Gluten free airside at Edinburgh Airport

I’ve had a bit of a mission today. So much so that I’ve been a teeny bit stressed for the last few days about the time I would have to get up.

I was going on a work related a trip to Dundee. This involved a flight to Edinburgh followed by a train to Dundee.

RRS Discovery with V&A in background
RRS Discovery with V&A in background

The alarm on my phone gently buzzed into action at 4am and I got to it before it was in full screeching mode. The trick I have to get up is to place my phone just out of my reach. This means I have to get pretty much out of bed to turn it off.

I’ve also got myself to a mindset where I can just get up. It started with me listening to a Mel Robbins talk on Ted Talks* about the 5 second rule. Basically, I have to step out of bed to turn off the alarm when it rings. In that moment where I contemplate returning to hibernation under my warm duvet, I count down 5-4-3-2-1 and just head for the bathroom. It’s then too late to start any negotiations in my head about how many more minutes sleep I can get. Simple as that! In fact, I don’t need to count down any more, I’ve just got used to getting up.

Breakfast

I baked a Genius sausage roll in the oven whilst getting ready. This went down well with a chai latte from Costa at Birmingham Airport. It probably seems strange to have a sausage roll for breakfast but it’s convenient to prepare and it fills that craving for a warm bacon roll. Unfortunately, I’m not a cereal eater. Please comment with your no nonsense breakfast solutions …surely someone can go better than a sausage roll as a crazy breakfast…

Sunset from Riverside Drive, Dundee
Sunset from Riverside Drive, Dundee

Lunch

Lunch was a quick affair of a home made sandwich. Gluten free bread with ham and cheese. Some Seabrook crisps on the side.

Airport Meal

The day went to plan and I was back in Edinburgh Airport at 6pm. This left me with plenty of time to eat dinner before my flight as I wasn’t going to get home until 10.30pm.

Before embarking on the one way ordeal that is security, I scanned the food options on the airport landside. There was an M&S food concession and they stocked the Made Without Wheat piri piri chicken wrap. Should I buy this as it could be the only filling option available. Or do I risk trying to get something to eat airside. Some of you must be familiar with this dilemma? Do you buy the sandwich just in case nothing is available or try your luck airside?

Or maybe you’re super organised and already researched the options?

I decided to try my luck airside…on the basis that Edinburgh Airport is a reasonable sized airport and would have a variety of eateries.

I headed for All Bar One. I asked if there were any gluten free options and the waitress brought me the allergy menu. It did give me confidence that she was able to discuss gluten free options and knew what it meant.

There were several options and I opted for the Piri-Piri Half Boneless Chicken which is marinated in a hot piri piri sauce. This came with coleslaw and a side of fries or salad. Erm…I don’t have a picture for you because I tucked straight in. I was hungry and I can say that it was tasty. It wasn’t too hot despite the name of the dish.

*Ted Talks: to quote from their website ‘TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks’.