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A Shout Out For Triumph Dining Cards

elonwy

By elonwy
in Gluten-Free Restaurants

Recommended Posts

elonwy Enthusiast
elonwy
Posted

I bought my triumph dining cards a while ago, and at first was not entirely impressed ( the first place I showed it to said they didn't feel comfortable serving me and asked us to leave).

I now think they are the best thing that has happened to me since I got diagnosed.

I went to a Thai restaurant near my house that I love, I've been going there and just ordering the soup cause I know they are safe, but haven't been able to comunnicate much more than "Does this have soy sauce"

Triumph cards are geared towards cuisine, which I find helpful for myself as well, and we were waiting for our friends to join us so I decided to jump start my ordering process and gave the card to the waitress, showing her the Thai side. She stood there reading it, at one point exclaiming "wow" and then asked me to pick something out on the menu that we could discuss. I choose the spicy noodles, which is my favorite Thai noodle dish. She went back, I saw the kitchen staff reading the card, and then came back to tell me that they would just leave the soy sauce out, but it wouldn't be a problem.

When my friends came in, they began to order, and chose a steamed mussel appetizer. not really thinking I exclaimed " can I have that?" She thought for a minute, and said yes, just not the dipping sauce. I felt kind of embarrased for having blurted out like that, I'm trying to make it so not every single dinner conversation with friends is about celiac. My friend ordered Pad Thai and the waitress smiled at me and said "you can't have that!" Amazingly enough it difussed the wierdness, everyone laughed, and I was so grateful.

My meal was amazing, and it was so good to be sitting in a restaurant having a noodle dish.

I couldn't have done it by myself. I've eaten at several restaurants with these cards, and it takes a great deal of the edge off of the worry of "did he/she understand that, did I remember to ask about everything."

I can say its the best ten bucks I've ever spent.

Elonwy

I forgot a detail - I asked the waitress if everything in Thai was worded right, and if made sense and she said it was perfect and thanked me for having it.

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celiachap Apprentice
celiachap
Posted

Glad to hear that the Triumph Dining Cards are working out well for you. I've always enjoyed various cuisines of the world, but have not gone to restaurants more than once or twice since my diagnosis. I recently received a set of Triumph cards, and am looking forward to using them in the near future. They are very impressinve, and I carry them in my wallet "just in case" I get tempted to visit a new, or familiar, restaruant.

Thanks for sharing! :D

FaithInScienceToo Contributor
FaithInScienceToo
Posted

THANK YOU for sharing about those!

I just ordered 2 sets - one for my sweetheart's car - in case he wants to get take-out :-)

They aren't even expensive! Yippee!

Gina

Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted

I got my set of triumph cards about 3 months ago but still not ready to eat out yet. They are in my wallet and hopefully will get used someday soon. :)

hez Enthusiast
hez
Posted

Stupid question-Where do I get the triumph dining cards?

Thanks,

Hez

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

I was going to ask the same thing--that is in the event that I ever start eating out again!

elonwy Enthusiast
elonwy
Posted
  • Author

I guess I should have added that. Whoops.

Open Original Shared Link

I got the set of six. They are nicely laminated, so I think they'll last me a while, and I have mine in my purse always.

Elonwy

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Matilda Enthusiast
Matilda
Posted

..

laurelfla Enthusiast
laurelfla
Posted

thanks for posting about this! i had thought about ordering them but had never laid eyes on them so i wasn't sure. it's really good to know i'll be able to eat Thai!!

Gina, is that your cat in your avatar? i laugh out loud every time i see it! i bought reindeer antlers for my cat the other day and you've never seen such misery. :D it's hilarious!

nettiebeads Apprentice
nettiebeads
Posted

I also highly recommend them. I got mine the same day we were taking my mother out for her 84th b'day. I showed the american to the waiter and told him I was thinking of the beef tips. He took it to the chef, came back with the report that the meat comes preseasoned with soy sauce and couldn't recommend it. But any of the grilled chicken or fish dishes would be okay. Saved by the card! :) The only negative experience I had that night was my brother sitting next to me waving the freshly baked bread sticks under my nose and chanting "wheat........wheat.........wheat" :angry:

Annette

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

Elonwy--Thanks for the link--I'm going to order them and hopefully will get up the nerve to go out and use them! :)

Moongirl Community Regular
Moongirl
Posted
I guess I should have added that. Whoops.

Open Original Shared Link

I got the set of six. They are nicely laminated, so I think they'll last me a while, and I have mine in my purse always.

Elonwy

thanks for the info, i just got dx...so i havent ventured out yet....but im not going to be scared just very picky! :rolleyes: just wanted to ask though, did u get the all cuisine one? whats the difference?

thanks a bunch

nettiebeads Apprentice
nettiebeads
Posted
thanks for the info, i just got dx...so i havent ventured out yet....but im not going to be scared just very picky! :rolleyes: just wanted to ask though, did u get the all cuisine one? whats the difference?

thanks a bunch

I have the all cuisine one. Well, really six. All of them are printed in English on one side and the other in whatever language - Spanish, Japanese, Thai, and I foget. (not that many options in my town). It explains to each nationality what we cannot have and what possible cross-contaminations can occure. And there is differences in soy sauces. Thai cooking uses a differently prepared sauce than other cuisines that, if original, we can have. There is a load of infomation on each card in very concise but easy to understand terms. You will not regret having them.

