As a vegetarian, one of the most complimentary cuisines out there is Asian food. Most of it is centered around rice, tofu, and all those delicious spices and seasonings. And the best part about Asian cuisine…it never tastes the same at every restaurant. Each place has its own take and its own flare to add to a dish. Even the most basic of dishes can turn into a gastronomic masterpiece.
Fresh off of one of the finest sushi bars and Asian restaurants I had eaten at, a good friend of mine chose an Asian fusion restaurant on Bardstown Road in Louisville, Kentucky, for her birthday lunch. We met outside the restaurant just as it opened and were the first customers of the day at this beautiful establishment.
Beautiful is not an understatement. The sushi bar is beautifully arranged and the first thing you see as you enter the building. The waitresses seated us at a table in the back and gave us time to browse the menu. My friend’s mom insisted on sushi, but this place did not offer a vegetable roll. Too bad, really. But the sushi was a huge hit with everyone at the table. My roommate preferred the California roll over those with more of a fishy taste. And she was dared to try one of the rolls with the fish over the top, and took the challenge. While she didn’t like it, she polished off that roll. It wasn’t a reflection of the food. Sushi just isn’t her thing. Everyone else enjoyed the various rolls down to the very last bite, polishing it off.
For the entrée, I chose to order the Crispy Tofu Sichuan Style, which consisted of lightly fried tofu with garlic, ginger, spicy soy, and a touch of Asian vinaigrette reduction over sautéed Chinese greens and Goji berries. It was served with a choice of the house salad or their soup. I opted for the house salad topped with ginger dressing.
The salad arrived and it was delicious. The dressing was light and seasoned just right. It didn’t overpower the vegetables, and it stood out. It was different from every other dressing I had on a salad. And that, alone, would make me order it again with my next meal here. Very delicious!
The Crispy Tofu Sichuan Style was beyond delicious. It was fantastic. The tofu was crispy on the outside, but melt-in-your-mouth on the inside. It was the perfect texture. Not only that, it was cooked properly and seasoned to perfection. Tofu can be tricky, but Wild Ginger does it right and does it well. The sauce served with the meal was fantastic. The right amount of seasoning so that the food popped with flavor with every bite, and didn’t taste bland. It was fantastic.
If not for the decision of my friend to eat here, I probably never would have entered Wild Ginger. But now that I have…and now that I have sampled a bit of what their menu offers, I honestly can’t wait to go back and try something else. While their menu doesn’t have as many vegetarian choices, the ones they offer sound delicious. And I can’t wait to get back again and again and try every single one. If they are as good as the meal I had the first time, then they’ve won a new regular customer.
My recommendation if you find yourself on Bardstown Road in Louisville, Kentucky…forgo some of the pizza places, the bars, and the fast-food joints and give Wild Ginger’s Asian fusion menu a whirl. You won’t be disappointed.
The Celiathlete 