Bianca DalmauWhen traveling, you definitely want to taste local foods. Having food allergies makes that difficult, but I found a way – and it isn’t just one spot, either. Though some places offer more options than others, I found a few with entire gluten-free menus. When visiting Madrid, rest assured, you’ve got some amazing options with traditional Spanish flavor profiles; your friends won’t even know they’re eating gluten free!
When visiting Madrid, rest assured, you’ve got some amazing options with traditional Spanish flavor profiles; your friends won’t even know they’re eating gluten free!
Finding El Arrozal is challenging, but only because there isn’t any marketing. It’s set deeply inside what looks like a quaint café with outdoor seating, and two entrances. There are signs over each door reading “Café” and “Restaurant,” but there is no mention of the name. Once a local pointed me in the right direction, I found a small menu posted out front naming the establishment. Though it was difficult to find, the food was well worth the hunt!
Any frustration I felt was immediately alleviated once I tasted the shellfish paella dish I ordered; I had entirely forgotten that I was upset at all. Every dish on the menu is gluten free and, though they serve regular bread, their cross contamination practices are stellar because I’m told the owner’s daughter has celiac disease.
El Arrozal’s heavy wooden furnishings set in front of a bright sky-blue wall, which is peppered with decorative pots, and artwork | Bianca Dalmau
The interior is decorated traditionally with heavy dark-wooden furniture, housing frescos and other works of art. The walls are painted a bright sky-blue framed in white trim, which makes it feel like daytime no matter how late you’re there.
While I waited for the food, the server brought out a small baguette of gluten free bread and a glass of white wine. The generous portion of paella arrived in a hot skillet, and was packed with a variety of seafood, including shrimp, crayfish, muscles, and calamari. It also had red and green peppers, peas, and corn. The dish was hearty, rich, and satisfying. I ate a little less than half, and asked for a box for the leftovers – I got two more meals out of it the next day. All together, it cost me €16.50 ($20). Not too shabby!
I felt like it was my birthday…I found myself in what can only be described as a gift to the senses.
Celicioso is a dedicated gluten-free bakery-restaurant, and when I found out that Madrid boasted not one but three, I felt like it was my birthday. I picked the one closest to my apartment, and after a short metro ride I found myself in what can only be described as a gift to the senses. It’s decorated in a country-French meets rustic meets transitional style. Natural wooden tables and organic-fiber seat cushions are set against crisp white tile walls and backlit cabinets. The fixtures are contemporary and emit a soft warm light, which is complemented by ambient meditative music. The seating is so comfortable that you won’t want to leave – I found my new favorite spot in Madrid.
Celicioso’s crisp white décor, natural wooden tables, and organic fiber seating | Bianca Dalmau
When I entered Celicioso, a server named Rene greeted me and handed me a menu in English – the options are overwhelming! Each item on the menu has a small dot indicating the presence of a variety of allergens, including lactose, peanuts, and eggs. Not only is Celicioso an allergy-conscious bakery, but it’s also a restaurant with creative pairings and palate titillating descriptions of what is offered.
Though much of the menu lacks the traditional Spanish flavor profile the selections are broad, and what I ordered was delicious. I enjoyed basil bolognaise over a bed of zucchini noodles, and a glass of red wine. Afterward, I indulged in a slice of tarta de Santiago – an elegant, spongy almond flour cake, with delicate notes of amaretto, lightly dusted with confectioner’s sugar. Here is where I got my fix of a traditional Spanish flavor. I then finished the meal with an iced-blended matcha tea with almond milk. When you have food allergies, the best part about trying new restaurants is, of course, eating delicious foods, but it’s also walking away without having any adverse reactions. My tummy was very happy.
Basil bolognaise over a bed of zucchini noodles, and a glass of red wine from Celicioso | Bianca Dalmau
Taberna La Concha Vinos y Tapas is a modest tapas bar with downstairs seating in an environment that can only be described as hipster-chic. Seating isn’t incredibly comfortable, and the lighting is slightly too bright, but there are some neat artistic elements like backlit multicolored glass bottles that lend character to an already interesting location. None of that matters, though, because the food was absolutely unbelievable – it was so good I went back twice! They offer an entire gluten-free tapas menu and a spreadsheet where customers can cross-reference a variety of allergens in every dish. During each visit I ate three different tapas, and a glass of white wine.
During my first trip, I dined on prawn with mayonnaise and dill on toast. When it arrived I looked at the server questioningly, and she reassured me that it didn’t contain gluten or dairy. When I bit into it, the flavors were comforting, and creamy. The mayonnaise looked like golden melted cheese, and the dill perfectly complimented the prawn. This tapa was so good that when I went back – literally the next night – I ordered it again. I should also mention that when I returned I brought a friend who has no food allergies. He shared all of my gluten-free selections and was just as in awe of the food as I was.
One of the other tapas I ordered was cured duck with slices of orange on toast. The sweet and tart orange slices pleasantly balanced the saltiness of the duck…Wait. First of all, let me not forget to tell you about how beautiful the presentation is. Each dish arrives on a humble powder blue plate, whose charm is only heightened by its chipped edges. Everything is garnished with a sprig of watercress, a halved kumquat, and a berry, all of which compliment the flavors of every tapa I tried.
Four tapas dishes from Taberna La Concha. Top left is Prawn with mayonnaise and dill on toast; top right is foie gras garnished with marmalade, raspberry preserves, and strawberry preserves on toast; bottom left is cured duck with slices of orange on toast; and bottom right is smoked cod topped with caviar on toast. All of the dishes are garnished with a sprig of watercress, a halved kumquat, and a berry. | Bianca Dalmau
Taberna La Concha…is inarguably elevated Spanish cuisine.
Taberna La Concha may look a like a dive bar, but the food is, inarguably, elevated Spanish cuisine. The portions are just enough, and if you do want more the prices are reasonable. Each tapa price ranges from €4.50 ($5.25) to €10 ($11.66).
If you’re dealing with celiac disease or other allergies and traveling to Madrid, make sure to treat yourself to some heavenly dishes free from gluten, and some peace of mind. I promise you won’t regret it.
El Arrozal; Calle de Segovia 13, 28005 Madrid; +34 913 65 39 09; Metro Opera or La Latina
Celicioso; Calle del Barquillo 19, 28004 Madrid; +34 915 32 28 99; Metro Banco De España or Chueca
Taberna La Concha Vinos y Tapas; Calle Cava Baja 7, 28005 Madrid; +34 616 91 06 71; Metro Tirso de Molina or La Latina
Travel Journalism, Photography & Video Internship Seminar in Madrid, Spain