COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Dining out can feel more like a challenge than a treat for people living with food allergies or celiac disease. A new app created by Coeur d’Alene locals aims to change that by making restaurant dining safer and less stressful.
True Plate, a completely free app, connects diners with shared experiences and information about how different restaurants handle food allergies. Users can see which restaurants in their area have been reviewed and access detailed information about whether establishments offer celiac-safe, gluten-free, or nut-free options.
Austin Welch and his brother-in-law, who has celiac disease, created the app after years of struggling to find safe dining options for their family members who have a range of allergies, some of which are potentially deadly.
“For my brother, it kept a very small list of restaurants we could actually eat at and we would have to go into it really hesitantly anytime we found a new restaurant,” Welch said.
The app works by allowing users to click on restaurant markers that display comprehensive information about allergy safety. Beyond just listing dietary options, the app shows other users’ ratings of how allergy-safe a particular establishment is. This community-driven approach reassures those who must be extra cautious about their food choices.
Welch emphasized the serious nature of food allergies, noting that what may be a dietary preference for some is literally a matter of life and death for others. “It can be a diet for some but it’s life and death for others so when a restaurant doesn’t take that seriously, people should know about it,” he said.
Cross-contamination in kitchens represents one of the leading causes of allergic reactions that could have been prevented, according to Welch. The True Plate app addresses this concern by allowing diners to see how seriously restaurants take allergy protocols and cross-contamination prevention.
Eden Cossette, owner of the gluten-free bakery Crescent Moon Sourdough, sees the value in the app’s mission. “An app like that is going to be really helpful in giving people the confidence to know where they can go and feel safe,” Cossette said.
Welch spent two years developing the app and expressed pride in the final product. He encourages everyone to download True Plate and contribute their own restaurant reviews and experiences. As more people use the app, the database of information grows, providing other people navigating allergies with more options to find safe places to dine.
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