We like to watch shows featuring the likes of Anthony Bourdain
and Andrew Zimmern…who travel to all sorts of exotic locations and eat food
that is bizarre (I’m sorry but it usually is). And sometimes their locale is not
exotic…places such as Appalachia, just as an example. But the food is still
bizarre.
And it’s not that we like cooking shows so much as eating
shows. Though I must admit that our latest family TV show addiction is “The
Taste” (Check your local listings for time and station…mostly because we DVR it
and frankly I have no idea when or where it’s on.)
We see the foods they prepare and often we are on the fence about
whether we would try them if presented with the opportunity.
I will personally admit that I don’t know if I would try
them.
Mr. Always Random seems a little more willing than I am.
But after tonight I wonder if I possibly have more gumption in
my taste buds than I previously thought.
This evening we went to a local Burmese restaurant…it’s
called Chin Brothers. It’s at Stop 11 and Madison, in case anyone is interested
in checking it out.
And actually, it’s at Stop 11 and Madison even if you’re not
interested.
Mr. Always Random and I had been there previously, but my
11yo in particular had been asking for us to take him.
Making it a family affair, we went back tonight and took my
parents with us.
It’s not at all the type of place they frequent…it’s not
about presentation or ambiance…definitely wasn’t entirely sure what they would
think, but I was hopeful.
When we walked in, it was abundantly clear that they were in
the process of remodeling, so the décor was “rustic construction”…I was afraid
we were sunk.
It was also abundantly clear that we stood out in the room,
and that’s all I’ll say about that. We didn’t mind…I’m just saying it was kind
of obvious.
So we perused the menus…fortunately there were pictures of
many of the items. Albeit small pictures, but pictures nonetheless.
And the waiter was struggling slightly to describe what some
of them were.
Finally the moment of truth had arrived and we had to make
our decisions. And if you are one of my family members, please forgive me if I
report the name slightly incorrectly…I wasn’t taking notes.
So I’m sure you were wondering so let me report who ordered
what:
- My 11yo and my mother ordered the same thing…Singapore Noodles.
- My 9yo had Sweet and Sour Pork.
- My dad had Fried Noodles.
- I had Burmese Noodle Salad.
I refuse to try to describe any of them. I wouldn’t possibly
do them justice, and frankly some of the combinations may not sound appealing
to our American palette. But trust me…they were all worth a try.
You may have noticed an omission in my list. That was
intentional. This item deserves to have attention called to it on its own.
Mr. Always Random was waffling on what to get. The rest of
us had ordered and our order being submitted to the kitchen was hinging on his
decision.
He’s probably the most adventurous eater of any of us, so I
was hoping he would try something that I wouldn’t dare order.
He’d already asked the waiter what the best overall item was
and the waiter said he loved it all.
No help.
But when presented with the sub-category of Curry dishes, the
waiter didn’t hesitate to choose “the best”. I knew in my gut, just by looking
at the list of possibilities, what he was going to say.
And apparently not one to disappoint, he said it.
Goat Curry.
Now, I bet some of you are thinking, “Goat Curry IS the
best.”
But I bet most of you are thinking, “Goat Curry is the BEST?”
See…same sentence…different emphasis.
But back to the Goat Curry.
Curry…not so much the problem, though it’s not my favorite
of all the spices.
Goat.
Goat?
Really?
Yes…Goat.
Well…what was Mr. Always Random to do? Order the dish which
may be the most disgusting thing he’s ever eaten? Or risk possibly offending
the person who was putting our order in with the chef.
Hmmmm. It was a tough call, but he probably made the right
choice in that situation.
He ordered the Goat Curry.
It came out of the kitchen, looking all “curry-ish”.
Yellowish brown.
Curry-ish.
But each of the PBA tried it. I wasn’t going to be the only
one left out.
Plus the reviews were favorable. My 9y even said, “Next
time, I’m getting the Goat Curry.”
So I tried it.
It was curry-ish…which, as I said, is not my favorite…but I
moved past it.
The meat was tender.
It was very unexpected.
But most importantly…it was tasty.
I would even eat it again.
I have to admit, when that waiter said the Goat Curry was
the best, he wasn’t kid-ding.*
*Editor’s Note: I blatantly stole that joke from my dad, but
it was just so punny, I had to repeat it.
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