Why on earth would anyone order fruit salad in a Thai restaurant?
My lunch companions were not happy when this happened at Lanyamo on Western Avenue. However, the person who asked for the salad was Thai, and she knew what she was doing.
Her fruit salad turned out to be the best dish we had that day. The other food was OK, but I can hardly remember it thinking about that glorious bowl heaped with fresh fruit, nothing canned.
The combination included pineapple, mango, apple, cantaloupe, jicama, blueberries and even a few cherry tomatoes, sprinkled with crushed roasted peanuts.
What made it stand out was the salty-sweet dressing. Thais season fruits with a blend of sugar, fish sauce, lime juice and garlic, and a dash of hot chile.
Fish sauce with fruit may sound odd, but it works, more effective than salt by itself.
The fruit becomes even more sweet and refreshing, which is a good thing in Thailand's steamy climate, and in hot weather anywhere.
Lanyamo Thai restaurant, 946 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90029. Tel: (323) 466-2958.
Recent Comments