How to Explore New Flavors and the Best Ones to Try Right Now

February 20, 2010 11:26 am

How to Explore New Flavors and the Best Ones to Try Right Now

When you start to grow tired of your constant rotation of New American, French, Italian and Mexican restaurants, it's time to branch out and try something new. No, sushi doesn't exactly count. We're talking about trying new cuisines entirely. Exploring new regional flavors is a great way to expand your palate, get excited about eating out again, and get inspired to cook on your own. Here are a few of our favorite "new" flavors and easy ways to give them a try!

Vietnamese—Bánh mì Sandwiches
Vietnamese cuisine is known for utilizing fresh ingredients and being one of the healthier Asian choices. Traditional flavors include fish sauce, soy sauce, lemongrass, Vietnamese mint, and Thai basil as well as meats (especially pork) and seafood. Two of the most popular Vietnamese exports of late are their classic noodle soup dish, phở, and Vietnamese sandwiches, or bánh mì. Tip: Bánh mì are an easy, delicious way to sample Vietnamese flavors. Made with pickeled carrots, daikon, cucumbers, cilantro, pate and meats of your choices on a special kind of baguette, these sandwiches are a relic of French colonialism in Vietnam. The baguette and pate take the French influence while the other flavors are uniquely Vietnamese. Trick: Bánh mì sandwich shops have begun popping up seemingly everywhere, but if there isn't one in your city, look for sandwiches labeled "Vietnamese sandwich/sub/hoagie/etc."

Technique: We love our bánh mì spicy with plenty of hot sauce or Siracha at New York City's own Baogette.

Korean—Kimchi
Main dishes in Korean food mainly focus around rice or noodles as a base, but one of our favorite parts about eating Korean food is the banchan, the small side dishes that are served with or before Korean meals. One of the most common banchan is something you are probably familiar with, kimchi. Kimchi is a treatment that involves fermenting cabbage or other vegetables. The combination of ginger, garlic, scallions, and chili pepper make for a deliciously spicy refreshing dish. Trick: the latest trends involve incorporating kimchi as a garnish on foods you already love--think tacos, hot dogs, hamburgers, and even sausages, or just enjoy it by itself.

Korean—Fried Chicken
David Chang, the mind behind Momofuku, has always been on the forefront of trends and his unique take on fried chicken is no exception. At his restaurant Momofuku Noodle Bar, Chang offers a reservation-only (the restaurant does not otherwise take them) 8-person fried chicken dinner. At dinner, you and your guests will get two full chickens, one fried in a classic buttermilk batter and the other a tangy mix of Asian spices. Another New York City favorite is BonChon Chicken, specializing in Korean style fried chicken. Tip: look for fried chicken on any Korean menu and give it a try, you will be surprised by this new way to enjoy a dish you've probably been ignoring for years.

New Austrian
Recently heralded by Bon Appetit as one of the best options for a winter dinner, the new take on Austrain cuisine updates some classics that you may or may not be familiar with. If dishes like goulash, spätzle, or Linzertorte don't excite you right away, take a look at the menu at New York's Café Katja for some inspiration. Spätzle, snow peas, shiitake, pea sprouts and peppercorn sauce has us converted. Tip: exploring Austrian cuisine is a great excuse to try out some delicious Austrian wines like Grüner Veltliner and Zweigelt.