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Going To France

SeMeCl

By SeMeCl
in Traveling with Celiac Disease

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SeMeCl Apprentice
SeMeCl
Posted

Hello everybody!

I am going to Paris in December for a week. I would like to know if anyone knows how to eat gluten-free in France. Restaurant suggestions are especially appreciated.

Thank you

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DarkIvy Explorer
DarkIvy
Posted

In this past I did some research on this when my boyfriend and I were planning on staying a couple days in Paris... I had almost no luck. My understanding is that they add flour to almost everything, and it's difficult to get chefs in many restaurants to care about this condition. It's considered rude culturally to be so picky, they think it's best just to take what you are given and appreciate it for what it is.

There were few restaurant suggestions, and everyone said it would be best just to hit up the grocery stores for fresh foods, and bring a stockpile of gluten-free foods in your suitcase. There was a natural food store recommended that carried a few gluten-free items (such as bread) but I forgot the name of the place.

Not trying to scare you, but part of the reason we ended up going elsewhere was because of the gluten issues. There were other reasons, too, but still. I still really want to go someday, hopefully sometime in the future it will be feasible. Hopefully you have more luck than I did trying to find places to eat!

SeMeCl Apprentice
SeMeCl
Posted
  • Author

This is bad news for me, and I'm hoping someone has been there/lived there and has some suggestions. I don't have a choice of a different location as I am going to visit a friend. I don't think it would be wise to ask him to move to Italy while I'm visiting him :D . Maybe I'll end up buying/bringing my own stuff and eating before or after meals and just have water or a beverage while the rest eat :( .

PLEASE, I NEED SUGGESTIONS/HELP!!!!

elonwy Enthusiast
elonwy
Posted

Hey I just sent you a PM with restaurants/stores but forgot to save a copy. Could you reply to this on the forums so I don't have to type it again? :P Thanks

SeMeCl Apprentice
SeMeCl
Posted
  • Author

Hey everyone! Here is the list that elonwy was so generous to share (seriously this helps a lot!) There seem to actually be some options. :) If anyone else has suggestions let me know. And thank you elonwy.

HI. I just found my notepad with my notes from '06. My best luck was a health food store called Rendezvous de la Nature - 96 rue Mouffetard 75005 (cute little area too). I found croissants and bread and things there.

Other stores: Le Jardin de vie-13 rue Brezin

Eubia- 84 avenue de St Marde

Le mortier d'or -51 Rue Condorcet

Elan Nature - 107 bis au du General LeClere

Restaurants:

Le Reminet-3 rue des Grands Degres (I think this one is near Notre Dame, if I recall correctly)

Au Sergent Recruiter-41 Rue Saint-Louis

Le Pre Verre- 8 rue Thenard

Auberge de la Reine Blanche- 30 rue Saint-Louis en L'ile

There is an Italian restaurant with gluten-free things (the italians are great about this stuff) -48 Blvd. St. Germaine

I suggest reservations for Le Reminet. I have to say, I had my best bet buying things at the store and eating at home. I stay with friends in Paris though, so have access to a kitchen. Also, this info is from 2006, and I haven't been back since, so things may have changed. Do you speak french? The french word for wheat is ble. The french word for flour is Farine. Buckwheat flour crepes can be found at some places, but you have to make sure they understand PURE buckwheat flour. Buckwheat in french is Sassarron. I have found that they are as a whole rather unaware of what is in their food (just like most americans). I hope you have a good time.

  • 3 weeks later...
clematis Newbie
clematis
Posted

I love to visit France and Italy, have been twice to Paris.

Remember to bring a French translation where you describe your disease and how to cook glutenfree food to use in restaurants. If you are staying with a friend maybe you can cook there? And when you visit a restaurant he/she can explain how to make your food at the restaurant.

France isn't too good on glutenfree food, but I have eaten in quite a few restaurants when I have stayed there. The last two years I have been to Italy, which is heaven for us with celiac disease.

