Gluten Free Guide to Rome, Italy

Courtney | Simple Adventurous Life

Are you heading to the land of pizza and pasta, worried about eating gluten-free without getting sick? Don't fret! Surprisingly, Italy is one of the best places for travelers with Celiac Disease. There are numerous dedicated gluten-free bakeries, restaurants, and even grocery stores throughout the city. What's even more reassuring is the presence of AIC (Associazione Italiana Celiachia) in Italy, which offers an app listing restaurants with strict protocols for handling gluten-free orders to prevent cross-contact. In this guide you will find: *How to Navigate Supermarkets in Italy including a dedicated 100% gluten free supermarket near the Vatican *Information about the Italian AIC App and How to Use It *Highly Recommended Gluten Free Italian Restaurant Card *My recommended Gluten Free Restaurants including restaurants close to major attractions *Map of all the restaurants, bakeries, gelato shops and supermarkets. *Our family's favorite activities and tours we did in Rome

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Eating Gluten Free in Rome with Celiac Disease

Heading to the land of pizza and pasta and worried about eating gluten free without getting sick?

Don't fret! Surprisingly, Italy is one of the best places for travelers with Celiac Disease. There are numerous dedicated gluten-free bakeries, restaurants, and even grocery stores throughout the city. What's even more reassuring is the presence of AIC (Associazione Italiana Celiachia) in Italy, which offers an app listing restaurants with strict protocols for handling gluten-free orders to prevent cross-contact.

In this guide you will find:

*Information about the Italian AIC App and How to Use It

*Highly Recommended Gluten Free Italian Restaurant Card

*My recommended Gluten Free Restaurants including restaurants close to major attractions

*How to Navigate Supermarkets in Italy

*Map of all the restaurants, bakeries, gelato shops and supermarkets.

*Our family's favorite activities and tours we did in Rome

A little bit about me

Almost 10 years ago, after the birth of my first child, I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. After the diagnosis, traveling became significantly more challenging. We always had to stay in hotels with a kitchenette, and I had to pack a cooler full of food for every trip. I spent hours researching safe places to eat, which left me feeling anxious, often resulting in making all my meals.

It was incredibly exhausting.

But I persevered despite the tremendous effort required for each trip. I've learned to embrace my dietary restrictions and have picked up numerous tricks along the way. I've discovered that there are now many more options available for our gluten-free community.

The key to safely dining out, I've found, is a combination of PREPARATION and ADVOCATING for my needs. It took me some time to reach this point, but once I made it a priority, I felt that traveling with my family and finding places to eat out became not only possible but enjoyable.

Currently, we are on an epic adventure with our kids around the world, and it has been life-changing. You can follow our adventures over on Instagram @simple.adventurous.life.

Has it been challenging?

Yes.

Am I worried about finding safe places to eat in some countries?

In some countries, yes.

@simple.adventurous.life

www.instagram.com

What is the AIC?

The AIC, or Associazione Italiana Celiachia, is the Italian Celiac Association. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with celiac disease and promoting awareness about gluten-free living in Italy. AIC plays a crucial role in ensuring safe dining options for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

Restaurants accredited by the AIC follow specific guidelines and criteria to obtain certification as gluten-free establishments. Here's what they typically have to do:

1. Training: Staff members are trained in understanding celiac disease, cross-contamination risks, and how to prepare gluten-free meals safely.

2. Separation: Certified restaurants must have separate areas or dedicated equipment for preparing gluten-free dishes to avoid cross-contamination with gluten-containing ingredients.

3. Gluten-Free Ingredients: They use certified gluten-free ingredients, and the kitchen staff is careful about the sources of their ingredients to ensure they are gluten-free.

5. Testing: Periodic testing and inspections are conducted by AIC to ensure compliance with their standards. Restaurants need to maintain these standards consistently.

6. Communication: Certified restaurants often display the AIC symbol or logo on their premises (usually on the front window or door walking in) and menus, indicating that they are recognized as gluten-free friendly by the association.

It's important to note that the specific requirements may vary, and restaurants need to adhere to the AIC's guidelines to earn and maintain certification. Certification not only provides a safe dining option for individuals with celiac disease but also helps in building trust with customers seeking gluten-free choices. If you plan to dine at a restaurant in Italy and have dietary restrictions, look for the AIC certification to ensure a safe and enjoyable meal.

Download the AIC app

The AIC app is a very VALUABLE tool for all visitors coming to Italy. For about $4 you get two full weeks of access to all of these Italian eateries. If your trip is longer than two weeks, you can simply re-download it once it expires.

Here's a brief overview of how to use the AIC app as a non-local visitor:

1. Download the App: Start by downloading the AIC app from your device's app store. It's available for both iOS and Android.

2. Language Selection: The app is available in Italian, but you can change the language settings to English or another preferred language if available. This makes it more accessible for non-Italian speakers.

3. Search for Restaurants and Stores: Use the app's search function to find gluten-free restaurants, pizzerias, bakeries, and stores in your current location or any specific city you plan to visit in Italy. You can use keywords like "gluten-free" or "senza glutine" in the search bar.

4. Read Reviews and Details: Browse through the listings to read user reviews and check important details about each establishment, such as their address, contact information, and any additional notes regarding their gluten-free offerings.

