My Vegas Trip Did Not Go Very Well

[j9n]

The first night we get there we have dinner at a very nice restaurant that was very accomodating for me. I had a simple steak, baked potato and steamed asparagus. The next day, my anniversary, we have breakfast in the coffee shop. I can't eat eggs or cheese so I have a steak and fruit. We sit out by the pool and I have one drink, a smirnoff vodka and cranberry. By 2pm I am ill. Severe diarrhea, dizziness, weak, etc. I have 6 hours to get it under control before the concert. I pop Immodium, pepto bismul, peppermint, etc. I don't eat or drink anything before the concert. (BTW it was awesome, 17th row center!!!) The concert is almost over and I get a panic attack. We are at the Mandalay Bay, 14,000 people plus Heart is playing the the House of Blues. We have to leave early otherwise it will take hours to get out and the bathroom lines will be long. So we leave during the encore and get back to our hotel. It is now midnight, I am STARVING, and the only thing open is the coffee shop. The only thing I think I can have is the steak. I tell him I can't have any flour or bread so just the steak and a potato. He thinks the potatoes have been sitting around but he will bring me one. The steak is covered in small battered onions and the potatoes are inedible. I tell him I can't have the battered onions. Can't I just push them off, he asks. No, I cant. He rolls his eyes and takes the steak away. I know he is going to bring me back the same steak and I am about to cry so I leave the table and just go to bed. I am pretty sure the steak made me ill earlier.

In the morning I have a banana, Thai kitchen soup and a soda. Ok I feel better. My husband takes me to Outback steakhouse. I am so excited I can finally eat. I ask for the gluten free menu, explain everything. I get my salad and under all the lettuce is croutons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I am in tears. We leave for the second half of our vacation to Laughlin. We get dinner at an expensive steakhouse. I again explain everything to the waiter. His ex wife had celiac so he knows all about it. YEAH. They have a halibut stuffed with crab. He checks the ingredients and tells me it is ok, no flour in it. I get my salad, again Croutons. I get the halibut, the crab is mixed with bread crumbs (hum, no flour). My husband orders chocolate cake, I tell the waiter no dessert. He brings me a fork so I can try the cake.

Now I have been ill almost everyday of the vacation. One thing I have learned, NO SALAD!! I told my husband a motorhome is sounding better and better all the time. I do not know what I am doing wrong. This is really frustrating.

[astyanax]

it doesn't sound like you're doing anything wrong, it's just that eating out is always a problem. i've had that same problem at outback; it's my one complaint about them. but i always just explain it to them again and ask for them to make it separately in a fresh bowl etc. and i always inspect my salad too cos sometimes there are crumbs of croutons but no actual croutons. i'm not sure what made you ill though; maybe food you had on an airplane or something you had before?

and how did you do at the tables?

[sunflower]

How exactly did you explain your problem at the restaurants? I used to say "I can't have anythung with wheat flour or dairy" and I found out that it just didn't work in most cases. "I can't have" can mean "I can't have because I'm on Atkins diet or some other kind of diet to lose weight" or "I can't have because I don't like", etc. It doesn't explain that you will get very ill if you get any amount of gluten and that you cannot just push it aside if you find it in your dish.

Also, I used to think "wheat flour" indicates anything made of it, so for me it was obvious that people will understand that breadcrumbs or croutons are also a no-no. I learned that they wouldn't.

It took me a lot of painful experience to adapt the only strategy that seems to work: I say that I am ALLERGIC to gluten, which is a protein in wheat, rye, blah, blah, and that I cannot have anthing that contains anything made of those grains such as the following: flour, bread, cake, breadcrumbs, croutons, soy sauce, sauces containing wheat flour or soy sauce (have I missed anything?). When they suggest me a dish, I double check that it doesn't have any of the forbidden ingredients before I make my order.

I know what I say is not strictly true, because I'm not allergic to gluten, I have celiac disease, but strangely it makes them treat me more seriously, because allergy indicates that I can have some serious problems if they feed me something with gluten (well, I know I will have serious problems, even if it doesn't show up immediately). And you really have to talk to them almost as precisely as a lawyer would , mentioning all the obvious stuff that is usually made of flour, because most of them will not get it (there is a thread about it somewhere here, let me look for it... here it is: Open Original Shared Link. And if they still bring you something that contains croutons or anything like that, you have every right to call the waiter and politely, but firmly ask to replace it. Most of them just have no idea what gluten is, that's why they make mistakes.

