BY ANGELA GARY
Ever have a meal that you are still thinking about days later. What about a meal that was so amazing that you are already planning your return visit to the restaurant before you even leave?
I am a foodie who enjoys a great meal and often writes about and photographs stand-out meals, so I have obviously had some over-the top meals, like that fried chicken in Memphis that makes me want to head back to Tennessee or those ribs in Mobile that I ate three times in one weekend in Alabama.
Well, I didn’t have to travel as far as to Tennessee or Alabama for this meal I had that tops my list as best ever, including not only the taste but also the presentation. I knew I was in for a treat at Chai Yo Modern Thai as it is the latest restaurant from the family that brought Nan Thai Fine Dining and Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft to Atlanta. Both are favorites of mine and I was looking forward to Chef DeeDee Niyomkui’s latest project. The menu features an inventive flavor of Thai favorites with a modern twist.
Growing up as the daughter of Atlanta Thai food legends, Charlie and Nan Niyomkul of Nan Thai Fine Dining & Tamarind, DeeDee worked her way up through every facet of her parent’s operation – bartending, waitressing, and managing. Discovering that her true passion resided within the kitchen, DeeDee spent a lot of time with her grandmother, observing old-world Thai cooking techniques and recipes. Opening her own restaurant, Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft in January of 2010 and earning many awards, DeeDee is now moving into a classical, yet modern, Thai concept with the opening of Chai Yo Modern Thai.
We started with Tapioca Dumplings and Thai Lobster Coconut Soup, both great choices. The pearl dumplings are filled with minced shrimp, chicken, pickled relish, cilantro root and crushed peanuts topped with crunchy garlic. It was a fantastic blend of flavors in the dumplings, which were served on lettuce. The soup was creamy with thick chunks of succulent lobster. The coconut flavor nicely complemented the lobster. For the entrée, I chose the Pla Kra Teim Prik Thai (Seabass Garlic) and it is this delicacy that I’m still thinking about. Chilean Seabass has been a favorite of mine since I spent some time in Chile years ago and this was the best I’ve ever had. The Pan Seared Chilean Seabass was topped with sautéed garlic, black pepper and cilantro paste over crab fried rice and bok choy.
Another great entrée choice is the Pad Thai. The jumbo prawns are served with sautéed glass noodles with tamarind pulp, lime juice, palm sugar, peanuts, tofu, sprouts, garlic chives and pickled turnip, served on an egg crepe.
For a sweet ending to this wonderful meal, we chose Thai Lava Cake, served topped with peanuts and coconut ice cream, and Green Tea Cheesecake, served with green tea ice cream. Both great choices.
The atmosphere is something else that you will remember long after leaving Chai Yo. Wood from Northern Thailand, leather banquettes and grand chandeliers make for an elegant dining experience. Service is also exceptional from the moment you are greeted as you enter the restaurant until you leave. Our server, May May, did a great job with descriptions on the dishes.
Chai Yo Modern Thai serves lunch Mondays through Fridays, with dinner being served every night of the week. For more information, call 404-464-7980 or check out the website, www.chaiyoatl.com.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.
Features - Topics from April, 2018
What I love about the spring
BY ANGELA GARY
Spring time is one of the most wonderful times of the year. Flowers are blossoming, the weather starts to warm up and the days are longer. We have been teased several times with spring weather lately but that cold weather keeps returning.
Every season has something special about it but there is just something about the spring. It is a bright spot after months of dreary, cold weather. Here are just a few things I love about the spring:
•the clothes. I love putting up my winter sweaters and heavy clothes and pulling out those lighter colored and lighter weigh clothes. Capris, flip flops and T-shirts are so comfortable and so much easier to put together than heavy winter clothes.
•spring showers. It’s so relaxing to sit on the porch on a rainy spring day, reading a book and listening to the rain or taking a nap on the porch swing
•the warmer weather. While summer can be hot and stifling, spring time with the breeze and 70 to 80 degree temperatures is just perfect. I would love these temperatures year-round.
•spring fruits. Berries and other of my favorites start to show up at local farms and markets. Cherries and strawberries are two of my favorites and they are at their best this time of year. Greens, carrot and radishes are also great this time of year. We’ve already been enjoying some wonderful green onions that give each meal a little more flavor. It’s also time for those great Vidalia onions.
