Rediscovering a well loved cuisine at Nam Prik Thai Kitchen

Believe or not, right after enjoying a bowl of Thai noodles and iced tea at Sen Lek noodle house in Pavia, we found ourselves in the midst of another Thai restaurant - right along the highway in Sambag, in the midst of a (shrinking) rice field!

The location sounds familiar alright, but no, it isn’t the famous Peppy Thai Deli but another restaurant that goes by the name of Nam Prik Thai Kitchen. Good thing that Sir Eugene Jamerlan knows the owner of the restaurant, and together with , it was one afternoon filled with good food and fun under the sun.

The owner of Nam Prik Thai Kitchen is related with the owners of Peppy Thai Deli but I won’t go into the details though. All I can say is that Nam Prik brought back the experience of the old Peppy Thai Deli – having authentic Thai cuisine served turo turo style in a rustic and al fresco ambiance.

With specialties of the day on display, first to catch our attention was the Pomelo Salad that didn’t only look but also tasted delicious. Mixed with cucumbers, tomatoes and mangoes among others, the blend of these fruit and vegetables created a burst of flavours that proves refreshing. And I can’t believe it tasted good with drops of fish sauce too!

A chicken dish with green curry and coco milk (sauce) was among the more popular choice on the table. It proves how freshly a made curry dish makes a big difference on how the actual dish would taste and look – lots better.

Then there’s my staple – Nam Tok o roughly referred to as cold pork loin salad. I always loved this at Peppy Thai Deli and this one was just the same. Pork loin blended in shallots and chilies with calamansi dressing, creating my favorite blend of taste and texture.

Also must order is the Papered Squid. Just deep fried (almost) paper thin squid that gives a crunch in every bite. A perfect munch anytime with a lot of crunch. I just love it as always.

Desserts brought in were in the form of Cassava Cake and Rice Pudding with Mango. The former tastes as good as it looks; delicious from the flavourful cassava base to the cheesy top – will surely have it again.

And the latter, though it looks like ibos with paho, it was actually better than its simple looks that I’ll be trying to “copy” it at home.

It was indeed a rediscovery of Thai cuisine with a Filipino touch in a rustic setting that makes eating a leisure activity. No need to rush, no pretensions - just good food and good company. And having new dishes to rave (and crave), it surely won’t be last visit to Nam Prik Thai Kitchen to have a taste of the dishes I loved and to discover what they have more to offer. And of course, that Nam Prik Ong which the owner raving about, will be on top of the list.

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