Thai food temptations

     Four and a half years ago I was introduced to this busser at my new job. We were quick friends. He would eventually turn into a close companion and then the man I would  fall madly in love with. This night out on the town was due in celebration of our relationship that has kept strong for the best part of my life. Not that we need an excuse to go out but I will always take advantage to frolic in our fondness of each other.
   We were headed out to yet another recommendation from a dear friend. One of my close girlfriend's mother raved about this place and said it was a must Chew. When I mentioned Thai food, before the I could finish my sentence, Gaati's praises were pouring from her. M and F (initials to keep my food raving friends on the down low) are avid diners themselves, so I knew this was going to be good.
     Finally after a long productive day I get to escape reality and transport to culinary euphoria with none other than the love of my life. So we drive to the South end of town and found ourselves in a busy parking lot which gave us high hopes. Once we walk in the restaurant we are greeted by all three staff members on the floor and notice only one other single diner. Cricket, Cricket.
     Knowing that Thai cuisine frequently has a strong coconut presence we immediately tell our server that there is an allergy. She is very accommodating and knowledgeable on the the restriction, making sure that we stay away from the curries and a few other choice items. The curry was raved about on yelp.com but I unfortunately can't partake. If there happen to be any Gaati Thai diners that have sampled their curry please share your findings, I am intrigued.

Siamese Toast

      A popular choice in wine to accompany the Thai spice would be a Riesling, which just so happens to be one of my favorites. We got the night started with a bottle of a crisp kabinett  wine that would be a great coupling for the dinner that lay ahead.
      For our first course we ordered the Siamese toast upon a recommendation from our server. Another plus was that it was offered on their small happy hour menu. The toast consisted of minced chicken, shrimp, and cilantro topped upon toast served with a cucumber relish. At first bite it was absolutely amazing. I had to take my time and pace myself before I inhaled the whole plate. The toast was perfectly crisp avoiding that annoying scratchy sensation on the top of your mouth when you eat something that is too roughly prepared. The cucumber relish is what made the dish. I am a huge fan of cucumber salad when ordering sushi. I could have eaten the cucumbers alone and probably ask the chef if they would make me another helping. Gaati's interpretation of the salad was astounding and if ever at this hidden gem it is a must have.

Treasure Bags

     Second to come out were the treasure bags. When I first read them on the menu they had rapidly charmed me. The dish was composed of a flaky fried pastry filled with chicken, sweet corn, and a blend of Thai herbs. My immediate response when it was brought to the table was "O wow look how cute". But more than tasting "cute" there was a fortune of flavor bursting in every bite. I know now why they call them treasure bags. They should have called them Mandy's treasure bags because they held a few of my choice ingredients. Chicken; Good, sweet corn; good, fried pastry; GOOD. The bags were served with what would resemble a spicy mango sauce that made the treats sticky finger licking delicious. Not only did the spice from the herbs pair beautifully with the sweet corn but the appetizer was a perfect partner for our wine.

Pad Thai with shrimp

    Next up, the traditional Pad Thai. This entree was a bundle of flat noodles sauteed with eggs and bacon with a choice of meet. We opted for shrimp. Both of us aren't huge fans of peanuts with our noodles so we tossed it from our order. It looked just how a classic pad Thai should. sticky in appearance with a noticeable amount of veggies and spices. You could see that the shrimp were frozen but you couldn't tell from the taste. They had a very fresh juiciness about them. As a whole the  flavorsome ensemble gave us our Thai fix.
    Before moving on I had to take a breather. We took our time ordering our last dish while looking around and getting a better feel for the dining room. It was a very small area. Only counting 13 tables it was a subtle dining hideaway. I did notice that there were not any televisions. This was a bonus for the evening because it just so happen to be election day and I was avoiding T.V.'s at all cost. The staff was extremely attentive, making sure to constantly refill our water and keeping our wine glasses full. It became a little aggressive more than necessary attention. It felt a little intrusive. With the barren dining room producing little to no noise, the productive sounds streaming from the kitchen caused a minor distraction to the night. I regrettably believe hearing a microwave.

Crispy Duck with Tamarind sauce

     Okay, enough of the lollygagging. Bringing up the tail of the meal was what I would consider the Grand Finale. When we were trying to agree on a main dish it was very challenging. Everything sounded so appetizing. So the only way we could decide was to agree to come back and explore some of their other tantalizing options. Tonight was fried duck with tamarind sauce and a medley of vegetables. The duck was marinated with Gaati's own five spice seasoning which gave the plate a unique aroma and an even more pungent zing to the senses. The fried consistency of the duck was utter perfection with a nice light breading and a melt away center. It was a generous portion so we took the rest home to enjoy a second time. I tend to notice when the remains of the food that are packaged up away from the table. It's just a tiny pet peeve of mine, but over all it was a sublime ending to a splendid night. But little did I know it wasn't over. There was a number of dessert options that included coconut so I was limited to just a few selections. Feeling lavished to the brim, we passed on ordering any dessert. The waitress insisted that we sample their infamous Thai tea ice-cream. That my friends, was the best ice-cream I have ever had, and I don't say that lightly.

    Happily paying the very agreeable tab we left with a gratification found in the residents of cloud number nine. Gaati gave me an anniversary that will be remembered for years to come.

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http://www.gaatithai.com/