Meet Anne: Your Gluten-Free Insider in France
France has a way of shaping how people imagine food long before they ever arrive. It lives in the idea of a morning croissant, a long lunch that stretches into the afternoon, a dinner that feels more like a ritual than a meal. It is a place where food is not just something you eat, it is something you participate in.
For travelers with celiac disease, that can bring a mix of excitement and hesitation. There is so much to experience, but it does not always feel immediately clear how to do it safely.
That is exactly where Anne comes in.
Based just outside of Paris, Anne moves between two worlds in her own life, one grounded in history as an art expert, and another shaped by the realities of living gluten-free in a country so deeply tied to its culinary traditions. Her perspective is thoughtful, practical, and refreshingly honest about what works, what takes a bit more effort, and how to approach it all with confidence.
In this conversation, Anne shares what daily life looks like in France, how her diagnosis changed her relationship with food and travel, and why navigating the French food scene as a celiac is not about avoiding it, but about learning how to engage with it differently.
1. Tell us a little about yourself and where you're based. What does a normal day in your life look like?
"By day, I work as an art expert specializing in ivory, which is quite niche and endlessly fascinating. On the side, I’ve also been exploring the world of AI, which keeps things interesting in a completely different way.
I’m based in the French countryside, surrounded by forest, which feels very grounding, but I’m also just an hour from Paris, so I never feel too far removed from the city. A typical day might involve examining a centuries-old object in the morning and troubleshooting something digital in the afternoon. It’s an unexpected combination, but somehow it works."
2. When were you diagnosed with celiac disease, and how did that moment change your life?
"I was diagnosed in 2021, and I won't pretend like it wasn’t a complicated moment. Celiac disease doesn't just change what's on your plate; it quietly reshapes your entire relationship with food, social life, travel, and spontaneity. And when you live in France, a country that treats bread as something close to a religion, realizing that the baguette is no longer your friend is, well, a bit of an existential moment. In many ways though, it forced me to become more mindful, more creative, and ultimately more connected to what I eat and why. It's a big deal, but it's also become a part of who I am."
3. How would you describe the gluten-free landscape in your country right now?
"Honestly? We're exploring. France is adapting, but it's a slow and largely city-centric process. The good news is that awareness is growing; the less good news is that we're still very much in the middle of our vegetarian awakening, so food intolerances and allergies remain a slightly baffling concept to many. If you mention celiac disease in a traditional French restaurant, you may still be met with a well-meaning but slightly confused expression. Progress is real, but patience (and a good sense of humor) are still essential travel companions."
4. What makes eating safely here easier than people expect? And what still requires extra caution?
"What genuinely helps is communication and being bold enough to use it. Going directly to the kitchen, speaking to the chef, being clear and pedagogical about what celiac disease actually means, these go a long way in France. People here respect food seriously, and when you explain your needs with confidence rather than apology, the response is often surprisingly warm and accommodating. That said, cross-contamination remains a whole different chapter of the story. If you are highly sensitive to gluten, you need to go beyond the menu and ask the right questions, because a dish can be 'gluten-free' in intention but not in practice. That distinction matters enormously."
5. What's your single biggest piece of advice for someone planning their first gluten-free trip here?
"Don't be shy. Address your concerns openly, ask questions without hesitation, and never assume. Plan ahead as much as you can, but always have a Plan B tucked away... whether that's a trusted safe restaurant, a well-stocked snack bag, or a nearby health food store you've already looked up. And perhaps most importantly: get your key French phrases ready before you land. A little effort in the local language goes a very long way. Bonne chance and let's go!"
6. What made you want to join the Celiacs in Europe team?
"The knowledge that I could make a real difference. Traveling with celiac disease can feel daunting, especially in a country with such a powerful food culture, and I know firsthand how much it means to feel safe and supported along the way. Joining this team felt like a natural way to channel my own experience into something useful, helping others navigate France with confidence, discover its genuine goodness, and feel that the journey is truly worth taking."
7. What do you love most about working with gluten-free travelers?
"Their hope. Their enthusiasm. The way so many of them arrive having dreamed of this trip for years, sometimes wondering whether it would ever really be possible. When you help someone not just survive a trip but truly enjoy it, eat well, feel safe, fall in love with a destination, that is incredibly rewarding. Supporting dreams that are both big and safe is, without question, the ultimate goal."
8. Favorite gluten-free meal in your country?
"Raclette. Full stop. Melted raclette cheese poured generously over perfectly cooked potatoes, surrounded by beautiful charcuterie, and paired with a crisp glass of white wine, it is pure, unpretentious French joy. And the bonus? Raclette cheese is naturally lactose-free, making it a rare double win. What else could you possibly ask for?"
9. City you never get tired of visiting in your own country?
"Paris and Lille: two cities, two completely different energies, and both endlessly captivating. Paris needs little introduction, but Lille is its own kind of gem: cosy, lively, architecturally gorgeous, and with a warmth that surprises first-time visitors. Both cities are increasingly rich in gluten-free options, which never hurts. I could explore either one on a loop and find something new every time."
10. Window seat or aisle seat?
"Window for short flights, there's something about watching the world shrink below you that never gets old. Aisle for long-hauls, when comfort and freedom of movement take priority over the view. It's all about knowing what kind of journey you're in for. Traveling is not an amateur job!"
11. Carry-on only or checked bag?
"Carry-on, always. Traveling light is genuinely good for the mind, less to worry about, less to wait for, more mental space for the actual adventure. Fair warning though: my carry-on may be light on clothes and heavy on gluten-free snacks. Priorities are priorities."
12. If you could plan your own dream trip anywhere in Europe, where would you go next?
"Naples. Without a second thought. I've been before and I would go back in a heartbeat... because nowhere else in Europe have I found gluten-free pizza that comes even close to what Naples does. The city itself is chaotic, beautiful, and electric. And the pizza? Quite simply the best I've ever had, gluten-free or otherwise. Naples is proof that celiac disease and culinary joy are not mutually exclusive."
13. What does safe and joyful travel mean to you, personally?
"Safe travel means being prepared. Joyful travel means forgetting, just for a little while, that you ever had to be. The goal is always to reach that second part and with the right planning and the right people around you, it is absolutely possible. Even in the land of the baguette."
What makes Anne’s perspective so valuable is that she does not try to simplify France into something it is not. She understands both the beauty of its food culture and the reality of navigating it with celiac disease, and she knows how to bridge that gap in a way that feels realistic and encouraging at the same time.
That is exactly what she brings to her consultations.
Whether you are planning your first trip to France or returning with a longer itinerary in mind, Anne helps you think through the details that make the experience feel smoother from the moment you arrive. From choosing restaurants that take gluten-free dining seriously to understanding how to communicate effectively in different situations, her guidance is grounded in real experience and shaped by living this every day.
If France is on your list, you can book a consultation with Anne through Celiacs in Europe and start planning a trip where incredible food, culture, and peace of mind can all exist together.