What do you order when eating at a restaurant?

Hi all,
It's wonderful to be at the stage of my kidney transplant journey when one of my biggest concerns is BLUEBERRY PANCAKES (at a restaurant)!! I always loved blueberry pancakes, but I am concerned that in a restaurant environment the kitchen probably will not clean them well, if at all.
I was thinking the cooking process of the pancakes would probably kill all of the germs, but I would still be ingesting dirty blueberries.
Do you eat things like blueberry pancakes, strawberry shortcake, baked apples, etc when you are eating in at a restaurant? Are you concerned about their food safety or am I overdoing my concern level?
Also, when you order take out, do you microwave the food when you get it home to be extra safe that all germs are gone or just eat the food if it's already hot?
Thanks everyone!

Hey Hello1234, you'll notice that I moved your questions about blueberry pancakes and food safety when eating out to this related discussion that you started a few months back. Betchya forgot about it, right? 😉

Great questions that I'm sure members like @rosemarya @athenalee @estrada53 @btwest6 @lizzy102 and others have thoughts on.

I’m 20+ years out on my second kidney transplant so my experience may be different (33 years total with transplant). When I was transplanted, the SOP I learned was pretty short and sweet. Take your meds like you life depends on it, it does. Exercise. Wash your hands constantly. Use hand sanitizer immediately after touching surfaces exposed to public touching. Wash food you’re going to eat (when in developing countries don’t eat leafy stuff). Eat. Eat lots and a good variety - watch weight gain from eating too much sugar or fat. When in doubt eating out, eat the deep fried stuff (cooked hot enough to kill bacteria).
The upshot is that I’ve eaten just about everything I was inclined to eat. I don’t worry about restaurant food, I usually let my server know that I’m chemically immunocompromised and ask for them to wash hands or use a napkin to carry my plate (hands that handle money? Ick!). I’ve gotten sick twice from restaurant food in 30+ years - I remember them because of the oh so unpleasant time I spent worshiping at the throne.
Do I think that the food service industry has become more careless or less clean in 30 years? I do not. I know the industry is better than it was 30 years ago about food service (do your research). Caveat, chain restaurants. I don’t eat at national chain restaurants for many reasons, top reason? There is no incentive for staff that turns over rapidly to maintain sanitary standards. Watch the servers in any restaurant - hair or face touching? Not sanitizing after handling money? Are the high chairs/booster seats clean? Look at the bathroom, is it clean, are soap and towel dispensers full? If not, leave. Oh! One more thing. I avoid at all costs buffet style restaurants and salad bars, once the food lands in the trays at the buffet, it will fall victim to an assault of completely unconscious people finger licking - grab the spoon - cough - sneeze and kids who reach and grab food.
I choose to eat at local chains sometimes and at lovely restaurants (that may cost a bit more). After all, I don’t eat out often (love to cook) and don’t mind spending more to get more quality control.
My advice? I don’t have any. The above is my experience and thinking from my point of view. I am so grateful to have the freedom my beautiful kidney gives me, so grateful to wake up each morning. I really don’t sweat the small stuff, stress is much more harmful to my kidney and my health than about anything else.
1234? Please reply, I’d love to learn how things have changed over the years.
Best of good health and joy to you!

Hi @lizzy102 😊 It is a pleasure to meet you! Congratulations on your wonderfully successful 20+ year kidney transplant...WOW, that's awesome!
Thank you for all your food safety tips. I don't think much has changed from when you first received your transplant. But you are the second person I heard about "deep fried foods" being safer due to the temperature of the oil. I normally try to stay away from fried foods but maybe I will splurge on "fish and chips" if I am in a restaurant!
From the food safety rules you shared, can I assume that blueberry pancakes and strawberry shortcake would be a "yes" if it's a restaurant that appears clean?
Maybe if the restaurant is clean, they will clean (or at least rinse) the blueberries and strawberries?
When you had food poisoning those two times in 30 years, did you need to take antibiotics or any meds to resolve it or was your immune suppressed system able to recover on it's own?
Thanks again for jumping in to help me! I LOVE hearing from transplant patients that are experienced since I am only a one year NEWBIE post kidney transplant patient and still learning the ropes! ❤

