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Posted 6/26/2013 11:46 AM (GMT 0)
This is off topic but I know a lot of you have gluten free diets, I just took my gluten free mother to Tuscany for a week. it was amazing, for the first time in our lives we ate the same things, she had a full menu at her disposal and almost everywhere in Florence, Pisa, and Siena where we ate had gluten free pasta and pizza's, they gave her gluten free breads and the hotel had a gluten free breakfast

So if anybody is on that diet and fancies a trip, go there! you're treated 100% normal there.

Posted 6/26/2013 11:52 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, I've never heard of that, would assume Italians looove their real bread.
I know cruise ships have GF menus but I never saw GF baked goods there or pizza or pasta.
Posted 6/26/2013 12:02 PM (GMT 0)
The first night we asked somebody and the waiter said "of course we do gluten free, we are tuscan, i am celiac" turns ouit 20% of the population can't eat gluten and get tested from a young age so they really do cater for it.
Posted 6/26/2013 12:38 PM (GMT 0)
Celiac disease is huge in Italy and IBD is on the rise as well - when my daughter first had symptoms most Drs assumed it was celiac because her dad is Italian. I assume that was for the tourists though as most restaurants (in Rome and Umbria at least) don't generally have GF options. I assume they would be more likely where the tourists stay/eat. Glad you had a great time!
Posted 6/26/2013 12:40 PM (GMT 0)
And, maybe it's more common in Tuscany (but I don't think so) but gluten really is the mainstay of the Italian diet. I don't find it's well catered for at all. Like here, you can find alternatives but it's a bit of a pain. Glad you didn't find the same.
Posted 6/26/2013 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
Italians are the ones who have done the most work on celiac disease. Pharmacies in Italy apparently have entire rooms full of GF foods etc., and Italian citizens get financial support for these products. The best GF pasta I've eaten is an Italian brand.
Posted 6/27/2013 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Glad your vacation with mum in Tuscany turned out great! (I remember that you asked us for advice on it a while back.) I also fared well dining in northern Italy with UC issues other than gluten of concern. The wait staff most everywhere was helpful, efficient, and welcoming. / Old Hat (32 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 6/27/2013 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
That is very cool...
Posted 6/27/2013 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
Yay, Ive been really struggling with the limits to my love of travel since finding out that eating gluten does not sit well with my digestion. Im so excited to hear you had good luck in italy as it is next up on our bucket list for the fall!
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