Tonight it's Thai at Nayada

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Margie choose Nayada in Lakewood for her monthly wine dinner.   www.nayadathaicuisine.com        13 of us here tonight.

We started out with the traditional Tom Yum Shrimp Soup.  Flavors were spot on but the soup itself was warm not hot. Maybe if it had set on the heat source for a few more minutes it would have helped.

Then onto Lettuce Wraps with Chopped Chicken Breast, Water Chestnuts, Green Onion, Glass Noodles, Mushrooms.  The lettuce was Iceberg which most places use for wraps but I have always had a problem with that type of lettuce. It has a tendency to fall apart easily. Makes a mess. Flavors were excellent but I ended up eating most of mine with a fork.

Two more appetizers, Golden Bags and Thai Springs Rolls. Both had good flavors.

Main entrees starting showing up. No room on the table because of all of our wine glasses and bottles of wine  but the waitstaff seem to be good at finding a small opening to set a platter down.

Tantalizing Style Mixed Vegetables, Basil, Eggplant, Asparagus, Cauliflower, Tomatoes fried in a Kra Prao Sauce. Way too much Basil for me. It so overwhelmed  the other flavors for me. I am finding for me personally a little Basil, Cilantro, Lemongrass and Ginger go a very long way. I know others really like these flavors but I want very small does of them. I  like Asian cuisines and they all seem to use these flavors heavily so I have to adjust.

Siam Apple Catfish was next. Fried Catfish with a Lime Juice of Apple Slivers, Onions, Garlic and
Chilies. This has always been one of my favorite dishes at Nayada, But tonight it really fell off. The catfish itself was on the dry side. The coating was a bit to hard. It had been overcooked. Perhaps the kitchen was too busy. And for some reason the apples slivers just didn't seem to come through.

Next was a platter of Green Curry Chicken made with Coconut Milk, Eggplant, Bell Pepper and Basil Leaves. Had a few pieces of the chicken. The curry had really nice flavor.

Garlic Pepper Beef was the next dish. Stir Fried Beef with Garlic, Ground Black Pepper in an Oyster and Mushroom Sauce. Good flavors, Beef was tender

Last up for the evening was Pork Kai Kua Noodles. Flat Noodles, stir fried with Pork, Green Onions, Eggplant, Bean Sprouts, Peanuts, Egg and Thai Style Oyster and Mushroom Sauce. Very good flavors.

Wines were a real mixed bag.

2014 Stolpman Carbonic Sangiovese - a good bet for spicy foods

2013 Tercero Outlier (dry Gewurztraminer) - another wine that goes with with Thai

2010 Francois Chidaine, Rose of Pinot Noir - this wine is always good, the  best Rose on the table

2011 Evening Land Chardonnay - did not taste

2011 Ken Brown, Santa Barbara County, Pinot Noir - always a winner

NV Cremant D'Alsace, Albrecht Tradition - nice pleasing bubbly

2015 Romana Rose, Sancerre, 100% Pinot Noir - was not to my taste

NV Tattinger, Brut Reserve, Champagne -  good bubbly

2014 Louis Jadot,   Beaujolias,  Villages - did not taste - I am not a Gamay grape fan

2013 Lincourt, Sta. Rita Hills, Pinot Blanc - did not taste

2015 Halter Ranch, Rose - Cloying sweet strawberry flavor 

2013 Williams Selyem, Pinot Noir ( the vineyard did not get written down) - can't go wrong with a WS

2013 Dr. Konstantin Frank, Rkatsitelli  - very good wine, went well with the food

2014 Kaena, Granache Rose - did not taste

2012 Melville Block , Pinot Noir - Excellent wine

2013 Bridgeman, Rielsing - did not taste

2014 Kung Fu Girl Riesling  -  have had this wine at restaurants numerous times - a good wine for $10