A Celiac enemy.
Everyone knows that I love to try new restaurants and travel. Celiac Disease and food allergies don’t stop me because I believe there are restaurants out there who are able to safely accommodate me. It can be scary trying someplace new, but I’ve never been afraid to walk out if I don’t feel comfortable. Communication is key and in my opinion, it’s important that some communication take place before you even go to the restaurant, either by email or a phone call.
Just like a romantic relationship requires effort and input from both people, so does the relationship between the allergic/Celiac diner and the restaurant. It’s up to us to understand our needs and be able to articulate them confidently. The rest of the responsibility falls on the restaurant.
I offered some tips to Amanda MacArthur, who is the Director of Content & Marketing at BuzzFarmers and also manages Swipely’s small business blog. Swipely is a 2.0 payment processor who accepts credit cards in order to offer customer analytics, a loyalty program, and automated marketing programs that align with all of their transactions. Swipely’s Payment Marketing blog is meant to help small business owners build more profitable, more social and more informed businesses.
Here is an excerpt:
Everyone, from the hostess to the waitstaff, should be educated on what gluten is, what type of effects it can have on someone with Celiac Disease, and what steps are taken in your restaurant to make the gluten-free diner safe from cross-contamination.
You should know, for instance, that although french fries or tortilla chips are likely gluten-free on their own, if they’re fried in a common fryer with breaded items, it’s no longer gluten-free.
You can read the article in its entirety here. Also, for an example of a local restaurant who really gets it, check out The Purple Rooster Cafe in Plainville, MA.
Its awesome that you’re not afraid to travel and try new restaurants in the face of celiac! Actually I could see this type of thing being a great ‘dream job’ for you – traveling the world and building up a compiled list or book of restaurants that are suitable for celiac disease and then writing reviews about the food there
I second the book idea!
Great tax write-off too!
that WOULD be fun
Reblogged this on sondasmcschatter and commented:
SOME PLACES HAVE A VEGETARINA MENU NOW– BUT THE MID WEAT IS KNOWN FOR MEAT– POTATOES– & AN ICEBURG SALAD– & BREAD FULL OF GLUTEN– IF YOU ARE ON A SPECIAL DIET– THEN IT IS A POTATO & ICEBURG LETTUS!!! WE LIVED IN KANSAS FOR 50 YEARS– & THAT WA YOUR TOTAL CHOICE!!!
DREAM WORLD FOR MOSTOF US IN THE MIDWEST– AS WE DON’T EAT MEAT OR SUGAR OR GLUTEN– EATING OUT IS USUALLY A NIGHT MARE!!! WE LIVE IN A TOWN OF 10,000 PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE OVER 8 MILLION TOURISTS EACH YEAR– YES I SAID 8 MILLION VISITORS– MOST EATING PLACES ARE SOOOOOOOOOOO BUSY — YOU ARE LUCKY YOU GET THE FOOD– LET ALONE– BE CATTERED TO WITH SPECIAL NEEDS!!!
You should DEFINITELY do the book idea! I want a signed copy – and want to be your tasting partner in crime, please!
You can come along and be my partner in crime … I mean tasting partner.
Sounds like the best plan ever to me!