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Any Gluten Free people out there - Bernese Oberland

We will be camping near Interlaken and exploring the area for about a week. My 14 yr old daughter has celiac so she can not eat gluten. Would love any suggestions!

We are looking at doing some hiking and day trips from there area and intend to bring food/snacks, but would love for her to try some local food. Sounds like there are some hikes with restaurants or cheese huts along the way but nervous about options for her.

We do have the "find me gluten free" app but i know from experience that does not always pick up all the options.

Thank you in advance for any insight!

Posted by
16182 posts

When we stop hiking for lunch, I usually choose the Rösti ( hash-brown potato pancake, no flour at all), a mixed salad, or a “fitness Teller” (usually a grilled chicken breast with side salad). You will find the Rösti at nearly every mountain hut; it may be offered with our without a topping of cheese, or fried egg, or a sausage on the side. I just get the “Rösti Natur” which is plain. There may be safe (pasta-free) soup options as well.

If you are in Mürren around lunchtime, there is a nice little Asian restaurant on the Main Street (Tham’s). They will have some good wheat-free options. Not traditional Swiss food, but it is still “local”, and a good option to get some vegetables.

Posted by
6880 posts

Do watch out regarding rösti, because some regions add a sprinkling of flour... I do not know what the custom is in the Berner Oberland, so you'd better ask!
Raclette is more common over the mountains in the Valais, but if you find it, that's definitely safe as it's basically boiled potatoes and melted cheese.

Posted by
11 posts

Thank you! I wasn’t sure about the rosti So I will be sure to ask.

I did not realize that the raclette was with potatoes. For some reason I thought it was served with bread like fondue

Posted by
2288 posts

Raclette can come with lots of accompanying side dishes, and boiled new potatoes can be one of those. Google raclette side dishes.
.
But I do enjoy being at festivals and purchasing a hearty slice of bread with a healthy smear of Raclette and finished with a nice grind of pepper.

Posted by
32703 posts

also with the small potatoes Raclette will often have a gherkin or 3 for plate-mates...

Posted by
768 posts

Yes, I was going to recommend Raclette as well.

Also, if you are camping, you can make your own meals, and thus you can read the ingredients of what you buy. (Wouldn't hurt to learn a few German words like flour, gluten, etc. Still, a phone camera app that translates on the fly would be handy: https://www.guidingtech.com/60504/live-translations-apps-camera/ ) There are decent size stores in Lauterbrunnen, Murren, Wengen, and Grindelwald. In Interlaken Ost, there is a HUGE Coop store across the street from the train station.

Since you are camping, have you considered the campgrounds in Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen? If you can get a spot IN the mountains it saves time and money traveling back and forth to Interlaken. My then 13 yr old daughter and I camped at
https://www.campingjungfrau.swiss/ and loved it.

Finally, if you're doing hiking, you should look up https://lauterbrunnenhiking.wordpress.com/ We've taken all those hikes. In fact, my daughter (now an adult) is in several of those pictures.