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The
Lunch Bunch traveled to Madeira Beach to sample a group favorite recently,
namely, Thai food. Right up front, members of the
mysterious Bunch wanted readers to know that Thai food is not—repeat,
not—Chinese food.
Natives of Thailand use a variety of spices in their dishes, some that Americans
are familiar with, and combinations and varieties that Americans have never
tried. The result? Delicious!
Thai-Am # 2 is a second restaurant owned by Sungkard Thanupakorn, known as Udi,
and his brother, who immigrated to the United States in 1980. The original
Thai-Am is on Fourth Street in St. Petersburg.
When the Lunch Bunch visited, we were warmly and humbly greeted by Udi’s fiancé,
Viyada Thedvisarn. She immediately brought us an appetizer. Satay ($4.95),
chicken strips on wooden skewers grilled with coconut milk and curry powder
served with peanut sauce and a cucumber salad.
A tiny hibachi was placed on the table and Lunch Bunchers placed their chick en
on it to grill it further. The cucumber salad is to eat after a dish to cleanse
the palate and ready it for the next installment.
Many times, Thai food is very spicy, but Lunch Bunchers elected the mild form of
each dish so that one wasn’t mistaken for another with a lingering spicy taste.
However, we do point out that the medium version is preferable for those who
love spicy food, and the hot is delicious to those claiming to have a “cast
iron” stomach.
Next, Viyada brought us a beef salad ($4.95), grilled beef slices marinated with
Thai herbs and spices. One of the most popular herbs at our table was lemon
grass, a taste delight unlike anything American.
This dish was followed by Hot-Sour Shrimp Soup ($3.50-6.95) served In an unusual
circular tureen sporting sterno flames at the center. The soup was a delight -
with plump, tasty shrimp seasoned with lime juice, lemon grass, hot peppers and
straw mushrooms.
Viyada then served us the Thai version of iced tea and iced coffee, a
super-sweetened, thick version made even better by adding sweetened cream.
We munched on Spring Rolls, the Thai version of an egg roll, with flaky wrapping
and crisp vegetables and noodles inside.
Then our hosts Udi and Viyada brought Panang Curry ($7.95), beef or chick en
slowly simmered in creamy coconut milk, panang curry and herbs and spices.
Another house specialty followed - Steamed Seafood ($11.95) — assorted seafood
marinated with curry sauce and coconut milk, steamed over a bed of cabbage and
basil leaf and served in a unique foil wrap ping.
We sampled Peanut Curry Spare Ribs ($9.95). pre cooked spare ribs sautéed with
peanut curry sauce over steamed mixed vegetables. The peanut sauce is a taste
delight and should be tried at least once in every one’s lifetime.
We enjoyed Spicy Fish (market priced), a whole deep fried fish or fish filet
topped with the house chili sauce ... tender and very tasty. Rice was cooked in
coconut milk, too.
Since this was the first taste of Thai cuisine for some Lunch Bunch members, Udi
and Viyada enjoyed bringing several delights to the table just for tasting, like
Tamarind sauce. The Tamarind is a seed, explained Viyada with hand-drawn
pictures. And its sauce is an unexplainable delight. Lunch Bunchers tried to
explain it with references to apple butter, applesauce and other smooth saucy
American favorites, but we still couldn’t come close. Try this delicacy with
shrimp, chicken or fish.
Fried bananas ($2.75) and hot Jasmine tea topped off the meal. The bananas were
wrapped in flaky pastry and topped with sesame seeds—to die for!
Thai-Am # 2 also serves dishes made with duck, a variety of noodle dishes and
fried rices. Their lunch buff6et is extensive and varied and is served from
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at a cost of $4.95 per person. Early bird special combos at
$5.95 are served from 5-7 p.m. They also have an extensive vegetarian menu.
Thai-Am # 2 is open six days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 5
p.m. to 10 p.m. They will deliver with a $10 minimum order. Call them at 398-
9700.
Members of the Lunch Bunch don’t claim to be culinary experts
or professional critics, just ordinary people who like to tell Beacon-Leader-Bee
readers about their dining experiences. Look for further adventures of the Lunch
Bunch. Who knows, they may be headin’ your way!
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