The restaurant scene is one of the things I love most about living
in New York. I consider myself a foodie
and vowed to not let being GF get in the way.
However, dining out and being g-free can sometimes be an adventure.
Sometimes people look at you like you have six heads and other times
people surprise you with their knowledge on gluten-free food and willingness to
accommodate your diet. Recently, I am finding the latter to be the case
more and more.
If you are recently gluten-free, I’m sure you have realized that
eating out is different than it used to be pre-GFness. Here is my list of tips that I have learned (after several missteps) during the past year...
Tips on eating out G-free
1. Know where you are going ahead of time...
If someone else is picking the restaurant, just ask them what
their plans are. If they say they want to go to "The House of
Pizza," "Fred's Fried Food," or something else that sounds
like the menu may be gluten-laden, maybe remind the person that you are can't eat gluten. I find that people often forget that I can't eat
certain things and are more than willing to pick a place where I can definitely
find something. No one that is worth going out to dinner with would ever
want you to starve through dinner.
2. Do some research....
Most restaurants post their menu online so you can get a head
start on planning out options for yourself. I almost always look at menus
ahead of time so I can at least find some options and then know what questions
I need to ask when I get there. You could also call up ahead of time to
make sure that they can accommodate your needs.
3. Don't go to dinner starving...
Unless you are going to a Mexican restaurant that serves corn
chips, waiting through the bread basket can be brutal. I have been to a
few places that have gluten-free rolls, which is always a pleasant surprise.
Most of the time, this is not the case. So have a small snack (an
apple, a piece of cheese, or something else light) before dinner. Also
not a bad idea if you have the tendency to attack your main course because
you're so hungry.
4. Split an appetizer....
I usually will split an app with a friend when I go out to dinner.
It can be kind of lonely being the only one not chowing down on the bread
basket. So I sometimes split a salad (no croutons, obv) or something else
g-free.
5. Tell the waiter as soon as you sit down that you are
gluten-free....
Some places have gluten-free menus that aren't featured online
(like in the case of Beauty and Essex, which I will be posting about soon!). If you mention it at the start of
the meal, then you can get the menu in time to look at it while your friends
look at their menus. Also, you can get all of your questions out of the
way ahead of time. If they can't answer your questions, then they can grab
someone else who is more knowledgeable about the food preparation at the
restaurant.
6. Ask for
alterations…
You aren’t being a diva by asking for them to sub mashed
potatoes, rice, veggies, or another GF-friendly side for something that you
can’t eat. Restaurants are usually
willing to oblige. So if the place
hasn’t offered something as an option, there is no harm in asking. And this goes the same for dressings, sauces,
preparations of protein, and anything else.
If they have a panko-breaded halibut, there is no reason you can’t at
least ask to have just grilled halibut.
7. Be wary of
gluten-free pizza and pasta…
Many places are offering gluten-free pizzas and pastas. That’s great…. if they are preparing them
correctly. If I see one pizza prep area
and one small pizza oven, I am going to be a little incredulous as to how they
make “gluten-free pizza.” I have also
been “gluten-poisoned” at a very reputable restaurant because they faltered at
some point in the preparation of my dinner.
I generally choose to stay away from both of these, because it is not
worth it to me to feel that terrible.
8. Know your gluten
vocabulary…
I did a lot of Internet research when I started being g-free
and read a lot of lists. Here is one
from the Mayo Clinic that includes what you can and cannot eat. If you’re out and about and have a smart
phone, just Google “[ingredient] and gluten-free.”
9. Ask about hidden
gluten…
When I say “hidden gluten,” I mean things that can be thrown
into a dish commonly without being mentioned in the menu description. Flour, breadcrumbs, panko, soy sauce,
croutons, and sides of bread (placed in the dish itself) have all tripped me up
before and can often fly under the radar.
I always clarify that none of these are in the dish, because they can be
easily forgotten.
10. Maybe there is
still room for a dessert…
Most desserts are out of the question for me now, but there
are a few things you can still enjoy.
Crème brulee, flan, panna cotta, crème caramel, meringues, macarons (as
long as they are made with almond flour), and coconut macaroons are generally
safe. And, hey, there’s always a scoop
of plain ice cream!
No comments:
Post a Comment