P.F. Chang

GF-aka Oma · Post by **GF-aka Oma** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:48 pm

My DIL and I went looking for a new bed today~and stopped at a PF Changs (oriental food) and they had an Intire page dedicated to gluetin free i was amazed very good food.

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 10:07 pm

P.F. Changs does have a terrific GF menu. We just need to watch out for soy, if that's one of our intolerances. I always ordered Phillip's Lemon Chicken which was GF and SF. I loved it!

Gloria

jmayk8 · Post by **jmayk8** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:53 am

PF Changs is yummy but, Burtons Grill is my favorite! They have a huge gf menu and are great with my other sensitivities. I know there are a few in MA and CT-not sure if they are located anywhere else...

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:09 am

PF CHang's uses wheat free tamari in their GF dishes. I've never gotten sick there.

Mary Beth

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:34 am

Interesting, Mary Beth.....isn't wheat free sauce made from soybeans? Unfortunately, the only thing I can order at Chang's is the plain rice or the lettuce wraps with chicken - hold the sauce. I can't even do the lemon chicken, Gloria, and I agree it's delicious. I forget what the offender is - I think it may be cornstarch.

However, I recently read a review of a restaurant about 1-2 hours from me that offers a gluten, dairy, and soy-free menu. YAY! As you have guessed, the owner is sensitive to all three. I am hopeful that this might become a wave of the future. Maybe someone will open a caveman restaurant.

Hugs,
Polly

maestraz · Post by **maestraz** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:35 am

I'm finding many restaurants to be offering "special" menus GF pasta, etc. There is one I looked up, think it* might* have been Ruby Tuesday, that broke down its menu for GF,DF,nut-free, etc., about nine separate sensitivities. Of course, eating GF/DF required cross-referencing to see which items appeared on both pages.

I've eaten at PF Chang's numerous times with no issue.

nancyl · Post by **nancyl** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:55 am

Jenny,
I know there is a Burton's at the Pheasant Lane Mall and we're going there today. Anther one here in MA and NH is Joe's American Grill. There is also one at that same mall. They don't have a gluten free menu, but when you tell them your food intolerances they will fix most anything any way you want. We've eaten there with Joe a couple of times and have never been dissapointed.

Nancy

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:57 am

I LOVE PF Changs, especially the different GF plate. All restaurants should do that. Ted's Montana Grill is another chain with a nice GF menu too with good quality meats. I had their salt and pepper trout for Valentine's Day - yummy. Last night my family took a chance on a local BBQ place, Rocklands, in Arlington, VA. To my amazement, everything in the restaurant was GF except for the Mac-n-cheese and buns!! I wondered what their definition of GF was, given there was malt vinegar on the tables, but I took the chance. I had 3 meats and ribs with their GF original BBQ sauce, baked beans, and collard greens. It was amazing, and I didn't bloat (telltale sign for me that there is gluten)!!

Post by **tex** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:44 am

Polly wrote:As you have guessed, the owner is sensitive to all three.

That's an interesting observation. Thinking about that, this issue of cross-contamination risks in restaurants for people who have food-sensitivities, is a lot like having MC - no one truly understands it unless they have it. That implies that the safest place to eat would have to be in a restaurant where either the owner of the chef has the same food-sensitivities that we are dealing with. No one else can truly grasp the complexity of the risks involved.

Love,
Tex

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 1:43 pm

I've all but given up on eating out. DH gets excited for me when he sees a GF menu, but gluten is just the beginning of my problem foods. I can order pork or lamb chops and nothing else. When I go, it's always so DH can eat out. The last time we went, I asked him if he would do it for me if the situation were reversed. He couldn't answer me.

Polly wrote:I can't even do the lemon chicken, Gloria, and I agree it's delicious. I forget what the offender is - I think it may be cornstarch.

Yes, I can't do it anymore, either. For me it's the chicken, lemon, and rice. I noticed a shiny coating on the chicken the last time I ate it. I asked if it was possible that they dipped it in egg white to get that shiny coating. The server checked and told me they didn't use an egg white, but he couldn't tell me how it got shiny. I never noticed any problems after eating there, but that was many moons ago.

Gloria

bevfromwa · Post by **bevfromwa** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 5:25 pm

I agree, it is difficult to eat out safely. We have an Applebee's in town, keep seeing their ads, so checked their menu on line. This quote says it all:

To our guests with food sensitivities or allergies: Applebee's cannot ensure that menu items do not contain ingredients that might cause an allergic reaction. Please consider this when ordering.

So if you get sick you're on your own! Scratch that one. No PF Changs around here, but will keep my eyes open when traveling. What I really miss is sushi, but don't know if they could do anything without soy sauce, so haven't been back to my favorite place. What I really thought was cute was a thai place in town. Thought pad thai noodles would be safe, asked what they were cooked in, he said soy oil. I explained my allergy, so he actually brought out a small bottle of olive oil from the kitchen and said "how about I cook in this?"

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 5:47 pm

most people (waitress's, chefs, general public) are able to comprehend and help with an intolerance. The focus by cafe's restaurants to supply GF, vegan and Diabetic friendly meals is massive.

the concept of multiple intolerances is the tricky part, additionally people's belief that 'a little bit cant hurt' - that is what we are contending with if contemplating eating out.

Eating out in large groups at busy times does not work. I have had no issues when it is small group at the table and before the place is really busy.
yes there are times i miss eating out or getting take away on the way home from work, but I appreciate wellness more.

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:10 am

I have found Bonefish Grill to be absolutely the best GF restaurant when eating out. They are very accomodating and last week when I was there by waitress was a Celiac and very knowledgable.

Maggie

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 12:32 pm

I'm with you Gloria! I am sensitive to so many foods I can't eat anywhere. There just isn't any point.
I often go with Adam. He eats, I don't, unless there is a very plain piece of meat and undoctored potatoes. I don't see the point of paying restaurant prices for foods that I can get for much less at home.