Fine Dining, Gluten-Free
Most people enjoy eating out now and then; it’s fun to forget about kitchen duty and head for a favorite restaurant. For people who eat a gluten-free diet, though, eating out isn’t always easy.
Many restaurants serve food that’s laden with gluten and fat. And though some are happy to cater to special requirements, others don’t want to be bothered. It can be a challenge to find a restaurant that offers a great gluten-free meal; but the challenge can become a pleasant experience--with a little preparation
If you want to insure a good experience, call the restaurant beforehand. Talk with the chef—not a waitress or the manager. The chef is the only person who can address the issue authoritatively, because s/he is the person who will prepare the food. Ask what gluten-free dishes the chef can prepare—and then ask questions. Do the vegetables have a sauce? Is the meat breaded? Will the chef use fresh oil instead of oil that’s been used to cook meals containing wheat? These questions will reassure you--and provide guidelines for the chef.
Get to the restaurant before you’re really hungry, and talk with the chef again. There’s a chance that your food will be prepared by a different chef; and even if you spoke with the same person before, it helps to meet face to face and insure that s/he understands your needs.
Always be polite! If you’re courteous, the staff is more likely to want to please you. And afterwards, if they did please you—if your meal was prepared safely and gluten-free—let them know! Promise to return often, and tell them that you’ll spread the good word.
Some people carry a card printed with the details of their diet—including the symptoms they suffer when they eat wheat. The card can include basic instructions for gluten-free cooking, providing the chef with a handy check-list. Diet cards are available at several Internet sites; or you can make your own.
If you’re forced to eat at a new restaurant without advance preparation, talk with the chef and request a very plain meal: sautéed meat and steamed vegetables, for instance. No, it won’t be the best meal you’ve ever eaten in a restaurant; but it will be healthy.
The good news is that many restaurants are beginning to cater to gluten-free eaters. In fact, some restaurants are now registered as being gluten-free, and more are hopping on the band wagon. Glutenfreeregistry.com registers gluten-free restaurants; you can search their site for a gluten-free restaurant near you.
Blue Point Grill- Princeton, NJ
For Valentine's Day I recently went to my first restaurant without a gluten free menu in a long time. At first I was a little hesitant because it takes so much trust to eat food prepared by strangers, but I constantly try to not let Celiac's Disease change my life... only my diet. I called ahead of time to see if the chef would be able to accommodate a gluten free diner. The receponist that answered the phone surprisingly knew exactly what I was talking about an informed me that it was not a problem. To me this was such a relief because if the person answering the phone knew what gluten free was then the chef had to as well. Usually when I say gluten free I get a pause of silence and then an "excuse me?."
So I went to the restaurant and sat down. I was told to just let my server know that I had a gluten allergy and he would take it from there. When he handed us the menus I asked him what I would be able to eat and he told me just order whatever I wanted and the chef would do whatever he needed to in order for it to be gluten free. I was a little skeptical, but decided to try. The menu was a HUGE seafood selection with tons of different fish and other options. I got a salmon with a lemon butter sauce, a baked potato, and a salad. The server brought us our dinner and apologized it took a little extra time because of the gluten free preparation. I really hadn't even thought that we had waited any longer than anyone else, but him saying that reassured me that what I was about to eat was going to be completely gluten free. I ate it with confidence and didn't have that lingering thought in the back of my mind... will I get sick?
I recommend this restaurant to anyone in the Princeton, NJ area, but most of all I urge other Celiacs like myself that usually don't try a restaurant if they don't have a special menu to take a chance.
Restaurant Rescuer
When I first was diagnosed with Celiac’s Disease it seemed like I would never go out to dinner again. Little by little I found more and more places near me that had gluten free dining, but that didn’t help me when I went on vacation or back to school. It’s stressful to have to go into a restaurant where the server doesn’t even know what gluten is. Then my mom bought The Essential Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide: How and Where to Eat 2008-2009. They have come out with a new one, but I’m sure the concept is the same. The book is divided by state and then under each state is a list of restaurants that have gluten free food. There are different icons that mean gluten free menu available, gluten free products available, gluten free chain restaurant and more. I’ve found this book to be somewhat of a bible when it comes to finding somewhere to eat in an unfamiliar area. Some of the menus are even listed in the back and every restaurant lists the towns and phone numbers to call. I highly recommend buying this book to make dining out so much easier. I love it!
To see a sample visit…. http://www.celiac.com/catalog/triumph_sample_pages.pdf http://www.celiac.com/catalog/triumph_sample_pages.pdf
Olive Garden appeals to gluten free
I recently found out that the Olive garden now offers a gluten free menu. There is a small one that is available online at http://www.olivegarden.com/menus/garden_fare/nutrition_alternatives.asp. Depending on the location they do however have gluten free pasta and offer many of their regular menu items in a gluten free fashion. Chicken Parm, Lasangna, Penne are all gluten free at specific locations to name a few. I had the mixed grill which was really good... it was grilled chicken in a garlic olive oil sauce with grilled vegetables. They don't have any dessert items besides ice cream, which is somewhat disappointing. ** Be careful every restaurant makes their own dressing no matter how similar it may taste. I went to one and it was fine to eat and went to another location, checked just to make sure they were all the same, but was told their particular salad dressing did have gluten in it. I had olive oil and vinegar, which at this location was the only dressing they had to offer (disappointing). I wouldn't say that the Olive Garden is on the top of my list to dine gluten free, but every option helps... so give it a try.
Gluten Free Travelers Rejoice
Traveling soon? Looking for gluten free options internationally? PF Changs is now expanding to countries outside the USA.
Going to Mexico City sometime soon? PF Changs has just opened a restaurant there!
And, it looks like they are want to expand to more than just Mexico too: they are also looking at Kuwait, the Philippines, Canada, Puerto Rico, India and Singapore.
Time has the article here.
Paparazzi Restaurant
Two nights ago my family and I ate at Paparazzi, a restaurant known for its italian food. They do not have a gluten free menu, but they do have gluten free pasta and make all of their sauces from scratch. This means that you can order nearly anything on the menu and they can make it gluten free. They do not have gluten free bread so obviously all the pizza selections are off limits, but there are more than enough pasta/ chicken options. I got-
PENNE ALL’ ARRABBIATA- pasta quills with browned garlic, virgin olive oil and white wine in a spicy pomodoro sauce 12.99
The menus for brunch, lunch and dinner can be found at http://www.paparazzitrattoria.com/index.cfm?pk=location&ac=menulist
PF CHANGS
For about the 50th time since I was diagnosed I had PF Changs for dinner. It is very difficult to go out for dinner let alone find Chinese food that doesn’t have gluten in their soy sauce. I love going to PF Changs because they are so used to gluten free diners. They have a bunch of choices on a gluten free menu and I can order as a normal person. I don’t need to stress the fact that no wheat, barely, rye, or malt can touch anything I eat and I don’t need to feel nervous when I eat.
http://www.pfchangs.com/menu.shtml
I’ve had the Chang’s spicy chicken, lettuce wraps, lemon chicken, and ginger chicken and the flourless chocolate dessert. It’s all amazing, but since I had the Chang’s spicy chicken I can’t order anything else (it’s that good). They have so many options, only negative is no gluten free fortune cookies.