I read this article in the AJC last week and it made me think of the harassment I took from a gang of gluten free women last month when I refused to advertise that the taqueria was a gluten free establishment. They got pissed because I wouldn’t make those statements and I told them to call the owner. Oh, but let me tell you, if one of them got sick from eating something verboten, you can be sure they’d be the first to sue. Bitches.

But anyway, the AJC food critic/blogger John Kessler published a point/counterpoint article about this type of silly crap that “advocates” think restaurants should be responsible for: calories, fat content, allergens, etc., etc., ad nauseum. The article WAS on the AJC food blog, but no more. [Dec 2015]

Of course I’m on the side of the restaurant. The only places you’re going to find full nutritional info is large chains. If you want that sort of information because you don’t understand that “al fredo” means heavy cream and butter, then I suggest you eat only at Chili’s, Applebees and the like.

If you are deathly allergic to peanuts, then perhaps you should eat at home?

If your brat requires no gluten, then ask the owner or manager about the menu, but don’t get all crazy on waiters (or admins like me) because we won’t guarantee anything.

The way I see it, if you like to patronize local joints, then you either educate yourself about how the kitchen is run and make friends with the owner/manager or you stick to safe bets like chains. Or eat at home.

DO NOT go out to a restaurant and bring your drama and bad attitude. The waiter probably does NOT know every freaking ingredient in every freaking dish. That’s not her job! It’s NO ONE’S job to fuss over you and cater to your specific needs. You are in a business not a daycare. If you need coddling and the like then please, just stay home. Small restaurant owners have better things to do than deal with your silly shit.

I’m not making light of medical conditions or allergies, but dammit, don’t expect the whole world to stop and cater to YOU. Small businesses are just that: small. Small budgets, small margins. It’s pricey to get nutritional analyses and no local place is going to do that. Get over yourself and cut your local joints some slack.

Nobody likes bitchy little girls. If you can’t act like a grown up and be responsible for your own shit, STAY AT HOME. This is just another offshoot of people wanting everyone else to be responsible for them. Isn’t the Nanny State up in our business enough?

[This is on behalf of all small local restaurants that have to put up with unreasonable people.]