Treatment Guide

Six Steps to Safe Gluten Free Dining

Jen Cafferty Gluten Free Works Author

Gluten Free Restaurant

Copyright (c) 2012 Simone Marani

1.     Find a restaurant that can accommodate gluten free meals. Many restaurants are very familiar with gluten free meals or have a gluten free menu.  If you are new to gluten free dining, stick to a restaurant where you don’t have to explain yourself.  There is a list of gluten free restaurants at www.glutenfreerestaurants.org

 

2.     Do your homework ahead of time. Call ahead and speak with the chef and ask if the restaurant can accommodate your needs.  Also, review the menu online and have an idea before you arrive at the restaurant about what is safe to eat.

 

3.     Purchase or download a gluten free dining card. Cards can be purchased on many websites.  These cards can be given to restaurant staff to explain about the gluten free diet.  They even have the cards written in multiple languages for ethnic dining experiences and travel.

4.     Speak to the proper personnel. When you go to place your order, ask to speak to the manager or chef.  They are the two people that are ultimately responsible for your safety.  Either one should be able to tell you about the menu and your gluten free options.

 

5.     Call ahead and ask if you can bring pasta or bread with you to the restaurant. Many restaurants will allow you to bring in bread or pasta is they do not have it available.  The proper practice is to call ahead and ask and to not bring in anything in an opened package.  If the restaurant is making pasta for you, make sure they are using clean pasta water, a clean pot and a non-contaminated colander to drain the pasta.

 

6.     Thank the restaurant and spread the word about your dining experience.  If you had a good dining experience, make sure to thank the chef and manager and let others in the gluten free community know about your positive experience.

 

————————-
Author Information: Jen Cafferty, Chicago, IL
Jen Cafferty, Founder, The Gluten Free Cooking Expo
Websites: www.gfreelife.comwww.glutenfreeclasses.com
Blog: http://www.glutenfreeexpo.wordpress.com

About Jen Cafferty

Avatar photo

3 comments

  1. I totally agree with your steps to GF dining, that’s pretty much what I do as well. I tend to have my favorite restaurants that cater toward a gluten free diet and visit them more frequently. I’ll venture out to a new restaurant once in a while but I make sure to call ahead and inquire of their menu before going.

    Angie.

  2. Great tips, thanks! When calling ahead, it is best to call when the restaurant is not busy serving, during peak meal hours, as they will be short-staffed and won’t be able to give you the undivided attention you need.

  3. Jen,
    Thanks for your article.
    Hopefully you will not be offended by a little feedback. Step 5 really should be combined with step 2. If you are going to call ahead, you should ask at that time about bringing your own pasta. In step 2 you have already spoken to the chef, but you are speaking to the chef or manager again in both step 4 and step 5. In a step by step process one should take care of as much of the effort as possible at each step so additional effort is not needed later.

Leave a Reply to Bill Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

x

Check Also

What is “Healthy” Food to You?

In the past few weeks, I’ve had the chance to ponder the question “What is ...

Gluten-Free Homemade Vanilla Almond Milk (With a Touch of Maple and Spice) Recipe

I love to enjoy this almond milk with cereal, in smoothies, and in hot rooibos ...

Giving Thanks for Balsamic Glazed Roasted Vegetables

To take a load off of your plate for the upcoming Thanksgiving preparation, here is ...