My husband and I are huge fans of southern Italian cooking. Unfortunately, for health reasons, I cannot have butter and cream.

We're in the planning stages of our June trip to Venice, Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore/Orta and Portovenere. We eliminated a return to Tuscany because DH wants to cut back on long distance driving.

As the lakes are quite close to the Swiss and German borders does this mean that most of their cooking will be rich and include butter and cream? Will the southern style of cooking be readily available or am I going to have a problem?

Thanks for your help.

Hello sha, yes the northern part of Italy does use a lot of butter and cream. But I have a lactrose intolerance problem and I eat very well in northern Italy.

If you have a dairy allergery or are lactrose intolerance here is one idea.

Get an Italian interruption of your problem and write it on an index card, actually I would suggest about 4 index cards. Take them to somewhere like Kinko's and have these cards laminated.

When at a restaurant hand it to the waiter. Oh, also on the card have written in Italian that you request he show the card to the chef/cook.

Italians are so kind in working with you when there is a problem eating certain foods.

You will find lots and lots of food that you can eat...all very good may I add.

I actually have an easier time in Italy then in the US because in Italy the food has cheese for example sprinkled on top rather then IN the dish...I think you will eat well.

Best wishes to you! P.S. BTW, if you cannot eat cheese you can just order it "sensa formaggio"..without cheese!
I have never had a problem. Mangia!!

Hi there, I should try using the Edit button...I was referring to ordering pizza without cheese, LOL.

LoveItaly: thank you for your good info. My problem is reflux. Butter is a trigger and causes a lot of pain that lasts for a long time- even weeks! I really do need to avoid butter. Do you think that I could get the southern style in enough restaurants around the Italian lakes?

Hello sha, I cannot eat butter...and believe me I never have a problem eating food in northern Italy. Yes, they do use a lot of butter, especially in the northwest of Italy but there are so many foods you will be able to eat please believe me you will not go hungry. It sounds like you can eat cheese? If so you have less of a problem then I do.

Go to a book store a buy a small book that shows Italian/English menus items, that will no doubt make you feel more relaxed.

In Italian butter is burro.
Cream is crema
Milk is latte
Cheese is formagio

Yes, sha but when you say "southern style" cooking I am assuming you are referring to tomato based sauces on pasta. Yes you certainly can. And assume you want olive oil. Yes you can. And grilled meats, and seafood, and vegtables and fruit etc. All kinds of food.

Do not order polenta (which is made from cornmeal) as it will no doubt have butter in it.

Honesty sha, you will not have a problem. But if I can be of anymore help please let me know. Best wishes to you.

LoveItaly: thank you so much for your encouragement. You're great.

On another topic, as you apparently know the area well, do you think that doing more than 1 lake area is too much? Redundant?

What are your favorite places in the lakes area?