Monday, May 14, 2007

Straits of Malaya

My friend Chan and I capped off the gorgeous day on Sunday by doing happy hour at Rosemary's Thyme. It really is the perfect neighborhood spot which features inexpensive Mediterranean food, happy hour seven days a week and a large outdoor patio. We shared a bottle of Pinot Grigio and enjoyed the company and the ambiance. We decided to walk up the street to Straits of Malaya for a bite as neither of us had been before. We were seated on the rooftop deck which is absolutely the perfect spot for people watching both inside Lauriol Plaza and on 18th Street, and yet at the same time is fairly mellow and relaxed. We ordered some more Pinot Grigio and decided to start with the Laksa soup, which is an exotic take on chicken noodle soup with shrimp, crisp bean sprouts, thin rice noodles, ribbons of chicken, cooked egg and coconut milk in a brown broth that tickles the throat with spices. The broth was actually quite sweet but we really enjoyed the combination of flavors, most especially the moist meat and tasty broth with sprigs of fresh cilantro as a garnish. We also shared Chicken with Basil, which features chicken and vegetables stir fried with fresh basil and chiles to create a delicious dish that has sweet heat that is perfection in the mouth. We finished our wine and enjoyed the conversation as well as the view. Definitely a lovely end to a great day.


Rosemary's Thyme
1801 18th Street in NW DC

Straits of Malaya
1836 18th Street in NW DC

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