Per Se - Success (and Big Splurge)

[babysteps]

our CT-based dining group had a special (as in $450/person or so, including incredible wines) dinner at Thomas Keller's Per Se restaurant Saturday in NYC. Their usual menu is a prix fixe, $175 for 5 courses at lunch, $275 for 9 courses at dinner. Per person. Excluding beverages. Yes, it is very expensive! We used miles for a 'free' hotel room in the City and called it a vacation.

Anyway, I called Wednesday before to warn them one of their diners would be gluten-free. There were no gluten-free passed items during the cocktail portion that I could tell, but once we were seated everything was perfect - they made 3 kinds of gluten-free muffins for me in lieu of bread (the one with potato as well as rice and tapioca flours was best), and made very thoughtful substitutions where required. The after-dinner petit fours and the take-home sweet, I had my own gluten-free versions of both.

As we were leaving, I learned that one of the people at the host station was gluten-free!

[Landmarc, also in the Time Warner center, is a much more reasonable gluten aware option in the neighborhood (as is the Whole Foods market in the lower level).]

But if you are ever invited to participate in a meal at Per Se, know that they can accommodate gluten-free diners!

Question for all:

the diner to might right at the table (we were in groups of 8) was thoroughly enjoying the gluten bread, and his bread plate was close to me...I didn't get glutened in part because I shifted my plate & silverware away from the area! Also he wasn't eating the bread during the courses, mostly between them when I had no food to worry about cc.

So, the question - any ideas for what to say in this situation?

do I ask him to move his bread plate ?

Or was moving my 'stuff' without saying anything specific the best approach?

Thanks!

[home-based-mom]

Question for all:

the diner to might right at the table (we were in groups of 8) was thoroughly enjoying the gluten bread, and his bread plate was close to me...I didn't get glutened in part because I shifted my plate & silverware away from the area! Also he wasn't eating the bread during the courses, mostly between them when I had no food to worry about cc.

So, the question - any ideas for what to say in this situation?

do I ask him to move his bread plate ?

Or was moving my 'stuff' without saying anything specific the best approach?

Thanks!

The rule of good manners is to never make the other person feel uncomfortable. I believe you handled the situation well. Of course if at any time should his behavior change so as to compromise your safety, then a very discreet statement mentioning an "allergy" (what most people could relate to) would hopefully rein him in.

[babysteps]

The rule of good manners is to never make the other person feel uncomfortable. I believe you handled the situation well. Of course if at any time should his behavior change so as to compromise your safety, then a very discreet statement mentioning an "allergy" (what most people could relate to) would hopefully rein him in.

thanks!