Gluten free in the lands of bread and pasta

Gluten-free focaccia at Sgrano, a completely gluten-free restaurant in Florence, Italy.

Wondering about traveling with a gluten allergy to places known for their incredible pasta, bread, or other gluten-filled foods? Concerned that you won't enjoy Paris if you can't have a delicious crepe at a street stand, or pick up a fresh baguette from a little boulangerie? Worried Rome won't be the same if you can't linger in a trattoria over a plate piled high with homemade pasta or pizze marinara?

Good news! The nice thing about countries whose cuisines are heavy on the gluten are that they know how important these foods are. It might take a little more advance research, but you can still indulge in delicious, authentic foods while traveling. 

How do you do that prep? There are a lot of websites dedicated to sharing gluten free resources, so start with a simple google of "gluten free + CITY NAME" and see what comes up. Whether or not you find info that way, though, the easiest thing to do is locate a nearby grocery store to your hotel. Grocery stores in Europe often have dedicated gluten free sections, and you can get plenty of snacks to supplement--or, make it deliberate and memorable! Buy a bottle of local wine, some delicious spreads, a bunch of grapes, and some gluten-free crackers, and have a charming little picnic in a city park. 

What about restaurant dining? While, at least in big cities, you can find all-gluten-free restaurants, you may also find options at more general places. Trust me when I say that many, many restaurants now have gluten free options available. It's often as easy as pausing in your walking and searching "gluten free near me" on your phone, then scrolling through reviews and choosing something nearby. If you're in a smaller town, you may need to spend a bit more time on your advance research, but I'm confident you'll find something--it might be, instead of something like gluten-free focaccia, an authentic dish that simply avoids gluten to begin with (like a perfect, creamy risotto).

With that, I wanted to mention specifically Hostaria Ago e Lillo in Rome. It's a delightful restaurant in the Prati neighborhood, near the Vatican. It's the perfect place for a group that has a diverse range of tastes and dietary needs. We visited this past January on our group tour of Italy, and everyone (including gluten-free people, vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians, and traditional "meat and potatoes" sort of eaters) really enjoyed their food. One of our gluten-free travelers said that she had the best penne arrabbiatta of her life. If you're in Rome, stop on by and enjoy a meal there. 

So, if you can't eat gluten, while you may not be able to be quite as carefree about food as those of us who can, you can still have wonderful--and delicious!--vacations.​

Our group dining outside at Hostaria Ago e Lillo in Rome, January 2022