Avoiding gluten (wheat) in Argentina
 

All right, so I've got most of the other details figured out. For some reason I forgot to even think about this: I have celiac disease, meaning I can't eat wheat, barley or certain other grains. How is Argentina when it comes to celiacs? Does anyone know whether people there are generally familiar with the condition? Does the cuisine contain a lot of flour, bread or pasta? I'm guessing that if I stick to steaks and veggies I should be OK, but it would be good to know if there's anything I should avoid. (I'd hate to waste a day of my vacation being sick after accidentally eating something with flour in it!)

Thanks for any advice! Also, if any of you Spanish speakers could take a look at this card and let me know if it makes sense, I'd appreciate it. I used these in Mexico and only got sick once. Do they get the point across?

(It was soooo much easier to travel before I had this condition. Thankfully, wine is always safe, so at least I have that!)

One of the most common cuisine there is Italian... which would
include all of the above.

This won't be hard to do. You'll find plenty of these in Argentina.

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Had a friend visit last year and had some success with this
http://www.glutenfreeforum.com/index...howtopic=43813

at local dieteca mentioned in link ( sort of health food store they were able to help with restaurant suggestions.) but it wasnt easy... and things like gluten free breads etc were not always available.

The large jumbo in Palermo had some.

Yes, the card is quite clear so it will get your point across - whether you understand the reply is another matter!! I doubt the concept is well-known here. One of my friends is vegetarian and she's had numerous problems in Argentina of waiters not grasping the idea that someone doesn't eat meat (shock horror!). In one restaurant, she ordered a dish after being assured that it didn't contain meat only to find that it arrived with a bolognese sauce. The waiter couldn't understand why she was making a fuss about "the little bits of meat in the sauce". So, check and double-check just to make sure.

Order a big steak with either fries, mashed potato or vegetables and you'll be fine. And enjoy the wine too :)

Thanks for the help, guys! I tend not to bother with the gluten-free breads and pastas because they're usually not that good and are hard to find -- it's just easier to stick with simple alternatives. Steak and wine it is, then! Gee, that will be just terrible. How will I survive? :D

Yes,chicken is plentiful as well on the menus.

It shouldn't be too hard as long as you avoid the obvious, pasta which is popular and milanese (chicken or beef covered in breadcrumbs), again popular. There aren't too many dishes with flour thickened sauces so not too much to worry about there.
Plenty salads and fruit available.

I have celiac disease and maintain a very strict GF diet.
In Argentina, gluten free is tagged as Sin TACC, which means without wheat, rye, barley and oats.
There is a huge variety of food and there are even a few gluten free restaurants that serve even pasta.
I am including one link and if you send me a PM I can give you some information.
I usually rent an apartment and go to Dietetica Viamonte and buy tons of stuff, empanadas, pizzas, pasta, breads and cookies/alfajores.
Every time I travel there, I bring back up 150 lbs of food back to the US. The prices are great and their products amazing.

http://argentinarocks.blogspot.com/2...nos-aires.html
http://www.almacel.com/saliracomer/verlugar.asp?catid=2
http://www.almacel.com/saliracomer/v...m=Restaurantes
http://www.almacel.com/saliracomer/v...m=Restaurantes
If you tell somebody at a restaurant that your are "celiaco" they will understand. Look for the head waiter or the owner and explain your situation. I found that in most places they understand.
I can eat french fries but sometimes they are fried with other things so depends on how sensitive you are.
Grilled meats are usually safe and even the chorizos/sausages are usually safe.
Breakfast is the hardest time for me. I would suggest going to the store, buying some great croissants and bread, bring some aluminum foil with you and take it to the restaurant for breakfast and tell them to warm it in the oven inside the aluminum foil.
Service is Argentina is superb. Some of the waiters have worked in the same place for ages and take pride in making sure your needs are met.
For dessert, flans are usually safe, most ice-cream is gluten free (Freddo - a large ice cream chain has some flavors that are certified gluten free while the others do not include any gluten ingredients) and try the Charlotte almendrado which is an ice cream cake (no cake) with almonds and chocolate.
There is even gluten free beer.
If you want I can send you some other gluten free sites. I am not sure if you speak spanish.

Celiac Disease is taken seriously here.... you will be fine.