Published: Thursday, 4th September, 2008 09:00
Christine is not free from food awards
By Adam Hewitt
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Icing on the cake: From left, Earley chef and food writer Christine Bailey, Michelin-starred Giorgio Locatelli, and Vanessa Scott.
AN EARLEY woman can claim to be the country’s top gluten-free chef after winning a competition organised by charity Coeliac UK.
Christine Bailey was presented her joint prize by Michelin-starred chef Giorgio Locatelli at his London restaurant, Locanda Locatelli, last week.
Christine, from The Knapp, is a chef, specialist food teacher, and freelance food writer, and took gold for her apricot and orange polenta cake.
She said: “Although Italians have a lot of pizza and pasta in their diets, it’s also the home of polenta so when Giorgio heard about my polenta dish his eyes lit up. I’m used to devising recipes because I teach courses on healthy diets and for those with allergies, I was delighted to win.”
The competition was launched earlier this year to raise awareness that one in 100 people in the UK have coeliac disease, which causes even the smallest amount of gluten to ravage the gut lining.
Gluten is found in wheat, rye and barley, making many common foods off-limits – for example bread, pasta, cereal, biscuits and beer.
Christine and one of her three boys, four-year-old Isaac, have intolerances to gluten similar to coeliac disease.
Mr Locatelli said he was extremely impressed with Christine and joint winner Vanessa Scott and added: “Congratulations to all the winners and I hope that more chefs will learn and understand the importance, and gain the aptitude, for providing tasty, interesting gluten-free options.”
Coeliac UK chief executive Sarah Sleet said: “We know that for people with coeliac disease, eating out on a gluten-free diet can be a miserable experience. For people with coeliac disease, a gluten-free diet is not a fad but an absolute necessity to maintain good health.”
Christine runs courses at the Centre for Nutrition Education in Market Place, Wokingham, and has written recipe books for people with allergies and food intolerances. Email: christinembailey@hotmail.com for details.
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