Monday, April 16, 2012

Massaman Monday! (Massamonday?)

I know what you're thinking -- "Not another Monday." It's hard to get going at the beginning of the week, after a restful weekend full of fun and family. How do you find the energy to tackle your work-week, school-day, or whatever unique challenges your Monday brings?

Well, not to toot my own horn or anything, but one of my favorite ways to get back in the swing of things is to sneak a big, generous bowl of Massaman curry from our expo line. There's a reason we feature Massaman curry on our menu every day -- it is a longtime fan favorite, myself included. Our Massaman curry beef is made with a curry paste of coconut milk, potato, carrot, onion, and peanut served with rice and eggroll. We also offer a delectable vegetarian version. Its spicy aroma is perfect for re-energizing your senses.

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I know what you're thinking now -- "Woot, what is the culinary history behind Massaman curry?" Ha ha ha, just kidding. But you might be interested to know that this traditional southern Thai dish is actually influenced heavily by other cultures, specifically Indian and Muslim. In fact, "Massaman" is an old way to say "Muslim" in Thailand. One of the most fascinating aspects of Thai food is the way our ancestors adopted culinary features from various influences and fused them into a distinct, original tradition. Massaman curry developed as early Muslim traders brought dry spices with them to Thailand. Over time, Massaman curry became the dry spiced, heavily aromatic dish known to us today.

And, hey, it doesn't look like Massaman has fallen out of favor with contemporary foodies: CNNGo ranked Massaman curry as the World's #1 Most Delicious Food in 2011 :)  Just one more reason to visit me at Ekamai and try it for yourself! Don't worry, I'll try to leave some for you guys and not eat it all before you get here ;)  See you soon!

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