Check out the Test Kitchen at Zengo

 

Zengo’s unique Latin Asian fused menu serves foodies across the country in Washington D.C., New York City, Santa Monica and Denver at 1610 Little Raven Street.. The restaurant is famous for their XO styled edamame, wonton tacos, and chipotle miso glazed black cod but the menu is worth exploring. Every quarter, chefs at Zengo focus on one Latin and one Asian country and combine their individual cooking traditions. Drinks and dishes found on the menu labeled “Test Kitchen” puts visitors in the shoes of a culinary conquistador.

Check out this quarter’s (running until the end of December) fusion between Peru and Malaysia; featuring a ginger chile marinated char roasted skate wing that resembles a scallop in taste and texture, and the the Pisco Elevation, made with lychee pisco capel and elderflower liqueur.  Another item worth trying is the Spicy Crab Potato “Sushi” which as the name implies, is a new take take on sushi incorporating potatoes as the base. Any paella fans? The arroz con mariscos could be your meal of choosing. The seafood feast is made with mussels, calamari, yello shrimp curry and scallops in a made with malay rice base.

The nature of this restaurant’s take on cuisine is evident in the words of Hoytt Boles, “I think it’s important to keep the menu fresh. It brings in new ingredients and techniques and keeps chefs evolving.”

Because fresh fish is flown in from Maine twice a week, there is no doubt that you’ll be able to find the freshest seafood on the daily. Zengo’s menu utilizes unique ingredients and recipes from around the world, perhaps a reflection of owner Richard Sandoval’s past. Hailing from Mexico City, Sandoval made his name traveling the world competing as a professional tennis player. Today, he owns a variety of high-end restaurants around the world, including Denver area’s La Sandia and the Maya in Beaver Creek.

Carri’s Catch: Dive deep into a selection of over 400 artisan produced tequilas during happy hour from 5pm to 7pm Monday to Saturday (just not all at once) and don’t forget about  Zengo’s “Bottomless Brunch” that runs Saturday to Sunday from 10:30am to 2:30pm.