There are millions of restaurants, but if you have a food allergy you know eating out can be a challenge. We created this site to help you the next time you wonder, "Can I Eat There?"

You'll find links to food allergen guides for restaurants good enough to provide them and info on how to check out those that don't. Our city specific posts are decicated to those local joints we all love.

We hope this site expands your dining horizons... and keeps you healthy!

5.19.2008

Peanut-Free Baseball at the Metrodome (Minneapolis, MN)

Press Release from the Anaphylaxis & Food Allergy Association of Minnesota:

Peanut-Free Baseball at the Metrodome




The Anaphylaxis & Food Allergy Association of Minnesota (AFAA) and the Minnesota Twins are partnering to promote a peanut-free skybox section for those with peanut allergies. The Metrodome skybox will be available for four games this season: Tuesday, May 20th (against the Texas Rangers); Monday, June 30th (against the Detroit Tigers); Tuesday, July 29th (against the Chicago White Sox) Monday, August 18th (against the Oakland A's).

There will be seating for up to 110 allergic individuals and family members in the skybox, which overlooks right field. All games begin at 7:10 p.m. Central Time. AFAA volunteers will staff the skybox during the game.

Food brought into the skybox is screened by Twins staff to ensure that peanut ingredients are not allowed into the area.

Tickets are $30 and may be purchased at www.twinsbaseball.com/peanut or by calling the ticket office at 612-33-TWINS or 800-33-TWINS & referencing the "peanut free zone".

Individuals allergic to peanuts can have reactions triggered by ingesting foods with peanut as an ingredient, using utensils or eating foods cross-contaminated (i.e. having contact) with peanut, inhaling dust from open bags of peanuts, and sometimes merely touching a surface where peanuts or peanut butter have been. Reactions can range from hives to throat constriction, respiratory distress, vomiting, edema, blood pressure drop and shock. There is no cure for food allergies: avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction.

AFAA is a Minnesota-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization. It is the largest state-level food allergy organization in the U.S. and is known nationally for its accomplishments and programs.

4.17.2008

Airports - Dining Out with a Food Allergy

Airports are listed in alphabetical order.  If you have information on any airport restaurants please email us at canieatthere@gmail.com.


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Minneapolis/St. Paul

Locanda D'Amico
Concourse F
Allergy Friendly

Minneapolis/St. Paul - Eating Out with a Food Allergy

Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order.  If you have info on a Minneapolis restaurant please email us at canieatthere@gmail.com.


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Locanda D'Amico
Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, Concourse F
*Parent company D'Amico & Sons has other locations in Minnesota and Florida

Allergy Friendly

Editor's Note:  On a recent trip to North Dakota I flew through Minneapolis and was in desperate need of food.  Eating at the airport is not something that I look forward to and usually have a full stock of food in my bag.  But this was one time I didn't and my flight was delayed.  In concourse F you'll find this qauint, non-airport-like Italian restaurant.  Before sitting down I asked the hostess if they could accommodate my allergies, she went in the back and, to my utter surprise, out came the chef.  Had I magically been teleported away from the airport?  I explained my allergies - soy and shellfish - to the chef and he gave me a detailed description of what I could and could not eat (he even told me the percentage of wheat content in their noodles).  I gladly took my seat and throughly enjoyed my pasta - I could have eaten two helpings!  Thank you Laconda D'Amico, you get a golden star!  

2.15.2008

Allergy-friendly French Dinner Series - Chicago

UPDATE!  Bistro 110 has reworked the schedule for their upcoming allergy-friendly dinner series.  Here are the details.

