Wildfire - Be Cautious Of gluten-free Menu

[nzsc]

Wildfire has a gluten-free menu, but those with sensitivity should be cautious. I have celiac diseas and am vrysensitive, so I donot eat anything processed on shared equipment bc I worry about cross contamination. On their gluten-free menu, they have a roasted beet and goat cheese salad. One ingredient within that salad is marcona almonds. I realize that nuts are gluten-free, but some brands of nuts out of theshell are processed on machinery that also processes wheat. Wildfire marcona almonds are processed on machinry thatis also processed on wheat.

When I saw thisitem on the menu, I asked my server about this. She did not know, but checked with the chef. She came back to confirm that yes, the marcona almonds are processed on machinery that alsoprocesses wheat andthe item should not be on the gluten-free menu. I asked bc I searched the intrenet for a nut company that makes marcona almonds that are gluten-free. I could not find one. I buy my nuts from nuts.com. They do sell many gluten-free nuts, but their marcona almonds are not gluten-free.

This makes me wonder how many other items on the gluten-free menu are not gluten-free due to cross contamination during p rocessing. Wildfire is an upscale, expansive restaurant that is certificed gluten-free. But after that exprience, they lostmy business.

[SMRI]

This is where the gluten-free fad diets hurt us.  Sure, the ingredients are gluten-free, but CC is an issue for sure.  Hopefully your question sparked the chef to look into things better.  If this is a place you like to go, maybe call and make an appointment with the chef to talk about CC and gluten-free diets for those with Celiac.  He may or may not be receptive to the idea but it's worth a shot.  Without education, nothing will get better.

 

Is this the Wildfire place that has the meat on the rotisseries as you walk in?

[kareng]

Wildfire is known for being especially good for Celiacs. Sounds like they had a very slight glitch as processed on the same machinery does not mean the nuts contain gluten. Most food doesn't tell you how it is processed.

They have a gluten-free Mac & cheese that is ...... Sooooooo yummy!

The kind I found on the Internet say " same facility" which is not the same as same machinery.

[nzsc]

SMRI, no, they do not have meat on a rotisserie when you walk in.

Kareng, yes, Wildfire has a good reputation for being good with people with celiac disease, but I do not think it is a "small" glitch. If you have a gluten-free menu and are gig certified, and have "surprise" inspections specifically for gluten cross contamination, I would expect better. The manager did apologize and said it was a mistake and the marcona almonds should not be on the gluten-free menu at all. But how many people unknowingly ate this and were sick? I am a bit cautious with all foods I eat, bc I am very sensitive to gluten, but if I eat out occassionally and pay Wildfire prices and am assured that it is actually gluten-free, I expected better. I eat at home about 99 percent oqf the time.

As I said, they lost my business. I hope they improve. I posted this just so that others that may be sensitive to gluten and gluten cross contamination will be aware.