Pizza

Michaels Mom--I have to say--we eat out often without issue.

I am a firm believer that you can do anything so long as you education yourself, the establishment, advocate with regards to the food allergies in question, and be prepared to walk out if necessary.

We actually do pizza at our local small town pizza places. I feel more comfortable because they are mom and pop shops that make their own dough, their own sauce, etc.

I've called and discussed and they are "usually" peanut free. We get cheese--maybe ham or pepperoni.

We also eat in chain restaurants but get kids meals like mac and cheese, grilled cheese, pasta, etc. that we know are more than likely safe--and of course we still tell the waiter/waitress about our allergies.

It's a comfort level thing.

Hope that helps!

I remember reading someone else ( actually it may even been you in a different post) saying that you either bring your own, order baked potato (my little guy isn't a fan) or ordering the mac n cheese. Then I went to daycare to look at their menu items and would you believe the mac n cheese is a may contains! Just when I start to feel a little less nervous about eating out, I think of the possibilities and talk myself out of it. I think I'm just going to have to force myself. Not helping the situation is the fact that my niece's christening lunch was at a small rest. in the Philly area. my sister called them and the banquet manager said there were no actual peanuts in house and got some Manuft. names for me to call on some items. Thank goodness I had trouble locating some info and had to call back. I spoke with someone else who informed me that they have a peanut butter wonton appetizer, so all oil in the deep fryer would be contaminated. here I was going to let him try the chicken fingers like all the other kids! It's scary that it just depends on who you talk to and when!

Hi MichaelsMom,
We have eaten at Olive Garden once or twice without issue. In fact the last time, our waitress said she had a peanut allergy and has eaten 'most' everything on the menu. As far as Applebee's, we stay away. I checked into their allergen/nutrition info online a while back. I read it as basically saying 'if you have food allergies, eat at your own risk'...not something I'm comfortable with.

Dianne

My parents have a big, successful restaurant and it has made me much less afraid to eat out than many. I do order things that are fairly straight forward, and I avoid most asian restaurants (vietnamese, thai, chinese--- japanese, not fusion, has been fine mostly) and some Mexican restaurants (mole sauce).

Where I live, I don't trust most of the pizza as it is made predominantly by people of Middle Eastern/Arab descent (which is not the issue at all!!!!) but they often use sesame seeds, an influence from their cuisine, as well as premade sauces, and products distributed by 2 companies here that aren't super allergy aware. In places where the pizza is either Italian or generic, I usually ask a lot of annoying questions but am fine. I have had pizza all over the US, Canada, and Europe. :)

Gourmet pizza toppings are not necessarily taboo. Roasted peppers, zucchini, eggplants, and dried tomatoes can be made in house. Marinated cheese are often made in house, as are stuffed mushrooms, sometimes sausage, many meatballs. Artichoke hearts and olives can easily be from a nut-free line. Veggies and fancy cheese are things I simple *do not* even think about. I refuse to think there are peanuts in my broccoli or hazelnuts dancing through my mozzarella.

I trust chains less than anywhere. The food is generally inferior, your money goes to a big corporation instead of a local family who might be running another restaurant, and many things at chains are premade.

I don't know... I'd get allergy cards made up, stock your bag with benadryl and epis, and go out for a cautious slice... :)

I didn't even KNOW mole sauce could have pb in it!!! Well, you learn something new every day...

We trust our local Double Dave's, but they don't have much else going on besides pizza...we eat a lot of really cheap Mexican food but anywhere I go I don't let them eat anything fried...because everything goes in the fryer (they also have shrimp allergy)

I'm with Ruth...ask a lot of questions, notify of the peanut allergy and NEVER GO WITHOUT EPI PEN!!! Ever ever ever never.