My kid's relay team just set their second National Record! We're doing all the things an accomplishment like that warrants: hugging and parading and picture taking and...
...a big celebration dinner with the team.
Out.
At a restaurant.
At a restaurant that is appealing to 14 year old boys: Buffalo Wild Wings.
I ate there not too long ago. I was told they had a gluten free list. But I couldn't bend my fingers comfortably for three days after that meal. I'm feeling sick long before I ever take the first bite of faith. It's the 'fuss' that starts the queasy feeling; you know, the fuss of trying to explain how careful I need them to be with my food.
Luckily, I have some advance notice and could call ahead to Buffalo Wild Wings. It went like this:
Me: Hi, I'm coming to your restaurant tonight with a large group. I have a terrible, horrible allergy (I know Celiacs is NOT an allergy, but it seems to be the only word that gets a me a gleam of understanding). May I speak with your manager about gluten free options?
Boy on the Phone: Yes! We have a gluten free list. You can look at that.
Me: Do you have a dedicated fryer?
Boy on the Phone: Uh...let me get the manager.
The manager was so lovely. He gave me a firm and confident statement, "We DO have a gluten free list."
Great! Do you also have a dedicated fryer?
Silence.
"I don't know. When you come in, ask for the evening manager. But you probably shouldn't eat anything here."
It's nice to have a list but the list alone doesn't do anything for me. Should I go buy some trusted Pei Wei and bring it to the party? Should I stock up on snickers and M&Ms from concessions? I have an apple in the car.
What would you do?
Our celebration dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings was great! When I got there, I spoke with the manager that I told to ask for. He went over the entire menu and also taught me a new question to ask. They have dedicated fryers at their location (in The Woodlands, TX) for their traditional wings which are gluten free. He told me many locations will rotate their oil through the different fryers after filtering. At this location, they do not rotate oil. Gluten free oil will stay in the gluten free fryer. I've only been asking if places have dedicated fryers. Now I know this is not enough!
ReplyDeleteAlso, our server told me her dad has Celiac Disease and she recommended their hard apple cider ON TAP!
It was a great experience!