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Amalfi Coast: One Couple's Quest for a Gluten-Free Holiday in Italy
- By Jill Schaefer
- Published 08/7/2008
- Gluten-Free Travel
-
Rating:
Jill Schaefer
Jill Schaefer is a freelance writer who lives in San Francisco. She has specialized in health care communications, including disease awareness and treatment, for more than eight years. Her boyfriend is gluten-free, so she is often gluten-free too.
View all articles by Jill SchaeferAmalfi Coast: One Couple's Quest for a Gluten-Free Holiday in Italy
Celiac.com 08/07/2008 - We'd begun practicing basic Italian⎯buon giorno! We'd practically memorized the Frommer's travel guide. We'd scoured multitudes of online travel sites and finally made all the arrangements for our once-in-a-lifetime romantic getaway to the sun-kissed shores of the Amalfi Coast.
As the date of our departure approached, we grew more excited to spend our first major vacation together, tucked away in cliffside hotels, taking in sweeping views of the Mediterranean from our seaside balconies. We had some lingering doubts, though. Jeff follows a gluten-free diet, and I was concerned about how well he'd be able to eat in Italy, the land of pizza, pasta and bread. I know how difficult it can be to dine out, even in our neighborhood in San Francisco. What could he possibly find that would be gluten-free in Italy? And, with the language barrier, how would we be able to easily communicate his needs?
Jeff: I know a little Italian, but solo un po’ (only a little), as the Italians say. So I, too, was a bit worried. At home, I keep tight control over what I buy, prepare most of my own meals and eat out only at select places that I know are safe. I was worried that consuming every meal at a hotel or restaurant for two weeks straight would present challenges. Like so many people with celiac disease, I've lost more than a few days to gluten contamination. That's the last thing I wanted to happen on such a special trip.
One of the first things we did was to e-mail the hotels several weeks in advance to see what gluten-free options they might offer. We crafted a short inquiry in English, and just in case the staff only spoke Italian, put it through a free online translation service called Babel Fish. We included both versions in our messages. All four hotels responded within a day or two, most in English. Three confirmed gluten-free options in the hotel and/or its restaurant. One pledged a solution upon arrival, suggesting that Jeff could communicate a preference for breakfast, and the hotel would meet his needs.
Jill: I was especially impressed with Casa Astarita, a bed and breakfast along the first leg of our trip in Sorrento. The staff at Casa Astarita noted that we could request food without wheat or barley, recommended a restaurant in the square and pledged to help us during our stay in Sorrento. In addition, the Hotel Margherita in Praiano, a charming seaside town off the beaten path, assured us of gluten-free pasta and biscuits (probably what we would call crackers) in the hotel.
Another step we took about two weeks before our flight was to contact the airline about gluten-free meal options. We wondered if Jeff would be able to eat gluten-free on both legs of the trip⎯from San Francisco to Chicago, and more importantly, the nine-hour haul from Chicago to Rome. Either way, we planned to pack plenty of gluten-free snacks to have on hand as a precautionary measure.
Jill: The American Airlines customer service representative told me the airline did not offer gluten-free meals on the short flight from Chicago to San Francisco, and we'd need to bring our own food. However, on the longer flight from Chicago to Rome, they could accommodate gluten-free needs. The representative confirmed a special meals code for the gluten-free food request (GFML is the code) that was entered into the reservation.
American Airlines also pointed us to its Web site, which lists sample menu options that may vary month to month:
Jeff: It turns out that the Italians are actually at the forefront of celiac disease awareness and treatment. In fact, all Italians are screened for celiac disease before they are six years old. [1,2]
Those with celiac disease receive excellent support, including monthly payments from the government for gluten-free food, as well as more vacation to offset extra time used to shop for and prepare gluten-free food.
Italians are also on the vanguard of the gluten-free food movement. The country's robust celiac association, called the Associazione Italiana Celiachia (AIC), the Italian government and several large Italian companies that make and distribute gluten-free foods have joined together to promote awareness and understanding of celiac disease. This makes for knowledgeable restaurant owners, managers, chefs and waiters. [3]
Italians are among the most expert crafters of gluten-free pastas and baked goods. Italian companies like Beretta and BioLand make delicious gluten-free rice pasta and a variety of other gluten-free food products, while others produce numerous gluten-free specialty items for import, such as chestnut flour.
AIC has a helpful Web site and convenient 24/7 telephone hotline. Both offer celiac information and support in English and Italian, along with tips on gluten-free food and dining in every region of Italy. [4]
So, all of the useful information we turned up in our search made us hopeful that our first vacation together just might be a gluten-free gastronomic delight.
Tune in next month to find out how things turned out on the ground. Until then, happy gluten-free travels and, as the Italians say, Mangia bene! Eat well!
As the date of our departure approached, we grew more excited to spend our first major vacation together, tucked away in cliffside hotels, taking in sweeping views of the Mediterranean from our seaside balconies. We had some lingering doubts, though. Jeff follows a gluten-free diet, and I was concerned about how well he'd be able to eat in Italy, the land of pizza, pasta and bread. I know how difficult it can be to dine out, even in our neighborhood in San Francisco. What could he possibly find that would be gluten-free in Italy? And, with the language barrier, how would we be able to easily communicate his needs?