- Sans-Gluten Dinner, May 12: To include dough-less "quiche lorraine" and gluten-free tagliatelle with ragout of mussel, clam, shrimp and tarragon
- Sans-Dairy Dinner, September 29: To include cream-free "cream of lentil" soup and roasted chicken breast with corn flan
- Sans-Shellfish Dinner, November 17: To include shellfish-free seafood soup and an uncannily lobster-esque monkfish ragout

Saw this article in The Stew, a blog by Chicago Tribune food and dining writers:

Allergy-friendly French dinner series set at Bistro 110
Posted by Monica Eng at 1:00 p.m. CDT

When you're a foodie with food allergies, it's hard not to feel odd as you quiz the server on all the ingredients in a dish. But food allergies are serious business. And more restaurants address this, as we've reported.

Bistro 110 (110 E. Pearson St.; 312-266-3110) and its chef Dominique Tougne recognize this (Tougne is the father of two children with food allergies) and has crafted four special dinners scheduled over the next year to open up the world of French cuisine to those with food allergies.

The first -- a nut-free menu -- is scheduled for March 24 and will feature nut-free sole fillet almandine and faux peanut butter and mousse parfait. Later dinners will focus on foods for those who follow gluten-free (Sept. 29), dairy-free (June 16) and shellfish-free diets (Nov. 17).

Author's Note: Check out Can I Eat There's Chicago City Guide with info on this and other resturants.

2.12.2008

Smooching Safely With Food Allergies

It has nothing to do with eating out, but I had to share this press release. We all love kisses...

Are You a Careful Kisser?

How to Smooch Safely With Food Allergies This Valentine's Day


2.11.2008

Dinner with Friends - A Scary Reminder

We know eating out at a restaurant with a food allergy can be tough, but what about when your friends invite you over for dinner. Since learning of my food allergies, my husband and I have been inviting more people over to our house for dinner - it keep us in control.

But, there are some of our friends who know all about our food allergies and are more than happy to do whatever they can for us. So when we were invited to dinner by one of those friends last night we thought it would be no problem - they know I can't have soy, crab or chicken. We been there a few times with no problems. So yesterday afternoon, we called ahead, "What's for dinner?"

"Cioppino," the chef said.

"There's no crab in it right?" my husband said.

"Oh that's right she can't have crab," our friend said. "I forgot about that, but I haven't put the crab in yet, so I'll make a batch without it just for her."

"Great, thanks," my husband said.

You can probably figure out where this is going... that's right, today I had to take a trip to urgent care. I'm ok, but I am 99.9% sure I ended up eating some crab. The rash, throat tightness, numb tongue and sweating were dead giveways.

We think we know what happened. Our friend, who kindly made me my own bowl, didn't know that he also had to use a separate ladle when dishing up my soup.

This experience taught us a lesson. We need to be just as vigilant with our friends as we are with strangers in restaurants. Most of them don't know all the rules of food allergies, like be sure there's no cross contamination.

Here's some tips I know I will remember the next time a friend invites us to dinner.
1. Remind your friend of your allergy, ask them if they are comfortable accomodating it and be sure they understand the seriousness of your allergy. If they seem at all put off, invite them your house instead. Or offer to bring your own dinner if they are having mutiple people and have their heart set on a specific dish.
2. If they are willing to do the extra to have you over, great! But, be sure they know to check the ingredients on everything and if there is something you can't eat they need to cook your portion without it in its own pan with its own utensils.
3. Call ahead to find out what's for dinner, remind your friend of your food allergy again.
4. If you have any doubt about what they are making, politely tell them you are unsure you can eat that, and then stay home.
5. Remind your friend of your food allergy when you arrive for dinner, double check that they have followed the rules. Check labels on any items you can that were used in your meal.
6. If you have any doubts anywhere along the way, politely excuse yourself from the meal and eat when you get home.

In the end your friends would rather you excuse yourself from a meal than have you end up in the emergency room, or worse.

2.06.2008

Washington, D.C. - Eating Out with a Food Allergy

Restaurants and resources are listed in alphabetical order. If you have info on a D.C. restaurant please email us at canieatthere@gmail.com.

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DCGluties.com
Blog

Allergy Friendly

Author's Note: Check out the Dining Out in DC and Dissecting the Menu categories for restaurant listings. Thanks DCGluties.com!


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