Gluten Free Pasta in Italy?

Question

Hi.. We are going to Rome and Venice in Decemeber..and we are all Coeliacs ( can't eat Wheat, Barley, Oats or Rye ). Can anyone PLEASE recommend anywhere that definitely serves Gluten Free pasta in these 2 cities.

Thanks:-)

Answer 1

Hi!

I was going to give you italian phrases but looks like someone already did! I suggests definitely bringing those with your to restaurants and stores.

You should also be aware that in Italy, if a small percentage of gluten exists in a pasta, it is still considered gluten free, whereas in America, gluten free products are 100% gluten free. Keep this in mind if you still get a little bit sick.  

However, don't be nervous, because from my experience, celiac disease is much more well known in Italy than it is in America. In fact, babies are routinely tested for the disease right after birth!

I will be traveling to Italy on Monday, and will be there until mid December (in Florence) and traveling around Europe. I have recently created a website to educate people about celiac disease and gluten intolerance http://www.beatwheat.com . While in Italy, I will be blogging weekly about being a celiac in a country that revolves around pasta and wheat, so you should check it out before your trip!

Good luck and have fun!  

Answer 2

Check ahead with the hotel restaurants where you will be staying. I have found a really good artichoke flour pasta in the USA.  

Answer 3

Roma: "Toni di gusto" Via del Lago Terrione 10 (near S. Pietro)   Book a reservation!   [phone] or mobile [phone]    [phone]   [phone] [phone]

http://www.tonidigusto.it/CMpro-v-p-8.ph...

(I didn't find an E-mail address yet. Let me search the Internet..)

Venezia: "Ristorante Da Poggi" Sestiere di Cannaregio (near the Winter Casinò di Venezia) Rio Terrà de La Madalena, 2103 Cannaregio

[phone]

http://www.ristorantedapoggi.it/celiachi...

E-mail: [e-mail]

take a look:

http://www.aipn.it/ristoranti/ristorante...

Lazio: http://www.celiachia.it/ristoratori/rist...

Veneto: http://www.celiachia.it/ristoratori/rist...

Contact the Italian Coeliac Society:[e-mail]

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Unfortunately these websites don't have English version (even though there's an English flag), but you should try to contact these restaurants by mail for reservations (specifying "Coeliac Menu"). I think that on the phone could be a little difficult, if they don't understand English very well.

In the most important (and turistic) cities in Italy restaurateurs usually speak English, but maybe by mail is easier..

As for the restaurants listed on the website http://www.celiachia.it/ristoratori/en-r... ,

you only have to search for the addresses besides the words "Roma" (in Lazio Region) and "Venezia" (in Veneto Region).

Don't dial 892424 as suggested: it's very expensive!!!

Another list:

http://www.handyturismo.it/modules.php?n...

Answer 4

Just thought I'd add a footnote to the good advice you've already received here.

I've lived in Italy for two years now and visited the country regularly before that. I'm not gluten intolerant myself, but I know people who are, so gluten free products have been something that catches my eye for some time. It has been a noticeable change recently that even quite small supermarkets in Italy have started to have a "Senza glutine" section in both their dry goods and freezer sections.

The point I'm reinforcing here is the comment made above that many Italians know about gluten intolerance and so, if your request is greeted with a shrug or any other response that suggests the waiter in a restaurant either doesn't understand what you're asking for or will possibly just humour you and then bring normal pasta, then I think you'd be quite justified in playing safe and taking your custom elsewhere.

It is a stereotype, of course, buy my experience is that many Italians do have a habit of trying to make life easier for themselves by agreeing to do things without any intention of actually doing what they've said they will.

Answer 5

No problem. Here you can find food for coeliacs even in every pharmacies...

I write you some correct and useful phrases (even if you can't pronunciation it, you can write on a sheet and show them):

Noi siamo celiaci (we are coeliacs)

Avete della pasta senza glutine? (have you got some gulten free pasta?)

Dove posso comprare del cibo per celiaci? (Where can I buy some food for coeliacs?)