SUMMER 2020
ALLERGICO BARCELONA From Michelin-star ice cream to simply delicious tapas, say hola to the foodie delights of this Catalan gem.
+ FROM ST KITTS TO COVENTRY How delicious food and community spirit helped Leave it to Esmie become one of the best restaurants in the West Midlands!
2020 Summer Issue
Cover Story:
4: BARCELONA Check out the best places to eat in this iconic city.
Features:
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8: ALLERGICO FEATURES: LEAVE IT TO ESMIE
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We chat to one of the West Midlands’ best-loved restaurants.
11: HEALTH HEROES Want to know which foods can help improve your mental health? Read on to find out!
12:FreeFrom Food Awards 2020 See a selection of this year’s winning products!
14: Puzzles & Games See if you can solve these tricky brainteasers!
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Acknowledgements: Allergico Magazine would like to thank: Kacie & the Leave it to Esmie Team The Free From Food Awards 2020 The city of Barcelona The Coventry University Journalism Department (the place where it all began) Anne and Richard Wallace Thank you so much! Sophie - Editor
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CONTENTS
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Editor's Letter
SUMMER 2020
Hello Allergicos! What a year it's been already and we're not even half way through 2020! These really are uncertain times and I would just like to take this opportunity to give my thanks to all the key workers around the world for their service in a time like this. Life's uncertain right now but knowing there are people like you all out there makes things a little more bearable. We'll be treating you to a virtual tour of the foodie hotspots of Barcelona, including an ice cream parlour with legendary owners. We'll then whisk you away to the Caribbean via Coventry through our interview with fan-favourite restaurant Leave it to Esmie. As well as all this fun, we've got foods to help your mental health and the winners of this year's FreeFrom Food Awards. All of us here at Allergico hope you enjoy reading our Summer issue and that we can provide just a little bit of lightness in these dark times. Best wishes, Sophie Wallace Editor
Get in touch! Email: allergico.magazineandblog@gmail.com Facebook: Allergico Magazine and Blog Instagram: @allergico.magazineandblog Twitter: @allergicoblog
We can't wait to hear from you!
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E BARC ir cha m r dly a Here's our lockdown-frien Page 4
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Allergico's armchair adventures in....
TAPAS After walking the gorgeous streets of the city and investigating countless tapas bars, I settled upon a charming little place called Tipo Tapa on Carrer de Rogent. I was welcomed into the bar by the very friendly staff who right from the start did their best to assist with my enquiries. Ordering food in a country where I’m not familiar with the language usually makes me nervous, but the staff helped put me at ease here. Through a mixture of broken Spanish and English, alongside Google translate, I was able to order a delightful selection of tapas.
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Arguably the most recognisable form of Spanish cuisine, tapas has been a popular option for many a foodie around the world. It’s also a great option for allergic people due to its customisability and flexibility. It’s therefore no surprise that we easily found tapas in the beautiful Catalan setting of Barcelona.
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Firstly, I went with a classic of Padrón peppers (pictured: top right of page), which are delicious sweet peppers that are often simply grilled and served with a little olive oil and sea salt. I cannot recommend these enough, they were the perfect vegetarian tapas dish, sweet and mild and so wholesome. If you’re new to tapas, I’d highly recommend this as a starting point as it’s nice and simple, but really flavoursome.
Eggs: Spanish: huevos Catalan: ous
Next up came a dish that surprised me on many levels, croaker-fish ceviche. The second of those words I know and am a big fan of, ceviche is definitely on my list of favourite foods. However if you were to ask me what a croaker-fish was, I’d have zero clue (or those of you wondering, it’s actually a relative of the trout). Nevertheless, it sounded really nice so I took the plunge and ordered it. One-word review: wow. The fish was really nice, firm-textured and with a good robust flavour which worked perfectly with the sharp ceviche marinade. It’s also a good option for those who aren’t keen on the raw salmon texture as croaker-fish is much firmer. This is the dish I’d most recommend from Tipo Tapa if you’re looking for something both delicious and a little bit different.
Nuts: Spanish: nueces Catalan: nous Dairy: Spanish: lácteos Catalan: lleteria
My final tapas selection was Morcilla (pictured: bottom right of page), or Spanish Black Pudding. I know black pudding divides opinion, but I think this Spanish version might just turn the haters into lovers. Morcilla shares similarities with the French Boudin Noir and as such is more heavily spiced than its UK counterpart black pudding. Due to a slight translation mishap on the English page of the menu, it took a while to identify this dish, but once I did, there was no question of me not ordering it. The Morcilla was topped with a sweet pepper sauce, something which proved a winning combination. The sausage slices were rich and flavoursome, with the pepper providing a slightly sweet lift to the dish. I fully understand some people’s reservations about this dish, but if you can overcome those, a truly wonderful bite to eat awaits.