•spending more time outdoors. After spending so much time inside during the cold winter, it’s great to get outside. My nephews both love the outdoors and it’s fun to spend time outside with them. I can also get outside and walk, so I have no excuse not to exercise more.
•spring flowers. Trees and flowers start to blossom and fill the air with wonderful aromas and breathtaking landscapes. Those bleak, barren trees are filled with lush greenery. It’s beautiful and you can’t help but smile at all of the natural beauty around you.
•it’s time to plan a beach trip where I can walk on the beach, just sit and stare at the wave crashing along the shore and soaking up some sun. Spring is a wonderful time for a beach trip.
•Putting the windows down, turning up the radio and going for a drive through the country. You don’t even need a destination. Just pick a road and head out to explore. You never know what you might find.
•pedicures. After covering my feet up for months, I’m ready to get a pedicure and get out my sandals.
•the sounds of spring…Those chirping sounds of those spring peepers. It’s great to sit on the front porch and listen to all the sounds of spring around you.
•going to picnics and other outdoor events. Our church always has a spring picnic and it’s great to get outdoors with family and friends and enjoy a picnic in a scenic spot, such as Hurricane Shoals Park.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.
Spring time is one of the most wonderful times of the year. Flowers are blossoming, the weather starts to warm up and the days are longer. We have been teased several times with spring weather lately but that cold weather keeps returning.
Every season has something special about it but there is just something about the spring. It is a bright spot after months of dreary, cold weather. Here are just a few things I love about the spring:
•the clothes. I love putting up my winter sweaters and heavy clothes and pulling out those lighter colored and lighter weigh clothes. Capris, flip flops and T-shirts are so comfortable and so much easier to put together than heavy winter clothes.
•spring showers. It’s so relaxing to sit on the porch on a rainy spring day, reading a book and listening to the rain or taking a nap on the porch swing
•the warmer weather. While summer can be hot and stifling, spring time with the breeze and 70 to 80 degree temperatures is just perfect. I would love these temperatures year-round.
•spring fruits. Berries and other of my favorites start to show up at local farms and markets. Cherries and strawberries are two of my favorites and they are at their best this time of year. Greens, carrot and radishes are also great this time of year. We’ve already been enjoying some wonderful green onions that give each meal a little more flavor. It’s also time for those great Vidalia onions.
•spending more time outdoors. After spending so much time inside during the cold winter, it’s great to get outside. My nephews both love the outdoors and it’s fun to spend time outside with them. I can also get outside and walk, so I have no excuse not to exercise more.
•spring flowers. Trees and flowers start to blossom and fill the air with wonderful aromas and breathtaking landscapes. Those bleak, barren trees are filled with lush greenery. It’s beautiful and you can’t help but smile at all of the natural beauty around you.
•it’s time to plan a beach trip where I can walk on the beach, just sit and stare at the wave crashing along the shore and soaking up some sun. Spring is a wonderful time for a beach trip.
•Putting the windows down, turning up the radio and going for a drive through the country. You don’t even need a destination. Just pick a road and head out to explore. You never know what you might find.
•pedicures. After covering my feet up for months, I’m ready to get a pedicure and get out my sandals.
•the sounds of spring…Those chirping sounds of those spring peepers. It’s great to sit on the front porch and listen to all the sounds of spring around you.
•going to picnics and other outdoor events. Our church always has a spring picnic and it’s great to get outdoors with family and friends and enjoy a picnic in a scenic spot, such as Hurricane Shoals Park.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.
Long-time politicians face serious challengers
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Items from my political notebook as we get closer to the May primary:
•The Republican primary for governor is shaping up to a competitive one.
On paper, Casey Cagle and Brian Kemp would be considered favorites since they have already been elected to statewide offices, but the campaigns of Hunter Hill and Clay Tippins are also building strong grassroots support.
The key for Hill and Tippins (as well as the other candidates in the race) will be the upcoming forums. No doubt each one will challenge Cagle on the fact he has been a politician for years and will likely take Kemp to task on the same thing.
In fact Hill has a somewhat funny internet ad showing his military background as compared to the political backgrounds of Cagle and Kemp. Hill, along with actors portraying Cagle and Kemp, are on a military training obstacle course and needless to say the suit wearing politicians aren’t able to keep pace.
