We’re big fans of Last Restaurant Standing, a reality show that airs on BBC America. The basic premise is couples are given a restaurant to open/run, and each week, they all gather for the review from Raymond Blanc, a highly regarded French chef and restauranteur.
This week on the show, the final three couples are told that they might have some special needs diners, including possibly vegans, vegeterians and Celiacs, so they should be prepared.
Two restaurants had Celiac diners! One had three diners, the other had a seven year old Celiac! The voice over talent explained what Celiac Disease is, and almost all diners mentioned they must eat gluten free. I can’t tell you how exciting it was to hear this mentioned, since Next Food Network Star or Top Chef, two of the US’s top cooking reality shows, have yet to deal with Celiac or gluten free (and if anyone from Bravo or Food Network is reading this, I’d love to be a judge on a gluten free challenge!).
One of the restaurant’s front of house took 20 minutes back and forth from the kitchen to the diners to ask questions, confirm with the chef what is safe on the menu, and what isn’t. To me, while that may sound like a long time, it’s the confirmation and attention to detail that hopefully means a safe meal! It was fun to watch how the servers, chef and staff dealt with the Celiacs (including bringing them bread!), and how Raymond pretty much was upset with them on how they mishandled the Celiacs and in today’s world of allergies and food intolerances, that just cannot be done.
Kudos to Raymond Blanc, for giving Celiacs the attention we deserve. Now bring it on Bravo and Food Network!
GFS
How awesome is that! I would love to see this topic as well on more tv shows! It is so annoying to see cooking shows where I have to figure out which flours to substitute for wheat flour in order to replicate the meal because GF living is just not a topic tackled in the media. Sign me up for guest judge too
I heard they put cookie crumbs on the child’s mousse. Luckily, the parent sent the food back.
I’m not a fan of this show but will be looking for it!
Yes, they did serve a cookie on top of the chocolate mousse, and the mom caught it. The chef was really upset at the sous chef for not realizing this. Again, it brought some great awareness for our cause!
GFS
How much do we love the BBC?? Great to hear that celiac is getting mentioned. I predict that there will be a wave of celeb chefs who will get their 15 minutes precisely because they know how to cook for people with food allergies and dietary restrictions. But I’ve been saying that for a year, and so far, no Food Network show…I’m just gonna hafta do it!!
xoxo-
Anna
Great blog post! I have often wondered the same thing about the big shows in the US. Why don’t they deal with allergens?
Anyway…so glad you gave us the update on this show.
I don’t watch reality shows myself but I am certainly thrilled to hear that Celiac was a large part of that one!
I have asked many people if they know what Celiac Disease is and I would guess that about 75% didn’t have a clue.
On another note, I would like to commend you on a job well done! I love your blog. It has interesting stuff and it is well written.
I would love to link yours with mine;)
glutenfreewithauntjayne.wordpress.com
Sincerely,
Auntjayne
Take care of you
Great news, Steve. Of course, Europe is so much more up on celiac than the U.S. is. Glad this is a BBC America show. Can never have enough awareness.
Shirley
I’m a fairly new reader here since a gluten-free diet has only recently been suggested to us for our son. I’m not sure if this has already been mentioned but the Planet Green show Emeril Green has had at least a few GF episodes. They really made me less nervous about tackling this huge life change! And besides I’d probably be happy watching Emeril boil water