Anything You Can Order Where You Don't Have To Talk To Chef?

[Guest adamssa]

Hi,

My friend who I haven't seen for awhile is visiting from a few hours away tonight, and they want to go out to eat somewhere. I was wondering if there is ever anything you can order where you don't have to talk to the chef about it? Like salad, or grilled chicken for example, will that usually be ok? Or do you always have to ask because of cc with everything? I haven't had a succesful out to eat thing since going gluten-free. Eventually, I'll want to try it and talk to the chef or whatever it takes, but right now I still don't want to, because I haven't really explained it to her yet. And I will, of course, but I'm just not feeling ambitous when it comes to eating out just yet. Personally, I could never eat out again and be ok with it. There's always coffee.

Thanks,

Sara

[Lisa]

I often order steamed crab legs, with or without Old Bay (which is gluten-free)

Salad, bring your own dressing

Hamberger, hold the bun (clean place on the grill)

Steamed Shrimp

[CarlaB]

Why not go to a place with a gluten-free menu?

Outback

PF Changs

Cheeseburger in Paradise

Carrabas

Bonefish Grill

I often order steamed crab legs, with or without Old Bay (which is gluten-free)

Salad, bring your own dressing

Hamberger, hold the bun (clean place on the grill)

Steamed Shrimp

careful with hamburgers. I got one at a nice restaurant and it was the very best burger I ever had ... the problem was they added some seasoning to it that had gluten. I was sick for over a week!! So, ask if they season it!!

[vanesonica]

HI. I went a couple of times to Ale House and order grill chicken with a baked potato with no dressings and nothing happen. I think its a safe dish.

Goog luck

[VydorScope]

I would always always ask, even with a gluten-free menu.

[TriticusToxicum]

I would always always ask, even with a gluten-free menu.

Double DITTO and UNDERSCORE!

[hez]

The days of walking in and just ordering off the menu are over. No matter where you go you need to communicate with the waiter (even when ordering off of a gluten-free menu). You are your best advocate. I know it is hard (I still struggle with this) but this is your health.

Hez

[jerseyangel]

I almost never eat out, but I agree that the days of going in and ordering off the menu are over for me! No matter what, I'd have to go through my "gluten speech". I think it's necessary to alert the people who will be handling/preparing your food to know

[StrongerToday]

Plain grilled fish, no seasoning and a baked potato - uncut.

But I'd rather ask and find something tastier if possible!!

[happygirl]

This is going to come across as blunt, and I'm sorry.

The fact that ordering a meal with gluten free ingredients means next to nothing if you do not ensure that cross contamination is minimized. If you aren't willing to speak up, then you honestly have no one to blame when (if) you get sick. How are they to know they should be careful if you don't tell them? I know it can be tough, but you can always get up without doing it in front of her, if that is easier. Call ahead and talk to someone. Then, all you have to say is, I talked to the manager "X" about this, can you please ensure that clean utensils are used, and talk to manager "X" about my dietary needs. If your friend asks, tell her you have some food intolerances that make you sick. End of story.

[lovegrov]

For reasons already given, you MUST at least talk to the waiter.

richard

[burdee]

I've been diagnosed (by blood or stool tests) with 4 food allergies besides gluten intolerance (celiac). So I'm making an allergy alert card (which I will laminate) to give to the waiter with my order and verbal instructions, before my upcoming vacation in Maui. That will list my five food allergy/intolerances with comments about each food source. You can get gluten free restaurant cards through several websites or make your own.

HOWEVER I usually just order plain grilled meat, fish or poultry plus steamed vegies. I tell them they can add olive oil or salt and plain herbs to anything, but no package or prepared seasonings and especially no butter on meats, sauces on vegies or croutons on salads. I also verify that that the grill will not be crosscontaminated by other foods to which they have added butter. If I see anything suspicious on my entree, I do not hesitate to ask or send the entree back.

Good restaurants aim to please their customers. If waiters seem impatient or condescending with my food allergy requrests, I report that to the management, never return to that restaurant and advertise poor service to local celiac support groups (I lead one). With soooo many people on weight loss diets or medically restricted diets, restaurants should be accustomed to handling special requests.

BURDEE

[CeliaCruz]

Risotto. Just beware of added sausage.

[celiacgirls]

I just had a recent experience where I ordered something gluten free without going into the details with them. We were on vacation so I was eating out more. We went to Taco Cabana where the rice and beans are gluten-free. As the guy was scooping up my rice, I saw him use his gloved hand (which I'm sure had recently touched a flour tortilla) to pat down the rice in the cup. Since I never said anything about needing it made special, I didn't feel I could object. So I scooped off the top part and ate the rest. Sure enough, I was sick the next day. And I used to be one of those who didn't believe you could get sick from something like that!

I really don't like to give the whole explanation when I eat out and it has meant I don't go out very much. But after that experience, I don't think I will try to eat out without explaining the whole cc issue.

[Lisa]

I often order steamed crab legs, with or without Old Bay (which is gluten-free)

Salad, bring your own dressing

Hamberger, hold the bun (clean place on the grill)

Steamed Shrimp

I am sorry, I forget that others don't know the specific eating establishments as I do. I know the "two" and they know me. It is easy and boring. I do forget that others have many other options.

[LKelly8]

Order it naked.

Er. . .um, what I mean is "without seasoning".

If you go to a steakhouse say, steak + plain baked potato should be ok, as long as you order the steak w/o seasoning or sauce. (Or in restaurant lingo, "naked")

[Guest adamssa]

hey thanks everyone. in the end i decided to just get coffee, and it was fine and no one minded. i know that sounds way too passive but for me actually it wasn't. normally, i would order something off of the grill and just hope that it would be all right. (not wanting to call attention to it) ...but now i see that will never work out and it's not even necessary either. i was happy also to find out that a local restaurant is creating a celiac menu, so maybe i won't swear off eating out forever.

Sara