Always ask

This weekend I had a experience that I want to talk about.

Last year we went to a restaurant in Ontario Place and had a wonderful server. Well this year we went back to the same restaurant but I had forgotten the server's name, which I should have written down and didn't. So instead of describing the server we just sat with another server. It was a disappointment this year but it did get better. We spoke to the Manager and said we were there last year and described our good server from last year and believe it or not he still works there.

The manager was kind enough to go and get the server so that we could at least say hi. The amazing thing is, he was thinking about us since Friday as he knew we enjoyed the Air Show so he was hoping to see us over the weekend. That is what puts a smile on someone's face, knowing that someone cares and understands your allergies and that makes things a little easier.

We finished our day at the CNE and decided that before we left we would go back to the restaurant and have a drink and sit in our server's section to at least let him know how much it meant that he remembered us. A drink before the restaurant closed and then we headed home but I had a smile on my face as I felt normal even with my many allergies.

So remember if you have a good server, write down their name and if you don't do that at least try and describe the person when you go back to the restaurant. I was lucky that the manager remembered us so she could help identify the server.

Now Mark's name is on my blackberry as well as my husband's so next year we will make sure to ask for him. Thanks again for making a shellfish allergic person smile.

Third time and still wonderful

Tonight we spent our last dinner in Sudbury again at M.I.C. and it still is wonderful. It's sad to say that we are heading home tomorrow and I still have items on the menu that want to try.

It's been a wonderful experience this weekend and I have to say that all the staff and management at M.I.C. really care about the guests.  I really hope that they will be able to open a location closer to Toronto in the next few years.  I know that we will visit it but the Sudbury location will always be special to us.

Knowing that they know all the ingredients makes it easier to order and everything that I have ordered has been wonderful.  We mentioned the restaurant to other friends and they also enjoyed it.

Now I am looking forward to my next trip to Sudbury and another meal at M.I.C.
     

A great traveling experience

It's so hard to deal with food allergies while traveling but this trip has been great experience.  We left home and headed to Sudbury to spend some time with friends and also play tourist.

Our first night in town we found a local restaurant in the tourist book and figured give it a try.  Well the experience was wonderfully unexplainable as all the food is home made so they know the ingredients of everything.  For an allergic person that is something we don't hear too often.  Dealing with allergies while traveling has always been a challenge but here in Sudbury I have found a place where I can eat and relax.  Gee I don't normally get to do the two of those at the same time while traveling away from my comfort zone.  The one thing I loved was the lack of shellfish on their current menu.

We have now had two dinners at this restaurant and know I will have one more for sure.  I have found lots on the menu I want to try and wish I had longer to try everything I want. I guess we'll just have to come back up here again soon.

M.C.I. (Made in Canada) Canadian Eatery and Whisky Pub gets my vote as a place where allergic people can ask their questions about food and get the answers that you can really trust.

Yes it's Canadian Eh!!
 

Challenges

Today was a rough day for me and it's not because of an allergic reaction. It was finding out that two employees (one manager and one server) at a favourite restaurant have left.

We found out last week that a server that understood my allergies was leaving on June 6th which was a disappointment. We phoned today to see when he was working so we could say good-bye only to find out that his final day was yesterday instead. We decided to go there tonight for dinner and boy am I glad we went. After having a great dinner and feeling safe with our server we saw some movement in the bar area by an owner and a manager. We asked our server only to find out that one of the managers' had worked his last day at the restaurant on Sunday.

Knowing the owners helps as we got to go into the bar area and say good luck to the manager. It was extremely hard for me as he was someone who I trusted with my life and am sure going to miss him. I know this happens from time to time but within one day finding out two people had left was a little hard.

Good luck Nick and Adam I will miss you both and thanks again.

Allergies are always a challenge

I haven't posted for a couple of months and part of that is I have been busy working on a manual that took most of my time and energy. I love writing manuals, guidelines and procedures so it was something that didn't seem like work until I gave myself a very tight deadline which I did end up meeting. The manual is now off for review so have some time to think about other things.

My allergies are still a challenge that I deal with every day. Yes I know a lot of the foods that I can safely eat but I still have to check ingredient lists every time I go shopping and every time we are out for lunch or dinner.

Milk has been one of my challenges that I have tried to start facing in the last little bit. A couple of years ago I found out that they can feed cows cottonseed which I am severely allergic to. My challenge has been to find a source of milk that doesn't include cottonseed in the feed and I think I may have found a place but will need to pick up some of the milk and see if I can drink it without the cramps, etc.

Living with my allergies has been an interesting trip but I know it is going to continue for years to come but I know that I have a partner that is willing to help me make this trip safely.

Food allergies

Living with food allergies sure have ups and downs.

I am now trying to write more and more about living with allergies as it is something that is hard to deal with. Everyone knows what they should do but it is the doing it every time you are around food. I know that sometimes I don't do things I should so that is why I want to write about it.

Now to get a bit more organized and get the writing done.