Gluten Free on the Costa Brava

PandD
PandD Forum Participant Posts: 5
edited July 2017 in Food & Drink #1

Hi

My wife has recently been classified as Gluten intolerant (she has terrible abdominal pains which can last for hours if she eats any)

We are planning to go to Northern Spain in September and welcome any tips you might have for us (self catering or/and eating out)

i.e.

Are there keywords we should recognise on menus and ingredients. Are allergens highlighted in bold as they are in the U.K.

I have found the Spanish for wheat, rye, and barley but not gluten or gluten free. Does the Catalan language use the same words?

Is there a phrase for "free from" products and are there freefrom ranges in local supermarkets etc.

I suspect we will mainly be self catering unless we can safely identify gluten free menus.

So many questions to ask.

And grateful for any information especially from like sufferers

Thanks, in anticipation

PandD

Comments

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2017 #2

    Have you tried putting "gluten free in Spain" on google, there are lots of helpful sites and blogs around.

    Hope someone who's been there and done it will be able to help you too. smile

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383 ✭
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    edited July 2017 #3

    Here is my advice from some experience.

    The Spanish and the French are much more aware of the problem than they used to be and you will find that it is not impossible to find Gluten free products. In Spain look for products marked "sin gluten"  Supermarkets do sell them especially the larger ones and I have seen free from sections in foreign supermarkets..  Eating out is risky, best to cater for yourself.

    A Costa Brava campsite that I know which does cater for gluten free diets is Camping El Delfin Verde. Their bread shop bakery will even cook gluten free products for you if you ask.

    peedee

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383 ✭
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    edited July 2017 #4

    As advised also Google "gluten free in Spain" it brings up a great deal of information.

    peedee

  • Vicmallows
    Vicmallows Forum Participant Posts: 580
    500 Comments
    edited July 2017 #5

    I was actually amazed just how many products in ordinary supermarkets were very prominently marked "sin gluten" . Certainly no need to search for specialist sections or shops. It even seemed as if it was the latest marketing in-thing.

  • PandD
    PandD Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited July 2017 #6

    Hi All

    Thanks for your replies

    We're gaining confidence already

    I've already made a note of "Sin Gluten" and will check google out

    Regards

     

    DandP

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited July 2017 #7

    My OH is gluten intolerant and we, until recently, had an apartment on the Costa Blanca. Carrefour had some stuff in the freezer section. Eroski, which used to be our local supermarket was quite good, as was Mercadona. She did find that she was fairly tolerant of the barra from the local panaderia, so it may be the junk they put in the bread in the UK that is the real problem.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2017 #8

    Most supermarket products will have multiple language explanation of ingredients and under EC rules any allergens must be highlighted. We've eaten safely in France, Spain and Germany for the last couple of years. Keep to simple things if eating out like fish and rice. Good luck.

  • PandD
    PandD Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited July 2017 #9

    Thank you cyberyacht and Wherenext

    That's all good useful information which again is improving our confidence.

    Anybody know of a gluten free vinegar or alternative (my wifes favourite on chips)

    PandD

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2017 #10

    Just checked my supplies Aspall cyder vinegar my favourite very gentle, organic or non organic, tesco malt vinegar contains barley, not sure but think that's OK and possibly balsamic - wine vingear, grape must, caramel.

     

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2017 #11

    Give SaltMalt, a F&C cafe/takeaway, on Chew Valley a call and ask them who they get their GF vinegar from. Excellent place for Fish and Chips by the way as ALL fish and chips cooked GF!

  • PandD
    PandD Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited July 2017 #12

    Hi

    Unfortunately vinegar contains barley which contains gluten and spirit vinegars a bit too sharp

    Odd things keep catching us out

    Heinz tomatoe ketchup is o.k. but not Morrisons own brand. Have to read every label

    Have e mailed SaltMalt and hoping for a response

    Thanks

    PandD

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383 ✭
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    edited July 2017 #13

    There is a guide book available for the UK which advises you which products are gluten free. It is available fromt the >Coeliac Society<

    peedee

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2017 #14

    Cider vinegar isn't sharp but mild and although acid turns to alkaline. When you're in a health shop do check it out. It doesn't have Barley according to my label.  See my earlier post!

    Lidl has gluten free week next week. Things I wouldn't have thought would even involve gluten do have a look.

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
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    edited July 2017 #15

    You can get a translation card in Spanish, stating that you cannot eat anything with gluten in, which you can download, or just copy and paste, and print your own.

    We met friends and went out with them for a meal in Pont de l'Arche and the little Turkish/Lebanese restaurant (the only one open) made a splendid gluten free meal for him when shown the card.  They brought out all the products they would be using, and when the chips were found to be flour coated, made some just using peeled potatoes!  Sadly they didn't have any gluten free pitta bread, but did offer lots of interesting alternatives!

  • PandD
    PandD Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited July 2017 #16

    Hi

     

    A quick update

    As suggested we've joined the Coeliac Society and amazed at te wealth of information on it's website

    Salt and Malt have replied saying they use white wine vinegar which we are now trying out

    Thank you ValDa. Will be downloading the card in a minute. It's good to hear of others experiences

    Thanks

    PandD

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2017 #17

    Hope it all goes well for you. Come back and tell us of your experiences after you've been to Spain.

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