Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

How Do I Attend Family Brunch At Non gluten-free-friendly Hotel?


Jenbirds

Recommended Posts

Jenbirds Rookie

Our niece's communion brunch is being held at a local hotel chain's banquet facility. When I phoned the banquet manager if they could prepare a gluten-free meal for me, on a dedicated grill (i.e., chicken breast), he hesitated and questioned the need to have my meat, potato, etc., prepared on a separate area. At the time of the phone call, I was taking care of a sick child, and offered to call him back. Since then, I've left 2 voicemails with no returns from him.

So, do I bring my own food and sit there with others, and indulge on my own food? I guess it's my only option?

It's times like these I feel sorry for myself. with this diet I am 100% dedicated to. Maybe I'll bake a real gooey gluten-free dessert for myself that makes others drool for it?!?

Any advice is greatly appreciated - the brunch is 5/3/09.

gluten-free since March 2008; positive endoscopy March 2008, after being diagnosed w/ osteopenia, low Calcium & Vitamin D levels


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



one more mile Contributor

Eating things there could be a risk. Some places will not make allergy free meals because they are afraid of the liability.

He may not have a separate area to cook. Better safe then sorry, cooking in mass is so different then cooking for one.

I would probably eat what I though was safe but also bring a meal for myself. You just have to ask yourself is it worth the risk? I can safely eat cheese and olives and pickles but that makes for an odd meal.

Personally I would rather have people see me eat my own food then have them see me sick. I just say I have very bad food allergy's and leave it at that.

eringopaint Newbie

I would either eat before or bring your own food. Don't make a big deal about it but if asked say that you have severe allergies and leave it at that ,as OneMoreM said.

I usually try to eat before I go to any party, bring something with me - and then pick and choose with what is available... usually fruit and cheese.

It would be easier if you could just eat there like everyone else - I think this is the biggest problem I face, but the risk of being ill is just not worth it.

Good luck - and enjoy. Focus on the socializing part.

erin

Crystalkd Contributor

Your family knows your issue so I'd bring my own food. I understand how you feel about being diffrent. Since I went gluten-free I haven't eaten at other peoples houses other than my moms and I get nervous leaving the safety of my kitchen. I only eat at places that I know work well with gluten-free which aren't many.

Jenbirds Rookie

Thank you all for your responses. I plan to attend the brunch w/ a full stomach and focus on the socializing!

Thanks again!

GottaSki Mentor

Great advise...thanks everyone.

New to gluten-free and while I have very loving family and friends that are trying to help...I find that I too prefer to show up having already eaten a little something so that I don't have to worry about my stomach growling through the meal.

I am letting everyone know -- they don't have to plan the entire meal around me that I am perfectly content to eat the salad and or vegies...I just bring my own salad dressing! Now that being said, it is very nice when I find they have tried to prepare gluten-free for me. :)

Ahorsesoul Enthusiast

Make sure to write a letter to the Corporate Headquarter of the company about the treatment you received from this place. If they don't hear from us, business places will not offer a solution.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



JNBunnie1 Community Regular
Make sure to write a letter to the Corporate Headquarter of the company about the treatment you received from this place. If they don't hear from us, business places will not offer a solution.

This is very good advice. I work for a hotel chain, and most managers don't listen to anything that doesn't come in on a survey or letter to corporate.

Also keep in mind, fruit, cheese, veggies that weren't prepped with you in mind probably aren't safe. In a big banquet kitchen, all the food is prepped simultaneously, and the risks of cross-contamination are astronomical. I personally do not eat anything from our hotel's kitchen. The response you got from the hotel staff you spoke with tells me you're not safe there.

Jenbirds Rookie
This is very good advice. I work for a hotel chain, and most managers don't listen to anything that doesn't come in on a survey or letter to corporate.

Also keep in mind, fruit, cheese, veggies that weren't prepped with you in mind probably aren't safe. In a big banquet kitchen, all the food is prepped simultaneously, and the risks of cross-contamination are astronomical. I personally do not eat anything from our hotel's kitchen. The response you got from the hotel staff you spoke with tells me you're not safe there.

Thanks JNBUnnie1 for your candid feedback. The day after this event, I'm planning to send a letter to their corporate office, to let the company know about my dissatisfaction with their customer service, or lack thereof. Between the hotel staff and family who question why I can't eat the fruits, cheeses, etc., I know by refraining from eating at this function, I'm doing the best for my diet and health.

kenlove Rising Star

HI,

I would bypass the banquet manager and go directly to the chef. The manager often has no idea whats going on but the chef, by law in most places, has to be on top of things when it comes to whats being served. You can simply call the chefs office, and ask for the executive chef and tell him/her that you read that it was a good idea to call the chefs off when you had a serious food allergy.

In the April 09 National Culinary Review of the American Culinary Federation there is a article on food allergies including ours.

You can always ask the chef if they checked it. Where as hotel management, especially middle managers are often out of the loop when it comes to food knowledge. The chefs should know better.

