First Eating Out Experience, Where Did I Go Wrong?

[eden-arteaga]

I'm a newbie. I've been gluten free for only two weeks, (and even within those two weeks gluten keeps sneaking in.) I haven't yet been tested for Celiac's, I've done my own self diagnosis and I generally feel a lot better not eating gluten. So last night, my boyfriend of two months decided he wanted to take me to dinner. He picked a Japanese restaurant. The Geisha House in Hollywood,Ca. I figured that would be safe. I called ahead and the man on the phone assured me they could met my needs. When we got there the waitress was already aware of my issues and was very helpful in suggesting items and finding out from the chief if they would be safe. I started with a glass of red wine and some endomeme (that's safe right?) Then I ordered sashimi and I brought my own gluten free soy sauce. My boyfriend ordered some salmon and the chief even prepared his food with any gluten on the side so I could try his if I wanted. Which I did. I also ordered some King Crab legs. No gluten there, right? During the meal everything went well. The manager checked with us to make sure everything was okay, and it was! Everything was delicious. Then desert time came. They had crème Brule which I heard is okay, and after the waitress checked with the chief she came back and asked if coconut rum was okay. I assumed it was, and we ordered the crème Brule. It was great! But then I started feeling sick. We were supposed to go out after for drinks and dancing, but we never made it. I asked my boyfriend to take me home, and much to his disappointment he obliged. At home I was as sick as a dog. I hadn't been sick like that in over a week. I'm still feeling it this morning. Where did I go wrong?? I thought I was doing good, and being cautious. I was so upset, I cried myself to sleep. I'm starting to wonder if I really do have Celiac's or if it's something else. My symptoms seem in line, the headaches, diarrhea, nausea, anemic for as long as I can remember...and up until last night no gluten made me feel better. My poor boyfriend felt so bad, he kept apologizing like it was his fault. What's a girl to do??

[minibabe]

I personally did not think that creme brule was okay? Also you have to check about the wine I know that some are okay and some are not. Also, did you kiss him after he ate his non gluten-free items?. I make my BF rinse out his mouth before I kiss him after he eats anything. Maybe next time try a gluten-free restaruant. You might have a better experience. I have been to places where they say it is okay and its not, it was most likly cross contamination.

Sorry that you had a bad experience.

I Hope that you feel better

Amanda NY

[penguin]

Sorry you're feeling crappy

Did you try your bf's dish after he had already had some? Was there bread anywhere near the plate? Did you use the same fork? How were the crab legs cooked? Was there beer in the steaming liquid?

Creme brulee is be safe in most cases, but you always have to check. All creme brulee *should* have in it is cream, sugar, eggs, and vanilla bean (or as was the case last night, coconut liqeur) I've never seen creme brulee with gluten in it.

Sometimes it's hard to know, but you haven't been gluten-free very long, and maybe you just got sick.

[eden-arteaga]

Thank you guys!! You brought up a lot of good points, and things I should be thinking about. I appreciate it! Maybe it's a little too soon to start venturing out.

[CarlaB]

I've been very careful every time I've eaten out and I still sometimes get glutened. If his salmon was grilled where they grilled someone else's with teriyaki, that could have been it. I personally think cc is a huge issue in restaurants that don't know about gluten-free. It takes us so long to learn in our own homes to make our kitchens gluten-free that as much as we'd like to think we can explain it in a restaurant, we'll still have issues.

I have a handful of restaurants I'll go to. Most of them are the ones with a gluten-free menu, the other three are local places. There is a restaurant across the street from my house and the bartender is really nice (we eat in the bar). His kid is even gluten free due to autism. He tries really hard to get my food gluten free, but the chef/owner will never come out and talk to me. I have met him, but I don't think he takes it seriously, or else he just doesn't understand customer service as well as he understands cooking. Anyway, they've glutened me twice after careful consideration of what I ordered. Eating out is a risk every time, all we can do is work to lower the risk. I don't eat across the street anymore ... but we've gone over for a cocktail while dinner is in the oven

Sorry you're feeling bad. My brain was on vacation for five days after getting glutened on Friday. Some people would consider us lucky ... we can get stoned off a dinner roll and have the effects last five days!!

[Guest nini]

I've found that no matter how careful you are with educating the restaurant, there is always a risk of cross contamination... You can either choose to not ever eat out again (which I don't recommend) or you can do everything you possibly can (which you did) and then take the risk... I'm sorry you got sick though. I would bet it was something on your boyfriends plate or just cross contamination from the kitchen.

My husband got really upset one night after we went to a Mexican restaurant and he was so sure that everything would be safe and my daughter and I both got sick that night... we haven't been there since. It was probably the chips, they were probably fried in oil with flour tortillas or onion rings... so the oil was probably contaminated... we were so careful about everything and still it happens...