BTW, I noticed from your signature that you became gluten-free only recently. Could it be that you find it stressful to do all this explaining and questioning at restaurants? I'm asking because I've been Celiac for years, I've eaten out many many times, I've travelled quite a lot including abroad, and to be frank, I still don't like that moment when the waiter approaches and I think to myself "OK... So here we go again " It's so much easier to be able to say "OK, I'll have this and that" without all this going through ingredients! Unfortunately, I've never had a chance to try it myself - I just had to learn how to eat out and survive it! I used to be very shy, now I've managed to "outgrow" it in some fields at least, but I'm still not the kind of person who would shout, thump, and yell for the manager to complain about food in a restaurant

Believe me, ordering food in restaurants might seem so hard to you now, but if you keep trying, it will get easier and easier. Even if you feel like crying, because you explained so well only to find some wheat ingredients in your food again, you should not give up and leave! I take it like this: if I do explain everything and double check before ordering, and they say it will be OK, then it's their responsibility to replace any dish that turns out not to be gluten-free. If I do not explain anything because I assume some food would be gluten-free and it turns out not to be so, then it is my problem. That's why I have learned to speak up, even if it makes me feel embarrassed, because it's me who's going to be sick if I get gluten, and not the waiter!

I hope you will have better experience next time you travel!

[celiacfreeman]

your not alone about getting almost in tears. The person above is right. I've been gluten-free for 8 months and it just get easier. The card I copied out of a book states,

sauces, batter, flour, pasta etc. Wish I could tell you which book I copied it out of.

I would recommend the book "Against the Grain" . Many suggetion on dining our in different type of restuarants. Thai food I jsut discovered most is gluten-free and excellent and about everwhere when you start looking around. Ps I ate the outback on the Vegas strip and everything was okay. Sorry about your trip but it

will get better and you will find people who will really help.

Aslo I make a batch of corn bread and carry it with me, it last 3 days for emergency use when traveling!!

[j9n]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will try the book. I think I am making myself clear and my husband is not afraid to speak up and say "she has food allergies, she will get very sick". I heard Thai food was fairly safe and "real" mexican food is fairly safe too. I remember someone else saying they had a food card to give to them. One place we tried to find out if the french fries were cooked separately and not coated, etc. The waitress would not even check, she told me to just get fruit instead. Hum, maybe I should tip first.

Yes, I am very new to this and only just started to heal. I guess the frustration is that I have been doing everything in my power to heal and one small stupid slipup can make me ill and now, again, I lost my control.

Today I went to the health food store and they still (over a week now) don't have Amy's Rice Crust Pizza or Tinkyada pasta. (Sorry, I guess I am having a bit of a pity party).

It will get better, I know that.

[tammy]

Hi Janine,

I can certainly relate to your valiant efforts that end in tears. I won't go into the many contamination stories that have surfaced even when the staff have assured me that the food is gluten-free. Yes, it is really very frustrating and socially isolating. Now with that said, I think the food card is a great idea. I have found that only dining at the least busiest time of the day and calling ahead of time and speaking directly to the cook as well as the waitress and manager is the way to go for me. I have had both successful and non- successful experiences with Outback.

Keep up the diligence and you will see that you are left with a few choices. Either continue to find the best ways to ensure a gluten-free dining experience or bring food with you when you go out to eat.

We love two Indian restaurants that serve gluten-free foods!

[CarolSchwan]

Sorry to hear your trip did not go well in Vegas. I live in Vegas and can relate to some of your stories, especially the Outback one. I know in some of the coffee shops they marinade their steaks with a mixture that contains soy sauce. So for future reference before you order a steak you may want to find out if it has been marinaded. I find this with Mexican restaurants too. And I know that Vodka is suppose to be gluten free, but I find that it bothers my stomach. You may want to try something else and see if that makes a difference next time you go out. The main thing is to listen to your body and see what works for you and what doesn't. But I think we should all continue to eat out and educate these people about gluten. And when you have a bad experience you should write the manager of the restaurant a letter and let them know how you were treated. Hope your next trip goes better, it does get easier.

Take Care,

Carol

Thanks for the suggestions. I will try the book. I think I am making myself clear and my husband is not afraid to speak up and say "she has food allergies, she will get very sick". I heard Thai food was fairly safe and "real" mexican food is fairly safe too. I remember someone else saying they had a food card to give to them. One place we tried to find out if the french fries were cooked separately and not coated, etc. The waitress would not even check, she told me to just get fruit instead. Hum, maybe I should tip first.

