Butcher's Section Of The Grocery Store

[Beth in NC]

I got super frustrated yesterday as I was waiting for the butcher to wrap up a couple tilapia fillets for me. I only asked for a couple, since it will be just my hubby and I this week at home. This is only my second shopping trip since being diagnosed. I was looking at the long tray of fish, different fish on each tray in the meat case. Then I saw it...right beside the tilapia *I* was getting was more tilapia...breaded. And there were bits and pieces of breading that had fallen from the one to the other. I just about cried! I wasn't bold enough to tell him to put them back. I figured I'll just cook them for my hubby and son when my son returns in a week.

I understand about how you can't take the croutons off a salad thing. But someone asked me at church if I couldn't just rinse the fish off and it be fine? I didn't really have an answer. And when I start talking "crumbs" people act as if I'm off my rocker!

Couldn't ANYTHING from the meat department be CC like that?

Another gal at church said I need to just let that butcher get to know me and my needs and see what I can work out. I REALLY hate calling attention to my self this way. It's gonna take a long time before I'm brave enough to go out to eat and be assertive with my waiter/manager at the restaurant. And I KNOW how to be assertive! i used to be a nurse! You should have seen me with my Primary Cary physician a couple days ago. He was to intimidated and "suspicious" even though the GI doc has the blood test AND biopsy to say I had Celiac. And I love this doc! But when I wasn't "asking" for help and seemed to know more than he did about Celiac...different demeanor all together!

So.. the fish? Out for me, right? Possible to wash it? Meat in general?

[ShayFL]

Sometimes it gets so overwhelming doesnt it? You think......what will it all come to.....me in waders out catching my own fish for goodness sakes!!! Grow my own vegetables and fruits....buy some chickens....raise some pigs.....

I dont know if rinsing them off will be good enough. Only you can decide if you want to risk it. I agree, that you should get to know your local butcher. You might find him quite accommodating. Like if you tell him in advance what you want, he might wrap yours up from the boxes they get in fresh off the boat before putting them in the case. You also might get fresher fish this way.

It is basically a crap shoot when your health is the hands of others. For instance, today, I ate out with my family. They miss it so and I wanted to feel "normal" for a day. So off to Cheescake Factory we went. I brought my own dressing and meat and dessert. Initially I was just going to get a salad and toss my own meat on it (I've done this before without issue). BUT I mentioned Celiac to the server and she said....oh...yes...our General Manager has Celiac so we are VERY AWARE and TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION. He eats here......I said...so you know I need fresh pans....YES....So I ordered sauteed spinach and asparagus cuz I had meat. So I am sitting there eating my asparagus and it dawns on me that I didnt say....no pasta water. When she check on us....I ask her if she made sure my asparagus was cooked in fresh water. Nope. She comes back and takes the plate away and says that ALL of their veggies are cooked in pasta water.

Then the Manager comes to our table and asks who he just "poisoned". He knew of course knew the consequences. He felt terrible. Apologized profusely for his server not being trained well enough. So he paid for all of our food....about 60.00 worth for my DH and DD with dessert. Now....I wait.....and pray.......

[Jestgar]

I REALLY hate calling attention to my self this way.

But you are so worth it.

[Beth in NC]

Sometimes it gets so overwhelming doesnt it? You think......what will it all come to.....me in waders out catching my own fish for goodness sakes!!! Grow my own vegetables and fruits....buy some chickens....raise some pigs.....

I dont know if rinsing them off will be good enough. Only you can decide if you want to risk it. I agree, that you should get to know your local butcher. You might find him quite accommodating. Like if you tell him in advance what you want, he might wrap yours up from the boxes they get in fresh off the boat before putting them in the case. You also might get fresher fish this way.

