE GROUND a hasty handball to dad did not resolve this hideous situation.. oh no.. and the poor starfish in the touchpool will be FOREVER scarred.  DO NOT lift the sea creatures above the surface of the water - Umm OOPS..  DO NOT SQUEEZE POKE OR BITE sea creatures - Umm OOPS.. <ok I embellsh slightly.. he did not bite anything>.  We made a hasty retreat.

Hungry anyone?? Of course!! Everyone was looking for a little nourishment after that ordeal.  Even Ben.. after all.. a nibble on a starfish was hardly satisfying.. but I digress..

The Sorrento Beach Shack was like an oasis in the desert, a needle in the haystack, a ..

OK OK so you get the idea.        

I am happy to report that their menu was extensive with quite a selection for the gluten free diner.  Breakfast, lunch, dinner AND CAKES!!

Plus these people understand gluten free requirements and careful food preparation. Could that be.. Silence?? No whingeing, great food and COFFEE?? Yes..

Food not music calmed the savage beast on this occasion. Thank you God  <I couldn't have handled much more this day>.  FINALLY peace was restored. Ahhhh that's better.

Open daily - check website for opening hours.
Located at Sorrento Quay, Hillarys Boat Harbour Western Australia

Zucchini Fritters

Try transforming that sad zucchini laying at the bottom of your fridge into these yummy treats.
I found this recipe on Taste.com.au and tweaked it a little to make it gluten free. 

Great on their own or as a side.

2 Medium or 1 Large zucchini coarsely grated
1/2 cup SR GF Flour
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1 egg, whisked
1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
2 tsp Italian dried herbs
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
4 tsp olive oil

Place the zucchini in a colander and squeeze out as much excess moisture as possible. Transfer to a bowl. Stir in GF self raising flour, Parmesan, egg, parsley, dried herbs, salt & nutmeg.

Heat up 2 tsp olive oil in a non-stick frypan over medium-high heat.  Drop four 2-tablespoonful measures of zucchini mixture into pan and cook for 1 1/2 minutes each side or until golden and cooked through.  Transfer to a plate lined with paper towel.  Repeat adding oil as necessary.

Enjoy!

Please Sir, can I have some more?

The good people at Brookfarm recently sent me a free sample of their new PORRIJ

The sample had been lying on the kitchen counter for a while and my eldest son asked me several times over the past week "are you ever going to eat that mum?" Well to be honest, I was a bit sceptical. Could Brookfarm pull it off? I mean could they deliver what we expect from the every day garden variety -especially when I eyeballed the ingredients and saw cinnamon and thought to myself..  oh dear, the cinnamon is going to be overkill..  yeah right.. like I'm an expert.. pfffft

So I summoned all of my courage and went in head on - adding 1/3 cup of milk and microwaving for 90 seconds.  I added a little more milk, half a banana and drizzled with honey and..

I can confidently say.. WELL DONE Brookfarm, I think you've nailed it.  It really was quite delicious and you've managed to successfully duplicate the porridge texture with organic brown rice, millet and quinoa.  What a triumph.

If you have been missing that steaming bowl of porridge of the oaty variety, despair no more! 

MOOOOORE??  Why not! Get into it. 
 
Check out their website for your nearest stockist

Ingredients: Organic brown rice, organic millet, almonds, organic quinoa, organic amaranth, organic golden flaxseed, macadamias, cinnamon

www.brookfarm.com.au