Piacere! (nice to meet you!)
I’m Catalin; a proud celiac, expat in Florence, and gluten-free travel consultant.
In 2016 I became ill overnight with a mystery illness that eluded the dozens of specialists I was referred to. To make a very long story short, I was tested for everything from the flu to cancer and eventually, after a year of debilitating illness, I was diagnosed with celiac disease.
The diagnosis, though a blessing to put a name to my suffering, flipped my life upside down. What even is gluten? Why do I all of a sudden have to avoid it like the plague? I felt completely lost. And above all, I felt like my adventurous, travel-seeking soul had been crushed. There was no way I would travel (or eat anywhere besides my own kitchen) again.
I spent years in the throes of healing my body and in 2019 I took my wellbeing into my own hands, attended the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and I graduated as a Certified Health Coach. Then, one year later, I completed my bachelor’s degree in Applied Medical Anthropology. I spent six months solo traveling through Europe while writing my thesis about how different cultures approach gluten-free eating differently and the effect that has on the quality of life for celiacs.
Which brings us to today! Though I was born and raised in Colorado, I am now happy to call Florence, Italy my home. I fell in love with Italian culture and this city during my travels and knew this is where I belong. Living in Italy has changed my perspective on my medically necessary gluten-free diet entirely, and I feel the need to share the magic with you all!
My mission: To make Italy and all things Italian culture accessible to celiacs.
I offer 1-to-1 travel consults to help you plan the perfect gluten-free Italian adventure. I can give you tons of restaurant recommendations, help you navigate the nuances of labeling, give you some basic Italian words to communicate your needs, and spill the tea on my years of experience living in Italy as a celiac.
Gone are the days when you have to dig through random blogs, millions of Facebook comments, and countless posts pedaling misinformation. I’m here to make your trip as easy and seamless as possible.
I’m so glad you’ve found your way here and I hope you find some comfort, encouragement, and empowerment in learning how to travel safely with celiac disease. Your diagnosis is not a life-long sentence to gluten-free house arrest. In fact, it’s just the beginning of an exciting adventure full of travel, new experiences, and delicious (gluten-free) meals.