Tucked into the shopping strip along Oak Lawn Avenue just north of Wycliffe, (that’s the Highland Park spelling) is The Mint. It’s the latest addition to the modern food fusion scene in Dallas. Unlike a more traditional Thai restaurant, you will find no kitschy décor, no fringed lamps and gold Buddas here. Like the original sister restaurant Asian Mint on Forest Lane, this place is modern.
The atmosphere in the Mint is a contrast to the original location. Here the feeling is cool and serene with a stylish edge all its own. The furnishings are sleek and simple, with rows of comfy padded half-booths lining the walls. Wall decorations and panels are made from real Thai silk in soothing cool colors that give the room a calming effect. The closeness that would seem to be a liability in the Dallas area serves to bring customers together in a shared experience. A busy evening at The Mint is almost like dining with a room full of friends, really cool friends!
The music on the night I visited was very ultra-lounge and the retro tunes gave the room a nice romantic flavor, but here like the Asian Mint on Forest Lane, the food is the main event.
The food is billed as New Bangkok Cuisine. Thailand, sits at the crossroads of Southeast Asia, and its tastes are influenced a great deal by its neighboring countries. The new Thai fusion takes the best of other Asian styles and combines it with the unique Thai sensibility to create something new, while retaining the familiar basics of the country of origin.
I sat down with Nikky, who owns the restaurants with her husband. They started just four years ago with the idea for the first restaurant, Asian Mint. Nikky wanted to bring the real flavors of her homeland – modern Thai cuisine to Dallas.
“People used to think of Thai food as too spicy and hot, but food served in Bangkok is geared to a more international pallet,” Nikky said.
She went on to explain the basics of Thai cuisine. “Thai food is blend of what we call four essences, spicy, salty, sweet and sour. Each dish has a ‘star’ essence while still having the other three.”
At The Mint, the real focus is always on the ingredients, not just the spices. Herbs also play a big part as well. Basil, ginger, and other herbs are paired with the ingredients that compliment the main ingredient of each dish.
That subtle balance was evident in the dishes I sampled. The appetizer was grilled Thai Fish Balls. This Nikky said, was typical Bangkok street food. The tasty bite sized balls are skewered and grilled, served with a sweet and sour peanut sauce, with just a hint of red chilies. The flavorful balls burst in the mouth and are a wonderful way to start a meal.
The main course was Red Curry Roast Duck. Thinly sliced roast duck was stir fried and served in a red curry sauce with fresh basil, tomatoes, pineapple, broccoli, baby bok choy and baby corn. Each ingredient added its own complimentary texture and flavor to the succulent duck. I will be having this dish again, and soon!
Though I declined desert, The Mint specializes in them. Nikky studied to be a pastry chef before becoming a restaurateur, and unlike some Asian restaurants, there are many deserts on the menu including their signature Green Tea Ice Cream cake. It goes well with a cup of illy espresso from The Mint’s coffee bar.
The Mint also offers a very extensive cocktail menu with signature specialty martinis every night and The Mint’s own Saki-jito, an Asian fusion take on the traditional Mojito. For non-alcoholic drinks The Mint has their own Italian water purification system, with still and sparking water available that is bottled on the premises.
The sister restaurant was rated one of the top 10 restaurant in 2005 and no doubt this new addition will receive similar accolades. The Mint is a great way to experience modern Bangkok in the midst of modern Dallas. more info
