Indochine

On a whim, my mom and I decided to visit Indochine restaurant in Tacoma, Washington yesterday http://indochinedowntown.com/. It was a lovely experience. I strongly recommend the restaurant to anyone who enjoys asian fusion cuisine.

We started off with several "Blue Mermaid" cocktails, which we'd eyed enviously at other tables. A delicious combination of coconut vodka, curacoa, alize, limoncello and lime juice, they were topped with a fresh orchid. At $8.50 a piece for doubles, I felt they were fairly priced, at least by Canadian standards!

We weren't feeling quite hungry enough for dinner, so we shared several appetizers instead. First came the curry chicken satay skewers with peanut sauce and green papya salad on the side ($8). They were incredibly moist and lightly seasoned. The sauce was smoothly textured and had the perfect amount of spice without being overly hot. Next we tried the toasted seseme chicken wrap ($12). Although I wouldn't have called the dish a "wrap" (it came served with a pastry-like flat bread on which you could place the chicken--asian fusion tostada would be more accurate), it was deliciously seasoned and presented beautifully. The chicken was seasoned with peanuts, roasted cashew nuts, mango and basil in a tangy soy-based sauce.

What attracted us to the restaurant initially were the lovely orchids that lined the windows facing the street. The interior was positively breathtaking. The cherry wood, blown glass and brushed aluminum instantly give off a chic yet exotic vibe that marries perfectly with the aesthetic of the cuisine. While I am always wary of restaurants that appear to have invested all their energy in creating an urban chic dining environment at the expense of great food, this place seems to have struck a happy balance between the two without sacrificing comptetitive flavour to their dishes or creative flair in their architecture.

For a feast for both eyes and palate, be sure to visit Indochine while you're near Tacoma Washington.