"We don't put pine nuts in our pesto...ya know...everyone is allergic to nuts these days"

I work at an Italian Restaurant once a week.  Over the years I have worked at quite a few Italian restaurants.  It is the safest type of restaurant for me to work at.  I don't usually divulge my allergies when I am working at these restaurants.  I think I would be thought of as a liability to them.  I know my comfort zone though, and I know what I can and can't do.  I know how to avoid situations I can't be a part of, and I have had enough experience with it, to not be too worried about my allergies when I am at work.  I know as a parent, this might sound a bit shocking, that I put myself in this kind of situation.  At my age though, I know my comfort zone. I know myself very well, and I know my limits.  

It is difficult getting jobs when you are younger that don't involve food.  I could never work at an ice cream stand (like my mom did when she was in high school during the summer), and I could never work in a cafe.  There are way too many nuts everywhere!  When I was 16 years old, this cut down on many jobs that I could get.  I was a camp counselor and a hostess at an Italian restaurant for most of the summers throughout high school and college.

The other night when I was at work, one of the owners was answering a question about pine nuts in the pesto and he said "We don't put pine nuts in our pesto...ya know...everyone is allergic to nuts these days!"  I was impressed with his awareness of this growing concern, and glad to know there were no nuts!