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Portugal

ChristieKate

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ChristieKate Rookie
ChristieKate
Posted

I'm traveling in June to Portugal. Mostly I'll be in Figueria Da Foz but I'll also spend a day of two in Lisbon. Of course, if the volcano decides to act up I might be spending a few days at Heathrow too!

I cannot find any info on gluten-free/Celiac for Portugal. I've only been diagnosed since April, so this is all new to me too. Has anyone here travelled to Portugal? Any advice?

I also can't eat fish and I gather that's the big food item there. I might be hungry by the time I get home!

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tgrahek Newbie
tgrahek
Posted

I traveled to Portugal with my 2 Celiac kids in 2008. We stayed the whole time in Lisbon. I don't speak any Portuguese and I couldn't find any gluten free info before we left so I was very nervous. It really was no problem. I said as best I could in English and/or Spanish "my daughters have Celiac disease/ mis hijas tienen celiaca" and every waiter understood me and pointed to things on the menu that they could eat. Even at the buffet breakfast at the hotel, the cook made the girls special eggs and showed us which meat they could have. They didn't always eat as well as the rest of the group but they were never hungry. They had plenty of eggs and hamburger patties, but often had very nice meals.

Good luck, I think you will be fine.

PS They seemed to prefer English to Spanish in Lisbon- I think they don't like people thinking Spanish and Portuguese are the same thing. :)

ChristieKate Rookie
ChristieKate
Posted
  • Author

I traveled to Portugal with my 2 Celiac kids in 2008. We stayed the whole time in Lisbon. I don't speak any Portuguese and I couldn't find any gluten free info before we left so I was very nervous. It really was no problem. I said as best I could in English and/or Spanish "my daughters have Celiac disease/ mis hijas tienen celiaca" and every waiter understood me and pointed to things on the menu that they could eat. Even at the buffet breakfast at the hotel, the cook made the girls special eggs and showed us which meat they could have. They didn't always eat as well as the rest of the group but they were never hungry. They had plenty of eggs and hamburger patties, but often had very nice meals.

Good luck, I think you will be fine.

PS They seemed to prefer English to Spanish in Lisbon- I think they don't like people thinking Spanish and Portuguese are the same thing. :)

Thank you. This is reassuring!

I live in Canada so I have NO spansih (except maybe a bit from Dora the Explorer!!). I might be able to say it in French but I'm pretty much english only. I have very serious peanut and nut allergies (since I was an infant) and when we travelled to Prague 2 years ago I was able to communicate pretty well with everyone just using my english. If the waiter couldn't understand he found someone who could. Considering with my nut allergies my life really is on line, I (and my husband) were quite pleased with how easy it was! Sounds like it is similar in Portugal.

primresp Rookie
primresp
Posted

ChristieKate,

No worries. I'll get you hooked up.

I'm half portuguese (my dad is from Portugal) and I speak Portuguese fluently. My written portuguese isn't so good, as I never had to write in p., so I'll contact my dad and have him type something up for you, so you can show it to waiters, etc.

It is helpful to know some Spanish, as Port. and spanish are similar, but vast majority of folks over there will have at least moderate English skills, so you should be fine.

Yes, fish (codfish--bacalhau) is basically our national dish!! Funny, though, I just found out I'm allergic to codfish! Ha!

It may take me a few days, but I'll get you something to hand to your waiters and such. I'll email it to you or post it on this thread.

Feel free to email me at any point if you need anything!

Bemvindo a portugal (welcome to portugal!)

ChristieKate Rookie
ChristieKate
Posted
  • Author

ChristieKate,

No worries. I'll get you hooked up.

I'm half portuguese (my dad is from Portugal) and I speak Portuguese fluently. My written portuguese isn't so good, as I never had to write in p., so I'll contact my dad and have him type something up for you, so you can show it to waiters, etc.

It is helpful to know some Spanish, as Port. and spanish are similar, but vast majority of folks over there will have at least moderate English skills, so you should be fine.

Yes, fish (codfish--bacalhau) is basically our national dish!! Funny, though, I just found out I'm allergic to codfish! Ha!

It may take me a few days, but I'll get you something to hand to your waiters and such. I'll email it to you or post it on this thread.

Feel free to email me at any point if you need anything!

Bemvindo a portugal (welcome to portugal!)

Wow!! Thanks so much! That's very kind of you.

(I can actually tolerate some cod and haddock but as I have developed allergies to all other fish, eventually over the last few years, I kind of avoid it now. I never know when I will suddenly not be able to eat it anymore. )

I am getting very excited about our trip! :)

primresp Rookie
primresp
Posted

ChristieKate, Ok, here's what my dad wrote for you. I've included the english, so YOU know what it says, and if you want anything changed or added let me know.

Also, my dad discovered a website

Open Original Shared Link click on International Zone link on left hand side of homepage. Has info for celiac tourists.

I hope all this helps! Let me know if you need anything else.

********

I have celiac disease, which is a severe allergy to gluten. I cannot eat any foods that contain wheat, oats, barley, or rye. If I eat any of these foods I will become very sick for several days. I am also allergic to fish.

Can you please tell me what foods I might be able to eat on your menu? Please note that the food that is prepared for me cannot have even touched wheat,oats, barley, or rye, and that many food products may contain gluten, such as beers, breading and coating, dressings, marinades, sauces, soy sauce and thickeners. Thank you.

**********

Eu sofro da doen

  • 3 weeks later...
ChristieKate Rookie
ChristieKate
Posted
  • Author

ChristieKate, Ok, here's what my dad wrote for you. I've included the english, so YOU know what it says, and if you want anything changed or added let me know.

Also, my dad discovered a website

Open Original Shared Link click on International Zone link on left hand side of homepage. Has info for celiac tourists.

I hope all this helps! Let me know if you need anything else.

********

I have celiac disease, which is a severe allergy to gluten. I cannot eat any foods that contain wheat, oats, barley, or rye. If I eat any of these foods I will become very sick for several days. I am also allergic to fish.

Can you please tell me what foods I might be able to eat on your menu? Please note that the food that is prepared for me cannot have even touched wheat,oats, barley, or rye, and that many food products may contain gluten, such as beers, breading and coating, dressings, marinades, sauces, soy sauce and thickeners. Thank you.

**********

Eu sofro da doen

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Jestgar Rising Star
Jestgar
Posted

That is totally awesome!!!

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