A lot of us LOVE Thai food and that’s because it is one of the most popular cuisines in the world. There is much debate about the best dish, best restaurant and best regional influence. You might be a Green Thai fan or a Chicken Penang fan, a Beef Massaman Curry fan or even the popular Pad Thai, but everyone has an opinion.
I know nothing about the regional cuisines and whether the ones I like have influences from Malaysia, China, India or Indonesia – but I could find out if I wanted to and will one day. What I do like to do though is experiment with taste. I love the combinations of fish sauce, lime juice, chillies, garlic, soy, peanuts and cashews and I rarely eat hotter than medium. Coriander is my favourite herb and cumin is my favourite spice.
I know that like wine drinkers there are Thai snobs who believe their choice of flavours and dishes are the only ‘legitimate’ Thai dishes and those who choose less complex dishes than Yam tao – paddy crabs in algae with eggplant really don’t know their Thai.
Such people would hate me as I love medium Penang Chicken and my partner loves hot hot hot Green Chicken Curry but we do try other dishes. So, this brings me to last nights meal. We enjoyed a couple of meals at Som Tam Thai in Maroochydore last week and they were voted by the 3 of us to be outstanding. I had my normal and it was the best I had tasted for years and the other 2 concurred – one had Massaman and other the Thai Curry.
Last night, same venue, I had Chicken and Cashew and my partner had seafood in red curry sauce. Well it was just amazing. I chose mine as I didn’t want the creamy coconut sauce and I absolutely loved the mixture of onion, carrot, cashew, shallot, coriander and chicken with a beautiful rich sauce of soy sauce, fish sauce, garlic, sugar and chilli- truly delicious and although I only ate half the meal (because I also nibbled on some spring rolls….) I felt much better and not as bloated afterwards. My partner loved the flavours of the Red Seafood Curry but wished he had asked for hot hot as it came medium – which is normal.
So, 8/10 for me – I loved everything about the venue, the food, the staff, the service and the Jacobs Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir served in a piccolo. I look forward to going back. Cheers!
