From spicy to sweet, Peter finds culinary treats on Midland

story and photos by Peter Lewis

Unfortunately there are certain areas of every town saddled with preconceptions. Negative or not, these conceptions generally have little credence. It is those unfamiliar with an area who incorrectly disparage with misleading credibility. This sort of behavior does have positive results. It allows the adventurous to seek out new jewels amidst the supposed rubbish.

Midland Boulevard finds itself in this particular situation.

It suffers from a negative image and is largely dismissed by many in the area. This particular attitude is a gross mistake. Midland has an abundance of great restaurants, and the multicultural demography and cheap rent create an inviting atmosphere for aspiring restaurateurs.

Midland Avenue is the culinary epicenter of the River Valley.

THAI TIMES
Your hurdle when planning an evening on Midland is deciding where to begin. Start at the oddly named Thai restaurant, Fried Rice. Located at 3758 Midland Blvd., this small restaurant is a blessing to those seeking some variety in their evening. 

Though obviously somewhat inept when it comes to naming a restaurant, the women behind this venture are, however, quite adept at dishing out titillatingly toothsome Thai meals. To begin your meal, request an order of the wonderful egg rolls. These hand rolled delights are both delicious and cheap ($2.99 for 5). For dinner, one must be careful of what they choose. Thai cooking can be notoriously spicy. So, for those with enough smug fortitude to test their mettle on a spicy dish, try the Phat Phet ($5.99).  This Thai dish is not for the faint of heart. Your choice of meat is stir fried in a spicy curry paste with vegetables and accompanied with a side of steamed rice. For something a bit more bridled, try the Pad Thai ($5.99). This classic dish consists of stir fried noodles, your choice of meat, green onions, bean sprouts and ground peanuts.

After dinner, continue with the peanut theme. Take a right out of the restaurant and continue down Midland. Just under a mile down the road you’ll find the Dairy Freeze at 5400 Midland. This long-standing burger joint with car hop service offers a unique dessert called the Peanut Cluster Parfait. This concoction is a wonderful confection of vanilla ice cream, peanuts, and hot fudge that can only be truly understood by your mouth. It’s a perfect cap to your Thai meal.

This spicy little adventure rates a 7 on the PeterMeter.

TACO TIMES
If allowing your taste buds to vacation in southeast Asia is not for you, consider visiting El Super Taco at 1930 Midland Blvd. Here you will again be able to find superior taste and value (most meals range from $5-$8). El Super Taco undoubtedly has some of the best tacos in the area. Any diner would be wise to order them. However, there are always those who seek something out of the ordinary for their Friday Feast. With that in mind, try the machaca plate. This particular dish features strips of pounded (machaca is a derivative of the verb machacado — crushed) beef mixed with eggs, onions and peppers. Accompanying this melange are beans, rice and a choice of tortillas. Truly a magnificent “breakfast” posing as your evening meal.

To compliment this foray south of the border, head down the street to 2915 Midland.  There you will find Los Angeles Panadería. Spanish for “The” Angeles, this heavenly (and multipurpose) establishment is as much a convenience store for the community as it is a bakery. Though you might have to use the international language of finger pointing, you’ll most certainly find the pastries there to your liking. The prices are ultra cheap (I bought about 6 pastries for under $5). Remembering the manners your mother taught you, smile sweetly, say your “por favors” and “gracias,” and point away until your pastry passion is quenched.

With manners in place, this adventure rates an 8 on the PeterMeter.

Know your Peter
Born and raised in Fort Smith, Peter Lewis is a graduate of the University of Texas. Prior to returning to the Fort Smith area, Peter spent the past year as a bartender living abroad and traveling. He applied for an Obama cabinet post, but, unfortunately, was current on all his tax obligations.

Contact Peter at [email protected]