Today was a day of good things happening. Got praise and accolades at work, received several emails – one from Monika with her story, and others that made me smile. Since there is so many other posts today, I’m going to keep this one short and sweet.One of the biggest things for me today was that I was able to eat a meal in a restaurant and not have any problems. While this is no small feat for the average person, as well as no small feat for us with Celiac Disease if we go to a restaurant that has made a stance and is doing things safely, I was able to do so at a “normal” restaurant. However, this didn’t take place without a significant amount of prep work. Click here to read my more detailed review.
The main point today is not to be afraid of asking as many questions as possible every time you go out to eat at a restaurant where there might be a cross-contamination risk. Restaurants, and their servers believe it or not, are there to serve you, not the other way around. If you don’t feel comfortable with the answers that the restaurant’s management is giving you, don’t take the risk – find some place else to eat. Then, take the next step and educate the restaurant on the risk and dangers of hidden gluten. Ken Sheer has done it successfully (and had an event tonight), and the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness can provide you with flyers to hand to your favorite unsafe restaurants. As GFDougie of GlutenFreeTip says often on twitter – only you can advocate and educate for your needs.
Here’s my day:
7:45 Out of bed. Still tired.
9:00 Pamela’s Oat Cranberry Almond Whenever bar for breakfast.
11:25 Normal BM
12:10 Coworker told me that Locanda (557 Valencia St. (at 16th St.), 415-863-6800, www.locandasf.com) and Perbacco (230 California St. (at Battery St.), 415-955-0663, www.perbaccosf.com) have gluten-free pasta. Very intrigued - will have to add these restaurants to my list of others that I need to research if they are safe for people with celiac disease.
12:30 Lunch – salad. Even though it’s a salad and what I have most days, it’s quite tasty, and (mostly) naturally gluten-free.
16:44 Normal BM
18:00 Dinner at Black Angus Steakhouse for my fiancée’s mom’s birthday. Worry and cross-contamination free!
22:30 Started this post, as well as the Black Angus Review post.
Cheers!
