02.17.2010 ValenThai Day

Traditionally, on Valentine's Day, Patrick and I go for Greek take-out gyros. This all started our first year together three years ago when we were both drop dead broke, but he still wanted to take me out. We did that for two years and this year have decided that we would rather go back to our first date cuisine and dependable favorite, Thai food. Our first date spot, Smiler's, shut down a few months after we met and Bozeman has not had a Thai place since. BUT just recently Lemongrass Thai opened up, and thus our ValenThai date.

Lemongrass Thai was freaking amazing. Real Thai food; they do not change spice or ingredients because that would ultimately change the authenticity of the dish. The menu had a history and explanation on the back, and here is what I learned:

• Thai do not eat with chopsticks, that's a Chinese gig. Traditionally Thai food is eaten with the hands, but more recently a spoon and fork is used.
  
• Thai food is generally served family style with rice.
• Jasmine rice is indigenous to Thailand.
  

My favorite dishes:

• Kaeng phanaeng: From central Thailand. An Indian influenced coconut-peanut curry with beef (Kaeng phanaeng nuea), chicken, pork or seafood. I like it best on rice with beef.
• Cha yen: Thai iced tea. It is made from strongly-brewed black tea. The tea is sweetened with sugar and condensed milk and served chilled.
• Khao niao mamuang: Sticky rice cooked in sweetened thick coconut milk, served with slices of ripe mango.

Resources:

Lemongrass Thai menu, 290 W. Kagy Stc. C, Bozeman, MT, 59715

Bhumichitr, Vatcharin. The Essential Thai Cookbook, 192 pages, New York: Clarkson N. Potter Inc., 1994