Tonight I (We) Dined Thai IV

Good Morning Everyone!

Coming to you live from the Phaya Thai district in central Bangkok where everyone has something to tell but not everyone wants to tell it. Ah, and that is what makes a secret so much fun. Some people have to know it, they have to find out what other people are hiding; they have to find  like that last apple in a bushel of oranges. But is a secret still a secret when that secret is said? Of course it is, it just so happens that the secret is known to another, who now has the power to play with your emotions. And everyone enjoys a little play. So there we sat, in our usual seat, my “flowery, floating, itsy bitsy spider-disliking” friend (whose nickname changes from week to week except for one moniker that remains the same on another site…here, on oflittleimportance, this good friend will be called Tangerine) and I at our usual Friday night dining spot. As always the company is one of pure delight and our discussion was that of a secretive nature. With entertaining company and lively banter, tonight we dined Thai: a 3-course dinner.

This is our secret
Do you promise to keep it
Keep it 

Don’t tell anyone, anybody, anyone
That I love you
Don’t tell anyone anybody anyone at all

Phayathai Restaurant735 Hawkins Avenue
Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
www.phayathai-li.com

 

Several deals were made upon several handshakes: the key agreement, one picture for one piece of paper. Both items seemingly more innocent than the other. Yet, both with the having the ability to create ridicule, mock, badger and ribbing. Sometimes a sacrifice has to be made in order to get what you want. It’s fine to have regret, but in the end, we have to be comfortable with the choice that we made. Hesitant at first, the choice was made. The deal was done…we dined.

1st course: Fried Tofu and Chicken Wings

If there is one thing that can be learned from cooking food, it’s that frying makes good things taste better. Imagine taking a dull and bland block of tofu, cutting it into triangular pieces and then having them dance in a vat of oil. What seemed dull and bland has now become lively and well, still a little bland. But served with peanut sauce…it’s alright. As with other nights, the triangles were spread and some wings flew: we shared.

Entrées:

 Tangerine: Curry Noodle Soup with Chicken

Dined once before, another attempt at a curry soup made with crispy egg noodle, bean curd, bean sprout and red onion all in a spicy coconut milk curry. Though extra noodles were given (thinking that maybe she needed to eat more…a healthy appetite is a good one), they were not partaken, as once again capacity and enjoyment were reached.

My Entrée: Yellow Curry with Chicken

Similar to the above dish, but contains potato and does not contain noodles. In place of said noodles is Roti served with a cucumber sauce: buttery, flaky and a bit of tangy and sweet (almost like someone that I know…minus the buttery and sweet part…well, maybe, but definitely flaky and tangy). Combining the flavors can be so much fun.

  Tangerine’s Dessert: Fried Green Tea Ice Cream

No sharing this time, as dessert became more of a private affair. Though private, she brought the heat. A ball of flame with a frozen inside. Usually a vivid affair between hot and cold, sweet and fried, green tea and fried dough made for an interesting mix: one almost regretted, but still liked.

My Dessert: Coconut Ice Cream with Sticky Rice

Why change? But change can be exciting. Change can be good. But at the moment I am happy with the skin that I’m in, so no change made tonight.

U’re my little secret, my private joy
I could never let another play with my toy
U’re my little angel from heaven above
Oh oh, oh oh oh oh, I think I’m falling in love

And I ain’t gonna tell nobody nobody ’bout my little pretty toy
All the other kids would love 2 love U but U’re my little private joy
My private joy
U’re my private joy

As always, we sat, restaurant empty minus the family. Questions were asked, and repeatedly answered. Deals were made and some secrets were kept. But such changed as the night progressed into the following day. In such progression, a time well spent with an always enjoyable dinner and a pleasant company with intent to be kept…Last night we dined Thai.

…Until next time! Farewell and fare well.

Tonight I (We) Dined Thai III

Good Morning Everyone!

For Pat and Frank.

Coming to you live from the basement where napping with the lights-on feels good. Making a slow transition back into the daily grind that is work, I have found pleasure and past my time with good company. Be it with a certain host, dancing friends, little sisters and big brothers, the time is well spent with our passing interactions. Though the commonalities among us may be a few or in one particular case, scarily copious from past days, we all share one common inclination (I dare not say liking, as most of what we do is hate what it is that we do, do). But inclination aside, it is the differences that make us beautiful and perpetually entertaining. And always entertained by the company of one reminding me of a past-life, last night I dined Thai with a “floater” of a friend: 3-course dinner.

Hello My bed Hello Hello

I was sittin’ pretty with a beautiful friend
When this man tries 2 get in the car
No introduction, “How U been?”
Just “Up yours, smile, that’s right, you’re a star!”

U call ’em bodyguards but I call ’em my friends
I guess I’m used 2 havin’ ’em around
And cameras by nature like rewards
That’s the trouble I get when I’m Uptown

I’m not afraid to die
Oh no, there’s a better place
I eat what I want
Whole wheat toast
And I’m happy, and that’s for sure

Phayathai Restaurant
735 Hawkins Avenue
Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
www.phayathai-li.com

As we get comfortable in our seats, we have been known to clear the room. Be it as it may with the smell of work on our clothes, or our cheeky and at times loud banter or the fact that we were seated with 30 minutes before closing, we had the place to ourselves, sitting at the corner table and visited on occasion by the restaurant family, we dined.

1^st course: Chicken Wings

What is now a staple and reoccurring starter, these fried pieces of chicken readily prepare the pallet for the Thai adventure that is soon to be partaken of. Last night there was a different look and texture of each piece, but still delectable. With two flying away and four to stay, sharing makes a meal elegant.

Entrées:

“Floating” Friend: Peanut Sauce with Chicken

This being her favorite dish on the menu: steamed broccoli, carrots and slightly battered and stir-fried pieces of chicken topped with a Thai peanut sauce and served with rice. Though a mound of rice was left, as Saifon originally gave a mountain, the dish was (ful)filling and “good” (her words).

My Entree: Red Curry with Tofu Duck

As stated on another site, entrées are no longer ordered, Saifon takes care of everything. Here, red curry, bamboo shoot, red and green bell peppers, basil and coconut milk with chunks of tofu duck and served with another mountain of rice. Provides the taste of spice without the kick, the coconut milk sauce is gently sweet but mostly savory and subtle enough to mask the sometimes overbearing taste of the tofu duck. A dish enjoyed thoroughly.

Dessert: Coconut Ice-Cream

With every other restaurant dinner, I order dessert. She decided not to but as the dessert was served, the restaurant was far-closed, and every table empty and cleaned, it was just us and two balls of coconut ice-cream: one rolled away and the other stayed. The meal was finished as it was started: shared.

Everybody we’re against hungry children
Our record stands tall
There’s just as much hunger here at home

We’ll do what we can
If y’all try and understand
A flower that has water will grow
And the child misunderstood will go

Our record stands tall, u know
Give us time and love will show

Hello
Hello
Hello

So there we sat, plates cleared from the table, Phayathai family cleaning in and around the kitchen, my “floating” friend and I discussing our usually topics of discussion. We ate, enjoyed the meal, conversed with no sense of time, it was an enjoyable dinner with pleasant company. After, we went back to work.

…Until next time! Farewell and fare well.