I think if you tell Italian restaurnts how to cook something, they will not like it. BUT!!!! If you say you have a food problem, they will be sympathetic. Almost everywhere we went on our last trip there were restaurants that had foods for people with celiac disease, and I would bet they would be happy to help, as long as you don't tell them HOW to cook the food.

BTW, lots of contorni (veg. side dishes) are sauteed with olive oil and garlic, so you should ask for no garlic, if that would bother him.

I understand the problem, as our grandson has a similar one. Will only eat well-done meat, plain, or raw fish, sushi, or plain noodles, etc. No vegs. and no fruit. The rest of the family are omnivores, but he just won't eat most stuff.

Italian restaurants are probably the most accomodating of any in the world and if you explain what you want they will jump through hoops to help you. The large difference between an American waiter and Italian waiter is that for the Italian this a life long prowd career.

We had a women with Celiac's visit a couple of years ago. She created a little card in Italian explaining her problem and every single place we ate they had pasta without wheat so she could have a pasta course. I think that Italy is one of the only countries around that tests each child for Celiac.

If you can learn some basic Italian phrases and offer a big smile, hopefully you will be accommodated as necessary.

That's a great idea to have a little card typed up so that you don't try to struggle to explain the problem in Italian.

Your husband has had food issues his entire life and someone suggested your VACATION? to force a confrontation on this problem?!?!? No, no, NO!

Get an <b>apartment</b> in Italy. Have a wonderful, stress-free time and save this battle for another day, if at all, close to home.

Your husband sounds like a supertaster. If so, there's really nothing to be done about it.

If my daughter survived Italy, so will your husband. He won't starve, and he will likely have many good meals.

Even when I stay in hotels I love to shop at the grocery markets. Get a stash of a few things that will carry him through the day plus as mentioned above he can eat french fries and plain lettuce when he's sitting with you in the restaurant. Really, I can't see why he would have a problem finding plenty of simple foods off most menus. Think he could eat pasta with olive oil or just a sprinkle of parmesan? Probably not the parmesan, right? Don't fuss over it, he'll find food.

My husband was a meat and potato man when I met him.
He was a wASP and I an Italian American. He never tasted
an eggplant or artichoke and so many foods that
I grew up tasting but as I introduced him to these foods
he grew to like them and got away from the meat.as my arthritis became worse, I would cut myself preparing dinner, he took over and became an amazing cook. How I miss him/

charnees - ditto my DS. our holidays in Italy were a revelation for him. one of my favourite memories is of a meal we had in Venice when he was confronted, [the only word] with a huge plate of roast meats, swimming in a sea of polenta, which strangely he likes. just heaven - for him. He's still a meat and potatoes man, but we're getting there.

oh cigalechanta - hugs!

Hi NYT,

>I have never seen corn in Italy .....<

It's disguised as polenta. :)

((I))

Reading through all of this again, including the little spats, I suddenly did realize that it is a bit strange that the worry is about satisfying the husband. In fact, it is the husband who should have been posting here about finding solutions to his problem without ruining his wife's pleasure.

I guess we are still a long way from equality.

Sometimes people do things for those they love simply because they want to.

Ira -

Yes - but the husband of the OP won;t recognize polenta as corn (esp since it is "mixed" with other things). He will be looking for Del Monte niblets.

Either change or stay home. Mr Rose

Hi IndyRita,
I think the apt/villa idea is a great one. Not only from the standpoint of easier food prep but also it's great to have your own little space to come to everyday. We really liked shopping in the little markets for our daily food. You are a caring wife who obviously loves her husband very much. Have a great trip. :)

It sounds like he'll be fine. He eats here- he'll eat there.

You can find delis and bakeries in Rome and througout Italy. Take one of those hot/cold bags that can keep things for a few hours for your traveling days. Stay in a hotel where you can use the mini bar to keep your things fresh.

My husband and I don't have phobias about food but restaurants aren't our favorite thing. We eat in restaurants when we travel but for the most part, I hate sitting around waiting for someone to bring me food.

My husband and I eat %50 of our meals a bit like your husband. Meat from a deli, bread, fresh fruit and veggies. He won't have any problems.

Frankly, except in Asia or Africa, I rarely eat in restaurants. I absolutely love finding provisions in local markets and supermarkets and making meals in my room whenever I feel like it.

Your husband can always order pasta without any sauce. He might like potato gnocchi, also.

Easy solution - travel first to India, where EVERYTHING is sauced and mixed and watch him STARVE. Then go to Italy. He'll then love the place.

Sorry, to know about your husband's allergy issues. All you can do is rent an apartment in Rome and Tuscany. You won't have to depend upon the restaurants for food. Prepare good nice meal for your husband and if you wish to try Italian food, you are always free to do so.

christyn he doesn't have allergies, more of a phobia about certain things.