My friends and I were walking around in the city, scouting for a new cuisine to try. When we approached Union Square, we found a restaurant with a bright, red sign that shouted, “Spice” at us. Immediately, we knew that this was the place. Spicy food isn’t something we eat on a daily basis, but it does leave an unforgettable taste in our mouths. After further research, we learned that we were standing in front of a Thai restaurant, a rare restaurant to come across in our neighborhood. I walked into a dark, but loud room. The ambiance was very comfortable and relaxing. Women in woven, silky vests approached us and brought us to our table.
I ordered Pad Thai and Thai Iced Milk Tea. The combination of the two orders complemented each other. My first sip of the milk tea reminded me of the milk tea I make myself. However, simultaneously, there was an additional flavor that made the drink very unique and tasty. Then, I dug my fork into the pile of noodles, in hopes of scooping all the different ingredients at the same time. There were chicken, eggs, peanuts, bean sprouts, bean curd and scallion. The sauce used in this dish had a mild spicy flavor; it did not overpower the flavor of the other ingredients, but it was still noticeable. The combination of the ingredients reminds me of dishes that I would normally eat; yet, there is a distinctive taste that separates Chinese food from Thai food.
My experience at this Thai restaurant made me want to try new cuisines in the city. At the same time, I’m definitely coming back to this restaurant for more food.
I love how you contracted the differences between Chinese and Thai food. What you wrote was so vivid that as I read, it seems like I’m standing right beside you during the whole event! SPICY FOOD!!! It is one of my favors!! I also tried many cuisines from many cultures on my own, so I can definitely see what you mean when you say “there is a distinctive taste that separates Chinese food from Thai food”. By the way, I absolutely love the word choice “shouted”!
I really enjoyed reading your blog especially because all your thoughts flowed so well. Ambiance was an excellent word to substitute for environment and it provided a sophisticated tone. The detail was great and your description of the food was enough to make me feel hungry in the moment that I read about it. It was amazing that you were able to encounter cultural diffusion in something as simple as food.
First of all, I love that restaurant and am a huge fan of pad Thai. Your writing is delicious! Haha. I could almost taste the ingredients as you listed them. I like how you mentioned the fact that foods balance one another in this particular cultural encounter. This says a lot about the culture itself. Maybe they value the principal of balance in life – spicy counteracts sweet, vice versa, etc. That reminded me of when I went to Ayurveda cafe with my friends. It’s a vegetarian Indian restaurant with a fixed menu every day. Their menu describes the importance of balancing flavors in their meals. If you’re interested in trying new foods, I would suggest going to Ayurveda. Oh, and thanks for making me crave Pad Thai this late at night with your vivid details.