Mark and I were sitting around on a Friday night and all I could think of and (at that moment) could ever want was Asian food. I've been doing a lot of new American lately and was feeling so sick of it. No more roasted chicken, no more steak, no more potatoes. Done. Of course, this was 7pm on Friday night and I wanted to go out. Actually had no choice, but to go out. You how Asian food can be questionable in some places. In Bushwick, Asian food is questionable in all places. I was thinking Thai. You can never go wrong with Thai. My favorite Thai places in New York are Laut (which is actually Malaysian fusion with tons of Thai offerings) and Sea. Both are so divine and like all Thai--oh so cheap.
Laut was out due to location. It's a New York thing. The location has to be night time subway convenient. It is four stops further than Sea and just got Michelin gold star. Plus I would have to go into Manhattan and it would be packed beyond belief. But it wasn't looking good at Sea either. You may have seen Sea on the big screen. It was on that Sex in the City Episode where Samantha meets Smith Jared. It is portrayed as a raw food place but it has always been Thai. Anyway, the place is huge with a fountain at its center, giant Buddhas, three bars, and always, at anytime of the day, packed with tons of people. It is a place where you go to in the middle of day and wonder "do these people work?" I call to make a reservation. Of course, they don't take reservations! I tentatively ask if its busy. She says "of course!!" and promptly hangs up.
I don't know if you know, but I am a food brat. If I have my heart set on some type of food and don't get it, I get very very sulky. I start pouting "I don' t want to eat anything else at all!" or if I get some alternative food, I sigh a lot and look very very sad. Immature yes, but I was an only child and Grandchild for a very long time in family of lots of boys. Mark knows about this. When we go out to eat, he very smartly asks me what I am in the mood to eat.
So despite the impending wait at Sea and the danger of hangar (hunger + anger) we decide to go.
Amazingly, despite the huge crowd, when we walk in, we are seated immediately in an area I quickly dubbed the date nook. It was an entire area of the restaurant devoted to tables for two. Couples leaned across the tables at one another and it was dark. Very dark with the tiniest of votive candles at each table. A serious make-out session could have happened unbeknown to us. I felt like we had been together too long to be in this nook. It was definitely for first date material not for lifers like us. But I digress. I am shocked that we got a table so quickly. Although, Sea is known for their yummy drinks, we celebrate with a bottle of white wine because really (I mean really!) its so much more economical. It's a recession people!
We decide to share everything because it so much more fun. Getting just one entree is such a commitment. We decide to do three appetizers and one entree. What? It wasn't too much food! I worked out the next day (I think???).
The first thing served are the Triangle Curry Puffs. Curry chicken and potato wrapped in pastry. I thought they would taste like a Samosa, but there was nothing Indian about these they were purely Thai. There was a touch of Tamarind to them and the chicken and potato had been so thoroughly mixed in the food processor that there was no telling one from the other in the yummest way possible. Besides, who doesn't like flaky pastry?
Then the Jade Seafood dumplings arrive. Steamed crab meat and shrimp wrapped in green wonton served with massaman curry sauce. This sauce was seriously the boss and there were these rice crispies thrown into that I couldn't get enough of. Did I ever tell you how crazy I am about dumplings? I need to go to dim sum again ASAP.
The last appetizer was Sea chicken wings. This is the thing about me and chicken wings. I am rarely, so very rarely, am in the mood for them. I really like them especially when some else orders them, but they are never on my agenda. But I heard they were amazing at Sea, so of course I had to give them a chance. Covered in Tamarind chili they are the reason why I am always in the mood for wings now. Juicy and tangy they are like no wing you can experience. They are not what you imagine when you think of bbq chicken wings. SO worth the recommendation.
Then we got our entree, Drunk Man noodles. I thought I knew about Thai food, but, never before I moved to New York, have ever seen this dish on a menu. However, I must note that I have only seen it at Laut and Sea which is a large part why I love those establishments. Broad noodles with chicken, shrimp and squid stir-fried with spicy basil chili and egg. If you try this you will not even think about Pad Thai again. It's is just goodness plain and simple. Do it! Get the drunk man noodles. No regrets. Ever.
We ended the meal by getting a bit of dessert. Dessert is always awkward at Asian restaurants. There is always the mochi ice cream and random desserts that have nothing to do with Asia. Sometimes these random desserts are good sometimes not. We gave the chocolate molten lava cake a chance with a side of pistachio ice cream. The cake was pretty good although it came out in 5 minutes so my brain automatically registered microwave. The pistachio ice cream was too sugary not enough pistachio, but ultimately not bad. You can't really go to far astray with warm chocolate cake and ice cream. mmmhhhmm. Warm chocolate cake. I see a chocolate souffle in my future. Gotta go. It's almost dinner time. BBQ glazed pork chops, mashed sweer potatoes, and green beans. I guess I'm that sick of American! xoxohappy nibbling!
1 comment:
I love those Drunk Man noodles too..and I love your blog! Congratulations!!
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