Yes, I am very new to this and only just started to heal. I guess the frustration is that I have been doing everything in my power to heal and one small stupid slipup can make me ill and now, again, I lost my control.

Today I went to the health food store and they still (over a week now) don't have Amy's Rice Crust Pizza or Tinkyada pasta. (Sorry, I guess I am having a bit of a pity party).

It will get better, I know that.

[elonwy]

Along with all that, did you check on the juice in the drink? Not all juice is gluten-free, and I have had severe reactions to several juices, and alway check the label when ordering a mixed drink. I also cannot tolerate grain vodkas, though my reaction is different than a gluten reaction, and based on several other things, I think I am also allergic to wheat, as well as being a celiac. But I digress. If I can't identify the brand, I won't drink the juice. Many bars order these things from restaurant supply stores, so you get some really odd random brands with these things. If there is anything in the ingredients besides Juice, I usually won't risk it.

I highly recommend Triumph Dinings cards. They're cheap, well translated, and hold up well in an abusive purse environment. I had a couple others before going to Triumph, one from the CDF and one from a book. Neither worked well. When I got the triumph cards, wait staff started thanking me for having them.

Open Original Shared Link

He just came out with four new languages too

Hope you feel better.

Elonwy

[aikiducky]

Sorry you got sick. You got lots of good advice here already, I just wanted to add that talking to wait personnel hasn't worked that well for me, I much prefer talking directly to the chef! They've all been really accomodating and much more knowledgeable about what goes into the dishes.

I'd also personally prefer to stay somewhere where I have the option of buying groceries and preparing at least simple food for myself. I always travel with some nuts and raisins, and buy bananas or something, that way I don't get stuck with nothing but coffee shop food to eat.

Pauliina

[Fiddle-Faddle]

So sorry to hear of your frustrating experience. Lotsa good advice here already. I would only add that people ARE just starting to hear about how severe peanut and seafood allergies are, so it may not be a bad idea to say that you are really allergic to wheat, barley, and rye, and that it's just as bad for you as it would be for someone with a severe peanut allergy to get a peanut in their salad by mistake.

Speaking to the manager and chef is a good idea, too, and the Triumph dining cards would probably make it so that there is no possibility of misunderstanding.

[wolfie]

Oh wow....I am sorry that you had such a rough time!!

I do have to second the Triumph Dining cards. They have made eating out for me so much more pleasant. I eat at Cheeseburger in Paradise once per week and I give my card to the server every time and they take it back to the person cooking my meal and the manager. The card is in English on the front and Spanish on the back, very helpful when the cook doesn't speak English very well. I use the American Dining card there and the servers have thanked me numerous times and are very excited when they see it is in Spanish on the back, too, so they have an easier time with the cooks. I have only gotten sick once (knocking on wood) eating there and that was before I found out that they use soy in their seasoning, which I can't have.

I hope you have better luck next time to venture out.

[YankeeDB]

I ate in a Vegas casino offering a prime rib special where they brought me a salad with croutons. Before sending it back, I "marked" one of the lemon wedges with my fingernail, and sure enough, all they did was remove the croutons. I told the waitress I suspected the salad had not been redone but she reassured me (I did not tell her how I knew). I decided to just leave the salad without eating it. When the waitress asked me why I wasn't eating the salad, I repeated my concern and she took it away and THEN brought me a new salad.

Most of my meals in Vegas I ate in my suite at the Jockey Club. Whenever possible, I stay in suites with kitchenettes--it saves me money and worry too, although it's a pain to always be cooking on vacation. Still, it's better than getting sick. Nowadays, though, they use the word "suite" to describe multi-room accommodations that don't necessarily include a kitchette.

I'm now working on a "portable kitchen" I can take with me when travelling: two burners, cookware, food, utensils, and maybe even a small frig, although frig's are easier to come by when travelling--they go under the name "mini-bar".

[sspitzer5]

I was in Las Vegas for a conference last week. Most of the real restaurants at the Venetian (not snack/sandwich places) were great and didn't have a problem modifying food for me. They had experience with Celiacs before. Smith and Wolinsky was good too. But, as usual, the more you pay for dinner, the less likely you are to get gluten.

S

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

For anyone considering a trip to Las Vegas in the future, here is some free advice.

The Mirage Hotel and Casino is the best at catering to gluten free folks.

I have eaten at the Carnegie Deli, Staxx, Samba and Kokomo's (all in the Mirage)without any problems.

