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I know I've been blessed. I'm reminded of this every day that I don't get horrifically sick. Because of celiac, I can no longer eat mindlessly. Some days, when I'm working late or craving a donut, this seems like a curse. But really, how can I argue with feeling better than I have in years?

Besides being blessed with a diagnosis (finally!), I have been enormously lucky in my friends and family. My now husband proposed three days before I was told I have celiac; not only did he not ask for the ring back, he spent a day with me going through our kitchen and getting rid of every item that contained the contaminant. Our house is gluten-free--he gets his fix of bread during lunches at work.

I have close friends who love to cook. For years, I've been a very willing taste-testor. They cooked me my very first gluten-free meal. From a combination of love and curiosity, they have researched and learned about celiac. I still eat at their house frequently--delicious, gourmet meals. It is as safe to me as my own kitchen. In addition, I happen to be close friends with several other celiacs (a total coincidence!). It is so easy to eat out with them--there is no weirdness, no awkwardness at having to quiz the staff and we're less likely to get poisoned.

In the Capitol Hill area of Washington D.C., there is a small Thai restaurant--The Old Siam--that has become part of my community. I live close enough that it is my go-to spot for easy take-out or a night out with friends. Thai food is often naturally gluten-free. Many of the noodles are made of rice flour and the curries do not need flour thickening. That said, there are sneaky ingredients--watch out for soy sauce and, sometimes, fish sauce. The friendly people at the Old Siam have gone over their menu with me a number of times (it's always a good idea to check, in case they've changed the recipe). The spring rolls, all of the soups (except the tofu), shrimp-pineapple curry, pineapple fried rice, kee mow tofu noodle, and pad woon sen have all been safely prepared for me--just make sure to ask for no soy sauce. All of these dishes are delicious, but the shrimp pineapple curry is my favorite. Besides the food, the restaurant has the staff to recommend it; they are attentive and always willing to help.

A gluten free menu

While it is fantastic that celiac is getting so much recognition lately, a clear downside is that restaurants are attempting to meet the demand for gluten-free cooking without taking certain necessary steps (education? training? safety precautions?). Gluten-free menus are popping up everywhere. I've been happily surprised at several restaurants when a hostess to whom I'm attempting to explain the disease whips out a menu and says "Oh, you're gluten free?" Unfortunately, hours after eating, I realize that the menu does not guarantee a safe meal. Don't get me wrong, it's a great start. But given that these places are also the ones most frequently sought out by a celiac visiting a new city, I wanted to post a really brief overview of experiences with the common chain restaurants in the area that advertise gluten-free menus.

• P.F. Changs: (Tysons Corner) I love this place. I've been several times and have never gotten sick. In fact, this is the only chain restaurant with a gluten free menu about which I can make that claim. The staff is knowledgeable and the food is great; people have eaten with me and noted that they couldn't tell the difference between the gf food and the "normal" menu items. The lettuce wraps are awesome and, while some food critics are lately criticizing restaurants for offering the typical chocolate cake, I think many celiacs dream to be able to eat such a rich, chocolaty dessert.
• Austin Grill: (Chinatown) Sometimes I get desperate for cheap, greasy Tex-Mex. Because they have a gf menu, I've gone several times to this Austin Grill. I'm clearly a slow learner (most people, I think, would go once or twice after having a bad experience...not me, I've been probably 5 or 6 since being diagnosed). The chips and salsa are fine. The guacamole is fine. The problems really only start when you order off the menu. Twice, I've had waitstaff that had no idea what I was talking about, even when I showed them the gf menu. On another occasion, I ordered off the gf menu, but got sick later. Once, I ordered a side off the gf menu and was given a "normal" substitute. The lesson--which I've now figured out--is don't eat here (unless you're looking for chips and margaritas).
• Legal Seafood: (K Street and Chinatown) I'm from New England and am a little snobby about seafood. Legal's is ok--they have decent food. They are, however, extraordinary on the gluten-free issue. Their staff is very well trained and they have procedures in place to ensure that food reaches the table uncontaminated. Every time I've eaten at one of these restaurants, the manager has come to the table to reassure me that everyone in the food chain knows what goes into safe, gf eating. It is comforting to know that you can go out for dinner and truly not worry. Plus, the spicy calamari is addictive.

More later...

Learning to eat again

While it is true that some people eat to live, I definitely live to eat. Or at least I did, until eating almost killed me. Despite having a very close friend that has been living with celiac for years, it took a long time for it to occur to me that it might be food that was making me sick. It took her continual nudging for me to finally ask for the test. The positive result was both a relief and extremely traumatic.

I love food. Before celiac interfered, I ate out almost every night. And I bought my lunch frequently, too. I was a little out of control. After being diagnosed, I couldn't imagine how I was going to get by; the disease would require a complete overhaul of my lifestyle. Initially, I was very strict and careful. Then, as I felt better, I would take stupid risks and, inevitably, get sick again. I'd go through phases. As I got frustrated with the restrictions, I'd decide the diet wasn't worth it and go eat as I usually did. Then, suffering, I'd resolve to be much more careful in the future. I went through a phase where I decided that restaurants would just have to deal with this; I'd explain--in really rudimentary terms--what I couldn't eat and expect the lovely Italian chef to whip me up something safe. In short, I was absurd.

Luckily, celiac is a lot more commonly diagnosed than it used to be. Because of the sudden increase in demand for gluten free food, many restaurants and groceries are increasing their offerings. Even better, the FDA has recognized the import of labeling and it is becoming much simpler for a person with celiac to eat healthfully. Of course, there is a downside. As "gluten-free" becomes a catch phrase, chefs sometimes take liberties with the labeling, resulting in a very sick celiac. Others may believe that they are offering truly gluten-free food, but because of poor staff training, the dish reaches the table contaminated.

This blog is meant as an easy reference for people with celiac trying to eat safely in Washington, D.C. I don't believe that having this illness should mean an end to eating out. Friends who have celiac have also been invited to post, to give it a depth of perspective. Because everyone with celiac has a different tolerance for gluten, I can only speak to my experience and make no claim that someone else may not have a completely different experience. I hope it helps.