Protocol At High End Restaurants?

[Live4Hiking]

A gluten-free newbie here - my friends and I usually go out to the latest 4 star restaurants every month. I have elected not to go as I dont know how to handle my new status. Do I ask the waitperson to go ask the chef for a list of gluten-free apps and entrees? Request the chef to make me a gluten-free entree? Pick the least likely to contain gluten and ask for verification? Or perhaps phone ahead to alert a day before? And in your collective experience, are most high end chefs familar with the gluten-free concept? My fear is I will get some entree that I will feel for days.....

Thanks for your guidance - this site has been a life saver to me!!!

[ShayFL]

Good News!!! High end restaurants are generally the SAFEST places to eat. They have real chefs who are willing to prepare delicious gluten-free food for you. I dont eat at expensive restaurants as much as you do, but the last one I went to a few months ago was great! I called ahead. Then when I got there and the hostess checked our reservations, she seated us and said the chef would come speak to me before I ordered. He came out and was very nice and explained their kitchen and what he could cook for me. I had a delicious cut of fish with an arugala salad and a gluten-free desert that was awesome. After we finished, the chef came out and asked me how everything was. I was treated like a Queen.

You can tell your friends that due to your Celiac, you will likely get to meet the chef and get excellent service.

[dksart]

I completely agree. There are no worries about what was in that pre-packaged food-like item when you dine in a higher end restaurant.

In my experience, if you call a day or so ahead of time and speak with the kitchen manager or chef, they will prepare you something special or modify an existing menu item. More than likely, there will already be a number of naturally gluten-free choices, but they always seem happy to suit your needs.

[Lisa]

First, I would purchase some Triumph Dining Cards and carry them with you everywhere. They are laminated cards in several languages that describes Celiac and what precautions need to be made to accommodate you.

Secondly, after your party sits and perhaps ordered drinks, I would excuse yourself and talk to the manager, who then will confer with the chief. They will let you know what your options are. No need to interrupt your dinner party with questioning the staff at the table. I find it more polite to excuse my self and you might save yourself some explaining to your dinner partners.

I have found that higher end restaurants more knowledgeable and accommodating.

[celiac-mommy]

In my experience, if you call a day or so ahead of time and speak with the kitchen manager or chef,

This is what I do, I've never had anything but a positive experience. The chef is usually more than happy to help. Once, I complimented on the dessert and he came out shortly after with the recipe!

[Lisa]

This is what I do, I've never had anything but a positive experience. The chef is usually more than happy to help. Once, I complimented on the dessert and he came out shortly after with the recipe!

Yup, you can call or stop in during off hours and sit down and talk to the chief who might offer you several options.

Choices are good!

[ShayFL]

One of the women at my Celiac Support group was just talking about this a few weeks ago. She is the type that does not like to draw attention to herself at all. So she called ahead and got to speak with the chef. She explained her intolerance and her needs. He reassured her that she would have a great meal, so she made a reservation. The night they showed up with friends, she was handed a menu and the server said, "Tonights special is right here and he pointed to it". It was a gluten free entree and said so. They made a dish just for her and her dinner companions were none the wiser.

I hope you have a great time!!

[lovegrov]

If I've never been to any restaurant, I call ahead, and if a high-end place with a real chef does a good job, I'll go back without calling ahead.

richard

[MaryJones2]

I also think that the restaurants with chefs tend to be much more accomodating. I think it is appropriate to call ahead and speak with the chef (the executive chef if they have one) and let them know when you're coming in and the types of things you can, or like, to eat so they aren't put on the spot when you show up and request gluten-free. Often chefs will plan their menus based on seasonal fruits and vegetables and can come up with awesome gluten-free meals if they have a little advanced warning. I usually tell the chef that I like fish but not beef and I can't have gluten, soy or dairy so anything they can come up with is perfectly acceptable. I've never been disappointed.

[Live4Hiking]

Thank you, thank you, thanks to all of you!!! I thought a big, important part of my social life was over! Great advice. I live in SF Bay Area and will update this forum from time to time on my experiences -- hopefully all good.

[lovegrov]

BTW, we went to a higher end place here and one of the options was a meal with a certain number of courses at a certain price. The chef made it up as he went along, but he also had only certain main ingredients on hand. We wanted to try it. I have celiac and my wife can't have shellfish. The chef came out and talked to us and it was apparent he was into the challenge. We had a GREAT meal.

richard