Vietnamese Food

[tammy]

Hi,

I enjoy our local Thai restaurant. But I have never eaten Vietnamese food.

What is sate? And what is Nuoc Cham Sauce? I do like tamarind and peanuts as well as coconut but I don't know if these sauces are gluten-free. I suppose I have to ask for each dish.

Does anyone know the vietnamese word for gluten or wheat?

Thanks!!

[kerrera]

Hi Tammy! I'm sorry, I can't help you out with sauces, but I do know that whenevr I eat Vietnamese I order Pho and it's great! Really fresh and healthy. Fresh spring rolls are also a safe bet as long as you don't use the sauce that comes with them.I've been trying to figure out what's safe to eat at Thai restaurants. I use Thai Kitchen products all of the time at home but I've told at one Thai restaurant that all of their sauces have a wheat soy-sauce base and therefore aren't safe. I was confused becasue I thought that Thai was a pretty safe celiac bet since fish sauce is the base of most of their sauces....Any suggestions?

Thanks so much,

Kristy

[jaimek]

You eat the spring rolls? Aren't they wrapped in fried flour tortilla things?

[KaitiUSA]

We went to a Vietnamese place today. They have rolls that are made with flour tortillas and then others made with rice paper. The place we went said the only thing they had with gluten was that one roll however I am skeptical about all of the sauces.

[kerrera]

Yes, I'm talking about the fresh spring rolls wrapped in rice paper, not the fried ones. Anyone have any advice on my Thai question?

Kris

[aljf]

hey kerrera,

most dishes include soy sauce, so there's probably wheat in there, sorry to tell you. also, rice paper and rice noodles always are made w/rice flour, BUT they also often include wheat-based flour, so you really need to be careful. sorry to be the buzzkill, guys...

[lovegrov]

The two Thai restaurants I've been to, a larger number of dishes did NOT have soy sauce. Pad Thai, for instance, should not have soy sauce. But I don't doubt that some add it. All you can do is ask. In addition, all the Thai rice noodles I've bought have been wheat free, but some restaurants might do something different.

richard

[kerrera]

Wow! I would never of thought that rice noodles could have wheat in them! Good call! I'll definitely ask next time. And thanks Richard, I'll ask about the Pad Thai.

Take care,

Kris

[once and again]

RE Vietnamese restaurants. I found one in Chicago's Loop that will marinate meat in "fish sauce" instead of soy sauce for me. Very tasty and with rice noodles. Also the Pho - noodle soups are usually made with rice noodels and the meats are not marinated. Of course you'll have to check but I've had really good luck with the owner. The spring rolls are not fried and are great. I can even have the peanut dipping suace 'cause they don't add soy sauce at this location.

I usually get this food at lunch and either fax or call my order in an hour before or eat after the big rush is over - 1:30 or so.

Have not had a much luck with Thai food. have only found one dish at my local Thai restaurant. It's good, but it is great to have more choices.