JeanineAlyse wrote:
> There is a new Thai & Vietnamese restaurant here that I may want to
> try, but I have no experience with these foods. I do not care for
> foods that are pepper-hot, I find most Chinese dishes too bland, and I
> love most all Japanese dishes I've tried. Based on your own
> favorites, what would you suggest I try at this new place?
> ...Picky

As trite as they are, my test Thai dishes were usually pad Thai
and tom kha gai (chicken-coconut soup). I always feel a bit
guilty when I order the former though. Another possibility, for
me anyway, would be a panang-style dish. Or maybe a choo chee.
Tom yum goong (or gai) are also good for evaluation
purposes--those are not unctuous and calorific and should have a
nice somewhat spicy somewhat citrusy taste. (The first is a
shrimp version of the soup; the one in parentheses is chicken-based.)

Vietnamese: Pho^' ?a(.c bie^.t. That is, if you like tendon, tripe,
etc. I should add that if this is not done nicely, the tendon,
especially, won't have the right texture.

--
Jean B.