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

Shawn Anderson (or wife?)  wrote : Our administrator planned our firm's
entire holiday party to be entirely GF.  The caterer is a close personal
friend of hers, and they worked up a wonderful menu which was to include
absolutely nothing that I could not eat.

But is it any wonder that I love my job?
 <snip>

Well I can see where you would be absolutely delighted in said
situation, but from the responses I received when I asked about Holiday
Dinner Parties, the majority of people do not have the same experience.
I guess I'd like to keep from raising false hope or expectations in this
regard.

We had 2 different company parties last weekend. One went well, the
other kind of a disaster. I did not have high expectations for the one
that was to serve a "pasta buffet".

I mentioned my problem to the boss.... who said she'd get back to me
but never did until the buffet was in full swing. I & another Celiac
were whisked into the hallway & asked what we could have. Nothing
previous was discussed if the company had decided to actually buy a GF
dinner or not. It was uncomfortable at best. I blurted out potato &
salad. The meal was served in a banquet room where there were not
individual food servers, so ordering special things was more of an
ordeal. I was told the salad on the buffet would work- but it was loaded
with croutons! I was not in the mood to go through the process so I
drank my wine, ate my potato & called it *mediocre*.

The other party was arranged by a manager that *has Sprue*. People could
order anything from the menu & I had a very nice satsifying GF dinner.
Well, the waitress slipped & did bring croutons in the salad, but when I
reminded her I had ordered *sans croutons* she brought me a whole new
salad.

In the future, I would get permission from the workplace (even if they
did not give permission, I'd make my own arrangements & pay for it
myself)  directly with the restaurant or caterer in ADVANCE & ask for
who will be my *contact* person at the event to make sure the GF meal
was handled properly.

Most people run into troublesome foods (for the gluten intolerant) at
these kinds of events...... and that is more common than not.

Enclosed are the responses to my "How to Handle the Company Dinner Party"
question:

HO HO HO! Did I ever get responses to the company dinner party post!

Here is a summary of responses:

* Eat before going & hope to find something there to snack on

* Skip working it out with the company, call the Restaurant directly &
get an acceptable meal arranged. Make friends with the Chef.

* Tell the company person making the arrangements & then fax your GIG
Restaurant card specs to the chef. Get the approval from work & YOU work
out the details.

* Hide during company food social gatherings & feel sorry for ones self
(several did this & it was NOT a happy option).  =  /

* Find something that works & enjoy

* Go for some moderate meal like broiled chicken or fish because a steak
would seem like too much of a big deal. Just go & have a good time!

* Smuggle in your own salad dressing, crackers etc...

* I have had only two comments made about why I got a better / different
meal. In both cases I joked about how it was my consolation prize for
never having pizza or beer again -  and humor diffused the situation.
Good luck and enjoy the holiday season!

~Fran

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