Eating In Morocco

[Marilyn N]

I will be traveling with a small tour group to Morocco this coming Fall.  We will be traveling around the country for 3 weeks, including visits with families in their homes.  With couscous as their national dish, eating "Moroccan-style" by scooping up food with bread, I am concerned about what I will be offered to eat there.  Do they have gluten-free alternatives to couscous?  Will I offend people by not eating what they offer? 

[kareng]

I'm not sure you will get many answers. Morocco sounds very interesting. Sounds like you are going with some sort of tour. Have you asked the tour group about this? Maybe you could email their person in Morocco and talk about it?

[Marilyn N]

Thanks, kareng.  Yes, I will be communicating with our tour leader.  Hopefully they've run into people like me before, and will be able to address the issue with hotels and restaurants where we will be going as a group.  But we will also have some meals on our own away from the rest of the group.  So any suggestions people may have will be much appreciated.  I don't expect there will be very many responses!

[Nikki2777]

I'm sorry, but I think it will be tough.  I'm glad I went before my diagnosis.  I would try and bring some pre-packaged food if you can.  Do you speak French?  Many people there do. I'd advise getting a travel card in french and arabic in advance and that may help.  The french celiac association is very helpful (I recently contacted them for a trip to Paris, at someone's suggestion here) and someone there may know more about Morocco.   Good luck.  I'd be curious how it goes, so please post back.

[kenlove]

I agree with kareng, you have to work it out before hand, otherwise the only thing you'll be able to eat is  fruit and perhaps some meats.

 

I will be traveling with a small tour group to Morocco this coming Fall.  We will be traveling around the country for 3 weeks, including visits with families in their homes.  With couscous as their national dish, eating "Moroccan-style" by scooping up food with bread, I am concerned about what I will be offered to eat there.  Do they have gluten-free alternatives to couscous?  Will I offend people by not eating what they offer? 

[MGR]

I agree with Nikki that it will be tough for you! Of all the changes in my new celiac life I have had to make, I found that the most difficult one was travelling- people try their best, but there is always some occasion where one gets glutened! I have to travel often for work and try to keep glutening to a minimum. I always bring some gluten-free bread with me for breakfast or a quick sandwich whilst on the move, crackers, fruit. I have now invested in a one person rice cooker and have found out that you can cook all sorts of things with it- it is fab!

Morocco I think will be quite difficult, not only linguistically, but culturally as there is probably little awareness. Also if you are part of a group, it is difficult ... I would suggest you keep to meat dishes like tagines, kebabs, spices tend to be gluten free - salads. Grilled fish and hope for the best. I would also suggest you take some gluten-free bread or wraps with you in case for breakfast, and keep glutening to a minimum, buy fruits in a market. I have seen rice based cous- cous in the health food shop... Not sure if people use it in Morocco....