Eating out when you have allergies can be tricky. We are in France at the moment, and going to a restaurant with Jumpy is a lot more complicated than it is at home. Even finding ‘free from’ food is a challenge here. I have managed to get a couple of packets of biscuits, pasta, bread as well as wraps I use in place of pancakes or pizzas, but I could not even get a wheat-free flour blend. I now wish I had been less overconfident about my ability to cater for her allergies whilst on holidays.
Over the past couple of weeks, we have eaten out four times. The first two times, all Jumpy could have on the menu was chips and sorbet. The third time, she could not have anything other than a drink, because the chips were cooked in the same oil as potato cakes (egg white…). Luckily, I had her ‘emergency snack bag’ at hand. Today, we went to a Crêperie for lunch. Although savoury pancakes (galettes) are only made with buckwheat flour, water and salt, I still packed pasta for her as well as a few other things as we were heading out, just in case.
When I questioned the waiter, I found out that their galette recipe included a small proportion of wheat flour. As for their artisan ice cream, it contained egg. Of course… She had a slice of ham to go with her pasta, and lemon sorbet. It made me sad to see her look when we were getting truly moreish pancakes and all she had was a slice of ham on a plate, followed by sorbet she did not like.
Enough rambling on my part… Feeding yourself is easier in England (I never ever thought I would say anything like that!) if you are an allergy sufferer, there is no shadow of a doubt about that. Eating out has been made even easier by Can I Eat There? So today, Nicky Granger is introducing her wonderful restaurant directory. Over to you, Nicky!
“Can I Eat There?”
Is there any person with food allergies, intolerances, coeliac disease or following a free-from diet by choice who hasn’t looked at a restaurant and asked themselves that question?
Nicky Granger, founder of Can I Eat There?, an online restaurant directory for people with food allergies, got tired of asking it! Her son Gabriel has nine severe food allergies. “For me, the worst part was phoning ahead. Some restaurants were amazing – they couldn’t do enough to welcome us. But more often, the person answering the phone knew nothing about allergy, or didn’t have time to talk to me, or quite often didn’t speak English well enough to have a conversation about issues like cross-contamination in the kitchen!
“The other big problem is the 14-allergen menu most restaurants bring you in a huge folder with tiny print and no proper descriptions of the dishes – as soon as you have more than one allergen to deal with, it becomes too hard to use.”
So Nicky and the rest of the Can I Eat There? team (Ali – mother to Freddie with Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy; Christina – coeliac and mother to Harriet, 16, who has a peanut allergy; Taz – asthma and oral allergy syndrome; and Scott – no allergies, but works in the restaurant industry) got together and created a restaurant directory with a difference, specifically to help other people like them eat out:
– You can read the restaurant’s allergy policy, so you can see how they handle issues like cross-contamination or whether they offer, for example, gluten- or dairy-free alternatives
– It has customisable allergy menus, so you can tick the foods you’re avoiding and see exactly what you can eat
– It uses customer “allergy reviews” to help you see which restaurants are best
Photo Credit: Can I Eat There?
Can I Eat There? launched in March, and after three months, had more than 12,000 restaurants on its directory. In the next year, they aim to get every restaurant in the UK listed.
“Sometimes you’re on holiday, on a business trip or caught without snacks for the kids, and you just need to find the nearest place with something safe for you to eat,” explains Nicky. “We want every UK restaurant on our directory, so that you can see just that. The reviews from our users and Allergy Ambassadors are there to help you find which restaurants are consistently best at catering for food allergies.”
Can I Eat There? has also partnered with Allergy UK and their new Allergy Aware Scheme for accrediting restaurants, as well as the Free From Eating Out Awards and others. “People using our site can search by our ‘Allergy Stars’ filter to find those restaurants who have gone the extra mile – those who have a choice of delicious allergen-free meals, who have received good allergy training and who understand the issues and concerns of the free-from community.”
So whether you’re looking for food in a hurry when you’re stuck on the motorway or somewhere special that will cater for your allergy – Can I Eat There? has the answer.
Thank you so much Nicky for everything you do for people little my little Jumpy. We have a few favourite restaurants in our local area, that we love and trust. It is when we are away from home that it all becomes complicated. Can I Eat There certainly makes choosing a place to eat much easier!
