[Anonymous]

I have recently been diagnosed with coeliac disease and need to cope with a gluten-free diet when we visit our apartment.

Does anybody know where I can buy gluten-free flour, bread etc in the Marbella area? Is it stocked in the supermarkets/hypermarkets? Do I have to go to a specialist supplier or do I have to pack everything either in my suitcase or ship by courier before I come.

The whole idea at the moment is daunting . . .

All advice gratefully received.

[Anonymous]

We have found Carrefour to be the best. They do part-baked gluten free bagettes (Brand – Delicel) which is specially packed for Carrefour. You will have to search for them – they are usually with the dietary products, eg those for diabetics. It’s no use asking at the Info desk because they don’t seem to understand ‘pan sin gluten’! You will also find a range of other gf products like cakes, pasta and flour in this section but you do have to read all the labels. Also look out for the sausages in the refrigerated packed meat section – some are clearly marked ‘sin gluten’.

Mercadonna also have some gf products but their part-baked rolls are quite small and not nearly as good as Carrefour.

When all fails (as it did for us in Lanzarote) you will need to go to a health food shop and buy gf flour and yeast (plus a loaf tin!) and make your own.
Pharmacies do not usually stock gf foods – however, they can be very helpful in advising you where to go.

We always take some rolls and bread with us to give time for searching out the hypermarkets. But, because gf bread can be quite dry, and they like to throw suitcases around, we usually pack this in our hand luggage. Be aware that some airlines will not allow you to share your hand luggage allowance with your partner so pack in two bags and keep the weight of each within the airline’s allowance.

We have not found it to be a big problem in Spain (except Lanzarote!) and have managed well in Valencia, Estepona/Malaga, Murcia, Almeria and Costa Blanca. It’s more of a problem eating out but you just have to be very selective from the menus and stick to plain grilled meat and fish ‘sin salsa’ as most sauces are thickened with flour. You can also explain that you are ‘alergico a harina’ (flour) or ‘trigo’ (wheat).

Hope this will be helpful. Enjoy.
MAG

[Anonymous]

We have found Carrefour to be the best. They do part-baked gluten free bagettes (Brand – Delicel) which is specially packed for Carrefour. You will have to search for them – they are usually with the dietary products, eg those for diabetics. It’s no use asking at the Info desk because they don’t seem to understand ‘pan sin gluten’! You will also find a range of other gf products like cakes, pasta and flour in this section but you do have to read all the labels. Also look out for the sausages in the refrigerated packed meat section – some are clearly marked ‘sin gluten’.

Mercadonna also have some gf products but their part-baked rolls are quite small and not nearly as good as Carrefour.

When all fails (as it did for us in Lanzarote) you will need to go to a health food shop and buy gf flour and yeast (plus a loaf tin!) and make your own.
Pharmacies do not usually stock gf foods – however, they can be very helpful in advising you where to go.

We always take some rolls and bread with us to give time for searching out the hypermarkets. But, because gf bread can be quite dry, and they like to throw suitcases around, we usually pack this in our hand luggage. Be aware that some airlines will not allow you to share your hand luggage allowance with your partner so pack in two bags and keep the weight of each within the airline’s allowance.

We have not found it to be a big problem in Spain (except Lanzarote!) and have managed well in Valencia, Estepona/Malaga, Murcia, Almeria and Costa Blanca. It’s more of a problem eating out but you just have to be very selective from the menus and stick to plain grilled meat and fish ‘sin salsa’ as most sauces are thickened with flour. You can also explain that you are ‘alergico a harina’ (flour) or ‘trigo’ (wheat).

Hope this will be helpful. Enjoy.
MAG

[besj]

@Indecision wrote:

I have recently been diagnosed with coeliac disease and need to cope with a gluten-free diet when we visit our apartment.

Does anybody know where I can buy gluten-free flour, bread etc in the Marbella area? Is it stocked in the supermarkets/hypermarkets? Do I have to go to a specialist supplier or do I have to pack everything either in my suitcase or ship by courier before I come.

The whole idea at the moment is daunting . . .

All advice gratefully received.

I am not living there, but the food store at El corte Ingles in Ouerto Banus had an excellent assortment of gluten free bread, cakes and pasta when we were there both in 2004 and 2008.
As Indecision mentioned below Carrefour also has a gluten free assortment. They even have their own private label bluten free food which we bought in Vinaros this summer.

The gluten free bread, meal and pasta are usually in the diet food section in the shops.
As a minor note Damm Estrella (beer in case you do not know) has a special edition for coeliacs with a guaranteed low level of gluten…

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