Cuisine:

• Others
• Asian
• Pan-Asian
• Contemporary

Tenpenh Description:
Executive chef Jeff Tunks, owner of the excellent DC Coast, is trying his hand at this luxurious Asian/Pacific-inspired eatery, which showcases a sampling of classics. Of course, these haven't left the kitchen without some of Tunks' special touches, a softening of a curry sauce here and perhaps a pairing of Asian and Western ingredients there. As devoted Asian food fans, we were pleased with how the kitchen handled most dishes, especially the wok-seared spicy calamari salad to start---why not a toss of toasted cashews for crunch? Good, too, were the artfully arranged plump Filipino lumpia with assorted dipping sauces. As for entrées, we debated whether the red Thai curry prawns could stand more chili heat---probably so---and decided the classy steamed vegetable assortment served in a bamboo basket with a peanut dipping sauce may have been the meal's best bet. If available, try one of the fish perched on a bed of mashed potatoes spiked with Japanese wasabi. Pastry chef David Guas came up with a tempting trio of tropics-inspired crèmes brûlées and a five-spice chocolate cake. Perhaps the best of the lot, but only Asian by a stretch of the imagination: a chocolate cup cake with a warm and gooey center accompanied by a splash of aromatic passion fruit sauce and ice cream.


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