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| Maggiano's menu: note the "Chef Requests" Section and the notation about menu items that refer to food allergies. |
Life-threatening food allergies and restaurants, oh my! Before food allergies, you probably viewed restaurants as a place to relax, have fun with family and friends and enjoy a good meal that you didn't have to cook.
After the diagnosis of a severe food allergy, however, it's another story. Restaurants become something to navigate and the stakes are very high because if the restaurant doesn't fully understand food allergies and we don't have the awareness we need, an emergency can occur. Kind of takes your appetite away, doesn't it?
I know that I am always leery of trying a new restaurant and have pretty strict criteria about where I will take my daughter with severe peanut and tree nut allergies. Our family will only visit restaurants checked out in advance and who we feel understand how to avoid allergy mix-ups in the kitchen. The good news: this can be done, but it does take work. Eventually you can find some go-to restaurants. This is so important to me and I've learned so much about how to do this over the years, that I devote an entire chapter to restaurants in my e-book, "The New Nut-Free Mom" http://tinyurl.com/c57j2fy
Given how much stress an unknown restaurant can cause, it makes it even better when a restaurant doesn't run from food allergies, but decides to take it on and accommodate them. Recently, I experienced some of the best service our family has ever received at Maggiano's Little Italy in Oak Brook, Illinois. (They have other locations, click the link above for more details.)
Maggiano's (see their menu above) impressed me greatly with their proactive and educated approach. Important note: We stated our daughter's allergies (peanuts, tree nuts) over the phone when we made the reservation. Please always do this, wherever you go.
We wanted to take our kids out to dinner following a show during the holidays. In searching for a place near the theater, I knew that Maggiano's was an option, so I did some research (which I talk about in great detail in my book.) I looked at the menu, checked their web site and finally spoke to them on the phone. It looked really good so we decided to try it.
Once we arrived at our table, the chef showed up just a few minutes later to talk about who had the allergies, what menu items we should avoid (not many, but if you go on your own--ask them. Menu items can change at any time) and to ask if we had any questions. This was before we had even spoken to our server, so clearly they have a system for marking their guests allergies while making the reservation.
The chef offered to help us choose a menu item if we needed suggestions for our specific allergy needs. He was very reassuring and it was so appreciated, especially given some of our past experiences at other restaurants and the lack of knowledge and care. In a word, wonderful.
Once I heard from the chef, I'll admit, I felt more relaxed than I ever do in a new restaurant. The server also took note of our daughter's order and said she would clear it with the chef and that in fact, she "had" to do that since it was noted on our reservation that we had a guest with allergies.
Just to be clear: I never told anyone there that I have a blog or would be reviewing their service. This level of service regarding food allergies is what they do for everyone. In fact, I saw the chef go to several tables once we were seated -- I'm guessing -- for the same reason he came to ours. Food allergies are becoming more common as are food intolerances like celiac disease and believe me, you're not the first person who asked about allergies in any given restaurant.
Maggiano's gave me hope that more restaurants will be embracing the challenge of food-allergic diners instead of turning them away.
I know that so many of us dread dining out at times, and for good reason. Not all restaurants are created equal with regard to food allergies. You have to be careful. But take heart, do your research and hopefully you will find some accommodating restaurants in your own neighborhood.
Remember, for any restaurant, be clear about your allergy needs and educate yourself on their menus and food prep. That is the first step, always. Carry your medications at all times -- don't go to a restaurant without those.
We'll definitely be back to Maggiano's. I'm really glad to have discovered their approach to food allergies. And I almost forgot--the food is delicious! A great family-style restaurant. Thank you to the staff, chefs and everyone who welcomed us.
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| Learn more about navigating nut allergies, including restaurants, in my e-book: http://tinyurl.com/c57j2fy |
9 comments:
Thank you so much for posting this. We are still in the process with the new "adventure" with food allergies. My daughter is not allergic to peanuts, but highly allergic to Tree nuts. (we have to stay away from both due to cross contamination)and going to a "new" resturant can be overwhelming and people ask me all the time how we do it, etc. So Thank you. I love your blog, and i do read it (just hardly comment) it helps us so much and I have learned so much just in the past couple of months.
Is it possible for a restaurant to be safe for people with P/TNA without completely altering their menu and changing suppliers? Is there a separate allergy safe kitchen? Are certain items removed from the menu in order to accommodate these allergies?
