Hello! My husband and I are planning a trip to Italy in April - Venice, Florence & Rome - and we're SO excited! One thing that has me worried, though, is the food. I can't eat dairy (or goat's milk. I can get away with a limited amount of butter though). How hampered will I be when ordering food in restaurants?
Thank you!
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Not a problem. Stay away from cream sauces and dishes made with cheese, if cheese is also a problem. Many bars have soy milk for coffee drinks, and gelato chains like Grom have dairy-free gelato. Make sure you tell your waiter that you are allergic to dairy products.
Posted by
toronto
178 posts
You might want to learn how to say the appropriate phrases in Italian and have them written out for the service staff to read.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14981 posts
I agree with the other posters. I am vegan which includes no dairy and I have not had a problem in Italy. There is more olive oil in use than butter so that part is easy. I do have a card listing in Italian what I don't eat and that is very helpful to hand a waiter. Here is the link to the free card I got from the Toronto Vegetarian society plus a glossary so you can probably put something together for dairy-free, only.
http://veg.ca/2013/01/17/vegetarian-travel-translation-cards/
If I am ordering something like a veggie pizza I just say senza formaggio which is no cheese. That will probably be the key phrase for you.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you all for your comments! Very helpful!
Posted by
1970 posts
Italy has LOTS of food options that are dairy free. Pasta, prosciutto, melon, vegetables, tomato based sauces, wine based sauces, meats, grilled meats, fruit, pesto - basil type sauces, olive oil and balsamic vinegars, olives, honey. The list goes on. You will have NO trouble at all. I agree with above posters that you should find a phrase book and write down the appropriate phrase for No Dairy. Allergic, lactose intolerant, or simply no dairy.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Some tomato-based sauces are finished with a bit of milk or cream, just show your card.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16235 posts
I survived for a couple of decades.
I have not touched any kind of dairy food for my first maybe 20 years of my life growing up in Florence.
It was not because I was allergic or lactose intolerant, it was just in my youngster's mind that I couldn't stand cheeses and milk.
I slowly got over it and now I like it. But still today, don't ask me to bite into a piece of straight Parmesan cheese, or to drink a glass of straight milk. I still won't do that.