Khao Soi at Soi 38 (Alicia Mazzara).
By DCist contributor Elizabeth Packer
Dish of the Week: Khao soi
Where: Tsunami Sushi, Doi Moi, Soi 38, DC Noodles
Your menu may list khao soi, kao soy, or khao soi gai, but these slight variations on a name all describe the same delicious dish, a Burmese-influenced noodle curry from Northern Thailand. (Khao soi means broken rice in Thai, and is also similar to the Burmese word for noodles, khao swè). There are several Thai restaurants in D.C. that serve up hearty bowls of khao soi, so city dwellers have ample opportunities to sample the dish without trekking out to the suburbs.
While the presentations vary, here are the key elements that make up the perfect bowl of khao soi: a fragrant curry base, spiced with chilies and rich with coconut milk, a tangle of springy egg noodles, a handful of pickled greens, some type of meat, preferably a chicken drumstick stewed until it falls from the bone, and a topping of crunchy fried noodles, sliced shallots and a squeeze of lime.
Tsunami Sushi (1326 14th Street NW, 2nd floor) recently started offering a menu of Northern Thai dishes in addition to its sushi, including an exemplary khao soi gai. For $14, the curry is big enough to feed two and delicious down to the last drop. At Soi 38 (2101 L Street NW), the khao soi arrives in a deep bowl, contains two drumsticks and comes with a side plate of toppings, including hot chili oil, so you can amp up the heat to your liking, though the curry is already pulsing with spice. If you like your Thai with a side of hipster, you can try khao soi at Doi Moi (1800 14th Street NW), and if you’re a vegetarian, you get your choice of protein, including tofu, when you order khao soi at DC Noodles (1412 U Street NW).
As winter weather creeps in (word is there’s another polar vortex headed our way), this dish is the perfect way to warm up. Khao soi provides you with the comfort of chicken noodle soup, but with enough added excitement and spice to keep things interesting.
Small Bites
Foodies on the Hill
If you’re looking to brush up on your cooking skills, head to Barracks Row this weekend for their 2014 Culinary Education Crawl. Neighborhood restaurants will be hosting a variety of cooking classes on both Saturday and Sunday, from shucking oysters at Senart’s (520 8th Street SE) to pastry making at District Doughnut (749 8th Street SE) to sharpening your knife skills at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE). Ticket prices start at $20 but vary depending on the class, so review prices and plan your crawl here.
Shop ’til you drop at the Emporiyum
The Emporiyum, a two-day market featuring products and samples from local and regional chefs and craft producers, is taking over Union Market’s Dock5 (1309 5th Street NE) this weekend. You can read our full run-down of the event here. Tickets are $20 or $40 for VIP online and $30 at the door.
Beer to Beer Dinners
You’ll have your choice of dinners that pair local beers with seasonal dishes next week (think lots of saison beers and roasted root vegetables), as both Logan Tavern and Farmers Fishers Bakers are hosting beer dinners in collaboration with D.C. breweries. On Monday, November 17th, Logan Tavern (1423 P Street NW ) teams up with Atlas Brew Works for a five-course “Brewing Harvest Dinner“. The dinner starts at 7 p.m., costs $50 a person, and requires reservations. Farmers Fishers Bakers (3000 K Street NW) hosts its own event the next night, Tuesday, November 18th, at 7 p.m., working with 3 Stars Brewery to serve up five courses matched with five beers. There will be 3 Stars representatives on hand to offer tasting notes, and the $75 ticket price includes tax, gratuity and a swag bag. You can purchase tickets and review the menu here.
A Drink a Day
Monday brings the return of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s D.C. Cocktail Week. From November 17th through the 23rd, over 55 restaurants and bars in the D.C. metro area will offer a paired cocktail and dish combo. There’s an extensive list of exact offerings and prices for you to peruse, from Bastille’s (1201 N. Royal Street, Alexandria, Va.) $12 combo of an Autumn Harvest Manhattan and roasted pumpkin arancini to Fiola’s (601 Pennsylvania Avenue NW ) pairing of a sherry and grappa cocktail with foie gras mousse crostini for $25. Let the imbibing begin.
Soup For You
Kosher eaters, vegans, and soup lovers rejoice—Soupergirl, purveyor of homemade soups and salads, is coming to the DCJCC (1529 16th Street NW). The DCJCC’s café will begin serving Soupergirl fare next Friday, November 21st. Her soup, salad and sides will be available Mondays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 9 p.m., and Fridays, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those in search of soup can also visit Soupergirl’s M Street (1829 M Street NW) and Takoma (314 Carroll Street NW) locations, as well as the many stores that keep Soupergirl in stock.
