Thadapetch Birthday

While recently our choices of ethnic restaurants has improved in Lake Charles we are missing two types. However they are available an hour or so from the city. For Indian you can go to Marsala in Lafayette. There are Thai available there also but we like to head north for Thai. In Deridder there is Thai Basil and in Leesvile Thadapetch. My internet friend and her husband The Engineer like the one in Leesville and my birthday present this year was a visit there. This weekend was clear for both of us. After a pleasant drive (the four laning of 171 is a god send) we arrived.

Below in a full order of Tom Kha which feed the three of us quite well. Tom Kha is Thai hot and sour soup that has coconut milk added to it. This one was chicken with mushrooms, galanga, onion, lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, chili and lime juice. The coconut milk adds a certain richness while allowing the spice and sour to come through. Regular milk would curdle because of the milk proteins. I usually get a bowl of soup. This is the first time sharing the larger one. The vessel was something unique and interesting

They provided bouillon cups for us and the hot pot had enough for us to have two cups

My internet friend got Pad Woon-Sen. Stir fried silver noodles with chicken , egg, baby corn, mushrooms, carrot and onion. This is a stir fry dish with fine rice noodles. It was quite tasty with a good amount of vegetables.

The Engineer got Yum Nuer. Grilled sliced beef with line juice, chili, lemon grass, tomato, green onion, and mint leaves served on a bed of lettuce. A fine example of a Thai meat salad and quite delicious if a bit sour.

I opted for Pad Ped Ta-Lay which is a stir fry dish of shrimp, squid, mussel, and catfish with bell pepper, mushroom, chili, lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves and galanga. Just spicy enough to be interesting and the seasoning compliment the seafood perfectly

We all got Mango and Sticky rice for dessert. I have not had this wonderful combination in so long I dug right in and forgot to take a picture. Just take it from me it is the perfect end to a Thai meal.