I’ve noticed that a few of my fellow bloggers have recently reviewed this year’s edition of Triumph Dining’s Essential Gluten-Free Restauant Guide. (That would be Gluten Free in Georgia (and FL), and Gluten Free Steve.) I can’t speak to the book since I don’t have it yet, but I LOVE the dining cards.
New from Triumph Dining is a BLOG! and it’s FREE! I only found out about this, and wanted to share it with you all. They just started it in February, but it looks like it will be a great resource. You can find it at www.triumphglutenfree.com/glutenfree/
And best of all, the author is a fellow Red Sox fan. GO SOX!
Filed under: FYI, gluten free, random | Tagged: FYI
Ginger – I’ve used the Mexican one at several different restaurants with (different levels of) success. One woman I talked to explained that wheat flour translates into many different words depending on which type of Spanish you are speaking. I think that might be the problem. She spoke well enough English to get the whole idea and was great. (They use Lawry’s seasonings on their meat, which is safe, but not all that Mexican – lol!) One other place took the card back to the kitchen and came back and said that they could create something like a veggie quesadilla with corn tortillas – they didn’t trust much else. These were all cheap Mom and Pop places where I wasn’t expecting anything fancy anyway. I always explain when I hand over the card that I can eat pure corn tortillas with veggies.
I haven’t tried the Chinese card because that just seems way too difficult with the soy sauce issue. Besides, when I want Chinese, I either make it myself or go to P.F. Changs where there is a GF menu.
I agree that there is something to be said for sticking to the same restaurants that you know you can eat safely at. We go to the same bar/pub every week with friends after work. I don’t even have to order any more (so long as it’s our usual waitress). She knows I get a “special” salad with “Karen’s special chicken” (unmarinated, cooked in a separate pan, etc.), and I bring my own dressing. I sometimes throw her for a loop and order something different, but without worry.
Have you had luck with the cards? Every time I used the Mexican one, they came back from the kitchen and said you can’t have anything here. I think maybe there is a misprint on it with the Can and Cannot haves. Although I have ten of them, I find I don’t use them much as it is easier to gravitate to naturally GF menu items. That said, I don’t dine out that much and when I do, I stick to the 4 ethnic restaurants around here that I know I can safely eat at, Indian, Thai, Mexican and Ethiopian. When I hit the road, that is when the problems begin! Let us know how the book is!
Ginger of the North
Actually, I am getting a copy sent to me for posting this.
I originally heard about this when Ross, the one who writes the blog, emailed me after finding my blog. He said he’s have one sent. I promised to write a review once I got it.
Karen, you should write Jennifer and ask her to send you one. I’m sure she’d love your input.
jennifer@triumphdining.com
Ginger