Jackie Mitchell is a journalist and public relations consultant with over fifteen years' experience. She works with small businesses and charities providing PR services.
With a background as a features writer in the media, Jackie has worked on national newspapers, websites, consumer magazines, trade publications and radio stations all over the UK. For some years, she worked abroad - in Australia, Hong Kong and New York. After returning to London, she worked as an account director at several major London agencies.
Find out more at www.jackiem.com and www.jackiemwriting.com.
February 29th, 2020
As we all know, gluten free cooking is challenging, so it’s always great to find new methods and recipes. The gluten free cookery course at the Cookery School www.cookeryschool.. Continue reading...
February 18th, 2020
Madeira is a vibrant colourful island, full of idyllic scenery, wildlife and exhilarating views. Ray and I holidayed here some years ago, so we had no idea how easy it would be to e.. Continue reading...
September 22nd, 2019
Ray and I arrived in Liverpool on the weekend of the Liverpool v Arsenal match and the Beatles Festival, s o the city was buzzing – even more so when Liverpool won! To mark the Beatle.. Continue reading...
September 01st, 2019
It is a constant struggle to find gluten free bread which not only tastes delicious, but also holds up well when toasted or made into sandwiches. Generally gluten free bread needs to be toasted to.. Continue reading...
July 20th, 2019
Cuisine with a Caribbean twist sums up the menu at Park’s Edge Bar and Kitchen, https://parksedgebarandkitchen.com in Norwood Road, Herne Hill, opposite Brockwell Park and conven.. Continue reading...
July 10th, 2019
Gluten free bread baked in a box, vegan bacon, dairy free milk made from yellow peas, popped chickpea crisps (gluten free, egg free, peanut free). These were just some of the ‘free from’.. Continue reading...
July 02nd, 2019
Jackie Mitchell talks to Award winning cake maker Marnie Searchwell, winner of the Gold Award of the Tea Time category in the Free From Awards Reine de Saba, Chocolate & Olive Oil, Jama.. Continue reading...
May 16th, 2019
Boarding the Wightlink ferry www.wightlink.co.uk at Portsmouth Harbour en route for Fishbourne, Isle of Wight www.visitisleofwight.co.uk , we were pleased to find a Costa Coffee www.co.. Continue reading...
March 31st, 2019
Congratulations to all 30 winners of this year’s Free From Food Awards www.freefromfoodawards.co.uk . The winners were unveiled at a glittering Awards presentation in front of an audi.. Continue reading...
February 24th, 2019
Steak Dianne pie, Roasted pumpkin and spinach gnocchi, sausage and mash. As I scan the menu at Niche www.nichefoodanddrink.com , it’s hard to believe that all these are gluten free and in some.. Continue reading...
February 03rd, 2019
Friends always ask us why we visit Malta so often. There are several reasons. It’s easy to get around the island by bus or car (they drive on the left hand side of the road). The climate i.. Continue reading...
November 19th, 2018
The location for the “Fearless in the Kitchen” www.fearlessinthekitchen.co.uk cooking courses is a cottage kitchen set in beautiful farmland in Berkshire. Jen Roac.. Continue reading...
October 22nd, 2018
It’s National Curry Week www.nationalcurryweek.co.uk until Sunday 28 October, so what better time to visit your local Indian restaurant? When you have food allergies, dining at an Ind.. Continue reading...
October 17th, 2018
During our drive to Margate, we stopped off at the M2 services https://moto-way.com/location/medway-westbound/ at Costa Coffee https://www.costa.co.uk/ Ray asked whether there was anyt.. Continue reading...
September 07th, 2018
We started our journey at Leon https://leon.co/ at Euston station, where I enjoyed gluten free porridge with bananas and cinnamon. Unfortunately Ray was unable to have the dairy free v.. Continue reading...
July 09th, 2018
One of the great discoveries Ray & I made at this year’s Allergy & Free From Show http://www.allergyshow.co.uk/ was the launch of Allergy Diner www.allergydiner.com a new.. Continue reading...
