221.Eating out Moderated discussion and help for gluten free, coeliac, celiac, wheat allergies or intolerance, Cookery and recipes part 4

Austria Mayrhofen eating out: from Peter on 2010-01-12

We booked with Inghams, and stayed in one of their snow houses. We were very pleased with the quality of the accommodation and the gluten-free breakfast. Gluten free Schar roles, jam, a selection of cheese and wurst.

Eating out in Mayrhofen is easy, but we are a little restricted by our gluten-free diet.

Our highest recommendation is the Grillkuchl, A-6290 Mayrhofen. They took the trouble to understand our dietary requirements, served two meals between three of us, and hot water without charging for it. Thankyou for some excellent meals.

The Kramerwirt Hotel also served excellent food with some low price options, and served hot water without charge. Again thankyou for an excellent meal.

The restaurant Edelwiess served us our hot water to drink - but then charged us 4.2 Euros for two cups of hot water. Very big black mark there!

We sat down in the Neue Post Hotel, 400 Hauptstrasse Mayrhofen, but the non smoking part of the restaurant was very smokey, and they wouldn't serve tap water with a meal, hot or cold, so we walked out.
I do take a laminated card with my dietary requirements in English and German

Eating out: from Pam on 2010-04-06

A co-worker just told me Uno's Pizzaria chain restaurant offers a gluten-free menu to those who ask with their regular menu items that are gluten-free, and they even have a personal size gluten-free pizza! She also said they even bring it separately from the other foods to avoid possible contamination. Best of luck

Eating out: from Lauren on 2010-05-03

Hi! I have Celiac and so do a a few friends/ family members. Eating out is possible!

Many restaurants and diners will accommodate. Just ask if certain sauces, flavorings, etc... have wheat/gluten. If they do... order the food (such as chicken, etc...) plain. Get it grilled (not fried) and have them make grilled chicken parm for example without spaghetti as a side but supplement with fries or salad. If you explain the severity of the allergy... most will work with you and give you options without charging. Sometimes they will charge extra...but I think it's worth it. Just specifically watch out for mashed potatoes... ask if they added flour to them. Often they do...so request for roasted potatoes or fries if the mashed are pre-made with flour. Always have the waiter/waitress double-check with the kitchen regarding questionable ingredients, sauces... etc... However, it is possible to eat out! Several restaurants are catching on to the wheat/gluten free need. PF Chang's has a separate menu for example, if you request it. One of my favs!!! Hope this helps

Eating out: from Jennie on 2010-05-12

He can still have a burger and fries, just make sure he orders it without a bun. Apple Bee's has a gluten free menu on their website. Also, Taco Bell is a good place to go if you order the hard shell items. Your best bet is to go to the restaurant's website to see if they have a menu that you can look at. Most places have no idea what gluten free means. Places like Out Back and Apple Bee's do have a disclaimer tho that since there dishes are pretty much prepared on the same prep area that you do run the risk of cross contamination

Eating out: from jean on 2010-06-11

Try Sammy's woodfired Pizza, PF Changs, Old Spaghetti Factory, Pei Weis. We live in the SAn Diego Area that has all of thse. Hope this helps for gluten free meals

Re: Eating Out: from Marty Kurner on 2010-06-24

I have known I am a celiac for 5 years now....I have experienced so much since this happened in my life.

First of all....any doctor who truly understands Celiac Sprue tells you to do a blood test first then the endoscopy. But do not change what you are eating prior to the tests or it will not show up. You must keep eating gluten until you have the tests.

The other thing you need to understand is that if a resturant or hotel says they have a Gluten Free Menu it does not mean that the people handling the food totally understand contamination.....nothing that is gluten can touch or be added to the food...fried foods cannot be fried with other items...spoons, knives ect cannot be put in gluten food, then in your food....steaks and burgers cannot be cooked on a grill where gluten items are cooked.

I always make a point of talking to the chef or waitperson very seriously so they understand the these contamination items and that they know how VERY sick I get if I do get any Gluten.

I have tought of having a special card made to give to people in resturants so they totally get what I cannot eat and about contamination.

It can be a real challenge when you are out with new people or when you attend an event...especially since I usually bring some of my own food....

But it is better to be safe then being sick for several days.

Good Luck, Marty

Re: Eating out: from annmarie on 2010-07-12

I'm sorry but I believe you are incorrect about Wendy's chili. I have Celiac and I try to be very careful when I go out to eat. Just a few days ago, after a family wake, there was nothing else open except Wendy's. I ordered the chili. Later that nite and the entire next day I paid terribly for eating eat. Once I returned home I checked the ingredients of the chili. They use flour to thicken the gravy. Therefore it is NOT gluten free. Taste great but we pay for it later. I don't want you to learn the hard way. I hope this helps you and wish someone had advised me ahead of time

Eating out: from Katie on 2010-07-12

I have been a Celiac for about one year now, and at first had a really hard time eating out. Making many mistakes; being quite unsure of what was ok to eat where. And being quite shy myself, I'm not a fan of questioning the servers at the resturants. So I just started doing research (aka googling) what foods were gluten free... finding many results! Most large restuarant chains list on their website which of there foods are gluten free, Wendy'd, McDonalds, etc. And resturants such as O'Charley's, Outback, etc. usually list on there website also. So googling each restuarant individually would be my opinion! And I write down which foods are ok, from each restuarant, in a small pocket notebook, and then stick it in my purse so when we eat out I can just pull it out. There's a lot of hidden gluten, esp. in maridades. The worst part about eating gluten-free at a restuarant is cross-contamination, i just explain to the server my allergies, and they are always considerate and make sure things are handled correctly. And if we ever end up at a resturant where I am stumped whether I am ok eating anything, I just get a side baked potato, not exactly something that'll fill you up, but it won't leave you without eating while everyone else dines.Hope this helps

Re: Eating out: from sandra on 2010-08-23

My best friend has celiac's and there are lots of restaurants, including Red Robin that have a whole menu. Not sure where you are but even the pizza places in Rochester, Including UNO Grill have dedicated menus

Re: Eating out: from Tim on 2010-11-04

Excuse me for saying this but if you continue to eat at places like you have mentioned above your going to perish not from celiac's disease or gluten intolerance but from high cholesterol, triglycerides, heart attack and obesity.Certainly you can find better choices out there than these processed food chain restaurants. It's akin to people who exercise every day but continue to eat crap American fast food and can't figure out why they can't lose weight