124 replies to this topic

[idonteatwheat]

I always wondered how much some chef's cared about making something safe for a celiac. I was talking to a friend this morning and she mentioned a facebook post from someone she knew and how he would give people asking for gluten free food regular pasta. I'm not normally so quick to post this but if you look at where he has worked you can see he has has some serious training. Here's the link to his post:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100001260439226&sk=wall

and here is his post....

Damian Cardone
Gluten free is bullXXX!! Flour and bread have been a staple of life for thousands, THOUSANDS of years. People who claim to be gluten intolorent dont realize that its all in there disturbed liitle heads. People ask me for gluten free pasta in my restaurant all the time, I tell em sure, Then I serve serve em our pasta, Which I make from scratch with high gluten flour. And you know what? nothing, NOTHING! ever happens! People leave talking about how good they feel gluten free and guess what, They just had a full dose! Idiots!

Here's his info on his profile...
Damian J. Cardone has apprienticed under Swiss, Master Chef Kurt Wigger. Damian was the Executive Chef at the Sopris Chalet, Restaurant, Aspen, Co. Executive Banquet Chef at the Tavern on the Green N.Y.C.
After apprienticing under Master Chef Kurt Wigger, Switzerland. Whom, was the last person to study under Du Franze, who was the last person on earth to study under Georges Agustus Esscoffier.
Spending time between Aspen and NYC. In 05 and 06, Damian upheld the position as the wedding/banquet Chef at the Tavern on the Green. Has apeared on Regis and Kelli, Project Runway, numerous P.B.S. segments. Personally cooked for Billy Crystal, Martin Short, Tom Hanks, Segourney Weaver, and George Clooney. Currently resides in Glenwood Springs Colorado as a private chef for hire, and learning how to make tacos.

I am not a friend of his, it is all out there for the world to see, for now anyhow. I have to say I am amazed at the anger and the stupidity of his post. I would love to know where he is working right now and let them know about it. And we wonder why we react sometimes when we eat out....

[luvs2eat]

I sent him a nice message telling him I'd keep watching because a lawsuit will be coming if he's telling people he's serving them gluten free pasta and intentionally serving gluten-filled pasta! What a world class jerk.

[IrishHeart]

I am speechless...and if you have read any of my posts, you know that doesn't happen very often...

I am thinking of many things I would call him, but they would be edited for sure.

[kareng]

I have something in mind to try to stop him. If we leave a bunch of messages, he will know he might be in trouble and delete the post. I need that post to stay on because it will be a big hassle to subpeona deleted posts from FB and it probably not go anywhere.

[ndw3363]

That is unbelievable!! I'm to the point where I'm actually scared to mention to restaurants that I need to be gluten free. Some seem very good about it, but others are just completely uneducated. We don't go out to eat very often because it just isn't an enjoyable experience for me....even if I order off of a "gluten free menu", I'm still paranoid the next two days about every little "feeling" I have - was that a stomach bubble, am I getting a migraine, did I get glutened or am I just moody??

[ciavyn]

This is terrifying. How could you treat anyone like that? We've had pollen around us for millenia, too, but you don't see anyone disregarding allergies! What a jerk. I've been privileged to eat at really cool restaurants who enjoy taking care of me. I hope this guy stays in CO, and keeps doing posts like this so everyone around him knows exactly who he is. What a cretin.

[kwylee]

If he is still working as a chef he needs to be fired, immediately. And if he is a restaurant owner, he needs to be put out of business. That will get him where an ignorant person hurts.

[idonteatwheat]

I had to do a few things this morning but came back and did a bit more googling. He appears to work for a restaurant called Beau Jo's in Glenwood Springs Colorado. If you look he is mentioned on this page,
http://www.merchantc...934/review/list
http://www.beaujos.com/
They have a bunch of gluten-free items on their menu... Looks like a chain. I imagine they would love to know about this fabulous chef who is a part time doctor/psychiatrist since apparently he knows better than his customers if they do have in fact celiac disease. I wonder how many people have left there and been sick for days or had vacations ruined because of him.

Here is a quote from their site..."Our commitment to you, our customers, neighbors, friends and employees is that we will operate in a socially responsible manner. Creating the highest quality food along with healthy options and choices for those with dietary challenges."

I am just appalled, I've never eaten there, don't even know this guy other than the comment a friend made and it still has me incensed over it. I know only too well how it is to be glutened when eating out. It isn't a trivial thing in the least.

[kareng]

I had to do a few things this morning but came back and did a bit more googling. He appears to work for a restaurant called Beau Jo's in Glenwood Springs Colorado. If you look he is mentioned on this page,
http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Beau.Jos.Pizza.970-928-0934/review/list
http://www.beaujos.com/
They have a bunch of gluten-free items on their menu... Looks like a chain. I imagine they would love to know about this fabulous chef who is a part time doctor/psychiatrist since apparently he knows better than his customers if they do have in fact celiac disease. I wonder how many people have left there and been sick for days or had vacations ruined because of him.

Here is a quote from their site..."Our commitment to you, our customers, neighbors, friends and employees is that we will operate in a socially responsible manner. Creating the highest quality food along with healthy options and choices for those with dietary challenges."

I am just appalled, I've never eaten there, don't even know this guy other than the comment a friend made and it still has me incensed over it. I know only too well how it is to be glutened when eating out. It isn't a trivial thing in the least.

That mention was from 2007. Probably doesn't work there anymore but it wouldn't hurt to shoot thier corporate office a copy of his post.

[idonteatwheat]

That mention was from 2007. Probably doesn't work there anymore but it wouldn't hurt to shoot thier corporate office a copy of his post.

Opps your right, I missed that, but it probably would not hurt to let them know just so they can address it since who knows what sort of influence he had on what is done in that location now if he no longer works there.

I'm probably a tad bit oversensitive since I was glutened on Saturday and am still suffering from the effects of it.

[kareng]

Opps your right, I missed that, but it probably would not hurt to let them know just so they can address it since who knows what sort of influence he had on what is done in that location now if he no longer works there.

I'm probably a tad bit oversensitive since I was glutened on Saturday and am still suffering from the effects of it.

Looking at the Pizza places website, doesn't look like they have a place in Glenwood Springs any longer or ever.

[Darissa]

I wonder how many times this happens when you go to out to eat.

[idonteatwheat]

Looking at the Pizza places website, doesn't look like they have a place in Glenwood Springs any longer or ever.

From their website they make reference to the Glenwood Springs restaurant still being open in 2008. I only looked because I didn't want to implicate them if I was wrong. I'm just hoping if he is still working there that they will address it with him (I did contact them).

Honestly I just posted because I was appalled that what I had suspected for a bit actually is true for some chefs. If you all want me to edit out his name or delete posts just let me know. I've just had a hard road this past year with repeated glutening causing some horrible ataxia and me to be incapacitated for a bit.

[Jestgar]

Currently resides in Glenwood Springs Colorado as a private chef for hire, and learning how to make tacos.

He appears to be unemployed...

[judysj]

Well I did just make screen prints of that entire conversation, his home page info, and the main part of his main page (the top). Copied it onto a Word document.