Opioid crisis requires a multi-pronged effort
June 1, 2018
Joie ‘de Vivre
June 1, 2018
Not all fried rice is created equal.
Chinese fried rice tends to be bold with dominant notes of soy sauce, while Vietnamese fried rice is more subdued and refreshing. Either would make a great side. Invite Thai fried rice to the pat hick and you get a dish with a familiar appearance but a flavor profile that wants to be the star of its own show.
When I visit Houma’s Song Phi Nong Thai restaurant I never look at the menu. I am sold on chicken pad Thai before I walk through the front door. A recent visit however; found ma carious. I opened the menu, and the wards ‘Song Phi Nong Fried Rice” stared bade at me. A longtime fan of Chinese combination fried rice. I wanted to find out what made the Thai version different.
After a short wait time, my server approached my table with a bowl of rice that could feed a family literally. Putting all that rice down was going to be a challenge, and I was up for it The aromatic smell of sauteed onions and other vegetables, combined with the textures and colors of beet, port shrimp and chicken, makes you want to dive infer that first bate.
Some rice is firm while other rice is mushy. Song Phi Nong’s filed rice is somewhere in between, with a slight wetness that holds all the ingredients together. One bite in, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this rice has just the right amount of salt content, relying on traditional Thai spices to deliver its own unique flavor. When ordering, you are in control of how much spice land s in your bowl Anything above ‘level two-will require a few extra drink refills during your meal.
While I enjoyed the balanced flavor of the rice, the supporting cast of vegetables and proteins had my taste buds giving a standing ovation. Julienned anions contribute much of the flavor, but I most enjoyed the chopped green onions, diced carrots and peas. The vegetables had been softened to the perfect texture and gave each bite a level of excitement that rice alone can’t deliver. Pieces of egg worked especially well with the vegetables This wasn’t firm, dried egg like you might find in a rice dish on any Chinese buffet. Sang Phi Nong treats the egg like a signature ingredient allowing it to be-come fluffy while soaking up the Thai spices.
Combination fried rice relies on an assortment of proteins to build its DNA. Sang Phi Nong doesn’t disappoint with a generous amount of beef, chicken, pork and shrimp. The beet chicken and pack are notably tender, with the latter adding a little extra salt to the bites in which it is featured. The large, plump shrimp paired best with this fried rice. Juicy and loaded with a welcome freshness, the shrimp naturally matched the texture of the vegetables and rice when combined. While I enjoyed the various meats, I would consider ordering just shrimp fried rice on a return visit.
Song Phi Nong’s Thai fried rice may look like any fried rice served in an Asian dining room. but ingredients like Thai spaces, green onions, fluffy eggs and large, fresh shrimp make this a dish worth exploring. Maybe I should open the menu more often.
