Gluten Free Chinese Food

Now, before you get all excited and think that I am going to tell you how to actually make Gluten Free Chinese Food by yourself, just settle down and take a breath. I am not that good of a cook. But what I am here to tell you is that Gluten Free Chinese Food does exist. I know, it seems like the most elusive thing out there because of the brewed wheat, I mean soy sauce, that they use on everything. Never fear. There is hope!

There's a great Chinese food place in Sandy near to where I live called Joy Luck, and they informed me the first time I ate there a few months ago that they could make almost everything on their menu gluten free. I almost cried real tears right there in the restaurant. How is this possible? They batter the meat with cornstarch and use LaChoy soy sauce, which is the only gluten free soy sauce I have ever heard of. (If there's another brand out there, please let me know!) So I ordered something I hadn't had in six long years:

Gluten Free Ham Fried Rice. It was a revelation. The reason I am telling you about this experience is that there are restaurants out there that will work with you. If you go to a Chinese place all the time and you feel comfortable enough that you could talk to the owner, suggest these ingredients for one or two menu items to them and see what they say. Some menu items are already gluten free, like the Lemon Chicken at Joy Luck. It is cornstarch-battered chicken with a clear lemon sauce. Perfect. No menu haggling needed. Or the Walnut Shrimp (top), a yummy dish made with honey and cream. Or the Tangerine Chicken (middle). I don't even know what's in that one. It's spicy and sweet with the crunchy cornstarch battered chicken. The day I had Lettuce Wraps with gluten free chicken filling was reason enough for a happy dance. Now I suggest that restaurant to my friends when we go out to eat, because I can eat with confidence. And the food is delicious, no gluten necessary. So happy eating to you all, and now I'm going to go eat some leftovers.