Similar to Hill, Tippins has a strong military background and will no doubt gain support because of it.
Also in the GOP primary for governor are state senator and Donald Trump activist Michael Williams, restaurant owner Eddie Hayes and teacher and conservative activist Marc Urbach.
•We often hear about government overstepping its bounds. A new law about to go into effect will do just that but because many people think with emotion rather than their brain there has not been a great deal of outcry. Rather the reaction has been the opposite.
In Georgia it will soon be illegal for people to talk on their cellphones while driving. Quite frankly, this is the ultimate in government overstepping its bounds.
In reality, it probably is not a good idea to talk on our cellphones while driving. It is certainly distracting and while in theory it is safer to leave the cellphone alone (talking or texting) while behind the wheel we do not need the government dictating to us that we need to do so.
Eating too much fast food is not good for us either but we do not need the government passing a law saying we can only eat so much of it.
It is a good idea to exercise but once again there does not need to be a law ordering us to do so.
It became law in Georgia many years ago that people must wear seatbelts. That also was a government overreach and was not necessary. It allowed municipalities to generate revenue off the law but it was in no way necessary.
This new cellphone law will also be a revenue maker but like its relative the seatbelt law is nothing but big brother overreach.
•Georgia will have a new insurance commissioner in 2019 and all citizens should be thankful.
The current occupant of the office will go down as the least effective person to ever occupy the seat in history.
There are three Republicans, two Democrats and one Libertarian running for the seat. All six would be a vast improvement over the current office holder.
From a person perspective, I encourage people to look at the campaign of Tracy Jordan, who is a member of the Braselton City Council as well as a pharmacist. However, all Georgians will benefit from a new person occupying this important seat.
Chris Bridges is a former editor with MainStreet Newspapers. He welcomes feedback about this column at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
Items from my political notebook as we get closer to the May primary:
•The Republican primary for governor is shaping up to a competitive one.
On paper, Casey Cagle and Brian Kemp would be considered favorites since they have already been elected to statewide offices, but the campaigns of Hunter Hill and Clay Tippins are also building strong grassroots support.
The key for Hill and Tippins (as well as the other candidates in the race) will be the upcoming forums. No doubt each one will challenge Cagle on the fact he has been a politician for years and will likely take Kemp to task on the same thing.
In fact Hill has a somewhat funny internet ad showing his military background as compared to the political backgrounds of Cagle and Kemp. Hill, along with actors portraying Cagle and Kemp, are on a military training obstacle course and needless to say the suit wearing politicians aren’t able to keep pace.
Similar to Hill, Tippins has a strong military background and will no doubt gain support because of it.
Also in the GOP primary for governor are state senator and Donald Trump activist Michael Williams, restaurant owner Eddie Hayes and teacher and conservative activist Marc Urbach.
•We often hear about government overstepping its bounds. A new law about to go into effect will do just that but because many people think with emotion rather than their brain there has not been a great deal of outcry. Rather the reaction has been the opposite.
In Georgia it will soon be illegal for people to talk on their cellphones while driving. Quite frankly, this is the ultimate in government overstepping its bounds.
In reality, it probably is not a good idea to talk on our cellphones while driving. It is certainly distracting and while in theory it is safer to leave the cellphone alone (talking or texting) while behind the wheel we do not need the government dictating to us that we need to do so.
Eating too much fast food is not good for us either but we do not need the government passing a law saying we can only eat so much of it.
It is a good idea to exercise but once again there does not need to be a law ordering us to do so.
It became law in Georgia many years ago that people must wear seatbelts. That also was a government overreach and was not necessary. It allowed municipalities to generate revenue off the law but it was in no way necessary.
This new cellphone law will also be a revenue maker but like its relative the seatbelt law is nothing but big brother overreach.
•Georgia will have a new insurance commissioner in 2019 and all citizens should be thankful.
The current occupant of the office will go down as the least effective person to ever occupy the seat in history.
There are three Republicans, two Democrats and one Libertarian running for the seat. All six would be a vast improvement over the current office holder.
From a person perspective, I encourage people to look at the campaign of Tracy Jordan, who is a member of the Braselton City Council as well as a pharmacist. However, all Georgians will benefit from a new person occupying this important seat.
Chris Bridges is a former editor with MainStreet Newspapers. He welcomes feedback about this column at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
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