It is basically a crap shoot when your health is the hands of others. For instance, today, I ate out with my family. They miss it so and I wanted to feel "normal" for a day. So off to Cheescake Factory we went. I brought my own dressing and meat and dessert. Initially I was just going to get a salad and toss my own meat on it (I've done this before without issue). BUT I mentioned Celiac to the server and she said....oh...yes...our General Manager has Celiac so we are VERY AWARE and TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION. He eats here......I said...so you know I need fresh pans....YES....So I ordered sauteed spinach and asparagus cuz I had meat. So I am sitting there eating my asparagus and it dawns on me that I didnt say....no pasta water. When she check on us....I ask her if she made sure my asparagus was cooked in fresh water. Nope. She comes back and takes the plate away and says that ALL of their veggies are cooked in pasta water.

Then the Manager comes to our table and asks who he just "poisoned". He knew of course knew the consequences. He felt terrible. Apologized profusely for his server not being trained well enough. So he paid for all of our food....about 60.00 worth for my DH and DD with dessert. Now....I wait.....and pray.......

Oh, Shay! I hope you do ok. I was just telling a lady at church that I felt like getting some goats for milk, cows for beef, a few chickens for eggs and meat...Guess I'll need a rice paddy too!

Our absolute favorite place to eat is a local Mexican restaurant that we USED to frequent at least twice a week. The waiters and owner know us and many of them barely speak English. We know many of their names. So far, only being 1 1/2 weeks into this, I've sent my husband and son on without me. I don't know how I will get through the language barrier to explain to them why I'm not eating. I imagine everything there is cooked on the same grill, so I'm scared to risk it. I thought to myself recently, "Maybe queso (cheese dip)" and now I figure out I'm lactose intolerant...hopefully temporarily. But I still don't know how they make it. I can always drink tea while everyone else eats...right?

I would have NEVER thought of them cooking it in pasta water! I have wondered about even those restaurants that use new pans, if those pans are as scratched up as my old ones are, I wouldn't wanna risk that either.

I don't think it has really sunk in with me yet...I AM scared enough not to get the crumbs and watch out for CC, but sometimes it seems so surreal...like "no WAY could this be me!"

I just prayed for you. I'd love to know how you make out with it.

Beth

PS...someone told me recently that a Celiac friend of her's still had cheesecake and just didn't eat the crust. That doesn't seem safe to me...is it?

[lovegrov]

"PS...someone told me recently that a Celiac friend of her's still had cheesecake and just didn't eat the crust. That doesn't seem safe to me...is it?"

Nope. Bad idea.

With the fish, I think it is possible to rinse thoroughly enough but definitely a personal decision. There's no way to rinse off things like pie crust or croutons.

richard

[ShayFL]

Beth get the Triumph Dining Cards. I have them. But have not used them yet. They have one for Mexican. On the front is English....on the back Spanish.

Thank you for praying for me. So far, just some mild "sinking floating feelings". Last time I got glutened it was 2 days of vertigo. Believe me. I am praying too!!!

[MrsManners]

Veggies are cooked in pasta water? Oh my! I've got so much to learn. It just seems vastly overwhelming to get started....

[babysteps]

I REALLY hate calling attention to my self this way. It's gonna take a long time before I'm brave enough to go out to eat and be assertive with my waiter/manager at the restaurant. And I KNOW how to be assertive! i used to be a nurse!

Well, with practice you will get more willing to be assertive - otherwise it's an awfully limited diet or way to much cc! Don't worry, you are only 1 1/2 wks into it - it *does* get easier.

If you can, try visiting your butcher during a relatively slow time of the day & explain your new medical restriction. Your butcher should be able to tell you what is safe, what isn't, and what he can do for you with warning (for example, those tilapia fillets get cut up before they go in the case, he could set some aside for you before they get cc'd).

At your favorite Mexican restaurant, try asking what they make in a skillet - this is a bit more controllable than grilled or fried items and might be a good way to 're-enter' that world. Also depending on the restaurant baked items may be 'safer'. Try the dining cards, or find a friend whose espanol skills are more developed & bring them with you