The first stop on our alphabetical restaurant journey took us on a trip to Azia. This hip, eat street restaurant is a fusion of the many vastly different cuisines that are contained within the continent of Asia. Their offerings ranged from pho, curry, and pad thai, to sushi and seafood. The drink menu was also full of variety with a great sake and wine list, exotic cocktails, and a array of beer –including a gluten free offering!
We began our evening of culinary bliss with the Kabocha Squash Dumplings. These dumplings (think pot stickers) were very reminiscent of a squash ravioli; however they quickly strayed from their Italian counterpart when you tasted the blend of creamy, sweet squash with the tangy but spicy ginger soy sauce.
The highlight of our dining experience for me was the Cranberry Curry. This dish was a burst of a complex blend of flavors! The sweet but tart taste of the cranberries, the milky curry, and spicy peppers were all equally present and combined for a unique taste unlike any Asian dish I have experienced. I recommend getting this dish with chicken.
The Northwood’s Walleye in Jalapeno-Basil Sauce was an interesting spin on Minnesota’s favorite fish. Compared to the other dishes ordered it was a rather large portion and one of the most colorful of presentations! The breaded and pan-fried fillet was slightly bland on it’s own but when coupled with the sauce and pineapple, it transported you far away from the cabin fare of our Scandinavian heritage.
If you are looking for a typical southeast Asian dish and a smaller portion, the Basil Supreme would be for you. This is a classic combination of vegetables and basil in a ginger soy sauce, served with rice. We sampled it with Calamari, which to our pleasant surprise, wasn’t breaded and had wonderful texture.The Sushi was very fresh and was presented beautifully. Although I wouldn’t put this in my top 5 destinations for great sushi in the Twin Cities, it was very delicious and there were some unique combinations.
Our experience at Azia was fabulous! The service was very attentive. Drinks were delivered quickly and the food was served in a reasonable time frame. The atmosphere was chic, fun and upbeat, and the space is decorated to host any occasion. If going on the weekend, I would recommend getting a reservation, because it gets quite busy. As spring fever hits in earnest, Azia will ship you off to a foreign and exotic place, even if only until you finish dinner.
Other recommendations from our club that start with an ‘A’:
-Adele’s Frozen Custard (now that the weather is warming up it’s a great cold treat)
-Restaurant Alma (one of my all time favorites – and it supports local and organic ingredients)
-Amici Pizza and Bistro - great Italian in Northeast
Next months destination – Bar La Grassa (800 Washington Avenue North). April 14th @ 6:00. Let me know if you would like to join us! Bon appetit!
