What this blog is about.
Welcome to Gluten Free Social Savvy. Whether you are new to being gluten free or an expert there is one thing we can all be sure of, Everybody has to Eat and that means Eating Out. In today’s world that can be like walking backwards through a muddy land mine on a dark rainy night wearing a
black blind fold unless you have a well written guild to help you know where to go for safety. Gluten Free Social Savvy is a blog for all of us and will primarily explore national restaurant chains with a gluten free menu. Together, with your input we will also explore a large variety of fare; coffee/dessert, fast food, casual dining, pizza, bar and grill, and my personal favorites fine dining restaurant.
We will discover helpful tips such as how to order from a menu, how to successfully deal with problems if they occur, support groups and provide links
to resources. In addition, we will discuss those not so easy relationship issues such as: how to tell your friends and family why you can’t split your meal with them, why they can’t eat off of your plate and what to do on that awkward first date when it comes time to order a meal.
So let’s get started let’s put our heads together. Are you Gluten Free Social Savvy?
Welcome to Gluten Free Social Savvy. Whether you are new to being gluten free or an expert there is one thing we can all be sure of, Everybody has to Eat and that means Eating Out. In today’s world that can be like walking backwards through a muddy land mine on a dark rainy night wearing a
black blind fold unless you have a well written guild to help you know where to go for safety. Gluten Free Social Savvy is a blog for all of us and will primarily explore national restaurant chains with a gluten free menu. Together, with your input we will also explore a large variety of fare; coffee/dessert, fast food, casual dining, pizza, bar and grill, and my personal favorites fine dining restaurant.
We will discover helpful tips such as how to order from a menu, how to successfully deal with problems if they occur, support groups and provide links
to resources. In addition, we will discuss those not so easy relationship issues such as: how to tell your friends and family why you can’t split your meal with them, why they can’t eat off of your plate and what to do on that awkward first date when it comes time to order a meal.
So let’s get started let’s put our heads together. Are you Gluten Free Social Savvy?
About the author of Gluten Free Social Savvy
Life is a Journey
My fondest memories, growing up in Western Pennsylvania are steeped like a tea bag in those times when family and friends gathered to share a meal. However, my love for food came from the summers I grew up on our family farm gathering eggs so fresh they were still warm in my hand and straining milk after it had been carried from the barn in metal buckets dents and all.
Six weeks after highschool graduation I married a quiet, red headed brit with brown eyes. Four and eight years later, I would join the ranks of motherhood, no red heads, but plenty of beautiful brown eyes. Moving nearly seventeen times provided me with my first opportunities to explore new local restaurants, new foods, spices and cooking techniques.
After studying Sociology and writing intensive courses I graduated (2008) magna cumlade, was an honor society member and received an award for community service during my time as a student.
In my forties, I discovered quiet by accident that gluten was the cause of much of my suffering. While being treated for an infection my diet was restricted to meats and vegetables. My health improved tremendously. A friend, Emily, educated me about my improved health and how my illness’ were linked to gluten.
Now, in my fifties, this Italian finds herself on another journey which includes a gluten free life style. Five years ago my frustrations with dining out drove me to becoming Gluten Free Social Savvy talking with chefs and restraunt owners and wait staff. What is your best tip about dining out?
Dining Out - Gluten Roulette/Rootlet
I don’t recall any restraunts that had a gluten free menu when I began to eat gluten free five years ago. Those first few months were like playing gluten roulette/rootlet. I would ask the wait staff if they had anything that was gluten free they would tell me that they didn’t know what that was. Not wanting to limit myself to a bag of plain potato chips or a bowl of lettuce I would look for a place that would sell burgers or hotdogs. I would explain that I was “allergic” to the wheat bun and asked that it not be included. They would explain to me that their buns were not made from wheat and that their buns were made of just plain regular white flour.
Fortunately, when I did venture out I was able to call my husband at his office to ask him to search the internet for anything gluten free. Sometimes I was fortunate to find a restraunt like Chick filet which actually had several items that were safe, otherwise… well, you know.
Today, things have improved drastically. Many restraunts do provide gluten free items and menus, even if we still have to be patient and explain what we need to stay safe. Which of your favorite nation wide restaurant chains is now has a gluten free menu?
I don’t recall any restraunts that had a gluten free menu when I began to eat gluten free five years ago. Those first few months were like playing gluten roulette/rootlet. I would ask the wait staff if they had anything that was gluten free they would tell me that they didn’t know what that was. Not wanting to limit myself to a bag of plain potato chips or a bowl of lettuce I would look for a place that would sell burgers or hotdogs. I would explain that I was “allergic” to the wheat bun and asked that it not be included. They would explain to me that their buns were not made from wheat and that their buns were made of just plain regular white flour.
Fortunately, when I did venture out I was able to call my husband at his office to ask him to search the internet for anything gluten free. Sometimes I was fortunate to find a restraunt like Chick filet which actually had several items that were safe, otherwise… well, you know.
Today, things have improved drastically. Many restraunts do provide gluten free items and menus, even if we still have to be patient and explain what we need to stay safe. Which of your favorite nation wide restaurant chains is now has a gluten free menu?
