Requesting A Gluten-free Meal For Bridal Shower?

[CantEvenEatRice]

Hi,

I am attending a bridal shower at a Maggiano's next month. Do you think it would be okay to call the restaurant and request a gluten-free meal for the Shower (I hear this restaurant does understand Celiac)? I do not want to bother the party planners with my diet and thought maybe I could just handle it myself through the restaurant. Sometimes I just don't eat when I go to social events, but I do not know that many people attending this shower and do not want to look rude when not eating. What do others do for social events like this? Thank you for your help!

[CarlaB]

I would ask the person throwing the shower for the name of her contact at Maggiano's. Just tell the person setting up the party that you have food intolerances so you need to talk to the contact to get ingredient information. Then call the contact yourself to set something up. If your meal were to be charged differently, then you pay for it.

I did this recently for a mom/daughter dinner at my daughter's sorority. It was no big deal at all and there was no extra charge.

[jkmunchkin]

When I go to these types of things there is usually a set menu and I've pretty much always been able to modify atleast 1 thing. Just like when I go to any other restaurant I pretty much order off of what's been given and when the waitstaff comes to take the orders I tell them the adjustments I need.

Anytime I've called ahead they pretty much just tell me don't worry about it and to just let my waitstaff know when I order. So that's what I do now.

[gfp]

  jkmunchkin said:

When I go to these types of things there is usually a set menu and I've pretty much always been able to modify atleast 1 thing. Just like when I go to any other restaurant I pretty much order off of what's been given and when the waitstaff comes to take the orders I tell them the adjustments I need.

Anytime I've called ahead they pretty much just tell me don't worry about it and to just let my waitstaff know when I order. So that's what I do now.

Its up to you... are tyou a bridesmaid?

If so I'd say no because its not worth the risk being ill.... it would spoil her day and all the photo's you'll look terrible...

If not then its the same chance you take any time...

[CarlaB]

  gfp said:

Its up to you... are tyou a bridesmaid?

If so I'd say no because its not worth the risk being ill.... it would spoil her day and all the photo's you'll look terrible...

If not then its the same chance you take any time...

I would have said something like this, except Maggianos is known for accomodating celiac and other food intolerances. It's easy to get a safe meal there. Our Maggianos serves at least 6 gluten-free meals PER DAY!!

[gfp]

  CarlaB said:

I would have said something like this, except Maggianos is known for accomodating celiac and other food intolerances. It's easy to get a safe meal there. Our Maggianos serves at least 6 gluten-free meals PER DAY!!

Then I respectfully bow to your local knowledge

[CarlaB]

  gfp said:

Then I respectfully bow to your local knowledge

It's one of the FEW restaurants I will eat at. My two favorites are Maggianos and Bonefish Grill.

[CantEvenEatRice]

  CarlaB said:

It's one of the FEW restaurants I will eat at. My two favorites are Maggianos and Bonefish Grill.

The hard thing is that I don't know if it will be buffet, family style, sit down, etc. I am not a bridesmaid and I really only know the bride. Usually I just discreetly do not eat, but that is difficult if a meal is placed in front of you. Then everyone stares at you like you are crazy for not eating! I am assuming it will be a set meal either served or buffet. I know I should just learn to be better about making my intolerances known, but it is uncomfortable to RSVP to a social event and then have to explain why you can't eat. It would be the easiest if we were all ordering off of the menu, but I think it is a more planned event. I guess I should call Maggiano's just to ask and go from there. This is when I do not like having Celiac!!!

[CarlaB]

  Can said:

The hard thing is that I don't know if it will be buffet, family style, sit down, etc. I am not a bridesmaid and I really only know the bride. Usually I just discreetly do not eat, but that is difficult if a meal is placed in front of you. Then everyone stares at you like you are crazy for not eating! I am assuming it will be a set meal either served or buffet. I know I should just learn to be better about making my intolerances known, but it is uncomfortable to RSVP to a social event and then have to explain why you can't eat. It would be the easiest if we were all ordering off of the menu, but I think it is a more planned event. I guess I should call Maggiano's just to ask and go from there. This is when I do not like having Celiac!!!

I really don't think it will be a problem at all. We had a meeting of our celiac group there, and at the time I was dairy free. Even though the rest of the dinner was served family style, they had no problem whatsoever bringing out my dairy free food. Be glad it's at Maggianos. Everything is fresh cooked there by a chef ... it's not like your typical chain restaurant. They even have gluten-free pasta!!

This will be pretty easy for you. Just get the name of the contact at Maggianos and that person will work it out with you. They're very open to helping those with special dietary needs and seem to realize that when you eat out, you will be the person choosing the restaurant! Of those 6 per day who eat at the one near me ... I bet few of them go there alone! I'm sure they'll take good care of you.

If it were another restaurant, I might suggest just eating before you went ...

[jkmunchkin]

I've never heard of Maggiano's but obviously Carla is very familiar with them

If like she is saying, they are very knowledgalbe about gluten free; then it is probably easiest for you to just call them up, let them know what event you are attending and just tell them that you don't want to bother the bride with this detail but if they can just make sure to have a gluten free meal set aside for you that it would be greatly appreciated.

[CantEvenEatRice]

  jkmunchkin said:

I've never heard of Maggiano's but obviously Carla is very familiar with them

If like she is saying, they are very knowledgalbe about gluten free; then it is probably easiest for you to just call them up, let them know what event you are attending and just tell them that you don't want to bother the bride with this detail but if they can just make sure to have a gluten free meal set aside for you that it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all for your help!!!

[DebbieInCanada]

  Can said:

... Usually I just discreetly do not eat, but that is difficult if a meal is placed in front of you. Then everyone stares at you like you are crazy for not eating! ...

I think it would be a difficult situation if the restaurant did not have a menu option to accommodate you. But since they do, it would really be a shame to go there and be served something you can't eat, when there is good stuff in the kitchen!! As well, the hostess would probably much rather pay for a meal that you can eat, instead of one that will go to waste.

Debbie

[mommida]

Maggiano's is very good at accomadating a safe gluten free meal for you.

I call the business directly,

tell them what I need,

make sure there is no additional charge to the host of the event ( there never has been),

the business usually asks that someone call the day of the event to remind the wait staff of the circumstances _ This I will always do myself! I will not make the host who is busy tending to numerous details of the event have another job to do.

L.

[alamaz]

good luck at your bridal shower! i have the same fears and i am an event planner which means i go to a plated meal atleast once a month for work in addition to socially being involved with a few charities that have plated dinners/luncheons through out the year. i haven't gone to anything since my diagnosis because i'm a little freaked out and unsure of how to handle it. it's not like me to be direct and vocal when it comes to myself and my needs so this whole eating out thing is my biggest challange. too bad i can't convince every one to eat a maggiano's or several of the other gluten-free restaurants up here by me. it would make my life a heck of a lot easier

amy

[marlykarly]

I have never had any problems with menu's. We have always found the kitchen staff more than willing to accomodate.

Just give them plenty of time.. often they can offer a 'gluten-free version' of the catered menu.

last year my aunt had a wedding reception.. and the kitchen just provided my son's and myself with grilled chicken breast.. baked potatoes fresh fruit and steamed vegies.

It was very nice..

Good luck!