Look at my little Jumpy, so happy to be eating free-from pasta at Carluccio’s:
I have partnered with Can I Eat There? to give one of my readers a £20 voucher for Pizza Express, one of our safe places to eat.
Win a £20 Voucher for Pizza Express!
How to Enter
Just use the box below. It is easy to use and you can get more than one entry! If you are not sure how to use Rafflecopter, I have included detailed instructions below the box.
Entries are open until midnight GMT time on 1st September 2015. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
How to use Rafflecopter?
The first thing you need to do is to log in with Facebook or your email address.
Once you are logged in, the first and mandatory entry option is to leave a comment on this post telling me which restaurant from the Can I Eat There? directory you would like to visit and why.
For extra chances of winning, check the instructions in the form. You can pick and choose a range of ways in which to enter. The only one you must click on to get into the draw is the one asking you to leave a blog post comment. You must also leave a comment for your entry to be valid.
Disclosure:
– The prize was supplied by Can I Eat There? and will be posted by Le Coin de Mel.
– The giveaway is open to UK residents over 18.
– I am an Allergy Ambassador for Can I Eat there? on a voluntary basis. No payment was received or this post. All opinions and photographs, unless otherwise stated, are my own.
I have listed this giveaway on ThePrizeFinder, SuperLucky and Loquax.
Table Table Paul Pry as there is 9 dishes i can eat as i cant have milk.
Milk protein allergy was the one I used to find the toughest. Milk protein is everywhere, and you have to tweak virtually every recipe for the whole family to eat the same dish. Jumpy was cleared of that one last October.
Table table paul pry
I’d love to eat at Chiquito as recently my friends went there for the first time and said it was fantastic! I’ve always wanted to visit but never seem to have the chance!
Bella Italia in Durham because it looks like such a pretty restaurant and we love their menus because of the great choice for kids
Pizza Express – as its so child-friendly
La Tasca as they have several dishes without milk and I have not tried this restaurant as of yet!
Being coeliac and loving pasta it would have to be Carluccios x
Their wheat and egg-free pasta is gorgeous. I always finish Jumpy’s pasta, and I don’t normally eat ‘free from’ food.
Prezzo, Norwich. It’s local to me and I know the food is good as we have eaten there before.
Prezzo’s i have eaten there before its delicious.
anywhere in the leeds area
So many to choose from as one of my best friends cant have anything with dairy or wheat. Xx
i would love to go to pizza express fab giveaway x
Thanks lovely!
Pizza hut. eaten there a few times and pizzas are good and staff excellent
The Banana Tree in Watford as would like to try some Thai food
I’ve never been there but I love Thai food! Must take Jumpy there one day.
Frankie and Benny’s is our most local on the registry, and it looks great.
Chef and Brewer – their food is always beautiful
hmmmm – apparently according to their site the only ones in my area are McDonalds, Costa and Subway – might give them a miss.
They must be the only ones that have been reviewed so far. The more people start adding restaurants to the directory, the easier it will get to know where to eat.
Frankie & Benny’s because I’ve never been and using directory I’ve just seen that they have vegetarian food.
The Banana Tree Chain looks good as I love Thai. There is one in Soho – unfortunately there wasn’t any of my favourite thai cuisine when I searched for my town or county.
I’d like to try Giraffe in Oxford as it has the kind of mixed menu I enjoy.
frankie and bennys as my kids love it there
Nandos – i like hot food!
I had no idea they had ‘free from’ options in Nando’s. Must take Jumpy there!
I love Pizza Hut, there is something for everyone.
the all star lanes in manchester for a bit of american dining
Chiquito as I haven’t had mexican food for ages.
Pizza Express – not just because that’s the prize, there is one within walking distance of my home, and my family love it!
It’s one of our safe places. I love the fact every town has a Pizza Express as their ‘free from’ pizzas are pretty good!
I’d probably go to The Real Greek. I haven’t had good Greek food in ages and I’ve heard good things baout the place x
I love Greek Food!
