Foodie Friday: the explosion of Thai restaurants in the U.S. since the 80s has meant that more avera
Foodie Friday: the explosion of Thai restaurants in the U.S. since the 80s has meant that more average Americans know what pad Thai is than ever before. Some estimates top 5,000 Thai restaurants in total, making Thai the most popular Asian national cuisine in the U.S. after Chinese.As we’ve learned this month, of course, American Chinese is different than Chinese. And so is American Thai. I stumbled across this great essay by Thai American author Pitchaya Subandthad today researching the history of pad Thai in America, and it rings true for any immigrant (or child of an immigrant who’s been to the homeland) who ever craves the flavors of home in America.It’s true, now, that demand for authentic Thai has made sure that there are some Thai restaurants that get pretty close to the real deal. But even the less authentic Thai restaurants have come into my good graces. Sure, the pad Thai here usually tastes like a cup of sugar. There will barely be any eggs, and there won’t be the traditional pickled turnips or dried shrimp. More times than not, it’s inexplicably reddish and oily. But it’s pad Thai-American, and it’s oddly comforting. When I eat it, I know where I am. -- source link
#pad thai#foodie friday#thai american#asian american