Generic Travel Letter

To: (fill in the name/address of the chef)

From:

Subject: Restricted Diet - Need Your Help

I would like to eat at your establishment on ________. Can you accommodate someone on a gluten-free diet?

I have Celiac Disease, and must be on a strict gluten-free diet. This means I can't have any wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt or any ingredients derived from them.

These grains are sometimes hidden in ingredients such as modified food starch, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, natural flavorings, emulsifiers, and stabilizers.

Cross-contamination is also a problem, and my food cannot be cooked on a grill where other breaded items are cooked. My gluten-free bread cannot be toasted in a regular toaster, and french fries (for example) cannot be cooked in the same oil that onion rings are cooked in.

Most commercial bouillon, especially bouillon cubes, can't be used, but fresh stock from bones is allright. Rice is allright, too, as long as it's cooked in water, not bouillon. Baked potatoes are gluten-free, but the sour cream could be a problem. Most soy sauces contain wheat, although San-J Tamari and LaChoy are both gluten-free. Many marinades are also not suitable for someone on my diet.

I can eat plain meat or poultry, fish, fruit and vegetables. Sauces can be a problem unless they are made with cornstarch, instead of flour, and don't contain other gluten containing ingredients.

I hope that you will be able to accommodate me. I know that this is a lot to ask and I appreciate your efforts. Please feel free to call me at ______ if I can provide you with any further information. Thank you in advance!

Sincerely,

GLUTEN FREE DIET BASICS

Please DO NOT USE anything in my meal that contains wheat, barley, oats, rye or the following grain-derived ingredients:

• binders
• cereal or bran
• cottage cheese (may contain food starches)
• curry powder (may have flour as an unlisted ingredient)
• emulsifiers
• fillers
• flavors (artificial or natural)
• granola
• hydrolyzed plant protein (HPP)
• hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP)
• ketchup (Heinz is allright)
• modified food starch
• mono- & di-glycerides
• MSG (imported source)
• mustard (wheat flour may be a hidden ingredient)
• rice syrup (may use barley enzymes)
• sour cream (may contain food starches)
• soy sauce (wheat is an ingredient in most brands); San-J Tamari is fine
• stabilizers
• textured vegetable protein (TVP)
• vegetable gum (may be made from forbidden grains)