Eating Out Overseas

[Deano12]

I have just been diagnosed with celiac disease a few weeks ago and i have just started a gluten free diet. I am about to go overseas to Europe for a holiday and i am a little nervous about eating out. i just wanted to know which places are more suitable for a gluten free diet. i get the feeling that Italian foods will not be the go because of pizzas and pasta. but what about thai? indian? Chinese? Japanese? Korean? etc.

[kenlove]

I spend 3 to 5 months overseas and never had a problem, in fact its often easier for me than eating out near my house.  You can always find a CHinese or Thai or Greek or INdian place.  If your in Italy, its easy too as there are many places rated by their celiac association. 

Korean is tough as soy sauce is on everything.  Chinese and Thai usually i just get steamed veggies and tofu.  In INdian places, anything from the Veg menu shoudlbe good but just be clear they understand no flour from wheat.  For5 example you can usually get pekora which is chick pea or chana besam flour but samosa is wheat flour.  Palak or saag the spinach dishes,  dal,  aloo gobi and vindaloo have always been ok for me as is the  briyani rice dishes.  somepalce  throw naan on top so you have to make so no naan.  What countries are you going too?

 

I have just been diagnosed with celiac disease a few weeks ago and i have just started a gluten free diet. I am about to go overseas to Europe for a holiday and i am a little nervous about eating out. i just wanted to know which places are more suitable for a gluten free diet. i get the feeling that Italian foods will not be the go because of pizzas and pasta. but what about thai? indian? Chinese? Japanese? Korean? etc.

[Deano12]

Thanks for the reply. Im going to UK, Croatia, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Germany, Prague, Spain, Greek Islands

[kenlove]

Germany, Spain, Greek Islands were never a problem for me.  France and the Uk I only  had salads which not all that good so I usually found a Chinese or greek place. Only  changed planes in the Netherlands  although my brother lived there for 4 years.  Croatia should kbe ok. Never been there but I learned the language and did a story on immigrants in Chicago. Had great massive picnics there with all the Croatians there. I'm looking forward to  Sounds like a great  trip. I'll be in Prague next year so I'm looking forwrd to what you find there.

ken

[cyclinglady]

I am in the UK this very minute. My B&B caters to celiacs in Bath. I travel with toaster bags and purchase bread on my own. We have found a few G f restaurants on the internet. Purchased food at grocery stores like TESCO and Sainburys to picnic in parks or in our room. Travel with a collapsible mini cooler. We are going on Baltic cruise, but I plan on hitting the grocery stores at the ports as a back-up. I also printed off celiac awareness cards in many languages. Search the internet for those.

I think you will do just fine. Enjoy!

[Anna-2]

Since you're covering so many countries and so many languages, make sure you bring celiac dining cards with you. Show the card in the appropriate language to your server and ask whether they can accommodate you. Try to eat simpler foods. Fresh fruit, steamed veggies, roasted meats. Try to avoid sauces with indecipherable ingredients. Have fun and enjoy!

[amber]

Italy is in fact great for gluten free.  There is very good awareness of celiac disease there as they have the highest rate in the world.  We had no problem there.  Greece will be fine too as  a lot of the food is naturally gluten free.  The UK should not be a problem as awareness is quite good there also.  Also Spain was pretty good too.  Can't comment on the others though.     Come to Australia or New Zealand if you want the easiest places a celiac to eat.

[love2travel]

I live in CroatIia and while it is a gourmand's dream, if you get off the beaten path, be prepared for blank stares. But most are great at accommodating as there are often naturally gluten-free options. Clarify cross contamination issues. Thankfully, you can easily find grilling places. Do eat in konobas, not restaurants, for charm and traditional food. Frequent fresh fish eateries. Risottos are glorious and everywhere I know uses homemade stocks. Do use the restaurant card in Croatian...it is very important here.

If looking for gluten-free products, try DM stores which have a small gluten-free section. Some grocery stores do as well. Gluten-free products are severely lacking but it is better than even just a year ago.

France is much easier than Croatia, as is Italy, as mentioned. I have not been to the UK or Germany since my diagnosis so cannot offer personal reccommendations. But Croatia is the most beautiful!

Enjoy your adventure!

[kenlove]

Never  realized you lived in Croatia

Pozdrav, hvala vrlo velik dio za svoj ​​post. Nadam se da posjetite sljedeće godine. Ima li kakvih Veganski opcija?

ken

I live in CroatIia and while it is a gourmand's dream, if you get off the beaten path, be prepared for blank stares. But most are great at accommodating as there are often naturally gluten-free options. Clarify cross contamination issues. Thankfully, you can easily find grilling places. Do eat in konobas, not restaurants, for charm and traditional food. Frequent fresh fish eateries. Risottos are glorious and everywhere I know uses homemade stocks. Do use the restaurant card in Croatian...it is very important here.

If looking for gluten-free products, try DM stores which have a small gluten-free section. Some grocery stores do as well. Gluten-free products are severely lacking but it is better than even just a year ago.

France is much easier than Croatia, as is Italy, as mentioned. I have not been to the UK or Germany since my diagnosis so cannot offer personal reccommendations. But Croatia is the most beautiful!

Enjoy your adventure!