Post by Trevor on Sept 2, 2013 8:48:31 GMT
France - much easier now!
Posted by GillM on 1/9/2013, 22:39:06
Just returned from holiday in France and found that they had heard of gluten allergy even the smallest restaurants.
I did not have any printed cards (left in the caravan!), but just said in basic french, "my son can't eat gluten he is allergic" - then point to the item and ask if it's OK.
We were in a touristy area (Royan on the West coast) and ate in several restaurants in the towns round about, e.g. St Georges Didonne, St Palais sur Mer, Palmayre. Restaurants in Royan itself were out of our price bracket! In one they said the buckwheat (sarrasin) pancakes where gluten free, but in another they were not. In two places the waitress went back to check things with chef.
Also there were gluten free products in all big supermarkets, although I had taken more than enough bread so we did not need to buy any.
The best selection of gf products was in a 'bio'/health food shop by the railway station in Royan, a huge selection of Dr Schar products.
Also found gluten-free crackers and bagettes in another health food shop in the center of Royan, they were supposed to be heated in the oven before you ate them, but we only had a microwave! (The bagettes were Ok to eat with meals, but not strong enough for picnics. For picnics I prepared a few slices of bread from home each morning ready to make sandwich at lunch time with tin of tuna in tomato, or ham and tomato etc etc.)
Menus also included lots of naturally gf items - mussels, oysters, steak, grilled ham, numerous salads and omlettes. "Iles flottant" is a local dessert which is a meringue foating on custard, and therefore gltuen free. Hundreds of flavours of ice cream.
Posted by GillM on 1/9/2013, 22:39:06
Just returned from holiday in France and found that they had heard of gluten allergy even the smallest restaurants.
I did not have any printed cards (left in the caravan!), but just said in basic french, "my son can't eat gluten he is allergic" - then point to the item and ask if it's OK.
We were in a touristy area (Royan on the West coast) and ate in several restaurants in the towns round about, e.g. St Georges Didonne, St Palais sur Mer, Palmayre. Restaurants in Royan itself were out of our price bracket! In one they said the buckwheat (sarrasin) pancakes where gluten free, but in another they were not. In two places the waitress went back to check things with chef.
Also there were gluten free products in all big supermarkets, although I had taken more than enough bread so we did not need to buy any.
The best selection of gf products was in a 'bio'/health food shop by the railway station in Royan, a huge selection of Dr Schar products.
Also found gluten-free crackers and bagettes in another health food shop in the center of Royan, they were supposed to be heated in the oven before you ate them, but we only had a microwave! (The bagettes were Ok to eat with meals, but not strong enough for picnics. For picnics I prepared a few slices of bread from home each morning ready to make sandwich at lunch time with tin of tuna in tomato, or ham and tomato etc etc.)
Menus also included lots of naturally gf items - mussels, oysters, steak, grilled ham, numerous salads and omlettes. "Iles flottant" is a local dessert which is a meringue foating on custard, and therefore gltuen free. Hundreds of flavours of ice cream.