Forum

This isn't quite an actual request, but more of a trial balloon. I'd be interested in a Restaurant Forum, probably in the same category as Cookbooks and Authors. Would others be interested in such a forum? 

I'm thinking for questions like (these are all made up BTW, I left out the actual question I might of asked, because I didn't want to sidetrack the discussion):

Planning a trip to Chicago, is Alinea worth it?

Looking for Cajun restaurant reccomendations in NOLA by natives.

 What are the 'must try' foods in Spain?

 Would this be of interest to other users?

This is a pretty quiet forum..... I don't think you'd get enough responses to make it worthwhile. YMMV

I recall someone a while back asking about Egypt and another asking about Russia (?) ...I would encourage people to pose such questions and see if the volume of posts and responses justify a separate forum.

I would be more than happy to answer any Japan related food and restaurant inquiries.  Although we spend most of our time in tokyo when we are there, we have traveled quite a bit in Japan, from Noth to South.  Lived on island of Okinawa too for 7 years so I am somewhat familiar with the island food scene too.  I think most food, restaurant questions are posted in the general forum here unlike egullet.  Don't know how many people read forums here.  Seems rather quiet here for sure compared to even non food forums like city data forum on food.  I also get  monthly Japanese restaurant focused magazines which  keeps me up to date. 

Rinshin, can I ask you how easy you think it would be for someone with celiac disease (who doesn't speak Japanese) to be able to find food they could safely eat in Japan?  We'd love to visit, but I get very anxious if we go places where I can't speak the language and ask lots of questions.  Friends of ours who have been to Japan say they think it would be very difficult for me, but I'd like another opinion from someone who knows the country much better!

Is this being gluten free? Or, mostly gluten free?  I am not sure what foods you must avoid completely?  No wheat based?  Can you have panko as breaded foods or all wheat based foods off limits? Some Japanese would understand gluten free.  Bakeries are everywhere in Japan and some bakerie do sell gluten free breads.  All noodles except rice based noodles will be off limits so that gets little hard.  What type of foods do you normally eat and avoid?

It's totally gluten-free, Rinshin.  The smallest bit of gluten (so not just wheat, rye and barley too) makes me sick for days.  I can't have normal breads or noodles (rice noodles are fine) and a lot of sauces and seasonings include wheat including soy sauce (wheat-free tamari is fine).  

Without soy sauce it will be very hard in Japan.  Most Japanese do not use tamari.  So much of their sauces will have soy sauce.  Even something like yakitori will have soy sauce most likely. Only possibility is getting your prepared lunch and dinner selections at department store basement or grocery market close to some major train stations.  They wil have at least 30-100 or more selections to choose. These are often better tasting than some restaurant offerings.  Or, select sushi rolls or onigiri ie rice balls which are everywhere there. You can choose onigiri filling of your choice so  that way you can avoid any with possible soy sauce being used.  Possibilities are tuna salad or salmon fillings which are very popular there. 

You also have many western food offerings and restaurants  too without soy sauce. There are many Italian restaurants there, you can choose those menu items with seafood, meat, vegetables and salads without ordering pizzas or pastas.  Aqua pazzas with fish or seafood are very common in Italian restaurants and gambas al ajillo or other seafood and chicken  al ajillo are all very popular with Japanese. So, more I think about it, yes, you can certainly visit Japan staying away from wheat and soy sauce. Lots of Indian restaurants too. 

I found many gluten free restaurants in Tokyo 23 wards but in Japanese tripadviser.https://www.tripadvisor....yo_Prefecture_Kanto.html If I find English language guide,  will post.

Thanks for your help Rinshin.  It sounds do-able!  I think we can start planning the trip for when my husband retires at the end of 2022.

Originally Posted by: FJT

Thanks for your help Rinshin.  It sounds do-able!  I think we can start planning the trip for when my husband retires at the end of 2022.

it is also found in English too https://www.tripadvisor....yo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

Looks like you can pick locations and it will pull up gluten free restaurants per area.

Originally Posted by: FJT

It's totally gluten-free, Rinshin.  The smallest bit of gluten (so not just wheat, rye and barley too) makes me sick for days.  I can't have normal breads or noodles (rice noodles are fine) and a lot of sauces and seasonings include wheat including soy sauce (wheat-free tamari is fine). 

Perhaps Rinshin could translate for you, "I am allergic to gluten. I cannot have any wheat, barley (whatever else you think you should list). Please guide me to good menu choices." into Japanese, and you could print it out on a card you could show to your server.

Traveling in Mexico, Central and South America with a friend, we did this for him. He isn't allergic, but has a major intollerance to peppers. Anything more than a very small amount and he becomes violently nauseous. I can relate, because I get violent intestinal distress from galangal, but curiously not ginger, which is in the same family. Perversely, I love galangal! Every few years I suffer through a serving of Beef with Galangal from my favorite Thai restaurant. 

Originally Posted by: Rinshin

it is also found in English too https://www.tripadvisor....yo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

Looks like you can pick locations and it will pull up gluten free restaurants per area.

Thanks Rinshin!

Originally Posted by: Fyretigger

Perhaps Rinshin could translate for you, "I am allergic to gluten. I cannot have any wheat, barley (whatever else you think you should list). Please guide me to good menu choices." into Japanese, and you could print it out on a card you could show to your server.

Traveling in Mexico, Central and South America with a friend, we did this for him. He isn't allergic, but has a major intollerance to peppers. Anything more than a very small amount and he becomes violently nauseous. I can relate, because I get violent intestinal distress from galangal, but curiously not ginger, which is in the same family. Perversely, I love galangal! Every few years I suffer through a serving of Beef with Galangal from my favorite Thai restaurant.

That was very kind of you to do that for your friend.  I can get restaurant cards in many languages explaining the problem, but it helps to have some insider knowledge otherwise you're just blindly trusting that the chef has understood.  That hasn't worked too well for me in the past.  

I am a bit of a globe trotter both around the globe and in France (or where I live, I lived in the UK previously for instance), so I can recommend places in quite a handful of cities. 

I used the member meeting place forum for that which sounded the most appropriate of the categories. I did it for Lisbon, Athens, and Boston and each time had great recommendations. For Lisbon in particular, I had messages both in private and in the forum which were really detailed and thoughtful.  

I think it would be great to have a dedicated forum but otherwise happy to continue using the meeting place, personnally.