6/27/08 - Today I was having a little computer trouble so I called a friend of mine named Robert Hamilton. He's a good guy with a big smile, a big heart, and a spontaneous, rip-roaring laugh that can be heard a mile away! I try to keep it serious when we are in an enclosed area with others or it can get really embarrassing. I do let him cut loose sometimes, though. Like when we're in the middle of an open field with the AYSO Kids Soccer League. Or at the base of a waterfall.
Besides knowing computers better than I, he and his wife, Chie, also run a very successful wedding arrangement business catering mostly to Mainland visitors who want to get married in Paradise but also to locals and Japanese clients as well, as Chie is from Japan and Robert is fluent in the language. As a licensed minister and proffessional photographer (he did our wedding!), his company, Hawaii Christian Weddings, does it all - photo's, video's, flowers, limousine service, finding picture-perfect locations, and referrals for whatever else you may need.
After picking his brains a little bit on his food preferences, I figured he'd love one of the Mekong Thai restaurants in town. The closest one was Mekong 2, on S. King st. right before and across the street from Zippy's. As part of that mini-empire created by Keo Sananikone and most famous for Keo's Thai restaurant in Waikiki, the two Mekong's are great for excellent Thai cuisine with prices that are a bit more moderate than their Waikiki flagship.
Though casual and laid-back, the dining room is surprisingly clean and well-decorated, with Thai and Buddhist statues, large flower-laden vases, quality-oriented linen and silverware, and paintings of mostly calming pastels. Combine that with all the pink linen and you'll get lulled into a euphoric passivity.
I can't help but notice how empty this place is everytime I've come, at least for lunch, but I've heard the original Mekong on Beretania st. is a bit busier. For now, I could afford to let Robert laugh it up with abandon! Personally, I think this place deserves a lot more traffic, but I'm sure even if customers are few, the other operations will pick up the slack. Please, Keo, just don't close this restaurant - I kinda like all the attention!
I pretty much let Robert order whatever he wanted, with some suggestions, of course. I told him to pick either three dishes or two and one appetizer, so he decided to go the appetizer route with an order of summer rolls. Acually, make that summer roll - singular, not plural. The one piece, however, was large and ample enough to split between the two of us.
Are you one of those that hate it when they give you a peanut sauce that is thick, globby, and just generally terrible-looking? Though the taste may not be all that bad, the appearance and texture sure does put a damper on things. I was glad the sauce here was of a perfect consistency and had a shiny, glossy look that was pleasant on the eyes. And yeah, the taste was also great, with a little zing and tang of some kind of added sauce (if I don't know, I just tell you so!) to kick up the peanut flavors.
Here's a closer shot of the roll. As you can see, it came loaded with various items like mint, thin rice noodles, cucumber, carrots, lettuce, daikon, chicken, and shrimp. I usually prefer the deep-fried spring rolls, but was actually pretty darn happy about this dish. Brother Robert is an avid ice skater and roller-blader, so in order to keep up with his elementary-age son Lance in the rink, he's gotta keep it relatively healthy or risk a good whoopin'.
His next choice was a green curry, this one coming with chicken, eggplant, onions, and herbs like lemongrass and kaffir leaves. The last two items are very important in any Thai dish and are some of those little added touches that make Thai meals so exotic and flavorful. You can't really eat them, as they are tough and unpalatable by themselves, but I usually try to get down as many of the softer pieces as possible. Big fan of fiber, you know.
I was glad Robert liked pad thai noodles, that staple noodle of Thai restaurants. It is usually a slam-dunk dish at the Mekong's, coming with bean sprouts, green onion, egg, tofu, and in this case, pork. Can't go wrong.
Not sure if many of you are fans of sticky rice. Personally, I don't care for it. Sometimes, locals like their rice a little mushy, which I can't do, but sticky rice just takes it to a whole 'nother level. Actually, as it's name implies, it is more accurately described as sticky rather than mushy, as it has a consistency of firm mochi. Mushy can easily connotate a much softer, fall-apart end product like the local-style cooked-with-too-much-water rice. I only say mushy because the rice grains are melted down to mold into eachother, giving it the appearance of being mushy.
Despite spending way too long on on this subject, you may be further angered to know that I didn't even order it! I always order the lovely-smelling, perfect-for-curry jasmine rice! I promise to order sticky rice one day, just for you, although I make no promises that I'll finish it.
For a pretty reliable Thai restaurant that also understands the needs of a wider clientele outside of South East Asia, the Mekong restaurants are a great place to consider. Pretty much everything is done well here, including the evil jungle prince, mee krob (a crispy, super-light noodle appetizer splashed with a sweet, tangy dressing), satay anything's, and spring rolls. And as stated earlier, the atmosphere is always a big plus.
My time together with Robert ended with me finally solving my computer woes (thanks big guy!), him well-satisfied with a great Thai meal, and both of us happy to catch up and hang out. I'll leave you all with a shot of the entrance, and as the sign says, you don't have to bother finding parking on busy S. King st., as there is room behind the store.
Post a Comment or just say hello! Don't worry about leaving REAL names if you don't want to! Changing to Code names are fine, but just stay consistent with your code names, allright? No e-mails will be posted without consent, either way! Hope to hear from you all!
