Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

We're Everywhere!

NoGlutenCooties

Recommended Posts

NoGlutenCooties Contributor
NoGlutenCooties
Posted

So there's this awesome Italian place near where I work that is a common spot for retirement parties, transfer luncheons, etc.  I take my team there every year for our Holiday lunch/party.  This year I was scared.  Like terrified.  A new Celiac trying to eat in an Italian restaurant???   :o   I scoped out their menu online and had decided to take a chance on their steak and a plain baked potato.  But I was still scared.

 

So we get there and the owner is there helping out - like I said my company sends a ton of business his way so he always takes good care of us.  I pull him aside and tell him I'm gluten intolerant and start asking him about the steak and baked potato... no flour?  nothing added to it? etc, etc.  He says, well you could do that... but we have a whole gluten-free menu now.  (Really??) But I'm skeptical... because as you know, "gluten-free" in a restaurant doesn't mean it is still gluten-free by the time it gets to your table.  So I tell him, I'm diagnosed Celiac so it's really important that I don't accidentally get ANY gluten in my food....

 

He tells me how he got tested but the tests came back "iffy" so he went gluten-free himself and how much better he feels!  He started eating gluten-free pasta and experimenting with different flours, etc. so decided to add it to the menu.  He cooks the gluten-free stuff completely separate and can guarantee there's no gluten in it.  No cross-contamination issues.

 

You could have knocked me over with a feather.

 

So I ended up getting the eggplant parm with penne.  :)   It was my first experience with gluten-free pasta because I've been sticking to just whole, natural food and haven't branched out into gluten-free processed stuff.  I honestly couldn't tell the difference.  It was awesome.

 

If this trend continues, I predict that one day the "regular" menu will be gluten-free and there will be a tiny little section in the corner for the gluten-eaters.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

Isn't a wonderful feeling? To eat out with confidence?

 

We ate in a chain Italian restaurant once at an out of town restaurant.  Even though we have eaten successfully at the chain in town, I was still leary (they offered a gluten-free menu).  When I went to explain, the waitress brought the manager over.  She had celiac disease too!  I was so relieved.  The meal was great.

 

But, here's the best restaurant experience….

 

Visiting in Tucson, Arizona and we dined in a 100% gluten free restaurant.  The owners are gluten free.  The breads (even French) are to die for!  I had a BBQ pulled pork sandwich, my husband a breakfast quesidilla and my daughter pizza and a salad.  It was terrific!

They have been in business for two years and every table was full.  I think they're going to last!  

NoGlutenCooties Contributor
NoGlutenCooties
Posted
  • Author

The best part was that in the past I always left the restaurant with that OMG-I-ate-too-much feeling, went home and slept 2 hours and woke up the next morning looking and feeling pregnant.  You know the feeling... you look down and say to yourself... Who the hell invited you???  (And where are my fat pants?)  Not this time!  :D

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

maybe you could make a new topic in the restaurant section and tell everyone?  then people in the area could go there.

NoGlutenCooties Contributor
NoGlutenCooties
Posted
  • Author

maybe you could make a new topic in the restaurant section and tell everyone?  then people in the area could go there.

 

Great idea.  Thanks.

notme Experienced
notme
Posted

coots - you are my eyes and my ears - i go to nj every summer (i'm from west milford/oak ridge/ jefferson twp)  and i am needing places around hackensack - my neice lives in an apartment there and works in hackensack hospital.  every time we go to visit (rooftop pool!!  woo hoo!!  lolz) we always stay later than we mean to then try to get back to oak ridge during rush - UGH - and i am always starving!!!  would be nice just to eat dinner and let the traffic die down  :) 

NoGlutenCooties Contributor
NoGlutenCooties
Posted
  • Author

coots - you are my eyes and my ears - i go to nj every summer (i'm from west milford/oak ridge/ jefferson twp)  and i am needing places around hackensack - my neice lives in an apartment there and works in hackensack hospital.  every time we go to visit (rooftop pool!!  woo hoo!!  lolz) we always stay later than we mean to then try to get back to oak ridge during rush - UGH - and i am always starving!!!  would be nice just to eat dinner and let the traffic die down  :)

 

I'm new at this and haven't dared do the restaurant thing up until yesterday (with the exception of breakfast a couple of times).... but I'll definitely keep you in mind.  There is another Italian place in Clifton I've been wanting to try... the chef's daughter is Celiac and apparently they "get it" too.  I'll keep you posted.

(I'm actually not too far from Hackensack Hospital myself.)

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


notme Experienced
notme
Posted

I'm new at this and haven't dared do the restaurant thing up until yesterday (with the exception of breakfast a couple of times).... but I'll definitely keep you in mind.  There is another Italian place in Clifton I've been wanting to try... the chef's daughter is Celiac and apparently they "get it" too.  I'll keep you posted.

