As a soy and mushroom allergic vegetarian I sometimes find eating out difficult. I dislike putting others out so I usually have my meal chosen (via a string of emails with restaurants) before I get there. My experience with restaurants and how they handle a difficult eater has been VERY varied, as I'm sure anyone with an annoying in-everything-allergy will tell you.
My biggest issue is that many people don't realize how much soy they eat every day. Many restaurants assume if there's no Soya sauce or tofu I'm good. It's not until I start asking them specifics do they realise (and in some cases, actually bother to look).
In fact, I've been very surprised how nonchalantly some restaurants have approached my actually quiet serious allergy. Now, if I were in America, I think they'd take it more seriously. America is a country where people understand that if you tell someone a product/meal does not contain a specific allergen, and they have an allergic reaction, that's grounds to sue! (If you can sue McDonalds for making you fat anything is possible :) ).
So I've decided to keep a record / review of restaurants I go to and how they handle my annoying eating habits In the hopes to help other allergic affected individuals, regardless of your allergy. Because if they'll cater for me, they should for you too.
Do let me know if there is a restaurant near you that has gone out of it's way to help you eat, or even gone out of it's way to make things difficult for you. Doesn't matter if it's not here in Perth.
Happy Eating,
Odette.
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