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Charlotte Celiac Connection - Event #15!
When? June 17, 2006
Time? 12:00 noon
Where? Chili's ~ Grill & Bar
~ near Carolina Place Mall
When? June 17, 2006
Time? 12:00 noon
Where? Chili's ~ Grill & Bar
~ near Carolina Place Mall
Chili's ~ Grill & Bar
8302 Pineville-Matthews Rd. (51)
Charlotte, NC 28226
704-543-6265
Menu: write headquarters for a current menu or use the attached menu as a guide to
discuss with the manager {click here}.
Map:
8302 Pineville-Matthews Rd. (51)
Charlotte, NC 28226
704-543-6265
Menu: write headquarters for a current menu or use the attached menu as a guide to
discuss with the manager {click here}.
Map:
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Summary
Hi Everyone!
We met today for lunch at Chili’s near Carolina Place Mall. This was our second visit to
Chili’s and they had Gluten-Free menus already laid out for us. The service was wonderful
and everyone was so helpful. They made sure our food was prepared safely and even
questioned a few of us on our selection. This was so encouraging and shows an eagerness
to learn and work with us. Overall, it was a great experience and Chili’s stays on our list
of highly recommended places to dine!
Some members have had experiences (at other restaurants) where the staff didn’t
understand gluten-free or they did not have the menu. You need to work with each
restaurant. We are each responsible to educate and teach restaurants. Someone paved
the way for us and, thus, we should do the same. Remember, restaurants do “not owe” us a
gluten-free menu! It is not necessarily profitable for them to serve our small sect of
people since we’re only 1% of the population (in fully diagnosed areas). I personally believe
we should always be grateful and appreciative for anything restaurants will do for us.
We had a smaller turnout than normal so it was quaint and intimate. We had two new
members join us. Debbie has been diagnosed for a few years and came with her husband
Bill. At diagnosis, Debbie’s only symptoms were anemia and osteoporosis. She is working
hard to get her iron levels up and strengthen her bones. Although Debbie has a lot of
challenges, she is the most optimistic person! She feels very fortunate to be diagnosed
especially since her mother passed away from Lymphoma and, most likely, she had celiac
(undiagnosed). Her mom also had anemia just like Debbie. Debbie now knows that after 5
years, her risk to Lymphoma is the same as anyone. Also, joining us for the first time was
TyJuana and her husband Tom. TyJuana is a celiac newbie having been diagnosed just a few
weeks ago. Interestingly, TyJuana said her asthma has cleared up by going on the gluten-
free diet and she just feels so much better now. TyJuana knows she has much to learn but
she is a highly organized person and came with her binder of information!
Rose and Bill also came and they both looked great! Rose, as most of us, really does not
like to go to restaurants that do not have a gluten-free menu because it’s just too much
work! We all can relate to that! Also, Rose was asking for a great pasta that tastes good
cold. I couldn’t think of the name at the time, so I looked it up when I came home. Rose,
go to www.heartlandsfinest.com The pasta is a blend of corn and beans. I think it has the
perfect texture and the beans make it very healthy for us! In fact, I’m going online to
order some myself since I miss the cold salads too and it would be great for lunches!
Well as usual, we had so much information to share about products, health tips, where to
shop, things to try, visiting family, travel, etc. Of course, a monthly meeting doesn’t go by
where I do not brag about “Breads from Anna.” The only gluten-free bread on the face of
this earth that you do not need to toast! Everyone always writes down the details, so go
to www.glutenevolution.com and order one of the “Breads from Anna” today, you will not be
disappointed.
Although we predominantly talked about our new gluten-free lifestyle, we did take a few
trips down memory lane a few times and talked about the things we were able to eat in our
former life. Also, we all shared our secret indulgences! These are the things we reward
ourselves with simply because we feel that if we are deprived of so many things that
everyone else takes for granted then why not! I’ll confess mine; a few scoops of Harris
Teeter’s all Natural Vanilla ice cream in a bowl with a little Minute Maid Pulp Free
Orange Juice poured over the ice cream. It tastes just like a creamsicle but pure and
natural. I will not confess how many of these I eat though J
Suzy, our new Celiac Youth Leader, her husband Adrian, and sons Ryan and Jared stopped in
to say hello too. Suzy is so excited about holding her first Celiac Youth meeting one week
from Sunday! Shhh, I think she’s going to make a special treat for the children. If you
haven’t met Suzy yet, you will find she is absolutely the most perfect person to lead this
group; she is so warm, enthusiastic and caring. Importantly, when it comes to gluten, she
holds to a zero tolerance rule. Also, Suzy has already met with the manager of the Red
Robin so the children will be dining very safely while having fun and learning from each
other! Suzy even arranged with the manager to have a walk-in format, no reservations are
necessary. So, you can decide at the last minute to come or if your plans change, just drop
in!