5. Filter and Sort: The app often allows you to filter results based on various criteria like proximity, type of cuisine, and certification status. This can help you find the most suitable dining options.

6. Map Integration: The app may integrate with maps on your device, making it easy to navigate to your chosen gluten-free restaurant or store.

7. Save Favorites: You can save your favorite gluten-free places within the app for quick access during your trip.

8. Updates: Keep the app updated to access the latest information and new listings, as the gluten-free scene in Italy may evolve over time.

The amazing thing about this app is that sometimes when travel plans change, and the restaurant you had planned to visit closes early or is farther away than you expected, if anything unexpected happens, you can simply open the app and find the nearest certified place. You can also occasionally wander around and spot the red AIC sticker in a restaurant's window, giving you the opportunity to enjoy a spontaneous dinner somewhere new.

Download an Italian Translation Card

Jodi, from The Legal Nomad offers detailed translation cards in over 15 languages. What sets her cards apart is that she collaborated with locals to ensure accurate translations, rather than relying solely on Google Translate. She also uses local ingredient names to effectively convey hidden (and not-so-hidden!) sources of gluten.

I personally like to print a few of these cards, laminate them, and keep them in my wallet for whenever I dine at a restaurant that isn't entirely dedicated to being gluten-free.

Detailed Gluten Free Restaurant Card - Italian

legalnomads.gumroad.com

For Breakfast: Get the donut at Celiachiamo Lab.

For Lunch: La Soffitta Renovatio or A Gogo Gluten Free

La Soffitta Renovatio is renowned for their gluten-free pizza dough, perfectly balanced between crispy and doughy. While it's not entirely gluten-free, they take meticulous precautions in the kitchen to prevent cross-contact. If you prefer the safety of a fully dedicated gluten-free lunch spot, consider visiting A Gogo Gluten Free. They offer both takeout options and the choice to dine in.

For Dinner: Mama Eat or Pantha Rei

We also dined at Pantha Rei for dinner, conveniently located near the Pantheon. I ordered their gnocchi and cheesecake for dessert, both of which were delicious. However, I've heard from several people that their pizza is not as good.

For Gelato: Grom

They have a location very close to the famous Piazza Navona, and their combination of chocolate and salted caramel is absolutely divine. As a side note, on our last day, our Vatican tour guide, who has celiac disease, recommended Fatamorgana for gelato. Unfortunately, we didn't have the opportunity to visit.

And if you are craving anything else besides pizza and pasta then head to El Maiz for Venezuelan street food.

Navigating Supermarkets in Italy

My Top 3 Favorite Supermarkets:

CONAD, COOP, and CARREFOUR

The first thing you need to know, if you don't already, is that SENZA GLUTINE is Italian for gluten-free. The larger supermarkets typically have the most extensive Senza Glutine sections, and it's usually clearly marked. Otherwise, keep an eye out for the yellow SCHAR packaging, which should indicate gluten-free products. Meats and dairy products were also clearly labeled SENZA GLUTINE, making it easy to identify which ones to purchase.

Italian Words You Should Know:

Frumento = wheat

Segale = rye

Orzo = barley

Senza Glutine = gluten free

Carta di credito = credit card

Favorite Senza Glutine Products:

*Conad Alimentum Brand Pasticinni con biscotto e cioccolato al latte - ritz cracker dipped in chocolate on one side (these are heavenly)

*SCHAR brand Maxi Sorrisi - white cracker with chocolate frosting on the inside

*Grisbi cookies - they have a limone and a chocolate flavor that are so delicious and gooey on the inside

*SCHAR extra large bread slices and SCHAR baguettes were so great for making sandwiches. If anyone knows where to find those in the states please let me know.

*Prepackaged gluten free waffle cones with ice cream. They have a ton of brands all over Italy and they are so delicious. A treat we aren't used to in the states.

Some things to note:

**In Italy, you are responsible for weighing your own produce before heading to the checkout. There's usually a scale located near the produce section, and you'll need to enter the number indicated on the sign to print a sticker for your produce bag.

100% Gluten Free Grocery Store in Rome

Did you know there's a grocery store that exclusively carries completely dedicated gluten-free products?

Celiachiamo is heaven for anyone with Celiac Disease. They offer a wide range of items such as bread, crackers, cookies, tortillas, cake mixes, frozen pizzas, gluten-free treats, and more. It truly has everything you could wish for. I spent 45 minutes in the store and could easily have stayed longer.

I made the mistake of waiting to visit Celiachiamo until the second-to-last day of our trip to Rome. If I could do it again, I would head there on the first day to stock up on all things gluten-free.

They also have a bakery section where you can find the most amazing gluten-free donuts, cannoli, and other convenient grab-and-go gluten-free foods.

Please note that Celiachiamo is not a full-service grocery store and only sells packaged gluten-free items. It's conveniently located near the Vatican, so try to plan your itinerary accordingly.

RESTAURANTS

While both the AIC app and the Find Me Gluten Free app list numerous restaurants in Rome, I've narrowed down my recommendations after extensive research.

Please ensure to double-check that these restaurants are still in operation, and always advocate for yourself, no matter how highly recommended a restaurant may be.

Mama Eat Roma - Ristorante Pizzeria - Tutto anche senza glutine