QUOTE (amber @ Feb 26 2008, 10:02 PM)
Ciao and Welcome!!
I am from Australia and we are thinking of going to Italy next year. Do you think it is easy to find gluten free food in Italy. Do restaurants understand what gluten free is? We have found a hotel in Cinque Terre that provides gluten free meals to its guests. Are certain regions of Italy better than others for finding gluten free food. I have heard that the north is more aware than the south. Where in Italy do you live? My mother was born in Gorizia and my father is from Lipari.
If you have to have celiac disease and be anywhere in the world, I'd say that Italy is the best place. celiac disease is becoming more and more diagnosed in Italy (common in the gene pool?) and the government actually gives food subsidies to biopsy diagnosed celiacs.
You can buy food in pharmacies (if the one you go in hasn't any ask them where the closest one is) and large grocery stores are now putting in a "gluten-free" section and the EU packaging laws require full discloser of the top 7/8 allergens.
Restaurants are also well informed. But as you would do at home, make sure you tell them!
Here is a link to the gluten-free restaurants in Liguria. I was in the Cinque Terre last year and where there was a pasta dish with seafood, I was able to have mine with rice instead. In the high season, I did book ahead and let them know at booking that I needed gluten-free.
http://www.celiachia.it/ristoratori/ristor...asp?idregione=9Hope you have a great trip!
Amelia
!