Gluten Intolerance

[bjarne]

Hi everybody!

My son is coming to Thailand in November and plans to stay for perhaps half a year.
He suffers from Gluten intolerance, which doesn't give him any problems at all if he avoids food or drink containing wheat, barley, rye or oats.
He has a card from The Swedish Coeliaki Association explaining the problem in English (to show to waiters, cooks, etc. in restaurants). I cannot find a Thai translation anywhere. Can anybody help with advice?
The English text is as follows:

I AM GLUTEN INTOLERANT
This means I cannot eat or drink anything containing wheat, rye, barley or oats, such as flour, grits, bread, pasta, pizza, breadcrumbs, sauce thickener or breading.
It is therefore important that what I eat is free from wheat, rye, barley and oats so that I do not fall ill.
Thank you for your help!

Grateful for all help and suggestions in this matter!

[niggle]

This will not be the easiest place for him I'm afraid. I have gluten intolerance but manage ok as my intolerance is very mild.
I suggest you look at the website http://www.coeliac.co.uk/.
Although this is Uk based, they have translations in many languages and may be able to help.

[bjarne]

Thank you Niggle!
A bit difficult to find n their home page, but found at last link further to
http://www.dietarycard.co.uk/index.html
which was excellent.

They had translations for various diseases/allergies.
Highly recommendable!

Thanks again!

Bjarne

[DawnHRD]

Just a tip, bjarne. I'd be very careful where you eat (if eating out) with your son. When you do eat out, ask to speak to the manager, owner/proprietor or chef. Don't just show the message to the serving staff - they are unlikely to understand the concept of food intolerance, they won't have any idea what the ingredients of the food are and even though they don't understand, they will lead you to believe they do to save loss of face. If you go to top class restaurants (like hotel ones) or farang owned ones where the farang proprietor is on the premises, I think you'll be more likely to get the seriousness of the situation across. Good luck.

[niggle]

I agree with Dawn. Unless you can be absolutely sure dont chance it. There are some smaller places where the owner speaks english well - look out for them. Otherwise to play safe you may have to stick to smaller hotels which have their own restaurant and the cook can speak english. I do know of one hotel where you would be safe and she cooks very good thai and english food. Cannot give name on here but if you pm me I can give a couple of places you might try.
Rice flour is used a lot to thicken but most street stalls probably have no idea whats in them.
Go for stalls with fresh ingreideints you can see gong in. With diligence and plenty of swearing in frustration he'll be ok.

[DawnHRD]

niggle,

Please feel free to post any information on places you feel might be good on the thread. Not only could it help bjarne & his son, but it might help a visitor to the site with a similar problem.

[niggle]

We tend not to eat out much but if we do it tends to be the lower end of the restaurants - I always feel the food is better and not westernised.
The two places that spring to mind are
1. Top end of night market, about 30 degrees to the left - small restaurant 'fesh seafood' I think is on the board. Lady in 50s - "Call me Mamma". Cooks to order - prepares own ingredients - very helpful speaks some English and will cook however you want things done - reasonable prices.
Top Marks Hotel - corner of Poonsuk Rd and Chomsin Rd. Restaurant is only open 9 - 5 but Mae lived in UK for 10 years, speaks v good English, prepares all herself. Will cook whatever you want however you want. I will have a word with her next time I am in the bar (which is a little too often according to 'er indoors. I am sure she will sort you out even if only until you find other places.
She will also help with translation for you into Thai if you need to write things down for other resataurants.
Thailand is only difficult gluten free because of translation diffficulties otherwise no more difficult than other countires.