Tonight I Dined Thai II

Good Morning Everyone!

Coming to you live from Thai Chili on the west side, and seeing as to how my adventures are soon coming to an end, as with all adventures, I end it blissfully by eating a beautiful meal. Being my last meal before my travels, tonight I dined Thai. Though the restaurant may be different than usual, as with the time zone and general local; there is no friend or circle of friends joining me, just good food and pleasant company. Company provided by the waitress whom I saw the day before. It’s funny; when my mom was describing me to my uncle she told him that I “was hard to miss.” It is seemingly true as I seem to have that affinity towards people remembering me at restaurants. Not just remembering me, but treating me as a part of the family. It’s a shame as I didn’t even ask her name, but she seemingly knew what I wanted to order and what I may have wanted. And that’s always comforting. Comforted, I dined Thai; ordering a 3-course meal with the same burgundy napkin rolled erect.

With this one I can be what I wanna be
I don’t have 2 live up 2 no one’s fantasy
I could write another 300 melodies
2 her it’s just 3, cuz this one, she loves me 4 me

Wtih this one I don’t even have 2 comb my hair
I can wear what I want 2 or nothing – she don’t care
I don’t even have 2 take her on the rollercoaster, see?
Cuz this one, this one, she loves me 4 me

1^st Course: Combination Appetizer

An entire plate full of the restaurant’s most popular appetizers: an array of spring rolls, shrimp rools, 4 eye-pleasing and bud-dancing Bangkok cups, friend wontons and chicken satay. On the side, three sauces; peanut, sweet & sour and cucumber relish.  If I were to rank the flavor, the wontons would be least, as they tasted plain and unappealing; the most liked would be the Bangkok cups still a favorite. Regardless, all of them were good and eaten with utter enjoyment.

Entrée: Pad Thai with Chicken

The most classic and most famous Thai noodle dish: a simple dish with stir-fried rice noodles, egg, green onion, bean sprout and ground peanut. Though, it may have been my mental state at the time, but this was arguably the best Pad Thai that I have ever eaten. The smell was not sour and the taste was not bitter. Strangely enough, the dish reminded me of my mother’s pancit.

Dessert: Coconut Ice-Cream with Sticky Rice

It was no surprise here. She asked “would you like dessert.” My response, “absolutely.” With no other verbal exchange, as if she read my mind or perhaps saw my enjoyment of the dish on my first encounter, she brought the dessert with a little extra crushed peanut on the side.

So there I sat, smiling from ear to ear like a child in a sandbox playing under the sun with a favorite toy: reminded of my past days with my mother’s cooking of a completely different origin, comfortably sitting and now ready for my journey. This being my last meal, I have come to the conclusion that I belong here: that the west coast is the coast that I call home. I am happy here, my family is here, people are nicer here, I am comfortable here, this is where I belong. Did the meal influence my decision? I would like to think not, but the meal, with every delicious bite, did provide a divine palette for my mental state. With the flavors still dancing in my mouth and still smiling, I take my belongings, bid farewell to the waitress (not knowing if I were to ever return) and walked out of the restaurant listening to Maceo Parker blow his horn on Back ‘N The Day. On my walk, I just knew that it’s gonna be a beautiful night: Prince accompanied me along the way.

It’s gonna be a beautiful
It’s gonna be a beautiful night
U got your world together
Everything’s lookin’ alright
Tonight there’s no tomorrow
This is gonna be the one
Tonight we’re gonna lose our sorrow
Tonight we’re gonna have some fun

My friends and reader, I thank you for reading. Until the next time, I bid you farewell and fare well.

Tonight I Dined Thai

Good Morning Everyone!

Coming to you live from 302, where I eat to live not live to eat. Most of us eventually become accustomed to our mom and dad’s cooking. We have become so accustomed that when we grow up, our palettes are so finicky and stubborn that the thought of eating, yet alone enjoying a meal outside of the family norm is considered blasphemy. With that, it is easy for me to say that my favorite type of food is Filipino food…I grew up on it. But finding said cuisine is rare unless one ventures to prepare each dish. When those rare occasions are not in-ecstasy had, I go for Thai food…a close second.

