Forza Coffee opens new stores

Plus Indochine and new Sofia Bistro

By Jake de Paul on April 26, 2007

Indochine Asian Dining Lounge

Indochine Asian Dining Lounge is not your grandfather’s Thai/Vietnamese restaurant.  High ceilings and carefully chosen décor complement the layout of the spacious restaurant that features a stunning separate lounge, two comfy waiting areas, round tented tables for large parties, private wall-screened suites for intimate dining, and three subareas within the main area. The ambience is relaxed and classy. 

Visiting weekly, we’ll take a year to try everything on Indochine’s extensive menu. Not really, but close, as it offers five types of rice and curries, six noodle dishes, seven types of satays and wok dishes, eight house specialties and 13 appetizers.

A welcome and common theme found in many of Indochine’s offerings: extreme, but balanced flavors. For example, ancho chili paste rubbed, seared Ahi followed by cucumber aioli dressing; chipotle/garlic/habanero chicken cooled by chili aioli; peppered beef steak meets cilantro-lime pesto. Where’s there’s heat, there’s also something to cool the taste buds.

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

Forza coffee continues to expand

As you read this, Brad and Cindy Carpenter most likely are plotting their next Forza Coffee Co. coffeehouse.  Their Tacoma-based company recently opened four locations in Washington — two retail spots on Puyallup’s South Hill, one in Tacoma and one in Lakewood, totaling 15 coffeehouses to date.

The new sites include Top Foods on South Hill at 201 37th Ave S.E., as well as South Hill’s Meridian Street at 129th. Forza has assumed the store at 11401 Steele St. in Tacoma, and there’s a new one in Lakewood at 8813 Edgewater Dr. — Jake de Paul

Nibbles

Sofia Bistro will open in two weeks in the spot once occupied by three other bistros, including The Good Life.  Tucked next to Walgreen’s in University Place (2700 Bridgeport Way W.), the warm bistro is the brainchild of Creig Kostoff (Primo Grill) with Chef Troy Reich driving the menu. >> 99 Bottles hosts a Pike beer tasting with Charles Finkel Tuesday, May 1 at 5 p.m.  The two-hour tasting costs $1 per person.  99 Bottles is at 35002 Pacific Hwy. S. in Federal Way. >> See’s Candies has opened in the South Hill Mall at 3500 S. Meridian in Puyallup.  See, we told you. — JDP