Ordering in SAD Restaurants

[Joopie]

What are your tips and tricks for ordering in SAD restaurants?
Do you take your own salad dressing? Do you look at the ingredient lists of dishes and try to make your own? Are the waitstaff usually accomodating? If you are eating with people eating SAD, how do they act about it and what do you tell them?
I am fasting right now but was thinking about this and got curious. I know some raw food books address this, but I thought it might be interesting and helpful (for everyone) to see what other people are doing.

Thanks for your insight! :D

Julie

[khackett]

This morning the fam & I went to IHop... I just got a fruit bowl. Usually, I imagine, there's SOMETHING akin to a fruit bowl.

Or? I may just make those nights/days/whatevers part of my "2-3 per week unraw" ;P Make it easier on everyone.

Unfortunately, I'm a crazy NUT and I absofarkinglutely MUST see my food being prepared and it must be done the WAY I NEED IT TO BE DONE. A la, no cooking oil, boiled/steamed, not fried, sauteed, etc. I'm insane.

[misslinda]

IN THE PAST, WHEN IWAS 90% RAW CONSISTENTLY, THE COOKS AT THE RESTAURANTS WERE VERY ACCOMODATING. I THINK THIS TO BE TRUE FOR REPUTABLE RESTAURANTS THAT ENSURE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION--

FUNNY, MY SISTER AND FRIENDS WOULD BE EXCITED TO GO OUT............ BUT THEN THERE WAS "LINDA!" WE WOULD ALWAYS DISCUSS WHERE TO EAT B/C I WOULD FUSS ABOUT THE BAD FOODS--IF IT WAS AGAINST ME, I WOULD EAT BEFORE HAND AND NOT EAT@ THE RESTAURANT--RATHER COMMENTING ON THE BAD FOODS THEY WERE ALL EATING!


ALL CAPS?
LINDA :p

[monkeyboy]

Hi Everyone,

When I go out to dinner I just order a bottle of wine and watch everyone else eat.



Peace,

M.B.

[Sweet lips]

I usually describe to the waiter how I want my salad modified and as Misslinda says they are accomodating - so thus far, doing it that way has not proposed a a problem.

[Sharon in Colorado]

As you know the 'salads' are full of animal products and grains. Most of the time I have successfully ordered some kind of chicken-type salad with avocado instead of the chicken and no cheese, etc. This way I'm getting my money's worth. If I were to ask them to merely leave off the chicken, they won't lower the cost of the food I ordered, so I might as well spruce it up with something else.

If you look through the menu at all the other salads and ingredients they use, you can come up with other things to sub, like tomatoes, mandarin oranges, mushrooms...and usually you can get a few orange wedges on the side for your dressing.

I've never had a problem with accommodation like that. Even for a cooked order, I've always been able to get french toast made with egg beaters instead of eggs, even though I've *never* seen it as a menu choice. They always seem happy to oblige.

[VeggieGirl]

LOL...this topic makes me laugh because I have had SUCH bad luck!

I read a tip in a raw book where the guy suggests you have a bunch of business cards printed out that say something like:
"I only eat raw, uncooked fruits & vegetables. Please prepare me a dish with any of the following: Spinach, carrots, beets, apples, cilantro, tomatoes, scallions...(etc.)
Thank you for your creative efforts!
(and then close with your name)"

I am seriously considering doing it because people just don't seem to get it when you say "I only eat raw, uncooked vegetables". I have gotten everything from cold steamed veggies to Ahi Tuna!! Go figure.

I think it helps when I explain to them right from the start that "The ONLY thing I eat is raw, uncooked vegetables. What kind of vegetables do you have in the kitchen?"

OR - I look over the menu and see what they have, and then TELL them what I want. That can be risky though because many restaurants get stuff pre-packaged from some corporate commissary. Chili's, for example, gets most of their veggies raw but frozen in butter (or so the waiter told me!)Gross.

Option three is to look over their salads and just ask for the substitutions like Sharon did. It's easiest to make sure the server is 'on your team' and looking out for you. Otherwise you may get a great salad with a bunch of cheese on top!

Cheers,
VeggieGirl

[askcassyfirst]

I like that thought about having little cards made up, but that is so like something my personality type would do. and I don't dare allow it! I :) On the other hand, it really does sound like a good idea, and perhaps one worth trying.

I remember reading somewhere the suggestion of phrasing it like it is a special diet due to health concerns. If you say it that way, you are less likely to have people "fudge" the truth, and include veggies that may have been doctored with butter or something. It is for health reasons that we eat this way, so it is not fibbing to say it.

I also read in Elizabeth Baker's book "The Uncook BooK" how they used to bring a bag of fruit and veggies, ask to speak to the cook, and when the meal was served, out came the server with a glorious platter of sliced produce just for her...just another idea....

Cassy :D

[twinyoga]

I go straight to the salads and the side orders on the menu. Usually there is a vegetable of the day (just make sure you ask for them to steam it...I can't tell you how many times I forget and then it's all buttered). With the salads, they seem to always have meat on it so I ask for it I choose the salad with the most raw veggies ask for it without the meat and try to substitute avocado (if they have it) or extra veggies. Then I ask for oil and vinegar or lemons for the dressing (depending on the restaurant). You can probably find fruit plates, too.

Hope that helps. My only problem is people saying to me..."that's all you're going to eat"?

Debbie

[tglasco4]

I usually order the salad. I ask what is in the salad and how big it is. If I need to make adjustments, I ask them whats available. If I know in advance I am going to a SAD restaurant, I usually bring an avocado with me. They all seem to have olive oil and salt (they dont usually have sea salt, but I make exceptions there). If I need to eat more than one salad I do (one time I ate 3 because they were so small and waitress didn't want to accomodate a special salad order).

Peace.

Todd

[heatkins]

Monkeyboy, we think alike!

cheers
Heather