Street restaurant in LA review

[Guest guest]

The review of Calafia Cafe reminded me to post this, for anyone who might be going down to LA. Street (http://www.eatatstreet.com/flash.html) is a restaurant that serves "street food" from all over the world; it's a frenetic kind of place, so I went there with my family (the night before Thanksgiving) assuming I would probably not eat anything for fear of cross contamination. But then I spoke to the waiter, who said, "Oh, we know all about celiac here, no problem." I talked with him a little more about it and he seemed to get it. Then he brought out a complimentary "gluten free" appetizer. It had a kind of cabbage salad on top, but when I cut into it I realized it had some kind of crab-cake like thing underneath, which was clearly deep fried. I asked if it had been fried in oil used for any breaded/floured item, and the waiter said "Yes, but all the ingredients in the dish I gave you are gluten free." My husband then said, "Not the oil." The waiter seemed baffled that this would be a problem. Then he asked if I had trouble with soy -- which by now I know is usually a code word for soy sauce -- so I said, "Soy -- as in tofu or edamame or soybean oil -- is fine, but I cannot eat any soy sauce that has wheat in it, and most do." He also seemed baffled by this -- "None of the other people who have come in here with celiac have told me this." Argh.

After asking more questions and talking with someone else in the restaurant, for some reason I did decide to eat a couple of dishes (the beet salad, the Louisiana shrimp, and the carrot & harissa salad), and fortunately I didn't have any noticeable reaction. But what a drag to once again be told by a restaurant, "We totally get it" when they really really really don't!

My takeaway - remember, be careful out there! Always assume people know less than they think they do! (And if they aren't willing to listen and learn - run to another restaurant!)

Tristan

Sent from my tin can and string. Please excuse mumbling and static.

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