Certain tastes and smells take me back to a specific time in my life, sometimes even when I don't want to go there. I dropped by Indochine — downtown Tacoma’s trip to exotic Asia with a lounge whose masterful design creates a sophisticated space with colorful changing lights, sleek lines and great service.  My mission?  To discover a romantic corner to set the mood before a Valentine dinner next week (the area next to the private dining room has low lights), but instead I found myself on a quick jaunt through my childhood.



Indochine’s Thai Kiss ($8), a sweet concoction of vanilla vodka, Frangelico, Amaretto, Thai coffee and cream sent me back to my Easy-Bake Oven days, the only period when I truly enjoyed cooking. The delight of the Easy-Bake Oven was not just that you could "cook" unsupervised with a lightbulb (like magic!), but that you could also enjoy eating sweet, creamy pre-mixed batter without parental regulation. The Thai Kiss improves on the original experience with the addition of vodka and coffee.  



The childhood flashback was a fun ride, but trust me: Thai Kiss isn't for kids.



[Indochine Asian Dining Lounge, 1924 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.8200]