Gluted at a restaurant

[Lucy]

Hi all,

Unfortunately, I ate at one of the few places I can eat out Tuesday evening. I had hoped to be able to get away from here in the evenings more regularly after my sis gets home to take care of my mother. This national chain has an extensive menu so I can get enough variety there, and to my knowledge, I've never had a problem with anything, at least no a detectable one, but this one was full scale and followed my typical reaction -- exactly 24 hours later.

The initials are O.B., if you are interested in which chain, by the way. Ordinarily, I'd say that's one of the safest places where I've eaten out, but this time, I'm not sure if it was the waiter (on the slow side) not passing on the information in a deliberate way or whether the cook was just taking a mental vacation.

Anyway, I'd tried the half rack of ribs with plain steamed vegetables off the gf menu, but the cinnamon apples side is NOT gf. Welp, when the food arrived, guess what was sitting right in the middle of my presumed gf plate? You betcha -- a little bowl of the apple stuff filled to the top. I was so hungry, and down in the dumps, I guess, that I just sent it back with the waiter, and asked him to make sure it hadn't been made gf since I was last there. I'd love it if they'd make that gf too, by the way.

Anyway, another smarter waitress returned to the table to confirm that the apple side was indeed still NOT gf. I just figured I was taking a bit of a chance that some of it might've touched some of the supposedly gf food on the main plater, but after I got sick, it occurred to me that the whole thing may have NOT been gf, particularly with this size of a reaction, and I feel worse than usual as well. Anyway, right before that reaction, I had returned there to try another dish the next night (Wednesday) and now, almost 24 hours later, I'm wondering if I'm going to have still another reaction to a second so-called gf meal. If so, that will make me suspect that there's a systemic problem -- like someone new in the kitchen at this location who doesn't give a flip or is just ignorant. Some of them may have not yet had the instructions the company provides. The manager over there always seemed thrilled to have the business the few times I ate there in the past, but that doesn't mean he's on top of things, but think I owe it to the celiac and otherwise gf community over here to see if I can help them get this situation fixed right away. They had told me recently that they were getting many more people coming in now asking for this special menu. That's why I think they'll be more than happy to fix it if they are capable of understaning how to do it.

Meantime, I've emailed the local celiac pres. to inquire if there's a more reliable OB close enough to this area that she's heard all good things about lately.
A change of scenary might actually do me good.

This has all caught me at a bad time, emotionally. Long story, but I needed that getaway right now.

Just thought I'd pass along that no matter a restaurant is set up to cater to our needs, it's really difficult for the managements of these big companies to prevent employees on the local level from messing up. Have you noticed lately how the intellect of SOME of the people that you deal with in stores and restaurants has gone way down lately or is it just me?? Since I'm more or less a shut-in here with the caregiving, guess I just notice things like that more when I do get out. If you get out all the time, it may have been too gradual a shift for you to notice. I really don't think some of these people could hold a job if the companies were able to get people to work. Maybe some of the smarter people getting laid off now will look into getting wait staff job for the tips they can make. Better than sittting around feeling sorry for yourself, and a good waiter can pull in good money in the evening and still have time to interview in the mornings. Anyway, I sure hope that restaurant's gf status improves and quickly. Wonder how many people are getting gluted there unawares if it's a systemic problem?

Hope ya'll are having a great Thanksgiving!
Yours, Luce

[G'ma Mary]

Luce;

I really sorry to hear about your reaction(s) - it's never fun being sick, and especially when you don't think it should have happened. Be sure you do follow up on that for the sake of yourself as well as others.

I recently went out with my son, DIL and grandsons to a new location of a Blue Shell. I'm not sure if this is a "local" chain or if it is available other places. Anyway, I have made myself little cards that I copied from the back of "Against The Grain" book, explaining what I can and can not eat. Since I live right on the Mexican border, I made mine English on one side and Spanish on the reverse. I gave one to the waitress, and she came back and told me that the chef was placing my fish in a foil packet to keep it off the grill where other things are grilled. I'd ordered rice, but the chef refused to serve it to me because it had additives in it that she was suspicious of, so I got a baked potato! The butter they use is not "pure" butter, and the chef was afraid of that, so would only give me sour cream for the potato. We were all extremely impressed with this, and decided we'd definitely return there again! In addition, the food was excellent!!! :)

Luce, wish you'd have had as good of luck. Sounds like you needed it!

Keep in touch!
G'ma Mary

[Gloria]

Lucy,
You've been at this for much longer than me, so I may be way off base. I'm just wondering if you could be reacting to one of your other intolerances, particularly soy. For example, I've eaten a restaurant where the waiter told me that they coat the steak with soy before broiling it. For me, gluten is just the tip of the iceberg. Once I reveal all of my other intolerances, the waitstaff usually just looks at me incredulously and asks what can you eat?

Gloria

[angy]

thats a shame lucy...hope you feel better soon...bet it tasted good at the time...punished later...

[kate_ce1995]

Lucy,

So sorry about your reaction. I wonder some about that particular chain even though I do eat there from time to time (when we go on trips...closest one to me otherwise is almost 2 hours away). What bugs me is that on their gluten free menu they provide the meal description seemingly like it is on the regular menu and then say "avoid such and such" meaning its not gf. Like the prime rib says avoid the au jus. Well, how do I know they aren't using the au jus (broth) for some part of cooking of the actual meat? Same with the cinnamon apples...which I agree whole heartedly I wish would be made gf...can't be too hard IMO.

HOpe you are feeling better.
Katy

[Jan]

Lucy,

I'm sorry to hear that your favorite place did not serve you what you had expected. I'm sure that doesn't help with all the other stress you have in your life.

We actually met on the other board a number of years ago. I have always admired how you have taken care of your Mom all this time. You helped me last year as I took care of my terminally ill Mom. I was glad to hear you found a way to survive Ike and remake a life in the Houston area.

I truly hope you are feeling better soon.

Jan

[Georgia]

Luce,
Hope you're feeling better. What a bummer! Thanks for sharing, it might help other who have a chain near them. Wishing you less stress.