'Tis The Season For Thai

As we head inexorably towards December 25th, we of The Chosen People can't help but notice that restaurants are already beginning to shut-down for Christmas. So tonight, when asked to pick a dining spot for a festive gathering, I knew that Asian was the way to go. My first instinct was to suggest somewhere in Chinatown, but then my friend Muncie threw a curve-ball my way - the Upper West Side.

Aargh! I don't spend a lot of time on the UWS, so my Zagat-like superpowers aren't of use in that nabe. I had to turn elsewhere for advice. Thankfully, Regina Schrambling of Gastropada came to my rescue. Via her blog, she recommended Land Thai Kitchen as an authentic hot spot on Amsterdam.

Within moments of entering Land Thai, fresh out of the pouring rain, I wondered if Regina had been wrong about this place. It was crammed and the hostess didn't seem gracious in the least. That said, the place was packed at 5:30pm - definitely a good sign. My rain-drenched posse and I decided to hold tight and wait it out for a table.

Once the drinks arrived - creamy, sweet Thai Iced Tea served in oversized bowls - we had a strange feeling that we were in for something special. Then the waitstaff began to bring the food...

Light as air shrimp mousse wrapped in crisp, fried wonton skins, with tart kaffir lime curd for dipping...

...a special of sea bass stewed with thai spices and served with jasmine rice...

...and a searingly spicy version of the stalwart Thai noodle dish - Pad Thai, graced with plump shrimp...

Delish.

Enough to make up for the tight quarters and so-so service? Utterly satisfied, sipping coffee at the end of the meal, my companions didn't think it was a tough call - absolutely.

I agreed with them. And moreover, now I can't wait to see what other Asian meals await me this holiday season.