Hello all,
I was eating out at a very nice restaurant on Newberry St. in Boston yesterday. The waitress informed me they had a lot of gluten free items. I asked if the french fries were cooked in a dedicated fryer and she said yes. One of my friends (who is not gluten free but has family members who are) sort of reprimanded me for asked such a question. She said when you go to a high end restaurant you do not have to question them because they have a greater knowledge of gluten free and their jobs and restaurant would be on the line, and so on. I'm so use to doing it that it just came out.
I am not celiac, but I have MC. I did have the best hamburger, bun, and french fries that I've had in 11 years.
Just wondering if others feel the same. I do agree that eating in a higher end restaurant is a bit safer. My son is a restaurant manager and has worked in a lot of restaurants. Where he works now the staff is well educated. That is because the owner has children with celiac.
Nancy
Eating out at a high end restaurant
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Re: Eating out at a high end restaurant
Hi Nancy,
You've raised an interesting point, and I'm sure opinions probably vary on this, but here are my thoughts:
While your friend is correct that high-end restaurants have much more highly qualified staff members, and they typically know how to handle food sensitivities correctly, that doesn't mean that they are capable of reading your mind to detect any and all food sensitivities that you might have. Nor does it mean that they are perfect. And while I'm sure your friend had good intentions with that advice, she seems quick to offer advice about health issues that she doesn't have, personally.
I can guarantee that if she had the same food sensitivities that you have, so that she realized her health was on the line every time she ate out, she would look at the issue in an entirely different manner. Instead of looking at it from the restaurant staff's viewpoint, she would look at it from your viewpoint. But as I said, this is just my opinion.
That said, it's probably unnecessary to ask whether they use dedicated equipment when preparing meals for patrons who have food sensitivities, because they know that. Just be sure that you don't fail to advise them of all your food sensitivities. On the other hand, if they truly understand how important safe food is to their clients, they shouildn't be offended if you ask a question such as that (do you use dedicated equipment) — they should be proud to be able to answer, "Yes we do".
Tex
You've raised an interesting point, and I'm sure opinions probably vary on this, but here are my thoughts:
While your friend is correct that high-end restaurants have much more highly qualified staff members, and they typically know how to handle food sensitivities correctly, that doesn't mean that they are capable of reading your mind to detect any and all food sensitivities that you might have. Nor does it mean that they are perfect. And while I'm sure your friend had good intentions with that advice, she seems quick to offer advice about health issues that she doesn't have, personally.
I can guarantee that if she had the same food sensitivities that you have, so that she realized her health was on the line every time she ate out, she would look at the issue in an entirely different manner. Instead of looking at it from the restaurant staff's viewpoint, she would look at it from your viewpoint. But as I said, this is just my opinion.
That said, it's probably unnecessary to ask whether they use dedicated equipment when preparing meals for patrons who have food sensitivities, because they know that. Just be sure that you don't fail to advise them of all your food sensitivities. On the other hand, if they truly understand how important safe food is to their clients, they shouildn't be offended if you ask a question such as that (do you use dedicated equipment) — they should be proud to be able to answer, "Yes we do".
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Re: Eating out at a high end restaurant
Tex,
Thank you for your response. As always, your answers are so helpful and make perfect sense.
A quick update: I have been doing well. Still GF, but do eat eggs and dairy in moderation. Sometimes I have an "off" day, but mostly not. I think acupuncture has helped immensely. I have been off of Imuran for close to two years now. When I had the pancreatitis attack that was the first med they took away. Although, I was pretty much weaning off anyways. I was down to 25 mg every few days. So glad with COVID I am no longer taking an immunosuppressant.
I do pop on every now and then just to catch up and still find very good information, which can always help.
Nancy
Thank you for your response. As always, your answers are so helpful and make perfect sense.
A quick update: I have been doing well. Still GF, but do eat eggs and dairy in moderation. Sometimes I have an "off" day, but mostly not. I think acupuncture has helped immensely. I have been off of Imuran for close to two years now. When I had the pancreatitis attack that was the first med they took away. Although, I was pretty much weaning off anyways. I was down to 25 mg every few days. So glad with COVID I am no longer taking an immunosuppressant.
I do pop on every now and then just to catch up and still find very good information, which can always help.
Nancy
Re: Eating out at a high end restaurant
Thanks for the update. It's good to read that you're doing well, and I'm especially glad that you're no longer using an immunosuppressant. That may well save your life, some day, the way things are going in the world these days.
All my best,
Tex
All my best,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Re: Eating out at a high end restaurant
I've never had problems eating at high end restaurants in Manhattan or California but I always ask "the questions."