A Vegan in Italy - is it possible without starving?
 

Are there any vegans or vegetarians out there who have been to Italy? I know your probably thinking why would anyone go to Italy and not be able to enjoy all the food it has to offer! Well, last time I was there I was not a vegan, but this time I will be going as one. My concern is that Italy is almost all about the food so wondering if any of you have found that there are options for people who don't eat meat and/or dairy. I know there are lots of pasta choices, but I'm hoping I don't have to live on carbs for the whole 10 days.

Would like to hear from you vegans out there who have been to Italy.

well historically the poor ate bean soups and stews and these are still around, dried tomatoes and generally oiled and dried vegetables are big in snacks and side dishes, pasta doesn't have to have egg in it. Hope that is a starter for 10

oh and rice, the PO valley is Europe's main rice production area and risotto is big up there.

It is absolutely possible. The vegetables are wonderful. I am not a vegan but you will find threads on this forum asking the same question. Do a search using the search box above.

And, by the way, Italy is not "almost all about food" though that is a large part of the fun.

This recent trip report may be of interest to you; author is vegan, though I think wasn't strict while in Italy

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm

Grazie, Grazie!! I will be heading to the Almalfi coast so I will do a search for vegans who have traveled there. I won't be as strict with cheese and butter but do not want to eat it every day. Yes, the vegetables and beans sound like a delicious option. As long as there are not tons of cheese involved. The one thread did give some great Italian phrases for vegans which I will make sure I learn!

I think vegetarian is very easy - and vegan doable but more difficult. Easier in the south with olive oil - harder in the north were butter is used more often.

I would search now for vegan/vegetarian places that may be able to adapt dishes.

Cheese shouldn't be that big a problem. Italian-American food has far more cheese than real Italian food.

If you can't read Italian, bring a dictionary of food terms. If you can't speak much Italian, print out one (or more) of these cards: http://veg.ca/images/italiantravelcard.jpg.

If you google, you'll find restaurant suggestions. If you don't plan a lot of moving around, consider renting an apartment and doing some of your own cooking.

I am pescetarian, but I really prefer to eat vegetarian as much as possible. What has helped me a lot in Italy as well as other countries is to buy/check out cookbooks about the cuisine so I know in advance what to look for in the season I'll be visiting. Also, remember the regional differences can be pronounced so make sure to focus on where you'll be. Hope that helps!

Pescetarian I am assuming means you do eat fish? I will actually eat fish now and again myself so I am not 100% vegan but I just don't want to eat fish too often. Great idea about checking out foods in that region during the season we are visiting. Thanks for the Italian veg card! I will make sure to memorize that! :)

Renting was also another option I was thinking.

Also, depending on the season, look for carciofi (artichokes)--when they are sliced fresh and tossed with lemon and olive oil, oh my!

Yes--I actually dislike that word because it sounds like I only eat fish, and I am vegetarian 99% of the time but will eat fresh, local seafood. If you are open to that and some dairy while traveling, then you will be absolutely fine (in heaven, even)! I would definitely try to rent a place though. The fruit will be amazing, too, so you'll be able to counteract the decadence.

Ohhhhh....I forgot about the artichokes! All the fresh fruit and veggies! I can't wait!

Thanks everyone for making me feel much better about planning this trip.

I will not let my going "veganish" stop me from enjoying every bit of Italy! :)

>>>><i> I will actually eat fish now and again myself so I am not 100% vegan <i>

LOL, you're not even 100% vegetarian! You are definitely not vegan. Just have a good time and don't obsess about food.

If going to Naples there's a vegetarian/vegan restaurant in the old town, about 5 to 10 minutes from the Archeological Museum.


Click on the pink dot to the right of the picture and you will see its location: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57627058744325

Doppio - OUCH!

Michael - thanks so much! Will check out this restaurant while in Naples.

I've traveled with a vegan before. Never again. Drove everyone crazy. Bugged the waiters, "no butter!! No cheese!! Are you SURE there's no butter in this? I taste butter!! Spent half the trip obsessing an talking about where she could and couldn't eat, etc. the whole trip ended up revolving around her dietary needs.

On another trip I went with a vegetarian and it was loads of fun. He just ordered dishes with no mea/fisht, and there was no discussion about his diet at all.

Just try and be a bit relaxed for the sake of your travel mates and the sanity of the chefs and waiters :) Since you say you will eat fish and some cheese and butter, I'm not sure why you even call yourself a vegan. True vegans are very strict. It's a lifestyle. They don't budge, even when traveling. No need to even put a label on yourself and say you are a vegan. People may think it sounds "cool" in the US, but in Europe it sounds ridiculous. Especially if you say you are a vegan and then later say you will eat fish, butter and cheese.

For starters, your comment "Italy is almost all about the food " is totally WRONG. Yes, there are plenty of foodies out there whose primary reason for going to Italy is to to eat but if you think that's the main thing Italy has to offer you are seriously mistaken!!! What about the art, architecture, history, culture, landscape, etc. etc. etc.

