Hello everyone!
I am really missing eating out. Can you guys tell me if you go out to any restaurants and if you do where you go and what you order?
I am doing the gluten/dairy free so I know that limits me a bit but I sure would like to enjoy eating out with my family once in a while.
I have gone to Chipoltle and I know Olive Garden has a couple of Gluten Free choices but am hoping for more alternatives.
Thanks so much for any help you can give!
AnnieW
Does anyone eat out?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Annie,
I initially missed eating out, too. Now I've found that there are a few restaurants where I can safely eat. Note that I can't eat gluten, dairy, eggs, soy or legumes. Here's my list:
Arbys - OK with GF bun and potato cakes
Mexican restaurant - OK with corn tortilla/taco, rice, and guacamole, but no sour cream or cheese
PF Chang's - OK: Philip's Better Lemon Chicken
Buffets - OK: Spanish rice, corn tacos
Olive Garden - GF chicken/steak skewers, GF pasta
Breakfast - OK: potato skillet w/sausage or ham and tomatoes
German - OK: grilled pork chops, fried potatoes, red cabbage
Outback Steakhouse, Applebee's - OK:hamburger, bacon w/o bun, baked potato w/ghee, homemade mayo
Greek - OK: pot roast and rice in tomato sauce
Maggiano's (Italian) - OK: corn pasta, tomato sauce, chicken breast, asparagus - made to order by chef
In general, ethnic restaurants tend to use olive oil instead of vegetable (soybean) oil. Mexican restaurants use corn oil.
Also, steak or a hamburger with bacon and a baked potato and a vegetable will work at most restaurants. You should never order french fries because of the possibility of cross-contamination. Also, don't eat the skin on baked potatoes because it might be dipped in butter or oil.
You might find this link helpful:
http://www.glutenfreeceliacweb.com/rest ... ree-meals/
Gloria
I initially missed eating out, too. Now I've found that there are a few restaurants where I can safely eat. Note that I can't eat gluten, dairy, eggs, soy or legumes. Here's my list:
Arbys - OK with GF bun and potato cakes
Mexican restaurant - OK with corn tortilla/taco, rice, and guacamole, but no sour cream or cheese
PF Chang's - OK: Philip's Better Lemon Chicken
Buffets - OK: Spanish rice, corn tacos
Olive Garden - GF chicken/steak skewers, GF pasta
Breakfast - OK: potato skillet w/sausage or ham and tomatoes
German - OK: grilled pork chops, fried potatoes, red cabbage
Outback Steakhouse, Applebee's - OK:hamburger, bacon w/o bun, baked potato w/ghee, homemade mayo
Greek - OK: pot roast and rice in tomato sauce
Maggiano's (Italian) - OK: corn pasta, tomato sauce, chicken breast, asparagus - made to order by chef
In general, ethnic restaurants tend to use olive oil instead of vegetable (soybean) oil. Mexican restaurants use corn oil.
Also, steak or a hamburger with bacon and a baked potato and a vegetable will work at most restaurants. You should never order french fries because of the possibility of cross-contamination. Also, don't eat the skin on baked potatoes because it might be dipped in butter or oil.
You might find this link helpful:
http://www.glutenfreeceliacweb.com/rest ... ree-meals/
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Hi Annie!
We have Outback Steakhouse, Carraba's Grill, PF Changs, BoneFish Grill, Cheeseburger In Paradise, for starters. All of these have a GF menu.
Just be sure that you are well versed in explaining to the waitress or waiter, the manager and if you have to the chef or cook about your food intolerances. Or use the words "food allergies". And that you absolutely can not have anything that contains wheat, oats, barley, rye and ask if they are using a grill, to clean a part of it or place foil on the grill where, say, your steak, chicken, etc., will be cooked. Can't use the same cooking utensils on your food that they have used on gluten containing foods. Salad, no croutons or cheese and I always use just oil/vinegar. Plain baked potatoes. I take my GF-CF-SF margarine with me in a plastic bag.
You're probably already aware of these tips, but it never hurts to have a refresher.
And eating out is alway risky.
Dee~
We have Outback Steakhouse, Carraba's Grill, PF Changs, BoneFish Grill, Cheeseburger In Paradise, for starters. All of these have a GF menu.
Just be sure that you are well versed in explaining to the waitress or waiter, the manager and if you have to the chef or cook about your food intolerances. Or use the words "food allergies". And that you absolutely can not have anything that contains wheat, oats, barley, rye and ask if they are using a grill, to clean a part of it or place foil on the grill where, say, your steak, chicken, etc., will be cooked. Can't use the same cooking utensils on your food that they have used on gluten containing foods. Salad, no croutons or cheese and I always use just oil/vinegar. Plain baked potatoes. I take my GF-CF-SF margarine with me in a plastic bag.
You're probably already aware of these tips, but it never hurts to have a refresher.
And eating out is alway risky.
Dee~
"What the heart gives away is never gone ... It is kept in the hearts of others."
