I’ve been Glutened…Again!

Not by someone who did not know better, but by a waitress who just didn’t bother!

Last night I ate out at a restaurant I have eaten at many times. I explained my gluten intolerance to the waitress. She helped me make a gluten free choice for my first course and I selected a great steak.

However, having chosen one of my favorite deserts at this restaurant, when I started eating I was surprised to realize the outer chocolate coating was sprinkled with a mixture of nuts and biscuit crumbs. We called her over and she said yes it came with nuts and biscuits. Strange; last time I had it, it was only nuts.

Being a “sharing” desert my husband happily began scraping the outer chocolate coating off the spectacular filled beer stein desert.

Digging into the soft ice cream I spooned out a large mouthful of luscious fruit. But wait! What was in my mouth was not fruit… it was cake! Surprised my husband dug in and also got a mouthful of ice cream coated cake.

I immediately abandoned the delicious, extravagant desert while my (non gluten free) husband enjoyed every last mouthful.

When the waitress came back my husband expressed our surprise that this was not gluten free as previously. The answer? “Oh yes, you can get it gluten free but you have to ask for it”. Really?!!

What part of my requesting gluten free that I had for my first course didn’t apply to desert?

I know this restaurant has a couple of really special deserts that they make alternate gluten free versions for so there is absolutely no excuse for this lack of care on the part of the waitress.

The real gluten free Ice Cream Sundae

A show stopping version of a traditional ice cream sundae, their gluten free ice cream sundae is a delicious, over the top extravagance; not your average scoop of ice cream and topping in a glass boat often offered as the only gluten free desert.

A large beer stein is coated with chocolate and rolled in nuts. It is then filled with ice cream and whole mixed berry fruits. A huge chunk of candied popcorn dominates the top and a syringe filled with caramel sauce adds a playful touch.

It is a fun, sharing desert where neither gluten free nor non gluten free eater feels like they have compromised.

The continuing challenge

Today I am kicking myself for not repeating that I need gluten free when I ordered desert (from the same waitress) but the restaurant was not busy, almost empty. So it just didn’t occur to me I would need to repeat it.

It is a continual challenge choosing gluten free meals when eating out. Many waiters are wonderful, knowledgeable and only too willing to help, others just have a “what a pain in the neck” attitude or give a “don’t know, don’t care” impression. At other times I have had impatient “yes you already told me” looks from waiters.  So what are you to do?

And as I run to the bathroom yet again, I am furious with a waitress that just didn’t bother!