Dukes Chowder House Seattle

[bakingbarb]

I now try and email as many restaurants and food companies etc as possible, instead of hoping I need to know. Here is my email to, from and to Dukes. Disappointing to say the least. Make sure you pay attention to their part of the response that I underlined.

From: bakingbarb [mailto:bakingbarborg@gmail.com]

Sent: Monday, July 21, 2008 10:33 AM

To: Open Original Shared Link

Subject: allergy question

Is your menu gluten free friendly?

Hi,

Thank you for your email.

We've thrown around the idea of a gluten free menu for awhile now. I understand your frustration in dining out as my daughter has a wheat intolerance. It is very challenging for her to find menu items while dining out. We have introduced gluten free items and have added vegetarian and other special diet options on our menus a few different times now. Unfortunately, none of the items have worked out financially for us and we do not currently have any special diet sections on the menu.

I hope in the future we will be able to cater to those in need of special diets. We are always researching new ways to make this happen.

Sincerely,

Duke

bakingbarb to Duke

Reply

Hello, I can understand needing to financially strong but I cannot understand not having anything on your menu that you can say is gluten free or at least wheat free. Salad, salad dressing, grilled fish etc these are things that tend to be gluten free without any extra work on any ones part.

That you have a daughter with a wheat intolerance and you have nothing you would say is gluten free on your menu surprises me. There is a rather large community of wheat intolerant people and this community is growing. This community also shares their information and experiences with each other. When we find a restaurant that offers gluten free alternative we tell each other, we also tell each other when restaurants such as yours do not.

I appreciate the response because it does tell me that you do care but at the same time I am disappointed by your response.

Sincerely Barb

[JennyC]

I'm sorry you got such a response. A while ago I came across a Duke's clam chowder copycat recipe. I hope this helps a little. It is very good.

Here it is:

Open Original Shared Link

[bakingbarb]

WHEW here is the last response I received from them. I am happy to hear this response.

On Fri, Aug 8, 2008 at 2:46 PM, Duke Talk <duketalk@dukeschowderhouse.com> wrote:

Dear Barb,

I sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding. Yes, we do have many items such as salad, salad dressing and grilled fish that are gluten free. What I meant to say to you is that we do not have any bread buns, bread items, etc. that are gluten free. Things that normally have gluten in them. I will have our chef email me a specific list of all our foods that are gluten free. Once again I apologize. I assumed that we were talking about things that normally have gluten in them.

I will get back to you with that list!

Thank you,

Duke

[bakingbarb]

Here is the most recent email I received from Duke. Very nice response, our first email was full of confusion so to have gotten this follow up from him is heart warming actually.

Dear Barb,

In discussions with our executive chef, Bill Ranniger, he reminded me that some people are merely sensitive to gluten and some are allergic. The Gluten Free Society (international headquarters in Seattle), cautioned us not to say that we were a gluten free restaurant even if we thought we were presenting items without gluten. Flour particles in restaurants can easily touch items that are meant to be served without gluten. For those who are allergic, that could be a tragedy. For those that are sensitive to gluten, that might not matter. So please know that I am not saying any item on our menu is completely gluten free.

Items on our menu that can be ordered for those that are sensitive to gluten are:

Broiled salmon, halibut, top sirloin steak, all fish without breading. You can leave the starch side dishes out and substitute for extra veggies.

Caesar Salad without croutons (make sure they don