Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Best Thai: Sripraphai

The availability of thai food in the NYC area has exploded over the past few years— and overall, this is a very nice development.  Once concern is that this proliferation may also be linked to a broader move towards “Asian Fusion” restaurants, which strike me as a homogenized, Americanized version of the unique flavors from each country and area.  This trend ultimately drives a loss of the specialness of different cuisines, and increased prices for less authentic food.  When you observe the proliferation of asian chain restaurants like the Kona Grill (to pick on a chain that is really not too bad), you worry that we are headed down a path of no return.

Fortunately, there are areas in and around major cities where the unique food cultures are still preserved.  In the NYC vicinity, areas like Flushing, Jackson Heights, and Astoria still offer very authentic cuisines of each culture.

Last night, after picking up my wife at LGA, we headed to our favorite thai restaurant, Sripraphai, http://www.sripraphairestaurant.com/, in Woodside Queens (note: a new Sripraphai has recently opened in Williston Park, LI).

We started with the terrific crispy thai watercress salad with seafood and chicken.  This amazing salad has a terrific combination of seafood and shrimp cooked and marinated in a sauce which contains cilantro, fish sauce, and lime juice, coupled with the lightly fried watercress.  Delicious!

After wolfing down a few curry puffs, and having the tom yum shrimp soup (shrimp with thai hot and sour soup), we moved on the several excellent main courses:

  • Sauteed crispy pork with chili, garlic and thai basil
  • Green curry with chicken
  • Shrimp with drunken noodles S

All the dishes were well spiced, but Sripraphia will spice to your liking, so don’t be scared.  And, accompanied with some delicious brown and coconut rice, and some thai iced tea with tapioca balls…  it was a terrific way to celebrate my wife’s return, and my return from a nasty two week virus.

Of course, the fact that we have a few leftovers is not a bad thing..  of course, they’ll be gone by the end of the day!

4 comments:

Gar said...

i've yet to try this Thai restaurant, maybe because it's a bit out of the way even though it's near the subway.

Miss Beth said...

it's worth the trip!

Jennifer Galatioto said...

This place is hard core. Its very close to where I live. Right near there is El Sitio, really good Cuban place on Broadway and then down Broadway in Woodside is thie awesome Spanish Bakery and great brunch spot called La Fleur.

Unknown said...

Kristi,

Is Justin with you? Is that "we?" or are you with other cast members? So, sounds like you're really getting around the various neighborhoods of NYC on your food quest. Good! I tried calling your apt in TO today. Guess what? Nobody home.

Da