BettyB

We're off to Paris next week, and I wondered if anyone can tell me where I might find gluten free bread etc. I am coeliac, and must avoid anything made with wheat,rye or barley. I read somewhere that Monoprix used to sell gluten free bread, but I'm not sure if they do now. I will take some with me, but it would be great if I could buy some there!

Louie_LI

Monoprix sometimes stocks gluten-free items, but you can never be sure whether a particular store on a particular day will have it.

For more info on being coeliac in Paris, take a look at: http://linuxmigrations.hd.free.fr/glutenfree/

BettyB

Thanks Louie - I've had a look at the site and there are some helpful hints there. Any other info from coeliacs who have been to Paris recently would be much appreciated!

hanl

There are quite a lot of health food/organic stores in Paris that would be likely to stock gluten free bread.
For instance, Bio St Germain (30 bd St Germain in the 5th - www.biosaintgermain.com) sells gluten free products.

Where will you be staying? I might be able to give you a couple of more specific addresses.

Or go to http://www.pagesjaunes.fr/pj.cgi?lang=en and enter organic in the "Business type" box and Paris in the "City" box, hit Search and then select the last option marked "HEALTH FOOD PRODUCTS: NATURAL AND DIET PRODUCTS (RETAIL)" and press "Search" again - it brings up about 200 stores.

BettyB

This is so useful - thanks Hanl. We will be staying in an apartment at 75 Rue St Charles in the 15th. Many thanks!

moolyn

Louie, Thanks for the great website!

Betty, I was in the Dordogne recently and never saw any gluten free bread so made do with rice cakes. French supermarkets don't have GF sections like in the UK or North America. I never tried to find a health food store which may have had some because I'm not keen on the mass-produced, heavy, cardboardy stuff anyway.

But, I did have a few bites of my husband's galette (buckwheat crepe) after the chef in a creperie showed me that the flour used was pure buckwheat taken from a separate bag. It was amazing! So amazing that I bought a crepe pan to make some back home.

In Paris, I've been told that there are countless Breton creperies in the the "Breton" area, along rue d'Odessa and rue du Montparnasse, near the Montparnasse station. Traditional crepes Bretons are made with only buckwheat flour so there's a good chance that you'd find crepes that you can eat. Way better than GF bread!

Have a wonderful time in Paris! If you carry a card explaining your dietary restriction the waiters and chef take it very seriously so you'll eat well gluten free. But if you happen to find a baker that produces fresh GF French style bread, please share it with us when you come back.

hanl

Hi again
Just had a quick Google and found that there is a large(ish) health food store at 20 rue de l'Eglise which is right by rue St Charles. It's called Espace Bio St Charles - I checked on their website (www.espace-bio.com) and they stock gluten free bread. (I don't recommend visiting their website unless you have a good pop-up blocker though, as my browser was inundated with pop-up windows)

WallyKringen

When in doubt or in an unfamiliar area, head for the nearest pharmacy - A) they are the most likely ones to listen and understand your concerns and B) to give you directions in the neighborhood.

You can also ask them for brand names and terminology, so you'll know what to look for when you read labels before making a purchase.

WK

BettyB

Wow - thank you guys very much indeed. Hanl - I have printed out maps and will visit espace-bio as soon as I can. Moolyn - I will be on the lookout for buckwheat pancakes! Wallykringen - great advice,thanks.

BettyB

Greetings from Paris! I have just enjoyed some gluten free bread from the shop on Rue d'Eglise. They have a large section devoted to gluten free items. Thanks hanl!

hanl

Hurrah!