I eat safely at the Ruby Tuesdays in our little town. The managers usually cook my meal. They will prepare my chicken in 100% olive oil like they use on the salad bar. Their regular oil has soybeans in it. I found out that they call me "the chicken lady!" I don't really care for their steaks.
I like the steaks at Outback, though. They have a GF menu but since I have dairy and soy to contend with, I can't eat much from it.
I like the steaks at Outback, though. They have a GF menu but since I have dairy and soy to contend with, I can't eat much from it.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and don't play one on TV.
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan
Soy FREE margarine
Dee told us about this http://www.earthbalancenatural.com/#/products/soy-free/
and it's been great to have instead of 100% olive oil on everything.
and it's been great to have instead of 100% olive oil on everything.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and don't play one on TV.
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan
Hi, I'm Canadian and I eat GF DF as well and I am now cautiously eating out after being dx'd last summer with MC. It's slow going and I've been glutenated occasionally but hey. I am out in the world!
Best local tip? Check celiac sites and see what they recommend for your area. I found many for Toronto by searching on "celiac eat out ontario" and "gluten free ontario restaurant"
Make sure you know the ingredients of all items and if possible talk to the actual chef - many people think gluten=wheat and they say things are gf if there's no flour in it. I've been glutenated by secondary/hidden gluten in things like malt vinegar (from barley) and commerical chicken stock.
Here are a few Canadian (Toronto GTA) tips:
Swiss Chalet you can eat the rotisserie chicken and the potato; and the veggies if you can tolerate cooked broc/cauli/carrot. DON'T EAT THE RICE..there have been reports from celiacs of flour added to it to make it more sticky.
IL FORNELLO has a gluten free pasta and the wait staff seem quite knowledgable. Ate there last night and am fine, and the pasta was excellent,
Bluestone Bistro - no specific gf menu but the chefs seem trained and the managers are super-helpful; my local is safe for me. I phone ahead, remind them when I get there, and I've been fine. The manager has even come to the table to assure me I am going to be OK.
Relish Bar and Grill - has a gf menu
Frankie's Ristorante (Uxbridge) - 100% gluten-free & nut free Mediterranean cuisine; they know their gf!
Some restaurants don't have a gf menu but I've found that the manager will listen and arrange something for me. I like to talk to the chef then I can make sure they don't get me through x-contamination of dishes, spoons and pots and pans. This works really well if it's a place I used to go before I got MC and they know my face.
Maxine
Best local tip? Check celiac sites and see what they recommend for your area. I found many for Toronto by searching on "celiac eat out ontario" and "gluten free ontario restaurant"
Make sure you know the ingredients of all items and if possible talk to the actual chef - many people think gluten=wheat and they say things are gf if there's no flour in it. I've been glutenated by secondary/hidden gluten in things like malt vinegar (from barley) and commerical chicken stock.
Here are a few Canadian (Toronto GTA) tips:
Swiss Chalet you can eat the rotisserie chicken and the potato; and the veggies if you can tolerate cooked broc/cauli/carrot. DON'T EAT THE RICE..there have been reports from celiacs of flour added to it to make it more sticky.
IL FORNELLO has a gluten free pasta and the wait staff seem quite knowledgable. Ate there last night and am fine, and the pasta was excellent,
Bluestone Bistro - no specific gf menu but the chefs seem trained and the managers are super-helpful; my local is safe for me. I phone ahead, remind them when I get there, and I've been fine. The manager has even come to the table to assure me I am going to be OK.
Relish Bar and Grill - has a gf menu
Frankie's Ristorante (Uxbridge) - 100% gluten-free & nut free Mediterranean cuisine; they know their gf!
Some restaurants don't have a gf menu but I've found that the manager will listen and arrange something for me. I like to talk to the chef then I can make sure they don't get me through x-contamination of dishes, spoons and pots and pans. This works really well if it's a place I used to go before I got MC and they know my face.
Maxine
Maxine
Hi Annie!
You already have lots of good advice. I am also GF/DF and can sympathize with this issue. The safest "generic" meal is a plain piece of meat/fowl/seafood grilled in olive oil, a baked potato, a salad (no cheese/croutons and take your own dressing or order O and V), and steamed veggies. There have been times when I have taken my own full meal and eaten it in a restaurant. When you have food intolerances, you learn not to be embarrassed by things like this! LOL!
Sometimes you can go to a restaurant during non-busy times and speak with the chef about what is safe to eat. I find that chefs know more than wait-staff.
Good luck!
Love,
Polly
You already have lots of good advice. I am also GF/DF and can sympathize with this issue. The safest "generic" meal is a plain piece of meat/fowl/seafood grilled in olive oil, a baked potato, a salad (no cheese/croutons and take your own dressing or order O and V), and steamed veggies. There have been times when I have taken my own full meal and eaten it in a restaurant. When you have food intolerances, you learn not to be embarrassed by things like this! LOL!
Sometimes you can go to a restaurant during non-busy times and speak with the chef about what is safe to eat. I find that chefs know more than wait-staff.
Good luck!
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.