Allergy Eating in Sydney

Our allergy-friendly section - how's that for choice? Establishment: Clem's Chicken Shop, Newtown Cuisine: Chicken takeaway and catering Allergy information: they offer an amazing range of dairy, egg, nut, gluten free dishes and are very helpful with any requests (thank you, Spiro!) Suggestions: their gluten-free bbq chicken is fantastic but I'm especially a fan of their baked mushrooms which are also gluten free and their vegan ratatouille Requesting catering for a variety of allergies and dietary requirements is always a challenge. This year, when we were looking to cater our Christmas in July celebrations at work, we had more people with specific needs than in previous years so we wanted to be sure everyone had some good options.  Thankfully, we've now been turning to the awesome folks at Clem's Chicken Shop for our wintery feasts for the last few years and every year, they've delivered amazing food and service. This year was no exception....

Establishment: Pure Gelato, Croydon Park Cuisine: Gelato and sorbet Allergy information: they offer an amazing range of dairy, egg, nut, gluten and sugar free gelato and sorbet Suggestions: the Passionfruit Sorbet is so smooth and absolutely gorgeous, so much so that even my friends without allergies wiped it out because they all loved it too! Ok, so I'd have to really enjoy something if I'm going to recommend a Gelato place in the dead of Winter, but it can't be helped, this place is amazing! Like most kids growing up with a dairy or egg allergy, the idea of eating ice cream was often something of a dream. My first ever ice cream came from a health food store in Macquarie Shopping Centre back in the 80s. Sadly, I no longer remember what the store was called, but they had a banana soy ice cream, in a tray just like the other regular flavours. Looking back on that now, I remember that making the whole experience even better. It was like getting to go to the store l...

Establishment: The Greenhouse at Centennial Park Cuisine: Middle Eastern inspired Allergy: they have some nice options which are dairy, egg, seafood and sesame free Suggestions: the shredded chicken wrap sans the aioli and with some fries makes for a lovely lunch in the park Unless you are a frequent visitor to the beautiful grounds at Centennial Park, or perhaps a local from the area, you might not know about this small but popular spot just past the Ash Paddock and next to the Fearnley grounds. While often being comfortable little spots to catch up with friends with a tea and enjoy something light to munch on, cafes can still prove difficult places to find allergy safe food. Smaller and simpler menus can mean a tad less variety, leaving little room for those people who are badly allergic to a lot of common food staples, such as milk, eggs, butter and wheat. Perhaps you get lucky and spy some gluten free cookies at the counter, or maybe even one of those raw, vegan balls tha...

Wonderful surprise discoveries while travelling with allergies! Find #4 - Roly's Fudge, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, UK I cannot thank the UK enough for the lovely foods I was able to eat while I was over there last year. I was genuinely bowled over by the sheer variety of options. Honestly, in terms of food, it really does feel like a whole other world for someone like me and quite frankly, it was a good thing all I did was walk because I would have easily come home a good few kilos heavier! On our second day in London, we went on a bus tour that would take us to Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick Castle then finish up at Oxford and as a happy literary geek, I was very excited to visit the hometown of the Bard himself. Our first glimpses of the birthplace of Shakespeare. Now, as my brain was filled with Shakespeare while we walked through the house in which he was born, then were able to enjoy a wonderful outdoor performance and lastly visit his schoolhouse and exp...

Establishment: San Churro Chocolateria, various locations Cuisine: Spanish Chocolateria Allergy information: Their growing vegan options are all dairy and egg free and also include some nut free options as well. They also have wheat/gluten free options Suggestions: Anything cookie butter! The filled churros are delightful and I also enjoy the insanely decadent Happy Vegan (though I only recommend if you've not had any sugar for a week!) I do love my churros! For the longest time, San Churro was the only place I could go to with my friends to have something of a safe dessert when eating out in the city. It was also only one of two places in all of Sydney where I knew safe desserts were on offer (and sadly, the other place, Fountain Vegetarian, is now gone. I do miss their lovely vegan Chocolate and vegan Orange cakes).  The classic churros with the dark chocolate dip were a nice option to have after years of going to dessert places with the others where I usually...

Establishment: Hog's Breath Cafe, Westpoint Blacktown Cuisine: Aussie Steakhouse Allergy information: Their menu has a number of options that are dairy, egg, seafood, nut and gluten free. Staff are very helpful in dealing with allergy queries Suggestions: My personal favourite is the Natural Prime Rib with fries and steamed vegies which is dairy, egg, seafood, nut and sesame free. Classic, simple and delicious! Eschewing the usual chocolates and hot cross buns, I send Easter's greetings with some good ol' steak! A happy family tradition each year and a particularly happy one for those in the family who decided to give up meat for the whole 40 days prior. This year, we decided to grab some old family favourites at  Hog's Breath Cafe Hog's has been a personal favourite for a very long time now. Along with both family and friends, I have been going there for years, most particularly to their restaurant at On Four in Westpoint. Easy Sunday lunches, big oc...

Establishment: The Marsden Brewhouse Cuisine: Modern Bistro Allergy information: Their menu has a number of options that are dairy, egg, seafood, nut and gluten free. Staff are very helpful in dealing with allergy queries Suggestions: The vegan pizza with  roasted capsicum, garlic, parsley, notzarella, kale & potato wafers Western Sydney continues to grow and one of the most recently rapidly growing suburbs is Marsden Park. Over the last few years, Marsden Park has become one of the fastest growing areas out west with new roads, expanding property developments and the construction of the new industrial park. Now us greater western Sydneysiders have our own Ikea, Costco and Lindt factory - clear signs we're catching up! And of course another clear sign of progress is growing food options. Some of my favourite places near where I live are the pubs and breweries which have grown up with the changes in the area. Places like the Fiddler and Ettamogah have reb...