Adam & Eats: Tassanee’s Thai Cuisine

Editor’s note: Adam Brandt is a graduate from the Cobra Kai School of Culinary Callousness, where he received their highest award, the Red Apron of Merciless Eating. Aside from eating and talking about eating, he makes pots, paintings, prints, books, photographs, and generally, a big mess. He has been the studio assistant at Mudpuppy Pottery for almost nine years and is attending a local university in a desperate attempt to earn a biology degree.

With every piece of bad news, comes a little good news. I was a little disheartened to learn that the Dodson Diner closed its doors permanently, but was very thrilled to hear that a new Thai restaurant was taking it’s place.

I had been asked to do a review of Tassanee’s a while back, and I finally managed to eat my way back to Dodson. So, without further ado, Mr. Roberts, this one’s for you.

Located on Dodson Avenue across from the Spark’s Women’s Center is Tassanee’s Thai Cuisine. The place looks pretty much like it did the last time I was there: small and comfortable quarters, tiny kitchen, and pleasant bathrooms. The word “intimate” comes to mind. It wasn’t until after my first dining experience at T’s had concluded, that the sign reading “Have Patience” really made sense. If you are in a big rush, you should just go to the Chinese Super Kitchen.

As with most Thai restaurants, each dish is made on its own and is crafted with, what I affectionately call, “love.” Or in laymen’s terms, it is slow to arrive at your table.

Tassanee’s is, how shall I put this so that it doesn’t sound snarky, um, let’s say low tech. One cook armed with three woks, one or two servers, and a handful of tables. Normally I would be saying something mean about this right about now, but for some reason sitting in Tassanee’s, having to wait a little while for my food to arrive, put me in a Zen-like state of mind. It was like the quiet before the awesome storm rained down glory upon my head.

Let’s chow down, shall we? But, what to order? That’s the question.

From my experience at Tassanee’s, everything on the menu is top notch. But, if I may, I’d like to make a few suggestions. The fried rice is probably the best I have ever had in the area. Normally fried rice ends up all tasting like one big flavor, but at Tassanee’s each ingredient stands on its own legs and combines with its comrades to form a delicious army of yumminess in your mouth.

Given my weakness, and subsequent high expectations, for steamed pork dumplings, T’s delivered a home run once again. The combination of sweet and savory flavors are very delightful. If anyone at Tassanee’s is reading this, the fried onions are a very nice touch.

If you need something to munch on while you wait for your entrée to arrive, I suggest the eggrolls. Hand rolled, stuffed with pork and veggies, they are the perfect way to bring you back off the edge if your patience is wearing thin.

Now, who can go to a Thai restaurant and not eat curry? Tassanee’s red curry is the one to get. The sweetness of the bell pepper and the coconut milk and the richness of the meats swirling together in red-hot bath of spicy (your choice of heat levels 1-5) goodness might have you spelling relief R-O-L-A-I-D-S, but it is worth every bite.

Luckily for them, I filled myself up on curry and dumplings before I could test out their claim to having the “best wings in town”. If the rest of the food wasn’t so wonderful, I might be telling a very different story right now. If you haven’t made it over to Dodson for Thai food, go. Well, what are you waiting for?

And if you are within a two-mile radius of Tassanee’s, they deliver. Just so you know.

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