Shellfish: Spanish: mariscos Catalan: marisc
This selection of delicious bites were paired with a beautiful rich glass of Catalan red wine and a beautiful atmosphere within the bar. Tipo Tapa is a must-visit if Barcelona’s on your post-lockdown travel list, from great ambience to good prices to wonderfully helpful staff, it’s a great find for any foodie.
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FIND THIS FOOD AT: Tipo Tapa, Carrer de Rogent, 21, 08026 Barcelona, Spain
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SUMMER 2020
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When visiting world-famous shopping street Las Ramblas, one of the first things that catches your eye is the sheer number of helado, or ice cream shops there are! However, we think we may have found the best one for allergy-friendliness and creativity. What’s even better is it’s run by some Catalan food legends.
Picture this: it’s 30 degrees Celsius outside and like the good foodie I am, the search for ice cream has begun. Whilst at my hotel, I’d spotted a Buzzfeed review of some of the best ice cream parlours around the world and one was right here in Barcelona. Not one to let an opportunity like that go to waste, I set out to find Rocambolesc and what I discovered was nothing short of magical. You walk into the store and are greeted by a shop Willy Wonka would be proud of. Just as fantastical are the ice cream flavours, from the traditional dark chocolate to the more unusual blueberry. As if that wasn’t cool enough, they have a myriad of toppings, from violet marshmallows to candied sesame seed. Possibly the only thing more exciting than the products is the place’s provenance. It was opened by one of the Roca brothers who are owners of the legendary 3 Michelin star El Celler de can Roca restaurant which has ranked as best restaurant in the world 4 times in the last decade. With such famous names at the helm, it’s no surprise that the ice cream and assorted toppings were amazing. On my first visit I had the blueberry ice cream with caramelised black sesame seeds and flakes of coconut (pictured: top right), the ice cream was beautifully soft and flavoursome with the toppings a beautiful accompaniment. Not content with just one visit, I returned a few days later and got the violet sorbet with sesame seeds and violet marshmallows (pictured: below). When ordering this one, I was about to complete the order when I spotted a candyfloss machine in the corner and so I just had to add that to the mix! This was another delicious creation, full of flavour and a creativity that is what made the Roca clan famous. As well as amazing flavours, the service was great too, with the staff friendly and happy to accommodate for allergy requirements. There
were plenty of vegan ice creams and sorbets on offer alongside the regular fare and all of it at a price that for Las Ramblas was pretty good. I can’t recommend this place enough as it’s possibly some of the best ice cream I’ve ever eaten and one day I intend to return for more. The other nice thing was the accessibility of the ice cream as those with food allergies know how often the allergy friendly options leave us severely restricted. Here that wasn’t the case though and I was able to enjoy a delicious ice cream in the baking heat of Barcelona.
FIND THIS FOOD AT: Rocambolesc, La rambla, 51-59 (al lado del gran teatro Liceu) 08002 Barcelona DID YOU KNOW? - In Germany, the popular desert “spaghetteis” is designed to look like spaghetti. - Some parts of the USA make ice cream with an egg custard, rather than a traditional cream base. - If you want to taste the world’s most expensive ice cream, you’ll have to fork out $1.4 million for the privilege. Strawberries Arnaud is an ice cream dish made at the Arnaud Restaurant in Louisiana, USA. - No-one’s 100% sure who invented ice cream as many nations, including famously China and Italy, have tried to claim the title.
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Helado
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SUMMER 2020
Parc .. Guell
Anyone whose read a guidebook of Barcelona knows that this Gaudi-founded park is a mustsee. But aside from the gorgeous scenery, it’s also got a surprisingly good selection of food in the cafe. Normally when visiting famous locations, I avoid the cafe as if it’s not horrendously expensive, it’s usually not the best example of that nation’s food. However on this occasion we were hungry and needing a drink to cool us in the searing 30-degree heat of Barcelona in July so we braved the cafe and were pleasantly surprised.
Many of you allergicos will know how tough it can be to decipher ingredients lists in other countries on what are usually tiny labels. Here though, that wasn’t a problem as the wide range of sandwiches or “bocadillo” were lined up at the front of the glass counter with clear lists of ingredients. I decided to go classic with a ham and cheese bocadillo and pair that with a glass of fresh orange juice and a mojito ice lolly. These choices were just sublime, the ham was really rich and complemented the Manchego perfectly which combined to make one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever tasted. The ice lolly was really nice and refreshing too. But the star of the show was the orange juice, freshly squeezed from delicious oranges that had spent time soaking up the Catalan sunshine. This resulted in a gently sweet and really punchy orange juice that made all the supermarket brands pale in comparison. When you taste that orange juice you will never see that drink the same way again. Overall the price of the products wasn’t bad as well, which makes this place a certified allergico recommendation!