I have become so fond of Thai food that I eat it at least once a week. Upon my recent journeys, my last meal before leaving the Island was shared with a “flower” of a friend over Thai food. Thus, it was only fitting that I would be eating Thai again my second and third days away.

Come get some, in Martika’s kitchen baby
You bring the noise and Ill bring the smile
It’s been so long since you’ve been down in the kitchen baby
My desire’s running longer than a country mile
So true, you can make all my wishes
So real, you can make all my dreams

1^st Night

Thai Tangerine
12451 Harbor Blvd.
Garden Grove, CA 92840
http://www.thaitangerine.us

Situated in a quaint shopping center, Thai Tangerine was the only Thai restaurant, within walking distance that was open on a Sunday evening. Much like the shopping center, the restaurant itself was cozy, divided into two dining areas separated by a wall with 3 vertical ellipses evenly cut-out and draped with curtains as to see both sides of the dining area simultaneously. The glass-topped tables were set with decorative placemats and forks wrapped in either a black or purple napkin such that it looks as if the fork were wearing a suit jacket. (And did I mention that I love black and oh! I love purple.) Liking the scene. I ordered a 3 course meal: appetizer, entrée and dessert (one item on the menu).

Appetizer: Chicken Satay

A Thai (let’s face it, an everywhere) classic, skewered chicken served with peanut sauce and a cucumber sauce. The peanut sauce was thick and tangy; everything expected from a peanut sauce. However, the cucumber sauce left a lingering after taste similar to that of fish.

Entrée: Pad See Ew with Chicken

The only menu item that won a “tasting award” in 2009. Another Thai classic; stir-fried rice noodles with broccoli, carrots, egg and a brown sauce. Unfortunately, the sauce here was a little bitter. But the amount of food was promising.

Dessert: Mango with Rice Pudding

Plated to look like a rice heart within a mango heart; what was particular elegant with this dessert was the toasted shreds of coconut on top of both rice heart and mango slices. It was a nice conclusion to a meal. 

Women not girls rule my world
I said they rule my world
Act your age, mama (not your shoe size)
Not your shoe size
Maybe we could do the twirl
U don’t have 2 watch dynasty
2 have an attitude
U just leave it all up 2 me
My love will be your food

2^nd night

Thai Chili
4715 West Chapman Ave.
Orange, CA 92868
http://www.thaichilirestaurant.com/home.html

A single 2-story antique building amongst palm trees in the adjacent lot and in the middle a relatively busy business area. Climbing the stairs before entering is a nice touch. Inside, there are a few pieces of Thai artwork hanging on the spackled off-white walls with brown trim and just enough light to set a mood in. The dining room, though bigger than the other, was still split into two sections; this time the split was made by a ground-level architecture as high as the booths caressing it. The booths are a little awkward as if you were to sit up, you would be hunched over the table, and if you were to slouch, you’d swear that you’d be under the table in no time. Again, a glass top table with decorative place mat and a burgundy napkin rolled and made erect on a plate with adjacent fork. As usual, I ordered a 3-course meal.

Appetizer: Bangkok Cup (Krathong Thong)

An eye-pleasing affair with minced chicken meat, corn, peas, carrot, potato, curry powder nested in a crispy rice flour shell and topped with cilantro served with an eye-popping, visually ferocious and luscious cucumber relish.

Entrée: Yellow Curry with Chicken

A mild Thai curry with carrot, onions and potato cooked with curry powder and coconut milk. This curry tastes great on a cold and hot day.

Dessert: Sticky Rice with Coconut Ice-Cream

Two scoops of coconut ice-cream served over a bed of sweet sticky rice and crushed peanuts on the side. The peanuts complimented the dessert elegantly. Again, this was another blissful way to conclude a meal.

The sky looks like it’s turnin’
Turnin’ from blue 2 black
Still I feel the sun is burnin’
Hot monkey on my back
Am I in a speeding car?
Am I lying in your bed?
One kiss from U is all that I do
And I’m outta my head (My head, my head)
Bliss
This is heaven, I swear 2 God
Wish that I could spend everynight with this feeling some more

Until next time, this is your host signing off from the mother-ship.