<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Thank you to all of you who responded. Sorry this is late. I realize that we made a mistake when ordering at the restaurants. We just asked the egg to be cooked in a pan, but we could of asked if they would clean a portion of the grill. Opps! I understand that eggs might be cooked on that part alone, but since eating out is a new experience, we were concerned with contamination from non-gf foods in omelets( spilled on the grill). Better safe than sorry. Especially when it a long car ride back home. Here are the responses. I hope this helps others. I know it gave us more insight and a willingness to try again. The original post is at the end. ----------------------- The restaurants you tried could not accommodate your requests for an omelet, but they may have had on hand hard-boiled eggs which they could have served you. Many restaurants will have them for their salads. Plus, the egg cooked in its shell is self-contained, and less likely a problem with cross-contamination in the kitchen. I always travel with an ice chest -- even just a small one as a carry-on, if we're flying somewhere. I make GF muffins ahead of time, and freeze them, and take enough to have two for breakfast for each day, if it's a shorter trip. I've recently started taking hard boiled eggs from home. The frozen muffins help keep the ice chest contents cool, until we check into a hotel, where I can replace the ice nightly. If possible, I do transfer the food to a room refrigerator if one is available. I've also pre-packed baggies with cereal mixed with plain nuts and/or raisins, dried fruit bits, etc. This dry granola is good even without milk, which I don't tolerate -- this doesn't need refrigeration if the car doesn't get too hot, usually. ------------------------------- We have had very good luck with lunch or dinner meals at restaurants, but haven't really tried to order breakfast out. If we are in a position where we have to eat breakfast out, my husband carries his own cold cereal and orders milk, decaf coffee, and juice if he can be sure it is 100% juice. Sometimes, we will also carry a banana or raisins for his cereal. We travel quite a bit, so we purchased one of those coolers that plug into the cigarette lighter in the car and we take along anything that we think he might need. We have had good luck with lunches at Wendy's -- you can order the chili and a baked potato with toppings and a frosty. Culvers also has several items that you can order -- their two salads with chicken in them are GF as is their custard. We also have eaten at Boston Market. We ate the chicken, spinach, and mashed potatoes. I'm not real fond of their food, but if you have to eat and that is all that is around, it is ok. Also, Lone Star Steakhouse is very accommodating, as is the Outback Steakhouse. ---------------------------------- I eat at Perkins frequently and always stress that my omelet (the only thing I order) has to be cooked on the clean part of the grill. They assured me that they clean the grill well before putting the egg on. I also get mushroom swiss omelet-I ask them to use fresh mushrooms only(not canned) and only cook with butter or oil, salt and pepper ( no margarine). For sides they give me fresh fruit and applesauce. It works out well for me. --------------------------------- I am newly diagnosed and was thrilled to learn that I can have the chili at Wendy's, or a baked potato. Not great, but when you bring your own crackers or margarine. --------------------------------- I usually order poached eggs when I eat breakfast out (I like them poached hard) and bring a slice of bread or muffin in a baggie. If asked they will warm your bread in microwave still in wrapper. Of course, fruit is always good. --------------------------------- Could any of the restaurants boil water? Eggs in shells are probably as gf as you can get. That plus his own rice crackers? Also, I don't know, but if the place is 24 hours, could they give him a baked potato from the dinner menu instead of fried breakfast potato? Fruit salad? ------------------------------- A lot of times I take my gf cereal with me to a restaurant and ask for a bowl and milk. I order fresh fruit which most restaurants have on the menu. I order eggs all the time at restaurants with no problems. I take my own rice cakes with me and eat them with the eggs. I just talk to the waiter/waitress about being careful with contamination. You have to being explicit about no toast or rolls on your plate because a lot of times they'll put it on your plate without asking. ------------------------------ For breakfast, it is the cheap little greasy spoon neighborhood restaurants that cook eggs and bacon from scratch. Or buy packets of instant grits and add boiling water (assuming he can eat corn). I also travel with a tiny mountaineer stove, a small stainless pan, and Cream of Rice cereal, along with currants for some flavor. ---------------------------- I'm the owner of 5 restaurants, one of them in shopping mall. The price or location by square foot is so high, the kitchens are the tiniest as possible and have no place to store what we don't need everyday. I never eat at fast food restaurants anywhere. I own 4 of them and bring my own food there. They don't have experimented cooks, they are mostly very young. In my Italian one, dining room style, I have a few GF meals on the menu. They are aware of the importance of cross contamination. When eating out, I choose a good restaurant, (not fast food), call in advance during their quiet time, usually in afternoon, and make arrangements with the chef. I fax them the diet explanation. When we go shopping or when in vacation and exploring, we always bring our lunch in a soft cooler. Much tastier, cheaper. -------------------------- I have eaten at Denny's about 10 times in the last 2 years, with no problem (NC, VA, FL, IN). I always order the vegetable omelet (with hash browns) or ground beef with baked potato. Not much variety, but it satisfies my hunger and desire to eat GF. It is their policy to serve bread on the side (I always request it anyway), which I give to my wife. Also never a problem with Wendy's chili, baked potato, salad, frosty, in dozens of attempts. I have tried Perkins twice, ordering an omelet once and GB+BP once - both times with no reaction. I am gradually coming to the conclusion that most (except fast-food) restaurants can comply with our requirements if you show them the restaurant card and tell them you need things PLAIN. IHOP is a thumbs down for me. I also have eaten OK at Logan's Roadhouse and Sagebrush several times in the last 2 years. Both have peanuts on the table. I bring my own bread and salad dressing to restaurants. -------------------------- Although the most accommodating have been pricier, Burger King has been the exception - they were more than willing to make plain eggs with cheese for my son - in a pan and/or in the microwave (depending on the store). Also, non-mall restaurants seem more helpful - particularly the smaller ones in rural areas!!! Food courts/mall restaurants have been the least helpful. ------------------------- I try to stick to the "diner" type of restaurants, especially for breakfasts. ------------------------- I eat breakfast just about anywhere, and so long as I stick to eggs and hash browns, I have only had slight trouble once, at Perkins I think. If someone is very sensitive, however, they may not be able to get by with this. It's lunch I have problems with. Pretty much just chef's salads. ------------------------ I just order an omelet usually with beaters, leave the cheese off, hash browns, and coffee. It's also possible they may have their hash browns dusted with flour to make them whiter, I've heard. But I've never run into it in five years. ---------------------- I travel on business about 3 weeks a month (therefore I eat out quite a lot) and Perkins (plus Denny's) are one of my favorite restaurants to go for breakfast - especially if I am in an omelet mood! I have never had problems with contamination from any food at Perkins. They also are more than willing to cook sandwiches for me when I bring my 2 slice package from EnG foods in. --------------------- VERY difficult to eat out. --------------------- I have been trying to eat out from time to time for almost 10 years. So many times when I thought it would be OK and the restaurant told me that certain items were OK, I still got sick. I rarely eat out, because I just hate to feel awful. Restaurants mean well, but so few people really understand all ramifications of this disease. The few places where I can eat safely are steak houses. But I still have to be extra careful. I know this is a bummer to hear, and it was a bummer to decide that restaurant eating, for me anyway, is very, very difficult. --------------------