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THE MAE DELI

21/03/2016

“Oh, she’s a blogger, well I must go down and support her then” was my excuse for checking out The Mae Deli, founded by the beautiful Ella from Deliciously Ella. When in actual fact, I’d just heard amazing things about it, and as I’m embarking on a healthier diet – one of those things I’m putting out into the blogosphere so that when I tweet about my curry and chips nights you can virtually punch me in the face on twitter – I wanted to check out the Mae Deli, known for being very healthy, very allergy friendly (maybe carry on until the end for more on that), and also very tasty. It literally had my name written all over it.

I mean, it didn’t, because I’m Ellie/Elle, but you know, close enough. Plus Olly Murs still thought I was called Ella after working with him for months but that’s a whole other story…

So off I trotted down to The Mae Deli, camera in tow because I had a sneaky suspicion that it was going to be all kinds of incredible, a hungry belly (because this is me and my default emotion is hunger) and proud #teaminternet feels because we are kinda taking over. Amiright? I think I’m right…

Upon entering The Mae Deli, I personally felt like it was pretty obvious a blogger/someone who works in our industry had had a major involvement in the interiors. It is so beautifully finished with flowers, lots of exposed brick, rich woods and Instagram perfect vintage radio’s… it just has a really cool, homely, relaxed atmosphere that I definitely could’ve hung out in for a while!
After stalking and instagramming the life out of everything in sight because basic bitch problems I finally looked at the menu and was completely torn between the Avocado on toast – which I easily have at least 3 times a week at meetings, I’ll officially look like an avocado soon – nut butter and jelly on toast or the pancakes. Any takers on which pick won out?…
So pancakes won out, because pancakes are my everything and if you find gluten free pancakes as a coeliac – and have the appetite of an elephant like me- you go for pancakes! Usually when eating out and reviewing a place with my Mum and Dad, I play the Blogger daughter and do the f**king annoying “Shall we all get different things for the sake of review” [insert guilty smirk/”no but seriously, I’d hate me too” emoji’s here]. But alas, like parents like daughter, we all went for pancakes… 
The Mae deli
The Mae deli The Mae deli

The Mae deli

I have to say, I was slightly sceptical at first because it’s very rare to find good, healthy gluten free pancakes that also don’t taste like cardboard but oh my frickin word, these are absolutely stunning. Made with buckwheat – an ingredient that sounds like it shouldn’t be gluten free but is – and topped with the Mae Deli’s homemade berry and apple compote, coconut chips and maple syrup, they are the perfect mixture of sweet, tart and syrupy. I also found that they were surprisingly filling too so whilst they’re not the biggest of portions, they definitely hit the spot.
As I mentioned, I also took my Mum and Dad who are definitely not gluten free, sugar free, dairy free, taste free etc. and I was so surprised by how much they loved them too. Testament to the fact that this trendy new way of eating doesn’t mean compromising on taste.
P.S I don’t include myself in the “trendy” category as of course with coeliac you have no option. I’d personally be eating all the bread and doughnuts if I could. I digress….
(and also dream of doughnuts)
The Mae deli
After demolishing our pancakes and a latte that was so amazing and I have no idea what they put it in, we headed off via the the amazing food counter – and a quick chat with the lovely, lovely staff – to check out what else the Mae Deli sells and decided that next time I’d be back for a Hot Mae Bowl lunch, some powerballs and the peanut butter slice. [Insert heart eye’d emoji’s here].
The Mae deli
The Mae deli

Now, just a quick note on allergies, as much as I adored my food and absolutely love Ella’s blog, I was slightly disappointed to find that whilst the majority of the food is gluten free, there’s slightly questionable labelling for the Porridge. I was told that everything was gluten free, but then when I mentioned that I had coeliac, I was then told I might want to avoid the porridge. Porridge contains oats, oats in themselves are gluten free however are easily cross contaminated by wheat so real coeliacs have to eat certified gluten free oats. Now I have to say that the staff were knowledgable of the ingredients and explained that the oats weren’t certified gf but only because I asked, and there was still no definitive “if you have coeliac, you can’t have the porridge”. In short, if you have coeliac disease or really want avoid gluten altogether with no risk of cross contamination, always ask about your allergy because I think it would’ve been quite easy to think that the porridge was gluten free/coeliac friendly when in actual fact it isn’t.