Also, when you order a salad, Celiacs need to order their salads like this: "House Salad, no croutons, dressing on the side" -- remember, even if you order it without croutons, it will still be tossed in the same bowl that has croutons in it from the last order. It is an extra step, but you will not have any "hidden gluten" or croutons.

Also, when you come here, plan your trips well in advance. Call each restaurant and speak with the GM or Head Chef -- that way they will know you are coming and when. All of the restaurants in the Mirage have always been a great experience for me (I think Lynne and Armetta will back me up here)

Lastly, when you come to Vegas, DO NOT eat in most of the buffets or the coffee shops -- they are made for convienence, NOT the gluten free diet. You will get glutened at 90% of those places.

Also, make sure you guys bring gluten-free breakfast bars, lara bars, snacks and such when you come here -- it makes your experience much easier.

I am always an email away if you need help in Vegas.

Bronco

[Nancym]

The dining cards are pretty good about explaining everything. I've been having very good luck with them. (Triumph Brand). I've got a big fat stack of them in my purse.

[kristend]

For anyone considering a trip to Las Vegas in the future, here is some free advice.

The Mirage Hotel and Casino is the best at catering to gluten free folks.

I have eaten at the Carnegie Deli, Staxx, Samba and Kokomo's (all in the Mirage)without any problems.

Also, when you order a salad, Celiacs need to order their salads like this: "House Salad, no croutons, dressing on the side" -- remember, even if you order it without croutons, it will still be tossed in the same bowl that has croutons in it from the last order. It is an extra step, but you will not have any "hidden gluten" or croutons.

Also, when you come here, plan your trips well in advance. Call each restaurant and speak with the GM or Head Chef -- that way they will know you are coming and when. All of the restaurants in the Mirage have always been a great experience for me (I think Lynne and Armetta will back me up here)

Lastly, when you come to Vegas, DO NOT eat in most of the buffets or the coffee shops -- they are made for convienence, NOT the gluten free diet. You will get glutened at 90% of those places.

Also, make sure you guys bring gluten-free breakfast bars, lara bars, snacks and such when you come here -- it makes your experience much easier.

I am always an email away if you need help in Vegas.

Bronco

Hey! I am actually planning a vegas trip for april and last time I was there (prior to being diagnosed with Celiac) was 2 years ago and had a great experience dining at Samba. I am looking forward to going back there, what was your experience with eating gluten free at Samba? What do you recommend?? This will be my first vacation since being gluten free and I'm very nervous. Any advice you can provide would be very helpful.

Thank you in advance,

Kristen

[lovegrov]

Sorry it went so badly. You do have to be very firm and very clear. I ALWAYS make a huge deal about the croutons with the waiter. Not only can I not have them but picking them out of the salad doesn't work. Bread and flour can't touch my food. My stuff can't be fried in oil used for products with gluten. Any sauce or seasoning has to be checked thoroughly. And I ALWAYS ask about soy sauce as part of a marinade because many people don't realize it has wheat.

richard

[floridanative]

I too find the using the word allergic works much better, even if it's not really true. I know many with Celiac that had great trips to Vegas (not on this board) and most of them use the word allergice to get the attn. needed. However, beware that even using that word is not a surefire way to get safe food. I was recently at a hoity toity place for a business lunch. The place knew I needed a gluten free meal before I arrived. I spoke to the watier who knew what I could have on the menu...it wasn't much. I ordered a salad with grilled chicken but croutons were not listed on the menu (they were listed for some of the salads) so I didn't order without croutons (big faux pas) so of course my salad arrived with artfully placed croutons around the bowl. It was the only time I didn't remember to mention no croutons, and the first time I was served them since my dx. I don't care how expensive a place is, if you don't go over everything with them, they may not feed you safely.

[tasha]

Hi, I was in Vegas for 6 days in August and had a great gluten free experience. People should not be discouraged from going, I had the most options there than any other places I have ever been to. I stayed at the Venetian and ate only in the restaurants there. I should add that they were pricey, but even breakfast at the Grand Luxe Cafe I had no problem (which is not expensive).

When ordering, I make sure I am the last to order so I'm fresh on the waiters mind as they head to the kitchen. I ask them if they know what gluten is. If not, I explain and mention cross contamination.

I don't usually order steak because of marinades. There was the largest selection of gluten-free desserts I have ever seen and they were fabulous. I would especially recommend the restaurant Aqua.