Summer Eats: My Thai

I love Thai food.

That’s no secret to friends and loved ones. But now that I no longer have a favorite neighborhood Thai spot… (I speak of the end of my 5-year relationship with Lily Thai who refuses to stock a mushroom-based sauce for vegan substitution of their fish sauce, which I had been ingesting for years in my favorite dish naively safe in the assumption that the “sweet soy sauce” listed in the menu description was, indeed, a sweet soy sauce and not the oyster sauce noted in other menu descriptions. I never asked and I should have: my fault. But because of my underlying resentment in my eating fish, their unclear menu and their refusal to accomodate for vegan diners, I now must go elsewhere.)… I traveled back to my work place neighborhood of Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn to dine at {brace your self for the proclamation of greatness} thee best Thai place in Brooklyn: Nine D.

I first dined at Nine D after a long schedule of parent-teacher conferences but only nibbled on an appetizer. Since then I have returned often for their amazing lunch special which offers a lunche entree and three appetizers! Given the current hot, hot heat of the big bad city, lunch cravings are for cold, fresh, crisp and flavorful. Their mango salad, shredded mango with red onion, scallion, cashew nuts, avocado dressing with sweet lime sauce and a generous sprig of fresh mint, is delectable. It wakes up the mouth and feels good to eat. 
Continuing on the fresh theme, we had the summer rolls, the standard rice paper-wrapped veggies and herbs but done right and with two yummy dipping sauces.
For an entree, the Seitan Spices, every flavor I love about Thai food tossed perfectly on delicious crisp, ground peanut sprinkled seitan: lemongrass, lime, basil and onion.
Thai desserts are so often vegan-friendly and summer is mango’s season! So we couldn’t say no to mango and sticky rice. Personally I prefer a white glutinous rice but this beautiful black coconut milk-sweetened rice was a wonderful match with the bright ripe mango.