Obviously you do have to eat, and eating well would be a plus. You said you could relax your food requirements a bit and if you are willing to do this you'll be fine. If you are very strict you will have a lot more trouble since you won't be able to even eat pasta without checking to see if it has eggs, or even bread since a lot of that has butter and/or milk. Vegetarian = no problem at all; vegan = much more difficult.

It is more for dietary reasons than fundamental reasons so I could less about being cool.

Yes, Italy is about history, culture, landscape, etc, but it is also about the food.

The truth hurts! I think I'll go to Frommer's, maybe they'll be a lot more compassionate there. :)

http://veganbackpacker.com/category/...-travel-italy/

Also, the woman who runs this tour is actually vegan herself, I believe:

http://antiquatours.com/our-wine-tou...market-stroll/

And yes, ask other places

Please don't go to Frommers - ignore what doesn't help here and the rest of us will try to help. One of the best things to eat in Italy is gelato. However, as a vetan, try the sorbetto - it is normally made with water like sorbet. Umm!

Sorry if you think I wasn't "compassionate" enough. I have close relatives who are vegans, and I eat very little meat myself so I was not picking on your diet choice. But you yourself made that statement about Italy being "all about the food". I was merely pointing out two facts that could impact your trip. One, that there is way more to enjoy about going to Italy than what you eat. And two, which you probably already know if you are a vegan, that there are animal products in all kinds of food including pasta and bread, two categories that are very important to Italian cuisine. In your first post you mentioned that there will be "lots of pasta choices" but you should be aware that between the pasta itself and the sauces the chances are slim that there will be much that you'll find that will be totally free of animal products such as butter, milk and eggs.

>><i>The truth hurts! I think I'll go to Frommer's, maybe they'll be a lot more compassionate there </i>

People don't normally come here for compassion, they come here to get truth and facts, which is what you were given. I was confused that you called yourself a vegan, (the MAIN point of this thread) then turned around a few posts later and said you ate fish now and again <i>and</i> would eat cheese and butter. <i>Then</i> stated you were "going vegan-ish". It's just hard to answer the question when you change mid thread.

Then when everyone did not post they way you expected, you "threatened" to go to another site. #-O

I agree with isabel- Being a vegan in Italy = difficult, merely having a few dietary restrictions = not so difficult.

I was going to respond in detail, but I'm sort of at the point where I'm not sure what the OP eats.

The short story: If you eat fish, vegetables, pasta, non-meat soups, and olive oil, you'll do OK, especially in the south.

I think you do need to be careful and aware that sometimes small amounts of meat, particularly pork, as well as stocks that may be chicken or beef are used for flavoring in dishes that seem to be vegetarian , especially bean dishes. So if this is going to upset you you need to know how to ask about this and to understand the responses.

LadyYogi - where are you going to stay? hotel or apartment?

IMO your life will be a lot easier if you rent an apartment - then you can take advantage of all the wonderful fruit and veg you see in the markets, and cook for yourself, at least some of the time.

not sure if anyone else has mentioned this, but you can get some very good already cooked "take away" type foods in Italy from places called "rosticcerie" where they predominately offer roast dishes - not just meats and fish but usually potatoes and veg too.

and the supermarkets can be vey good too.

buon viaggio!

"I know there are lots of pasta choices"

Pasta is made with eggs, so isn't vegan. Sorry.

"Pasta is made with eggs".

Not necessarily.

nonconformist - fresh pasta is normally made with eggs but dried pasta isn't:

http://www.deliaonline.com/ingredien...p-r/Pasta.html

so it's fine for vegans.

But why would you go to Italy and have DRIED pasta.. You can have that in the US ;)

Dried pasta, in its varying qualities, is not inferior to fresh, just different. For some sauces, it is a better choice.

I've seen comparisons where dried pasta came out better than fresh.

I think we can agree it's a personal preference then.

I was in Rome last Fall and have been a vegetarian for over 35 years. It was not a problem, much easier than some other European countries but I think it would indeed be difficult for a vegan. Try to find a website for vegan restaurants in Italy - and maybe rent an apartment to prepare your own main meals.

I prefer a vegetarian diet and I definitely do not eat
meat; I was in Italy May/June and didn't have any trouble
finding the food I wanted in restaurants or food stores.

I was careful with ordering risotto - the stock is usually
non-vegetarian.

...oh, and good luck with another site being more
compassionate; I'm wondering how many responses you'll get
there, let alone ones you perceive as caring. lol.

I think the OP has left the building

Weird reaction to a very innocuous post IMO (isabel was helpful actually) . . .

If in Naples, look up this place: http://www.sorrisointegrale.com/

You can't be "veganish"! You either are vegan or you're not. My daughter and her DH are vegan, you're not.

You can't be "veganish"! You either are vegan or you're not. My daughter and her DH are vegan, you're not.>>


no wonder the OP left.