I Said "Yes" ... to the Food

One of the most difficult aspects of living with multiple food allergies is going to events. It’s never an enjoyable experience to be that person who has special food requests, asks a ton of questions about what’s on the menu, or simply doesn’t eat. Unfortunately, though, these are all necessary actions when you have food allergies.

I was recently invited to a friend’s wedding. Luckily, the bride (aka my friend), who is aware of my food allergies, reached out to me because she wanted to make sure I was accommodated at the reception. This was NOT necessary, but extremely appreciated. 

She put me in direct contact with the wedding reception venue — Pinstripes Chicago. The organizer went through every item on the reception menu with me to determine what I could and couldn’t eat. Because the setup for dinner was family style, the organizer planned for my plate of approved items to be pre-made and prepared separately from any items that included allergens.

At the reception, everything went according to plan. My plate was brought out as the family-style food was placed on the table, so there was no awkward lull. The organizer even came out to greet me and reaffirm that everything was prepared safely. I couldn’t have asked for better treatment! Oh, and the food was wonderful. I had short ribs, chicken, mashed potatoes, and asparagus. I am so thankful to have a kind-hearted friend who thought of me and my dietary needs as she was planning her very special day. By the way, the wedding was simply beautiful.