Annette

  • 3 weeks later...
Candy Contributor
Candy
Posted

Chinese food is mostly rice, meat, and vegetables ,so I can eat any of that.I'll probably order Chinese takeout for New Years Eve! Chow Mein for me . But I don't know what their fried noodles are made of -I couldn't seem to eat them,and I don't know about their egg rolls-What is that dough made of? I have to ask them?It costs about $3.65 a pint including rice and more if meat is added.Egg rolls$1. Always very good. I always eat at home so I never eat out much.But i guess it is difficult to try to findgluten free restaurants.I could easily think of things to serve in one esp.soups thickned with potato flour.And gluten free baked goods,and all reg. meats veggies and candies.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted
Chinese food is mostly rice, meat, and vegetables ,so I can eat any of that.I'll probably order Chinese takeout for New Years Eve! Chow Mein for me . But I don't know what their fried noodles are made of -I couldn't seem to eat them,and I don't know about their egg rolls-What is that dough made of? I have to ask them?

Actually, chinese food is often risky. They use soy sauce in many of their sauces - or other sauces which also use wheat. Chow mein uses wheat based noodles, and the egg roll wrappers are also wheat based. Anything fried is likely to be coated in a flour you can't have. White sauces can be ok, but you have to check on the thickener.

par18 Apprentice
par18
Posted
I guess I should have added that. Whoops.

Open Original Shared Link

I got the set of six. They are nicely laminated, so I think they'll last me a while, and I have mine in my purse always.

Elonwy

Got mine in Aug. Finally used last night to eat Chinese. Everything went fine. I met Ross Cohen, the person that came up with this idea at a local support group meeting.

Tom

IronedOut Apprentice
IronedOut
Posted

Has anyone used the Restuarant Guide that can be ordered with the cards?

I love eating out and have really felt the pinch of having to be careful. Thanks.

luvs2eat Collaborator
luvs2eat
Posted

Just ordered mine!!

pumpkin Rookie
pumpkin
Posted

This is good news! I ordered them in December and I'm anxiously awaiting them as well as the book.

When ordering Asian make sure you ask for rice noodles because a lot of places use Japanese noodles and they are not gluten-free. This was told to me by a sweet Thai woman at her restaurant in Hampton, VA. If you want the rice paper rolls with the basil and meat call ahead and request the rice noodles.

So far in my limited dining out experiences since being diagnosed it's been all good. It was frustrating over the holidays during travel time on planes/airports though.

teebs in WV Apprentice
teebs in WV
Posted

I just received the restaurant guide and it is great! Sure, you can get most of the info that is in it by researching the internet, but it is nice to have so much compiled in one handy book. I also got the dining cards, but have not used them yet.

Moongirl Community Regular
Moongirl
Posted

Just got my book too, it has a lot of helpful ideas for wherever u live...nice to have something like that when u just need too look up something quick! :D

Judyin Philly Enthusiast
Judyin Philly
Posted
Just got my book too, it has a lot of helpful ideas for wherever u live...nice to have something like that when u just need too look up something quick! :D

Hi Moongirl and Tracey

So you both like the dining book and think it's worth the extra $$?

Does it list all the menues along with the gluten-free dishes?

Anyone else have imput on the triumph dining guide book?

I'm going to get the cards.

Judy in Philly

Canadian Karen Community Regular
Canadian Karen
Posted

It wouldn't be worth it for me to get them. We never go out to dinner anyway.... <_<

Not only because of Celiac Disease, but going out with four kids (including 4 yr old twin boys) is an experience you don't want to go through too often! Not only is it expensive, but messy, especially when the boys were younger (I swear there were a few restaurants that were taking our license plate number as we were leaving so they can ban us in the future!!!!).

As for getting a babysitter to go out to dinner, well, there's not too many people I would feel comfortable leaving the children with and actually have a good, worry-free time, so why bother?

Karen

teebs in WV Apprentice
teebs in WV
Posted

Judy,

Personally, I like the guide. It lists restaurants by state, and indicates if they have a gluten-free menu, an extensive gluten-free menu, a chain restaurant with a gluten-free menu, or if the restaurant does not have a specific gluten-free menu, but the staff has been accomodating to other Celiacs. There is also a section of gluten-free menus for chain restaurants. Also included are some helpful tips on dining out in general - when trying to follow a gluten-free diet.

I thought it was worth the $$, but I am new to this disease and am desperate for information!

Let me know if you have any more ??

Canadian Karen Community Regular
Canadian Karen
Posted
THANK YOU for sharing about those!

I just ordered 2 sets - one for my sweetheart's car - in case he wants to get take-out :-)

They aren't even expensive! Yippee!

Gina

Gina,

I just have to say that I get a hoot out of your avatar every time I see it! I LOVE IT!!!!

Karen

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