Tag Archives: Dining out

In the Game of Clue, players must solve the mystery of who killed Mr. Boddy, what they used to commit the crime, and where this occurred. A similar version of these three questions is something that gluten-free folks are used to finding out.

Who prepared the food?

What utensils did they use?

Where did they prepare it?

When I dine out, I’m always sure to remind the server, “They cannot prepare my sandwich on the same counter,” or when I’m at Chipotle, “Could you please change your gloves? I am gluten free.” These are comments that MUST be made in order to ensure safety and reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

I figured we’d have some fun and make a gluten-free version of this classic detective game because that’s what we all need to be – gluten-free detectives! When dining out, there are different places one can be glutened and there are different weaponsof contamination. No matter who did it, where it happened, or what caused the contamination, the end result is always the same – the victim is glutened.

Gluten-Free Game of Clue: How was I glutened?

If dining at a restaurant that serves both gluten-filled and gluten-free food (which is just about every restaurant we can eat at), the opportunity to be glutened is everywhere. The key to a safe dining experience for a gluten-free individual is Read More »

GlutenFreeTravelSite.com launched the Dine Gluten Free iPhone app and Android app, which enables users to access the site’s dining and travel reviews when they are away from home. All of the reviews on the site (from the U.S. and around the world) are written by its users and include reviews of restaurants, bakeries, markets, hotels, resorts, etc.

Karen Broussard, Founder of GlutenFreeTravelSite said, “Whether you’re looking for a new restaurant to try in your area, a safe place to eat on a family vacation, or a venue for dining when traveling on business, you’ll have convenient access to detailed accounts of other people’s gluten free dining experiences. The reliable peer reviews found within the Dine Gluten Free app — complete with tips on how to make your meals as safe and enjoyable as possible — help steer you toward the most accommodating places to stay, dine, and shop. You’ll never again feel limited or deprived when eating out.”

Features of the app include:

• A list of many restaurant chains that offer Gluten Free Menus, with Read More »

[We have been informed Chevys no longer offers a gluten-free menu. 1/1/2017]

The chain is the third to introduce gluten-free items this month

Chevys’ Guac My Way guacamole is part of its new gluten-free menu. Instead of chips, the dish is served with corn tortillas.

Chevys Fresh Mex this week became the latest restaurant chain to launch a gluten-free menu in its company-owned locations.

National Foundation for Celiac Awareness Announces gluten-free credentialing to address widespread confusion in restaurant industry

New Credentialing Designed to Increase Food Safety Practices for those with Celiac Disease, Gluten Sensitivity and Gluten-Free Nutritional Preferences

Ambler, Pa. – April 25, 2012– National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA), the non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and improving the lives of those of celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, announces a gluten-free credentialing program that will enable restaurants to manage the growing interest around gluten-free menu items. There are inconsistent standards, a lack of understanding of the medical elements of a gluten-free diet and too often, a lack of transparency about kitchen practices within the restaurant sector that has put the health of patients with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity at risk.

“Gluten-free families, especially those who are newly diagnosed, struggle with maintaining the diet even at home,” says Dr. Ritu Verma, Pediatric Gastroenterologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of NFCA’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Board. “While eating out is such an integrated part of our social fabric, the lack of consistent standards creates a stressful experience that Read More »

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 Read More »

Interesting experience over this past weekend.  I went to a restaurant that offers gluten free pizza and buns and inquired with the bartender if they had gluten free beer. 

He proceeded to inform me that there is no such thing as gf beer because gf beer isn’t REAL beer and was a bit jerky about the whole thing.  He informed me that he brews his own beer, so he knows what real beer is. 

I was quite offended at this response, as I was ordering gluten free beer out of necessity, not out of Read More »

Celiac Sprue Association Logo

Recently, I had lunch at PF Changs in Irvine.  Unfortunately, my lunch did not go as planned as I ended up having an allergic reaction after dining there.  This was quite unfortunate, considering about a year ago I gave PF Changs a glowing review for their committment to catering to food allergies and developing a gluten-free menu that would be free of any cross contamination. 

It’s inevitable that every now and then when dining out you will run into something that may cause a reaction, so the key is to take as many preventative measures as possible to reduce the risk. Read More »