Feasting in Phoenix 2.0

The wedding was a success. The reception was a lot of fun. The honeymoon was amazing (Montreal food reviews coming soon!). And I returned to Phoenix a married man with a ton of thank you notes to write and a bazillion photos to edit.

But I couldn’t forget the other important things. Amidst the revelry of my marriage, I remembered that it had been ages since Dad and I ventured out for some Thai food. But, I also noticed that the new James Bond film “Quantum of Solace” was out, so I knew that James Bond and Thai food would give Dad a great evening out.

We headed up to the remake of the Cine Capri theater at Scottsdale Road and the 101 and spent a good two hours with Diet Cokes and golden delicious topping-flavored popcorn watching Daniel Craig run around a lot with his shirt off. However, we both enjoyed the movie.

Since we were in that neck of the woods, I reminded Dad that Thai House was nearby and we made our way through the construction on Scottsdale Road and took Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard over toward the 101 before pulling into the Best Buy strip mall that housed the small restaurant.

We parked and entered the restaurant which was packed. We were asked to wait a moment while the cleared on of the booths and then motioned for us to take a seat. We were handed menus and warmly greeted.

As we reviewed the menu, we discussed the movie and the wedding. Oddly, they were both fast paced and I admitted to Dad that I remember very little about the wedding itself except how handsome J. looked. “Probably the stress of it all,” Dad said.

Our server arrived and asked if she could take our drink order. Dad had a Diet Pepsi ($1.50) and I had an Iced Tea ($1.50). She said she would return with the drinks momentarily and headed for the kitchen. Dad and I returned to our conversation.

Moments later she returned with our drinks and then asked if we were ready to order. Dad told me to select the appetizers and I did so, choosing the Chicken Satay ($6.95) and the Egg Rolls ($4.95). For the entrée, I wanted the Red Curry with Beef ($9.95) and Dad was craving the Pra-Ram ($9.95), a dish made with chicken and, of course, peanut sauce.

As we sipped our drinks and talked, I was happy to be there with Dad and just talk. The space was very comfortable. The decorations were minimal, but the interior was bright and cheery. I did think they kept the temperature a bit on the cold side and I could see other patrons putting on their light jackets or sweaters to keep the chill at bay.

About five minutes or so had passed when our Egg Rolls arrived. Four crispy rolls arrived on a square plate with a tiny bowl of sweet and sour sauce. The rolls were searing hot and we cut into them to release the steam. The filling was a mix of cabbage and carrots with a few onions here and there and plenty of garlic. It was a basic filling, but I thought a nice beginning to the meal. I also liked the dipping sauce. It was unique in that it was more like a syrup than a thick sauce so it readily clung to the egg roll. Dad and I were satisfied with them.

There was a short break between the egg rolls and the Chicken Satay, but there was also some snafu in the kitchen. When our server returned she sported the plate of Satay along with another plate of Egg Rolls. We indicated we had already received our egg rolls so she set the plate of satay down and returned to the kitchen.

The Chicken Satay contained five skewers of tender, moist chicken which had been marinaded and then grilled. The chicken was excellent and had a slightly smoky aftertaste. The accompanying peanut sauce was rich and thick with bits of peanuts and an overall creamy texture. The combination of the chicken and the peanut sauce was quite the treat and Dad was grinning from ear to ear.

After finishing the appetizers, we began the wait for our entrees. At one point, our server returned and asked if anyone had been by to deliver our meal. We indicated that no one had and there was a flurry of activity and apologies. Honestly, the wait seemed a bit on the longish side, but considering there wasn’t an empty seat in the place, it wasn’t tragic. Still, the apologies and rush to get us our food was charming.

The Red Curry Beef was the first dish to hit the table and the scent of fresh basil hit my nostrils immediately. The medium-sized bowl was filled with slices of beef, sliced peppers, onions, basil, carrots and bamboo shoots all in a coconut milk broth. We mounded our plates with white rice and ladled on the red curry beef. The taste was outstanding with a very powerful punch to the palate and an overall freshness that made the dish shine. Dad was very happy with this dish and I was covering every grain of rice I had on my plate with the delicious broth.

Our second entree was the Pra-Ram, a dish that was crafted by the deity of your choice for my Dad. Slices of chicken were tossed with a delightful peanut sauce, poured onto a bed of cabbage and served with steamed carrots and broccoli. One bite had Dad hooked. I had to admit that the dish was very alluring. The peanut sauce was, to my surprise, not overpowering. The savory nature of the chicken and the slightly sweet flair of the peanuts really knocked this dish out of the park. The chicken was excellent and Dad and I made sure that every scrap on the plate was gone before we left. I think the best part of the dish was how well it paired with the Red Beef Curry.

We polished off everything on the table except a few scraps of rice and then requested our bill. The total damage was $37.57 which included tax. We thought this was quite the deal. We had no complaints about our meal. The service was attentive and pleasant even when the place was filled to the rafters.

We paid our bill, got in the car and took the 101 down to Indian School Road before heading home. As we drove, Dad said that he and Mom had a wonderful time at the wedding and that I did a great job of planning it. He also said that J. was a wonderful addition to the family.

I couldn’t agree more. J. is wonderful.

I really miss him.

Thai House
15576 North Pima Road
Suite A-5
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Dress: Casual
Hours: Monday through Friday – 11:00 AM to 3 PM and 4:30 PM to 9 PM; Satuday – 11:30 AM to 9 PM; Sunday – Closed.
Notes: A few doors down from the Best Buy. A second location is in Mesa.
Alcohol: None.
Website: www.thaihouse-az.com