Jeff: I know a little Italian, but solo un po’ (only a little), as the Italians say. So I, too, was a bit worried. At home, I keep tight control over what I buy, prepare most of my own meals and eat out only at select places that I know are safe. I was worried that consuming every meal at a hotel or restaurant for two weeks straight would present challenges. Like so many people with celiac disease, I've lost more than a few days to gluten contamination. That's the last thing I wanted to happen on such a special trip.
One of the first things we did was to e-mail the hotels several weeks in advance to see what gluten-free options they might offer. We crafted a short inquiry in English, and just in case the staff only spoke Italian, put it through a free online translation service called Babel Fish. We included both versions in our messages. All four hotels responded within a day or two, most in English. Three confirmed gluten-free options in the hotel and/or its restaurant. One pledged a solution upon arrival, suggesting that Jeff could communicate a preference for breakfast, and the hotel would meet his needs.
Jill: I was especially impressed with Casa Astarita, a bed and breakfast along the first leg of our trip in Sorrento. The staff at Casa Astarita noted that we could request food without wheat or barley, recommended a restaurant in the square and pledged to help us during our stay in Sorrento. In addition, the Hotel Margherita in Praiano, a charming seaside town off the beaten path, assured us of gluten-free pasta and biscuits (probably what we would call crackers) in the hotel.
Another step we took about two weeks before our flight was to contact the airline about gluten-free meal options. We wondered if Jeff would be able to eat gluten-free on both legs of the trip⎯from San Francisco to Chicago, and more importantly, the nine-hour haul from Chicago to Rome. Either way, we planned to pack plenty of gluten-free snacks to have on hand as a precautionary measure.
Jill: The American Airlines customer service representative told me the airline did not offer gluten-free meals on the short flight from Chicago to San Francisco, and we'd need to bring our own food. However, on the longer flight from Chicago to Rome, they could accommodate gluten-free needs. The representative confirmed a special meals code for the gluten-free food request (GFML is the code) that was entered into the reservation.
American Airlines also pointed us to its Web site, which lists sample menu options that may vary month to month:
- Brunch/hot breakfast - Mushroom cheddar omelet with sweet potato hash, yogurt, seasonal fruit
- Cold breakfast - Yogurt, seasonal fruit, breakfast cookie
- Lunch/dinner - Sweet chili salmon, green beans, white rice, salad, fresh fruit
- Snack - Penne pasta with artichokes, fresh fruit
Jeff: It turns out that the Italians are actually at the forefront of celiac disease awareness and treatment. In fact, all Italians are screened for celiac disease before they are six years old. [1,2]
Those with celiac disease receive excellent support, including monthly payments from the government for gluten-free food, as well as more vacation to offset extra time used to shop for and prepare gluten-free food.
Italians are also on the vanguard of the gluten-free food movement. The country's robust celiac association, called the Associazione Italiana Celiachia (AIC), the Italian government and several large Italian companies that make and distribute gluten-free foods have joined together to promote awareness and understanding of celiac disease. This makes for knowledgeable restaurant owners, managers, chefs and waiters. [3]
Italians are among the most expert crafters of gluten-free pastas and baked goods. Italian companies like Beretta and BioLand make delicious gluten-free rice pasta and a variety of other gluten-free food products, while others produce numerous gluten-free specialty items for import, such as chestnut flour.
AIC has a helpful Web site and convenient 24/7 telephone hotline. Both offer celiac information and support in English and Italian, along with tips on gluten-free food and dining in every region of Italy. [4]
So, all of the useful information we turned up in our search made us hopeful that our first vacation together just might be a gluten-free gastronomic delight.
Tune in next month to find out how things turned out on the ground. Until then, happy gluten-free travels and, as the Italians say, Mangia bene! Eat well!
- http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/1009402816.html
- http://celiac-disease.emedtv.com/celiac-disease/ celiac-disease-screening.html
- http://www.prlog.org/10063446-at-last-the-gluten-free-guide-to-italy-guide-to-the-gluten-free-land-of-pasta.html
- http://www.celiachia.it/default.asp
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Comments
#1 ( Allison)
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This is helpful and encouraging -- I've been very leary of travel since being diagnosed. Locally I have only a 50/50 success rate with eating in restaurants. It sounds like I could do better in Italy!
#2 ( Judy Grainger)
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Very good article. We hope to go to Italy next year so I am anxious to see his experience there.
#3 ( Linda Sirpilla)
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This is great. My husband and I are more confident now to travel to Italy. Thank you.
#4 ( Annmarie)
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We just returned from a 2 week tour of Italy and I had absolutely no problem in any of the hotels or restaurants there. The Italians know all about celiac disease and English is spoken almost everywhere. If you want to feel more comfortable, you can request international restaurant cards from GIG. They will provide you a sheet with your dietary restrictions written in several different languages, free of charge. Relax and enjoy your trip!
