There are times I miss the balmy temperate weather of Los Angeles, but sometimes I also miss my favorite restaurants. Yes, it's true, there is world class wonderful food and wine here, but my palate misses the spiciness that is ubiquitous in nearly every neighborhood in California, from Thai to Mexican. When I am warned that something here is "spicy" that usually means it has garlic, or maybe some pepper. When I saw a Thai restaurant literally next door to Du Pain et Des Idées, I was drawn to the aromas and the idea that I might enjoy a Thai restaurant here as much as my beloved Chan Dara in Los Angeles. It was a good idea, but as with many anticipated experiences, it wasn't perfect. Service at lunch is friendly and efficiently bilingual in French and English, but dinner service is rudimentary at best with older Thai ladies who do not speak French (or English) very well, so be prepared to point to menu items to get what you want, and do not expect a smile.
The set menus had very good prices,
and the drinks were very nice glasses of wine
or classically prepared hot tea.
The side dish was either rice noodles
or a sauté of fresh vegetables, both good choices.
One one occasion, I ordered the spicy shrimp with basil (which was very slightly spiced, but flavorful).
One rainy day I ordered the soup with slices of tender beef and vermicelli noodles in a slightly sweet broth with vegetables and a fried "nem" which is like a mini eggroll. I'm not a fan of sweet broth, so the fact that I enjoyed this was a testament to their skills.
Thankfully, the third time was the charm, with a delicious spicy beef sauté that was still pink in the middle, and had enough spice and flavor to rank as the best Thai dish I've had in Paris so far.
if you love spicy food, you should try Korea. They usually have food that has the right kind of spicy to keep spicy food loves satisfied.
ReplyDeleteEven the Korean here is mild (see my post on Sodam), but thanks for the thought and all your comments!
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