Eating out on a date

[Ian67]

Right what meal could I order without making a big fuss on a first date That I can be assured not to be glutened

[judithr]

You say this is a first date which implies there could be more - so ne honest at the start. Your health is important, don't make a fuss but it is an important fact of your life. If you were a vegetarian you wouldn't eat meat, if you were allergic to nuts you wouldn't eat nuts. You are a coeliac - so if your date can't cope find another one!!

[Ian67]

Ha ha... Right what you doing sat night then...

I ain't even got a date yet but just wondered what would best bet

[Belle33]

Steak, chips and salad? (just ask if the chips are coated - simple - never be embarrassed for being a coeliac) I never have a problem eating out!! Good luck

[Lexy in reply to Belle33]

it might be a good idea to ask if the chips are cooked in the same oil as battered fish/meat...

[Irene Administrator in reply to Lexy]

Absolutely Lexy and check they don't put any breaded items on the steak griddle.

[j9nenej9 in reply to Belle33]

but what if chips are cooked in the same fryer as say chicken nuggets

[Hidden]

steakhouse is good as long as you aint a veggie....

[weee]

Oh dear I do feel for you. As if going out on a first date isn't nerve wracking enough.. I'd be up front for sure , many folks do understand the constraints and how serious it is to stick to them

First date I think I'd be very careful and maybe stick with plain salads, meat with no sauces and easy on the wine

[Liana]

If it was me, I'd ask what restaurant we were going to for our first date. Then I'd phone the restaurant in advance and speak to the chef about what items on the menu would meet my needs. Your date must know you have special dietary needs and so must the restaurant. If everything is done in advance, then everything can be handled with no fuss or unnecessary attention. I do it every time I go to a new restaurant and have never had any problems. Everyone wants you to be safe and have a good time ... it just takes a little planning and good communication. Then you can enjoy your date and focus your attention on your dinning partner, not the food you're about to eat.

[nichola22]

I would go to the resterant with a friend the day before for lunch, make a big fuss then and then at least you will know what dishes are safe to eat. alturnativly go to nandos, not very posh but all the chicken and chips are gluten free and the peas and sweetcorn. on my first date with my husband, I make sure everything was safe and started with salad. my husband had soup and a roll, and as he cut the roll to put the butter in, my plate got showered with crumbs! I was not very impressed, but were married now! lol

[Elliecovellie]

I ring the place we'll be eating at and have a chat with them, then when I get there I can be really cool about my choice and know they already know.

Being Ceoliac is massively embarrassing!! It shouldn't be, but it soooo is!!

[Lexy in reply to Elliecovellie]

HI Elliecovellie - don't think of it as being massively embarrassing - it definitely isn't, but it IS a pain and requires planning and extra effort. I have been glutened a few times cause I've assumed something is gf when it isn't (why wouldn't omelette be gf; it's eggs, right? but no! Some places but FLOUR in the eggs to make them fluffier....!!!!!). So it's always worth pointing out what you can't have...

[j9nenej9 in reply to Lexy]

wow !! lexy i would have never have thought of that i keep that in mind from now on

[MyOwnMenu]

If you don't know where you're going before hand, then do some reasearch, find a real nice restaurant in the area (or more than one) that has gluten free items marked on the menu, then you can just pick a dish from the menu without having to say a thing

[Irene Administrator in reply to MyOwnMenu]

Mmmm this sounds great but we've been tripped up many times in restaurants that say they 'get' gluten free. They jump on the bandwagon and plaster gf everywhere without fully understanding what it means. Many a time we've been told 'don't worry that we cook crumbed food in the fryer, the high temperature kills off any gluten'! We always suggest checking with waiting staff and, if necessary, with the chef just to satisfy yourself they understand gluten free. Found out today that somewhere that we eat regularly have made a small change to a menu item which meant if was no longer gluten free. It was only by routinely checking our regular menu likes that we found this out.

[Ian67]

I'm best off single then ha

[j9nenej9 in reply to Ian67]

ian you could always cook her a meal wine relax then tell her and if shes worth anything she wouldnt mind an you could look 2gether another date to find somewhere nice an gf

[philaustin]

Go to Wetherspoons. There is one in most towns. Have a plate of nachos to share, washed down with a bottle of red. Eating at Wetherspoons will show her that you are careful with your money; which is especially important to some nationalities.

Sharing a plate of food using your hands will bring you closer together. The jalapenos on the nachos will add a bit of spice to the occasion and the wine will add a nice afterglow.

Avoid a night when there's footie on though - Wetherspoons tend to get a bit rowdy on those nights.

If you're still hungry after the nachos have the chicken skewers with piri piri sauce and green salad.

Avoid Wetherspoons in Skegness though because they include raw dark green cabbage in the salad and it could look awful stuck to your teeth. If this works, let me know please. Good Luck.

[Ian67]

Cheers everyone

[Lazydaisy]

Even better find a gluten free gal

[Ian67]

Yes that would be great... Is there a GF dating site

[Mia1057]

Or do something else, go to the pictures, pick a romantic picnic in the park or at the seaside, see a good exhibition etc