Plant Love House opened a location in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, and it's just as good. It's not getting as much play as the one in Elmhurst, which is a shame because it's hands down the best food in the neighborhood, and some of the best Thai in the whole City. I hope someone (Ligaya??) picks up on it soon so it sticks around!!
Since I moved up to San Francisco, Thai cuisine has earned a place in my heart and will always revive my memories I have made so far during my college years. I was running to the delivery man in the rain and back to my dormitory, as I would not stand eating at the campus dining hall, and immersing myself in a warm bowl of chicken Tom Yum almost barbarically, as my vegetarian roommate looked at me with disgust, Thai food was always the option for me. This brought light to the hole-in-the-wall, cultured food that is great in every single way and how places like these will continue to thrive because of its local people. Thai food will forever bring me back to my college years and living in the best city that caters to drunks at 2 am.
Ligaya,
Your words made me wish I were a member of your dinner party. What a delicious sounding experience. My problem is the distance I'd have to go to have the same experience.
Your words made me wish I were a member of your dinner party. What a delicious sounding experience. My problem is the distance I'd have to go to have the same experience.
3
When we lived in Europe, we enjoyed excellent 5 to 10 Euro bottles of wine. What I do not understand is why we cannot get good quality wines for $10 or less here in the States. Why, for example, are California wines so expensive? Price of land? Lack of competition? Price controls?
We have discovered wines from South America which has helped but we do miss the affordable, quality wines of Europe.
We have discovered wines from South America which has helped but we do miss the affordable, quality wines of Europe.
2
Thank goodness for this column from those of us who eat in the outer boroughs and without expense accounts. Welcome back, Ligaya Mishan.
14
I'm a carnivore. Even so, the idea of adding blood to my food just prior to consumption is repulsive to me.
9
Um, and you order steak? Medium rare? That red stuff - the juices - you do what that is, right?
4
Is this soup not commonly referred to as boat (noodle) soup? I am a bit surprised at all the negative from the readers regarding blood in this soup.
1
Repulsive to you -- but not to others. Not me, for instance -- and not to how many million Thais, including the lovely people who run this restaurant.
3
Glad to see NYT peep out from under its slavish devotion to Brooklyn
12
Wish Queens was closer, but some day may just "drop in"...
2
Sorry dean but plenty of Buddhists eat meat. Given that this restaurant is Thai you are assured that most Thais are meat eaters. At the same time most Thai monks are vegetarian. Even those that will eat meat will not slaughter it. Thai monks are prohibited from killing any living thing.
Part of the duties of a Thai temple boy is to kill the mosquitoes in the monks' bedrooms.
Part of the duties of a Thai temple boy is to kill the mosquitoes in the monks' bedrooms.
5
Meanwhile, Chipotle just pulled pork off all of their menus b/c they are unable to source pork that is raised humanely. (And I'm assuming the corporate version of humane is a few rungs down the ladder from what you or I might think of as humane). So, factory-farmed, gestation-crate-produced pork blood, no thanks.
10
Not a true statement. They pulled pork (nice pun there too, BTW) in some restaurants because some of their suppliers were not living up to Chipotle's standards. That does not mean that there are no other sources for consumers to find humanely raised pork, albeit extremely hard to find in stores. Try Dickson's Farm stand in Chelsea Market, for instance. Sometimes Whole Foods will have pork from good suppliers and will also post the ratings.
But yes, it's safe to say any restaurant not touting where their meat comes, and at lower price points is certainly using industrial meat.
But yes, it's safe to say any restaurant not touting where their meat comes, and at lower price points is certainly using industrial meat.
8
Ligaya Mishan- your writing is beautiful. Your descriptions remind me of Anita Desai or Toni Morrison. Have you ever considered writing fiction? I would read it!
5
Gorgeous writing! I feel as if I could chew on the words.
I am curious about the addition of blood to a soup just before serving. Is that legal in a commercial establishment, given that the soup is not brought to a boil after the addition? I don't eat meat (or blood) myself. Just wondering.
I am curious about the addition of blood to a soup just before serving. Is that legal in a commercial establishment, given that the soup is not brought to a boil after the addition? I don't eat meat (or blood) myself. Just wondering.
8
In order to kill any bacteria present, it is only necessary that the mixture reach 160F, not boiling. There are many foods (e.g. egg custard) that would "break" if you brought them to a full boil (212F) but 160F (and in some cases less) is usually adequate for food safety.
On the menu itself (for both of their new locations) are laid out in a more organized manner so, if you have any preference(s) they can explain and guide you to your preference.
I was expecting a vegetarian restaurant, and instead read about pork blood. some Buddhist country, that Thailand. compassion for all living creatures and all that jazz. ditto reading about the zillion Indian restaurants all serving meat, in a country with a billion Hindus.
can we get some coverage on vegetarian restaurants, or at least not have the coverage slant towards the carnivores so much?
can we get some coverage on vegetarian restaurants, or at least not have the coverage slant towards the carnivores so much?
17
I don't think they claimed this was affiliated with any religion. Northern Thai is definitely not vegetarian and typically offers a wide variety of flavors and ingredients.
9
FYI:
1) Hindus DO eat meat. Hinduism does NOT entail a mandatory vegan diet.
2) 95% of the NYT readership does eat meat - as perhaps 60% of India. Ergo, there is an NYT carnivore slant.
1) Hindus DO eat meat. Hinduism does NOT entail a mandatory vegan diet.
2) 95% of the NYT readership does eat meat - as perhaps 60% of India. Ergo, there is an NYT carnivore slant.
4
I think the confusing part is the restaurant's translated name. When I saw "Plant Love House," I thought, "Oh, great! A vegan restaurant I can check out!" It seems like it would have been helpful if a native English speaker had guided the owner away from this slightly mistranslated name.
1