Charlotte Celiac Connection - Event #11!
When? February 18, 2006
Time? 3:oo pm
Where? Outback Steakhouse ~
Near the Carolina Place Mall
When? February 18, 2006
Time? 3:oo pm
Where? Outback Steakhouse ~
Near the Carolina Place Mall
8338 Pinneville-Matthews (51)
Charlotte, NC 28226
(704) 759-9575
www.outback.com
~ menu available online and click here!
Charlotte, NC 28226
(704) 759-9575
www.outback.com
~ menu available online and click here!
The Experience…
We had a very large turnout yesterday with 19 people showing up on a cold rainy
afternoon! Outback Steakhouse was absolutely wonderful in their service, care and food.
We all know they have the most extension gluten-free menu and offer us 3 desserts but
this location, on Pineville-Matthews, went above and beyond! I sat down with the manager
ahead of time, as usual, and went through my package of information. Josh indicated they
are just starting to get more celiac cliental but it is still relatively new. I said we are so
thankful and appreciative to have Outback as a choice. The service was top class – the
best of the best! They gave us own dedicated row of tables and did not rush us. They were
so flexible and courteous in every way. My server, who even acknowledge he didn’t know
anything about celiac, was an extremely quick learn and even corrected my own stupid
error. I did not read the menu line that said order the Tilapia without the lemon butter
sauce. I sometimes get carried away chatting with everyone that when it comes time to
order my meal – I rush through it. A very important lesson for me! So I encourage every
celiac in the Charlotte area to add Outback Steakhouse to your list of choices.
Rebecca Says…
[This is a new standing addition to our monthly summaries. You might recall that Rebecca
is our young 14 year old celiac who desires to become a doctor! So, here is what Rebecca
says…] My first addition to this wonderful support group is to congratulate everyone on a
fabulous meeting. I hope everyone has learned so so much, and of course they did, since I
was here...:>) I hope to see you all next time!
Welcomes…
This month’s meeting brought several new members. Most are newly diagnosed and a few
brought a spouse or a friend. Several found us via our web-site which helps confirm the
right choice in the url name (albeit long). We welcomed seven new members: Joyce, Jim,
Bill, Annette, Stephen, Pam and Ashley.
Joyce just found out this past January she is gluten sensitive and milk sensitive. She
knows she has a lot to learn but is looking at it as a challenge. Joyce is the most
optimistic person and has such a warm and pleasant personality. Joyce also has a very
loving and supportive husband, Jim, so she will do fine.
Stephen is still working through what all this means and Carol helped him with identifying
the right tests to get. Stephen has a great soap to tell everyone about. It is called “Dr.
Bronner’s Baby Mild Soap” and has a blue label. It is pure and natural, wheat-free and may
be the mildest soap on the market (that it barely removes your natural skin oils). Stephen
says it’s a must try!
Annette wants to share with everyone a wonderful soy company “Revival Soy” and says
their products are gluten-free. Check out www.revivalsoy.com - Annette says the products
are wonderful and you won’t regret it. Bill would love some ideas on what he can easily
pack for lunch, so send in your ideas and I’ll pass them on to everyone. Here are some of
my favorites: veggies (all kinds) and dip, lettuce wraps (lunch meats, chicken, tuna fish,
cheese, etc.) and salads (with favorite toppings). I also eat an apple everyday… and shhh
some chocolate!
Pam and Ashley have been close friends for over six years and both were diagnosed with
celiac within the past 8 months, what do you think of these odds? We also heard that Pam
has this great hidden talent as a baker! We will not let Pam rest until she opens our first
gluten-free bakery here in Charlotte! Karen sat next to both of them so I’m sure she has
the inside scoop! Jackie was also nearby so maybe we can get the Hollywood angle…:>)
Thank You!!
Carol and Steve bought everyone a large “Celiac Awareness” Green Ribbon magnet that we
can stick on our cars. You are starting to see these ribbons pop on cars everywhere for
different causes but I bet we will be the first to advertise for Celiac (in Charlotte). I
just wonder how many people we will reach now. Thank you so much Carol and Steve for a
wonderful gift and a gift that keeps on giving. Just reading the word celiac might make a
difference to that driver behind you. That driver’s curiosity might then lead him or her to
research the word and, if sick or knows someone who’s sick, might just get their doctor to
run the test!
Additional Notes…
Pat, our dietitian, came with her daughter Jackie. Pat is very concerned with all the
recent hype of adding oats back into our diet. I fully support her concern! Personally, I
don’t understand the desire to have oats again. I know oats is still a very controversial
topic. However, let’s get real, we are just talking oats! As far as I remember I think the
only thing oats was good for was oatmeal?? Am I missing something? I know I never lost
a tear over not being allowed to eat oatmeal (now pizza would be another matter)!
Our little Jackie’s head did not get any bigger from her Hollywood debut as an actor.
Recall, she and mom recently appeared on our local WBTV-3 news, with news anchor Tonia
Bendickson, for a short series on celiac disease. Although Jackie did walk in with a pair of
these VERY BIG Hollywood looking sunglasses, she humbly said, “Do you like my glasses - I’
m an optimist”! WBTV did an excellent job covering our condition and Tonia has the most
captivating and charming news personality. This was huge win for Charlotte and WBTV!
Rose, Bill and I had a good long conversation on water – city vs. bottled. This would take
another page to do the topic any justice. I think we need to be very careful with what we
consume and something that might be totally safe for a person with a normal intestine just
might not be so safe for a celiac. Since our intestine is very permeable, the chemicals
contained in city water, that might otherwise be considered “safe”, may actually cause us
celiacs health problems. This could hold true for any artificial or potentially toxic
ingredient, so don’t automatically assume every symptom is related to gluten. Really
analyze everything you consume and your daily habits along with the symptoms you are
experiencing.
I had brought Dr. Peter Green’s book, “Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic” along to share
with the group and was amazed at how many people had already purchased a copy. It is the
best celiac book on the market and is the “first” authoritative patient and physician guide
to be published by a leading celiac medical scholar! Rebecca was excited to learn that Dr.
Green was at Columbia University since this is her DREAM come true 1st choice in med
schools! So, check out my web-site for an overview of this book, the chapter headers and
the link to amazon’s order page. If you buy one thing this year, it must be this book! It’s
better than a house call (as in the olden golden days when the doctor came to your house to
care for you when you were ill)…:>)
Well, there was a wealth of conversations and information shared but we’re just getting
too large to capture it all. Everyone told me what a wonderful time they had. You’ll just
need to come out for afternoon of great conversation and support! Nancy and Ben said
they will be thinking of us as they lay on the beaches of Jamaica, Jan is headed for Miami
and the rest of us are bracing for the winter storm that is suppose to hit! Next month we
will be going to P.F. Changs, so mark March 18th – noon - down on your calendar. Have a
great month!
Warm Regards, Janet
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Charlotte, NC
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