September… I LOVE this time of year. It’s as though the Weather God knows to crisp up the air as soon as Labor Day hits. Cool mornings give way to sun drenched days, and the evenings that follow demand pleasant “after dinner” walks outside.
Being a September “baby” also helps support my adoration for this month. I grew up with parents that made a big deal over my birthday. So, needless to say, it is always one of my most favorite days of the year. While most people my age like to FORGET about their birthdays, I like to celebrate – with FOOD – preferably, for more than one day. This year, even though the people around me will not realize it, I will be celebrating ALL WEEK! I’ll post as I “experience.”
First Stop, Origin Thai III in Basking Ridge. French inspired Thai food. How much better can it get!? With the prodding of Maya, Manish made “early birthday” reservations for the four of us last night. We like to go to the Basking Ridge location because it’s convenient, close, and the newest one out of the three locations. The girls feel like they are going out to a “fancy restaurant,” and we have the added benefit of bringing our own wine! Here is what we consumed…
Shrimp and Crab Spring Rolls with a Basil Sauce – Crispy outer shell encased a delicate seafood medley filling. Dipped into the sweet Basil sauce, this was HEAVENLY!
Lemongrass Steamed Mussels – A “go-to” dish EVERY time we as a family visit Origin Thai. We all love mussels. The only thing this dish was missing was the bread to sop up the broth!!!
Crispy Whole Snapper with Tamarind, Chili, Garlic, Sweet Shallot Sauce – RIDICULOUSLY flavorful. The fish was so delicate (despite the cooking technique) and the sweet and spicy sauce was perfectly balanced. YUM.
Wild Boar with Chili, Thai Basil, Shitake, and Bok Choy – Extremely flavorful, and soooo savory. Would have licked the plate clean if they didn’t take it away as soon as they did! The only negative was that some of the boar pieces was “more cooked (ie tougher) than others. Didn’t really take away from the dish… just an observation.
For dessert, Maya insisted we order the warm chocolate cake and Kayla went for the Banana Crepe. And, the 2006 Donnhoff Felsenturmchen Riesling Spatlese that I was gifted a year ago made for the perfect accompaniment to most of the dishes above!
Cheers! And stay tuned for my next stop!