I've eaten at Noodles & Co. before and remembered that they are allergy-friendly. I ate there this evening and they're really allergy friendly! They have an allergy menu and when my entree was rung up (it's an 'order at the counter' kind of place) the register readout said 'allergy aware'. Before the cashier could continue ringing up the order, the manager had to swipe his card on the register....I guess to ensure that the manager knows that the order needs special attention.
Their website says they can't guarantee that food won't be cross-contaminated....but it works for me.
ETA: Had to edit title manually after merging Bensmom's thread.
Do they keep yours separate, then? I've watched them drop stuff in the next container and reuse pans, and I've thought that my daughter could never eat there - although she would LOVE to. Is it something new they're doing?
the one here in Tucson that I tried to eat at (within the past year) was NOT safe by any means. The pad thai noodles splattering everywhere freaked me out and when I asked about food from new stock --- they said they have no procedure for utensils while making food and very easily things splatter and cooking utensils are used in multiple dishes.
So yeah...
Adrienne
I was told by several people the one in St. Louis is aware but we never made it given DS1's reaction at a place that is so allergy aware (Outback).
Well, I have to brag a little (like this has anything to do with me, LOL). Noodles was started by two guys from our metro area. They were living out in Colorado when they started it and opened the first one in Boulder. Soon after opened one here in their hometown. We love it. Both kids can get the Japanese pan noodles --- they know to order "allergy aware" and tell the cashier their allergens. So, the cooks wash out their pans and use clean utensils when making the kids' orders. I believe the kids can also have the ciabatta (sp?) bread, but they usually get filled up with the Japanese pan noodles. We eat there a lot. They know us there, lol. :hiding: So far, no problems. :crossed:
What about sesame xc?
They always ask us about sesame seeds, if we can or cannot have them. We can; but I assume that since they are asking, they can not use sesame seeds. That's all I know about it, however. Don't know how well they would avoid sesame seeds.
Bump for GN
(copying this from other thread) We eat there a lot. Both kids have done fine there, but it's up to each family to decide whether it's going to work for them.
FWIW, my DD goes there a lot with friends. In fact, it was the place to go for the before-prom dinner a few years ago. I would suggest going in or calling and talking to them about your DS's allergies, GN. Going in, you can see what they do in person.
Thanks everyone. It seems like just as with other chains, they vary tremendously.
DS ate at Noodles and Company today. Not sure exactly what he had, but there are only 3 things listed that have peanuts and I'm sure he didn't eat any of those. There are about 5 things listed with tree nuts and again, I'll ask exactly what he had, but probably not those.
He said he felt nauseous after he ate. He's never reacted to x-contamination (except recently--more on that in a second) and he's never ever reacted with nausea. Could this have been a reaction? He thought it could be and took Benadryl. I didn't ask how long it took to feel better--I'll have to check on that, but he's at work now.
A little over a week ago, we ordered Chinese food when he wasn't home. The next day he wanted leftovers and I let him because he's had food from this place before--rarely, but maybe 3 times in the past 5 or 6 years--he's never reacted, and we were all home with him if anything went wrong. He said his lip was swelling a little (not enough to really tell by looking, but he could feel it) so I gave him benadryl and told him he's really not supposed to eat Chinese food and I only let him because of the above circumstances but really, he can't do that. I know--stupid. But we've always kind of gone by the laxest comfort zone as he got older and tighten up as necessary. We've never actually had to tighten up until now.
So, back to Noodles and Co--think that was a reaction? I'm assuming he would have mentioned if anyone else felt nauseated. I'll ask more tonight.
By the way, his reaction history: bump on lip after eating walnuts when he was 4. Itchy mouth with some fruit. Bump on lip from banana. Throat tight (that allergy cough) during oral challenge. Has never used epi.
Wow-- yeah, worryingly, I'd say that sounds too much to be coincidence. Sounds completely in keeping with his threshold being lower than expected at the moment, and catching him by surprise.
Is he PA, do you know? Time to do some digging-- start by independently recording everything you remember about the events/activities/food in order to eliminate impossible connections.
