Macaroni Grill And Chipotle

[Guest TerpyTaylor]

Two great eating out experiences in one week...

My boyfriend took me to the Macaroni Grill last week for dinner because their website said that they had a gluten-free menu. Unfortunately we got there and the waitress had no idea what I was talking about as far as a special menu goes, but she happened to know about gluten because of a friend. She sent the head chef from the kitchen out and he special made a meal for me! Chicken and asparagus with a special honey garlic sauce, very yummy!

I also took my mom (also Celiac) and some friends to Chipotle today and talked with a manager about what we can eat. She brought out the ingredient lists for marinade they use on the steak and chicken and the black beans for me to read; all gluten-free, though I don't know the sources for the spices (not sure that they are McCormick or another certain gluten-free source). The rice is also ok. My mom and I steer clear of chicken because we've both had bad reactions before if the chicken has been pumped with any broth, and I didn't ask the manager about that. But we both got Burrito Bowls with black beans, rice, steak, tomato salsa and lettuce. Delicious and zero reaction from either of us! A little spicy though if you're sensitive to that.

Fun to have good eating experiences out with friends, I'm starting to be more bold and get more than just plain veggies when I go out with friends! Especially good to have decent meal after my mom and I both accidentally got glutened by my grandma a few days ago. She made us a claimed "gluten-free" soup...she forgot though that gluten includes barley! We didn't see the barley and both ate it, found out after the fact and both felt pretty crummy for a couple days. Bless her heart for trying though!

Anyway, check out M.G. and Chipotle!

Blessings,

Taylor

[lovegrov]

Last I checked, everything at Chipotle was gluten-free except the flour tortillas and, I believe, the hottest salsa. I know the chicken is gluten-free.

richard

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

Due to proximity with my office, I eat at the Macaroni Grille at least once a week.

I have never had a problem with

1. "Simple Salmon" (Slamon and asparagus with lemon)

2. Steak and Arugula Salad

3. Chicken Florentine salad (no orzo)

4. Strawberry Salad (no croutons)

[steveindenver]

I emailed Chipotle last week and was told everything but their flour tortillas and bowls are gluten-free, including marinades. And their corn chips are fried only with other corn products

[JenAnderson]

I absolutely LOOOOOVE Chipotle. Their barbacoa burrito bowls are things that dreams are made of. If you haven't eaten there and like good "authentic" Mexican food, I highly recommend it. It's cool, too because you can go to their online website and make your order and you don't have to wait in line. I haven't tried Macaroni Grill yet, but then again, I haven't seen one here yet.

[Nancym]

I went into a Jack-in-the-box and asked if the salads contained any wheat. Mind you, I said wheat figuring everyone would know what wheat is.

The manager looked at me like I had asked her if there were any snorglegorzits in the frobulitz. She didn't know what wheat was. So she asked another worker and they looked just as puzzled, if not worse.

Good god.

I had a similar reaction from a worker at a Chipotle.

[CarlaB]

I went to Chipotle today, had a burrito bowl. I asked the guy making the food to change his gloves because of my wheat allergy (easiest way to describe it and gets the point across, I only say that at a fast-food place). He looked at the tortilla package, don't know why, I knew I couldn't have them so I guess he was wondering if they had wheat, and he said, "I guess these have some wheat in them." I had the black beans, chicken, corn salsa, lettuce, and guacamole. It was very good. I was there when they opened, so I wasn't worried about cc in the lettuce.

[floridanative]

Wow - thanks for the info on Chipolte and Mac. grill! Of course I doubt I've ever had anything at the latter except for reg. pasta. But it's worth trying a fish or chicken dish just to expand my dining choices. I rarely ate at Chipolte before going gluten-free but I'll give them a try now since I'd love some un cc'd corn chips eating out!