You can also bring your own pasta, and ask them if they will cook it....

Have a nice trip :)

GFqueen17 Contributor
GFqueen17
Posted

Why is Italy so good about celiac?? my family is considering going there next summer so i would love to hear what they do that makes them so good about it!

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clematis Newbie
clematis
Posted

How much time do you have?

Italy is fantasic for a lot of reasons...

Every child in Italy is tested for celiac disease....maybe because the disease is so common there (they love their pasta and pizza).

Chefs are educated in how to make proper/safe gluten free food.

The selecton of gluten free food in shops/pharmacies is GOOD. In the big supermarkets they have so many products. We visited the big shopping center outside Milan 2 years ago, and you wouldn't believe it. Last summer we found a pharmacy in Livorno and they sold nothing but gluten free food!

Since we started going to Italy on holidays I have NEVER become sick after eating in restaurants, etc. I always bring an italian translation to the restaurants, and explain how important it is that the food is safe.

Some restaurants have their own gluten free pasta, and if they don't I bring my own and they cook it. Had a beautiful Spaghetti Bolognese in San Vincenzo last summer, and in Milan I ate real Italian Pizza!!

You can even fing hotels that are gluten free...there's one at the Como lake, or was it Garda?? I can find out if you want...

I would advice you to do some research before you go. They even have a telephone number you can call, and they will tell you were you can find a gluten free restaurant in your area.

I don't say things are perfect, but to me it has been heaven, and compared to France it is very good!

Sorry about my English...I am Scandinavian :D

Just ask more if you need to know more....

Clematis

clematis Newbie
clematis
Posted

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

found them on this site..

  • 1 month later...
pariseliac Newbie
pariseliac
Posted

From Someone Living in Paris for 20 years-

Hello, I just joined this group, and i see you are going to be in paris for a week, maybe you've already come and gone or maybe you are here or your trip is coming up.

For preparing stuff on your own, i don't think you need to bring stuff from home, there are many natural food stores in paris, most notably a chain called "naturalia" that is really all over the place:

Open Original Shared Link

29 shops in paris alone and paris is not large, geographically speaking. that means walking distance from most places. most shops are open from 10am to 7:30 pm monday through saturday. of course you can also buy rice etc.

in monoprix grocery store (sometimes combo-groceries and department store) also all over the place, they have a small natural foods section "rayon dietetique" with a very small selection of gluten free bread, cookies, etc. you can also find rice cakes in almost any groceries stores and most good size grocery stores have a "rayon dietetique" but you may have to ask to find it. they're hard to find.

a typical french restaurant will have an option of meat/fish/poultry plus vegetable plus starch: potatoes or pasta or rice.

it's not unusual to have broiled fish or meat as an option. i eat out about twice a week and i can almost always find something.

there are many many chinese takeaways and japanese sushi restaurants, where you can get miso soup salad and some meat and rice.

these are helpful if just out and about and suddenly hungry. grabbing a couple of spring rolls: "rouleau de printemps" at the nearest chinese takeaway can be a life saver.

as for the SARASIN crepes, it is true that that means buckwheat and most savory crepes in a restaurant (but not on the street) are said to be SARASIN(buckwheat), but i don't know if it's pure SARASIN or not. If you don't speak French well I recommend writing down the key words and showing it to waiters, etc, as french pronunciation is really sometimes tough in the beginning. the nice part is that many many people especially young waiters and waitresses speak english and like to speak english, now.

In naturalia and elan nature you can get some nice gluten free fresh baked breads most of the time. my favorite was a combination of rice, quinoa and chestnut flours found at elan nature.mmm.

if you eating at someone's home tell them in advance, and explain, as most people do not have a notion of what is gluten free. if you are invited to someone's home spontaneously, still explain and hopefully you can make do with meat, cheese, veggies, salad and all the rest. there are lots of dairy products in france, so if you can eat cheese, you should be ok.

oh yes, just about any restaurant will make you an omelet if you request it and in any case it's usually offered at any caf

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