We tend to avoid indian food b/c of Eli's pea allergies.  We no longer go to chinese restaurants with him b/c the last one put a shrimp in his plain noodles in brown sauce.  We specified to the server who was very english speaking that he was deathly allergic to shrimp and shellfish.  It wasn't mallicious I'm sure but just careless.  Cross contamination is the most common way for someone to encounter a food allergen in a restaurant, where they've noted their allergy with the chef.

Oddly enough he's never had any trouble yet from Chic Fil A when we get him grilled meals.  They'll even grill nuggets for you if you ask.  You'd think their entire fast food kitchen would be cross contaminated with peanut oil but I guess it isn't. His peanut allergy is moderate and we don't eat in the restaurant. And so far he's been okay there.

A coworker keeps recommending PF Chang's where he takes his children, one has worse food allergies than Eli.  We took Eli and Danny to eat at PF Changs for the first time with my sil and family. We asked for the food allergy menu and told them Eli and my oldest niece have shellfish and peanut allergies.  We ordered an item which could be cooked allergen free in their special section of the kitchen.  Our food was late b/c someone prepared it in the wrong area and they started over from scratch in the allergen free area.  Our allergen free meals were comped b/c it took so long (40min). 

Eli broke out in a rash that evening when I got home.  I had no idea why.  They went the extra length to make sure it was cooked free of the allergens, so I never suspected PF Chang's meal.  I gave him to bendryl and put him to bed.  rash all the next day which was better with benedryl.  Today he's fine.  I took our left overs from the allergen free meal to work with me.  While I was eating the left overs, I find a peanut cooked in the same sauce.  A WHOLE peanut.

I mean COME ON people.  We waited sooooo long for our special food to arrive.  And didn't even see the peanut under all the chicken. I LOVE PF Changs and I'll still eat there.  But now I don't feel safe taking Eli.  I'm honestly so sick of this food allergy.  No one in our family has ever had a food allergy before NO ONE.  We did all the "right" things with exposure to foods.  This poor child....and all the others.  I just feel so bad that he'll never experince how wonderful these foods are.  I feel worst of all that no matter what food he DOES enjoy there is no guarentee of the safety of the food.  It's like dining out is now a gamble.  And I don't mean to pick on PF Changs---ALL RESTAURANTS are a nightmare for the potential for cross contamination.  But we do now have a mental list of where we will not take him again.  I'm still thinking of putting chang's on the list of places we can eat on a date night but not with the kids. 

I can only thank my lucky stars that his food was cross contaminated with peanuts and not with shellfish.  He's 100 times more allergic to shellfish.  I just will never take him there again.  Is it so wrong to cross restaurants off the list for where he can eat for a mistake?  Eventually I'm worried there will be no where left to eat out with him. Are we taking calculated risks or is it all just equally risky?  Just feels like human nature to avoid somewhere after "getting burned".  What would you do?

I contacted the Manager.  She was very apologetic and offerred to send us a gift certificate.  I declined the gift certificate b/c our meal was comped for other reasons and my main purpose for calling was to put it to their attention to be more careful AND for them to attend to the prep area with a special attention to cleaning it in case someone with a worse allergy arrives.

She feels that the peanut may have fell into the meal while sitting in the waiting area for the runners.  I suggested that allergen free foods should not be in the same area for this reason  and should wait in a designated allergen free area separate from other orders or taken directly to the table.  Guess we'll see. 

Out to eat we go, with epipen in hand, ALWAYS.  Poor little guy! I'm so thankful we've never had to use it yet for him.  I've had to use mine twice and the worst feeling is feeling like your going to die and the next worst is the feeling of the epinephrine.  Gives me the shakes and in combo with the allergic reaction it's a real heeby jeeby sort of feeling is the only way I can think to describe it.  I just hope he never has to feel that way.

Shannon,

I read your  note here. And if you are looking for a good allergiest try Dr David Nash, with childrens hospital. He is wonderful. My son was diagnosed with peanut allergies at 2 also, and they said his is so bad he will probably never grow out of it. He is great with the kids and also explains things so we can understand him. Hope this helps.

Nichole, I hope you find somewhere you can eat that is safe for him.

megan