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

I don't eat gorgonzola or blue cheese, because I don't like it, but last night I had an interesting experience. My husband and I went to a banquet of sorts of about 200 people. Gourmet food at a country club. 

I spoke with the head chef personally.
1. He said they do lots of gf dinners and it's typically plain chicken with rice. When I asked him what's in the rice, he looked at the chicken base that he said most chefs use, and it specifically stated wheat protein on the label. So...now he knows not to use it for gf meals.

2. We then went over the meal everyone else was having, and everything was gluten-free, from the filet mignon with crab meat (real) to the orange (flourless) soufflee. But, during our phone conversation, I don't recall hearing that cheese would be on the salad, and when it came out with what looked like blue cheese, I didn't eat it. Lucky me!!!! He called me into the kitchen to apologize and to make sure the rest of the meal was to my liking. I told him that over the years, I heard that blue cheese mold is made on bread, so I just don't eat it. He checked the labels...one "wheel" didn't list wheat, but the cheese he used on the salad specifically said wheat on the label!!!! He was mortified at the possibility that I could have gotten glutened, after he and I did so much communicating the week before. I gave him one of my Sully's Living Without gf cards....and subsequently sent him a thank you note.

So....when a chef says you're going to get plain rice....always ask if it's made in just water. It typically is not, unless you're getting steamed rice in an Asian restaurant. And if you're asking about ingredients and cheese comes up....be sure to ask if it's gorgonzola or blue or whatever cheeses have grains of mold (I don't know.)

Other than for the salad, the meal itself was exquisite, and it was a delight not to have a different entree in front of me than everyone else at the table...which always generates questions.

Lin

*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the Celiac List *
Archives are at: Http://Listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?LIST=CELIAC