I'm planning a three week trip to italy october 2010 and am dreading the problem I always have when I travel internationally: how do I find local cuisine while avoiding wheat(which I am allergic to)? Ireland was a pleasant experience since there were always potatoes as an alternative, but in Italy?! No bread, no pasta and no pizza :( even gnocchi has some flour in it. Can anyone give me some insight on going wheat free in italy? (Gluten free not necessary - just wheat free).
THANKS!
Gnocchi!
Risotto,, rice!!!!
Also,, not everything in Italy is pasta,, my best meal was in fact roasted rosemary chicken and potatoes,, so good !!!
Two summers ago took a RS Family tour ,, there was a family with two members who were Celiac,, so very strict on no flour, no gluten at all. They did fine. They brought some rice cakes from home for dd to snack on,, but at every restuarant we went to the kitchen willingly made substitutes for them. In fact , one place even had gluten free pasta. The vegetables dishes are so good too,, roasted eggplant,, covered with parmesan cheese,, yum.
I personally don't love Italian bread or pasta much anyways, so I think you will find some foods other then flourly pasta and breads..
Italy should be quite easy. There are lots of lovely vegetables, meat dishes, and fish.
Focus on the "contorni" (side dishes) and "secondi" (second course) sections of the menu.
I would make sure that you get the Italian translation for "allergic to wheat" and write it on a piece of paper.
Order the Book, "The Gluten Free Guide to Italy" by Maria Ann Roglieri. This book is a list of grocery stores and restaurants that serve GF pizza and pasta, etc. Also, when you google Gluten Free Restaurants in Rome, Florence, etc, you will find lists of restaurants.
The pharmacies sell GF food and supplies in Italy as do most of the grocery stores. You can bring your own pasta and many restaurants will cook it for you.
Several of the restaurants require at least 24 hour notice to make the GF pasta or pizza.
Have a great trip!
"Sono molto allergica a grano" should do it for you. Write it on a slip of paper and show it to the waiter.
Having apartments for two weeks (Rome and Florence) alleviated the gluten intolerant problem to a fair degree. It is possible, though hard to find, to buy gluten free pasta. There is a restaurant behind the Duomo in Florence which provided pasta and pizza, but sold out early.
