I have a weird relationship with strip malls.

Most of the time, they are just a blur of cement parking lots, a gross overuse of the colors red and orange, strips of benign buildings hooked together, long and segmented, like a giant urban caterpillar.

Sometimes, I need to stop in and conduct business in a strip mall. Typically, it's business that I DON'T want to conduct, like things having to do with car parts or mailing packages. These transactions are totally necessary, totally annoying, totally cost me a lot of money and are totally not fun.

But there are those times when strip malls are an oasis. I am not hardy when it comes to road trips - they wipe me out. Ah, but through the mist of the desolation of open highway appears the strip mall-like beacon of civilization, a place I can stop and stuff my face with the greasiest deep-fried foods known to humankind while feeling re-fueled, re-energized and American.

And while we are on the topics of food and strip malls ...

When it comes to finer, local and/or eclectic higher-quality dining, the strip mall doesn't register.

But maybe it should.

Enter the city of Las Vegas, a food lover's fantasy playground. On a vacation there 10 years ago, the hubby saw rave reviews for an amazing fine-dining establishment located just "off the strip." We love to gamble with our bellies, and we love great food, so the next thing we knew we were hailing a cab.

Now when the review said "off strip," it meant just that and then some. Soon, the bright lights of the big city were mere embers in the distance as we descended into the darkness and the bowels of Nevada suburbia, watching the miles hemorrhaging away on the cab fare.

I thought we'd been kidnapped.

Suddenly, we made an aggressive left turn into, you got it, a strip mall. Clearly I thought there was a mistake (or it was the next phase of the kidnapping).

No mistake. My heart sunk as we paid the cab ransom and entered the joint. But you already know what happened, right? You know the experience went all Cinderella-style awesome, yes?

Of course, you're right. Once inside, I was transformed by a beautiful atmosphere, superior service and some of the best food and wine I have EVER consumed.

So, do we have those kinds of sensations in Tacoma? Oh, why of course. The trick is, they just aren't necessarily obvious. What does it take to unearth them? Well, my peers always sort that kind of thing out for me through word of mouth. That's the biggie; put your ear to the ground and listen to your foodie friends. They won't steer you wrong.

Pssst ... I'll tell you about a few of my fave tucked-away gems. Will you tell me yours, pretty please?

Hess Bakery and Deli: Nosh on a delicious pretzel and peruse the authentic German baked goods and deli while you wait for tires at the tire shop next door. Willkommen! 6108 Mt. Tacoma Dr. S.W., Lakewood

Moon Rise Café: Shake off your nerves if you are a new driver at the driving school next door, or eat a delicious and healthy meal (or not!) after your workout at the nearby fitness center at one of the most rad breakfast joints around. 6020 Main St. S.W. Suite L, Lakewood

The French Hen Bistro: Bring your bowling league to the next door kitschy bowling alley, play, then pop over to this tiny little bistro for some terrific sandwiches, soups and desserts. 3810 Steilacoom Blvd. S.W. Lakewood

Kyoto Japanese Restaurant: Located in an enormous strip mall near H Mart, the beloved Asian grocer, sits Kyoto, home of sensational sushi that is beautifully presented. 8722 South Tacoma Way, Lakewood

Peanut Sauce Thai Cuisine: You can see I-5 from here, and if it's backed up and got you down, and you want a delicious way to kill time, head into the sea of strip malls bordering the freeway and the Tacoma Mall and indulge in Thai delights in this nondescript place. 5003 Tacoma Mall Blvd., Tacoma

Miyabi Sushi: If you get worn out jamming on guitars at Guitar Center next door or exhausted from looking at vacuums at the nearby vacuum shop, you need to get restored, right? Pop into Miyabi for a great sushi culinary experience. 2919 S. 38th St., Tacoma.