Pacific Rim by Kana

Pacific Rim’s unique pan-Asian cuisine reflects the chef’s own Asian-American roots. Duc is ethnically Chinese-Vietnamese but considers himself as much American as Asian. Likewise, he doesn’t see his food as a ‘fusion’ of western and asian cuisine, but as distinctly asian and distinctly western. “I don’t like the term fusion because it connotes the idea of blending two disparate elements and forcing them to work together when they shouldn’t be together.” He describes his food as authentically asian in its careful use of traditional ingredients and flavors coupled with the appropriate cooking styles. Yet it is decidedly western in its commitment to using the finest ingredients, its reliance on basic French techniques and its emphasis on freshness and seasonality. The result is a distinctive menu that draws from the best of both worlds.