Good luck

Ken

Our niece's communion brunch is being held at a local hotel chain's banquet facility. When I phoned the banquet manager if they could prepare a gluten-free meal for me, on a dedicated grill (i.e., chicken breast), he hesitated and questioned the need to have my meat, potato, etc., prepared on a separate area. At the time of the phone call, I was taking care of a sick child, and offered to call him back. Since then, I've left 2 voicemails with no returns from him.

So, do I bring my own food and sit there with others, and indulge on my own food? I guess it's my only option?

It's times like these I feel sorry for myself. with this diet I am 100% dedicated to. Maybe I'll bake a real gooey gluten-free dessert for myself that makes others drool for it?!?

Any advice is greatly appreciated - the brunch is 5/3/09.

gluten-free since March 2008; positive endoscopy March 2008, after being diagnosed w/ osteopenia, low Calcium & Vitamin D levels

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      127,948
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Completely Curious
    Newest Member
    Completely Curious
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121k
    • Total Posts
      70.5k

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • cookiesyum
      The easiest way to remember the difference between the cholesterol types is HDL;   H=healthy equals healthy (omega 3, 7, limit 6 & 9 MCFA'S =Medium Chain Fatty Acids. 3= coconut oil, 7= sunflower oil, avocado. The higher your HDL the healthier you are & less likely to experience strokes, clogged arteries Etc. You can even use cold expeller pressed coconut oil on your skin and that is the best kind of coconut oil to eat as well. You want your HDL much higher than your LDL, it will help you stay healthy.   LDL;    L=Lousy. Meat fats, processed fats.  The higher your LDL is the more likely you will have strokes, clogged artery is, heart disease, fatty liver.   Then there's lipids... they are the culprit to be blamed for many heart attacks and things like that they are very small round particles that transport fats. You can have a low overall cholesterol reading and most of it be healthy cholesterol and have a ton of lipids and there's nothing you can do to change the lipid count. High number of lipids is very dangerous.   I'm going on statins is extremely dangerous if you ask me it's just completely my opinion, because I have seen so many of my elderly friends bleed to death internally because of the statins. I mean you wouldn't take all the oil and grease out of your car or a motorcycle and then try to drive it that way would you? You see that's what statins do they remove all of your bodies fats and it doesn't matter whether it's healthy fats or a lousy fats. It removes all of them and then your body can't function properly. You have to have fats to keep your skin supple and to stay warm. Your body also needs fats to digest & process certain nutrients, amino acids & vitamins.   Your brain is composed of fat so is that something you really want to remove with a pill every morning and night?   The thing about statins is that they also make the blood vessels and capillaries permeable. So this is how my friends who were on cardiac medication for a long time and statins ended up bleeding internally to death.   If you want to make sure that your heart is healthy, take odorless garlic at night and magnesium, vitamin K & calcium.     
    • pdm1981
      It's also a symptom of EPI.
    • Wheatwacked
      Yes.  Proportionately a small piece to a toddler is like a whole slice to an adult.  This is an important clue.  She was doing well, accidentally ate gluten and later the old behavior returned. I remember reading posts here of people reacting to a kiss from someone who had just eaten gluten. Recent research indicates that 40% of first degree relatives of someone with Celiac have undiagnosed Celiac Disease.  Father, mother, siblings.  There is a whole list of symtoms of "silent celiac".  Here is an article of symptoms possibly mistaken for other causes than Celiac Disease.  When I finally stopped gluten at 63 years old, I counted 19 things that improved, including lifelong mouthbreathing.  I never smelled bad things, so I as a kid, I learned to respond to the other kid's response in order to not seem weird. I really recommend you pursue testing for all the family if you can, and the whole family following GFD.  It is difficult at first, but the benefits will be worth it.  
    • Visionaerie
      I get these but where we are, they are called chicken potstickers. I would obviously suggest that it is the ginger in the product that is causing a stimulative digestive effect! So you might want to do what I do, just cook one of them with the rest of your meal so you don't have the same effect. I love the Feel Good products but they are on the expensive side. (I also drink Reed's ginger brew so in general, ginger is a friend of mine..when delivered at the right dose). Hope this helps and have a warm healthy week!
    • ognam
      Has anyone had Steatorrhea (oily/fatty poop) as a temporary glutening symptom or should I be concerned I've introduced chronic gluten somewhere (like in meds)? I haven't gotten Steatorrhea since before I went gluten free. However, I moved in the past few weeks and haven't been as careful - I've eaten at restauraunts with cross contamination but only experienced minor symptoms like headache. The past week, I ate only gluten free food at home except I went to Red Robin and got fries (told them gluten-free; allergy). The next day I had Steatorrhea and the day after that.   I know it's a symptom of malabsorption so I was wondering if it was the kind of thing that could be caused by one event or if it was due to a more chronic issue. Of course I will speak to a GI but I recently moved and need to find one.   Thank you for any info
×
×
  • Create New...