prompt: gluten-free away from home

[jesse_the_k]

Our prompt for March is eating gluten-free away from home. Let’s share tips and strategies on how to cope away from the familiar safety of your kitchen. Have you developed a strategy for ordering "off the menu"?

To fill this prompt, you can:

• Slide into the comments of this post and share a link and why you like it.
• Write up a traveling success story and post it to the comm.
• Post a review of a related product or cookbook to the comm.
• Are there cooking styles/cuisines you've found reliable?
• This prompt lasts all month, but it's only for inspiration and not a requirement. All posts are welcome!

Comments

[sonia]

I'm super-sensitive to cross-contamination, so mostly I carry food with me. If I do need to eat in a friend's home or in a restaurant, I do my best to advocate for my needs, and then I let it go. Once I'm eating, I enjoy it, and just cope with any fallout later as needed.

Once or twice a year, I do eat out with friends at a local Thai restaurants. I tell the staff I need the food to be gluten-free, and trust that it will be. Nightshade-free is a much harder problem.

[jesse_the_k]

I've had good luck with Thai food -- 10 unremarkable meals to 1 that was annoying but not trip-stopping.

[writedragon]

I try to stay in locations that have kitchens I can cook in (even if that's only a microwave and mini fridge), and then either buy or bring my food. Even when I'm very careful to ask questions or instruct restaurateurs and family members, I've been badly glutened. Lesson learned.

[jesse_the_k]

I've found it nerve-wracking attempting to teach the mysteries of GF eating "on the fly," especially when I'm hungry.

[lunabee34]

I have had really good luck at chain restaurants like Carrabba's and Chik Fila and Bonefish Grill that have extensive gf menus. I've never been glutened there.

[jesse_the_k]

Great to add those names to my "on the road" list. I'm gonna break those out into a separate post.

[lunabee34]

Oh cool. I'll look forward to seeing others' contributions on that front as well.

[runpunkrun]

You're a rockstar, JTK. Thanks for taking care of the prompt for this month!

[jesse_the_k]

My great pleasure: just following in your very deep wide & helpful footsteps.