Well, it was another great lunch with lots of information sharing. Have a great month,
enjoy the summer and see you in July!
Warm Regards, Janet
Hi Everyone!
We met today for lunch at Chili’s near Carolina Place Mall. This was our second visit to
Chili’s and they had Gluten-Free menus already laid out for us. The service was wonderful
and everyone was so helpful. They made sure our food was prepared safely and even
questioned a few of us on our selection. This was so encouraging and shows an eagerness
to learn and work with us. Overall, it was a great experience and Chili’s stays on our list
of highly recommended places to dine!
Some members have had experiences (at other restaurants) where the staff didn’t
understand gluten-free or they did not have the menu. You need to work with each
restaurant. We are each responsible to educate and teach restaurants. Someone paved
the way for us and, thus, we should do the same. Remember, restaurants do “not owe” us a
gluten-free menu! It is not necessarily profitable for them to serve our small sect of
people since we’re only 1% of the population (in fully diagnosed areas). I personally believe
we should always be grateful and appreciative for anything restaurants will do for us.
We had a smaller turnout than normal so it was quaint and intimate. We had two new
members join us. Debbie has been diagnosed for a few years and came with her husband
Bill. At diagnosis, Debbie’s only symptoms were anemia and osteoporosis. She is working
hard to get her iron levels up and strengthen her bones. Although Debbie has a lot of
challenges, she is the most optimistic person! She feels very fortunate to be diagnosed
especially since her mother passed away from Lymphoma and, most likely, she had celiac
(undiagnosed). Her mom also had anemia just like Debbie. Debbie now knows that after 5
years, her risk to Lymphoma is the same as anyone. Also, joining us for the first time was
TyJuana and her husband Tom. TyJuana is a celiac newbie having been diagnosed just a few
weeks ago. Interestingly, TyJuana said her asthma has cleared up by going on the gluten-
free diet and she just feels so much better now. TyJuana knows she has much to learn but
she is a highly organized person and came with her binder of information!
Rose and Bill also came and they both looked great! Rose, as most of us, really does not
like to go to restaurants that do not have a gluten-free menu because it’s just too much
work! We all can relate to that! Also, Rose was asking for a great pasta that tastes good
cold. I couldn’t think of the name at the time, so I looked it up when I came home. Rose,
go to www.heartlandsfinest.com The pasta is a blend of corn and beans. I think it has the
perfect texture and the beans make it very healthy for us! In fact, I’m going online to
order some myself since I miss the cold salads too and it would be great for lunches!
Well as usual, we had so much information to share about products, health tips, where to
shop, things to try, visiting family, travel, etc. Of course, a monthly meeting doesn’t go by
where I do not brag about “Breads from Anna.” The only gluten-free bread on the face of
this earth that you do not need to toast! Everyone always writes down the details, so go
to www.glutenevolution.com and order one of the “Breads from Anna” today, you will not be
disappointed.
Although we predominantly talked about our new gluten-free lifestyle, we did take a few
trips down memory lane a few times and talked about the things we were able to eat in our
former life. Also, we all shared our secret indulgences! These are the things we reward
ourselves with simply because we feel that if we are deprived of so many things that
everyone else takes for granted then why not! I’ll confess mine; a few scoops of Harris
Teeter’s all Natural Vanilla ice cream in a bowl with a little Minute Maid Pulp Free
Orange Juice poured over the ice cream. It tastes just like a creamsicle but pure and
natural. I will not confess how many of these I eat though J
Suzy, our new Celiac Youth Leader, her husband Adrian, and sons Ryan and Jared stopped in
to say hello too. Suzy is so excited about holding her first Celiac Youth meeting one week
from Sunday! Shhh, I think she’s going to make a special treat for the children. If you
haven’t met Suzy yet, you will find she is absolutely the most perfect person to lead this
group; she is so warm, enthusiastic and caring. Importantly, when it comes to gluten, she
holds to a zero tolerance rule. Also, Suzy has already met with the manager of the Red
Robin so the children will be dining very safely while having fun and learning from each
other! Suzy even arranged with the manager to have a walk-in format, no reservations are
necessary. So, you can decide at the last minute to come or if your plans change, just drop
in!
Well, it was another great lunch with lots of information sharing. Have a great month,
enjoy the summer and see you in July!
Warm Regards, Janet
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