RE: cards to give to waitress or chef when eating out

[wonderwoman]

I read where someone thought about making up a card to give to the waitress regarding her allergies. By accident I just happened to find this website that provides you with just such a card for gluten, milk, eggs, soy, wheat, shellfish, peanuts or tree nuts. Go to the web site below and then click on the icon before each food group. I printed one for gluten. Don't know if I will use it but anyway I have it printed and filed. Charlotte

http://www.specialgourmets.com/resource/chef-cards

CHEF CARDS
Below is a list of chef cards prepared for each of the main sources of food allergy or for those who cannot eat gluten. The cards were made the size of a credit card to make it easier to carry them in a wallet. You can personalize your cards online (or after printing them if you prefer) by writing in the back of the card (column on the right) the list of ingredients/hidden sources which may contain the food you are sensitive to. Each (pdf) page will print 4 double sided cards.
Note: the download can take about 2 minutes (depending of your internet speed)
   Food item not allowed: Gluten [english] [spanish] [portuguese]
   Food item not allowed: Milk [english] [spanish] [portuguese]
   Food item not allowed: Eggs  [english] [spanish] [portuguese]
   Food item not allowed: Soy  [english] [spanish]  [portuguese]
   Food item not allowed: Wheat  [english] [spanish]  [portuguese]
   Food item not allowed: Shellfish  [english] [spanish]  [portuguese]
   Food item not allowed: Peanuts  [english] [spanish] [portuguese]
   Food item not allowed: Tree nuts  [english] [spanish]  [portuguese]

[JLH]

Great find. Thanks, WW.

Check out the other info on the site, too.

[ant]

Dear Charlotte

Thanks. That is a really interesting website.

Love Ant

[wonderwoman]

Another web site I found will send you a plastic card for your wallet which reads

MEDICAL ALERT
Restroom Access Required

“The holder of this card has Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Colitis is painful and requires immediate access to a toilet facility. This patient cannot physically “hold it.” Please make your restroom available.”

The back says "Thank you for your assistance with this patient".


I ordered one and received it in about a week. Cards are provided courtesy of the Foundation for Clinical Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

web site is http://www.myibd.org/RestroomMedAlert/index.php

We are going on an Alaskan cruise this summer and doing some traveling. May find the card comes in handy if I encounter a long line someplace which does happen occasionally. Charlotte

[JLH]

I have one of those potty access cards but haven't had to use it.

[MaggieRedwings]

I do have one of the potty access cards and have had to use it and it was taken very seriously when I asked. Everyone so far has been very cooperative - even with employee only bathrooms.

Maggie

[JLH]

Good to hear, Maggie.

[wonderwoman]

I went out to eat at I-Hop this noon with my Red Hat group of ladies. I was rather apprehensive beforehand wondering what I would order. I took one of the wallet cards I mentioned above and gave it to the waiter. I had written on the back, "no dairy, margarine, butter, or soy". I ordered 2 pork chops, red potatos, and broccoli, and no garlic bread. Waiter came back and said there was butter sauce already on the potatoes and would I like a substitute. I asked for a baked potato. He asked if one done in the microwave would be OK and I said yes. It came with butter and sour cream on the side which I sent back and asked for salsa which he brought me. DH was happy as I brought one chop home for him.

I was very pleased with my meal and the way I was treated. I don't know if giving them the card helped any or not but I will keep one in my wallet and use it the next time I eat out. A sheet of four is very easy to save and print out.