Get your questions answered

Travel Consulting

  • Every consultation is personalized to the client’s needs so each one looks different! We’ll discuss your specific travel plans, and I’ll provide tailored advice to make your trip as seamless as possible. Whether it's restaurant recommendations, tips for understanding Italian gluten-free labeling, advice on communicating your needs, or a crash course in navigating Italian train travel, I am here to answer any and all questions. And you should expect a few jokes:)

  • Working with a celiac travel consultant takes the stress and guesswork out of planning your trip. Instead of spending hours online searching through blog posts and Facebook groups, you can rely on my expertise and firsthand experience. I’ve already done the research and vetted the best gluten-free dining options, so you can travel confidently and enjoy your trip without the worry of cross-contact or misinformation. During our consultation, you’ll have my undivided attention for either a half-hour or full-hour session, where we can address all your questions and concerns. The consultation is completely personalized, ensuring that you set off on your adventure with peace of mind and a plan tailored specifically to your needs.

  • It depends on how much support you’re looking for! I often have clients do a half-hour consultation right when they book their trip to get an initial lay of the land and then we meet for a full-hour consult when they have more details nailed down. Usually 1-3 months is the sweet spot…but you’re welcome to book whenever works best for you!

  • Yes! I’m happy to equip you with the applicable Italian vocabulary and resources to navigate other dietary restrictions. That said, I focus on celiac safety when it comes to my restaurant recommendations (because that’s what I know best!) so please keep that in mind.

  • Great question! Here’s why I’m uniquely qualified to help you:

    • Local Knowledge: I’ve lived in Italy for years, immersing myself in the local gluten-free scene and understanding it thoroughly. Not only can I give you tons of recommendations, but I can also tell you if that popular spot you’ve seen all over Instagram is worth a visit or overhyped.

    • Bilingual Advantage: Being a native English speaker fluent in Italian, there is no language barrier between you and me (so you can feel 100% confident we’re on the same page) and there’s no language barrier between me and restaurants, hotels, guides, etc.

    • Strong Industry Connections: I have established personal relationships with chefs at many top gluten-free restaurants across Italy. Need a reservation? Consider it done!

    • AIC Collaboration: I work directly with the Italian Celiac Association as their English-language consultant for tourism initiatives. Rest assured you are getting your information straight from the source!

    • Personal Experience: Having been diagnosed with celiac disease for over eight years, along with other food intolerances and chronic illnesses, I bring firsthand experience and effective travel strategies. My background as a full-time digital nomad has honed my celiac travel skills, which I’m eager to share with you.

    • Degree in Medical Anthropology: I wrote my thesis about how different cultures handle gluten-free dining and what sort of impact that has on our quality of life as celiacs. I understand how it important it is to connect over food and I’m here to make the journey as seamless as possible.

CITY GUIDES

  • Your travel guide includes a full list of the top celiac-safe restaurants in that location including short descriptions, links to their menus, and pins on an interactive map. You can choose to read it like a blog post or use the map to find safe options near you. It’s the perfect travel companion for a celiac-safe adventure!

  • My pre-curated travel guides provide you with lists of the best gluten-free restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and gelaterias in specific cities, complete with an interactive map. A one-on-one consultation offers a more personalized experience, tailored specifically to your travel plans, preferences, and dietary needs, with the opportunity to ask questions and receive customized advice.

  • While researching on your own or checking out celiac travel Facebook groups can provide a starting point, those sources often lack the depth and reliability you need for a truly stress-free experience. My travel guides are meticulously researched and updated, providing you with:

    Trusted Information: Unlike crowdsourced tips that can vary in accuracy, my guides are based on firsthand experiences and local knowledge, ensuring that each recommendation meets strict gluten-free standards.

    Interactive Features: My guides include interactive maps that guide you from one celiac-safe restaurant to another, making navigation in a new city straightforward and stress-free.

    Local Expertise: Living in Italy and being deeply involved in the local gluten-free community gives me unique insights. My recommendations come from someone who knows the ins and outs of the local scene (and who speaks the language!), not just from a tourist’s perspective.

    Time Savings: With my guides, you skip the countless hours of research and get right to enjoying your trip, knowing that each recommendation is curated by a celiac for celiacs.

    Using my travel guides ensures that you have a seamless, enjoyable, and delicious gluten-free experience in Italy, all backed by my years of expertise and personal connections.

  • I’ve personally eaten at the large majority of the places on my guides. If I haven’t personally visited the restaurant, I do a LOT of research. I look through their websites, analyze their menus, sift through reviews, and I reach out to the restaurants directly (in Italian) to clarify their celiac protocols. If there is any doubt in my mind, they don’t make it on the list. Every restaurant on my guides is clearly labeled as either 100% GF or as having GF options (and I state whether or not they are AIC accredited) so you can choose your comfort level.


    With all of that said, your safety is dependent on you effectively communicating your dietary needs and on the restaurants actually following their protocols. By choosing to dine at any of the restaurants I recommend, you are acknowledging that you understand the potential risks and are assuming all responsibility for your own health and wellbeing.

Culinary experiences

  • I offer a variety of in-person culinary experiences, including the "Dine with a Local Celiac" lunch or dinner, where we share a meal at a handpicked, gluten-free restaurant and discuss life as a celiac in Italy. I also offer the "Gluten-Free Florence Culinary Adventure," a multi-stop food tour that includes appetizers, a traditional Italian dinner, and dessert at some of the best gluten-free spots in the city.

  • The duration varies depending on the experience. The "Dine with a Local Celiac" is typically about 2 hours, while the "Gluten-Free Florence Culinary Adventure" can last at least 3 hours, depending on the pace and location of restaurants.

  • You’re in luck, all of my experiences are private! I would love to host your group of up to 4 people in Florence!

General

  • Yes, Italy is surprisingly celiac-friendly! Italians take food seriously, and that includes accommodating dietary needs. With the right guidance, you can enjoy delicious gluten-free versions of classic Italian dishes, from pizza and pasta to gelato. Not to mention the fact that we have been pioneering celiac research for decades, we get a monthly stipend to offset the added costs of our gluten-free diet, and we have arguably the best national celiac association in the world.

  • No, you don’t need to speak great Italian to have a great gluten-free experience in Italy. That said, it is important to have a few basic phrases in your back pocket in order to communicate your needs…which is something I will walk you through during our consult!

    You can check out this blog post for some basic gluten-free Italian vocabulary and I recommend all my clients travel with an Equal Eats translation card to be safe.

  • The European Union has strict regulations regarding allergen labeling. During our consultation, I’ll explain how to read labels, what to look for, and which brands are trustworthy, ensuring you can shop and eat with confidence.