FRIENDLY FRIDAY: Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

I was pleasantly surprised during a recent trip to Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen. Known for its fried seafood and rich sauces, it has not been the easiest place for me to find allergy friendly options. Well, that is until now. Pappadeaux's now offers a gluten free menu! While that doesn't take care of all my allergies it's a start, and the waiter at our local restaurant was very helpful. The menu was understandably limited, but there were some really tasty options. I had the Jumbo Sea Scallops with Lemon & Herb Olive Oil (since I can't have butter), and they were delicious. If you have any other food allergies be sure to tell your waiter. When it came to dessert, there really are no options on their menu for me (they either have wheat or dairy in them). Thankfully, our waiter was nice enough to put together a wonderful fruit cup for me.

Of course, like it says on the menu, Pappadeaux's prepares all food in a common kitchen so there is always the chance for cross contamination. 

FRIENDLY FRIDAY: Texas Roadhouse & Logan's Roadhouse

  

I'll admit I'm a fan of the occasional steak dinner, but since the discovery of my food sensitivities, finding a steakhouse that can accommodate my needs isn't easy. Tonight I did a little research into Logan's and the Texas Roadhouse. My first hurdle is that both establishments offer ridiculously yummy-smelling rolls. It's hard to say no when the smell makes your mouth water. So, for me it's either stay away and resist temptation, shove my mouth full of peanuts while I wait for my meal, or give in and pay the consequences. Not fun, but I have found that I do much better when I have done my research before hand and go in with a plan. I was a bit disappointed by my findings this time.

Texas Roadhouse does not offer a gluten free menu or nutritional information for any of their food (according to their own statements on their website). They claim that it is too difficult to give accurate information like some other outfits because other places use prepackaged food and they make their food from scratch. Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure there are other "from scratch" restaurants that are doing a decent job of informing customers about allergen and nutritional information. Sounds like a cop out to me. So while I'm fairly certain there are items on their menu that I can eat, the choice is simple for me. At least I know one place to leave off my list.

Logan's does at least offer a gluten free menu. Although it is not available online, you can request a copy from your host. Of course, since Logan's uses a common cooking area they can't guarantee that cross-contamination won't occur, and they do make a statement to that effect. I was unable, however, to find any other allergy information. According to discussion boards, it's hit or miss as to whether the staff is knowledgeable about allergies or even willing to accommodate a diner's needs. Personally, I have been able to eat there without incidence, and the staff have been very accommodating, but when in doubt I follow 2 rules of thumb... ask or avoid!

Friendly Fridays: Chili's

Korry and I stopped at a Chili's during our long layover in Atlanta and I figured I'd be able to order a salad at the very least. As it turns out, rabbit food just wasn't going to cut it, so I ordered a burger minus the cheese and refrained from eating the bun. Had I done my homework, I would have known that Chili's actually has menus for various allergies on their website. They update it monthly with their different specials, so they recommend you check back frequently for up-to-date information. You can get their allergen menu by clicking on "Menu" from their home page and scrolling down to the bottom where it says "Download Allergen Menu". They are pdf files so you can print them out to use later. Chili's also offers a vegetarian menu and nutritional information in pdf form.

FRIENDLY FRIDAYS: KFC

KFC now offers grilled chicken and they have salads and veggies. Surely there's something that those of us with food sensitivies can eat. The truth is, there is surprisingly little on their menu that is free of all top 8 allergens. I was disappointed to see on their Allergies & Sensitivities page that even their grilled chicken has wheat in it. Really?! You can't just take a strip of chicken and grill it? I expected wheat in their fried chicken... it's breaded, but the grilled chicken is out too. You can however have a Caesar salad without the dressing and croutons or a house salad without the dressing. Their Light Italian dressing is free of the top 8 allergens, so that's a plus. You don't have to eat a plain salad! Their bacon, lettuce, tomato, green beans, and corn (both cob and kernel) are allergen free as well, but that's about it. So, if you have a craving for chicken... keep driving, but if it's salad you're after... or some bacon and green beans, then KFC is the place for you. 

