Ardor Founder, Vince Lotito: Navigating Coeliac Disease As An Italian Male & Creating High Quality, Premium Gluten Free Products

Send us Fan MailA Gluten Free Podcast Episode 192It’s hard being diagnosed with coeliac disease no matter what age or where you’re from. There’s so many adjustments to make. Now, imagine being an Italian male where your whole upbringing, culture and community is based around food… and not just any food - Italian food, which is heavily based on gluten: pizzas, pastas, breads are Italian staples. Imagine all of that being stripped away from you, and on top of that, being perceived as ‘weak’ even by your family members. What would you do? Well, my guest today used his own adversities to create gluten free food that replicated the gluten containing foods he missed so much. By created these gluten free versions of the foods he craved, he was then able to help others find these foods, allowing them opportunities to eat together again with friends and family without feeling different. My guest on today’s episode is founder of Ardor Gluten Free, Vince Lotito. We’ll talk about the struggles of being diagnosed with coeliac disease as an Italian male, creating premium gluten free foods out of his own needs and how these foods have created an impact and following within the Australian gluten free community. What we'll cover: * How Vince and I connected * Ardor's mission and the inspiration behind it * Vince's mission to create and encourage inclusivity amongst the restaurant and cafe industry * Vince's coeliac disease diagnosis, chef background and how this impacted his life * Challenges of being an Italian male diagnosed with coeliac disease * Being perceived as "weak" from family members in regards to being coeliac and navigating a gluten free diet * Symptoms Vince experienced and presumptions from his GP* What helped Vince through his coeliac disease diagnosis initially * Mental health impacts of coeliac disease* How Vince came up with the idea of Ardor * Vince's experience competing in an Italian gnocchi competition * Ardor product range * Wheat being modified in our current market * Ardor navigating these current financial times * Creating coeliac disease and gluten free awareness amongst the hospitality industry * Vince's connection with the community * Where to find ArdorLinks Ardor Gluten Free Follow Ardor on Instagram & Facebook  Interested to being tested for coeliac disease? Diagnosis process of coeliac diseaseA Gluten Free Podcast Facebook Group📬 Stay connected: Instagram: @a.gffamilyEmail: [email protected] subscribe, share, or leave a review - it really helps grow our coeliac and gluten free community! This podcast reflects personal experiences and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for individual guidance.Support the show