April 29th, 2018
Eating out with food allergies at UK motorway services is always a hit and miss affair. We never know if there’s going to be anything we can eat, so we often make .. Continue reading...
April 24th, 2018
The sun was shining on the Fes-Tea-Val British lifestyle festival to celebrate National Tea Day www.nationalteaday.co.uk on April 21st. Chiswick House and Gardens http://chi.. Continue reading...
January 12th, 2018
Visiting the light, airy, friendly Pure Nest Café in Muswell Hill www.purenestcafe.com , it is very reassuring to know that everything on the menu is dairy free and gluten free. Ray.. Continue reading...
December 23rd, 2017
Even at 7am at Gatwick Airport North Terminal, the only thing I can find for breakfast is a tuna nicoise salad at Eat https://www.eat.co.uk . Don’t get me wrong, it was g.. Continue reading...
November 24th, 2017
Mommi Raw Bar & Grill https://www.wearemommi.com/ was the overall winner in this year’s Free From Eating Out Awards http://www.freefromeatingoutawards.co.uk/ announced at the Food .. Continue reading...
July 30th, 2017
Early morning flights are never a good idea, but often you have no choice. Such was our experience when we arrived at Gatwick Airport at 5am bleary-eyed. In the departure lounge, we he.. Continue reading...
May 30th, 2017
As we arrived, a long queue snaked out of London’s Spitalfields Market, waiting to enter the UK’s first ever gluten, dairy and refined sugar free Food Festival www.freefromfestiv.. Continue reading...
May 26th, 2017
We recently visited Whitstable, the popular seaside town in Kent. En route, we stopped off at Clacket Lane motorway services on the M25 http://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/Clacket_Lane There wasn.. Continue reading...
March 26th, 2017
I was delighted to be invited to the opening of Leggero in London http://www.leggero-london.com at 64 Old Compton Street, Soho, which is probably the only entirely gluten free Italian rest.. Continue reading...
March 12th, 2017
At London’s Euston station we bought some food for the train journey to Liverpool from Pret A Manger http://www.pret.co.uk – a chef’s special salad with chicken, pa.. Continue reading...
January 07th, 2017
It was another early morning flight, so bleary-eyed, we scanned the shelves at Eat www.eat.co.uk at Gatwick Airport North Terminal. I didn’t fancy a salad at 5am so the only .. Continue reading...
December 24th, 2016
Arriving at Gatwick Airport departure lounge northern terminal at 4.30am feeling shell-shocked and bewildered as it was so early, but determined to keep awake, we took solace at Pret w.. Continue reading...
December 23rd, 2016
The overall winner of the third FreeFrom Eating Out Awards was the Labyrinth Holistic Café http://www.labyrinthholisticcafe.org/ , a community cafe in Stockton on Tees. This café ope.. Continue reading...
October 28th, 2016
One of our best discoveries at this year’s VegfestUK show www.vegfest.co.uk at London Olympia was the delicious dairy free chocolates from Almighty Foods www.almightyfoods.co.uk a firs.. Continue reading...
September 23rd, 2016
My best discovery at the lunch show www.lunchshow.co.uk (the trade show for the ‘food to go’ sector) was Freaks of Nature www.freaksofnature.co.uk . These are delicious puddings, made .. Continue reading...
September 18th, 2016
We arrived at the Sandown Park Food Festival in Esher on Saturday 17 September http://www.fantasticbritishfoodfestivals.com/sandown-park.html with great excitement. It was not only the first.. Continue reading...
August 28th, 2016
During the summer holidays, we decided to visit Interlaken in Switzerland. It was a nostalgic trip for Ray, as the last time he'd travelled there was with his school! Interlaken lies in the Bern.. Continue reading...
