Restaurant Rating System~
We all know the restaurant rating system by stars. Those little yellow symbols at the bottom of a review can say more than the text above. But how would a rating system for a gluten free friendly restaurant experience work? Well I decided to give it a try; these are the things that come to mind when I step into a restaurant:
1. One star for a GF menu- It’s simple; do they mention gluten free on their menu, or even better, have a special gluten free, or allergy menu? Yes? Get a star.
2. One star for a knowledgeable staff. This is not just about a smile and a understanding look when asking for a gf menu, it’s about how we get from the front door to the check. Does the staff know which sides are gluten free? Do they present the food with the assuring words of “no gluten”? When they ask if you’re interested in dessert, do they know what you can have, even if its just the ever delicious crème brulee? If the answer is yes, they get a star.
3. One star for good food- A “good food” star is only dished out for a GF meal that had some thought and creativity put into it, not just the gluten items taken out. A burger with a gluten free bun, a gluten-free pasta and sauce, or a complete meal that is naturally gluten free. This one does not count when your plate arrives with half of the ingredients left in the kitchen. It takes thought and intention.
4. One star for value- Is what you are getting worth the price? Often, gluten free costs a little more, and I get that if specialty items are used in the dish. Did you get something that was supposed to include bread, but instead you got a salad? Sure! Did they make something special, not on the menu, but billed you for a reasonable price? Great! Lots of ways to get this star.
5. One star for cross-contamination awareness- This one will take a little research, but is really important. How does the kitchen ensure the gluten-free dish is prepared without getting some of those other dangerous ingredients in the mix? Have you seen some of these kitchens? They can be small with lots of activity. Looks like fun, but not always easy to keep things separate. This star is about their cross-contamination elimination strategies and how well they work.
So here is our gluten-free five star restaurant rating system! I will “tag” each restaurant experience I have with its corresponding rating to make it easier for the rest of you to decide where your next meal out might be. Make sense? Of course I’d love to hear your thoughts on ratings for Spokane area restaurants too.
About the Author- 2010
I started this web site in 2009 in part to help me learn about and deal with being diagnosed with Celiac Disease, and also to share what I learn and the stories I run across with others. I hope something here, a new restaurant you can eat at, a new product to try, or a bit of information to help you make living GF in Spokane a little easier and a little more fun.
The Celiac Disease Foundation (www.celiac.org) estimates 1 in 133 people are affected by either an intolerance to gluten or full blown celiac. The 2008 Census claims there are 462,667 people in Spokane County. If we trust these numbers, that means there are almost 3,500 people in Spokane County that are directly affected by this autoimmune disease. Let’s just assume those people are loved by at least one person, so that number doubles to over 7,000 people. This does not include our North Idaho friends.
Every day I find a new blog, restaurant or grocery section that helps us eat gluten free. I run into someone that has celiac, or has a family member that suffers from the challenges of the diet. Recently, I met someone that has intolerance, but does not follow the diet. She claimed it was too hard living in the Perry Neighborhood to eat gluten free.
I recognize the difficulty of transitioning to gluten free. I will never forget that day in January of 2008 when I received the results of the biopsy. The letter said I had severe celiac sprue. The paperwork came with a long list of all the things I could no longer eat. Ice Cream, French Fries, Bread, Pasta, Crackers, Soup, Seasonings… the list went on for two pages. I started to cry. What was I going to eat?
Since then, I have been successful at living gluten free. Not only can I do it, I would never go back. The health benefits outweigh the struggle and occasional tough decision of not eating out at certain places with friends. Feeling good about my body and my life is well worth it. This site is full of resources to help you with the transition, or just keep going.
Here you can find restaurants rated by how gluten-free friendly they are, products that are good and bad, the science of celiac, and other resources. Please leave comments if you have them; we all have many of the same stories to share, as well as unique experiences that can help others. I hope this site will continue to build greater knowledge of the gluten free life in Spokane, and, in turn make it a better community!
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