Gluten VS Gluten-Free: PF Chang's desserts

Friday afternoon a group of us went out to PF Chang's. As stated in our previous blogs, we are now in love with this restaurant. Anywho - on this particular occasion, we decided to get some dessert. I ordered the 'great wall of chocolate' and Tommie ordered the 'GF flourless chocolate dome'. So how did they match up?


The GF dessert was AMAZING!!!!! Don't let the size of this treat confuse you - there is a lot of flavor in this small amount of yumminess. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure how much of this one could eat because it is that rich. It is a great dessert to share with another person.

The size of this cake is crazy. This could feed about 4-5, maybe even more, people. The downside, the flavor. The cake was lacking in the 'pow' of flavor and texture. I thought the cake would be moist, but it wasn't really - more sponge-like.

Which dessert won? The GF flourless chocolate dome - hands down!!!! Everyone at the table agreed. The GF option at PF Chang's is amazing and it would be a shame to leave without trying it.

Restaurant Review: P.F. Chang's

So Tommie and I had a postponed Valentine's dinner on Saturday at P.F. Chang. This was our first time going and I know, we're probably the last people in Indianapolis to dine there. Let me just sum up our experience in one word: AWESOME.

We had the P.F. Chang's for Two which is a four course meal for $39.99. We had the following:
Appetizer: GF chicken lettuce wraps
Soup: GF egg drop
Entree: GF Chang's Spicy Chicken and GF Pepper Steak with white and brown rice
Dessert: chocolate mousse(GF) and cheesecake(not GF)

I had heard so many great things about P.F. Chang's that I figured I'd be disappointed - that I would have my hopes so high that it couldn't possibly be that good. However, it was that good, as a matter of fact it was even better.

We made reservations online, and was that a good thing. When we arrived to the restaurant about 7:10PM (our reservation was 7:30PM) it was crazy packed. I thought that we'd never get a seat but they actually seated us early. Then our service was so great. Tommie explained about being gluten-free and the server was old-hat at gluten-free. He knew right off the bat what we could eat and he still wanted to confirm with the chef that everything would be up to standards.

Our enter experience was excellent and this will not be the last time that we visit P.F. Chang's. I just hope that next time I remember we have a 'Warrior' card and use it to get an even greater deal.

Gluten-free mentioned in October's Cooking Light Magazine

Now serving: The gluten-free menu

IT IS ESTIMATED that one in seven Americans has a genetic sensitivity to gluten (the elastic protein found in wheat, barley, and other grains), and restaurants and professional chefs are taking notice.

Aside from being found in foods like breads and pastas, gluten is used as a thickener for soups, sauces, and salad dressings, a stabilizer for ice cream and puddings, and fermented in condiments like Worcestershire sauce, soy cause, and certain vinegars, which can be brewed from wheat.

Richard Vellante, executive chef and executive vice president of restaurants for the Legal Seafoods chain, was persuaded to create a gluten-free menu when he tallied the number of guests who mentioned gluten in their comment cards or e-mailed him via the company's Webs site. Vellante and his team spent four months devising a gluten-free menu that replaces traditional wheat flour with chickpea four in items such as salad croutons, batter for friend clams, and crumb topping for Boston scrod. Outback Steakhouse introduced its first gluten-free menu after being approached by a gluten-sensitivity support group. Today the menu is offered at all Outback restaurants, and the recipe for its top-selling chocolate dessert is now gluten-free.

Many ethnic restaurants have gluten-free offerings, as well. At all 182 P.F. Chang China Bistros, 15 entrees and starters and one dessert are available wheat-free, and many Italian restaurants can substitute gluten-free pastas.

For a list of restaurants in the United States and abroad with gluten-free menus, visit http://www.glutenfreeonthego.com/ . - Louise Kasdon

Sad to say, the Legal Seafood chain is located on the east and southcoasts of America, so that means none for us here in Indiana. You can visit their website at: http://www.legalseafoods.com/index.cfm/page/Home