28
A Voi Magazine | 2017
are vegan. It’s a lot easier when you’re vegan with someone else.” Alternative eating is not easy, especially when you’re on another continent trying to find the same options available to you in America. The biggest problem for me has been finding the balance between my disease and authentic cuisine in order to fully experience Italian culture.
COLLEEN’S TOP 3 GLUTEN-FREE RESTAURANTS
This was not a worry for Nicewander because being vegan is more important to her than fitting in with Italian culture.
Cloud 59 One of my favorite gluten-free places to eat is Cloud 59, located at Via de Ginori 59/r, 50123 Firenze. Cloud 59 is known for their amazing burgers. Serving their burgers with gluten-free buns and vegan patty’s, makes going their easy for all different alternative eaters.
Il Desco Bistrot Ciro & Sons
“To be honest, I’m not entirely interested in being part of any culture if I feel like I have to change my ethics to do so,” she said. Nicewander said she has found many helpful and accommodating people willing to work with her diet and serve her food she can eat. “I don’t believe I’m missing out on anything,” she said.
COURTNEY’S TOP 3 VEGAN RESTAURANTS
To anyone with any kind of dietary restrictions, there are plenty of places to find any variety of food. There may be times when it’s hard to eat authentically, which can hinder the complete Italian experience. Nevertheless, it is not worth sacrificing your health in order to embrace a new culture. The key to surviving Italy under dietary restrictions is balance.
Crepapelle My favorite restaurant in Florence is Crepapelle, a 100% vegan restaurant specializing in crepes, both sweet and savory. The restaurant is run by two women with the company of their dog, Pixel, who serves as a muse for many cartoons covering the walls, all drawn by the one owner who also does all the cooking. They have themes for their savory crepes, previously being storybook characters, and currently supervillains. My savory crepe of choice is the Lex Luthor, which is a crepe filled with vegan cheese and spinach, topped with vegan bacon.
Konnubio Il Carduccio photo: Colleen Cummins