Re: Alice Springs Chicken at Outback

[Guest guest]

Actually I have watched the servers throw the salad together before

when they bring it out to you. There is a big batch of salad that is

premade, but all the have to do is make you a fresh one and not put

the croutons on it. I think they often just pick them out, so you

have to be sure to let them know that it's an " allergy " and cannot eat

even crumbs. I have had to send a salad or two back, but have always

had good luck there.

Rhiannon

>

> I would also suggest NOT getting the salad. Even saying " no

croutons "

> does not seem to help. The last few times I have been there I have

> found remnants of what looks like crouton crumbs in my salad. This

is

> of course after I had been eating it for awhile. They must make the

> salad in some big mix and pick the croutons out. Or they are just

> forgetful and then remember before they bring them out. How

> frustrating!!!!!

>

[Guest guest]

Actually I have watched the servers throw the salad together before

when they bring it out to you. There is a big batch of salad that is

premade, but all the have to do is make you a fresh one and not put

the croutons on it. I think they often just pick them out, so you

have to be sure to let them know that it's an " allergy " and cannot eat

even crumbs. I have had to send a salad or two back, but have always

had good luck there.

Rhiannon

>

> I would also suggest NOT getting the salad. Even saying " no

croutons "

> does not seem to help. The last few times I have been there I have

> found remnants of what looks like crouton crumbs in my salad. This

is

> of course after I had been eating it for awhile. They must make the

> salad in some big mix and pick the croutons out. Or they are just

> forgetful and then remember before they bring them out. How

> frustrating!!!!!

>

[Guest guest]

Actually I have watched the servers throw the salad together before

when they bring it out to you. There is a big batch of salad that is

premade, but all the have to do is make you a fresh one and not put

the croutons on it. I think they often just pick them out, so you

have to be sure to let them know that it's an " allergy " and cannot eat

even crumbs. I have had to send a salad or two back, but have always

had good luck there.

Rhiannon

>

> I would also suggest NOT getting the salad. Even saying " no

croutons "

> does not seem to help. The last few times I have been there I have

> found remnants of what looks like crouton crumbs in my salad. This

is

> of course after I had been eating it for awhile. They must make the

> salad in some big mix and pick the croutons out. Or they are just

> forgetful and then remember before they bring them out. How

> frustrating!!!!!

>

[Guest guest]

That is almost always what I eat there and have NEVER gotten sick at

Outback. Sorry about the miserable experience. Have you ever tried

a different location? Maybe they are just not careful about cross

contamination. ?????

>

> I suppose the " second intolerance " idea is possible.

> But I eat cheese all the time without issue.

> And this REALLY feels like gluten.

> One of the worst glutenings I've ever had.

> I moaned and groaned all night, couldn't get comfy.

> This morning I'm still nauseated and my whole belly is

> still totally in pain and I'm still hearing volcano

> rumblings south of my elbows and north of my hips.

> My whole belly hurts, hurts, hurts. And one spot

> in particular REALLY hurts.

> And I don't have TIME for pain and vocanos!!!! I

> can't fit pain and volcanos into my schedule until

> August. Honest to heaven. I have way too much to do

> to be able to coddle my stupid glutened body!!!!

>

[Guest guest]

That is almost always what I eat there and have NEVER gotten sick at

Outback. Sorry about the miserable experience. Have you ever tried

a different location? Maybe they are just not careful about cross

contamination. ?????

>

> I suppose the " second intolerance " idea is possible.

> But I eat cheese all the time without issue.

> And this REALLY feels like gluten.

> One of the worst glutenings I've ever had.

> I moaned and groaned all night, couldn't get comfy.

> This morning I'm still nauseated and my whole belly is

> still totally in pain and I'm still hearing volcano

> rumblings south of my elbows and north of my hips.

> My whole belly hurts, hurts, hurts. And one spot

> in particular REALLY hurts.

> And I don't have TIME for pain and vocanos!!!! I

> can't fit pain and volcanos into my schedule until

> August. Honest to heaven. I have way too much to do

> to be able to coddle my stupid glutened body!!!!

>

[Guest guest]

That is almost always what I eat there and have NEVER gotten sick at

Outback. Sorry about the miserable experience. Have you ever tried

a different location? Maybe they are just not careful about cross

contamination. ?????

>

> I suppose the " second intolerance " idea is possible.

> But I eat cheese all the time without issue.

> And this REALLY feels like gluten.

> One of the worst glutenings I've ever had.

> I moaned and groaned all night, couldn't get comfy.

> This morning I'm still nauseated and my whole belly is

> still totally in pain and I'm still hearing volcano

> rumblings south of my elbows and north of my hips.

