I Need To Pick A Restaurant

[*lee-lee*]

i'm going out to dinner with my boyfriends family tomorrow. this will be the first time eating out since going gluten free last month. they know about my restrictions (his mom is a nurse so she totally gets it) and they've left the selection up to me.

there are a few chains in the area but none seem to be very gluten free friendly (Applebees, 99, Ground Round, Ponderosa, Perkins, Butcher Block). there are some local places that i'm going to call tomorrow to feel them out, one being a great Italian place that everyone likes. i'm really hoping i get a good response from them because it would make things so much easier if everyone is happy with my choice. i feel bad enough that i'm the sole decision maker in this whole meal.

does anyone have anything - good or bad - to say about the above mentioned chains? I've read pretty much all bad stuff about Applebees. my plan is to get plain chicken breast with rice and veggies or a big ol' salad, wherever we end up.

what's the best way to speak with the waitstaff? start with the waiter or just ask for the manager?

i'm so nervous. i might just get sick to my stomach purely from nerves and not even gluten!

[missy'smom]

Make sure they don't cook your veggies in pasta water and grill them about that chicken breast. "Plain" may mean something different to themthan what you want. I've had problems, when I first ate out, more than once when ordering "plain" fish or chicken and after seeing it and asking further questions, found out that it was not "plain" meat. It had been pre-prepped outside their kitchen and they had no idea what was done to it, or so they said. You have to ask if has been marinated or injected with anything and if it was floured, either in their kitchen or by the supplier. You also have to ask where it is cooked-on a grill where other things with marinades, sauces, or floured items, or buns are toasted or grilled-all those are cross-contamination problems. Rice pilaf is usually not safe because it contains broth which may be unsafe and often contains a rice shaped pasta.

Hope you have a safe, enjoyable meal.

[lovegrov]

If you can go local to a place with a chef who knows exactly what's in the food.

I wouldn't trust any of the chains you named.

richard

[Juliebove]

I would beware of the chicken breast. Unless they are cooking it from scratch, it may have wheat in it. Our safe meal is usually a hamburger patty. Also, salads can be risky. If you say "no croutons", they may put them on and then pick them off when they remember.

[*lee-lee*]

thanks everyone for your replies. I decided to stay the heck away from the chains and i called the local Italian place. I spoke with the owner and explained i had an "allergy to gluten". He chuckled and said "well, i guess the pasta is out then huh?" he was very nice and quite helpful. he explained everything they make is fresh and to make sure i mention it to the wait staff when we get there.

i've decided on:

- pan fried chicken breast (they use olive oil and Italian seasonings - i forgot to ask about the seasonings but i will when we get there and go without if it is questionable)

- potato (mashed are just red potatos and milk/cream, nothing else added)

- veggies (not blanched in pasta water...who knew they did such a thing!)

anything else i should be on the lookout for? i'm starting to feel less nervous....and more hungry!

[mzcippy]

thanks everyone for your replies. I decided to stay the heck away from the chains and i called the local Italian place. I spoke with the owner and explained i had an "allergy to gluten". He chuckled and said "well, i guess the pasta is out then huh?" he was very nice and quite helpful. he explained everything they make is fresh and to make sure i mention it to the wait staff when we get there.

i've decided on:

- pan fried chicken breast (they use olive oil and Italian seasonings - i forgot to ask about the seasonings but i will when we get there and go without if it is questionable)

- potato (mashed are just red potatos and milk/cream, nothing else added)

- veggies (not blanched in pasta water...who knew they did such a thing!)

anything else i should be on the lookout for? i'm starting to feel less nervous....and more hungry!

Yikes the veggies I now have to worry about too!!! Just when I thought I was getting along pretty well w/ this! LOL

[*lee-lee*]

Yikes the veggies I now have to worry about too!!! Just when I thought I was getting along pretty well w/ this! LOL

i know, right? it definitely seems like the family owned places are the better option. they cook like they're in your kitchen after just going food shopping as opposed to the processed and injected-with-who-knows-what foods at the chain restaurants.

thankfully my dinner last night was great and our server was wonderful. She even joked that she'd leave the bread basket at the other end of the table Makes me appreciate what i can just cook at home though. i got plain chicken and potatos when everyone else was digging in to pizza and lasagna. i can't say i wasn't drooling at the sight of their plates.

[missy'smom]

Glad you had a successful meal out. I enjoy my meals at home more too. I get much more variety. But I have a few places that I can go to get a break from cooking or grab a bite on a busy day or enroute. My dream is to hire a chef to teach me how to cook a really good chicken breast in my kitchen.

[mzcippy]

i know, right? it definitely seems like the family owned places are the better option. they cook like they're in your kitchen after just going food shopping as opposed to the processed and injected-with-who-knows-what foods at the chain restaurants.

thankfully my dinner last night was great and our server was wonderful. She even joked that she'd leave the bread basket at the other end of the table Makes me appreciate what i can just cook at home though. i got plain chicken and potatos when everyone else was digging in to pizza and lasagna. i can't say i wasn't drooling at the sight of their plates.

I have to say I made meatballs for the first time today- I used gluten-free bread crumbs I made from bread I made last week that my son really did not eat. (my bread machine is awesome!) They came out great!! I am planning on using the left over meatballs w/ gluten-free lasagna noodles and make lasagna for my son ( in italy they use meatballs instead of a regular meat sauce-it makes a heavy lasagna but omg!) I am hoping it comes out as good as our "before gluten-free" lasagna.

I also found a list of great italian restaurants around here (NY) w/ gluten-free pasta and pizza!!! Can't wait to try them out.

There was an article in my local paper "Newsday" and it was I think the weekend of July 20th if you want to search it. Apparently the owners of these restuarants said someone approached them-maybe you can show the article around-get a restaurant to go gluten-free!!! They say it is good for business!

[*lee-lee*]

missy'smom -

i am a complete idiot when it comes to cooking. since going gluten free i've managed to whip up a few simple meals. i eat chicken breast at least 4 times a week and the easiest and best way i've found to cook it is to marinate for at least a few hours (overnight if you can) in Kraft Italian salad dressing and then either grill it or broil it. it comes out so juicy and delicious! and so easy! i add rice and veggies and viola - i've never eaten this healthy! (boxed mac and cheese was one of my favorites...)

i also found a great recipe for meatballs on here...no breadcrumbs required. my gluten eating boyfriend loved 'em!

have you checked out the website the lady created who is cooking a gluten free meal in her crockpot every day this year? it doesn't' get easier than a crockpot, right? I'm obsessed with it though i haven't had the courage to try too many recipes. i'm afraid of failure!

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mzcippy -

do you live in NYC? i used to live on Long Island and think about how many Celiac friendly restaurants i would be able to find down there nowadays. my uncle used to work at Newsday. i'm going to check out that article right now. Can't hurt to spread the word, right?