HR is clueless. I am in HR so I think I am allowed to insult my own kind.
To be fair, though, I think most people need more specific guidance from others when it comes to their food allergies/restrictions. I am a gluten idiot--I had no idea how hard it is to avoid-so I am confident I have made some stupid suggestions in the past that had my friends with Celiac (or avoid gluten for other reasons) shaking their heads. In your shoes, I'd just give them more instruction up front. For example: instead of "I have a wheat allergy", say "I have a wheat allergy so x, y and z restaurants work best for me". Or something like that.
Once, a friend organized a big group dinner at Buca de Beppo. One of the attendees had celiac, and there literally was not a single thing on the menu she could eat. The waiter had no idea how to help her because it's not like they really cook there, they just dump out stuff from a freezer.
Finally, they wound up bringing this poor woman a microwaved chicken breast on a plate, with nothing else.
So yeah, I'd be pissed if I were you. People are morons. Your food issue is not hard to work around.
Is the Buca de Beppo thing a cross contamination issue? There are several things on their menu that I would have assumed are gluten-free--steamed mussels, caprese salad, various green salads, salmon with lemon butter, short ribs, various chicken dishes (some of which might have breading, I know). Does all of that have hidden gluten? I am not trying to be contrarian (nor trying to tout Buca de Beppo, which I agree is mediocre frozen food). I just want to gain a better understanding of what options are gluten-free in hopes of not being an insensitive ass like the op's colleagues.
Post by pacificrules on Jan 15, 2014 22:46:22 GMT -5
That's stupid! Why a-ask about dietary restrictions, and b-mention three restaurants to get feedback and then throw BOTH of those out the window and go with Italian??! I'm irritated for you! Ugh.
Is the Buca de Beppo thing a cross contamination issue? There are several things on their menu that I would have assumed are gluten-free--steamed mussels, caprese salad, various green salads, salmon with lemon butter, short ribs, various chicken dishes (some of which might have breading, I know). Does all of that have hidden gluten? I am not trying to be contrarian (nor trying to tout Buca de Beppo, which I agree is mediocre frozen food). I just want to gain a better understanding of what options are gluten-free in hopes of not being an insensitive ass like the op's colleagues.
There is a risk at any restaurant, but I think they are moving in the right direction and doing a lot to try and make sure it is a safe experience.
Eating out is a challenge sometimes. I appreciate restaurants that take extra steps to prevent cross contamination. I've gotten sick enough from eating out to know it is always a risk.
Back to the OP. it sucks that they asked and disregarded your allergy.
I'm sorry. My kids have wheat allergies and I've brought rice or corn based pasta to Italian restaurants many times because there's just nothing on the menu I can risk giving them.
I am lucky in that a tiny amount of wheat, like in soy sauce, doesn't seem to have much impact. Otherwise I really don't know how I could sustain this job/travel schedule.
I truly bow down to folks dealing with life threatening allergies or celiac where the tiniest bit counts--that would be very very hard.