“Good food, good drink, good ambiance, good people and good times. Life’s far too short for anything less. Grab it while you're able"
Whether dining alone or with friends, Mint Leaf Cuisine Asian Fusion and Thai, is Cecile’s and my go-to-place for casual Pa- Asian dining. This evening we were joined with three friends from Cecile’s Mahjong group and their husbands.
Asian fusion cuisine has been around for as long as there have been people from different ethnicities living in close proximity to one another combining foods from their respective traditions. It began to gain prominence on the American dining scene in the 1980s when chefs like Wolfgang Puck and Roy Yamauchi began experimenting with fusing flavors of different cultures. In later years, as the American palate became more sophisticated thanks to personal travel and the late Anthony Bourdain shows like No Reservations and Parts Unknown, Asian fusion offerings became more diverse. Ingredients such as sriracha, curry and soy sauce became the ketchup and mustard of the day.
Mint Leaf Cusine Asian Fusion & Thai has been in existence for about ten years. Their extensive 3D elephant engraved menu offers a diverse range of ingredients and exotic foods from different parts of Asia and beyond, including udon noodles and nori seaweed from Japan, Greek feta and lemongrass and chili from Thailand. Like the owners, the decor, food, and atmosphere have its roots in the Thai tradition. Its location is in the historic downtown area of Saratoga, CA. We enjoyed platters of appetizers for the table that included cream-cheese dumplings with sweet and sour sauce and potstickers. For entrees, flat ribbon noodles with chicken, New York Steak with spicy noodles and my favorite yellow curry salmon with potatoes, carrots, and coconut rice.
One of the popular features of dining at Mint Leaf that has cultivated a loyal following is their BYOB with No Corkage Fee. Everyone brought a bottle or two of wine and I included several bottles of beer as an option. The restaurant offers many vegetarian options and friendly service.
To me, the ambiance is important to any dining experience. The dining room is appointed with a colorful palette of crimson and gold that reminds me of a smaller version of the ornate Thai temples we visited during our many trips to Southeast Asia. There is an abundance of colorful and comfortable silk pillows that adorn the chairs and benches and decorative tapestries and statues. Moreover, there are white fabric banners hanging from the ceiling with a prominent Buddha image smiling down on the multi-cultural patrons.
