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spotlight arts
ETHNIC EATS
Cusines from around the world are available around JoCo Abby Krstulic Section Editor
Tasty Thai
14319 Metcalf Ave. Overland Park, Kan. • 7104 NW Prairie View Rd. Kansas City, Mo. • 1912 Star Dr. Liberty, Mo.
Walking into Tasty Thai was slightly disappointing- I was expecting to be completely immersed into another culture, and while they had some décor, it still seemed like a plain restaurant. There were a few pictures on the walls and a statute in the entryway, but overall it felt like a regular restaurant that also served thai food. That was a bummer, but fortunately, that was the biggest criticism that I had. Everything else was fantastic. One thihng that I loved was that the service was insanely fast (after placing my order, I got my food in less than ten minutes). Our server was courteous and very open to making suggestions, which helped narrow down all of the dishes in the decision process. The menu has a variety of options including soups, noodles, curry dishes and other entrees featuring duck and chicken- all of them have delicious combi-
nations with them. I got the cashew duck dish, and when it was first brought to the table, I saw a burst of color on the plate. Pineapple, cashews, mushrooms, peppers, duck, and even a flower made out of a carrot, decorated the plate. Everything was almost drowned in a sweet sauce, and it all tasted great. The duck was hard to find in the dish because it was cut into small pieces, but once it was found and I could have a bite with more than one ingredient in the dish; it was wonderful. The taste got repetitive after a while (mainly because the dish was so large), but as long as I continued making different flavor combinations, it was fine. My dad got the Gra Praw Nua. The onions and the peppers were cut into pieces that were just a little too big, but overall he enjoyed the beef stir-fry dish. The restaurant was great and I look forward to going back.
Caspian’s Bistro 8973 Mecalf Overland Park, Kan.
The atmosphere of Caspian’s Bistro was very laid back, but still authentic. The restaurant serves Mediterranean, Persian and Middle Eastern dishes. The look of the restaurant was authentic. The service was slow, but our waiter was apologetic about the timing and was still very kind. To start off, each table gets an appetizer that resembles thin pita bread and butter along with a plate of radish, basil, cilantro and onions. The combination seems very odd, but after a few tries I was able to get used to the unique and delicious flavor. From there, I got the Joojeh Soltani dish. It is a charbroiled, marinated hen with a ground beef kabob and a side of rice topped with saffron.
My mother got the Chicken Soltani, essentially the same thing, only with chicken instead of hen. When the plates were brought out, we first noticed that they were huge, making it an easy dish to either share or take home and eat for a leftovers night. The hen was juicy and tasted very close to chicken. The chicken was less spicy but still very good. The spices used to marinate it were present but not overpowering. Unfortunately, the beef tasted like a regular hamburger. However, if you ask for the special dipping sauce, the flavor starts to taste more unique. The rice was great, and the saffron gave it a nice kick of flavor. Caspian’s was a terrific find overall.
Ichiban Sushi 11809 College Blvd. Overland Park, Kan.
Initially, I was nervous about the final ethnic stop, because I had never tried sushi before. The restaurant had a nice atmosphere. There were many decorations but they were authentic and fun. Our server was great and was willing to help us choose what kind of sushi we wanted to try. The guidance he offered was reassuring and I felt ready to order. My friend and I ordered three dishes and split them all. The first sushi we got was the California roll. This was my favorite roll of them all. Filled with crab, avocado, cucumber and fish eggs (along with the seaweed and rice on the outside), the texture of the roll was not overwhelming for a first time sushigoer. The next item we got was the Philadelphia
roll. The texture of the smoked salmon, avocado and cream cheese was a little too much for me, so I was not a fan of this roll; however, I ended up cutting it in half (to the dismay of sushi lovers everywhere), which made it a little easier for me to eat. The final roll we got was slightly obscure. It was the Unagi roll. Containing fresh water eel with a choice of avocado or cucumber, this roll was average for me. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either. When all was said and done, the rolls all had fresh ingredients and my friend noted that it tasted the same as RA, another popular sushi place, but was about half the price. (Our bill was a total of around $20.) Overall, it was a great experience and I cannot wait to try all of the other types of sushi.