Recently, we held a VIP dinner honoring Ron Hall, author of Same Kind of Different as Me, at Inwood Village. The film adaptation of the book begins showing in theaters this October 20, and Asian Mint is one of the sponsors of its North Park premiere on October 18. During that dinner, Ron Hall’s wife Beth accepted on his behalf the 2017 Inspiration Award for his work with the homeless.

One of the highlights of that VIP dinner is the preview of Chef Nikky Phinyawatana’s Loy Krathong Thai Lunar Festival menu. The menu will be fully unveiled at the James Beard House in New York City on November 8, 2017.

Our guests at the James Beard Dinner in Dallas included members of eWomenNetwork Dallas and Tarrant County, as well as representatives from Union Gospel Mission Dallas and the local media. We’re truly pleased that the five-course preview with wine pairings was a hit among the attendees. We even earned a rave from The Daily Meal.

The Daily Meal

Here’s a big shout-out to Andrew Chalk. Thank you for the kind words you’ve written on your review.

The Daily Meal is just what its tagline “All About Food and Drink” says it is. It has everything you may want to know about food, drink, and entertaining from all over the world. The site has an extensive collection of news, articles, and juicy tidbits about what’s going on in the food scene, whether it’s local or international. It even has excellent recipes for restaurant-quality food you can whip up at home.

Moreover, The Daily Meal has interesting content about healthy eating, travel, and celebrating holidays. The site also prominently features user-sourced reviews for bars and restaurants.

Thai Lunar Festival at James Beard House

Loy Krathong, the Thai Lunar Festival, is one of the most important annual events in Thailand. It’s also one of the most colorful. It’s held on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month of Thailand’s lunar calendar. The main feature of the festival is setting small containers on the river and letting them float on the water. These containers hold lit candles for honoring Buddha and food or coin offerings to the water spirits.

Here in the US, Asian Mint endeavors to celebrate Loy Krathong the best way it can – through fresh, delicious, and creatively crafted food. Chef Nikky Phinyawatana’s special menu for the Thai Lunar Festival at James Beard House will feature:

• Miang khum – herb wrap with sweet-and-sour reduction, toasted coconut, crispy dried shrimp, peanuts, ginger, Thail chiles, limes, shallots, and garlic
• Nam prik ong – braised minced chicken-tomato dip with crispy pork rind crudite, and sticky rice
• Pla muek nueng manao – squid stuffed with shrimp and pork, with pickled garlic and seafood, chile, and lime sauce
• Beef short ribs with panang curry sauce, fried rice with lump blue crab, kabocha squash, and green cabbage
• Lychee flower jelly with jasmine flower cake, coconut cream, and crushed nuts

If you’re in New York City on November 8, do check out James Beard House’s Thai Lunar Festival. Tickets are $135 for members and $175 for the public. Tickets are available on the James Beard House website.

BUY YOUR TICKETS

Bringing Authentic Thai Flavors to the House

Hors d’Oeuvre

Golden Boats
Seasoned Chicken, Fresh Corn, Shaved Fresh Coconut

Tom Kha
Galangal Coconut Broth

Shrimp Ceviche
Fried Shallots

Pascal Jolivet Sancerre, Loire Valley, France
Domaine Faiveley Mercurey Rouge, Cote Chalonnaise, France
Singha Lager Beer, Thailand

Dinner

Herbal Wrap
Traditional Sweet and Sour Reduction, Toasted Coconut, Cubed Ginger, Peanuts, Fresh Lime, Thai Chili, Shallot, Crispy Dehydrated Shrimp

Hecht & Bannier Rose, Cotes de Provence A.O.C., France

Thai Tomato Crudite
Braised Minced Chicken Tomato Dip, Crispy Pork Rind, Crudité

Tenuta J. Hofstatter Pinot Bianco, Alto Adige D.O.C., Italy

Stuffed Squid
Stuffed Squid with Shrimp and Pork, Seafood Chili Lime Sauce with Pickled Garlic

Famille Hugel Riesling Classic, Alsace, France

Rosewood Texas Raised Wagyu Beef
Panang Curry Sauce, Lump Blue Crab Fried Rice

Luigi Bosca Malbec Single Vineyard, Lujan de Cuyo D.O.C., Argentina

Lychee Flower Jelly
Coconut Tapioca, Coconut Cookie

Tenimenti Ca’Bianca Brachetto d’Acqui, Piedmont D.O.C.G., Italy