> My whole belly hurts, hurts, hurts. And one spot

> in particular REALLY hurts.

> And I don't have TIME for pain and vocanos!!!! I

> can't fit pain and volcanos into my schedule until

> August. Honest to heaven. I have way too much to do

> to be able to coddle my stupid glutened body!!!!

>

[Guest guest]

> >

> > I suppose the " second intolerance " idea is possible.

> > But I eat cheese all the time without issue.

> > And this REALLY feels like gluten.

> > One of the worst glutenings I've ever had.

> > I moaned and groaned all night, couldn't get comfy.

> > This morning I'm still nauseated and my whole belly is

> > still totally in pain and I'm still hearing volcano

> > rumblings south of my elbows and north of my hips.

> > My whole belly hurts, hurts, hurts. And one spot

> > in particular REALLY hurts.

> > And I don't have TIME for pain and vocanos!!!! I

> > can't fit pain and volcanos into my schedule until

> > August. Honest to heaven. I have way too much to do

> > to be able to coddle my stupid glutened body!!!!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

> >

> > I suppose the " second intolerance " idea is possible.

> > But I eat cheese all the time without issue.

> > And this REALLY feels like gluten.

> > One of the worst glutenings I've ever had.

> > I moaned and groaned all night, couldn't get comfy.

> > This morning I'm still nauseated and my whole belly is

> > still totally in pain and I'm still hearing volcano

> > rumblings south of my elbows and north of my hips.

> > My whole belly hurts, hurts, hurts. And one spot

> > in particular REALLY hurts.

> > And I don't have TIME for pain and vocanos!!!! I

> > can't fit pain and volcanos into my schedule until

> > August. Honest to heaven. I have way too much to do

> > to be able to coddle my stupid glutened body!!!!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

> >

> > I suppose the " second intolerance " idea is possible.

> > But I eat cheese all the time without issue.

> > And this REALLY feels like gluten.

> > One of the worst glutenings I've ever had.

> > I moaned and groaned all night, couldn't get comfy.

> > This morning I'm still nauseated and my whole belly is

> > still totally in pain and I'm still hearing volcano

> > rumblings south of my elbows and north of my hips.

> > My whole belly hurts, hurts, hurts. And one spot

> > in particular REALLY hurts.

> > And I don't have TIME for pain and vocanos!!!! I

> > can't fit pain and volcanos into my schedule until

> > August. Honest to heaven. I have way too much to do

> > to be able to coddle my stupid glutened body!!!!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

> >

> > I suppose the " second intolerance " idea is possible.

> > But I eat cheese all the time without issue.

> > And this REALLY feels like gluten.

> > One of the worst glutenings I've ever had.

> > I moaned and groaned all night, couldn't get comfy.

> > This morning I'm still nauseated and my whole belly is

> > still totally in pain and I'm still hearing volcano

> > rumblings south of my elbows and north of my hips.

> > My whole belly hurts, hurts, hurts. And one spot

> > in particular REALLY hurts.

> > And I don't have TIME for pain and vocanos!!!! I

> > can't fit pain and volcanos into my schedule until

> > August. Honest to heaven. I have way too much to do

> > to be able to coddle my stupid glutened body!!!!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

> >

> > I suppose the " second intolerance " idea is possible.

> > But I eat cheese all the time without issue.

> > And this REALLY feels like gluten.

> > One of the worst glutenings I've ever had.

> > I moaned and groaned all night, couldn't get comfy.

> > This morning I'm still nauseated and my whole belly is

> > still totally in pain and I'm still hearing volcano

> > rumblings south of my elbows and north of my hips.

> > My whole belly hurts, hurts, hurts. And one spot

> > in particular REALLY hurts.

> > And I don't have TIME for pain and vocanos!!!! I

> > can't fit pain and volcanos into my schedule until

> > August. Honest to heaven. I have way too much to do

> > to be able to coddle my stupid glutened body!!!!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Dear poor miserable Esther,

I’m sorry. I hope you feel better by

tonight.

I’m at a Weight Watchers training

meeting in New York

this weekend. A bunch of us ate at a Bonefish Grill for dinner. It was fabulous

food. I narrowly escaped a glutening—I noticed that the gf menu said that

the usual vegetable side was not gf but the staff hadn’t been informed of

the change. The manager was very apologetic and brought my re-created meal out

himself.

Maybe something has changed in an Outback

recipe also? Same owners and all?????

Laurie

lbilyeu@...

From: SillyYaks [mailto:SillyYaks ] On Behalf Of esther_p210

Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 9:40

PM

To: SillyYaks

Subject: Alice Springs Chicken at Outback

Miserable Esther writing tonight. I've been

glutened AGAIN at Outback. My track record at

Outback is pitiful, and that's a generous adjective.

