As any one who’s talked to me for than five minutes about food in Queens knows, I’m a firm believer that the best Thai food in New York City can be had in Elmhurst. In fact I love the Little Bangkok that runs along Broadway between Whitney and Woodside Avenues so much that it’s the star of one of my food tours. So this month the boys at Queens Dinner Club and I are offering Big Taste of Little Bangkok, on June 22 at 7:30 p.m. at our new home in Kaufmann Astoria Studios. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased here.
The evening’s menu will include some of our favorite dishes from local hot spots Dek Sen, Eim Khao Mun Gai, Pata Paplean and Sugar Club. Dek Sen will be preparing tom yam, the classic Thai papaya salad, and moo ping Brooklyn, savory pork skewers. In case you’re wondering the name comes not from an affinity with the County of Kings, but rather the niece of one of the owners who’s named Brooklyn. As is traditional, both will be served with plenty of sticky rice.
One of my favorite things to eat in Elmhurst is the boat noodles from Chef Cherry and her crew at Pata Paplean. She’ll be serving tom yum haeng at Big Taste of Little Bangkok. Think of it as a noodle salad version of the popular Thai soup. The bowl includes springy yellow noodles, fish sauce, lime juice, ground pork, and fish balls topped with sugar,chili, cilantro, and golden shards of fried pork.
If you walk down Broadway Eim Khao Mun Kai announces itself with the heavenly aroma of ginger scented chicken and rice. We’re proud to have them serving their signature dish khao mun kai, gently cooked chicken with absolutely lovely rice flavored with chicken broth and ginger.
Last but not least the dessert powerhouse/cafe/grocery store that is Sugar Club will be there serving sweet treats. Monkey roti takes bananas and encases them in sugar crusted griddled flat bread, while Chef Piri’s take on mango sticky rice flavors the rice with fragrant pandan. Sugar Club will also serve up a savory dish, comforting congee with pork meatballs.
See you next Thursday!
Are the pata p boat noodles better than Pye? And/or what are best boat noodles (prefer beef) in Queens? (My North American exemplar being Sapp in LA.)