After Success at San Chez, Tender Foodies Gear Up for Next Event

Take Our Survey About Dining Out with Food Allergies

==>    TAKE THE 10 Q RESTAURANT SURVEY

it's just 10 questions!!

Even LIttle Foodies Could Read the Menu

Photo Courtesy of WZZM13 (pictured Baby Depenbrok & Anicia Rauwerda LatterAs I think about our first Tender Foodies Eat!  Event in May, I can't wait to plan our 2nd event in July.  About 20 Tender Foodies (foodies with food allergies) & their Friends stopped by San Chez Bistro in Grand Rapids.  WZZM13 made a surprise visit, too, and did a little story on the event. 

We all had a great time chatting about everything from food, life events, and of course dining out on a restricted diet. 

San Chez Bistro is a pioneer in serving people wtih food allergies.  They have several allergen-free menus - including those that eliminate each of the "Big 8" and also a few less pervasive allergies, such as garlic and capsicum (peppers).  They include a vegan menu, which pleased some of the non-meat eating folks in the crowd. 

My personal experience with San Chez was a good one and I was probably the most difficult patron.  The manager patiently walked me through the menu to find something that would work for me (reading across several menus is a challenge).  One of the difficulties was that, along with gluten and dairy allergies, I have a strange reaction to white pepper.  In light of this, the manager conferred with the kitchen and found that their "chef salt", which was used in preparation of most items, contains white pepper.  This narrowed down my choices considerably, but at no point did the staff or manager become impatient or annoyed.  I left hungry, but what I was able to sample was very tasty.  This inspired an immediate plan  to return, but next time I'll call ahead to expand the options on my plate.

The highlight of my own experience was the drink.  The bartender had suggested, a Caipirinha, a cachaça (pronounced [kaˈʃasɐ]) (sugar cane rum), sugar and lime.  Distillation is supposed to break down any gluten in grain alcohol, however, this is an ongoing debate in the gluten-free community of Tender Foodies. I've not had a great deal of luck with grain alcohols, myself, so the bartender did a little on the spot research with the brand of cachaca.  He found that it was, indeed, 100% pure sugar cane rum.  No grains.  He cheerfully and carefully double-checked.  This is what I like about San Chez.  They know their ingredients.  They work with you, they care about their food, and they care about you.  And they make great drinks.

Another Chance to Take the Survey!!

Our next event will be in July and I'd like to ask the Tender Foodie Community for some feedback. 

===>   TAKE OUR 10 Q RESTAURANT SURVEY

We always choose restaurants who have experience, care and know-how in serving people with food allergies (but remember, only you know your bod and allergies best).  We'll let you know when our next event will be (in July) and we'd love to have you join us.

Let's Go Out To Eat! Tender Tapas at San Chez Bistro. (May 17, 2011)

Tuesay, May 17, 2011 from 5:00-7:00pm at San Chez Bistro in Grand Rapids, MI

One of the biggest difficulties for people with food allergies is eating out and being treated well when doing so. The good news is that there are restaurants popping up all over the country who are serving Tender Foodies with passion and responsibility. The even better news is that we have several right here in Grand Rapids. So let's eat out! You can help me review these restaurants, too, by adding your comments to my upcoming review on www.tenderfoodie.com (I'll post a note right here when its up).

RSVP:  on the Facebook Event Page or at info@tenderfoodie.com
PRICE: order from the menu & self-pay
DRESS:  whatever floats your boat

Stop by San Chez Bistro on Tuesday, May 17 anytime between 5:00pm & 7:30pm. We are gathering in the bar area (The Fishbowl). Come for just a cocktail or add a small plate or six. Or grab a table and have dinner! San Chez is one of the pioneers in serving people with food allergies; they might even be the first Tender Friendly restaurant in Grand Rapids.


Check out their food allergy menus here: http://www.sanchezbistro.com/menu.htm

They have nut-, treenut-, lactose-, gluten-, soy-, capsicum- (peppers), garlic-, citric-acid, seed-, seafood- free menus. They also have a Vegan menu (right on). As for gluten-free alcohol, they have Redbridge Beer, as well as Chopin Potato Vodka (Chopin grows their potatoes without chemicals or pesticides).

PLEASE NOTE: make SURE that you are clear and responsible with your servers about your food allergies, so they can serve you well. Speak up!

I'll tell you a secret, it's also my birthday. What a way to celebrate by meeting Tender Foodies & Friends!