A brief non-NYC interlude

Last weekend I was home in Massachusetts to meet the newest member of our family, a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy named Lily. As you might expect, she's pretty darn cute:

Puppy-dog face

But despite the persistent cuteness of this puppy, we had to eat. So one evening we went to check out the newest local Thai restaurant, which replaced a different Thai restaurant. This one was called Chili Basil, and it turned out to be pretty good.

There was an order of fresh basil rolls and a "Dumpling Delight" (pork dumplings) for Dad and a seafood red curry for Mom. All met with approval.

Fresh rolls

Delightful!

Currylicious

Additionally, Mom and I split a papaya salad and a mango salad. The papaya salad was standard, nothing to write home about. But the mango salad was delicious. The ripe mango was coated with an addictive sauce that made it pretty much impossible to stop eating. Plus, on top of the whole concoction, there was a handful of the hugest roasted cashews I've ever seen. Though the spice seared my mouth, I was contented and would definitely order the mango salad again.

Served the purpose

The winner!

Welp, that's all from home. It feels weird to travel four and a half hours to eat Thai food when I pretty much live in Little Thailand here in NYC. But weird is sometimes delicious.

Chili Basil
385 Boston Post Road, Sudbury, MA
978-443-0988

Back to Vong for twists on greatness

Two weekends ago (I'm a bit behind...) AV and I made our way back to Vong. I'd received a gift certificate there for my birthday, courtesy of my delightful parents, and though I'd enjoyed it thoroughly with both AV and my mother on two occasions in the same week, I hadn't yet found the time to go back. But finally the time had come, and we were back, hoping for the same bursts of greatness we'd witnessed the last time around.

As with last time, we started with the papadum chips with peanut sauce. Incredibly savory and compulsively popable, we both could be satisfied with a huge bowl of these chips, a vat of sauce, and perhaps a couch and a football game. But I digress.

Papadummmmmmm

For his entree, AV went with the vegetarian version of their summer rolls, but instead of the standard dipping sauce, he requested the spicy sriracha dipping sauce that usually accompanies the salt-and-pepper calimari. He was exceedingly happy with his decision.

Mash-up!

I was sad to see that their green papaya and apple salad, which I had enjoyed so thoroughly last time, was no longer on the menu. But it was replaced with "Mango salad, lime and chili dressing," which looked promising. I ordered it. And I was glad I had. It had thick strips of mango along with the same delicious odds-and-ends that had made the papaya salad so delicious-- cashews, fried green beans, cherry tomato halves. There was also a bizarre hunk of iceberg lettuce. Sure. Regardless, it was one of the better salads I've had in a while-- not quite as good as the papaya version, but certainly worth returning for.

A medley of savory and sweet deliciousness

On to dessert. Our amazing caramelized pineapple treat from before was also gone from the menu, so we were left to our own devices. AV overheard another table order an off-the-menu molten chocolate cake, and he followed suit. With vanilla ice cream, it was a solid rendition of the classic.

Gooey inside

I ordered just plain coconut sorbet. With that order, I got three large scoops of flaky, chilly coconut sorbet-- delicious-- and a long cookie-- forgettable. It was so much sorbet I almost couldn't finish it. Well, almost.

Coconut fabulosity

Even with all that food, we were still left with more than half of my $100 gift certificate left over. So, Vong, we'll be back-- for more four Offset Spatula action and whatever other delicious surprises you can throw our way.

Vong
200 E. 54th Street
212-486-9592