FIND THIS FOOD: Carrer d’Olot, 5, 08024 Barcelona, Spain Page 7
Allergico Features:
Leave it to Esmie
This year’s summer holidays will be a little different, so with that in mind, we asked this much-loved Coventry restaurant how to bring the Caribbean holiday vibe to your home this summer.
SUMMER 2020 Since its creation nearly a decade ago, Leave it to Esmie (or “Esmie’s” for short) became an iconic spot in the Midlands food scene. Hidden away in the Fargo Village area of Coventry, we couldn’t resist the chance to shine a spotlight on this hidden gem. Here’s what Social Media Manager Kacie had to say on why the place is so loved. 1. When was Esmie’s founded and why? Esmie’s was founded in 2011 beginning as a catering business which continues still today alongside the restaurant. Originally Esmie didn’t enjoy cooking but after moving to England and tasting the Caribbean food here she couldn’t believe how inauthentic it was - it was nothing like the food back in St Kitts. Esmie soon jumped into the kitchen taking everything she had learnt growing up seeking to get that “straight off the grill flavour” and wanting to take Caribbean food in England to the next level! 2. What is your favourite aspect of Caribbean food culture? The variety and the bursting of flavours in dish keeps the food constantly exciting. Every Island has their own national dish and more, so there’s always something different to keep your belly full! 3. What’s a surprising fact about Caribbean food that people might not know? Caribbean culture is so vast! The islands have French, Spanish and more cultures mixed into our history and this is why every dish is so flavoursome, its not just about jerk.
4. What’s your favourite dish and drink at the restaurant? I LOVE the bean stew!! It’s so warming and tasty. I’ve been eating Esmie’s food since 2015 and this was back when I ate meat, but when she served this up for me after going vegan and WOW! My fave drink has definitely got to be Sky Juice- its basically sunshine in a cup! 5. What kind of community work have you and the restaurant been doing during Covid-19? We have been providing the Elders in our local community with three-course meals weekly to bring some sunshine to their weeks! Whilst doing this we have been frequently providing local hospital wards with food. 6. Why is it important that your restaurant does this work? It’s important that we keep community alive during this time, we’re a hot spot for good vibes and happiness and we want to continue to spread that! Keeping a sense of community and caring for those who keep us safe is the least we can do. 7. For many local people, Esmie’s is considered a local legend of a food spot, how does it feel to be that loved? It’s really an honour for all of us to be a part of something so special, each one of us are incredibly grateful and thankful for Esmie! 8. What recommendations would you have for people during the lockdown? Keep your spirits high by calling your loved ones, spreading kindness and cooking good food!
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This iconic dish is the perfect start for anyone looking to cook more food from the Caribbean. Ingredients: 1 or 2 Large Sweet Potatoes 540g can of Callaloo 1 scotch bonnet Step 3 5 Garlic Cloves Chop tomatoes and Red Pepper and add to the 1 Medium Onion frying pan. 1 Red Pepper 2 Large tomatoes (or 400g can of Step 4 chopped tomatoes) Fresh Thyme Add all your seasonings, mix well. 3 tsp Paprika Step 5 2 tsp Pimento Drain Callaloo and add to the frying pan mixing 2 tsp Black pepper together until all is soft. 1 tsp Salt Step 1 Peel sweet potato and chop into chunks. Add to a saucepan of boiling water for approximately 15mins (until soft)
Step 2 Dice Onion, Garlic and Scotch bonnet and add to the frying pan with some oil on a high heat to sauté for 2 - 3 minutes.
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Step 6
Once Sweet Potato is soft, drain and mash - add seasonings for extra flavour!
Step 7 In a deep baking dish pour in your Callaloo mix, level out and add your Sweet Mashed Potatoes on top. Bake in oven for 10mins on 180c/4.
Have a go at making this at home! When you’re done, why don’t you send us the photos of your creations via social media?
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Callaloo Bake
With the world being in turmoil, more and more people are struggling with their mental health. Here at Allergico, we know how difficult that can be, so we checked out mental health charity Mind’s website for food and drinks that can help your mental health.
