Traveling abroad with any allergy is stress-inducing. Trying to find items on the menu that work for you while simultaneously figuring out how to best communicate your allergy to local restaurants is a recipe for anxiety, to say the least. For people with celiac disease, this can be especially difficult when traveling to carb-driven countries like Italy. You may feel like you might as well skip out on the trip altogether. However, Explore spoke with expert Catalin Varela, the Founder of The Celiac in Italy and Celiacs in Europe, and she says Italy is actually a safe haven for gluten-free travelers. She even went as far as to say, “I like to call Italy ‘the celiac mecca’ because of the incredible variety of gluten-free options available.”
It turns out, while Italy is known for its gluten-rich cuisine (bread, pasta, pizza), it’s also dedicated to sharing the love of food with everyone. Varela says, “Because food is such a central part of Italian culture, there is a genuine commitment to making sure everyone can enjoy a meal safely, regardless of dietary restrictions.” In fact, there is even a group dedicated to celiacs in Italy called Associazione Italiana Celiachia (AIC). Varela explains, “They run a respected restaurant accreditation program that trains staff on cross-contact and safe food preparation.” It’s certainly refreshing to hear that travelers don’t need to miss out on the flavors of Italy, but there’s still the concern about finding the best way to navigate Italy’s dining culture as a celiac.
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How to go gluten-free in Italy
An Italian chef preparing pasta – Andrei Antipov/Shutterstock
When searching for restaurants in Italy, keep your eyes peeled for the red AIC sticker on the door. According to Varela, the sticker is an identifier that lets diners know that chefs have been trained on AIC’s standard for handling gluten-free food. You can also download the AIC app for “an interactive map of accredited restaurants, a barcode scanner for packaged products, and other helpful tools.” Still worried about finding gluten-free Italian cuisine? Book a consultation directly with Varela, who will give you personalized gluten-free guidance for your trip.
In addition to researching accredited restaurants on the AIC website, you will also want to brush up on your Italian so you know how to communicate your allergy when dining at a restaurant in Italy. Varela explains, “Even though many Italians speak English well, a language barrier should never be what stands between you and a safe, delicious meal. ‘Gluten-free’ in Italian is ‘senza glutine,’ and ‘I have celiac disease’ is ‘io sono celiaco/a.'” You can also purchase an Equal Eats translation card. According to Varela, “It explains your dietary needs in Italian with clear, accurate language created by native speakers, which can be especially useful in smaller towns or rural areas.” Last but not least, Varela suggests you pick up some Italian gluten-free ingredients to take home. Her favorites include “gluten-free pasta from La Fabbrica della Pasta di Gragnano, the fresh gluten-free pasta flour mix from Nutrifree, and, if you’re visiting during the holidays, the gluten-free panettone from Bauli.”
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Read the original article on Explore.
Dining and Cooking