Just the other day, at lunch with my wife, I order a gluten-safe favorite (burger with salad, hold the bread) at our local bistro. I've been there many times before, and I'm (usually) pretty good about informing the server and making sure they know what the problem foodstuffs are.
But when the food shows up there is an English muffin sitting right on top of the burger and resting on the salad. I tell the server that I need to speak to the person who took our order. She asks what the problem is, and I say that I can't eat anything with wheat, and that the entire meal needs to be re-cooked and re-plated -- without the muffin. She disappears and a few minutes later the server who took the order shows up and asks what happened. When I tell her she is very apologetic, tells me that she put the information on the order (say, do you ever wonder what these computer managed orders look like in the kitchen?), and that she'll be speaking to the manager. A minute or so later the food arrives. It looks like a new order, but I'm not sure how to know this. But by this time I'm pretty hungry and I just eat it. It's a leap of faith or a foolish risk. The burger is overcooked. Life goes on.
I don't know how many times that I've had to send food back, but each time it happens at a restaurant I frequent I lose confidence in their work practices. I'm used to being vigilant, I understand that communication isn't easy. But still, every time there's a mistake I'm disappointed and discouraged.
And you? What's it like to eat out and feel confident the food is gluten-free?
Technorati Tags: Celiac, Celiac Sprue, GlutenIntolerance
I eat out on a regular basis because I travel a couple of times a week with my job. To take food every time would be a nightmare. I send back foods many times and try to be very explicit with the person taking the orders. Sometimes it works, sometimes you get the comment, "Well, we also have the white kind of bread," and then you know you are doomed. I have even told the person taking the order that it would put me in the hospital to eat it and it still came with bread on it! It is a hassle. I try to eat at restaurants that are familiar with me. I get hotel rooms with microwaves and fridges and stock up at the local Whole Foods. But still I eat out with our vendors because part of my job is building that relationship. So words of advice: 1) Keep pushing if you are not comfortable. Your health is worth it. 2) If they do not accomodate, don't go back and spread the word. 3) Think of it as a time of education about Celiac and nutrition. I can't tell you the number of people that start questioning me about it and it results in a diagnosis for someone they know. I have had grown men come to me crying because they finally have a healthier and happier wife. And you may have just saved someone's life. My mom was 40 when she passed away from complications due to Celiac that had never been diagnosed. She knew it was diet related, but just couldn't figure it out...if someone had said something....
I deal with it by eating at the same place, eating the same meal, all the time! Fortunately, I don't have to wine & dine clients.
After reading your post, I do think I need to try and educate people if they show the least amount of interest.
When having to return food, you might tell the manager than in the interest of making sure they do the right thing, you will keep that plate at your table until they bring you a new one. This way you know it isn't the same food with the gluten removed. I'm pretty sure they are not allowed by the health department to serve the food to someone else, so they shouldn't have a problem with this.