Bella Italia as there is a wide range of dishes to choose from even if you need to avoid certain foods 🙂
I’ve never taken umpy to Bella Italia but I’d like to see what she could have there.
I would eat in Browns in Bristol as it always looks so lovely when I walk past. I am excited to hear they have options for people with allergies.
I am always pleasantly surprised when we go to a nice restaurant and find out they are proactive when it comes to catering for allergies.
Well, they have my local McDonald’s listed!
Pizza express in Watford they have lots of dairy free dishes
They do!
Ask Italian has quite a few meals that are suitable for my Vegan Family
Chiquito – I LOVE Mexican food and its child friendly. x
Ask Italian in Bournemouth, I have been there before but the pasta is so amazing and the decor so lovely that I would go back in a shot
Frankie & Benny’s in Newcastle, always a favourite with me and low-carb options too.
It seems that Ed’s Diner has a free from menu and there’s one a few miles away, so will certainly be taking my family there and checking it out . Thanks
Nando’s in Middlesbrough. I’ve heard so much about it but I’ve never had the money for it.
The Gate – Hammersmith – the pictures just left me salivating
Bill’s in Bath as I hear it has a great reputation
Costa at carnforth xx
chimichanga in bournemouth. i’ve never been and actually, had not heard of it so will try it out
Nando`s as ive walked past it hundreds of times but still havent visited yet.
Prezzo as I’ve never tried it
Nandos, I’m 23 weeks pregnant and can’t stop thinking about Nandos
Pizza express in Carlisle as they have a lovely selection of dishes including vegetarian ones
I’d like to go to Yo Sushi to sample their vegetarian sushi options
I do like Prezzos
Great British Carvery Cedar Tree | Llanbradach, Caerphilly as i family in that part of wales.
Pizza hut because I don’t go often!
Pizza Express, it looks great for the kids x 🙂
I would choose the Burgerking becaue I always know that they make food to order
I had no idea you could get ‘free from’ food from Burger King!
Chef and brewer
id love to go to the centertainment pizza express for a lovely meal
LA TASCA have a huge range of gluten free dishes for me
Pizza Express Liverpool Albert Dock because the Polenta Chips and to die for.
Al Duomo brighton because it’s near me!
The closest on the list is Harvester Wilford, almost next door to me. I love their salad bar and for a treat the big breakfast, there is so much to choose from.
Villagio because it sounds authentic italian
Turtle bay in Nottingham
It would have to be Chiquito. I love Mexican food & have heard so many good things about this chain of restaurants, I think my son might like it too 🙂 x
Chiquito. I really do love Mexican food. (My kids don’t have allergies, they’re just fussy, and one has ASD)
Pizza Express as it suits our whole family and is quite purse friendly for a special meal out!
I would like to visit Vintage Inns, we’ve been there before and they cater well for families.
Banana Tree – Watford always wanted to go never quite made it yet!
I had no idea they had ‘free from’ food in there. It looks great. I’ll have to take Jumpy soon!
Chiquito – can’t beat Mexican food!
The Brewers fayre in Paignton it’s right near where we holiday
Pizza Express, because I know they are very good at requests such as no cheese on a pizza so my husband can eat it.
Pizza Express Southend-On-Sea, because i love a good pizza.
Blackfriars – Newcastle. It looks excellent.
The Cocked Hat at Gosport excellent food
Frankie and benny. I hanvt actually been but would love to try
Carluccio’s – I’ve had picnics from there but never actually eaten there, and I love Italian food!
Ed’s Easy Diner. It always smells lovely when I go past, but I’ve never tried it.
Pizza express
JD Wetherspoons An Ruadh Ghlean as its local and the food sound good
Pizza Express because I love their food!
Love the look of All Bar One Canary Wharf London – the reason I would love to eat there is that I’ve walked past it so many times but never yet ventured in!
The Harvester, as I haven’t been for a long time and I have heard it has changed a lot
Pizza Express in Southport, food is always good and staff are child friendly
21 Covent Garden, going to London in October and would love to try that place
Pizza express, the kids love it there
John Barras Wharf Hotel i didnt realise they catered for allergies
Pizza Express because it caters for vegetarians x
Nandos! I love it. Their free from range is great. x
Prezzo – it’s really nice there.