Gluten Poisoning verses Gluten Free
My most serious episode of gluten poisoning was at a fast food restraunt. I asked if the fries were gluten free and she said that she thought they were. I asked her all of the necessary questioned: do the fries have any wheat, barley or rye on them, what else is cooked in the same oil, ect. According to her they were safe but I wasn’t so sure and stressed the importance asking the manager which she did. Again, I was told that the object of my desire was safe. I ate each tender golden strand as if I had never eaten a fry before unaware that I was poisoning myself with every salty nibble. It did not take me long to realize my mistake and rushed home sweating in pain with no end in sight. I was sick for about five days wishing I could sue somebody for something but I didn’t know what. When I was able to walk again and to leave the house I drove back to the same restraunt and asked to speak with the owner explaining what had happened. He said that he couldn’t imagine any reason why there would be wheat in the product. At my insistence he brought a bag of fries to me and explained, “I’m sorry, it says right here in the ingredients that it contains wheat. To little to late, I thought to myself but better that I know. Write to me and let me know if you have a similar story gluten free catastrophe.
My most serious episode of gluten poisoning was at a fast food restraunt. I asked if the fries were gluten free and she said that she thought they were. I asked her all of the necessary questioned: do the fries have any wheat, barley or rye on them, what else is cooked in the same oil, ect. According to her they were safe but I wasn’t so sure and stressed the importance asking the manager which she did. Again, I was told that the object of my desire was safe. I ate each tender golden strand as if I had never eaten a fry before unaware that I was poisoning myself with every salty nibble. It did not take me long to realize my mistake and rushed home sweating in pain with no end in sight. I was sick for about five days wishing I could sue somebody for something but I didn’t know what. When I was able to walk again and to leave the house I drove back to the same restraunt and asked to speak with the owner explaining what had happened. He said that he couldn’t imagine any reason why there would be wheat in the product. At my insistence he brought a bag of fries to me and explained, “I’m sorry, it says right here in the ingredients that it contains wheat. To little to late, I thought to myself but better that I know. Write to me and let me know if you have a similar story gluten free catastrophe.
Your Favorite Gluten Free National Restraunt
Now a days there are many options for eating out gluten free. Nearly every town and large city has options for us: dessert/drinks, fast food, dining casual, family dining, bar and grill and fine dining to name a few. Many national restrants provide a gluten free menu or items that they are willing to adjust for you. Some national restrunts will go as far as to prepare things like pizza crusts after hours or bring in breads baked in gluten free facilities. Even though there is room for improvement maybe like you I was brought up to be grateful and to focus on those things which I had.
I am not above naming names when it comes to great food and national restraunt chains that will treat us right and take our needs into account. I have enjoyed some of the best gluten free fries, pai tie shrimp rolls, steaks and potatoes, salmon, and grilled chicken served along side of waffle fries and coleslaw.
In the future we can look at these and many other gluten free offerings but for today I am asking you to help me and your fellow gluten free celiac and let us know which is your ultimate, must have, go to national restrant chain and what items do you enjoy the most and why. So what is your favorite and where have you had the most success?
Pei Wei
Their slogan says, “Discover something foreign yet familiar”. Do you long for the spicy sweet heat of Asian style food? On a resent trip to Baltimore, MD my daughter suggested Pei Wei. I had never heard of Pei Wei but when I called ahead the staff told me that they did have a gluten free menu. I was more than just a little curious when they described the flavors are distinctly Chinese Vietnamese, Korean, Thai and Japanese.
I ordered the Gluten Free Pei Wei spicy Shrimp. The shrimp are wok seared and flavored with vinegar sauce, garlic, scallions, snap peas and shoe string carrots which I had served over a steaming bowl of white rice. I couldn’t resist ordering I side order of Gluten Free Vietnamese Rolls. They were crisp and chilled to perfection served in a rice paper wrapper excellent for dipping in sweet chili sauce. Slicing through the center you could
see the chicken, butter lettuce, crisp snap peas, cabbage, bright orange carrots, mint, spring scallions, and peanuts all in light lime vinaigrette.
Pei Wei offered a few gluten free options; meatless, chicken, or shrimp in salads, wraps or served over rice. The restaurant is casual and served some alcoholic beverages. The atmosphere was suitable for groups and families and take out was available. I enjoyed my first visit so much that
we returned the next day.
Their slogan says, “Discover something foreign yet familiar”. Do you long for the spicy sweet heat of Asian style food? On a resent trip to Baltimore, MD my daughter suggested Pei Wei. I had never heard of Pei Wei but when I called ahead the staff told me that they did have a gluten free menu. I was more than just a little curious when they described the flavors are distinctly Chinese Vietnamese, Korean, Thai and Japanese.
I ordered the Gluten Free Pei Wei spicy Shrimp. The shrimp are wok seared and flavored with vinegar sauce, garlic, scallions, snap peas and shoe string carrots which I had served over a steaming bowl of white rice. I couldn’t resist ordering I side order of Gluten Free Vietnamese Rolls. They were crisp and chilled to perfection served in a rice paper wrapper excellent for dipping in sweet chili sauce. Slicing through the center you could
see the chicken, butter lettuce, crisp snap peas, cabbage, bright orange carrots, mint, spring scallions, and peanuts all in light lime vinaigrette.
Pei Wei offered a few gluten free options; meatless, chicken, or shrimp in salads, wraps or served over rice. The restaurant is casual and served some alcoholic beverages. The atmosphere was suitable for groups and families and take out was available. I enjoyed my first visit so much that
we returned the next day.