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RESTAURANT RANTS & RAVES
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro--Harmony and Balance in Every Bite By Suzy Schurr NFCA Volunteer For those of you who have never dined at P.F Chang’s China Bistro and think it is just a typical Chinese restaurant – you are in for a delicious surprise. From the moment we entered the restaurant for the first time, we were struck by the unexpected contemporary feel of the dark wood floors, tables and walls. There was no sign of Asian lanterns or dragon prints or red napkins anywhere. The sleek décor along with the almost youthful hip feel is the norm for all of the different restaurant locations. The chef takes traditional Chinese offerings and creates innovative and modern variations for his guests.  My husband, kids and I visited P.F. Chang’s with my parents and 12-year-old nephew. We were all familiar with the routine; order what you like for yourself, but be prepared to share. I, being the only celiac in our party of seven was thrilled when my mom volunteered to order off the gluten-free menu so I could do some sharing of my own. We started with the famous “Chang’s Chicken in Soothing Lettuce Wraps”. This item is available on both the regular and gluten-free menu. A small plate of six crisp iceberg lettuce leaves was delivered along with a plate of a yummy filling consisting of tasty cubes of moist chicken, water chestnuts, rice noodles, oyster mushrooms and tiny specks of green onion all mixed together with a gluten-free soy sauce. Our mission was to carefully fill a lettuce cup with the mixture and roll up the edges as a wrap. A big surprise for the palette came with the cool crunchy texture of the lettuce against the warm salty bite of the filling. It was a definite crowd pleaser for us all. Next, my mom and I shared three gluten-free dishes; Chang’s Lemon Scallops, Shanghai Street Noodles and Spinach Stir Fried with Garlic. The Lemon Scallops were the absolute winner. Each large scallop was perfectly seared with a slight crunch on the outside and a soft smooth center. Our plate of about 12 scallops was tossed in a light flavorful lemon sauce with just a few specks of chopped scallion. I will definitely be adding this to my “must order again” list. The Shanghai Street Noodles on the other hand was not as impressive, yet did satisfy our daily “carb” cravings. Matchstick cut carrots, cabbage and scallion was combined with a generous portion of angel hair rice noodles and topped with baby shrimp and bite size pieces of chicken and tomato. It was very filling though there was not quite as much shrimp and chicken as we would have liked. The Spinach Stir Fried with Garlic was a refreshing addition to our two ordered entrees. I was expecting a heavy garlic flavor typical of spinach with garlic dishes, yet was pleasantly surprised by the chef’s choice to keep the flavor of the spinach from being over powered by the strong condiment. Only one option on the dessert menu is gluten-free. Not to worry though, it was outstanding. The Flourless Chocolate Dome was a decadent mound of chocolate goodness. A few blueberries, raspberries and a strawberry added to the beautiful presentation as well as a little guiltless noshing between bites of the cake. As our meal came to an end, our three generations of Chinese food lovers agreed, we will absolutely be back for another visit very soon. To find a P.F. Chang’s China Bistro location near you, log on to www.pfchangs.com. |
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