Marcia, I think that a person with peanut and tree nut allergies can have a safe restaurant meal because I've seen it happen and I don't believe any of the things you mentioned occured. There is also no way for me to know the answer to all of your questions. Every restaurant is different. What is needed is communication, research on the part of the guests with food allergies and education on both sides. For example, allergic diners should know what is high-risk in any restaurant for their particular allergy and avoid it. I also avoid any restaurant that serves many unsafe menu items because I know it can increase the risk. Our role as people bringing an allergic diner (or having allergies ourselves) is to educate and arm ourselves with knowledge. Then we know what questions to ask, etc. It's also helpful to visit restaurants that have educated their chefs and staff and who have exhibited some food allergy awareness. If the chefs and staff and educated, they will know how to deliver "safe" meals to food-allergic diners. However, never assume and never put it all on the restaurant. Both the diner and the restaurant play a role. Restaurants carry some risk--no question. So if you want to eat there, be prepared and communicate your allergies and specific requirements and if you ever feel unsure or they can't answer your questions--get on out of there. At the end of the day, we have to feel comfortable so if you don't want to go to a restaurant, then don't go.
Always looking for these kinds of great content and information over the internet. Really very appreciating. Keep it up Thanks
This is so helpful. We have also dined at Maggianos and felt relatively safe. Would love to know about some sort of database or website for travelers where we could research restaurants' history and practices with regard to allergies. Sort of a "michelin guide" for people with food allergies. Do you know of anything?
Patty, check out www.allergyeats.com for more info. This is a great resource and at the very least, provides you with a great place to begin your restaurant research. I've used it on vacations. All the best, Jenny
Hello Nut Allergy Friends - I generally like specific info when someone reports on the allergy-friendliness of a restaurant. So I'm sharing what I know. I would always call the specific location where you will dine to have this conversation before making a reservation. Sometimes, kitchens are configured differently so that you get more/less effective "accommodations". I spoke to a chef at Maggiano's (downtown Chicago) just now who told me:
(a) They use pine nuts and hazelnuts regularly in their menu.
(b) They have no separate kitchen area for preparing allergy free items.
(c) They will have a chef prepare your food item specially, to assure utensils and prep surfaces are freshly and properly cleaned.
(d) They will counsel you through the menu on what items they can prepare in this way that will be safe for you. Most items on the menu will not be safe for you.
(e) They will advise against selecting any item that contains ingredients that they cannot vouch for... so they will essentially steer you to a plain pasta noodle, a safe sauce (if there is one) or garlic/oil seasoning, grilled chicken, fish or shrimp, fresh vegetables.
(f) The table will not have anything on it that might contain nut protein, except for the breads, which you can decline.
(g) The breads do not necessarily contain nuts, but are assumed to be cross-contaminated. So anything that uses breadcrumbs (e.g. meatballs) is off limits for nut-allergy sufferers.
(h) Obviously, the regular suspects (all baked items) should remain off limits for nut allergy sufferers.
C. Young, thanks for the info. A word about "specifics" regarding restaurants for the purpose of this blog. I was very consciously NOT specific in telling people what menu items to order/laundry list of practices because restaurants change menus often and practices may vary based on the restaurant location. I don't want to steer people in the wrong direction or give a false sense of security. As you did, I encourage everyone to research restaurants and locations for themselves. I can tell you that the conversation I had with the chef at Oak Brook differed on several points from yours including the fact that "most items on the menu will not be safe for you."
I spoke with the restaurant staff before going in/making the reservation and had I been told that most items would not be safe for my daughter, I would not have gone, much less posted a blog about it. I had a good experience there and a conversation in which the chef told me that most items would be OK for my child. Like I said, had he told me otherwise I would have been out of there. Plus, the tree nuts on the menu were limited and I specifically asked about those, cross-contact, etc. Certain foods, for example, in any restaurant are more likely to be unsafe for a nut allergy sufferer. That includes desserts, fried foods, breaded items, and more. Unless a restaurant touts itself as "nut-free" and this one doesn't and I hope no one got that impression--then you have to take common sense precautions no matter what level of awareness you perceive. Likewise, if a restaurant appears to be unable or highly unlikely to accommodate those with nut allergies, I would not go there or recommend it to blog readers.
Readers, please remember to always do thorough research to ensure a good dining experience. Based on my experience and the information I was given at our local Maggiano's restaurant, I would go back. I appreciate that they understood what should be avoided for nut allergy sufferers--even if that means that we can't serve our daughter the bread on the table, etc.
If others feel differently about any restaurant, food item, food company, etc.--then that's up to you and follow your instincts.
Happy eating, everyone!
we'rejumpin' .... Thank you for your kind remarks! I'm glad you're finding my blog to be helpful.
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