The Thai Garden

Posted by Damien Burroughs on Feb 6, 2012 in Dining | 1 comment

Spicy coconut soup.

ORANGEBURG, NY – I was adamant to find Rockland County’s most authentic demonstration of Thai cookery. Upon my discovery my palate was quickly transported to Thailand’s beautiful cultural origin. The place that takes this accolade is the place I frequent the most, the Thai Garden, located in an unsuspected location on route 303 in Orangeburg, NY. Owners Sonia Carden and husband, Tepbut Sittisawassakul, began their culinary endeavors with the regionally acclaimed restaurant of the same name in Sleepy Hollow. After their success they opened this second location in Orangeburg. I did however hear that it is Carden’s mother that occupies the kitchen mostly and those wise hands are sincerely exhibited in every dish. Their spicy coconut soup with chicken or tofu is an absolute must, a fragrant buttery coconut milk, hot and sour soup seasoned with lime. To start I always enjoy their avocado rolls and house salad dressed in the most delicious peanut sauce I have ever come by. Entree stars include Gang Massaman, a perfectly balanced peanut curry with your choice of protein, and Ped Grob, tender duck breast on a bed of crunchy noodles. Another favorite among many is the red snapper, Pla Sam Rod, a sensational whole fried fish drizzled with a chili-garlic and tamarind sauce. The noodle dishes are choice as well although ironically I was never head-over-heals for their perhaps overly sweet Pad Thai, a classic in America, but that is easily forgivable in comparison to the marvelous bona fide preparations in all their other offerings.