We have finally been blessed in A Coruña with a clear capri sky and bright warm sunbeams that warrant packed beaches and sunbathing topless. Around town the usual puffer jackets are interspersed with sandals and shorts. Even a sprinkling of vest tops! Nature is healing.
Locals and cruise ship tourists fill the promenade which borders the marina. Children whiz past pedestrians on bikes and battery-powered miniature Vespas, because of course they would have battery-powered miniature Vespas. Once again I remind you this is the land of Inditex and fashion directors - Galicia is definitely not solely farmers. Rows of plastic tables and outdoor chairs are lined with babbling people, picking at pintxos* of tortilla and raxo. Old and young, Galician or foreigner, once the sun is out this is The Spot that herds flock to.
Days when the sun is out like this - a slow walk or a meandering bike ride around the coast behind me - there’s only one thing on my mind.
I join a trailing line of sunglasses-and-baseball-cap-clad people - grandparents wheeling large prams, teenage friends, young couples with their tiny poodle crosses that are also probably called Pintxo**. The source of their attentions - Bico de Xeado. The second of the Marina’s busiest ice cream shops, Bico always has a line of patient customers, happy to await that first fresh lick of Galician xeado. Pintxo the poodle cross also sits politely, hoping he’ll catch a drip of lactose free peanut.
Highly rated by the average passerby and sporting a really cool wooden cow bench (!!!), Bico de Xeado is most importantly a staple across Spain for gluten free guiris like me!
*side note: when I do eventually get a cat, this will be its name.
**sider note: my chosen pet name is probably the most unoriginal, ever.
I try to choose a different combination every time I visit.
Flavour ranking:
Top: tiramisu and strawberry
Latest combo: tiramisu and
rice puddingarroz con lecheNot a talking point: pistachio
Worth a try basics: mint, chocolate
What makes Bico de Xeado so safe for Coeliacs?
First of all, it’s certified by FACE, the Spanish Coeliac Association, which means it’s tried and rigorously tested. You can’t get much safer here unless you’re visiting a SinGlu10 100% no gluten establishment.
Secondly, the staff will wash their hands before handling a coeliac order, taking care to make sure they’re clean of any stray crumbs. I love and appreciate the extra effort. Thanks guys.
All the flavours are gluten free!! There is an amazing range of choice - even cheesecake with Gullon María biscuits. When was the last time you had ice cream with biscuit bits in huh??
Additionally, when you order your ice cream gluten free, it’s taken from the tub below the counter, meaning it’s not been used. A fresh scoop is used too. So - no cross contamination! Wahey!
GLUTEN FREE CONES! They’re not only available, they’re also individually wrapped (sorry environment, but it’s sort of necessary here). The cones don’t crumble either, so they win extra points for durability during eating. Say goodbye to a lap full of sawdust while you munch.
This kind of sweet treat availability makes a world of difference for coeliac people. It had been a long while since I’d eaten ice cream safely. When I was first diagnosed I would chance my local ice cream parlour, not realising how risqué this actually was! Cross contamination is RIFE in that place. Not usually one for the ‘inner child’ discourse, I have to admit that it probably does make my inner child (as well as my adult self) pretty happy. Note: my inner child actually could eat gluten. Lucky sod.
Fellow coeliacs, I hope you find this post among Substack’s algorithms! Should we petition for #coeliac to be a legitimate tag? I’d love to connect with you if you’re a gluten free guiri like me!! We can help each other out by sharing the safest and chuli-est recommendations for travel (please… you know what a struggle it is… you understand the anxiety…). Sounds cool right? Sí o sí?
PS: If you got lucky with your intestines and aren’t a coeliac, a reputable source has informed me that the dark chocolate from Ibi is to die for. Pistachio a close second.
Your next read:
Sculpting A Coruña
A Coruña’s artistic scene is a match-made in heaven for lovers of quick museum visits, ‘I’ll just pop in’ gallery browsing, and free exhibitions. Throughout the city you can find installations and st…
Cracking Cheese Gromit
As the world becomes ever-more-connected, it’s natural that our regional and national language should neutralise, take a little bit from each other and leave some parts behind. Often I find myself ac…
Do This 1 Thing To Master Productivity!
How long is your to-do list? Long, right. Chores, a side hustle, hobbies, self-improvement, exercise… But what if you could shorten the list, squeeze it down, free up space to fill with more tasks?