Is there any one else who has trouble with Alice

Springs Chicken?

I had Alice Springs Chicken, baked sweet potato,

and unsweetened iced tea. And never, EVER, has there

been a longer car ride than my DRIVE (yes, I was

trying to drive) from there to home. I

swear, those 18 miles might as well have been 500

to walk. I was crying at red lights. They seemed to

be perversely long tonight!!!

Anyway. I'm beginning to wonder if the honey mustard

sauce is truly GF.

The menu claims that Alice Springs chicken is

GF.

And the baked sweet potato is supposed to be GF.

And I don't know how unsweetened iced tea could have

gluten... but few things surprise me any more.

I was careful about my dining neighbors. I sat

next to my 9 year old, and across from my hubby. So,

I don't think the very short people glutened me with

their bread crumbs.

But glutened I was. Unmistakeable, that feeling!

So, does any one else have problems with Alice Springs

chicken?

Is it the tea? They honey mustard? Improper alignment

of the stars?

Help!

I'd like to never repeat this experience.

Esther in RI

[Guest guest]

Dear poor miserable Esther,

I’m sorry. I hope you feel better by

tonight.

I’m at a Weight Watchers training

meeting in New York

this weekend. A bunch of us ate at a Bonefish Grill for dinner. It was fabulous

food. I narrowly escaped a glutening—I noticed that the gf menu said that

the usual vegetable side was not gf but the staff hadn’t been informed of

the change. The manager was very apologetic and brought my re-created meal out

himself.

Maybe something has changed in an Outback

recipe also? Same owners and all?????

Laurie

lbilyeu@...

From: SillyYaks [mailto:SillyYaks ] On Behalf Of esther_p210

Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 9:40

PM

To: SillyYaks

Subject: Alice Springs Chicken at Outback

Miserable Esther writing tonight. I've been

glutened AGAIN at Outback. My track record at

Outback is pitiful, and that's a generous adjective.

Is there any one else who has trouble with Alice

Springs Chicken?

I had Alice Springs Chicken, baked sweet potato,

and unsweetened iced tea. And never, EVER, has there

been a longer car ride than my DRIVE (yes, I was

trying to drive) from there to home. I

swear, those 18 miles might as well have been 500

to walk. I was crying at red lights. They seemed to

be perversely long tonight!!!

Anyway. I'm beginning to wonder if the honey mustard

sauce is truly GF.

The menu claims that Alice Springs chicken is

GF.

And the baked sweet potato is supposed to be GF.

And I don't know how unsweetened iced tea could have

gluten... but few things surprise me any more.

I was careful about my dining neighbors. I sat

next to my 9 year old, and across from my hubby. So,

I don't think the very short people glutened me with

their bread crumbs.

But glutened I was. Unmistakeable, that feeling!

So, does any one else have problems with Alice Springs

chicken?

Is it the tea? They honey mustard? Improper alignment

of the stars?

Help!

I'd like to never repeat this experience.

Esther in RI

[Guest guest]

Esther,

didn' you recently write about a mild glutening at McD's? So this is

basically a glutening on top of an already inflamed gut? I wonder if

your reaction to this is so extreme because you were already ill

from the previous smaller incident?

Might be worth overcoming your dislike of cooking?

Maureen

>

> I suppose the " second intolerance " idea is possible.

> But I eat cheese all the time without issue.

> And this REALLY feels like gluten.

> One of the worst glutenings I've ever had.

> I moaned and groaned all night, couldn't get comfy.

> This morning I'm still nauseated and my whole belly is

> still totally in pain and I'm still hearing volcano

> rumblings south of my elbows and north of my hips.

> My whole belly hurts, hurts, hurts. And one spot

> in particular REALLY hurts.

> And I don't have TIME for pain and vocanos!!!! I

> can't fit pain and volcanos into my schedule until

> August. Honest to heaven. I have way too much to do

> to be able to coddle my stupid glutened body!!!!

[Guest guest]

>

> Might be worth overcoming your dislike of cooking?

>

>

HA HA HA HA! I'm not **THAT** desperate!

:-)

Truth be told, since GF I've done a lot more cooking.

On the whole, we eat at home 5 or 6 nights and only

eat out on weekends.

This week has been an exception because of the work

I've been doing out of town.

Just can't really fit in all that it takes to deal

with groceries, cooking, and dishes, and motherhood

while also working an hour away from home all day.

And, in Thursday's instance, I was working far from

home with two helpers and two un-helpers. I was totally

nutty by the end of the work day. My husband came

and rescued me from a bad jam. And then we went to

Outback.

