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

> Below is an email I received today regarding my inquiry for a gluten free
> list from Country Kitchen.
>
> Barbara in  Missouri
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Claudia Riedel" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 8:45 AM
> Subject: RE: Country Kitchen Website Submission - Contact Us
>
>
> Dear Barbara:
>
> Thank you for your request for nutritional information about our menu
> items.  At this time, Country Kitchen(r) International does not have
> nutritional information for our menu items.  One of the problems in
> creating such a list is the fact that our menu changes often and we
> purchase our food from an outside vendor and would have to require them
> to provide this data to us with every menu change.  But the most
> important consideration is that many of our restaurants are franchised
> which means that they may also, in addition to serving our required menu
> items, offer any food they wish (including local and regional
> specialties) which creates dozens of possible foods on the menu about
> which the corporate office would not have information.
>
> On a personal note, I talked to a friend yesterday who told me she has
> been diagnosed with celiac disease/gluten intolerance.  I went grocery
> shopping and started to read labels and was amazed at how many things
> have wheat flour in them, not to mention oat and the other flours that
> create the intolerance.  Last night I looked on the Internet about
> different flours and found that there are very few that don't come from
> wheat (and those that don't have the offending gluten are not routinely
> used in American cooking).  Since wheat flour (and the other grains that
> are included in gluten intolerance) is in so very many processed foods,
> my friend has been told she can only eat fresh fruits, veggies and plain
> meat/fish and dairy.
>
> I am wondering if when eating in a restaurant you might try asking the
> cook to prepare a plain (not processed) meat (no breading of any kind)
> and serve it with veggies and a salad, bringing your own dressing or
> asking for oil and vinegar.  Since many burgers (I'm not sure about
> Country Kitchen's supplier on this) have fillers you might find it
> better to stay with plain fish or poultry.  Sometimes turkey is
> processed as well so chicken is probably a safe choice. Again, these are
> my personal thoughts based on my conversation with my friend yesterday,
> not any official Country Kitchen statement or advice.  I certainly
> appreciate the challenge you and your husband face in trying to eat out
> with this nutritional health requirement.   I apologize that we do not
> have the nutrition information you are seeking and I hope we will be
> able to provide it to our customers soon.
>
> Once again, we appreciate your inquiry about our menu and hope that this
> letter answers your concerns about this issue.  We have also logged your
> request.  Thank you for visiting us at www.visitcountrykitchen.com.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Claudia Riedel
> Marketing Administrative Assistant
> Country Kitchen International
> 801 Deming Way
> Madison, WI 53717
> 608-833-9633
>
>

* Visit the Celiac Web Page at www.enabling.org/ia/celiac/index.html *