Bhan Thai (Thai Fusion Cuisine)

We had a wonderful dinner with friends, Mary and Terry, on Saturday, January 12, 2013, at Bhan Thai in Mount Laurel, NJ.

We enjoyed 2 orders of the Martini Shrimp, which Ken loves, and 2 orders of spring rolls.

Entrees enjoyed:

Terry - Pad Thai Crabmeat

Ken - Red snapper garlic (filet). It was a holiday special, so it may not always be on the menu.

Jay - Chu Chee Duck, with curry paste and cream coconut milk. She ordered it "3-chili hot," which was spicy, but not overly so. The skin stayed crispy until the last bite!

Mary - Masaman curry with chicken.

Jay, Mary and Terry shared the Grand Marnier souffle with pistachio ice cream, which must be ordered in advance.

Wines enjoyed:
2009 Charles Smith Cabernet Sauvignon

2011 Quinta Das Mouras de Arraiolos (50% Shiraz; 50% Aragonez)

Ken considers this restaurant one of our Top 5.

La Terrazza Ristorante Italiano

We met our friends, Karin and George, for lunch at La Terrazza, 210 New Jersey 70 (Barclay Farms Shopping Center), Cherry Hill, NJ, 08034, (856-354-1888), on Sunday, December 16, 2012.

Since the dinner menu is in effect on Sundays, Jay used a Groupon that she purchased, which included 2 appetizers, 2 salads, 2 entrees and 2 desserts. We took the salads home because we didn't want to get too full...

Fresh hot bread was brought to the table; part of the second basket went home with Jay.

Appetizers:
Stuffed Long Hot Peppers - with prosciutto, gorgonzola & provolone cheese, oven roasted with red onions and olive oil

Fried Calamari - served with marina and spicy mayo sauces, and

Homemade Gnocchi Misto - 3 sauces: pomodoro, alfredo and pesto

Tomato Bruschetta Bread - Italian crostini with olive oil, diced roma tomato, shaved grana padana and basil

Entrees:

We each selected the fusilli pasta, since it was homemade...

Jay enjoyed half of the Crabmeat Angela - fresh jumbo lump crab meat with asparagus and sun dried tomatoes in a blush cream sauce over pasta; the rest went home for the next day's lunch:

Ken struggled through the Veal Saltimbocca - sauteed and topped with prosciutto, spinach and fontina cheese in a sage demi-glaze; he couldn't finish his pasta:

George had to take home a portion of his Lasagna - layered with bechamel and bolognese sauce, topped with mozzarella cheese:

Karin ate the littleneck clams from her Vongole, in a garlic white wine sauce, and took the pasta home as well:

Desserts:
Jay took home a cannoli, and enjoyed the creme brulee (there's always room for dessert!):

George had the cannoli:

Very good. Nice ambiance. Large portions. We took our time for this 2-hour lunch.

Wines enjoyed:

2008 Pacific Rim Chenin Blanc

2009 Mario Ercolino Saserello


2011 Marchesi di Barolo

2011 Verdicchio Di M....

This was the only meal of the day for all of us!

Siri's Thai French

One of our favorites, we visited Siri's Thai French on Saturday, December 1, and weren't disappointed.

Jay thoroughly enjoyed this salad - roasted pepper medley, sun dried tomatoes, portabella mushrooms and goat cheese.

Ken devoured the crispy wonton shrimp with fresh herbs and plum ginger sauce

Jay had the macadamia crusted lamb, which came with scalloped potatoes and asparagus. It was so good that she gnawed on the bones and didn't care who watched!

Ken had the seafood medley special, with red curry sauce (spicy), salmon, shrimp, lobster tail. Very tasty.

Ken and Jay shared a second order of crispy wonton shrimp.

Wines enjoyed:

Cotes du Rhone (80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah)

Highway 12 2009 Sauvignon Blanc

Can't wait to return later this month for some game meats!

Flavors of India

A new restaurant opened in Mount Laurel, NJ, where our favorite Vietnamese restaurant used to be.

Jay visited Flavors of India after work today for take out. Delicious!

We had the following:
Chole Batura
MLA Pesarattu
Shrimp Vindaloo
Goat Vindaloo
Assorted Bread Basket

Very tasty, although the meat dishes had very little meat.

Jay will try the buffet next time.

Monsoon has some serious competition!

Pho Xinh (Vietnamese)

We returned to our old stomping grounds, Pho Xinh in Mount Laurel, today. It was good, but not as good as the recently closed Pho & Cafe Ha. It seems more Americanized, which is a shame...

We went pre-Hurricane Sandy and no one was seated in the restaurant, although they had quite a few take-out orders.

We enjoyed 2 orders of Spring rolls

Chicken Satay

Grape Leaves Wrap

Ken had the Salt Pepper Shrimp, which he would come back to have again

Jay had the Vietnamese Carpaccio, which she took home, since it felt like the staff wanted to leave early...

We enjoyed a pot of hot tea on this dreary evening.

We need to find another good Vietnamese place close by...

Circles Contemporary Asian Cuisine (Thai)

Not in Jersey, but worth a mention...

We met friends, Karin and George, for lunch Sunday, October 21, 2012, at Circles, 821 North 2nd Street, in Northern Liberties, in Philadelphia, PA. It was worth the trip across the bridge...

We shared the following appetizers:

Crispy Calamari, cooked to perfection, served with a sweet and spicy chili sauce.

Crab Rangoon, lump crab and curried cream cheese with a sweet-plum sauce. The filling was so creamy and delicious!

Cheesesteak Rolls, rib-eye steak and sauteed onions with American and Provolone cheese. The name doesn't do it justice! The meat was tender and juicy and the spicy ketchup was wonderful.

Entrees:

You can choose spiciness - mild, medium, hot and Thai hot

Karin - Shrimp Pad Thai (medium)
Very tasty and not too spicy
She couldn't finish and took a portion home for dinner

George - Massaman Curry (medium)
Stewed tenderized pork (you can choose your meat) with potatoes, onions, peanuts and aromatic herbs. Jay finished his gravy, it was so good

Ken - Crab Fried Rice (medium) with lump crab, tomatoes, onions, peas, and carrots. He devoured the entire plate.

Jay - Thai Burrito (hot)
Grilled seitan, curry rice and edamame puree, served with seasonal greens. Delicious!
It was not so hot that you couldn't taste the food. She may try Thai hot next time...

Decor was beautiful and welcoming...

The Restroom was clean.

Wines enjoyed...

 

2011 Domaine de Paris Cotes de Provence Rose Table Wine

We plan to return. There are more items on the menu that we'd like to try.

Reservations recommended. Leave plenty of time to find parking.