Dining Out: Spanish Food

Spanish food is always delicious. There was a time where I could eat tacos everyday. I used to make them once a week. I still make them at home today, I just have to be careful about what I put in them, as I am not just gluten free, but dairy free and have many other food intolerances. Going out to eat is always a struggle, but I've learned throughout the years what to ask for and what to eat at different places. It is becoming easier to eat out gluten free, as most places are aware of gluten allergies, especially corporate places. However, when they are not as aware it is important to know what to ask and what to eat in order to be safe.

When ordering at a Spanish restaurant

• Ask if tortillas/tacos/chips or any wraps are gluten free
• For those of us who can tolerate corn, most places have a corn tortilla option
• Ask if the tortilla chips contain wheat or gluten of any kind, most are just corn and are safe, but always ask
• Most soft tortillas are made from wheat so be careful when ordering any dish, such as an enchilada or burrito
• Ask if guacamole, dipping sauces or any sauce that goes into a dish contains gluten
• Ask if the rice is gluten free, sometimes the rice they use or the spices that go into contain wheat flour as a thickener or caking agent
• Make sure other sides such as beans do not contain gluten or wheat to thicken it
• Make sure all meat is grilled, not fried and does not contain gluten or flour of any kind
• Make sure salads do not contain croutons
• Make sure soups are gluten free and do not contain wheat tortilla strips
• Some restaurants have flan as a choice for dessert, traditional flan does not contain gluten, however some recipes contain wheat flour, so ask before ordering