**Review** ~ Pizza Express Gluten Free Pizza

I am not a food connoisseur, far from it, but when it comes to Gluten Free food I do know what I'm talking about.

10 years ago I was diagnosed as a Coeliac as was my brother. I had already lived with the diet for 3 years as my mum had already been diagnosed. At this time there was absolutely nothing in the supermarkets, and as for eating at restaurants it was a nightmare on a grand scale.

When someone is diagnosed as a coeliac there is a 5-10% chance that one of their children will have the same condition, me and my brother had to be the exception. 

In recent years more and more supermarkets and restaurants are starting to offer a wider range of gluten free products and meals. These products always cost more than the gluten containing products and that can be frustrating.
So it's nice when you go to a restaurant ( of a major chain ) and they are offering a gluten free alternative at no extra cost. I am always a bit dubious about trying new products because if they're horrible you've usually wasted a lot of money. Thankfully I had nothing to worry about at Pizza Express.
On arrival the staff were very welcoming and were very prompt at taking our order, it was with some trepidation that I ordered the gluten free pizza as I was unsure if I would enjoy it.
In due course the pizzas arrived and although the gluten free were slightly smaller than the regular pizzas they at least looked edible.
So then I took my first bite........

I was in heaven!!!!!
The base was thin yet doughy with a lovely crisp crust and tasted just like a pizza should.
The toppings were a perfect ratio to the base so it didn't fall apart when you lifted it up, I just couldn't believe it tasted so good and I wasn't being naughty eating something I shouldn't. 
This pizza was exactly how I remember restaurant pizza tasted and that is quite an achievement considering how temperamental some gluten free ingredients can be.
I have tried other gluten free products from some of the leading competitors and I would say that Pizza Express is definitely a contender for the best restaurant catering for a gluten free diet.
Our server asked if my brother and I enjoyed our pizzas and we both said they were fantastic but I wish they did gluten free pasta dishes too. Apparently I'm not the only person to mention this.

My verdict.....

Service 100%
Staff 100%
Restaurant 100%
Food 100% 
Overall 100%

I really enjoyed my first visit to pizza express and will definitely be returning in the near future, hopefully when there will be pasta dishes too.
 Ciao Bella
Cheryl xxx

Tattoos ~ Art?? or Not??

In recent years tattoos have become more of an accepted culture, employers are even being told that they can no longer discriminate if a current or prospective employee has tattoos,
But......
Are tattoos seen as art or not???
In my opinion tattoos are art, I feel that tattoos are an expression of a persons individuality and personality. As you may have guessed I have tattoos, 5 of them ( technically 6 because one has been covered over )



 

Ok so my first one was a Devil Tweety Pie, I've always wanted it :), my second was my ex husbands name in thai ( hence the lack of a picture ) ~ it seemed like a good idea at the time :/ Then I've got my Egyptian tattoo which says Granddad, I got this when I was 21 as when my granddad died when I was 12 I swore one day I would get a tattoo for him.
The butterfly on the inside of my wrist is the one that's technically 2 as I had initials there ~ again it seemed like a good idea at the time, and lastly my tribal star on the outside of my wrist, I got this because I wanted a star and I liked this one. Simple!!!
So, to the crux of the matter, how many reading this and looking at my pictures see art??
How many see it as I have defaced my body??
And let's be perfectly honest why should I actually care what anybody else thinks??
After all it's my body and they don't stop me from doing my job or living my life.
There are people in my life who don't like tattoos who will try and influence me to their way of thinking, that is not now, nor is it ever, going to happen.
I love my tattoos and I do have plans for more and my advice to people who don't like them.....
Don't look.
And....
Don't try to force your views, or prejudices, to become my way of thinking, you're wasting your time.

Love and Hugs Cheryl xxx