Sunday, March 8, 2009

First Safe and Sound Dinner Huge Success

50 people gathered at the first Safe and Sound Dinner for people with food allergies in Chicago.
The tables were set, the meal was safe and the guests were delighted! Thanks to the support of the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago, Chef Alisa Gaylon, Chef John Fuente and their team of student volunteers the dinner was a huge success.
Chicken Vesuvio
Bruschetta
It was rainy and dreary outside, but Chef Sunshine from Your Safe Kitchen lit up the room with her tales of traveling the world to find alternatives to wheat flour and her wonderful vegan, allergen-free treats including sugar cookies and chocolate mini cup cakes.
Dr. Martha Howard, medical director of the Wellness Associates of Chicago addressed the unique challenges facing people with food allergies and how to get the proper mix of nutrients in their diet. She recommended taking Vitamin B-12, Vitamin C and Omega-3 fatty acids.
Chef Alisa Gaylon then discussed staying safe when dining out, and recommended practical tips like handing a restaurant safety sheet to the chef. You can find one at my Web site.
Meanwhile, Chef John Fuente spoke about special dietary requests. He noted that 10 years ago, vegans and vegetarians were not taken seriously and now many restaurants regularly cater to those with special dietary needs. Chef Fuente also encouraged the attendees to insist on alternatives to standard menu fare.
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The gift bags were packed with treats from:
Our next event is April 27th at Rose’s Wheat free Bakery and Café. Register here to get priority reservations for this event.

1 comment:

Claire Helena said...

WOW! Looks like it was a blast! I wish I could have been there! And those gift bags look great!!! ;)