Guest Blog: An IHOP Surprise

B recently took a trip to Anaheim, and had a pleasant surprise when visiting a local IHOP. He shares his experience here.

Greetings from a roving/raving reporter just back from this year's Natural Products Expo West. Tons of new gluten- and assorted allergen-free items were on display, and I'll be providing a brief update on some of the highlights in the coming days. For the moment, I'll just say that gf options are about to get a lot more varied over the next few months.

First, though, I wanted to share an experience at dinner on the last night of the show. After a very long day strolling the expo floor, I just didn't feel like dealing with show crowds at the finer restaurants around, and not having any food allergies or intolerances, I settled on a quick dinner at IHOP, a place L and I never visit, simply because we presume it has little on the menu for both of us.

I go in, am seated and place my order, after which the waitress asks, "Do you have any food allergies that I should let the kitchen know about?"

I was more than a little taken aback. In all the years of dining out -- with and without L, this was something of a first, at least as far as I recall. (L, feel free to correct me, if I've forgotten.) It certainly hasn't happened much.

As IHOP was fairly busy (apparently a few other NPEW attendees had the same idea as I), I waited until checking out before pursuing the topic with the server. However, I did notice that she wasn't the only server asking the question after taking an order. A gentleman server likewise asked it of every table in his section.

As I was checking out, I asked the waitress more on the topic. She noted they have seen a sizable increase in gluten-free diners in recent years, to the point that this IHOP at least has a separate kitchen dedicated to allergen-friendly preparation -- complete with its own line tables, prep areas and even fryers. Brilliant!

She then made a comment that might well be welcome news for allergic diners: "Hey, we would rather you have a positive experience and come back to see us."

Such a radically simple yet relatively unique notion. I asked if this separate-kitchen policy was IHOP-wide, and she wasn't sure. I would be surprised if so. Still, it is nice to know that the awareness is spreading to such a degree. Also, I can't say how many truly gluten-free items were on the menu, though some could easily be modified to omit possible contaminants.

Now, I must note that this is the IHOP at the corner of Harbor and Katella in Anaheim -- essentially across the street from Disneyland, a company well known for its support of allergic consumers. Rumor has it that Disney properties go to great lengths to provide options for all of its guests. It would appear that such a mentality may be spreading.

Positive, if fairly shocking news. To be honest, I had thought my final booth visit at the show (our friends at Andrew & Everett) would be the last I would hear on the topic before I returned home. I'm glad to know that I couldn't have been more wrong.

Gluten-free Italian Restaurant

Tonight after work, I stopped by Da Luciano's. It's a largely gluten-free restaurant located in River Grove, Ill. that offers both in-house service as well as take-out options. The restaurant has an extensive gluten-free menu, and can accommodate dairy-free palates, too. With celiac disease in their family, the proprietors completely understand the concerns of those on a gluten-free diet.

The restaurant has the most extensive gluten-free menu that I've seen yet. With everything from fried calamari and bruschetta, to pasta arrabiata and chicken cacciatore, to homemade cannoli, Italian food is once again a possibility for the gluten-free. And, gasp of delight, if you call a couple days ahead of time, they can do gnocchi, too. The frozen food to go menu includes items like sauces, breads, desserts and more.

I wasn't planning on dining in, so I bought a couple sauces to try, a tomato and a meat sauce, as well as a few different types of pasta. Da Luciano's sells Zazzeri Pienza pasta, a gf corn-based dry pasta from Italy. I got anellini and ditalini, both of which I'm looking forward to using in soups, and maccheroni, which I'll try with the meat sauce.

Be sure to check them out: www.dalucianos.com. I can't wait to go back soon and dine in!