On the plus side - I'm making real progress on the

work I'm doing. It's a HUGE task. Far bigger

than I realized at the beginning of the process.

Because of Thursday's glutening, I had no appetite

on Friday. That was OK, though, as I had to work all

day. I forgot to pack myself a GF lunch, but didn't

really miss it any way. Had a box of Glutino breakfast

bars handy, and one bar was enough to last

me for lunch and the whole afternoon.

A bad glutening like that really takes a long time

to recover from!!

Still wish I knew where the gluten lurked.

So, do other people eat the honey mustard sauce without

problem?

Maybe I should stop in and talk to the manager this

afternoon, minutes after they open at 3. Hmmmmmm....

Or maybe I should just scrub Outback from my personal

SAFE list. The list gets shorter and shorter....

But honestly, my track record for safe eating at

Outback is abysmal.

Sometimes I think the place is complacent about

gluten. Trained is good. Trained and skilled and

careful is GREAT. Trained and jaded is dangerous.

Trained and complacent is TREACHEROUS.

The waitress gave me this long song and dance about

how all of the Outback employees know ALL about gluten,

how the majority of their customers are GF, how many

people come there just BECAUSE of the GF menu, etc.

She acted as if the only safer place to be was home.

So, I had faith that I'd get a good meal (for once).

And then... Then to be glutened! ARGH! How frustrating!

I honestly think that at this particular Outback, at

least, the staff are trained but complacent. Danger,

Will !

Rancho Chico, on the other hand, has sent the waitress

back to the table to inform me that I'd accidentally

managed to order a gluten dinner. Now THAT's the kind

of consideration I TRULY appreciate! Nachos are on the

Rancho Chico GF menu. I ordered nachos. Waitress asked

" chicken or beef? " I ordered chicken. When she put in

the order, she had noted I'm GF. The chicken is not GF.

Only the beef is. So the kitchen sent her back to ask

me if I wanted beef nachos, as the chicken aren't GF.

I was EVER so grateful! The kitchen caught the waitress's

error. Now THAT's " trained and careful " .

I hope I'm 97 by the time Rancho Chico gets to be

" trained and complacent " . Better yet, may they ALWAYS

guard against complacency.

Now, if only I could get Outback to WAKE UP!

[Guest guest]

You should DEFINITELY talk to the manager. If they are presenting

themselves as a good place for GF eating they need to know they are

missing the mark.

Sue in Denver

..

>

> The waitress gave me this long song and dance about

> how all of the Outback employees know ALL about gluten,

> how the majority of their customers are GF, how many

> people come there just BECAUSE of the GF menu, etc.

> She acted as if the only safer place to be was home.

> So, I had faith that I'd get a good meal (for once).

> And then... Then to be glutened! ARGH! How frustrating!

>

[Guest guest]

>

> I would also suggest NOT getting the salad. Even saying " no croutons "

> does not seem to help. The last few times I have been there I have

> found remnants of what looks like crouton crumbs in my salad. This is

> of course after I had been eating it for awhile. They must make the

> salad in some big mix and pick the croutons out. Or they are just

> forgetful and then remember before they bring them out. How

> frustrating!!!!!

>

I had the same thing happen. I emailed corporate. I received a 1 page apology

from the

manager, a free meal the next time we came in, a $45 gift certificate in the

mail and a cake

mailed to me from corporate with another apology!!! Wow! (Ironic? the cake was

not gluten

free:) i was just very happy for being validated and appreciated as a customer.

I believe they

went above and beyond! I now ask for the manager every time I order and he

inspects my

order to make sure that it is perfect. This is the Cedar Rapids, Iowa location,

but I am sure

that others would make the same accomodations.

[Guest guest]

>

> I would also suggest NOT getting the salad. Even saying " no croutons "

> does not seem to help. The last few times I have been there I have

> found remnants of what looks like crouton crumbs in my salad. This is

> of course after I had been eating it for awhile. They must make the

> salad in some big mix and pick the croutons out. Or they are just

> forgetful and then remember before they bring them out. How

> frustrating!!!!!

>

I had the same thing happen. I emailed corporate. I received a 1 page apology

from the

manager, a free meal the next time we came in, a $45 gift certificate in the

mail and a cake

mailed to me from corporate with another apology!!! Wow! (Ironic? the cake was

not gluten

free:) i was just very happy for being validated and appreciated as a customer.

I believe they

went above and beyond! I now ask for the manager every time I order and he

inspects my

order to make sure that it is perfect. This is the Cedar Rapids, Iowa location,

but I am sure

that others would make the same accomodations.