August 16th, 2016
We were lucky enough to be invited to the Shuttleworth Edwardian Air Pageant which took place at Old Warden, http://www.shuttleworth.org/ a small grass aerodrome, near Biggleswade, Bedford.. Continue reading...
April 24th, 2016
You must be prepared when you travel overseas if you suffer from a food allergy. The best policy is to take food with you in case you have a problem. We always take oatcakes from Nairns www.nairns-o.. Continue reading...
March 28th, 2016
On a recent flying visit to Eastbourne, East Sussex, we discovered several fantastic restaurants. We were seeing our friends Lynne and Jack who had kindly bought some new cakes from Waitrose www.w.. Continue reading...
March 25th, 2016
As we had a long journey ahead, Ray and I visited the Marks & Spencer www.marksandspencer.com shop at London’s Euston station for some provisions. We were pleased to see Leon www.. Continue reading...
January 24th, 2016
The market for gluten free beers is on the increase. This is partly due to new brewing processes and the growing demand from the general public. As Sue Cane, gluten-free beer expert, says “.. Continue reading...
January 09th, 2016
Eating out with food allergies is difficult. Some restaurants and cafes offer special menus or include ‘free from’ symbols on their menus, but these are few and far between. The.. Continue reading...
November 15th, 2015
When we go to stay at friends’ houses, we always take some ‘free from’ provisions. Although you may tell your friends that you are gluten free or dairy free, there’s no gua.. Continue reading...
October 22nd, 2015
It’s time to celebrate the British banger during British Sausage Week from Monday 2nd November to Sunday 8th November https://www.lovepork.co.uk/campaigns/british-sausage-week-2015/ E.. Continue reading...
October 17th, 2015
In Bologna, it was more challenging finding places to eat which would accommodate our allergies, compared to Bardolino. On arrival we found Tramezzino, via degli Orefici 4 www.bologna... Continue reading...
October 11th, 2015
“Ho Allergica Al Glutine” (I have an allergy to gluten) and “Ho Allergica A Lattiosio” (I have an allergy to dairy products) are the two phrases you need to know when d.. Continue reading...
August 09th, 2015
Tomorrow sees the start of National Afternoon Tea Week www.afternoonteaweek.com which runs until 16th August. During the week hotels, tea rooms, restaurants and even a Routemaster bus will be runn.. Continue reading...
August 08th, 2015
On the Virgin train www.virgintrains.co.uk to Chester to catch the onward train to Llandudno, we discovered individual portions of soya milk by Miko Plus www.mikoplus.com.pl ! As regu.. Continue reading...
July 12th, 2015
The growth of the free from market was reflected by the huge expansion of The Allergy & FreeFrom Show www.allergyshow.co.uk, held in early July this year at London Olympia. When I first visi.. Continue reading...
June 28th, 2015
In Verona, we were staying at the Hotel Accademia www.hotelaccademiaverona.it right in the heart of the city so most of the main attractions were in walking distance. On arrival we were offered a .. Continue reading...
June 21st, 2015
We learnt a great deal while on holiday in Venice and Verona. If you suffer from food allergies and intolerances, avoid busy restaurants because they don’t have the time (or inclination).. Continue reading...
May 31st, 2015
What a treat to attend the first ever Pop Up Raw Vegan Gathering on Sunday in North Kingston organised by Patricia Campbell Parker www.vitalwellbeing.net featuring raw vegan food created by France.. Continue reading...
April 05th, 2015
Enormous queues formed outside The Brighton Centre www.brightoncentre.co.uk waiting to enter this year's VegFest www.brighton.vegfest.co.uk despite the stormy weather conditions. Inside.. Continue reading...
March 31st, 2015
It's been a busy time with the International Food Exhibition (IFE15), judging the Great Taste Awards and visiting VegFest in Brighton. At IFE15 www.ife.co.uk at London Excel www.excel-london.c.. Continue reading...
