Pizzeria (Colorado) Edited

[voix]

Well, Luc's Pizzeria is a restaurant in Longmont, CO. The owners are really great. It is a normal rest. that offers a gf pizza crust. The don't guarantee gf, but do designate an assembly area, and have gf sauce in which only gf ladles are used (for an extra price). For me, it seemed to not have work out, but it may have been the toppings.

Since I am new to all this, I will state my experience, so everyone can make up their own mind. [I AM REALIZING THAT IT IS TOO SOON FOR ME TO KNOW WHY I WAS REACTING. IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS I WILL GET THE CRUST TO MAKE SOMETHING AT HOME WITHOUT DAIRY OR CC. I AM NOT READY YET TO BE A THOROUGH DETECTIVE.]

I ordered a pineapple and ham/canadian bacon pizza. I've reacted to it, unfortunately. This was the first week that I went gf, so I wasn't sure of what my body was saying--or rather, why. I froze some of it and tried it again today after being (for sure) gf for several days in a row without mistakes. My tummy was flat, so I know that I was doing something right, but about six hours after the pizza, my tummy is hurting and getting bigger, also nose is blocked.

The Crust is fava and garbanzo flour. I emailed the ham company and they said that it is gf No hidden gluten and Luc's was kind enough to read the ingredients to me.

The cheese may be a problem. However, I have had milk and my tummy stayed flat, yet hard cheese seems to be problematic. I have to do more testing.h I don't know if I would react to tiny amounts in the air either.

As I write this, I wonder if I am relaying much helpful information at all. I apologize for the lack of definiteness. I might be able to edit with additional information.


Oh, I also had a half of a ketel one vodka for lunch. I just found out that it claims to be gf but is made from wheat. bad timing

Luc's offered to have me take a plain crust home and test it, so I can investigate.

[celiacmaine-iac]

My best guess would be CC. CC could happen anywhere along the chain of your food prep and serving.

I would doubt the vodka. I believe vodka is a distilled product, and gluten cannot get through the distillation process.
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Steph

[ostrich]

Yeah, I don't think it's the vodka, unless you had something else mixed in it. Straight vodka is GF.

I'm guessing you're reacting to either CC or gluten in the ham. Some meat is injected with flavors which are derived from wheat. If you're pretty sure it's not CC and would like to try the place again, I'd order a plain pizza (just cheese). Maybe add some veggies. Stay away from the meats for now.
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Ostrich :>--O==={

I lie below, you float above
In the pretty white ships that I am dreaming of

[voix]

You think the vodka is okay? I almost never drink; just felt like a little cocktail yesterday. I only drink ketel one when I do, with tonic. But I haven't tested it nor was aware of gluten before hand. Do you find that you never react to vodkas? I read somewhere that some people do, unless it is triple distilled or potato or corn. There are surprisingly few potato vodkas.

I hope it is not just cc because the reaction was petty strong.

[ostrich]

My money would be on CC, unless something got mixed in your drink.

However, I don't drink much either. For some reason I don't digest alcohol well, GF or not. Maybe you have a similar problem?
_________________
Ostrich :>--O==={

I lie below, you float above
In the pretty white ships that I am dreaming of

[Noatak]

It could also be the fact that if this was your first week GF, going out to a restaurant for anything should probably be avoided for awhile.....you haven't even begun to heal yet so anything that heavy might make you sick. If a restaurant is going to all the trouble of keeping a separate assembly area and using separate
utensils for prep, CC would probably be less of an issue than the fact you have only been GF for a week. Pizza is a heavy food and I found what worked for me was sticking to the basics and eating lots of veggies and fruit and limited grains for about 4 months. Sounds boring and frustrating, I know, but it works.

[voix]

well, this restaurant really cares. I just got off the phone with the owner and he talked my ear off. He is on a learning curve, too, and works with vitamin cottage to get pastas for their gf pasta selections.

I asked him about the topping and he read me the ingredients and gave me the mfg name. I emailed and it seems that the ham has no hidden gluten. So, it still could be the cheese. I should get some mozzarella and see how I do.

He explained their whole cooking process and stated where cc can be a factor. He said that the sauce is safe as sep. ladles are used, but toppings are dipped in with various hands that have been touching gluten dough, and the ovens are shared with both crusts. However, work stations are totally sanitized when preparing the gf pizza.

[aklap]

Wow - it really does sound like he attentive! It's great the he is willing to work with the gluten intol. community. If he can get the "double dipping" issues cleared up, it'd be a lot nicer. *wishes there were some like that in own home town*

I would like to echo what Noatak said about curtailing your dining out at first. Get yourself on stable ground [no reactions, no feeling crappy, etc] before you venture out. This way you have a better idea of what's going on.

There are some that do not eat out at all - period. It's all a matter of risk assessment.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[Luv2Dance]

I think that is soo cool that they took so much time with you and work so hard on this!

I'm really pretty new to eating gluten free as well and have been doing my best to prepare foods at home and keep them for the week and just heat them. However; I have been caught out a few times with not enough food and my blood sugar dropped, and I had no choice but to get something. This is all a learning curve!

[voix]

Thanks for the advice. I have indeed been trying to avoid processed grains as they seem sort of hard right now. and I have this fear that I made up, that if I introduce them to my body, I will get allergic. I don't know why I am afraid of that, but I just absolutely don't want anymore problems.

I like Luv2Dance, worry about being caught with low blood sugar.

I was trying to be proactive by finding emergency places in town in case I needed gf food right away and ran out or was sick and couldn't cook, but I do agree that it is probably too early in the course.

I'll email the ham company and post that response, then let people evaluate on their own. Company says no hidden gluten.

I do know that the pizza crust was garbanzo bean and fava bean flours.

[nancw]

[celiacmaine-iac]

I'm also wondering if the pans they use to cook the pizzas are dedicated pans for GF. That could be another likely source of CC.
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Steph

[Luv2Dance]

Hey Nancw,

I see your in Denver too! Where do you go out to eat? My husband LOVES eating out. He has been dealing with me with sooo many health and accident issues, that many of the stuff we like to do together is out for awhile. I hate to take this aways from him too. Where do you go around here?

And voix,

I agree that we need to be pro-active and find places to eat. I see that lots of people on this forum just don't eat out, and I'm all for that healthy attitude, and great self-discipline, if that works. But one of my husbands and I's joys together used to be eating out on occasion. He LOVES food. I hate to take that away from him!

[aklap]

Why Deby's GF Bakery, of course

http://www.debysglutenfree.com/
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[voix]

Ditto. I have had to give up so much from chemical sensitivities, that crossing off restaurants too would result in total isolation. If my body requires that, however, I won't have a say in the matter, but I am hoping that it gives me a break on this.

I am still figuring out what my noticeable symptoms are and if small cc causes me to react. Cross fingers.

Regarding local restaurants: the Celiac Group in Boulder County met at the Outback for their meeting. They are very dedicated to addressing this need in the community. Even opened up early just for the group, for free, as members ordered lunch. I didn't try anything.

I also notice that PF Changs is a place that people talk about a lot.

Another idea is to check out that lecture series that is going on monthly at the Phipps Mansion. I noticed that many speakers are local chefs. I would guess that their restaurants also offer something gf. (I forget the series name, but I posted something on here somewhere.) I noticed that one was from Longmont. She is private, lessons/catering, and doesn't have a restaurant, unfortunately.

I wonder if Watercourse is gf in some respects. Aren't they vegan or veggie?