What can I order off a menu in Italy for my DS?

[Pretendapony]

We are on a road trip around Italy which means we will probably end up in non-English speaking areas. Very exciting but we have 1 year old DS and he is allergic to both eggs & tomato’s. What can we order for him apart from Carbonara? Really struggling for ideas. He eats most things and does love fish but I’m cautious about bones. TIA

The gnocchi that I make have egg in them and are made from potato, be careful with those too.

I don’t put egg in mine (which is probably why I end up with a pan of foam).

Meat, fish, beans, chickpeas, rice, seafood, vegetables, burger, salad...

Have you got a card written in Italian explaining the allergy and the importance of ensuring he does not eat those items? If you don't, then get one!
And don't order carbonara!!!

Stick to meat and veg dishes.

Whooops sorry you can tell I’m not a cooking enthusiast! Will ignore the carbonara. He eats absolutely everything for now, we haven’t found anything he dislikes. I will google translate ‘egg allergy & tomato allergy’ and show them in each restaurant. Sorry I can’t tell you where we are heading specifically because even we don’t know yet. We are booking as we go along and doing a tour of north, mid & southern Italy. They aren’t major allergies but they make him very itchy & I have to bath him straight after and cover him in cream. It makes his eczema flare up which I’m desperate to avoid since it’s finally settled in the last month or so! Thanks for all the suggestions. I have packed a lot of baby food but I didn’t want him to eat it all holiday since we are in a country with amazing fresh food.

Carry a card. If your phone dies, breaks or is stolen, or your network goes down or there is no Wi-Fi or whatever then you won't have Google translate. Technology is great; but you never know. Carry a card to hand the waiter.

Be very very careful, eggs and tomato will be in a lot of food without being listed in Italy.

Perhaps these would be useful?

www.allergyuk.org/get-help/translation-cards

Avoid Parmesan! It contains egg (lyzozyme) as part of the manufacturing process. I am allergic to eggs and tomatoes amongst other things.
Also beware risotto often contains egg to make it creamy.
And, not wanting to scare you, but just making him itchy isn't really anything to go by...each reaction can be different. My daughter has just been given Epi-pens for a nut allergy, even though it only makes her vomit, no rash/itching/swelling etc.

Bruscetta
Ham with melon
Grilled fish or meat
Spaghetti vongole

Plate of bread and cured meat. Olives. Breadsticks. Plain fish or meat and veg. Fruit.

Not pesto, ragu, carbonara.

As an Italian mother of a child with severe allergies my recommendation would be.
Don’t second guess the menu. Inform staff and/or manager about the allergies. Ask to see an allergy menu if possible. Italians are mad about children and very good about allergy awareness. There are many things your child will be able to enjoy. Almost all restaurants will gladly make things off menu for children as well.

( this does not really apply to you, but wanted to correct some things that have been said upthread: Parmigiano reggiano does not have any egg in it, neither has risotto unless it’s an egg risotto)

There's always meat, fish, potatoes. The creamy bean pasta dish is vegan usually so ok - download to your phone the Italian for his allergies

I am jealous though. I’d love to go back to Italy. Every time I go I find something else which I’ve never eaten and eat my body weight in deliciousness.

Best things I’ve eaten whilst there:

• courgette flowers stuffed with cheese and rabbit (lake como - in a restaurant where no one spoke English only Italian French or German. Luckily my French is passable! And I try with Italian!)
• linguini with sorrento lemon zest and juice black pepper and Parmesan - sorrento
• wild boar ragu - Florence.

And gelato. Oh the gelato.

Cacio e Pepe.

It's a spaghetti dish with literally just cheese and pepper in it but it manages to taste complex and divine!

Allergy translation cards though for sure!

I’m too late for the cards this holiday but they sound amazing for in the future! Thank you very much! Lovely to know they will be very accommodating for DS!

Italy have to comply with same allergy laws that we do. Eggs are on the list of the 14 allergens businesses have to know about their presence in food. Even though tomato isn't one of them, the way most businesses comply is by having a list of the ingredients of each dish. Sounds far fetched, but it's true. You should be able to ask for the ingredient list. And if you say no tomato and egg in Italian, they should be able to comply.

Tinkly you obviously dont have a clueabout italian food. Plain ! OP just write a card , Il bambino è allergico a pomodori e uova, it doesnt take time and then you r ready wherever you are, just show the waiter/owner .

I’ve spent a lot of time in Italy Need. The idea that it’s all pasta and sauce and pizza is a big myth. It’s more likely to be meat or fish and veg and salad. Perhaps simple is a better word than plain.

I don’t mind Italian, but I prefer more spicy, flavoursome food.

They are pretty good about having the allergens listed and egg would definitely be in that.it is done with a code so you just look for your particular letter. I don't eat eggs and have never seen it listed in a pizza in Italy unless it is the one with the egg on top.

You may need to ask about tomato.

You can also order pizza and ask for cream instead of tomato or just with no tomato. As PP have said, kids are generally well catered for. From my experience your biggest problem will be people giving him treats he can't eat.

Have just read the PP about allergen listings not being accurate. They may know better than me

Get someone to translate into Italian that he's allergic (or learn to say it yourself - you'll get much more out of people of you at least attempt to speak a bit of Italian!) to those items and if necessary, hand it to them on a card when you order.

Not too late for a card, just write it on a piece of paper.

Bruscetta

Is not great for a child with a tomato allergy.

OP
Explain to the restaurant staff,if you don't speak Italian get something on your phone or printed explaining.

Just about every restaurant in Italy will have bread, olives and ham. Some regions use rice more than pasta so risotto might be a good bet.

You should be able to get fish quite easily, just grilled with veg.

As a PP said, Italians love children, don't be surprised if your son is whisked off to meet the chef and tour the kitchen.

DS has spent much time in Italian kitchens! Even in the UK - when he was little he used to be offered jobs when he grew up!

They'll be super helpful. I was surprised when I went and I was gluten-free how accommodating and clued up all the restaurants are. Just make sure you explain - having it written down on a piece of paper would probably be helpful.