Tag Archives: pan asian

Aja: Where Trendy South Meets East Cuisine

Aja is where Kim Zolciak and Kandi Burrus had their joint b-day bash on the Real Housewives of Atlanta, but if highfalutin, pseudo-celebs isn’t your thing, Aja Restaurant and Bar is a hit with all trendy Atlanta diners.

Housed in the former Emeril’s location in Buckhead, its two story frame is adorned with red and black Asian-inspired décor and wall art, of which a 10-foot brass Buddha – straight from Thailand – sits in the middle of the dining room as the main attraction. In the sleek open space, the second floor overlooks the downstairs lounge area where guests can people-gaze from up top.

You can’t have a modern Asian kitchen without the pan-Asian flavors of Dim Sum on the menu, which is just a sample of the 20 diverse cuisines including Chinese (Peking Duck), Thai (Thai Red Curry), Indian, Vietnamese and Japanese. Serving lunch and dinner, enjoy a sushi roll on your work break inside the private dining room, or sip signature Mai Tai’s during after hours while taking in the views of the beautiful Buckhead skyline on the sprawling outdoor lounge, where relaxing is the norm.

Described by its owner as a club-cum-restaurant – this hip establishment takes on a nightclub vibe in the late evening, as an in-house DJ spins your favorite mixes on Friday and Saturday nights.

Insider’s Tip: Offering new weekly specials every week ranging from ½ price bottles of wine on select nights and $5 sushi rolls during limited times, be sure to call ahead or check their website for exclusive discounts.

Owner/Curator Amanda Fernandez-Leon Swears by The Restaurant at the Setai

“Picking a favorite restaurant in Miami is like picking your favorite star in the sky: an impossible feat,” Amanda Fernandez-Leon, owner and curator of Calix Gustav Gallery, told citybuzz. “But there is one restaurant that truly never fails- this is not just a restaurant, it’s The Restaurant at the Setai.”

Located in arguably the best hotel in Miami, The Restaurant at the Setai is pan asian cuisine that exceeds all expectations and prior experiences. As a Miami trendsetter and owner of one of Miami’s most avant-garde galleries, Amanda has a spot-on taste for what’s cooking in Miami, and especially for what’s sizzlin’ at The Restaurant.

“The menu is massive and intimidating for newcomers,” Amanda warns, but follow her favorites and you’re sure to have as fabulous experience as she does. “The Pecking Duck Salad with the sweetest shallots you’ll ever taste; nothing says Dim Sum like the melt-in-your-mouth Steamed Barbecue Pork Buns; the Pork Belly with dreamy Kimchi is unreal; the Lamb Curry is my pick for my last meal on Earth; and [finally] the Tandoor Jumbo Tiger Shrimp, so succulent it’s naughty,” Amanda recommends. With food that delicious and with so many options, she adds this advice, “Ladies, I don’t recommend wearing a tight dress.” Point taken.

*** Amanda Fernandez-Leon is the owner and curator of one of Miami’s most avant-garde galleries, the new Calix Gustav Gallery, in the trendy Wynwood Arts District. With an unbelievable taste for the unique, she has also established herself as a trendsetter in both the culinary and fashion worlds. Always decked to the nines, Amanda can be found giving tours at her gallery as well as dining at restaurants that are on the verge of becoming the next big thing.

Spice Market Spices Up the Meatpacking

Few places command the same opening buzz and packed seats six years down the road, but Spice Market has become a mainstay destination in the ever-evolving Meatpacking district. A mega-restaurant – two floors of carved wood canopies and Southeast Asian inspired decor with a perfect people-watching patio- delivers food that’s as delicious and consistent as one would expect from celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Spice Market is technically inspired from the street food of Southeast Asia, but the cuisine, which taps the flavors of Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and India, is delivered with luxurious style. For a perfect meal, start off with the Chicken Samosas- a perfect blend of crispy outer shell and moist meat inside; favorite entrees include Steamed Red Snapper with Shitake Mushrooms, Ginger, Scallions and Tarragon or the Red Curried Duck, where a side of the sweet Coconut Sticky Rice Steamed in Banana Leaf takes the spicy curry to another level; finish off the meal with the Thai Jewels and Fruits with Crushed Coconut Ice for a cool dessert. Meals are meant to be shared, so don’t be afraid to order plenty for the table.

Reservations are highly recommended as Spice Market is one of the hottest dining options in its trendy downtown neighborhood, but if all else fails, make sure to grab a seat at the bar where mixologists whip up unique spins on cocktail favorites like the Saigon Cosmo, Ginger Margarita and Pineapple Mojito.

Sunda provides an atypical twist on Asian fare