Branch Out With Ethnic Foods

At one time, eating ethnic foods in the United States wasn’t much of an adventure. Our choices were to order out for Chinese, munch on Mexican, or lay down big bucks for elegant French fare. We enjoyed these cuisines, of course, and still do, but, with the influx of additional ethnic groups into the United States, restaurants of lesser known cuisines have been burgeoning.

Now, in addition to standard Mexican, Chinese, Italian and French cuisines, we have an international assortment of Vietnamese, Korean, Thai, Ethiopian, Mexican, Chinese, Italian and French cuisines, and a host of other delicious foods. And many of these are really authentic.

To rediscover the joy of ethnic eating, just open up your yellow pages, or search your Internet for local listings, and pick out a restaurant which features a cuisine you've never tasted before. Here are some tips to make your meal even more enjoyable.

BEFORE YOU GO:

• Pick out a new cuisine you'd like to taste.

• Consult local newspapers and restaurant guides to see which restaurants featuring this cuisine the reviewers recommend.

• Read the reviews and make a note of the dishes that they particularly liked and didn't like. (Remember, though, your taste buds are different, so you may have a different opinion.)

• Go to the library and get a little background information on the country. Learn about its culture and customs of this country. If possible, check out a cookbook or two on the country and its cuisine. Skim through the cookbooks to get a feel for the types of dishes that you think you'd like to order.

• Invite some friends to go "dutch treat" and discover the new dining experience with you. If four people are in your party, for example, you'll be able to order a wide array of food and let the forks fly as you sample all the dishes.

• Don't expect to like everything on the menus. Every cuisine has its equivalent of Brussels sprouts.

• Make a note of the dishes you like and dislike so you'll be able to order -- or avoid -- them the next time. Many restaurants have carry-out menus, so take one home and annotate it with your own "star" system which rates the restaurant and the individual dishes.

• If you like the new cuisine that you've tried, come back to the restaurant to sample some of their other items. Look for other restaurants that feature the same type of cuisine.

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