As the rain continues to lash outside my window – I continue to think about holidays – inspired this time by the arrival on my desk of Maria Ann Roglieri’s Gluten-free Guide to France….
Maria is a professor of Italian at St Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, NY but – more importantly, both she and her daughter, Sara, have lived gluten free for years – Maria because she has gluten-linked neuropathy, Sara because she is coeliac. And this is their fourth gluten-free guide book, branching out from their home territories of Italy, New York and Washington DC – to France…
Like all of their guides, the French one really does tell you virtually all you will need to know, from the airlines with which fly to specific questions (in English. French, Italian and Spanish) about ingredients and dishes that might contain gluten, and a good mini English/French/German/Italian/Spanish food dictionary.
However the main part of the book is a really comprehensive listing of restaurants, hotels and health food stores across France (from quite basic to very classy) that will serve gluten-free food. Although, be aware – most do need advance warning. However, since you are provided with a telephone number or website for each (and the relevant translation of what you need to ask) this is not a problem.
A really invaluable guide, as are the others in the series, for anyone holidaying France, but most especially if you want to have the freedom to travel around and still be able to eat gluten-free rather than just holing up in one place where you know you will be able to eat safely.
The European guides costs $29.95 plus postage (the NY and Washington ones $24.95) from their website www.theglutenfreeguides.com and are definitely worth the money.
While on the subject – if you are you thinking of visiting any of the Disney parks you might be interested to know the the Gluten-free Passport has just brought out a new app which allows you to track down allergen-free meals throughout the 130 restaurants and food courts at Walt Disney World for a mere $2.99 – check in here for more.
And just in case you are thinking even further ahead to next winter’s ski-ing holiday – you might want to check in at allergen-free Alikats….
We’re booked to go to Italy in October, staying in Florence, I’m getting increasingly anxious about gluten and soya free food availability. Any ideas would be very gratefully received.
Many thanks
It might well be worth your while getting Maria’s Italian guide book… Although, take heart – there are lots of coeliacs in Italy and all the best gluten-free pasta is made in Italy so, as long as you have a good phrase book, you may find it easier to cope that you expect. Hope you have a great holiday anyhow – but do remember to take some emergency staples with you just in case. There are a few useful allergy travel articles on the FreeFrom FoodsMatter site. Enjoy!