Being intolerant of gluten is a real pain in the arse, especially in a city offering tasty looking empanadas and tortas on every corner.
This is why I was so happy to discover an entirely gluten-free Panaderia yesterday, called Celigourmet. I believe this is the only one of its kind in Buenos Aires. Gluten intolerance is not widely recognised in Argentina, at least in terms of products available in the shops. This seems strange as there are at least 400,000 recognised celiacs in Argentina. There is an organisation called Ley Celíaca (Celiac Law) which campaigns for more recognition of celiac disease, the website is here http://www.ley-celiaca.com.ar
Celigourmet was set up by Mónica Benain after she and other members of her family were diagnosed as celiacs.
The store stocks a range of foods including all those treaty foods you normally have to miss out on; pizzas and empanadas to tortas and churros. The majority are baked on the premise. I bought some little rolls topped with herby roasted onion and a pizza. The rolls are great, it's so good to taste proper chewy bread.
You can also go to herboristerias to find gluten free flours and pastas, although the choice is very limited eg a lot of gluten free pasta is made from white rice flour which can be bland and claggy.
It's so good to think that celiacs can go to Celigourmet and pick up a loaf of bread or empanadas just like a normal porteño can do.It would be great if they could now introduce some wholegrain products too.
Celigourmet
Charcas 4787
Lunes a Viernes de 10 a 20hs
Sabados de 9.30 a 14hs
www.celigourmet.com.ar
celigourmet@hotmail.com
Other resources
Celiacos Argentinos - lists all gluten free Panaderias in Argentina
http://www.celiacosargentinos.com.ar
List of gluten free friendly restaurants in Buenos Aires
http://www.glutenfreeguidebook.com/2008/04/14/reader-report-buenos-aires/
1 comment:
Hi! i'm celiac too and I'm from Buenos Aires. I cook everything I eat, but sometimes I buy in "Dietetica Rojas" located in the street Rojas 12 (Cap. Fed.). Also, if you are near of the city's center, you can go to "Dietetica Viamonte", located in Viamonte 859. Honestly, even thou Celigourmet has an option for celiacs during the day, they don't have much varieté of food and everything has the same taste. I cook everythng I eat and it works perfectly to me, but when i want something without too much work, i go to those places I've mentioned. Also, please check the website "www.serceliaco.com.ar" that is really great!!!! Have a nice day!
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