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Hi Folks,
 
My sincere thanks to all those who responded.  A personal issue and
work-related travels have delayed this post.  My sincere apologies.
 
Below is a summary of responses.  I have edited some information that
repeated in the different posts and combined portions of others to group
similar topics. 
 
Thanks again to all who responded,
Alex
 
******

People are much more aware of Celiac Disease in Europe, and their food
options (especially bread) are better.  There is a chain of health food
stores called "Reformhaus" - we found them everywhere, even in small
towns, and they have a big GF section.  If you contact the hotel where
you're staying, they will probably be able to tell you where the closest
Reformhaus (pronounced "ray-FORM house") is and may even be willing to
buy some food for you to have ready when you get there.

Also if you can find a Globus store, a kind of gourmet store, they have
a lot of gluten free foods in there also. They have breads, crackers,
pastas, cookies of all sorts.  Two rolls I ran across which are out of
this world are Boulangerie Ciabatta Brotchen and Boulangerie Croissants,
both from the 3 Pauly Company. You have to heat them in an oven for 10
minutes at 350. I've taken the bread along in baggies that I take along
with me from home and explain about my Celiac allergy and they are more
than willing to heat them up. The Croissants are great with the Nutella
Chocolate they have there for breakfast. I know there is a Globus store
close to Manheim but I'm not sure of where any others are located. I
know they're a chain over there. 

Germany is a very easy country to travel in.  The German Celiac Society
has a web page  (http://www.dzg-online.de/) which has a lot of info
available in English; that's a good starting place. The e-mail address
for them is:  [log in to unmask] - They are extremely cooperative and
can give you the names of health food stores (which are mostly called
reformhauses) throughout Germany.  They also provide an excellent
restaurant card that I used along the way.  Many of the restaurants in
the larger cities have English menus - all you have to do is ask for
one.  This is extremely helpful.

Also, while you're touring around you will find little stands on the
street which sell wursts and fries.  Our German friends (who are celiac)
assured us that these wursts are gf, and they are not served on bread.
They come in a little bed of fries, with a fork - perfect!
 
Took our family of 5 gluten free folks to Germany for 2 weeks this
summer.  Had a great time and never had a problem finding GF food.  We
used the translation cards and never had a problem in restaurants
either.  Of course with 3 kids, we at on the run a lot and found
McDonalds in most cities for emergency rations.  Also the gas stations
generally have a great selection of meats/cheese that are wonderful for
a quick snack.  There is a jerky type sausage called "landlager" (don't
quote me on the spelling) that we all enjoyed and was available in most
places.  We also found GF foods in a store - either SK or HK store -
can't remember the exact name, but it was like an OSCO drugs or
Walgreens type store.
 
I pack a light weight crushable cooler in my suitcase EMPTY.  When I get
to the hotel or B & B I fill it with ice and buy items locally at
grocery stores (or specialty stores) like cheese, fruit and keep it in
my cooler.  This cooler was especially helpful when traveling by car
because we also carried TAP water (which is difficult to get in Germany)
- they offer only bottled water most places.  When we drove around
Germany, my husband could get a sandwich to take out anyplace (or he
would get it in the AM before we left our destination)  and I had my
lunch of cheese, fruit and crackers I brought with me.  It saved time
waiting in restaurants (many are closed at 2 or 3 when we were ready to
eat) and we sat overlooking some of the most beautiful views enjoying
our picnic lunches.

I always take Ener-G-Foods Granola bars for breakfast, which are
indestructible.  I took food with me both times with NO PROBLEM in the
airports.

We have just returned from our hiking trip in southern Germany.  As with
much of Europe they seem to understand GF and easily accommodate.  Also
I think they are accustomed to cooking without processed foods and
additives, using mostly fresh products.  Everything was delicious!  I
had sent my own version of a dining card since I am also Lac intolerant
to each of the hotels where we were staying with both English and
German.  When I arrived and spoke to the chefs they had my card right
there and we could discuss the food together.  I found that the chefs
spoke English very well.  I never had boring food.  At the hotel in
Kastelruth I was so well treated that I suspect the rest of our group
wished they were also eating GF!

As in the States be cautious with soups and sauces.  I found they often
make their own broth and will use corn starch for a thickener on request
if you have time  for that.

Take a dining card with translation for the occasions where they don't
speak English well.  In most large cities an English menu is available
on request.  But we were in tiny villages most of the time.  Don't rely
on English menu translations or English-speaking staff, at least in the
small, picturesque villages.  In smaller villages, be prepared to
communicate your dietary needs and respond to questions regarding them
in German; in my experience it was necessary at least 60% of the time.

Be careful to avoid wheat starch which they consider GF.  Also
maltodextrin and modified food starch should be avoided.  

I did avoid all sausages just because I couldn't figure out how to make
sure they were GF.  

I was warned to check to make sure sauerkraut was not prepared with
flour and to check about meat being dusted with flour.

********END OF SUMMARY

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