Need help with menu

[findingmeagain]

Ok...it's my friends birthday dinner on friday night and I would really like to be there for her, but I don't want to deviate and bringing your own food is not an option. The menu is really tricky and I would like some help picking something that would make it less likely to deviate. I think my only option is to say I have severe food allergies and get the salad (item in red) in a dinner size without the pumpkin and walnuts...dressing on the side...and just eat my Cohens serving size. I don't trust anything else on the menu!! I don't want to deviate so badly...I hope someone can help!

Mains

Finest wagyu sirloin 200grams served w/ confit of daikon +
roasted baby carrots + lotus root chips + wasabi & madeire jus.

Eye fillet 250g “Private Selection” grilled + potato gallet + button
mushrooms + sauted spinach + truffle jus.

Rib eye 350g of succulent OP Rib grilled + truffled mash + button
mushrooms + sauted spinach & a sauted shiraz red wine jus.

Lamb rack of “Junee Valley” oven roasted w/ a potted potato
glazed baby carrots & pearl onions.

slow roasted Duck w/ caramelized sweet potato + steamed bok
choy + tomato & cranberry chutney + port & muscat wine jus.

Sashimi featuring Kingfish, Salmon, Tuna, Oysters & Hokkaido Scallops.

King prawns pan seared in a garlic + pinot grigio creamy sauce
served on a bed of jasmine rice.

Bugs tempura wok fried w/ brocollini, baby corn & black beans
in a chilli, garlic & ginger sauce.

Pasta - smoked salmon in a cream sauce + onions + capers + fennel,
or vegetarian with a Basil Pesto sauce + seasonal fresh vegetables.

Sides

Steamed Soya Beans lightly sprinkled w/ sea salt

everyones favourite, steamed corn kennels tossed in butter

lightly sauted baby english spinach

wild feild mushrooms lightly sauted

truffle infused herb butter folded into creamy potatoes

mesculin mixed green salad w/pumpkin + walnuts + fetta
cheese, served with a Japanese “Wafu” dressing

[findingmeagain]

Could I just sit there in a fancy restaurant and not eat at all and have a diet coke???

[Shanara]

Hi findingmeagain,

Of course you could , if you wanted to, but there are other options.

The best one, for me anyway, would be to contact the hotel ahead of time. Tell them you have allergies and then tell them exactly what you want and how you want it cooked. You can give them your weights as well and specify the only condiment is balsamic vinegar and certain herbs.

One of the things I learnt on the programme is that we don't have to take what is dished up to us. I went to a good Sydney restaurant and rang them ahead of time. They have a staff member dedicated to those with special dietary needs. She rang me three times to ask questions and ensure that they had my needs exactly. Even asked me whether my dishes needed to be cooked on a dedicated pan is case of anaphallactic (Spelling !!) reactions. I said that wasn't necessary thanks.

The learning part for me came from the waiter. We got talking to him and he said he was very excited when he came to work today and saw my special request, Thought it was someone famous. See, those famous stick insects the paparatzzi photograph, don't eat as the mere mortals do - they retain their figures by ordering ahead. I wasn't even given a menu - they just said my order was being taken care of.

I don't know what the chef did with the veges but hesliced them so finely and made a beautiful salad that tasted so different from what I do at home. I loved my dining out experience. The lesson : ask for what you want - but give them time. They want to accommodate you - they want you to enjoy your food. That's what they are there for. be brave - ring them. You may be surprised.

Shanara

[findingmeagain]

Thanks Shanara!! I have contacted them and just waiting to hear back!!!

[forfreddie]

Yay for you!

I am working on the whole 'asking for what you want' issue. Think its very brave of you to put yourself out there and be clear on what you want from this.
Well done on the cm's as well. 28 is fantastic! bet you feel amazing! Keep up the good work and let us know when you are going to weigh in. I have a feeling its going to be a jaw-dropper

ff

[Shanara]

Good on you!

With 64 kgs to loose you need a long term strategy that works all through the programme and on into maintenance. (I can say that because I lost 60 kgs as well!)

I would have gotten very resentful if I couldn't have gone out for fear of deviating - that is not a lifestyle change. So my trick has been not to look at the menu. Just ask for what I want - and I always found that if I rang ahead and gave them notice weighing my portions wasn't an issue.

I still sometimes do this if I have had carbs and know I have to have a couple of days carb free. In my experience restaurants really do want you to enjoy yourself and have exactly what you desire. They are trying to please, on the whole. Those that don't go out of business. We just haven't been used to asking for what we want.

Good on you for being brave and taking the step to ensure success.

Hope you really, really enjoy your night out.

Shanara

[jlou]

Shanara

I would have gotten very resentful if I couldn't have gone out for fear of deviating - that is not a lifestyle change.

That is SUCH an important point!

I have long had to ask for meals without onion because I am allergic and have rung ahead etc. If they can make special meals for those with allergies and celebrities, why not us? What is the worst that can happen? They will say No? Or accidentally use cherry tomatoes (pick them off)

FMA - if they do say no, do as others have done for functions and time your meals to eat beforehand then slurp on your diet drinks and mineral water all night.

jlou

[WSM]

Originally Posted by Shanara

The lesson : ask for what you want - but give them time. They want to accommodate you - they want you to enjoy your food. That's what they are there for. be brave - ring them. You may be surprised.

Hey FMA - just thought I'd weight in (pardon the pun) on this thread. As a person who was trained in a hatted restaurant I can tell you right now that the more 'upmarket' restaurants are run by people who are passionate about food. They do it because they love it and they want to share it with others... In the kitchen, if we thought somebody had come along and hadn't asked us beforehand about doing a 'special meal', it beats us down as chefs! We want people to enjoy themselves!!!

Shanara has it completely right! Ask beforehand, leave enough time for the kitchen to get organised. You may just be surprised by what they come up with. If you are a paying customer, believe me, they should give you what you require - think about that context in any other store and tell me if you would settle for less.

Restaurants are in business to make money, let's not forget that fact, and if they turn away 'special needs' meals, eg: jlou with onions, then they're limiting themselves and they will go out of business. Conversley, if a restaurant can't be bothered to cater for you then they're not worth going back to.

Stand up honey - you deserve what you can have so ask for it. It's really not that hard, and trust me when I tell you that the kitchen will appreciate you for it!!!

[foggyduo]

In a worst case scenario (and I have done similar to this when at restaurants with no prior planning and it works fine), take the following option:

Eye fillet 250g “Private Selection” grilled + button mushrooms + sauted spinach (skip the potato and truffle jus) and ask for dressing on the side. Then ask them to cut the Eye Fillet in half, and doggie bag the half home for another meal!

You could do almost exactly the same with the Rib Eye if your portion of allowed meat is larger (or cut into three if it is smaller).

Enjoy!
Sheila