At Red Medicine, the flavors are green, fresh and complex: roasted sugariness intertwining with delicate nuttiness, leaves playing in and around one another. Most of the components are Vietnamese, or can at least be found somewhere in Vietnamese cooking, but the effect has nothing to do with either the earthy, rowdy preparations you might taste in Vietnam or even Vietnam in the popular imagination. What chef Jordan Kahn is doing here, the way he is approaching what he calls a Vietnamese canteen, is new, less an interpretation of the cuisine than an artist finding new paints to work with, new brushes to use.

Visit the critically acclaimed upscale Vietnamese eatery Red Medicine, located in Beverly Hills. You and a friend will savor the cuisine of Chef Jordan Kahn, who earned his stripes training under such culinary superstars as Thomas Keller (French Laundry, Per Se), Grant Achtaz (Alinea) and more. This gift certificate can be redeemed for tasting menus with beverage pairings for two. www.redmedicinela.com