This is for the elitists. The ones that would call us "the bridge and tunnel crowd".....you know who you are. You insist that anything worth trying only exists within 46.7 tiny, crowded, over-hyped square miles of peninsula better known as San Francisco. I will admit that there are things that are unique to the city and great within their own right (some of my many SF favorites: R&G Lounge for the salt and pepper crab and The House of Prime Rib for the Yorkshire pudding.....and of course the prime rib). However, a true gourmand is not limited geographically and food is not 'good' by virtue of its address.
Here is a sampling of what I know best, San Jose (and other parts of the Bay Area). To show you that 'good' food exists elsewhere. It is also an homage and a celebration of the South Bay foodies who have known all along that it's just as good down here, if not better AND with parking spaces.

Friday, February 12, 2010

THAI LOVERS

Are you a "last-minute lovebird", a "spontaneous suitor", a "way-late wooer", or a "procrastinating paramour"? Not to worry, the game is not in the planning, it's in the passion. If you have all the intention but not the time then this special holiday installment of I LOVE to eat San Jose is for you!
Here is my choice for a particularly appropriate Valentine's Day restaurant: Thai Lovers.
Thai food is one of my favorite food groups (other important groups being: meat, sugar, salad, fried, and finger) thus, I have several Thai food places tucked away around town so that there's always a spicy Pad Kee Mao within reach. (Much the same way a foodoholic may stash Hostess Snowballs in her bedroom, car, place of work, and maybe the public library.) Thai Lover's happens to be my #1 Thai food place: everything on the menu is fantastic, the service is friendly, and you can order online. So, it's great for a Valentine's night out or for tawdry take-out. Try a bedroom picnic where you and your love interest can feed each other Thai Lover's saucy selections while wearing silky pajamas. Here are some thematic suggestions off their amazing menu:

1. Thai Lover's Sexy Leg: ( a deep fried drumstick served with sweet Thai sauce) Tell your babykins that this dish was named after her (or him).

2. Thai Lover's Special Tom Kha: (a coconut milk and chicken soup infused with aromatic lemongrass and lime leaf) You and your sweetiepie can pretend you are castaways on a deserted island as you eat this soup (as it is served at the restaurant) out of a whole young coconut.

3. Tigerwood Favorite Rad Na: (flat rice noodles in a brown gravy with choice of meat, I usually choose the beef) Fitting if you and your pookums were trading sleazy text messages all day.

4. Eggplants Green Curry Pad Pra-Ram: (eggplants, bell peppers, sweet basil, choice of meat, and a fabulous green curry sauce) This one is not actually in line with my Valentine's Day theme, it's just good and I wanted to include it on the list.

5. Sweet Sticky Rice and Mango: (At the restaurant they serve a coconut dessert with your meal but I like to order this anyway, because I can never resist sweet sticky rice or mango) It's sticky and juicy all at the same time -- not to mention fun to eat with your fingers. Any further direction is best left to the imagination and performed at home.

Even if you are going solo this Valentine's Day, don't shy away from Thai Lovers. Order as spicy as you can handle (even if that is mild). The natural capsaicin will raise your endorphins and oxytocin levels; your cheeks will flush and you may sweat a little...and I guarantee you will feel all the biochemistry of actually being in love without all the drama.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Thai Lovers is located on Piedmont Road (near Penetencia Creek Road and across the street from SJFD Fire Station #19)
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)