(I'm actually not too far from Hackensack Hospital myself.)

coolio :)  there is a pizza place in oak ridge that is safe, if you happen out that way.  also, mama's (but that is closer to the delaware than the hudson lolz) out in hackettstown.  annnd the restaurant my sister works at is finally making things 'safe' so there is another place in sparta (sussex county, tho) 

 

yep, she is an r.n. at the hospital, her apartment is within walking distance.  she likes it there, we like to say 'we're going to swim in the rooftop pool' lolz  i always sing her the hackensack song  :D

WestCoastGirl Apprentice
WestCoastGirl
Posted

Wow, I'm originally from New Jersey and am loving hearing all the place names. :) Moved from Bergen County (River Vale) but am very familiar with Hackettstown - my aunt lives in that area. And I lived in Sparta for a year. :)

NoGlutenCooties Contributor
NoGlutenCooties
Posted
  • Author

A friend and I tried the place in Clifton last night... La Riviera Trattoria... it was awesome!  A bit pricey, IMO, but worth it.  The gluten-free menu is an actual, 2-sided, full menu!!  All of their pasta is imported from Italy and they sell it there too.  I'll post it in the restaurant section.  My friend is not gluten-free and she said the gluten food was really good too.

C-Girl Contributor
C-Girl
Posted

I've been constantly surprised and to be honest, floored by the restaurant managers here. I went to my favorite local Chinese place and asked if they could make things gluten-free, didn't believe it when she said just about everything but noodles. So I asked to talk to the manager, and for sure - the owner's best friend is celiac, and they made special arrangements so that all sauces have gluten-free versions, they only fry in corn starch, etc. She was so sweet - it really made my day since I was really, really tired of my own cooking. Another one of my previous favorites has a celiac manager, and a third has an entire gluten-free menu. 

 

While I don't agree with all the paleo-fad followers and gluten hypochondriacs, I do appreciate that they've made our plight much more visible.

notme Experienced
notme
Posted

Wow, I'm originally from New Jersey and am loving hearing all the place names. :) Moved from Bergen County (River Vale) but am very familiar with Hackettstown - my aunt lives in that area. And I lived in Sparta for a year. :)

small world, lolz - i bet you know where the st. moritz is, then (lake mohawk) <i lived there and on sunset lake (off of glen road) when i lived in sparta.  got married in blairstown, where hope is never far away (because it's the next exit haha)  i had cousins and aunts who lived in maywood :)  both of my parents grew up in wayne.  if you get out to visit your aunt, you can eat at mama's <their cheesesteak is nom nom nom !

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,671
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Paul1567
    Newest Member
    Paul1567
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Rejoicephd
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Rejoicephd · Posted

      That and my nutritionist also said that drinking cider is one of the worst drink choices for me, given that I have candida overgrowth.  She said the combination of the alcohol and sugar would be very likely to worsen my candida problem.  She suggested that if I drink, I go for clear vodka, either neat or with a splash of cranberry.   So in summary, I am giving ciders a rest.  Whether it's a gluten risk or sugars and yeast overgrowth, its just not worth it.
    • Inkie
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Inkie · Posted

      Thank you for the information ill will definitely bring it into practice .
    • Scott Adams
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      While plain, pure tea leaves (black, green, or white) are naturally gluten-free, the issue often lies not with the tea itself but with other ingredients or processing. Many flavored teas use barley malt or other gluten-containing grains as a flavoring agent, which would be clearly listed on the ingredient label. Cross-contamination is another possibility, either in the facility where the tea is processed or, surprisingly, from the tea bag material itself—some tea bags are sealed with a wheat-based glue. Furthermore, it's important to consider that your reaction could be to other substances in tea, such as high levels of tannins, which can be hard on the stomach, or to natural histamines or other compounds that can cause a non-celiac immune response. The best way to investigate is to carefully read labels for hidden ingredients, try switching to a certified gluten-free tea brand that uses whole leaf or pyramid-style bags, and see if the reaction persists.
    • Scott Adams
      Inconclusive results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This is a challenging and confusing situation. The combination of a positive EMA—which is a highly specific marker rarely yielding false positives—alongside strongly elevated TTG on two separate occasions, years apart, is profoundly suggestive of celiac disease, even in the absence of biopsy damage. This pattern strongly aligns with what is known as "potential celiac disease," where the immune system is clearly activated, but intestinal damage has not yet become visible under the microscope. Your concern about the long-term risk of continued gluten consumption is valid, especially given your family's experience with the consequences of delayed diagnosis. Since your daughter is now at an age where her buy-in is essential for a gluten-free lifestyle, obtaining a definitive answer is crucial for her long-term adherence and health. Given that she is asymptomatic yet serologically positive, a third biopsy now, after a proper 12-week challenge, offers the best chance to capture any microscopic damage that may have developed, providing the concrete evidence needed to justify the dietary change. This isn't about wanting her to have celiac; it's about wanting to prevent the insidious damage that can occur while waiting for symptoms to appear, and ultimately giving her the unambiguous "why" she needs to accept and commit to the necessary treatment. This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
    • Scott Adams
      Medication

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Welcome to the community! Generally, for a gluten challenge before celiac disease blood tests, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is considered safe and should not interfere with your antibody results. The medications you typically need to avoid are those like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) that can cause intestinal irritation, which could potentially complicate the interpretation of an endoscopy if you were to have one. However, it is absolutely crucial that you confirm this with either your gastroenterologist or your surgeon before your procedure. They know the specifics of your case and can give you the definitive green light, ensuring your surgery is comfortable and your celiac testing remains accurate. Best of luck with your surgery tomorrow
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.