How Often Do You Meet Other Gluten-intolerant People In Restaurants?

[munchkinette]

This was so weird. I was visiting my friend in Albuquerque over the weekend, and we drove up to Santa Fe. We had lunch at a cute little restaurant. We were discussing the whole wheat issue while we were eating (I had a breakfast plate and corn tortillas were one of the toast choices! Yay!). Five minutes later we hear the next table discussing dessert with the waiter. Apparently one lady was also gluten intolerant. It was so weird. I don't know if they heard us or not, but they were having the same conversation we were.

[CarlaB]

At the Starbucks on the westside of Bloomington, IN one of the ladies who works there has celiac. I've asked her lots of questions. She heard me talking to one of the cashiers one day about some of the pastries, I wasn't going to order them, I just wanted to know what was in them, so she came over and told me I couldn't have them. Other than that, I've never met someone else in a restaurant, but have been told at places with gluten-free menus that lots of people come in with gluten intolerance.

[megzmc3611]

I have not met anyone in restaurants, but have at my local Whole Foods. This one particular store has a "gluten-free" aisle and everytime I am in it there will be someone else searching through the gluten-free items. Usually we will spark up a conversation about celiac,diagnosis, gluten-free diet, etc. Once I talked to a woman for 45 minutes! I thought it so funny because I normally do not strike up conversations with strangers in a grocery aisle....

I guess it is that "common bond" thing...

[penguin]

I guess it is that "common bond" thing...

Yup! You know how some breeds of dogs recognize eachother as being the same breed? (I'm thinking of pugs)

We're a lot like that

[megzmc3611]

Yup! You know how some breeds of dogs recognize eachother as being the same breed? (I'm thinking of pugs)

We're a lot like that

as long as we do not start sniffing eachothers' bums!

[jenvan]

Its happened to me a few times... Once was at Risotteria in NYC, so no surprise there! I saw a wife take picture of her husband with his gluten-free beer and breadstick. I said to my mom--"Okay, he has to be a Celiac!" I went over and talked to them for a bit, it was fun. He had celiac disease and they were visiting from Maine.

[jkmunchkin]

Just about anytime I'm in Rissoteria I meet someone with Celiac, but that is no suprise.

I've definately had the encounters in Whole Foods and Mrs. Greens.

And my dad will call me every once in awhile and let me know about someone that came into his restaurant with celiac. Now we are starting a gluten-free menu so I'm sure there will be more to come.

[queenofhearts]

I have not met anyone in restaurants, but have at my local Whole Foods. This one particular store has a "gluten-free" aisle and everytime I am in it there will be someone else searching through the gluten-free items. Usually we will spark up a conversation about celiac,diagnosis, gluten-free diet, etc. Once I talked to a woman for 45 minutes! I thought it so funny because I normally do not strike up conversations with strangers in a grocery aisle....

I guess it is that "common bond" thing...

I've had the same experience in Whole Foods. It's comforting to meet others with the same issues. I wish our local support group were more active... I'd especially love to descend on a restaurant en masse (with prior warning of course)... I think it would raise awareness, & we could sure use some raised awareness around here! Has anyone tried this?

Leah

[Guest nini]

I've never met anyone in a restaurant, but definitely in the grocery store... usually hovering around the gluten-free aisle! LOL! It is a "common bond" thing, I find myself talking to strangers in a way I never would have thought of before... one time I actually ended up walking this older woman around the store for an hour and pointing out gluten-free foods to her! It was almost funny... a lot of times I'll be in the co op, and the grocery manager will see me and pull me over to talk to someone who has just been dx'ed...

[MySuicidalTurtle]

While I was in Portland, Oregon a vegan restaurant said they have a woman with Celiac Disease who eats there often but I have never met them. In NYC people next to us were eating there because of of their friends has Celiacs and told him how yummie it was.

[megzmc3611]

I've never met anyone in a restaurant, but definitely in the grocery store... usually hovering around the gluten-free aisle! LOL! It is a "common bond" thing, I find myself talking to strangers in a way I never would have thought of before... one time I actually ended up walking this older woman around the store for an hour and pointing out gluten-free foods to her! It was almost funny... a lot of times I'll be in the co op, and the grocery manager will see me and pull me over to talk to someone who has just been dx'ed...

I can always tell the " very newly diagnosed" by how disoriented and over-whelmed they look staring at the gluten-free filled shelves! I don't envy that stage...it took me a good two years to get the hang of it (still w/ some blunders of course)!

