Being celiac in Italy is an amazing experience with absolutely everyone we’ve met in every restaurant, knows what it is and is prepared to deal with it. The one exception was when a waitress didn't understand much Italian or English but we figured out we needed to communicate celiac in Spanish.

Having been online and in different forums since the late 60s and starting forums on other systems in the US and Japan, I find our gluten free forum a refreshing change of pace that reminds me of what internet and other online systems were supposed to be for, not phishing and hustling enhancements for everything under the sun. During the early days of online networking when people traveled they tried to meet each other face to face at what we began to call offline parties or meetings.

Here in Milano I was very fortunate to meet Aimee and along with my wife and friends from Japan we had a wonderful time at be bop ristorante with gluten free pizza and many other wide selections which you can see along with the menus on my site. What a great fun place.What a great time to meet Aimee – turns out she only lives in Milano and I only live in Hawaii but we both grew up a few miles away from each other in Chicago.

I’ve been fortunate to meet other gluten-free forum members when they visit Hawaii and we are looking forward to the rest of you coming to Kona.

Aimee also suggested Corte Sconta in Venice. Wow – they are so fantastic – walking into a place and being able to order gluten-free pasta with no worries not to mention the tons of other things. Thanks once again Aimee!

The place we found called Degus on Via Washington is my favorite hangout.
http://www.degus.it/
wide selection of rare cheese and meats as well as other dishes and wines.
People there are really great.

Staying in this part of Milano away from the tourist areas is a great experience.

Monday we move on to Parma where I need to do some real work!

Ken

as an addendum,
just came back from dinner in MIlan at
osteria dei 5 sensi
http://www.osteriadei5sensi.com/
Another great place listed by the Italian Celiac Association.
A lot of choices and without a doubt the best gluten-free rolls I ever had.
Fantastic pastas and salads too.

ken

Thanks so much Ken for scouting out additional restaurants in my area (and right around the corner too!). Once I found the Be Bop Cafe I didn't venture further, but both the places you've listed look sublime (ahhh wonderful salamis and exquisite cheeses are right up my alley!).

abbracci a te ed a la tua moglie!

Amelia ( )

e molto gentile da parte sua

Hope I can have as much luck in parma -- did find a good place around the corner with gluten-free pasta but pigged out in the room on the farmacia goodies.
trying to decide what to do tonight as the places for dinner dont open to 8.

Meetings went well in Bra and Pollenzo & Margy got her asti in Asti.

take care

Last night after a month in Italy and time sure flies.
Am sitting in Ancona on the Adriatic thinking that I need to have this place mentioned in the forum files.
Restorante Osteria Teatro Strabacco in Via Oberdan n. 2
near the central area of Ancona is well worth the trip to this out of the way port town.

it is mentioned on the Italian Celiac Assoc. website but is not mentioned is the number of choices they have.
Really pigged out with a pizza with eggplant, zuchinni and onions, cannoloni and ravioli.
Yeah I ate for 3 but its been a lot of years since I had ravioli and couldnt resist. Another family came in while we were there for lunch. Their little boy had ceilac too and they had driven from 4 hours south to see a specialist here and were taking him to lunch. He ordered two other pastas. They also have a lot of fish and meats in this really great old style place. The owner who's pictures was on the wall with hundreds of Italian celebrities looked like a younger shorter version of me so we hit it off. I do have the feeling he would hit it off with anyone making them feel welcome in the place.

Amelia -- thanks agian for the goodies, they reaLLY saved me when out in the sticks.
Only so many times i can eat ham and cheese -- even if it is the best Procusitto and pecorino.

Off to Germany tomorrow..
Ken