Hey folks, I have a lot of food allergies, they drive me insane, have left me in tears and leave me up at night with stomach aches...but in Italy I have had AMAZING luck. I don't joke, the land of meat, pasta, and dairy is one that also values fresh food, variety and vegetables. I live in Colorado, and in the land of beef and potatoes I have the HARDEST time finding Gluten-Free, Pescatarian, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free food. This is when you ask WHAT do you eat?
Lots of lovely things I say....especially in Europe.
Here are the tips of the trade for Italy.
DON'T PANIC- because you will find tons to eat, I promise.
BE PATIENT- look at a few places, cities like Florence are covered in restaurants, if one place doesn't have something, move on, there is hope. Also, read the menus, look for signs, a lot of places are proud to cater to celiacs.
ASK- Ask if they do SENZA GLUTINE, just say it, they'll tell you if they have special noodles, pizza, a whole menu or nothing. Also, I ask locals, or in my case my fashion teacher had a lot of suggestions and they often have a friend or sibling they eat out with and have to go to special places.
BE CREATIVE- Order side dishes if you have to, like potatoes, spinach, beans, or appetizers like caprese (if you can handle a little cheese).
TRIAL and ERROR- In the USA a plate of cheese or a gluten-free cheese pizza can leave me sick for two days, here the dairy has less of an effect on my system. I have had gelato almost every day for a week with no repercussions, seriously. Don't go crazy, try a little and see, or have it once or twice and stop. Cheese is a HUGE thing in Italy, so expect to see it in everything, and good luck refusing it all the time. Red sauce is safe, and make sure to ask for NO cheese, or NO LATTE.
CARRY A CARD- Make up a card with everything you are allergic to, written in ITALIAN (google translate if need be). Even if it is in really poor Italian it will give the server and staff an easier time to find you food.
GO TO THE MARKET- If you go to the central market in Florence you probably won't find Gluten-Free noodles or anything like that, but you WILL find some amazing fresh fruit, vegetables, wine, oils, and if you eat meat or fish the fresh of the fresh. Larger supermarkets will also carry Gluten-Free noodles, breads, cookies and crackers to aid in your plight.
GOOGLE- Google other tips, restaurants and anything you can think of, Google is basically my best friend.
Places I have tried in Florence...
Le Botteghe Di Leonardo- on Via Ge Ginori 21/r
GELATO: (cheating on the no-dairy thing, big time) This places does Gluten-Free cones, new flavors every week, and is the BEST gelato I have had anywhere.
(r means RED numbers on the wall, which are businesses. The BLUE numbers are residence. It's a florence thing)
Ciro and Sons- Via de Giglio 28/r
PASTA: I had an amazing pesto here, Gluten Free noodles and all, and it is in a BEAUTIFUL 18th century palace. They serve Gluten Free because one of the SONS married an American (a previous student of my fashion teacher) who had celiac disease.
PIZZA: you have to make a reservation for their Pizza at least 5 hours ahead, call or email.
The Clubhouse- Via de' Ginori, 6r
PIZZA: If you like buckwheat crusts then this place is great! They also have a wide selection of pizza types and many other things to try as well. Also, if you plan to come back with your hamburger loving partner or friend, this is a GREAT place to try!
In Rome:
Rinaldi al Quirinale- Via Parma, 11a-00184-Roma
I had the best dinner of my life (eating out) at this place in Rome. Off the beaten path of tourist traffic, crappy, expensive food, my study abroad program found this place and I LOVED it. I plan on returning when I make it back to Rome in what I hope to be the near future. I had GREAT food here, and wonderful service, very accomidating, telling me when I said I was Gluten-Free they would make me ANYTHING on the menu, I kid you not! They even baked me my own bread and brought it to me FRESH from the oven.
Lots of lovely things I say....especially in Europe.
Here are the tips of the trade for Italy.
DON'T PANIC- because you will find tons to eat, I promise.
BE PATIENT- look at a few places, cities like Florence are covered in restaurants, if one place doesn't have something, move on, there is hope. Also, read the menus, look for signs, a lot of places are proud to cater to celiacs.
ASK- Ask if they do SENZA GLUTINE, just say it, they'll tell you if they have special noodles, pizza, a whole menu or nothing. Also, I ask locals, or in my case my fashion teacher had a lot of suggestions and they often have a friend or sibling they eat out with and have to go to special places.
BE CREATIVE- Order side dishes if you have to, like potatoes, spinach, beans, or appetizers like caprese (if you can handle a little cheese).
TRIAL and ERROR- In the USA a plate of cheese or a gluten-free cheese pizza can leave me sick for two days, here the dairy has less of an effect on my system. I have had gelato almost every day for a week with no repercussions, seriously. Don't go crazy, try a little and see, or have it once or twice and stop. Cheese is a HUGE thing in Italy, so expect to see it in everything, and good luck refusing it all the time. Red sauce is safe, and make sure to ask for NO cheese, or NO LATTE.
CARRY A CARD- Make up a card with everything you are allergic to, written in ITALIAN (google translate if need be). Even if it is in really poor Italian it will give the server and staff an easier time to find you food.
GO TO THE MARKET- If you go to the central market in Florence you probably won't find Gluten-Free noodles or anything like that, but you WILL find some amazing fresh fruit, vegetables, wine, oils, and if you eat meat or fish the fresh of the fresh. Larger supermarkets will also carry Gluten-Free noodles, breads, cookies and crackers to aid in your plight.
GOOGLE- Google other tips, restaurants and anything you can think of, Google is basically my best friend.
Places I have tried in Florence...
Le Botteghe Di Leonardo- on Via Ge Ginori 21/r
GELATO: (cheating on the no-dairy thing, big time) This places does Gluten-Free cones, new flavors every week, and is the BEST gelato I have had anywhere.
(r means RED numbers on the wall, which are businesses. The BLUE numbers are residence. It's a florence thing)
Ciro and Sons- Via de Giglio 28/r
PASTA: I had an amazing pesto here, Gluten Free noodles and all, and it is in a BEAUTIFUL 18th century palace. They serve Gluten Free because one of the SONS married an American (a previous student of my fashion teacher) who had celiac disease.
PIZZA: you have to make a reservation for their Pizza at least 5 hours ahead, call or email.
The Clubhouse- Via de' Ginori, 6r
PIZZA: If you like buckwheat crusts then this place is great! They also have a wide selection of pizza types and many other things to try as well. Also, if you plan to come back with your hamburger loving partner or friend, this is a GREAT place to try!
In Rome:
Rinaldi al Quirinale- Via Parma, 11a-00184-Roma
I had the best dinner of my life (eating out) at this place in Rome. Off the beaten path of tourist traffic, crappy, expensive food, my study abroad program found this place and I LOVED it. I plan on returning when I make it back to Rome in what I hope to be the near future. I had GREAT food here, and wonderful service, very accomidating, telling me when I said I was Gluten-Free they would make me ANYTHING on the menu, I kid you not! They even baked me my own bread and brought it to me FRESH from the oven.
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