Pizza express as it makes the best pizza around
Carluccio’s has the most amazing authentic Italian food
Bella Italia in Liverpool, Always my first choice for an easy family meal out
Frankie and Bennies has just opened in Exeter so I want to try that out. Chiquito has opened too so will have to eat at both!!
Both it is then!
wow amazing blog and competition
Thanks!
Pizza Express is always a good choice!
Ask Italian in Swansea – as I have a friend visiting who is gluten intolerant and I never know where I can take her for a meal
i would love to go to JD Wetherspoons Summoner in Sittingbourne
Pizza Express. I took my son for the first time last week, and he said: “Best. Restaurant. Ever.” That’s pretty conclusive, I think!
Bella Italia – love Italian food but have never visited this chain
I would take my Mum to the Gourmet Burger Kitchen, they have gluten free dishes on the menu and I know she would enjoy it!
Pizza Express because pizza is my favourite food!
I’d head for the Prezzo near me which is by the harbour. It’s a great space with plenty of room and outside dining area and there’s a nice shore walk right on the doorstep so you can walk off that huge lunch!
Pizza Express
Would love to go to the Thai Square in Windsor i have never been but the reviews are fantastic 🙂 x
Frankie and Benny’s – it’s amazing food, great customer service and great veggie dishes!
Thanks!
Great blog
Costa on St Johns St, ashbourne because the coffee is good and the cakes excellent
Prezzo as they are family friendly and there is something for everyone to eat – we all like Italian!
Pizza Express – child friendly and lovely food x
Prezzo’s as I haven’t eaten there and would love to try it
Going to try Bills again. My son has multiple allergies so we’ve learnt where we can definitely get food for him, it’s so hard though, as we can’t just do a spontaneous ‘let’s all eat out’ with friends like they can. It always has to be planned in advance or I stress out. Looking forward to trying this new app.
It’s the same for us. I don’t want her to have to eat chips and ketchup forever when we’re out and about… at least tonight, she had a steak with her chips, but it’s generally hard to be spontaneous unless we’re in our local area. I am so grateful for Can I Eat There?
Frankie and Benny’s has a great selection of food.
Wetherspoons is the most local one to us. Didnt realise it had so many free from dishes.
Nandos because I love it.
El Mexicana as you can mix and match to get exactly what you like/ are able to eat and their non alcoholic frozen margaritas are delicious!
pizza express because the kids love it x
Prezzo, my favorite Italian restaurant!
Café Rouge Chester
Prezzo, There is something for the whole family. Even my daughter, Who is the fussiest girl in the world.
Pizza Express in Cathedral Square, Peterborough as the customer service there is consistently great!
Chiquito it has just openned near me and looks good
I like the sound of The Globe Hotel Kings Lynn
I had no idea a local Pub/Restaurant (Star Inn) sold food suitable for my Lactose-Free diet!
Very impressed and will be sharing this site to my friends and family!
I would go to Chimichanga in Peterborough as I could take my friend who cannot have gluten x
Pizza Express because I haven’t been there for ages!
I would like to try Frankie & Benny’s
Ask Italian as they do lovely food.
Beefeater. Steaks are lovely!
we all love pizza express
Brewers Fayre, we know its good food as we go regular
coast to coast
Bella Italia – I love their food
Ed’s Easy Diner, Aberdeen. Has been recommended
Bella Italia! I always have a good experience there.
Prezzo and Pizza Express are always great hits with my family.
prezzo and pizza express are firm favourites for our family! always a good meal and the kids are made to feel welcome there
Chiquito as it looks like they have some lovely dishes
chimichanga
29 years old… and pizza is still my favourite food!
Frankie and bennies
Bella Italia has something for all our family
La Tasca, I’ve only been once before and the food was divine, would love to go again some time.
Pizza express Bath
Las Iguanas because they do some fantastic cocktails (and mocktails) and a really varied menu with something for everyone. I have never had a poorly made meal from them 🙂
Honest Burgers – its local and they offer a gluten free bun and two of my closest friends are ceoliac 🙂
We love Pizza Express it has something for everyone in our family.
bella italia, i wanna try it
I’d eat at Bills because the food is delicious and my boyfriend is allergic to nuts so we could go together!