[CarlaB]

I agree, Nini, never eating out is not the way to go! You've got to live, even if once in a while you get sick from contamination. I'm finding that I get glutened less and less as I gain more experience from my mistakes.

[gfp]

The first thing is you didn't do anything wrong!

You are still learning ...

Thank you guys!! You brought up a lot of good points, and things I should be thinking about. I appreciate it! Maybe it's a little too soon to start venturing out.

I would say so... its better to get completely rid of previous gluten you might have still in your system.

I've found that no matter how careful you are with educating the restaurant, there is always a risk of cross contamination... You can either choose to not ever eat out again (which I don't recommend) or you can do everything you possibly can (which you did) and then take the risk..

I've found that no matter how careful you are with educating the restaurant, there is always a risk of cross contamination... You can either choose to not ever eat out again (which I don't recommend) or you can do everything you possibly can (which you did) and then take the risk..

i agree on both counts... you control the disease not the other way round.

However I would really recommend just getting used to the diet yourself first....

I'm finding that I get glutened less and less as I gain more experience from my mistakes.

Exactly, we all make mistakes, get contaminated and its just a knack. How to explain to waiters, chefs and even boyfriends and girlfriends... I have lost count of my mistakes but have gained experience.

My bet is either the coconut liquere or the cross contamination but hey you live and learn.

[clover]

I don't think anyone else mentioned this, but excuse the repetition if so. It could have been the creme brulee b/c of the dairy! Once your system starts to clean itself out & your body starts to heal, you may find other intolerances. DAIRY is a huge intolerance for many.

Also, there is that kissing thing. )

[tarnalberry]

Or undercooked eggs in the creme brulee.

[eden-arteaga]

I was thinking it might have been the creme brule too!! So that is true then, that most Celiac's also have a lactose intolerence?? I've felt like I was at times. But it's like sometimes I eat dairy and I'm fine, other times I'm not. Should I just skip the dairy for now as well??

Oh and the kissing thing. Ha ha, should I skip that too? J/k

[CarlaB]

I would verify the ingredients in the creme brulee. We all know how it is supposed to be made, but I was looking at a mix one time, read the ingredients, and did not buy it. It was a few months ago, so I don't remember what was in it, but one of the ingredients looks suspicious. If it's REAL creme brulee, it's probably okay. Bonefish Grill's is gluten free ... I'll get it there! It's also a huge serving!!

My son just started working in a tea shop today (my son and china, very funny). He came home and told me why I couldn't eat there. The salad ingredients sit near where they make sandwiches and could easily get contaminated. Now, I bet if I went in and asked what's in the salad that I would probably order it. So, much of the problem comes from the food handling. That's where the restaurants that worked with GIG to develop gluten free menus are great!!

As far as the kissing, my hubby eats gluten-free when we're out on a date so he can kiss me whenever he pleases! He always has ordered whatever I order, so it's not that different for him.

[queenofhearts]

Funny thing-- I too am 2 weeks trying to be gluten free, & my first restaurant experience was sushi (which went okay) then creme brulee! I explained my needs & asked the waitress to check with the chef & make sure there were no starch stabilizers in the creme brulee, which she did, so I ordered with confidence. I was somewhat shocked when the dish came out with a piroulline cookie stuck into it!

I've heard many stories of restaurants serving dishes from which they thought they had removed the offending item (croutons on salad, e.g.) not realizing (or choosing to ignore our pleas) that a trace is all it takes. So maybe you had cookie residue on yours!

I was a little deflated after that experience, but I've eaten out since-- at my favorite Vietnamese restaurant, a delicious salad with rice noodles & fish sauce-- get back on the horse, I say! But for dessert I'm sticking to chocolate, fruit, or homemade goodies for a while.

I just got Annalise Robert's book so I'm a little bakin' fool anyway!

Good luck, don't give up!

Leah

[clover]

I was thinking it might have been the creme brule too!! So that is true then, that most Celiac's also have a lactose intolerence?? I've felt like I was at times. But it's like sometimes I eat dairy and I'm fine, other times I'm not. Should I just skip the dairy for now as well??

Oh and the kissing thing. Ha ha, should I skip that too? J/k

I've heard that it's very hard on the intestines-- dairy, that is...NOT KISSING...and that if you find yrself sensitive AT ALL, you should try the dairy free thing for your first 3 months. THEN, reintroduce it...and see what happens. (We're like little science experiments, aren't we?)

I NEVER thought I was lactose intolerant. I LOVE me some cheese. Now, though, one month into the diet (with MANY mistakes) I think I have to give up dairy too. After every little bit, I get all funky. Boo.

I never thought of "starch stabilizers" in creme brulee, tho. Perhaps that IS it.