Gluten Free in Italy
 

Does anyone have an experience doing gluten free in Italy? We have a few celiacs in the family. Going To Rome/Venice/Florence/Sorrento

My granddaughter used to be allergic to wheat (she's outgrown it now). When eating out, we just said she had celiac condition, as it was easier to explain. Italy has a high percentage of people with this condition with respect to other countries, plus, as elsewhere, a lot of people are now eating gluten-free as a matter of choice. So we never really had any trouble.

I am not celiac but it was my impression last trip (March) that you won't have too much trouble doing gluten free if you do some research first.
You can let each hotel know ahead of time that you need gluten free breakfast items. (my hotels all had these options)

Then you could google restaurants in each city you will be in using "senza gluten" (without gluten)

I think if you use the search option at the top right of the page you will find some threads on gluten free in Italy.

Good luck.

Sorry that should be "senza glutine". Auto correct is the bane of my existence.

pooky, I just did a quick search and on this site: www.eatingitalyfoodtours.com they have a card in Italian you could print out and take with you.

Just got back from Rome and had no problems with a gluten free diet.

Every mini super market we went in had a large display of gluten free pruducts from Schar or other brands. Nearly every restaurant offers gluten free pasta options. And there is a restaurant right near campo di Fiori that has an entire gluten free menu - pizza, pasta etc. it's on via Giubbonari - I'll look up the name for you.

Supermarkets in Italy can often give the impression the entire country has coeliac disease, with about a third of the pasta shelves given over to "senza glutine" varieties.

We now routinely stuff our car - or even our suitcases if flying - with as much as we can find space for, since the range is so impressive and recipients back home are extraordinarily grateful.

Certainly worth taking home with you.

Voglia di Pizza, via dei Giubbonari 33

ha I just printed that card, thanks. First Italian phrase I looked up was senza glutine I have booked apartments with kitchens everywhere, just incase. Even in Vancouver, we come across far too much cross-contamination in restaurants, which is still an issue. Worse case is everyone eats gelato ;-)

I have read that Italy is very aware, but haven't heard any first hand experiences on the matter.

This whole trip is not like the trips I did 25 years ago, without kids, where you just hop and a plane with a backpack and figure it all out when you get there.

j62 - that's great thank you - Ill put that in my Notes now!

Ice cream (gelato) can certainly have gluten cross-contamination.

What no gluten-free gelato or is gelato just for gluttons who tolerate gluten?

A few years ago, we traveled with a celiacs couple in Italy. Yes, they were both celiacs. Every restaurant we went, they got gluten free meals. Sometimes it was something completely not on menu. Sometimes they had gluten free pastas. They gave me a taste of it, and it tasted amazingly good for what it was.

We have celiacs in our family and I noticed quite a few "senza glutine" options in Italy 2 years ago. Fatamorgana Gelato has gluten free options including cones and it is so good.
http://www.gelateriafatamorgana.com/web/gelato.html
http://www.yelp.com/biz/fatamorgana-roma-3

PalenQ - good one.

So far we have never had a problem at home with gelato, it cud be the flavours my kids prefer are naturally gf, so I was hoping it was the same in Italy. Thank you Scootoir for the link to gf gelato.

Just be very mindful of the difference between "gluten free" and having celiac disease. Even if a food product is "gluten free" that does not mean that it was processed in a manner that kept is separate from gluten containing products which are very harmful to celiacs. Going gluten free is a positive life style choice. Having celiac disease means that you don't have a dietary choice - you MUST avoid gluten.

MissusH - I totally agree. I never would have believed it but have see the reaction my kids have from cross contamination. We try to just stick to non processed foods and not gf replacement products.