FRIENDLY FRIDAYS: Cracker Barrel

I've always like Cracker Barrel. They are the epitome of comfort food. Although not particularly the healthiest fare, they do have some offerings for people with allergies and food sensitivities. While I've never personally had to deal with their managers, I've read post after post of testimony by customers who have nothing but good things to say about how their managers have accommodated their dining needs. Allergy Free Please has a great personal experience posted with food options for various allergies. My Gluten Free New Jersey contacted Cracker Barrel to inquire about their gluten free menu items and got a detailed email from them, which they included on their website. 

I had a hard time finding any sort of nutritional information, allergy information, or ingredients on their website, but you can contact them for additional information. They seem to be responsive. 

FRIENDLY FRIDAYS: Joe's Crab Shack

I've been a fan of Joe's since my first visit back around 2001 in Austin, TX. Obviously, if you have a seafood allergy, this is not the place for you, but Joe's has a great line of steampots and other tasty dishes. So, how does this establishment stack up for those of us avoiding wheat/gluten? Surprisingly well. As with most restaurants (especially chains) their food is all prepared in one common kitchen, and they do have a statement possible contamination from other food products. You can download a PDF version of their menus including their gluten free menu and nutritional information from their website under "Menu" (duh).

The good news? All of their Steampots and Buckets of Crab are gluten free. They mention the simply steamed and garlic herb versions in the individual descriptions, but list all the seasonings on the gluten free menu. I would ask a manager before choosing a different seasoning. I was able to find out from a forum on Celiac.com that Old Bay Seasoning is gluten free. I was also able to dig up a post on myglutenfreenj.com that actually has an email from Joe's Crab Shack stating what items were gluten free.

Obviously steer clear of their fried menu items as they're battered and therefore have wheat, but honestly, their gluten free options are also their healthier options anyway. 

Keep in mind that they do serve and prepare a lot of items with butter, so if you're allergic to dairy be sure to talk to your server about your options.

FRIENDLY FRIDAYS: P.F. Chang's - Gluten Free

P.F. Chang's has a fairly extensive gluten free menu and if you choose items that are vegetarian as well you can pretty much avoid all the major food allergens. They do warn, as is the case in almost all restaurants, their food is all prepared in a common kitchen where other food allergens exist. If you are highly sensitive, consider yourself warned. I ate at the P.F. Chang's in Austin, TX and I have to say, I was impressed with both how accommodating they were and how knowledgeable our waiter was! He was able to offer me suggestions and personal opinions about the dishes. I had the GF Singapore Street Noodles, which consists of shrimp, chicken, vegetables and rice noodles stir-fried in a gluten free sauce. They were delicious and filling. I even splurged and had their GF Triple Chocolate Mousse Mini, which has three layers of chocolate ganache, milk chocolate mousse and flourless chocolate cake. It wasn't completely allergy free for me, but it didn't upset my stomach too much... and it was heavenly! 

P.F. Chang's is a great option for those of us with special dietary needs. They are knowledgeable. If you have someone in your party with other special dietary concerns ask to speak with a manager or the chef, and they will try to accommodate them as best they can. 

FRIENDLY FRIDAYS: Freebirds

I fell in love with Freebirds when my husband and I lived near Austin, TX. They have great food without the yuppy Chipotle vibe. Now that I have to be careful of what I eat Freebirds has become one of my favorite places to eat! Their website has allergy information under the "Food" tab. You can also find information from this 2008 report from the Dallas Fort Worth Gluten Intolerance Group. If you have problems with wheat and dairy like me, I recommend their tacos. I prefer mine on the soft corn tortillas, but crunchy tacos are another GF option.  Their queso, BBQ sauce, and salsa have wheat in them, but guacamole, pico de gallo, veggies, and hot sauces are all GF! Their allergen list does not include their carnitas or ground beef, but for sure their chicken is safe. Nachos and burrito bowls are another good option for the gluten free diner. Now we have the "Freedom to Choose" at Freebirds!

*Note: All Freebirds foods are prepared in a common kitchen.