January 04th, 2015
Travelling with food allergies can be problematic, so it's best to be prepared. On tour with Elmbridge Ladies Choir www.surreymusic.org to Bratislava in Slovakia, our group leader had thought.. Continue reading...
November 15th, 2014
When I travel anywhere, I always take my own food as there have been so many occasions when all I can eat is a bag of crisps! Armed with my ham sandwich made with Genius bread www.geniusglutenfree.c.. Continue reading...
October 06th, 2014
I finally managed to sample a gluten free wrap in Costa Coffee www.costa.co.uk in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. I'd heard that Costa was offering this but could never find a branch that actually .. Continue reading...
September 14th, 2014
Self catering in the UK is ideal if you suffer from a food allergy or intolerance because you know exactly what you're eating and can take your favourite products with you. The only down side is i.. Continue reading...
August 28th, 2014
The closing date for the inaugural Free From Eating Out Awards www.freefromeatingoutawards.co.uk is on Sunday 31 August, although the schools, colleges and universities category is open until 3.. Continue reading...
June 22nd, 2014
The wedding season is upon us and if you're like us, you have probably been lucky enough to be invited to one or two. The only drawback is the food served at the wedding. If you suffer fr.. Continue reading...
April 13th, 2014
Congratulations to all the winners of this year's FreeFrom Awards www.freefromawards.co.uk . The winners were presented with their Awards by Antony Worral Thompson at a glittering ceremony at.. Continue reading...
January 06th, 2014
Happy New Year! I thought I would start the New Year with a review of exciting new discoveries and free from products Ray and I have chanced upon. First up is Caffe Nero www.caffenero.com wh.. Continue reading...
December 24th, 2013
If you suffer from a food allergy, it’s always a lottery when you travel. Will there be anything you can eat or will the people serving the food know what the ingredients are and wheth.. Continue reading...
December 24th, 2013
Finding gluten free and dairy free food when travelling by train in the UK is always a hit and miss affair. So we tend to take our own food or if there’s time, buy something from Pre.. Continue reading...
November 10th, 2013
My big find at the Experimental Food Society Spectacular, held on 9 and 10 November at London Truman’s Brewery, was gluten free, wheat free, yeast free and soy free bread made from brocc.. Continue reading...
October 13th, 2013
Looking round this year’s Restaurant Show www.therestaurantshow.co.uk , I was delighted to find Venice Bakery UK www.venicebakeryuk.com sampling its delicious range of gluten free and dairy fr.. Continue reading...
October 06th, 2013
For many years I have wanted to visit the Vegfest UK shows www.vegfest.co.uk in Bristol and Brighton to see the latest free from foods, so it was great news to learn that the first ever show arrived.. Continue reading...
September 29th, 2013
It’s great to discover eateries offering dairy and gluten free food on our doorstep in Surrey. We found The Healthy Cook Co www.healthycookcompany.co.uk in Old London Road, Kingston, w.. Continue reading...
September 29th, 2013
This Autumn, there are festivals and food shows galore. Future shows coming up includes Vegfest UK www.vegfest.co.uk, a veggie food show, taking place for the first time in London next weekend on 5 .. Continue reading...
September 29th, 2013
We enjoyed visiting this year’s Surbiton Festival www.surbitonfestival.co.uk in Surbiton, Surrey with over 200 stalls, entertainment and a carnival procession. The procession included scouts, .. Continue reading...
May 27th, 2013
I sing with Elmbridge Ladies Choir www.elmbridgemusic.co.uk. It was with great excitement I travelled with the choir and our sister mixed choir, Elmbridge Choir to the Veneto region outside Venice.. Continue reading...
April 15th, 2013
Bold Street has transformed itself into a lively street with an eclectic collection of restaurants, cafes and shops like the unusual Bold Street Sweets @BoldstreetSweet selling retro sweet.. Continue reading...
April 12th, 2013
The Isle of Man wasn’t my destination of choice, but a friend invited us there to celebrate her special birthday. At Gatwick Airport North Terminal, I managed to find Ray a BLT (Bacon, Lett.. Continue reading...
