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Kiet Nguyen, and his wife, Hanh, know their Japanese cuisine. The two have owned restaurants in the area including Kiha.

Now the two are venturing into Vietnamese cuisine with Vietnamese Garden Cuisine (2505 Battleground Ave., Greensboro; 282-7799).

"I wanted to try something new," Kiet Nguyen says.

Vietnamese Garden is the space formerly occupied by Healthy Spice and most recently, Pho Ha Vietnamese Beef Noodle House. The interior is simply and tastefully decorated, and tables are set with white-linen and sparkling serviceware for dishes such as Vietnamese Garden Steak ($11.95), marinated filet mignon; Vietnamese Garden Noodles ($12.95) with shrimp, scallops, beef and chicken; and Mabo Tofu Sauce ($10.95) stir-fried in a house sauce.

Noodle dishes include Special Rice Noodles ($7.95) with sliced beef and meatballs in broth and Vermicelli with Shrimp ($7.95).

There's lots of seafood on the menu, including Mussels with Black Bean and Fresh Ginger Sauce ($12.95) and Soft Shell Crab in Spicy Tomato Sauce ($16.95).

Vietnamese Garden offers traditional hot pots served communal style in a stainless steel pot kept warm with a tea light. Selections like Hot and Sour Chicken Soup ($12.95) and Sea Bass Hot and Sour Soup ($17.95) are enough for two.

The Nguyens do offer many of their Japanese specialties including Coriander Noodle with Tuna ($15.95), Soba Noodles with Grilled Salmon ($14.95) Vietnamese Garden Lamb Curry ($14.95) with Chinese and Thai influences, and Five Spice Tenderloin with Asian Mushrooms ($12.95).

Many vegetarian items are also offered.

The French-influenced desserts menu ($5.95 for all selections) alone might warrant a visit. The Cappuccino Coffee Mousse, Key Lime Calypso mousse and Raspberry Mont Blanc hint at decadence.

Vietnamese Garden offers $5.95 lunch specials 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and include Shrimp with Broccoli, Crab Fried Rice and Tofu with Pineapple and Tomatoes. All are served with jasmine rice and a spring roll.

Vietnamese Garden offers a wine list, import beers and one selection of sake.

Lunch hours are 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. daily, and dinner is 5-9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

February Thai menu

Taste of Thai (1500 Mill St., Suite 101, Greensboro; 273-0180) is offering a special five-course February dinner menu that includes Rooti ($14.95 shrimp or beef, $13.95 pork, chicken or tofu), a crisp puff served with green curry; See See ($13.95), pan-fried salmon or talapia or grilled chicken with Thai sauce; or Chow Wang ($21.95), grilled lobster tail and shrimp severed with yellow noodles.

Each meal includes an appetizer, traditional soup, salad and dessert.

Wine tasting menu

The Undercurrent Restaurant (327 Battleground Ave., Greensboro) is showing the love in February with a three-course wine tasting menu each Thursday night.

Green Lip Mussels with Vanilla Essence, Veal Sweet Breads and Pork Belly over Black Pepper Stone Ground Grits are what's on the menu for Thursday. The menu will be repeated on Friday.

Call 370-1266 for reservations.

Mardi Gras menu

Mardi Gras is still a few weeks away, but things are sure to be hopping when Jody Morphis, a Louisiana native, starts dishing up his Throw Me Somethin' Mister Mardi Gras menu on Tuesday at Fincastles (215 S. Elm St., Greensboro; 272-8968).

There will be items like Bar-B-Que Shrimp ($8.99) in a white wine sauce, deep-fried skewered Oysters and Bacon ($8), Chicken and Andouille Gumbo ($6), Crawfish Etouffe ($8.50), Shrimp Creole ($8.50) and a selection of Po'Boys including Fried Oyster ($10), Roast Beef with Debris Gravy ($9.25) and Andouille Sausage ($9).

Morphis again will offer his White Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Bread Pudding ($4). That and a side serenade by singing waiter Robert "Jaybird" Williams make for a fun month. The menu is offered through Feb. 24, Fat Tuesday.

More New Orleans

Carnivale eating has already commenced across town where Chef Jay Pierce, also a Louisiana native, is offering a Mardi Gras-inspired mid-winter menu at Lucky 32 (1421 Westover Terrace, Greensboro) that includes items like Flash Fried Oysters ($11) on creamed spinach, Big Easy Gumbo ($4 cup, $5 bowl), Basin Street Chicken in Creole sauce ($17), Red Beans and Rice ($14) and Blackened Carolina Trout ($20) with Creole meuniere sauce.

Call 370-0707 for reservations.

Latin flavors spotlighted

If spicy is more your style, another wine and food pairing, Hot Latin Nights, might be the ticket.

The event, presented by the Fine Arts Festival Association of Rockingham County, is at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Reidsville Exhibit Center, 223 S. Scales St. It features exotic food, wine and entertainment highlighting the culture of South America. Tickets are $35. Call 342-4665 or 427-7099.

Wine and food benefit

Sample wines and gourmet food from vendors and help out the Rockingham County Animal Shelter during a fund-raising event from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Autumn Creek Vineyards, 364 Means Creek Road in Mayodan.

There will be live music and a silent auction for the event. Tickets are $20 at the door. For information, call 548-9463.

Latin cafe offers combos

Jibaro Latin Café (401 Tate St., Greensboro; 273-9788) is offering meal combos that include the El Jibaro fried plantain sandwich, the Pastelillo with an order of meat-filled empanadas or the Emparedado with a choice of a Cubano, Boricua or Pernil sandwich. Each combo comes a choice of traditional side and drink. There's also a half sandwich special served with a bowl of the soup of the day.

Deli helping environment

Earth Fare (2965 Battleground Ave., Greensboro; 369-0190) just got greener.

The Asheville-based chain is using a biodegradable plastic container made from wheat by-products for its soups, sandwiches, juice and other deli items.

Have restaurant news for Short Orders? Contact Carl Wilson at 373-7145 or cwilson@news-record.com