Ask your transplant team to refer you to a dietician, to be sure. I eat blueberry pancakes in GF friendly restaurants. Re. Food poisoning, I did not take antibiotics, i recovered the hard way, in misery.
If you have some local restaurants you would like to patronize, good ones will always invite you to the kitchen door to peek in and speak to the chef/cooks. One look in a kitchen will tell you so much. I’ve gone in super high end kitchens and talked to food truck chefs and always have been welcomed.
I don’t eat publicly served food - costco etc. I don’t eat pot luck food (can’t guarantee food safety) and I avoid eating at some friends houses because they poo-poo my hand washing and food safety preferences. Being super pro-active about research and talking to people is super important to me. So far, it seems to have worked.
Congratulations, 1234 on your year of life post transplant! Gosh, isn’t it a miracle? What a difference!

@hello, seems like a great topic to ask our guest nutritionist on Thursday’s Culinary Arts Webinar. These days I’d worry far more about sitting in a restaurant with my mask down and everyone else’s masks down, spreading Covid cooties everywhere.

If I was sitting outside in the warm Florida sun, I would order the blueberry pancakes, if they’re whole wheat and served with real Vermont maple syrup, of course. And, I would ask the server to please make sure the chef 👨‍🍳 cooks them thoroughly. And, when they arrive, I’d cut into them to make sure the batter is cooked. And, just to say strawberry shortcake is something I never eat…so, I don’t have to worry about it!

Agreed. I’ve only eaten in local restaurants for years, to support the local economy and because I do trust their food handling. I have plenty to choose from though and I know many places do not. Or, when traveling it can be more difficult. Talking to the chef and looking in the kitchen is certainly a good idea!

Hi @athenalee 😊
Always great to hear from you!! Thanks for joining into the "BLUEBERRY PANCAKES" (at a restaurant) discussion! I totally agree with you...let's bring up this topic at our Transplant Culinary Zoom Meeting on Thursday night.
BTW, you are definitely spoiled with quick, easy access to fresh REAL VERMONT maple syrup!
Nothing like hot whole wheat pancakes served with real Vermont maple syrup ❤❤❤
See you soon on Zoom

I asked my son, who has restaurant management experience.
He said that a phone call is always appropriate when someone has dietary or health concerns. Most managers of reputable restaurants are eager and willing to accommodate needs and special requests. Remember to call during non dining hours. It is also appropriate to mention to server when ordering, and if you get an inexperienced server, you can always ask to speak with the on duty manager before placing order.
The kitchen is probably going to be off-limits to visitors. It is a safety issue due to being an active work zone and hot ingredients.

I love blueberry pancakes, too! Most restaurants will use frozen berries, but the pancake batter can be undercooked around the moist berries, so I prefer to make my own at home with fresh berries as a topping. I have adjusted my restaurant choice to pecan pancakes.

Thank you so much @rosemarya for checking with your son in the restaurant business... That's super awesome! I also like your idea to switch to pecan pancakes at a restaurant instead of blueberry to assure the pancake is cooked well. When you eat out, do you eat from the bread basket...is that an okay idea? I am a real bread LOVER but my concern at a restaurant is that the bread may be handled by the server. I am pretty confident that a reputable restaurant wouldn't re-serve the "leftovers" from someone else's basket, but you can never be sure depending on the server. Do you eat the bread out? Use the ketchup on the table or ask for takeout packets of ketchup? No ice in your drink and ask for a straw? Clean the utensils with your napkin? Ask for no garnish on the plate? ....I wish I lived close to your son's restaurant!! I would go there all the time Rosemary!!! ❤❤