Joe and Gary- thanks for planning a great menu. Elephant Thai's fried chicken was amazing. It was great to see everyone and meet some new people.

Thanks for another terrific evening. I dreamed about the green dumplings! I loved them! Hope to see everyone again soon.

Just wanted to add my thanks to Joe and Gary for organizing the evening. Regarding the ideas for outings discussed, I would welcome a Lincoln Squareathon. I also liked the fried chicken from different world cuisines idea, but I don't know how we could organize unless we had everyone bring take-out to a picnic in the summertime.

It was a very enjoyable evening. Good food and great company. Elephant Thai is the kind of restaurant that we could use more of. This is not creative or authentic Thai food on the order of Spoon or TAC Quick or Sticky Rice, but it was well-prepared cuisine in a pretty space in an area of town that can use such restaurants. We thank Ann, the owner, for making it such a pleasant evening. I particularly enjoyed the shrimp rolls and the duck curry.

GAF wrote:This is not creative or authentic Thai food on the order of Spoon or TAC Quick or Sticky Rice,

Gary,

I'm glad to hear that everyone enjoyed their meal at Elephant.

I think I understand what you are trying to say, but I completely disagree that the food is neither creative nor authentic. I would say that it's not refined "restaurant" Thai food cooked by a trained chef such as one would get at Spoon or T.A.C., but rather it is home style food like you would get in someone's home, which is the basis for the restaurant in the first place. Ann has no previous restaurant experience. She is just a good home cook who followed her dream and opened a restaurant. The recipes are those she cooked at home raising her family before opening the restaurant.

Yes, Ann is an excellent home style cook, and the dishes were very enjoyable as was the welcome. Most of the dishes lacked to "wow" factor, but they certainly had the "yum" factor. And every restaurant does not need to exemplify the kinds of bravado that TAC and Spoon do. The red snapper has been better, as happy_stomach pointed out it was pretty sweet. But the duck curry was very enjoyable. Elephant Thai is a very successful neighborhood restaurant. Perhaps authentic was not the right word.

Joe and Gary,

Thank you for coordinating this dinner.

The menu had just enough heat to satisfy my needs. In my opinion, the appetizers rated higher on the flavor scale than the entrees. The chive dumplings, in particular, were delicious with the crisp dough contrasting perfectly with the chive filling and spicy black chilli sauce.

What a great way to celebrate Fat Tuesday - good food and good company- always a winning LTH combination!

Thanks again!

Jyoti

GAF wrote:But the duck curry was very enjoyable. Elephant Thai is a very successful neighborhood restaurant. Perhaps authentic was not the right word.

Gary,

In the same vein as Spoons and TAC's now not so secret menu, Ann has a repertoire of 'authentic' dishes she is enthused to make for regulars who evidence interest. For example, Thai Fried Chicken is not on menu, but Ann felt it would be well received, which it sounds it was.

I am a fan of Elephant Thai and I am glad it sounds as the LTHForum group had a very nice meal and if not for my previous commitment would have been at the table wrestling you for the last Thai Fried Chicken thigh.

Enjoy,
Gary