I guess it goes back to my – major rant – post about having coeliac disease in that if a restaurant says something is gluten free, it needs to be 100% free of gluten and appropriate for coeliacs. Not just, it doesn’t have gluten containing ingredients but may have been contaminated but it’s perfect for those that fancy being trendy and don’t really need a gluten free diet (can you tell it’s still a really sore subject, LOL).

But anyway, I feel like my major digression/rant/bitch fit might have slightly tainted this review but I really don’t want it to have done. The Mae deli is an amazing little place with the tastiest food made of the best ingredients and subsequently make the pancakes of dreams. I just know that I have a large gluten free following and would be doing an injustice to not mention that here. All it needs is to list that the porridge doesn’t contain certified gluten free oats and you have the perfect healthy breakfast spot. Either way, I will 100% be returning to try out everything else (bar the porridge, if you hadn’t guessed that already).

~
So, that’s today’s post wrapped up. I would love to know if you’ve made it down to The Mae Deli yet, if you’re a huge Ella fan like I am or if you’re now dreaming of those pancakes too? I always love hearing your thoughts πŸ™‚
As always, thanks so much for reading!
xx

63 responses to “THE MAE DELI”

  1. Oh gosh, this looks incredible and so drool worthy! I wish I was nearby to give it a go!

    Stephanie ● Sartorial Diner

  2. Vale β™₯ says:

    What a pretty place, you did well in going ! Kisses

    Fashion and Cookies – fashion and beauty blog

  3. Angie Silver says:

    The pancakes looks amazing but I definitely agree with your rant at the end! If a restaurants says they're gluten free, they 100% should be!

  4. Josie says:

    Those pancakes look so yum! Love seeing a blogger's success too. Totally agree with your rant though, shame that food places don't realise how dangerous it can be to mislabel food x

    Josie | Sick Chick Chic

  5. Meg Siobhan says:

    Those pancakes though *heart eyes, mothertrucker* It's a shame about the porridge. Hopefully in time they'll find a way to definitely offer 100% GF ones!

    Meg | A Little Twist Of…

  6. The cafe does have a very Instagrammable look to it! I'd have to try the acai bowl, I loved those when I visited Brazil

  7. Jordan says:

    This looks absolutely amazing! I have to visit here soon. I know exactly what you mean when stuff isn't really Gluten free! Just don't say it is if it could have been cross-contaminated. GAH.

    hellomissjordan.com xx

  8. Oh, I'm hungry now. This pancakes looks so tasty. x.

    The Fashion Spell

  9. Mira L. says:

    Great review, I'm now craving pancakes haha. I usually tell me family to order different things too, not just for the sake of a review but because I'm so indecisive when it comes to food and I always want to try it all haha. xx

    113-things-to-say.blogspot.com

  10. Immy May says:

    Uhhh damn I wish I ordered the pancakes now! I popped down to the Mae Deli a few months ago and it was really lovely, I ordered the avo on toast (classic) totally feel ya on the GF complications, just because it seems to be 'on trend' right now a lot of places don't take it seriously! The next place you need to check out is MUD in Tooting it is luuuush. Immy x

    http://www.immymay.com

  11. Call Me Amy says:

    I want to try this place sooooo bad, next time I'm in London in 100% heading here! It's a shame about the porridge, I feel like you must have to be even more careful than before about being coeliac now that loads of gluten free options have sprung up just because it seems to be 'in'. I love deliciously Ella though and those pancakes look divine!
    Amy xx
    Call Me Amy

  12. Kimberly Ann says:

    Great photos! The food looks amazing!

