Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Take a culinary trip around the world during Daiquiri Dick's Summer Sizzle. Every week visit a different country and enjoy three courses for $299 pesos and choices for each course. This week, June 20th through the 25th, exotic Asian.

The term Asian cuisine usually means the exploration of cross cultural meal traditions from various countries in that part of the world. The regional breakdown is Southwest including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Burma, Northeast which is China, Korea and Japan and Southeast composed of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

While there are many differences there are also common threads. The staple for all Asian cooking is rice and has been for thousands of years. Garlic and ginger are have been about as long as rice. Chili peppers, indeed all peppers, are native to the Americas and arrived in the region with European explorers around 1520 and were widespread by 1600. Some of the hottest dishes on Earth are Asian.

Even within each region there are differences depending on location, but some flavors stand out. In the Southwest nan (flat bread), mutton, kebabs and strong spices like cloves and curries are prevalent. The Northeast is known for emphasizing the use of fats and oils in cooking like tempura and flavorful sauces, which can include a lot of garlic. The Southeast focuses on aromatic and lightly-prepared dishes using a delicate balance of quick stir-frying, steaming, and/or boiling, supplemented with discrete spices and seasonings, including citrus juices and herbs such as basil, cilantro, and mint.

Here's the cross section of Asian dishes dreamt up by Daiquiri Dick's chef and staff for this week's Summer Sizzle menu:

The Flavors of Asia - June 20th-25th
Select one item from each category. A complimentary beverage is included for $299 pesos. Not subject to any other discounts.

Appetizers

• Spicy Calamari Salad with Jicama, Carrots, Mint and Cilantro

• Tempura Style Soft Shell Crab with Wasabi Sauce

• Japanese style Gyoza with Shrimp and Pork and a Lemon Soy Sauce with chile

Entrées

• Teriyaki Salmon with Herbed Japonés Rice, Sauteed Spinach and Pickled Ginger

• Wok Fried Pad Thai Noodles with Shrimp, Peanuts, Tamarind Sauce and Eggs

• Thai BBQ Chicken over Jazmin Rice with Spicy Green Papaya Sauce

Desserts

• Coconut Flan
• Mint Gelato
• Fried Bananas in a Crispy Batter a la Mode

Asian cultures share the tradition of gathering the family or clan together to socialize or celebrate over a big meal and the various cultures of Asia each developed their own ethnic cuisine through the interaction of history, environment and culture. Gather your friends and family, sample the flavors of Asia and create your own culinary tradition at Daiquiri Dick's Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

The Summer Sizzle menu changes every Wednesday until August 31, 2012. Delicious destinations still to come on this journey include exotic Istanbul and Pan-Asian medleys. There will be select countries in Western Europe, where comfort food has gone creative, and the lively seasonings of Latin America will produce mouth-watering results.

Daiquiri Dick's, an exceptional experience.

Open daily from 9 am to 11 pm, Daiquiri Dick's offers elegant dining in a relaxed atmosphere for breakfast, lunch or dinner. (Closed on Tuesdays through October.) Visa, MasterCard and Banamex accepted. Reservations are recommended and can be made at DDPV.com.