#5 ( Michael)
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We travel a lot. Recently discovered Oslo where they actually serve gluten free bread in restaurants its so prevalent. Excellent!!!
#6 ( Janice)
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It is true that the Italians are very tuned in to Celiac Disease. I spent 4 weeks there this year and every restaurant server I met knew exactly what I was talking about and took great care in serving me safe meals.
#7 ( Elizabeth Cella )
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Of all the European countries, Italy is the safest and most delicious for celiacs. Italians are quite familiar with celiac and made our trips through Italy with a celiac teenager easy, pleasant, and completely safe.
#8 ( Sherry )
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My spirit soared as I read this article! How nice to hear the Italians are so advanced in gluten-free diets. I have been hesitant to travel abroad due to my diet but now may be unafraid. Thank you for sharing this information.
#9 ( Becky )
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I also had a very good experience in Sicily last year. As soon as I would tell the waiters that I needed gluten free food, they knew exactly what I was talking about and never made a mistake. In France (where I live) the waiters are often unsympathetic, and make plenty of mistakes (a cookie in my creme caramel, or bread crumbs on the veggies).
#10 ( claudia)
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I'm celiac and live in Rome (Italy) . I find life easy here only we don't have extra vacation to shop and prepare meals!!! The government gives €99 to celiac women and €140 to celiac men to be spent to the pharmacy. Come to Italy and for any information I'll try to help you!
#11 ( Mary)
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Very good article - thank you for sharing. Look forward to hearing how things went on what sounds like a wonderful vacation.
#12 ( Harper)
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I found it far easier to eat gluten free, and to eat very well gluten free, in Venice than in San Francisco. Difficulty came in the middle of the day, when I just wanted a quick snack, when others grabbed a panini or a slice of pizza. I learned always to carry a Lara bar or a hard-boiled egg.
#13 ( Susanna Neuhold)
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Hello!
First of all thanks for always providing useful information on celiac! You sure make the life of many celiacs around the world a lot better! I have read the above mentioned article and I have a few remarks and corrections to make regarding some of the statements that are not completely
correct. Hopefully you are able to make them public for the benefit of everyone involved.
1. "Jeff: (...) In fact, all Italians are screened
for celiac disease before they are six years old. [1,2]" and following paragraph...
This is not accurate information: it is not true that all Italians are screened before 6 years old. There are many different projects going on and some areas might have had this in place, but it is not a government mandate.
It is true that all Italian Biopsied celiacs receive government support that goes toward the purchase of Gluten free food (it actually covers it completely), but it is false that they are entitled to more vacations!
2. "Italians are also on the vanguard of the gluten-free food movement. The country's robust celiac association, called the Associazione Italiana Celiachia (AIC), the Italian government and several large Italian companies
that make and distribute gluten-free foods have joined together to promote awareness and understanding of celiac disease. This makes for knowledgeable restaurant owners, managers, chefs and waiters. [3]"
This statement is also not entirely correct. The Associazione Italiana Celiachia is the sole promoter of the many initiatives that, through the years, have dramatically increased the quality of life of Italian Celiacs.
The association works and advocates for the cause with government departments in order to regulate and legally protect its achievements. The restaurant project is entirely funded and run by the association, thanks
also to the great number of volunteers involved with it. It is true though that the Italian Ministry of health has always shown a lot of support and is a key player in making Italy today the paradise of celiacs!
The only company that have a similar project in Italy is Dr. Schaer - Dietary Specials with its "DS Pizza Points".
Lastly, we don't know the 2 companies mentioned in the articles among Gluten Free producers and they are not listed in the"safe" list of the italian Ministry of Health (You can find this list and other useful information on the Ministry regulations regarding dietetic (GF)
manufacturers at
http://www.ministerosalute.it/alimenti/dietetica/dieApprofondimento.jsp?lang
=italiano&label=prodi&id=56).
The association (AIC) provides with a fully detailed list of
companies that are safe for celiacs. This screening is done through an impressive amount of forms and tests to meet the Italian approved standard of gluten contained in parts per Million (20 PPM). The hundreds of
companies that appear on this list, called "Prontuario" available also on line on the
website at http://celiachia.it/aggiornamenti/default.asp, then click on the
English flag to access the English pages.
I really hope that you will post this correction, it is important to give information, but it is better to give accurate information when available.
Susanna Neuhold
Food Area National Manager
AIC
#14 ( MARY)
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Thanks for the great information! My husband and I have been wanting to vacation in either Paris or Italy, but I was afraid Italy would be hard because I cannot eat gluten. Now, we might give Italy a try!! THANKS
#15 ( Tawnya)
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Thank-you for an informative article and for the comments with the corrections and additions. When my daughter adopted from India this past summer was recently diagnosed with celiac disease, I was very worried about how I would ever be able to take her to Italy where I had lived during my childhood. I am so relieved to have learned how well persons with celiac disease are able to live in Italy and I am proud of Italy for being such a wonderful role model for other countries. I look forward to learning more about Italian gluten-free recipes that I can use in the USA. Thank-you!