Simply Thai

A lovely restaurant in Oneonta, NY

We had errands in Oneonta today, and we planned to go to Brooks' Barbecue for lunch.  Alas, they had a sign in the door saying they were closed today.  So we went back downtown to try the restaurant named "Simply Thai".

We ordered lunch specials.  They begin with salad.

HOUSE SALAD

Fresh Greens Served with 

Warm Peanut Dressing

I ordered a small cup of soup.  It had cute little mushrooms (straw mushrooms?) and chunks of chicken.  It was a little spicy - their level 2 is what we requested.  The soup is a thin sweet/sour broth.

TOM YUM

Thai Hot & Sour Soup

with Lemongrass, Mushroom and Roasted Chilies,

Finished with Scallion

For a main course, D ordered:

SPICY THAI BASIL

NOODLES

("DRUNKEN NOODLES")

Fresh Wide Rice Noodles Stir-Fried

with Onion, Carrot, Bell Pepper,

Baby Corn, Mushroom and Thai Basil

 There were three shrimp and lots of wide rice noodles.  It had a smokey flavor.  The vegetables were attractively cut.  D ordered Level 2 heat.  Spicy but not painful.

I ordered:

MASSAMAN CURRY

Indian Influenced - Massaman

Curry Paste Simmered in Coconut

Milk with Potato, Carrot, Onions

Peanuts and a Hint of Tamarind

Our server suggested ordering Level 1 heat, since curry powder already is a bit hot.

There were three shrimp.  This is served with white jasmine rice.

The lunch and dinner menus are almost the same, with the lunch portions smaller and less expensive.

You can see their menu here.

We enjoyed our lunch very much.  

Just one odd thing.   When we finished our salad, and the server picked up the salad plate, she handed us our fork to save for the main course.  So we sat there holding our fork like at a boarding house dinner, waiting for the next course.  

Gift Idea - Parson's Daughter

It is a challenge to come up with gifts during the holiday season.  We were quite proud of ourselves when we came up with the idea of an assortment of vintage candy.  We were about to order some candy on line - then receive it - then try to package attractively even though talent is limited. . . .

Tah, Dah!  We know where to find some vintage candy and special candy and a person with talent to package it attractively!

Sharon Jeffer owns and operates "The Parson's Daughter".  When I mentioned my idea, she suggested I bring a container and she would fill it.  "Make it look abundant," is her motto.  I found two autumn-themed serving bowls (one never has enough bowls!) and made a selection of fun candies and chocolate.

When we made the selections, Sharon kept a running tab so that I could stay within my budget.  While she was packing, she saw we were still under budget, so she found a couple of items I had missed that added oomph to the package, so she included them, too.  She still stayed well within my budget.

Among other things, there are pop-rocks, flying saucers, wax bottles, chocolate coated sunflower seeds, giant jawbreakers, bubblegum, Beechman's Gum, Mexican hats, chocolate babies, beach rocks, rock sugar crystal, peach-schnapps cordials, jelly belly surprises (you cannot tell by color - it may be popcorn flavor or it may be mud flavor, for example), and a box of sea salt chocolate caramels.  

Sharon did not charge for the packaging and presentation.  What a deal!!!

I think these will be well received! 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Sunny Asian Restaurant, Utica, NY

It was time to return to Utica to pick up our glasses.  That meant a lunch out!  We decided to try Sunny Asian Restaurant, 520 Albany Street, Utica, NY.

When we checked out the menu I saw that they had "Bubble Tea".  Now, I'd read about that and it sounded interesting  -  a new experience at least.  I ordered the Honeydew Bubble Tea.

It was delicious and fun and would be fantastic in the summer.

It's a honeydew flavored slurpy with "bubbles".  When I check wikipedia, it says the bubbles are tapioca.  These seemed to be completely flavorless navy blue balls of gummy bear.  It was fun!

The server brought fresh, crispy noodles and a sweet and spicy sauce.

D ordered shrimp with garlic sauce.  These were a handful of shrimp in an excellent sauce with vegetables.  The vegetables, cooked in the sauce, were al-dente, not crunchy, and had been in the sauce long enough to absorb the flavor.  D described the broccoli as the best he had ever eaten!

 

I chose the tofu with lemon grass.  There was quite a bit of ginger in it.  It was excellent.

The onions, peppers, and carrots were also well done - not raw.

(The shrimp on top was from D's plate.) 

I really enjoyed the bubble tea!

We will go back to Sunny Asian Restaurant the next time we go to Utica.