I would like to try out Table Table Ridge Acre | New Gas Street, West Bromwich, B70 0NP as I have tried the others as i normally check their website out before going. this one escaped me!!! As a vegan of 24yrs I am loving this website!! I will be using it again and adding reviews for fellow Vegans.
Las Iguanas
Brewers Fayre, as it’s our local and its good food, family friendly and good prices!
JD Wetherspoon. Would just like to say, thanks for introducing me to the site, I hope it grows even more – as someone with a food allergy, it comes in very useful.
Subway on Sauchiehall Street would be nice thanks! Simple straight forward and relatively cheap.
Pizza Hut Luton | Hattersway Retail Park, Luton, as we love it there
I would like to visit Las Iguanas at the O2. I love South American food!
Frankie & Benny’s – Scunthorpe as its a favourite to cover all the tastes of our family x
wheat and dairy free so anywhere that serves food that is healthy enough for me to enjoy
Pizza express, I’m not a massive fan of pizza but there’s is sooo good ?
Ed’s Easy Diner, as my daughter loves it there!
Bella italia because I love italian fodd 🙂
frankie and bennys
Can’t beat a pizza express pizza, always first choice in our family 🙂
TGI Friday’s Halifax – Love the food and free refills.
Carluccios in Brighton or Chichester as their menu looks delicous.
pizza express. its delicious
The Commercial Meet & Eat, Swansea would be my choice. I have heard that the food is good but I haven’t had the opportunity to try it yet.
Pizza Express is already a favourite of ours
bulls head. do great food
Morelli Zorelli in Hove, looks very welcoming and tasty
I would love to try zizzi Italian because I love Italian food but have only ever tried your typical dishes I would like to try something a bit more traditional xx
Prezzo bacause it is child friendly and they have lovely dairy free options for my youngest daughter
Pizza Express because I love pizza!
KFC Redditch – a naughty treat!
Pizza Express in Liverpool, in was brilliant last time!
Table table roundstone
Table table roundstone West Sussex
I love Bills as they have such a variety on their menu
I live in East London and I was a bit surprised how few restaurants were actually on there – all it seemed to list were McDonalds & Pizza Huts! There are plenty of good restaurants nearby, I guess it requires a more active user base to update this.
Zizi in Eastbourne, as I really like Italian 🙂
Brewers Fayre Penhale Round as it’s nearby and offers a big variety of food
Frankie and Bennys in Blackpool as surprisingly never been even though on my doorstep!
Las Iguanas in Leeds – always great food and cocktails 🙂
Chiquito’s because I absolutely love Mexican food
Las Iguanas is fantastic for gluten free food. Always feel welcome there and nothing is to much trouble
The Derby Pool as it’s not far from us and there’s 47 dishes without milk so that’s great for me!
frankie and bennys rochdale, i love their food and they are really friendly and helpful, they will substitute most things in your meal if asked
pizza hut yummy
I wuld like to eat at the giggling squid in Salisbury. I have heard great things about it!
Jamie’s Italian in Cardiff, love Italian!
Bella Italia, because I love their lighter option pizza.
The Fuzzy Duck in Armscote, it always looks great when I pass in the car and such a lovely village
I would like to eat in Chimichanga Cardiff… Love texmex food!
I adore Japanese food and I’ve always wanted to try the food at Yo Sushi. I do make Japanese food at home but it’s quite tricky and time consuming 🙂 x
Frankie & Benny’s Kidderminster – I have heard good reviews and it has my type of food
Brewers Fayre Old Brickworks Wakefield Road, Bradford
My local Pizza Express 🙂 It’s in a beautiful building and I have always wanted to visit, surprised to see them on the list given a pizza restaurant doesn’t spring to mind for a milk allergy!
Nandos – my husband has never been!
PIzza Express – as it seems to have something for everyone and never been disappointed
I love my local Pizza Express.
Beefeater Crooked Lum as I know the food is good
Hollington Oak Meet and Greet – as we like to support our local and would love to celebrate our daughter’s exam results
Frankie & Benny’s – love american food 🙂