Dealing with Allergies – Put on the Ritz, but Hold the Cracker, Please.

Once upon a meal, somewhere out there in the restaurant-wilderness, a picky eater decided to ‘save time’ and pretend to have an allergy. Pleasantly amazed by the server’s understanding looks, and exhilarated by the careful exorcism preformed by the kitchen on the hapless ingredient, this picky, and as it turns out, loudmouthed, eater decided to spread the word. Flash forward to 2010 and servers are constantly faced with supposed allergies, which, nine out of ten times, are just the labels finicky diners give to their dislikes. Sadly, this has led to a backlash against the truly anaphylactic, those who aren’t just “breaking out in chives” as journalist Ruth Samuelson put it. I say sadly because, when treated with the appropriate care, fastidious customers can become the most loyal (and lucrative) of patrons.

So, with that in mind, consider this post the first in a series on staying allergy conscious, both in the front and back of the house.

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Most restaurateurs see an allergic customer as a hassle, an annoyance, someone better left at home but surprisingly…the allergic customer sees us the same way! A diner with a sensitive palate can rarely enjoy a simple meal out, always having to rigorously barter with the staff, often watch their companions eat while the kitchen fixes an inaccurately prepared dish and even, for the very severely limited, face unpleasant physical reactions. If you can prove yourself to be as accommodating to these tables as you are to any other, well, there’s a whole community out there just waiting to shower you with business! So, what to do?

First, you should check out FAAN, the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, and their comprehensive program on welcoming guests with food allergies. Second, you should read this article about how a frustrated father couldn’t find a restaurant that would cater to his allergic sons and then, you should review your restaurant on his brainchild, an online guide to allergy-friendly restaurants across the United States. Finally, you should tune in next week for the second installment. Or at least…that’s what I would do!