Proteins
Protein contains amino acids which are essential to your brain as they make up the chemicals which help regulate your thoughts and feelings. Also they have a role in controlling blood sugar levels. Therefore, eating plenty of protein is key to mental well-being. Great sources of protein include: • • • • • • • •
lean meat fish eggs cheese legumes (peas beans and lentils) soya products nuts seeds
Fats
The right kind of fats are essential in our diets with our brains needing fatty oils such as Omega-3 and Omega-6 to work well. Much like in most western countries, the UK’s diet tends to be higher in Omega-6 and lower in Omega-3, but research suggests that a good balance of the two is key. These oils can be found in: Omega-3: • oily fish (tuna, mackerel etc.) • soybeans (also soya oil and soy-based foods) • oils such as linseed and rapeseed • walnuts Omega-6: • poultry • eggs • avocado • most vegetable oils
Water
We know this one sounds like a no-brainer but we can’t stress its importance enough. Keeping hydrated allows your body and mind to function properly so this is key to your mental well-being. To mix things up a bit, add cucumber or mint to your water. Other great options include non-caffeinated regular tea, herbal or fruit infusions and diluted fruit juice. A lot of our water intake comes from fruit and vegetables, so eating plenty of those not only helps your hydration but gives you extra vitamins and minerals. Key things to consume in moderation include caffeinated teas and coffee, alcohol and sugary drinks as they don’t hydrate you as well. Mind also recommends increasing water intake in warmer weather, or after exercise as both of these will decrease your hydration levels significantly.
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Health heroes
Overall Winner:
ASDA Plant-Based Falafel Burgers
Innovation Award:
The Box Bakery Wholegrain Bread Mix with Linseeds, Sunflower and Pumpkin Seeds & Quinoa
No Top 14:
Creative Nature Indulgent Chocolate Cake Mix £3.99 online
Best Product from a Start-Up: No AllerG Desserts Chocolate Loaf Cake
FreeFrom Artisan Foods: Booja-Booja Almond Salted Caramel Chocolate Truffles Page 12
FreeFrom Sinful Foods:
Marks & Spencer Made Without Pork Pie
Breakfast: Lovegrass Ethiopia Crispy Teff Flakes
Milk Product Alternatives: Applewood® Vegan
Breads: BFree Wholegrain Pitta Breads
Storecupboard:
Bannisters Yorkshire Family Farm Garlic & Rosemary Roasting Potatoes
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It’s that time of year again when supermarkets battle independent traders to claim one of the many Free From Food Awards titles. Here is a selection of the winners!
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SUMMER 2020 Pasta and Pizza:
Vegan Snacks and Meal Ideas:
Aldi Organic Bean Pasta - Black Bean
ASDA Plant-Based Falafel Burgers
Snack Bars:
Foods Designed for Children:
MadeGood Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Co-op Free From Chocolate Egg & Truffles
Savoury Snacks and Crackers: Lidl Just Free Lightly Salted Maize Tortilla Chips with Linseeds and Sunflower Seeds
Tea Time:
Drinks – Gluten-Free Beer, ‘Mixing it Up’, ‘A Shot of Class’: Twelve Below Apple and Garden Mint Tonic
Desserts and Puddings:
Meaty and Fishy Ready Meals:
Confectionery and Chocolate:
ASDA Free From Custard Creams
Kirsty’s Luxury Apple Pie
Co-op MSC Chunky Gluten Free Breaded Cod
ASDA Free From & Vegan Choc Orange Easter Egg
FreeFrom Gifts: Booja-Booja The Award-Winning Selection Photo Credits: Free From Food Awards, ASDA, Marks and Spencer, The Box Bakery, Lovegrass Ethiopia, Creative Nature, Applewood®, No AllerG Desserts, BFree, Booja-Booja, Bannisters, Aldi, MadeGood, Co-Op, Lidl, Twelve Below, Kirsty’s Page 13
See how YOU do on our fiendish Summer brainteasers! THE PIGPEN CIPHER See if you can use the key at the bottom of the page to decipher the following sentences!
SOLUTION: YAY YOU SOLVED THE PUZZLE! CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING AN AWESOME ALLERGICO! Page 1414 Page
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PUZZLES
ALLERGICO TRUE OR FALSE QUIZ: Are these foodie facts true or false? 1. Quinoa and spinach are related. 2. Cashew nuts grow underground. 3. Bananas are berries. 4. Most supermarket wasabi is actually regular horseradish. 5. The world's most expensive pizza costs $100,000. ANSWERS: 1. TRUE! It's botanically related to spinach and amaranth. 2. FALSE! They grow on trees. 3. TRUE! Amazingly they are berries, but strawberries aren't. 4. TRUE! Due to wasabi's volatility, most supermarket wasabi is regular horseradish dyed green. 5. FALSE! The Louis XIII pizza, created by Renato Viola costs $12,000.
ALLERGICO SUMMER RIDDLE: Think you can solve this fiendish riddle? Have a go and see how you do!
"I am a bird, I am a fruit and I am a person. What am I?" ANSWER: A KIWI
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SUMMER2020 2020 SUMMER
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Thank you for reading....
.... stay safe and see you in the Autumn!
