#23: Thai Food

Dear Blog readers,

I am writing to tell you I have had my heart broken. Yes I can hear the collective brows furrowing, not so much confused about how anyone could do such a thing, but for wondering why on earth am I writing this in my food blog. I would certainly think such a tidbit is far to heavy fare for a blog with a kale salad post, however I tell you for one simple reason: heartache has proven to be a serious impediment to my appetite. The food blog, for several days, has been in jeopardy.

While I did think the day before I ring in the new year was poor timing, my wounded appetite imagined if it had happened right before I planned on eating my fried Korzo burger, or devoured something covered in cod roe mayonnaise at yakitori. Imagine the missing posts in the world. Yes, this lack of appetite is certainly helping out with my “revenge body” (as US magazine calls it), but it is certainly not helping my blog.

That’s where family comes in….or more specifically, food loving family. Over the holidays I was whisked from one great place to the next: Harrison’s, the Modern, Union Square Café (this excluding the nights snow trapped in queens, where we ate frozen bratwurst and canned bean salad, arguing over who would brave the elements to get more beer)….but I couldn’t seem to get my groove back. Then, I went to Kin Shop.

I don’t know if it’s because I was with my amazing relatives*, who graciously welcomed me into their home (and even better, their dinner table). Maybe it was the presence of celebrity (did I mention I like US magazine?) being top chef winner Harold Dieterle’s restaurant. Maybe it was the foodie fire that rekindled mine (maybe that’s one metaphor too far…) The meal started with my cousin dutifully reciting the top dishes recommended by the latest review she conveniently had ready on her phone. Not to be topped, my uncle whips out his own hand written list of verified best dishes, and I tell there was some serious old school authority in that cursive.

We decided to get everything. All in all we order 9 plates of family style food. The Spicy Duck Laab Salad came out first. A ground earthy pork, eaten by hand with a fresh romaine lettuce leaf, filled your mouth with hot, sweet, chili infused flavor (the menu notes this is their spiciest dish. I loved it, so I feel like I am moving up in the world). Then there was some salad… well a fried pork and crispy oyster salad. The salty fatty pork, and lightly breaded oyster, all came together in a light broth. In your mouth the elements had a party, due to added crunch from slivered celery, peanuts and lime. We ordered two rounds of the doughy stir fried wonton noodles and roti bread (you should too). We didn’t even get around to ordering the squid ink and hot sesame oil soup. On my list for next time. The winning dish for me was one of the night’s specialties: a hunk of white fish charred and glazed with a slightly sweet sauce, paired with a celery purée, and some bean like thing that was to die. It all went down surprisingly well with my organic gin and spicy thai pickle martini.

Needles to say, I definitely went back for seconds.

*Here on out referred to as Aunt, Uncle and cousin because they feel like my immediate family. Just don’t check the family tree on that.