GF Social Life, Communicating concerns to servers, managers and chefs

It is very important to do your homework before going out or traveling whenever possible. Look the restaurant up on line and look for a gluten free menu. Restaurants that have a gluten free menu are at least aware of the seriousness of needing foods for those that cannot eat gluten. That is a really good sign! Google gluten free restaurants in the area you are traveling to or towns along the way if it is a road trip. Have a plan. Call the restaurant in advance and ask to talk to the manager. Ask if they can accommodate you. You may be surprised. An honest business manager or owner might say that they make all their bread from scratch and that though they would love your business, they cannot say that it is safe for you to eat there. That will help when you are traveling knowing where to stop and where not to will help when you are hungry so you will not resort to stopping anywhere hoping that there is something that you can eat. Travel with safe food and snacks when you can.

Even when there is a gluten free menu, you still need to let the server know that you are ordering off of it. It is common that the gluten free menu has regular menu items on it that they just adjust the preparation of to make it gluten fee. Changing the sauce on a chicken dish for example.

So when you are dining whether there is a gluten free menu or not, tell the server and ask for the manager. Explain that you cannot have gluten. When they do not have a gluten free menu, it is helpful to say “so I cannot have several different sauces, soups, breading, battering, deep fried foods, some spices, dressings and most desserts, because they have flour in them…. what would your recommend”? Just saying I cannot have gluten may not be enough because they may not know exactly what that means. Telling them you cannot have bread, might mean you will still get croutons on your salad… Also, ask questions on particular items. How is the Tilapia cooked? What is the seasoning on the steak? Stress the importance of cross contamination asking if it is “too much to ask if they change the pan when they sauté my vegetables?

Though restaurants are making great improvements, most are not dedicated gluten free. That means that our food is being prepared in the same areas as foods with glutens. Restaurant owners, managers and chefs are learning and working hard to train staff, but we still need to be careful and ask questions so that we can be assured that our food is safe. Always ask to talk to a manager so that they can oversee your food and its preparation.