A new gluten-free menu at Tara Thai

November 6, 11:13 AMDC Gluten-Free Food ExaminerCarol Khalil

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Tara Thai Richmond
www.tarathairichmond.com

Thai food is often naturally gluten-free.  Noodles are typically rice and broths and sauces are frequently made in-house.  The only hiccup is the heavy reliance on soy sauce as a flavoring.   Also, the best Thai restaurants are owned and run by natives of Thailand; language can be a barrier. 

At Tara Thai in Vienna (which is a part of a local chain with locations in Tenleytown, Falls Church, Rockville, Gaithersburg and Arlington), the frequent requests for gluten-free foods has led the owner to collaborate with a customer in the creation of a gluten-free menu.  While the menu itself is not going to print until next year, I was given a sneak peak that I am happy to pass on.

Note: The owner stated that customers should be sure to tell their server about their dietary restrictions and request "No fried food, no soy sauce and no oyster sauce." 

The following menu items can be safely made gluten-free:

Appetizers

• Hoi Obb--mussels steamed with thai flavorings
• Larb Gai--minced chicken, onion, scallions with an exotic sauce
• Papaya Salad Deluxe--green papaya, string beans, tomatoes and peanuts mixed with a spicy dressing
• Num Tok--marinated beef, tossed with red onions, scallions and spicy lime dressing
• Yom Woon Sen--warm cellophane noodle salad with shrimp, chicken, onion, tomatoes and spicy lime dressing
• Yum Talay--warm shrimp, scallop, mussel, squid, scallion and spicy lime dressing

Soup

• Typhoon soup--seafood soup in a spicy broth
• Tom Ka Gai--chicken soup in coconut milk with lemongrass and galanga
• Tom Klong Goong--shrimp and mushroom soup in a lemongrass-galanga broth with chilis
• Tom Ka Hed--vegetable soup in coconut milk wiith lemongrass and galanga

Entrees

• Hoi Pik Pow--mussels sauteed with hot chili and basil
• Pad Pik King--choice of protein suateed with curry paste and string beans
• Deep Sea--seafood stir-fried with celery, onions, scallion and egg in a curry sauce
• Green Curry
• Gaeng Ped Yang--roasted duck with red curry, pineapple, tomatoes and grapes
• Panang Curry--choice of protein in red peanut curry and basil
• Pad Thai--rice noodles stir-fried with shrimp, tofu, peanuts, bean sprouts and egg
• Pad Thai Jae--vegetarian pad thai
• Gaeng Jae--mixed vegetables and tofu in green curry
• Pad Pik King Jae--string beans, yellow squash and tofu with curry paste

Eat safe!