thai - - Page 2

by Emily

Thai-Inspired Kale and Carrot Salad

Last week, I participated as a featured food blogger (woo!) in a kale-centric event at kor180, an indoor cycling and pilates studio in downtown Austin. It was a blast! I demo-ed one of my recipes, met a ton of awesome members of the Austin fitness and cooking community, and generally had a great time.

Obviously I was jazzed to attend a party ALL ABOUT KALE, and also unsurprisingly, I put an Asian twist on my salad recipe. What can I say? Sometimes I’m pretty predictable. In this case it was a good thing, as my recipe turned out really well, if I do say so myself. It’s crunchy, salty, sour, a little sweet, and a little spicy. Plus it’s veeeerrry easy to make and totally good for you. What’s not to love?!

Thai-Inspired Kale and Carrot Salad

Artsy Photo of the Day

Thai food isn’t all yellow curry and rice noodles. The fantastic Sway in Austin makes a creative stir fry with chicken, Nashi pear, brussels sprouts, mushroom, chive, Thai basil and red chili.

by Emily

Artsy Photo of the Day

Earlier this week, Mexico met Japan in an artsy cocktail, and in round two, Mexico meets Japan in this artsy ramen:

This Chicken Tortilla Soup Ramen hybrid is made with bacon dashi, chicken-tortilla-Tom-Yum paste, shrimp paste, chicken thigh, soft soy egg, avocado, corn, fried tortilla, pickled yellow onion, jalapeño, cilantro, garlic, and lime. Talk about fusion.

It”s from East Side King at Hole in the Wall, Top Chef winner Paul Qui’s newest Austin venture (for now–He”s working on some other new exciting projects too, so expect a stream of PQ food pics from me in 2013-2014, you’re welcome).

Oh, by the way, it’s amazing.

in Photos / Restaurants 0 comments

by Emily

Endless Road Trip Seattle: Curry to Thai for

I’ve saved the best for last. The best thing I miss about Seattle, the best restaurant memories from my years of college in the University District, the best Thai food I’ve ever had. Yes, I’m that passionate about it. Thai Tom is my favorite restaurant in Seattle even though it’s a cash-only hole-in-the-wall with hit-or-miss service, multiple health department warnings, an undeniably intense spice level, legions of whiny Yelp detractors, and often a long wait on the dirty sidewalk of the Ave.

It’s fine, I’ll call out all those detriments. I challenge you to take one bite of Thai Tom’s curry and disagree with my ardent assessment of their amazing food. After your wait, after cramming into a wobbly wooden table or a crowded corner spot in front of the open-kitchen wok, after agonizing over which dish to order off their hand-painted wooden panel menus, after hungrily watching the sweaty chefs pouring piping-hot, incredibly fresh sauces over snowy balls of rice in glass troughs and praying that order is yours… once you’re endured that, the first bite (and every subsequent bite) is worth enduring the Thai Tom process. The food is heaven.

Awesome Label of the Day

It seems that in these tough economic times, the porn industry has had to diversify by branching out into the Asian food distribution market. Or vice versa.

in Photos 3 comments

by Emily

Welcome to Austin: Thai Breakfast Tacos

As I’ve mentioned many times, I am from Seattle. Exciting news, though — I got offered a restaurant media job in Austin last month! So guess who’s a Texan now?! Yee haw! This means one thing for Endless Simmer: Tons of AMAZING Texas/Southern food coverage! You’re welcome. I do it for you.

It’s no big secret that Texas is full of great Mexican food. I mean, hello, we’ve all heard of Tex-Mex! There is one delicacy special to Austin, though, that I find especially appealing: the breakfast taco.

Sure, you can find Mexican-inspired breakfast entrees everywhere. Huevos rancheros and fast-food breakfast burritos are not exactly culinary revelations. But there is just something about the Austin breakfast taco! Ask anybody in this city. The concept is simple: head to your local taco stand in the morning (Austin is teeming with them, and they’re all delicious), but instead of your average choices of fillings, you can choose from eggs! Potatoes! Cheese! But don’t worry; the usual suspects (chorizo, avocado, refried beans, etc…) are also available.

Today is my first work morning and naturally I needed to find the perfect “welcome to your new food life” breakfast. Luckily my offices are very close to a little coffee shop called Thrice, which is connected to a Thai cafe/market/culinary school. This means not only does Thrice offer Austin breakfast tacos, but they are Thai-fusion breakfast tacos! WHAT. Just to reiterate, that is a combination of Mexican and Thai. My two favorite ethnic cuisines.

A fluffy, slightly spicy Thai omelette mixed with tomatoes and grilled onions, perched atop a fresh flour tortilla and served up with a smoky-sweet Thai chili hot sauce. I think I’m gonna like it here.

in Breakfast / Cheese / Eggs / Restaurants 2 comments

by gansie

Thai Hot Coffee in Four Parts

Part One: Years ago, and I actually mean years ago, I went to Maine and bought a lot of food—canned and dried goods—from an Asian grocer.

Part Two: When my sister came to visit me in DC, even longer ago, I introduced her to Thai iced coffee, the mother eff of all coffee drinks. She was enamored.

Part One + Part Two: Because my sister liked iced coffee so much, and lived at home with my parents, I brought them raw materials from my trip.

Part Three: We are a family of savers and just as the expiration was nearing, my dad found a can of sweetened condensed milk and snuck it in my bag. Quickly I had to find a use.

Part Four: I remembered I’m a DAD GANSIE in training and I had a package of O-lieng powder—roasted coffee beans, soybeans, brown rice and caramel—in my cabinet. It’s probably stale, but since I just finished my canister of illy, this discovery was perfect timing.

But now I have most of a can left of the condensed milk. Any usage suggestions? Can I sub it in for heavy whipping cream?

(inauthentic) Thai Hot Coffee

Add 2 spoonfuls of O-lieng powder to a French press. Top with just boiled water. Let steep for 3-4 minutes. Press. In a mug, pour in a half spoonful of sweetened condensed milk, pour in coffee. Stir.

in Drinks / Recipe 8 comments