I’m packing my bags for the Gluten & Allergen Free Expo in Chicago, where I’ll be doing a demo featuring gluten-free Asian cooking. (This is the first time I’m traveling with knives. Can’t wait to see how that turns out!) When I teach these types of classes, I generally have two goals in mind: teaching people how to make the foods they really miss (pot stickers) and convincing the audience that cooking Asian food at home is actually fun. I know it can seem intimidating, but if you keep a few pantry staples on-hand (wheat-free […]

Living in Portland, I feel a touch of panic when raindrops fall in September. It’s not part of the deal. Traditionally September is one of our finest months–sunshine and 60s–and one we all deserve in preparation for the rainy season. The past week has been a bit dark, but I’m determined (and hopeful) that summer will come back for an encore performance, no matter how brief. Since my cooking style always fluctuates with the seasons, I’ve been tempted to break out a big heavy pot and start braising. But I can’t, not yet. So I […]

In my constant quest for gluten-free Asian food, I often turn to dishes from Thailand or Vietnam. Since Southeast Asian cuisines are more dependent on fish sauce (often called nam pla or nuoc mam) than wheat-heavy soy sauce, many traditional foods can be enjoyed without substitution. This isn’t to say you should let your guard down when ordering Thai or Vietnamese food: Oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, yellow bean sauce, Maggi seasoning, sweet soy sauce, wonton skins, and more can still contain gluten. But many of may favorite dishes, including vibrant chopped meat salads with toasted […]