Ask for it

There's something important that everyone could be doing.  But many of us, including myself, may not be doing it.  It's easy and cheap, and makes a big difference.  ASK FOR IT.  Ask for grass-fed beef, ask for gluten-free beer, ask for paleo or primal options, ask for real butter, ask for real ingredients, ask for grain-free, ask for low carb.  Start asking for these foods.  Because companies do listen.

Here three recent examples from the last two weeks -- all at restaurants that aren't exactly paleo-friendly.

  • Shake Shack.  This is an epic NYC burger and milkshake joint, and about as far from paleo as you could imagine.  I ordered a double burger with no bun.  The guy taking my order ASKED ME if I ordered this because I ate gluten-free.  He entered it into the computer.  They're keeping track.
  • Friendly's.  This is a restaurant whose tagline is Where Ice Cream Makes the Meal, and the cover of the breakfast menu had a big picture of pancakes with ice cream on top.  They had a $2.99 special of two eggs, two strips of bacon / sausage links, and toast.  I ordered two, but substituted an extra egg for the toast.  The (cute) waitress took my order, then came back and asked if I did low carb.  And told me that she had been eating low carb and felt so much healthier.  And had heard of paleo.
  • Hardees. Hey, I've been traveling a lot.  I ordered a double burger with no bun, fries, or soda.  They gave me a number and said they would bring out my food.  A minute later, a lady came out to my table and asked if I would like my burger wrapped in lettuce.  Yes, I consider that progress.

But notice that in all three places, I didn't explicitly order paleo, gluten-free, low carb, whatever.  I just ordered paleo on the sly.  And in all three cases, THEY RECOGNIZED THAT I WAS TRYING TO EAT A CERTAIN WAY.  And they all tried to be accommodating.

Next weekened, Melissa McEwen and I are organizing a flash mob at the Chipotle Test Kitchen in NYC next weekend.  Stop the soy!  Come join us, it will be fun.  And it will help us all get in the habit of asking for it.

  • If it's your regular bar, and you know they don't have it...ASK FOR GLUTEN-FREE BEER.
  • If you're at a vegan restaurant...ASK FOR REAL BUTTER.
  • If you know you're not going to order it...ASK FOR LIVER.
  • If you can't afford it....ASK FOR GRASS-FED STEAK.
  • If you're at Dunkin' Donuts...ASK FOR RAW MILK CHEESE.

Remember that there's not such thing as a stupid question.  Just ask for it.

Comments

Great post. 

Submitted by Rachael on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 14:46.

Great post.
 

I really like this post! I

Submitted by Allison on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 00:52.

I really like this post! I have felt shy about my eating habits in public, but know that I shouldn't be. I have been on the GAPS diet for five months, which is grain and lactose free, and requires that I make almost all my own food from scratch, so I really never go out to eat anymore. But the next time I do, i am going to "Ask for It!" Thanks,Allison

I love that you're going to

Submitted by Bree on Wed, 04/13/2011 - 09:43.

I love that you're going to the Chipotle test kitchen!  I recently sent them an email on their choice to use soy. While I did get a personalized response, which I was surprised about, I was disappointed to hear that they said they have exhausted all other options and nothing else was better (which probably meant for the bottom line, not our health).  Hopefully something good will come of this and we'll get the benefit of having things cooked in butter or animal fats! :)

The most important question

Submitted by MountainDew on Mon, 04/11/2011 - 16:11.

The most important question is ... did you get the cute waitresses #?!?!?

haha why would anyone drink

Submitted by Michael on Sun, 04/10/2011 - 21:57.

haha why would anyone drink Gluten free beer? Sounds pretty awful 

Love the idea. There really

Submitted by Primal Toad on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 00:13.

Love the idea. There really is no such thing as a stupid question. I am right with you Mr. Durant! I will make a large effort to ask for various things at various restaurants! Thanks for bringing up the idea!

 Any e-mail address or

Submitted by Nicky on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 22:47.

 Any e-mail address or website we can contact Chipotle for those of us outside NYC? I did see a bottle of soybean oil at my Chipotle a few weeks ago and my heart dropped as if I walked in on my significant other and mickey mouse banging a donkey. Not exactly what I would like to see. Thanks!

Hardees was bought by Carl's

Submitted by Chris on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 21:25.

Hardees was bought by Carl's Jr several years ago. Carl's Jr, as one of their "six dollar burgers," has a low-carb, lettuce-wrapped burger. Upon request, Carl's Jr will lettuce-wrap any of their burgers. It's fairly common out here in California.

I went on a trip a couple weeks ago and ate a lot of Carl's Jr (and In-n-Out), because it's so easy to get lettuce-wrapped burgers. I rather enjoyed all the guacamole bacon burgers without sauce (it has soy).

Since you're in NY and seem

Submitted by reshma on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 20:26.

Since you're in NY and seem to like burgers, have you tried Bareburger in Murray Hill? It just opened and is all grass-fed beef, and they have cool meats like elk and ostrich. Lettuce wrapped burgers are also listed on the menu. It's like a wish come true having this as a  neighborhood burger joint. Unsurprisingly, my neighboring diners were talking about Paleo. 

While traveling for work, and

Submitted by Gabriel Syme on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 20:02.

While traveling for work, and with several fellows up the corporate ladder a ways, I ordered Prime Rib three nights in a row. On another trip with the same group, I ate a 22 oz Prime Rib, fat, gristle, and all. More recently, I finished a plate of chicken wings a coworker couldn't.No one yet has asked me why I eat the way I do; but they all drank beer (which I love but abstain from during times of training) and ate all the bread (which I don't eat anymore) at company dinners. At the office, they all eat Subway, drink diet Coke, and then belch all afternoon as they slowly gain weight and look more and more flushed around the face and neck. I am waiting for the day when I am asked how I maintain or lose weight, and train like an animal for my athletic goals. They won't believe me when I tell them. 

 I like to think maybe I had

Submitted by Erin on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 20:01.

 I like to think maybe I had a hand in shaping the steak restaurant nearest me (at least partially).  6 years ago, getting a gluten free meal was hit or miss (salads showed up with croutons, etc).  I kept requesting this or that, kept giving them chances and talking to management, and NOW, all their staff is probably the best trained when it comes to gluten free that I have seen.  So much so, they will inform ME of things...like order a vodka drink, and they will recommend their potato 100% certified GF vodka.   Totally agree...GOTTA ASK...if you don't, nothing will change.  

I'm all for trying to paleo

Submitted by Adam on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 19:30.

I'm all for trying to paleo at mainstream restaurants, but asking for butter at a vegan restaurant seems pretty stupid

Of course, one place that

Submitted by Mark - Indy on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 14:51.

Of course, one place that folks never seem to consider visiting when traveling is a simple grocery store.  Think "Paleo Perimeter" and you can find tons of stuff to eat.

I haven't eaten at Hardee's

Submitted by IcedGreenTea on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 14:10.

I haven't eaten at Hardee's for a while, but they either have or had some low-carb options.  I remember the burger you descrbed, plus for breakfast they had a "low-carb breakfast bowl" -- eggs, sausage, bacon bits, ham, cheese.  It was a decent amount of meat. 

Hardee's has been wrapping

Submitted by Cromulent on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 13:41.

Hardee's has been wrapping burgers for at least 6-7 years now.

Traveling every weekend has

Submitted by Thomas Wywrot on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 13:03.

Traveling every weekend has taught me that substitutions are a caveman's best friend. I haven't run into any paleos yet, but I'm hopeful my complicated orders will spur paleo menus across the country to save widespread panic and confusion.