<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Hello to the many people who e-mailed me offering thanks, support and
questions regarding the e-mail about the restaurant that is pulling its
gluten free menu. A quick overview of the responses are:

SUPPORT OF THE LETTER: "Thank you for writing this. It is my fear that
some members of our CD community feel they are owed GF products and
restaurants to accommodate us. We are not. We are a growing but
nonetheless small percentage of (restaurant) customers. (Restaurants) can
live without us."

“I believe our litigious society has some very serious ramifications and
some ridiculous lawsuits are resulting in lack of service for the rest of
us."

“It is very unfortunate. We can have contamination in our own kitchens.”

POSITIVE REACTION TO THE EMAI
L: “Maybe a lot of us could write and
convince them not to pull the menu.” Or “would it be possible to make a
difference by sending letters of positive feedback to this chain?” and a
couple of  support group Leaders wrote “Can you advise which chain that
is? I  would be willing to send them a letter to show our support for
it.” “what restaurant is it so we may lobby them?”
“our voices should be heard. It is not only my meal dollars they are
losing but everyone I bring in the door with me, as a customer."

Two people doubted the email "This e-mail sounds “phony”..an internet
Urban Myth story"

Many understood why the name of the restaurant was not offered:I’m
assuming you wanted to feel free to offer your hypotheses about the
restaurant’s decision and that’s why you didn’t put up their name."

I purposely did not say the name of the chain since the information was
g
athered during a personal conversation with the restaurant's corporate
office while conducting research for my new book.

The name of the chain (unless it was Outback, Carrabbas or P.F.Changs) was
not the subject - the outcome and how situations like this can affect our
future was the subject.

I already answered some people the name since they were worried the chain
was Outback - it is not.

The following information given is not in any way to be construed as a
public statement, announcement, posting or policy by the company. It is
not to be construed as a negative reflection on the company. I wrote it to
give a ‘heads up’ to what we may be looking at as restaurants figure out a
way to work  or not work with us.

It is Bennigans - and here are the responses to the Bennigans name release:

Thank you for your response. We have not eaten at Bennigans, we didn't
even know it had a glu
ten free menu." "It is a good heads-up. We should be
grateful in the celiac community for those who go to the great trouble of
identifying menu items for us"

I received the following reply which phrases one of the points I was
making:
Bennigan’s is not a place I would eat at. HOWEVER, IT IS A STEP FORWARD TO
THINK THEY WOULD CONSIDER HAVING A GLUTEN FREE MENU.

Thank you to everyone who replied. May this serve as an answer to you all.
LynnRae www.whatnowheat.com www.lynnrae.com

*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the CELIAC List*