January 01st, 2013
We were able to have an early morning snack at Eat www.eat.co.uk at Gatwick Airport. After some searching, Ray selected a tuna sandwich without butter. My only choice was a tuna salad even though I .. Continue reading...
October 31st, 2012
The trouble with many shop bought gluten free cakes is that they are tasteless and dry, almost like crumbled dry biscuits. Imagine my delight to discover wheat and gluten free brownies at Richmond A.. Continue reading...
April 13th, 2012
It was an honour to be invited as one of the judges for this year's Free From Awards www.freefromawards.co.uk, organised by Michelle Berriedale-Johnson from Food Matters www.foodsmatter.com. Michell.. Continue reading...
January 27th, 2012
I attended a friend’s special birthday party last Saturday at The Ship Hotel http://www/shiphotel.co.uk. Usually these affairs can be hit and miss; we always have to doublecheck that the .. Continue reading...
November 10th, 2011
To celebrate our friend Evie’s birthday last night, we headed for El Pirata in London’s Mayfair www.elpirata.co.uk a Spanish tapas restaurant bar. A big group of us gathered to .. Continue reading...
August 23rd, 2011
We were in Torrox, Spain and needed to know the keywords for "wheat" and "dairy" so we could communicate our intolerances when eating out. We knew the following words - "leche" is milk, "man.. Continue reading...
August 09th, 2011
Something a little different this week. I was invited to N-Ice, the world’s first frozen food gourmet restaurant at Westminster Kingsway College http://bit.ly/oTC7yO and what a treat it w.. Continue reading...
July 28th, 2011
As usual, when travelling, we always take a supply of food in case we can’t find anything suitable – bottles of soya milk, as you’d be surprised how many cafes don’t serve .. Continue reading...
July 04th, 2011
Travelling to the Isle of Wight, the best we could do was to stop off at McDonald’s outside Portsmouth for a bag of chips. Waiting to board the ferry at Portsmouth, I was able to nip o.. Continue reading...
June 05th, 2011
Following a tweet alert “can you recommend any vegan restaurants in Brightonâ€, Vegan in Brighton http://www.veganinbrighton.blogspot.com/ tweeted back that she was running a vegan .. Continue reading...
May 22nd, 2011
It can be embarrassing when you’re at a celebration for someone’s birthday when you have to refuse a slice of cake because you have a wheat or dairy intolerance. That happened to m.. Continue reading...
May 08th, 2011
In stark contrast to New York, we found ourselves in Ipswich in East Anglia. We arrived by train at lunchtime and explored the town for somewhere to eat. Everywhere seemed to be full of panini.. Continue reading...
May 06th, 2011
As a gluten free person, when was the last time you bought a sandwich to go for lunch? For me it was years ago so what a delightful surprise to be able to buy one today at the Allergy and Gluten F.. Continue reading...
May 02nd, 2011
Travelling when you have a food allergy or intolerance, whether you are gluten free, wheat free or dairy free, is always a lottery situation. Ray and I always travel with two 100ml plastic bottl.. Continue reading...
May 02nd, 2011
I'm SO glad you went to BabyCakes and enjoyed it! Yay! My best friend is currently on secondment to NY with work and I'm trying to get out and see her in the summer. BabyCakes will definitely be t.. Continue reading...
September 12th, 2010
If you have a food allergy, eating in can be just as challenging as eating out - although you can control exactly what you are eating. Having friends over to dinner is always an interesting experien.. Continue reading...
September 01st, 2010
Welcome to the first world “eating out with allergies” challenge. Take one fifty something man with over 20 food intolerances – Ray - and his wife Jackie (that’s me), who is .. Continue reading...
I managed to sample a gluten free wrap in Costa Coffee www.costa.co.uk in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. I'd heard that Costa was offering this, but I'd not been able to find a branch that sold it.. Continue reading...
