Taste of Asia

Written by Sally Sanders
Thursday, 30 October 2008 16:21

To celebrate more than 20 successful years in business in New Canaan, where they started in a small space next to the movie theater, Wayne and Sandy Chan of Wilton have expanded their Taste of Asia restaurant, adding a sushi bar, new furniture, art from China, and tablecloths and candles at dinner time.

In addition to Chinese specials, the menu now includes Japanese, Vietnamese, French, and Asian fusion dishes to satisfy all appetites.

Originally from China, Wayne Chan immigrated to the United States in 1968 and met his wife-to-be, Sandy, in New York where she was already in the restaurant business. At Taste of Asia, Sandy Chan supervises the kitchen where Vincent Koe is the executive chef; Wayne Chan takes care of the dining area.

All dishes are attractively presented. I enjoyed the coconut tropical  seafood soup, and other choices were miso, with seaweed, tofu and scallions with soybean paste; Tom Yum Gung, a Thai spicy soup with lemongrass; hot and sour, spicy chicken with bean curd; and wonton and egg drop soups.

Crispy calamari salad with arugula and miso vinaigrette dressing; grilled jumbo shrimp salad with mixed spring salad and yuzu citrus dressing; and Vietnamese salad with mango, jicama, crushed peanuts and crispy cellophane noodles with vinaigrette dressing are also popular.

The chef’s special Japanese rolls include Dancing Eel Dragon roll with kani, avocado, cucumber and shrimp tempura inside and eel, avocado and caviar on top; hot and spicy Canaan roll with Cajun spice-crusted albacore tuna with sundried tomato inside and seared yellow tail with honey Dijon mustard sauce on top; and New England roll with crispy shrimp tempura and crunchy spicy tuna topped with crispy soft shell crab with plum and eel sauce. Classic, hand, spicy and vegetable rolls are also available with many choices of sushi and sashimi a la carte.

Luncheon specials are served with vegetable fried rice, steamed or brown rice, and choice of soup or egg roll. The bento boxes (complete meal) are also popular.

Signature dinner entrees are broiled Chilean sea bass with pan fried soba and black bean sauce; orange-glazed miso Scottish salmon; duck breast combined with fruit salad and raspberry sauce; spicy prawns Indonesian style in sambal sauce; and grilled filet mignon with creamy mushroom sauce and spinach dressing. Pad Thai and lo mein are among the Asian specials.

Fried ice cream and banana or cheesecake tempura are dessert choices in addition to mochi ice cream.

Artistic presentation gives plenty drama to every plate served. Always on hand to welcome guests, the Chans orchestrate every detail of the restaurant.

Serving lunch and dinner from 11:30 to 10 Monday to Thursday; 11:30 to 11 Friday; noon to 11 Saturday; noon to 10 Sunday; closed Thanksgiving; open 4:30 to 10 on Christmas.

Reservations accepted weekdays; preferred weekends; major credit cards; handicapped-accessible; child-friendly; full bar; Asian fusion, Japanese, Vietnamese and French; vegetarian selections; dim sum weekends; take-out; off-premises catering; casual dress; private parties; street and municipal parking.

Soups: $3 to $5.50

Appetizers: $3.50 to $12

Salads: $6.75 to $8.75

Sushi bar a la carte: $2 to $4.50

Sushi combination plates: $15 to $40

Classic rolls: $5 to $10

Entrees: $16 to $24

Japanese cuisine: $9 to $18

Asian entrees: $13 to $35

Lunch specials: $7.50 to $9

Rice, noodles: $9 to $14

Wine, glass: $7 to $9

Wine, bottle: $25 to $225

Dessert: $3.50 to $9

Side dishes

Chef Brian Bender, a 1994 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, is the owner of the new Cutting Board Café, 103 Danbury Road, Copps Hill Common in Ridgefield, featuring breakfast, lunch, Sunday brunch and catering. In-store baked goods and a wide variety of vegetarian selections are offered; all poultry and beef are steroid-, hormone- and antibiotic-free (203-438-0300)...A new “catch a deal” menu for $14.22, tax and tip excluded, is available seven days a week between 4 and 6 at The Catch, 967 Ethan Allen Highway, Ridgefield. On Paella Thursdays, it’s $25 per person. Saturday and Sunday brunch are also available. Reservations, 203-438-4422.