Allergies can make travelling with children stressful. It can be hard to relax at restaurants, when you have to rely on servers to determine whether dishes contain allergens.
We can only hope that resorts, will follow the lead of the beautiful Breakers Resort in Palm Beach, Florida to accomodate families with food allergies (see: www.thebreakers.com).
Comments from Chef Anthony Sicignano, Executive Chef of The Breakers Palm Beach
When guests make reservations and let us know they have a specific food allergy, reservations informs me and I contact the guest to see how we can assist them ahead of time. I then distribute the information internally so all team members are aware of the guest’s specific needs. In addition to numerous emails before guests arrive, we also sit down and meet with the family when they check in so we can answer any more questions and provide them with a special list of items that they might enjoy according to their allergy needs. When a guest doesn’t inform us ahead of time, but instead let their server know as they are seated that they have an allergy, the process for handling the allergy is similar. Our server coordinates with the chef and manager on the spot.
If guests wish to bring in their own specific foods, (like rice milk) in order to accommodate specific dietary needs, they can do so. These foods are stored in Room Service and brought to the guest as needed.
Allergy-tailored menus for Children
When the children arrive at the resort with their families, the kids are often presented with their own personalized menus with his/her name at top (according to Anthony, it brought one father to tears). What made it so special for the parents was that going to a restaurant, especially when traveling, was always a difficult experience that presented risks, and this was the first time that their child could actually order anything he wanted off the menu. Some guests have commented they feel perfectly pampered - like they have their own personal chefs while staying at The Breakers.
Cooking Equipment:
Depending on the allergy, we do have specific equipment used only for specially prepared meals. In some cases we purchase new pots, pan, utensils etc., so we can ensure they haven’t come in contact with any contaminants.
Gluten-Free Menu Items:
Most items for gluten-free dishes are made from scratch, and are variations of our regular menu items. We prepare a lot of fresh protein and vegetable dishes for guests, according to their personal likes and dislikes.
1. Our flourless chocolate cake is probably our biggest hit with gluten-free diners, as it provides a rich dessert for guests. This is produced in our bakeshop and is available at any of our restaurants.
2. We carry multiple flavors of sorbet for guests as another gluten-free dessert option.
3. Gluten-free pasta can be substituted for any dish at our restaurants.
4. The bakeshop can prepare gluten-free bread upon request– increasingly popular in the last 6 months.
5. Cherrybrook Farms Brand Cookie and Cake mixes seem to be the most popular item that guests tend to bring in with them or have us pick-up for them.
6. Chicken Fingers coated with rice flour is popular with the kids.
ABOUT CHEF ANTHONY SICIGNANOThe Breakers Palm Beach overseas the operations of nine restaurants at this legendary, oceanfront resort, and has been customizing menus for any guest-specific need for as long as he’s been at The Breakers (since 1993, thought Exec Chef since 2002). However, over the past few years, Chef and his team have been creating allergy-specific menus much more extensively.
Chef Anthony Sicignano, Executive Chef of
ABOUT THE BREAKERS PALM BEACH
One of America’s legendary resort destinations, this 540-room, Italian Renaissance-style hotel resides on 140 acres of oceanfront property in the heart of Palm Beach. The Breakers was founded in 1896 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and continues to thrive independent of chain affiliation. Renowned for its gracious service, the resort indulges its clientele, whether couples on a romantic getaway, multi-generational travelers on a family vacation or large gatherings in celebration. With the commitment of its long-standing ownership, descendants of founder Henry Flagler, The Breakers invests $20 million each year in the property’s ongoing enhancement to ensure it remains appealing to future guests. Following a comprehensive ten-year $250 million revitalization, its timeless atmosphere — from its magnificent interiors to its artfully designed landscape — has been renewed in a style of relaxed elegance.
A multi-faceted destination, The Breakers features 36 holes of championship golf, including the Ocean Course and The Breakers Rees Jones® Course; 10 Har-Tru tennis courts; luxury spa; a breathtaking oceanfront with a half-mile of private beach, Mediterranean-style beach club, as well as luxury beach bungalows for daytime-rental, five pools, four whirlpool spas and a variety of water sports; a Family Entertainment Center and an extensive program of family and children’s activities. Nine distinctive restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining, as well as an array of on-site boutiques, are all owned and managed by the resort. The Breakers is recognized as a AAA Five Diamond property and has earned numerous accolades for its commitment to the environment, community service and the quality of life it provides to its employees.
(c) 2011