Tonight we ate at the exotic "Siam Pasta" Thai restaurant in Evanston, IL (I know..."Pasta" doesn't sound very Thai right? I think they meant noodles). They have a beautiful deck on the second floor for relaxing outdoor dining under a very cool Thai pagoda. The deck is very open and the trees that line Dempster Avenue surround you to make you feel like you are in some kid's wonderful giant treehouse filled with delicious Thai food. The weather was beautiful, warm with a slight summer breeze. The sky was filled with mysterious looking clouds. We kept spotting lightening from within one cloud; at first it just kept lighting up randomly...then we saw the lightening zig-zags. Dinner and a show...nature provides excellent entertainment and such a bargain! (see video at the end of my post!)
The appetizers were very tasty. The menu even lists them as "Tasters". We tried an assortment: Thai spring rolls, egg rolls, Tiger Cry, and Warm Chive Pancakes. The spring rolls and egg rolls were good but nothing special. Tiger Cry (pic upper right corner), a grilled smoky flavored steak served with a very spicy dipping sauce, was delicious! So flavorful and so fun to say "Tiger Cry!" as if you were threatening someone. (ok, maybe that's just fun for me). The warm chive pancakes was the surprising fave. Amazing crispy exterior, chewy sweet interior filled with cooked chives which add such an interesting and balanced flavor. These were also served with a sweet soy sauce and were very appetizing to look at (pic upper left corner).
For dinner I had "Moo Ping" with "Som Tom"...yum! "Moo Ping", also fun to say, is grilled pork on skewers served with a spicy dipping sauce filled with Thai chilis. This pork is ridiculous...incredible layers of flavor! It was served with a cute little black bowl with a lid filled with steamed sticky rice, Thai food heaven! My Thai mom and all her Thai girl friends would make a huge pot of sticky rice for all the kids. We savored the sticky rice with beef jerky or mu satay or just with freshly cut mango...using our fingers as utensils. If you haven't tried sticky rice yet, what are you waiting for? It's fun to eat and so comforting. Finally, "Som Tom" is a delish papaya and carrot salad...this one also had green beans and some tomato in it. It was good but my mom and her friends make it better. My mom holds the carrot and papaya in her hand and chops it quickly with a big knife. She releases the vegetable and it falls in perfect shreds into the bowl. I never understood how she could use her hand as a cutting board and never cut herself! That woman can do anything.
To go with the meal I had delicious hot Jasmine tea. I love the jars they serve their tea in, it looks like a little bong!
I give Siam Pasta 2 out of 4 baht for flavor but 3 out of 4 baht for service and atmosphere. (See my earlier posts)
Sawadee ka!
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