    Kim
    http://bit.ly/1Vv2lQJ .. Ocean City, MD OOTD!

  13. kayla kruse says:

    Oh my, this post made me starving. The food looks scrumptious!
    Great pictures & review!

    Have an amazing week!
    Lots of love,
    Kayla xo // Kayla's Vibration

  14. Jessica says:

    Very beautiful restaurant! Amazing pictures! =D

    NEW POST on http://whattostyle.blogspot.com/

    xoxo,
    Jessica

  15. I've been wanting to visit here for so long but I was put off by people saying that it was really pricey for what you got. I still think I'll head over for lunch one day, but I definitely agree on the gluten free front! Not a coeliac but if it says gluten free, it really needs to be gluten free! x

    Martha Jane | http://www.marthajanemusic.com

  16. Honest mum says:

    What a brilliant, balanced review, I met Ella last year and she was a total sweetheart, passionate without being didactic and I love that places like The Mae Deli exist. I'm sure they'll label the porridge now-I have friends who are coleaics and like you even the tiniest bit of wheat will affect them for days even weeks. Big love darling x

    • Thank you hun, I think what Ella's done with The Mae Deli is absolutely fantastic, it was just the one little point which I feel bad about mentioning because everybody's mentioned it haha. The focus was definitely on how amazing the food was but so pleased you get it too, coeliac is very serious so understanding is really integral!

      xx

  17. Loving the review! Great and looks so cozy!

    Dora http://www.bangsbang.com

  18. Such pretty pictures, I'm starving now:)

    Makeup Monster

  19. Alina Bostan says:

    I do think that they should clearly label that point on the porridge not being GF especially since the actual place is focus on that exact topic. However saying that those pancakes do look super delicious and I love the look/feel of the place x

    Beauty with charm

  20. Those pancakes are yummy! I also like the menu board, it looks so cool. If products claim to be gluten free, all the staff should know more about it instead of saying "it might not…", it would have annoyed me! x

    Ela BellaWorld

  21. LBG says:

    The decor is so cute and all the food looks so scrumptious! It's just so far far far away from me! Thanks for all the photos, it was almost like being there

    http://leftbankgirl.blogspot.com

  22. Yummy this place looks so great and healthy! Nice choice
    xo
    http://www.laurajaneatelier.com

  23. ooo looks like such a yummy place!

    β™₯ Ellen #NZblogger
    SHOPSTYLECONQUER.COM
    Facebook + Instagram

  24. crafty-zone says:

    Wow, these pancakes look so delicious and personally I think that I'll also have so doubts what should I order, that avocado on the toast sounds really good too πŸ™‚

    http://crafty-zone.blogspot.com/

  25. Looks like such a sweet place – love the dΓ©cor! That avocado on toast with salmon sounds delicious! Xx

    http://www.itsjessiejane.com/

  26. Wow, this looks AMAZING! I'm a big fan of Deliciously Ella's cookery books, I didn't realise she had opened a deli, I'll have to check it out.

    Lyndsay | Fizzy Peaches Travel & Lifestyle Blog

  27. MeMe Books says:

    Hopefully they thought about it after you left and will now consider labelling or at least letting people know straight away about the porridge or any other dish's that may contain wheat. Look's like a lovely little place to eat though and I will honestly be looking out for it when I next in the city.

    Meme xx

    New Post:
    'Want to Detox, Why Not Try TeaTox*?'
    http://www.thedayinthelifeof.co.uk

  28. Everything looks amazing and the interior is so pretty! I would have taken a million pictures too haha πŸ™‚ I'll definitely have to pop in one day πŸ™‚ xx

  29. I definitely need to try and check this place out whilst I'm down this month. I love Ella's first cookbook and her Overnight Oats recipe has become my staple breakfast on workdays!

    Emma | HarmonyBlaze.co.uk

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