Yes. And actually, this would be ever so helpful in the Noodles & Co thread. Some folks go there. Others don't. DS wants to try it, but seeing this yikes.
Do you mind if we move it? And CM's response.
And saying that, I'm not in a position to do it right now.
I can do it. Bensmom? Is that okay with you?
Yeah, that's fine. Where is that thread?
He is PA--that's what he had an oral challenge for. Reacted to a small amount, but prior to being diagnosed had regularly eaten granola bars containing peanut flour.
I was glad he recognized this as a potential reaction since he's never reacted that way and to be honest, I don't ever really recall talking to him about that particular symptom. He's eaten there before with no problem. Of course, that doesn't mean anything. And I was just thinking that most of the other times he had Chinese food, it was at a buffet at our temple and I always told the guy in charge to tell the restaurant to use clean pans--that there are nut and shellfish allergies in our congregation. And it was a buffet early in the day so the food was probably prepared before they even opened and before they'd prepared any other food that day.
My sense is that it depends on the particular restaurant--how they are with FAs.
Bensmom, I would really suspect a reaction.
I can't remember--is he good about carrying Epis? Does he carry the AuviQs? My DS loves them. The print rubs off, so well put clear contact paper over the instructions.
He always carries two epis and benadryl. The quick-melt ones weren't really working (kept getting crushed) so now he has liquid capsules. Just seemed like they'd absorb faster, but I don't know.
He had Pasta Fresca which is fine ingredient-wise. No allergy aware signs that he saw and he didn't mention his allergy. I told him he shouldn't eat there anymore.
It seems awfully worrying that he's had two such incidents in such a short period of time, though-- and without taking more risks than usual.
That might indicate a threshold shift. Wow, what horrible timing, too, with him being about to go to college. Have you talked to him about that possibility? This is so concerning for ME, and he's not even my kid, Bensmom... it's just that so many young men who wind up being news items have this kind of pattern-- where management was stable and safe for well, pretty much forever-- and shifted under them without much warning in their late teens.
:-[
And that is why I think you should look into the AuviQ (there's a coupon that may help). You'll need a script for it. It's so much easier for boys to carry two Auvis than two Epis. We still use Epis everywhere else--just not in DS' pockets 99% of the time.
Oy, I have tried to instill in DS the need to mention his allergies even when he is certain there is no need to - because without that, there's no telling how his food is handled (though let's be honest, there's never any telling how your food is handled when you eat out).
This scares me too. When I try to talk to DS about this he glibly tells me to "check the scoreboard", meaning he hasn't had a reaction since he was 10. I counter by telling him about Brian Hom and others. He looks at me like I'm an alien.
This terrifies me.
Yeah, it worries me too.
Might have to try the auvi-q. One thing that I like about the epis is that he has them in a carrying pouch marked as an allergy med pouch. He can fit some benadryl and even jam his inhaler in there and it's visible to others. He doesn't seem to mind it.
There must be a thread somewhere about various ways kids carry meds. Can someone point me there? Seems like he could fit one auvi-q in his pocket, like a wallet, but not two, and where would he put the benadryl? Hmmm.....
Mac, what do you mean you use epis everywhere else--when does your son carry epis vs auvis?
He carries Auvis in his pocket. He hasn't liked having a pouch for a number of years. So if that's working for your DS and you think he will continue to be food in college maybe stick with that. But the Auvis work better for my DS. They Aren't noticeable in his suit coat for speech or in his jeans pocket.
The critical thing is making sure they don't get washed. :)
We use Epis at school (though all staff has had Auvi training, too). And I keep Epis in my purse (for me or for DS). He also has an Epi in his backpack.
And when he flew last week on his own he had two other Epi kits with him with two epis each--and he have those to teachers once he saw them at the hotel.
Yeah, I can see it going through the wash. I may ask ds if he's interested in this. Sometimes he has an epi in his backpack and not clipped on. It would be nice if he had one in his pocket. Still trying to figure out how to carry the benadryl and inhaler without an epi case.