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Massaman Curry

Massaman Curry from Thai Time on Highland Street in Worcester

Massaman Curry from Thai Time on Highland Street in Worcester

The location of Thai Time is that of the old Acapulco on Highland Street which was an all-time favorite of mine – I noticed much of the inside hasn’t changed, which I was happy about!

I started out with the Chive Pancake with ginger sauce as an appetizer, which I shared. I did not specify fried or steamed (I wanted to be surprised) and two small pancakes arrived fried. It was a puffy, crispy, chewy, fried dough stuffed with scallions, it was a perfect mix, the doughy, crunchy outside and savory, onion filled inside! Perfect for dipping in the ginger sauce. My only complaint is I wish they served more than two! For my entrée I selected the Massaman Curry sauce with peanuts, potato, onion, green peppers, tofu and carrots. The restaurant allowed you to select which grade of spiciness you would like your sauce to be (you could also order it without any spice) – they had three, one being mild and three being hot, I selected two after the wait staff advised that the three was super- hot. The dish arrived in a large plate that held a lot of food, aside from all my vegetables, peanuts and tofu, it was also served with a generous portion of white rice. The sauce, a creamy coconut, was delicious, I had never tried this type of sauce before so I was pleasantly surprised. I was thankful I ordered the second grade spice because it was plenty spicy! The spice offset the richness of the coconut sauce and created a perfect balance for my palate. The vegetables and tofu were cooked perfectly, there were plenty of peanuts added to the dish which made it even more tasty. The rice, which I soaked in the sauce made it a perfect meal. The menu is large and inventive and I look forward to returning to try the many other options they provide.

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Spicy Tofu and Vegetables

Spicy Tofu and Vegetables from Dalat Restaurant on Park Avenue in Worcester, MA

Spicy Tofu and Vegetables from Dalat Restaurant on Park Avenue in Worcester, MA

Vietnamese food has become one of my favorite foods when eating out in Worcester, although I tend to go more in the winter months, so when I found out our next Foodies gathering would be at Dalat I was excited. I purchased a six pack of ice cold beer along with a nice bottle of crisp Pinot Grigio for my dining companion, knowing spicy food was about to consumed, and off we went.

Dalat is a very casual spot on Park Ave, so casual that if you didn’t know it was there you might actually pass by it. Inside things are clean and basic, and obviously, family owned and operated.

We started with an order of spring rolls that came out hot and fresh. For my main meal I opted for one the Chef’s Special – Spicy Tofu and Vegetables. Tofu…? my Foodie friends asked? Yes tofu. In perfect contrast to the al dente vegetables it was served with, the spicy, spongy and delicious tofu was the perfect protein to add to this dish as it took on the flavors of the bell and chile peppers, onions and sprouts it was mixed with. Add the perfect amount of heat and this dish was outstanding, especially with an ice cold BYOB beer! The only draw back is that it was a Chef’s Special and might not be on the menu when I go back. But no worries, I am sure that my next experience at Dalat will be just as outstanding.