Gluten Free at Masa 14

Of the several successful restauranteurs  in Washington, DC, Richard Sandolval is one of our favorites. Though Alix spent the summer in Upstate New York, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to visit his Latin-Asian inspired  Masa 14 and their gluten free menu.

“Gluten-free” is more than a buzz word these days, and having several close family members struggle with this allergy, the attempt that many area restaurants have made to accommodate this lifestyle is truly inspiring. At one time, ordering a dish sans gluten would have been near impossible; now, it’s exhilarating.

Atleast that’s how it seemed at Masa 14 when I was presented with several of Executive Chef Steven Hartzell’s creations, and his mantra, “Let us worry about the food, so you can relax”.

The Yuku Shrimp Temaki and the Crispy Tofu were the first two plates that arrived at the table.Having never warmed to the idea of tofu, I instantly abandoned any preconceived notions when the tofu test subsequently passed with flying colors.

Charred Octopus was next in line, and having had a few recent octopus disasters, I was wary. No worries there. The char helped ease the blow of the fishiness, and was prepared beautifully. The Grilled Salmon with cilantro mint rice took home the top prize for me. Salmon lovers, unite!

Most of the menu consisted of seafood, but that was no reason to sleep on the Dry Aged Striploin with the Masa steak sauce. Prepared medium rare, it was a great balance for the landlubber craving a bit of meat.

Remembering there is always room for dessert, the Pineapple Mint Sorbet was a great palate cleanser to conclude the meal. It was light and refreshing, nothing that would guilt trip you for hours of your indulgence.

Fortunately, the gluten-free menu is a fun place to explore for us, though not a necessity. If you or someone you adore needs a solid approach to an innovative dietary menu, head to Masa 14. Like Chef Hartzell said, let them worry about the food so you can relax.

Cheers!