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Wedding Cakes & Food Forum
Renew2
member
Gluten Free Nightmare
Why is it so hard to find a caterer that will do a gauranteed gluten free menue? Is it REALLY that hard for them to prepare my entire menue selection in a seperate area free from it? Esepcially when I'll be paying up to $40 a plate? WHYYY? I really don't want to make my own food. I want to be able to enjoy the day... without puking. I can go to McDonalds and have my wishes accomedated and yet I can't get a caterer to completely agree. Frustrating. Any advice?
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Re: Gluten Free Nightmare
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Perhaps it's the chefs not knowing that is causing this issue? Should I make an outline of what I want and how to prepare it sans gluten? I really don't mind paying extra to not have a flare up.
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[QUOTE]I agree with Duds, you need to find the right caterer. If I am a regular caterer there is no way in hell I am guaranteeing a gluten free menu because if even one guest gets slightly sick I would be exposed to legal liability. At the very most, I'd agree to prepare a menu chosen by the bride that happens to be gluten-free and say that I make no guarantees that the entire menu is free from exposure to gluten.
Posted by NOLAbridealmost[/QUOTE]
<div>Agreed 100%</div>
Duds, I was only recently diagnosed so it's taken some adjusting. So many things have gluten in them but a lot of things do not as well. I'm not so much worried about the food itself because only minor tweeks would have to be made to recipes. But I see your point about trial and error and it costing a lot for that to happen.
In such a small area it's not really possible to find a completely "gluten free" caterer. Gotta work with what I've got. Hopefully I will find one soon that already has gluten free items and will agree to prepare them seperatly. If not, looks like I'm the chef.
[QUOTE]Thanks for the replies. <strong>I guess I just don't understand why my food can't be prepared seperatly from some other event's food.</strong> I think I may just have to find a caterer who is willing to use the kitchen at the location. Duds, I was only recently diagnosed so it's taken some adjusting. So many things have gluten in them but a lot of things do not as well. I'm not so much worried about the food itself because only minor tweeks would have to be made to recipes. But I see your point about trial and error and it costing a lot for that to happen. In such a small area it's not really possible to find a completely "gluten free" caterer. Gotta work with what I've got. Hopefully I will find one soon that already has gluten free items and will agree to prepare them seperatly. If not, looks like I'm the chef.
Posted by Renew2[/QUOTE]
<div>Have you been in an industrial kitchen before? Some are huge with different areas. Some are very small. </div><div>
</div><div> Some places are prepping and cooking for more than one event at a time. Sometimes it's because they have another event that same day. Other times it's because the food needs time to set/marinade/slow-cook, etc. So they need to prep a day or so ahead and the same time cooking food for the current day's events.</div><div>
</div><div>I'm sorry you are having such a hard time. How do you go out to dinner? Or do you not? </div><div>
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[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Gluten Free Nightmare : Have you been in an industrial kitchen before? Some are huge with different areas. Some are very small. Some places are prepping and cooking for more than one event at a time. Sometimes it's because they have another event that same day. Other times it's because the food needs time to set/marinade/slow-cook, etc. So they need to prep a day or so ahead and the same time cooking food for the current day's events. I'm sorry you are having such a hard time. How do you go out to dinner? Or do you not?
Posted by lyndausvi[/QUOTE]
Yeah I can understand that :(
We normally don't go out. There's a Thai place we go to regularly who knows my situation and she's careful not to cross contaminate. I'd love to have her cater because she caters but not everyone likes Thai food.. in fact I know a few of my guests hate it. The only other times we've gone out it has been to resturants a few hours from here who have gluten free menues.
[QUOTE]Keep in mind that one of the issues might be pots and pans. Some of us with celiac need food to be cooked on a completely different pan that has never been used for a food with gluten and completely different utensils. (I'm thankfully not that severe) Maybe you could ask the caterer exactly what it is you need (i.e. a clean surface area, but not clean pans). Have you visited <a href="http://www.celiac.org?" rel="nofollow">www.celiac.org?</a> They have message boards that are very helpful especially when you're first learning how to cope/manage it. There also might be people from your area who know of gf caterers.
Posted by djhar[/QUOTE]
Thank you so much! I will check that site out. I'm not so severe I need new pans, just clean ones/ surface in a seperate preparing area (could even be just a different counter).
My mother isn't gluten-intolerant; she has a wheat allergy (and onions and celery and chocolate and rye and oats...). We want roast or broiled chicken, potatoes/rice, and asparagus - an easy enough meal to make in-budget without adding grain ingredients. We might insist on a contract provision along the lines of "No wheat, rye, oat, onion, celery, or chocolate ingredients will be used. All food will be prepared in a kitchen that meets the usual standards of cleanliness for commercial kitchens." If instead we wanted something like breaded tilapia, and had to teach a caterer about wheat-free options, we'd expect a much trickier caterer search.
I wish you luck in your search! I know how hard it is for my CD/GF friend who has it so severe she has her own set of pots/pan/plates, etc. But she manages it and I know you will too once you are able to adjust! Best wishes
[QUOTE]Why dont you go with meat and vegetables? Or fish and vegetables? Both gluten free as long as theyre not breaded.
Posted by Mae0606[/QUOTE]
The food itself is not the issue. It's the preperation and cross contamination. Many people put gluten in their food and don't know it. Like malt flavoring. Or, for example, one caterer suggested sausage stuffed mushrooms but the sausage she normally uses has gluten in it.
Luckily I did find a caterer who said she was willing to work with me! Took several phone calls, and some false leads but we'll be finalizing the menu this week.