While slightly tipsy…

The eternal tablemate started blabbin’ about Jitlada: I want Jitlada. We haven’t been in so long. Everything is so good. There are SOOO many good dishes. I want fried pork ribs, you know, with the fried garlic, and curry. But it’s so spicy.

This went on and on during entire consumption of a shared reuben at Edison.

So while people were getting tanked on St. Patty’s, Jitlada served up a tranquil second meal. By tranquil, think an unusually quite room dotted by thoughts of angry stomach convulsionS the next day. Shortly after the turmeric fused Southern curry and moo tod kra tiem were served, the ever effervescent Jazz showed up with a big metal cauldron of soup (noodles). After casually mentioning this was what she was having for dinner, especially when she’s weary, she walks away, leaving me a bowl that’d rock my senses (or anus, either way).

This particular bowl of boat noodle is unlike those found at Sapp/Ord/TTN – there is no beef blood, but does smell of pleasant 5 spice, heavy garlic, cilantro, and beef. The broth is sugary, sour, but not as sour as yen ta fo, and extremely spicy. If it’s spicy enough to make Jazz sweat, it’ll probably make you sweat. And sweat we did. The point is to try something, try everything, despite what the bokehed magazine print out may show in the background.

And that fish kidney curry? Putrid. Don’t even pretend you’re Thai enough to eat it. My Thai pal’s dad, who’s Southern, is the only person I know who actually eats a bowl. All the rest of us are reduced to 2 bit punks after 3 spoonfuls.

A Friday Rant & restaurant blogger gossip mongering, feel free to NOT read:

Just found out a person bitched and whined about the last big meal I hosted at Jitlada May of ’09. Nearly 30 restaurant bloggers from far and wide (Foodwoolf to Starchy Marie to Eat Drink Be Merry, B-Side Blog, Delicious Coma, Oiishi Eats, Daily Gluttony, Infinite Fress, Thirsty Pig, Food She Thought, Kung Food Panda, Harb Knock Life, Wandering Chopsticks, ad nausea – feel free to google, I’m too lazy to link, sorry lah!) chowed on a pre-ordered menu while I busted my ass hustling dishes and drinks for everyone, barely taking a bite.

Everyone seemed to have had a good time, or so I thought.

Recently, a voice told me someone apparently didn’t get what they wanted because of the pre-ordering even though they’ve NEVER EVER VISITED. Realize this: Jitlada has a small kitchen. It’s not meant to host a banquet of 30. The physical layout of the restaurant clearly dictates this. Pre-ordering is a must for a large party Jitlada; experience after 5 large Jitlada soirees confirms this. With the help of Erik M’s email to THE PIGMON circa Feb ’09, the “prix fixe” menu has some semblance of rhyme and reason in regards to dish sequence, dishes ordered, introduction of cuisine to n00bs. Also, I’ve forwarded this private “Jitlada for first timers” memo to many a Jitlada virgins, always with proper attribution. ALWAYS.

So here is my passive aggressive back-handed public apology, a year late: I’m sorry I didn’t order the steamed green lipped mussels in curry, nor the spicy fish kidney so everyone could tick items off Mr. Gold’s must-eat list circa 2007, 2010. Really. I’m so selfish since I’ve eaten/ordered those plates prior, and I wanted to explorer the menu. Please note, “attendee”, feel free never to join again, and feel free to revisit Jitlada at any time, instead of waiting nearly a year, for dishes one supposedly yearns, but never previously tasted.

Good times LA!

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