A good local Thai restaurant has been part of my life for many years now, so I'm a little ashamed to confess that it took almost 6 months in Calgary to try out Bangkoknoi, which is just a few blocks from home. Sadly it was snowing the night we visited, so we had to drive rather than walk.
The restaurant itself was a pleasant surprise, with cozy booths around the edge, and Thai style decorations. We started with Toong Tong, a pork mixture wrapped in wonton pastry and deep fried. Served with plum sauce, they were crisp and delicious. Next came two test dishes - beef panang and pad-sie-ew. Test dishes because they are long time favourites, and really, if they aren't fabulous it's time to find somewhere else to eat. Bangkoknoi did well on both. The panang sauce was not quite as thick as I'd like, but the pad-sie-ew was fantastic. I was pleased that coconut rice was available as well as the usual steamed.
In spite of being quite full (and having asked for half the main dishes to be wrapped to take home), we tried the mango sticky rice for dessert. It was a lovely contrast of sweet rice and tart fresh mango, and a perfect end to a wonderful meal. And so, after 6 months, we have a local Thai restaurant, and the universe is back in balance.
The restaurant itself was a pleasant surprise, with cozy booths around the edge, and Thai style decorations. We started with Toong Tong, a pork mixture wrapped in wonton pastry and deep fried. Served with plum sauce, they were crisp and delicious. Next came two test dishes - beef panang and pad-sie-ew. Test dishes because they are long time favourites, and really, if they aren't fabulous it's time to find somewhere else to eat. Bangkoknoi did well on both. The panang sauce was not quite as thick as I'd like, but the pad-sie-ew was fantastic. I was pleased that coconut rice was available as well as the usual steamed.
In spite of being quite full (and having asked for half the main dishes to be wrapped to take home), we tried the mango sticky rice for dessert. It was a lovely contrast of sweet rice and tart fresh mango, and a perfect end to a wonderful meal. And so, after 6 months, we have a local Thai restaurant, and the universe is back in balance.
Yummy Thai within walking distance. YAY!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYAY indeed! We just went for a second visit - Spring Rolls, Green Curry Chicken (amazing), and their signature noodle dish. I was so full I had to get mango sticky rice to go.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you went THAT long without staple thai. OMG.
ReplyDeleteEven in the culinary wasteland that was the Lower Blue Mts did we find a tolerable thai place.
In Ottawa however.... recommendations please!