[kaciemarie]

Carla - I used to live in Bloomington, IN...I went to IU! Small world I guess. Speaking of, I have definately met people at the grocery store, but I can top it all. I met my boyfriend at work and guess what he has Celiac Disease (along with a lot of his family members)! I can't tell you how easy it is to be Gluten Free when your boyfriend is gluten-free too!

[CarlaB]

Carla - I used to live in Bloomington, IN...I went to IU! Small world I guess. Speaking of, I have definately met people at the grocery store, but I can top it all. I met my boyfriend at work and guess what he has Celiac Disease (along with a lot of his family members)! I can't tell you how easy it is to be Gluten Free when your boyfriend is gluten-free too!

I went to school there, too from 1981-1984. We lived there from 1999-2006. Great place!!

There is a restaurant in B'ton called Malibu Grill. We stopped in there right when they'd open at 5:30 on Friday night almost every week for a drink and an appetizer, so we got to know the manager. After I went gluten-free, I talked to him about it and we came up with something I could eat. Just the other day we were over in B'ton (we don't live there anymore) and stopped in for a drink. The manager came over to the table and said there had been someone else in there who had celiac and he told me how he was able to take care of the man. So, it's good when we take time to educate the right people -- it can pay off for the next celiac that comes along!

Oh, and I was over there for my daughter's freshman orientation. There was another couple there that I had known several years ago, but hadn't seen in at least 5 years. Ends up she was diagnosed with celiac 16 years ago and I had never known. Thinking back, I don't think we had ever eaten with them.

[kaciemarie]

Carla,

That is crazy! I was at IU from 1999-2003! I have only been gluten free for a year now and haven't been back to B-town since I have been gluten-free, but I will definately have to go to Malibu Grill when I am there. It was one of my favorite places! Is the manager's name Brian? I was friends with someone that worked there. I worked at the Outback Steakhouse off of the highway from 2000-2003...did you eat there?!!! I love Bloomington though, I miss it very much!!!

[CarlaB]

Carla,

That is crazy! I was at IU from 1999-2003! I have only been gluten free for a year now and haven't been back to B-town since I have been gluten-free, but I will definately have to go to Malibu Grill when I am there. It was one of my favorite places! Is the manager's name Brian? I was friends with someone that worked there. I worked at the Outback Steakhouse off of the highway from 2000-2003...did you eat there?!!! I love Bloomington though, I miss it very much!!!

His name might be Brian, we've always called him JB. Their solution is to grill stuff plain, so it's safe, but not necessarily great. Be sure you have them cook it on foil on the grill as their skillets are cast iron. Cheeseburger in Paradise is there now and is great, and has a gluten-free menu. It's where Chi Chi's used to be. Nick's also will make stuff special. Kate, also from B'ton, told me she eats there all the time and Raggs makes her food special for lunch. They really took care of me last time I was in town, too.

I didn't eat at Outback until recently. We used to go eat over at Kirkwood then walk around town. I practically lived at the Starbucks on that side of town though!

[Girl Ninja]

All the time! I met a girl who has Celiac (or is it is Celiac??) who works at McDonald's near me and A girl who works at the Seattle's Best coffee thingy inside Border's bookstore. I get people at work (Kroger) all the time who appear to be searching for something in particular on ingredient lists so I ask if they need help and they're looking for gluten-free stuff.

[kabowman]

I used to love Malibu Grill but haven't been there since going gluten-free - I will have to go give it a try!!!! Carla, thanks for the tip.

As to the topic - I haven't run into anyone in a restaurant but notice that servers are becoming more aware and have at least heard of gluten and some people must avoid it.

I have run into gluten intolerant/celiac disease people in the local health food store though, one lady really didn't want to chat which I thought was strange. Also, I have a friend who has a friend and we were chatting and she has a friend that has celiac disease and was trying to plan food to have her over for dinner - if you can follow all that!!

[jenvan]

I can always tell the " very newly diagnosed" by how disoriented and over-whelmed they look staring at the gluten-free filled shelves! I don't envy that stage...it took me a good two years to get the hang of it (still w/ some blunders of course)!

Yeah, when I see someone staring hard at the gluten-free stuff I usually strike up a conversation

[CarlaB]

I used to love Malibu Grill but haven't been there since going gluten-free - I will have to go give it a try!!!! Carla, thanks for the tip.

Like I mentioned, you are going there for the atmosphere, as they are not too creative replacing sauces, etc. I'd have them use foil on the grill, not a cast iron skillet. They cook their veggies in chicken broth ... I've only assumed it's not gluten-free, but if you're in there early, you can drill them on what's in it. Maybe they could grill the veggies. Ask for JB, the manager. He said the "other celiac" who came in there got a burger with chips and salsa. They buy premade chips, but they have no dedicated fryers.