The Gluten-Free Guide to Rarotonga & the Cook Islands

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Rarotonga and the Cook Islands with Coeliac Disease

Of course, the most serious form of gluten intolerance is coeliac disease, which comes with the most challenges. While many restaurants in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands will happily claim “gluten-free” on their menus, there’s no telling whether there could be cross-contamination with wheat products, so precautions need to be taken depending on how intolerant to gluten you are.

If staying at a resort with a restaurant, we recommend contacting the resort prior to booking. Some resorts, like the Pacific Resort Rarotonga and Pacific Resort Aitutaki, can organise a meeting with the head chef on arrival to curate a menu for you taking your needs into account. You can also take this approach with restaurants across the island, particularly the fine dining restaurants that are willing to put in the extra service.

On the outer less-visited islands, such as Mangaia, Atiu, Mitiaro, Mauke and the Northern Group, you are typically hosted in accommodation with meals provided. As you’ll be one of the only or very few people staying at the accommodation, hosts are typically happy to cater to dietary requirements, especially gluten-free as the typical Cook Islands diet outside of Rarotonga is certainly not heavy on the gluten – take a look at the Traditional Rarotongan Food: 10 Foods to Try in the Cook Islands to get an idea of what they eat.

Alternatively (or additionally), cooking your own meals is a safe way to make sure that your gluten-free needs are seen to. There are plenty of gluten-free ingredients in Rarotonga’s supermarkets. You may have to take your own supplies to the outer islands. Find out more about self-catering in the “Gluten-Free Self-Catering in the Cook Islands” below. Check out some of the best accommodations with cooking facilities in the 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations in the Cook Islands.

© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com

Gluten-Free Self-Catering in the Cook Islands

Rarotonga is fantastic for gluten-free shopping! The largest supermarkets, CITC Supermarket and CITC Foodland in Avarua and Wigmore’s Superstore in Vaimaanga, in particular, are well-stocked with dietary-specific goods, from gluten-free flour if you want to go all-out on the baking to gluten-free pasta to spruce up a quick dinner. There’s also, of course, everything in between that is naturally gluten-free. All you need to do is take it back to your self-catering accommodation on Rarotonga!

There’s understandably less choice when it comes to gluten-free products on the outer islands, including Aitutaki. If you want to eat any gluten-free substitute food, such as gluten-free flour, gluten-free pizza bases, etc. then it’s best to take these to the outer islands with you. Take a look at self-catering stays in Aitutaki in the 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations on Aitutaki.

Note that while the other outer islands’ accommodations tend to have self-catering facilities, it’s typically your hosts that provide meals due to the lack of supplies on the islands. Find out more about what food is available to purchase across all islands in A Guide to Supermarkets & Food Shopping in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

© Derek Smith - Cook Islands Tourism

10 Best Restaurants with Gluten-Free Food

We’ve scouted out the best restaurants in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands with gluten-free options so you don’t have to! Note that these are restaurants with gluten-free options only – we can’t testify to any foods not coming in contact with gluten products.

1. Sandals Restaurant & Barefoot Bar (Muri) – At the Pacific Resort Rarotonga, this restaurant offers an elegant menu with particularly seafood dishes, like sushi and sashimi, as gluten-free options.
2. Rapae Bay Restaurant (Aitutaki) – The Pacific Resort Aitutaki also offers an array of gluten-free options, particularly their seafood dishes like ika mata.
3. Silver Sands Restaurant (Muri) – The restaurant of the Muri Beach Club Hotel has a well-labelled menu and breakfast buffet with multiple gluten-free options for a creative meal.
4. The Anchorage Restaurant & Bar (Arorangi) – Pretty much all of the mains at this restaurant by the Sunset Resort are gluten-free, from striploin steak to seared tuna.
5. La Casita (Muri) – Rarotonga’s Mexican restaurant means gluten-free tacos and nachos!
6. Beluga Cafe (Arorangi) – Ask for anything on their menu as gluten-free (within reason) and they’ll be happy to cater to your needs. Otherwise, their garlic prawns and turmeric fish are darn good gluten-free-ready meals!
7. Tamarind House (Avarua) – This fine dining restaurant has many opportunities to turn their popular meals into gluten-free, such as their curries, ribeye steak, halloumi salad and more.
8. Koru Cafe (Aitutaki) – Gluten-free options on the menu typically include the “Koru Seafood Platter” and the “Steak and Egg Stack”.
9. Kai Guy (Avarua) – This food truck serves up healthy salads and not-so-healthy loaded fries as gluten-free options.
10. The Brasserie (Arorangi) – The menu at the Edgewater Resort & Spa is so extensive that there’s something to please any gluten-intolerant foodie, from sashimi to tacos.

For more restaurants we love, take a look at The Food Guide to the Cook Islands: Places to Eat, Food Tours & Best Resorts for Food.