If the spice is right....Galanga

Sitting off Washington Square Park, Village locals and NYUers all at Galanga for it's well-priced and tasty Thai food.   The atmosphere is lively with music just-above-normal-level and upbeat waitstaff, so I couldn't really complain about the noise level.

Drunken Noodle - Thai street style hot spicy wider rice noodle with chili pepper, bell pepper, Chinese broccoli and fresh basil.  
Tasty and also included asparagus, but didn't have a kick.

Green Noodle - wild rice noodle with thai herbs pesto, celery, scallion, romaine lettuce and egg.  
Galanga's version of pesto pasta which made for an interesting dish (and worth trying), but axe the romaine lettuce.  No one, NO one, likes hot, wilty lettuce.

The lightly fried chicken wings with sweet chili sauce and scallions weren't my fav, but the entrees totally make up any appetizer blunders.  


I would recommend ordering takeout anytime.  The price is right....and the spice.

nOOdles Part Deux

This year there has been something about noodles, and not Italian, that has me thoroughly intrigued. There is just a plethora of possibilities when it comes to cooking and spicing Asian noodles. This won't be good for any foodies ears, but my taste buds have become accustomed to the flavors of Room Service (18th St & 8th Ave). Though it IS tasty, it's probably only somewhat authentic to the tastes of Thailand and caters to how Americans think Thai cuisine tastes.

The other evening, my walk took me to Carmine Street to dine at a very small restaurant, Mo-Ra-Kote-Siam. We ordered the lemongrass soup, House Special Noodles with Shrimp & Calamari (Shanghai glass noodles with egg, chili, scallion, basil and bell pepper) and Phad Pring King with Chicken. I tend to steer clear of shrimp unless it's upscale dining, but the place will always win me over with fresh shrimp. The noodles were great (which I expected)...just the right amount of spice for the seafood...add Sriracha for more kick.

Unfortunate for me, I compared the PPK to that of Room Service which has a much heavier, creamier sauce and packs WAY more punch. A main component of this dish is chili and it wasn't spicy at all. I'm not sure if Room Service or Mo-Ra is more authentic, but I'm gonna take Room Service which also adds pink peppercorns.

The ladies are very sweet, although service is a tad on the slow side.

35 Carmine Street
(212) 627-7745
www.morakote.com