Dealing with food sensitivities and allergies at Dollywood #brandcation #gfcommunity Recipe
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Directions
As a community leader at Udi’s Gluten Free, a mom to a daughter with allergies, and someone who deals with food sensitivities, I was excited to learn about Dollywood’s Start Fresh program. During my recent Brandcation trip to Dolly Parton’s theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, our group had the chance to meet with food team member, Cecil Page, during lunch at Granny Ogle’s Ham N’ Beans, who told us all about the program they developed with the help of FANN (Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network). The program has been in place over two years and as far as I know it’s unique to Dollywood.
How Start Fresh works
When you arrive to any of Dollywood’s restaurants or eateries, talk with the manager to let him or her know what…
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.%20The%20program%20has%20been%20in%20place%20over%20two%20years%20and%20as%20far%20as%20I%20know%20it%E2%80%99s%20unique%20to%20Dollywood.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EHow%20Start%20Fresh%20works%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EWhen%20you%20arrive%20to%20any%20of%20Dollywood%E2%80%99s%20restaurants%20or%20eateries,%20talk%20with%20the%20manager%20to%20let%20him%20or%20her%20know%20what%20allergies%20and%20food%20sensitivities%20you%20and%20your%20family%20is%20dealing%20with.%20There%E2%80%99s%20no%20need%20to%20call%20ahead,%20though%20you%20can%20contact%20the%20Foods%20Department%20at%20865-428-9428%20if%20you%20so%20choose.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20manager%20and%20his%20or%20her%20team%20will%20make%20sure%20that%20your%20table%20is%20cleaned,%20sanitized%20and%20as%20free%20as%20possible%20from%20any%20allergens.%20They%E2%80%99ll%20also%20make%20sure%20you%E2%80%99re%20seated%20away%20from%20the%20kitchen%20so%20you%20don%E2%80%99t%20get%20a%20whiff%20of%20anything%20you%20may%20be%20allergic%20to,%20like%20fish.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20manager%20will%20then%20present%20you%20with%20a%20yellow%20binder%20(yellow%20is%20the%20color%20assigned%20to%20anything%20Start%20Fresh%20related)%20that%20contains%20the%20list%20of%20ingredients%20of%20all%20the%20menu%20items.%20This%20way%20you%20can%20decide%20what%20you%20feel%20comfortable%20ordering%20for%20yourself%20or%20your%20child.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EOnce%20your%20order%20is%20placed,%20it%E2%80%99s%20assigned%20to%20a%20cook%20who%20will%20prepare%20your%20meal%20from%20start%20to%20finish%20and%20will%20not%20cook%20up%20anyone%20else%E2%80%99s%20order%20until%20after%20you%20are%20done.%20The%20first%20thing%20he%20or%20she%20will%20do%20is%20clean%20and%20sanitize%20their%20work%20area%20and%20put%20on%20a%20fresh%20area.%20Then%20he%20or%20she%20will%20break%20open%20a%20Fresh%20Start%20pack%20containing%20everything%20they%20need%20to%20prepare%20and%20serve%20your%20meal%20(utensils,%20cutting%20board,%20knife,%20spoons,%20etc.)%20The%20cook%20will%20then%20prepare%20the%20meal%20to%20your%20specifications%20and%20deliver%20it%20personally%20to%20your%20table.%20It%E2%80%99s%20like%20having%20your%20own%20personal%20chef!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20cooks%20go%20through%20the%20special%20one%20week%20Start%20Fresh%20program%20after%20going%20through%20a%20regular%20culinary%20course%20at%20the%20Dollywood.%20Only%20those%20who%20pass%20the%20Start%20Fresh%20program%20can%20cook%20for%20allergy%20affected%20guests.%20So%20while%20other%20theme%20parks%20and%20restaurants%20serve%20up%20allergen%20free%20food,%20this%20is%20probably%20one%20of%20the%20few%20that%20understand%20about%20allergen%20contamination.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EDollywood%20restaurants%20also%20offer%20vegetarian,%20diabetic%20and%20gluten%20free%20menu%20options.%20I%20was%20pleasantly%20surprised%20to%20find%20packaged%20gluten%20free%20cookies%20at%20the%20Spotlight%20Bakery.%20And%20if%20you%E2%80%99re%20traveling%20with%20kids%20with%20allergies%20or%20you%20have%20food%20sensitivities%20yourself,%20you%E2%80%99ll%20be%20pleasantly%20surprised%20at%20how%20easy%20dining%20at%20Dollywood%20can%20be!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EFor%20more%20information%20about%20the%20park,%20admission%20and%20hours,%20go%20to%20dollywood.com.%20You%20can%20also%20connect%20with%20Dollywood%20on%20Facebook%20and%20@Dollywood.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EEating%20gluten%20free%20when%20traveling%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20Udi%E2%80%99s%20Gluten%20Free%20Community%20offers%20lots%20of%20great%20info%20and%20tips%20about%20traveling%20while%20gluten%20free:%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EHow%20do%20you%20deal%20with%20food%20allergies%20and%20sensitivities%20when%20traveling?%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E_______________________%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EDisclosure:%20The%20Brandcation%20bloggers%20received%20special%20discounts%20and%20passes%20to%20many%20of%20the%20attractions%20we%20visited.%20All%20experiences%20and%20opinions%20expressed%20here%20are%20my%20own.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAs%20a%20Udi's%20Gluten%20Free%20Community%20Leader%20I'm%20compensated%20for%20my%20time%20and%20efforts%20on%20their%20behalf.%3C/p%3E){kind=link}