The "Expat in Southeast Asia" experience without leaving Washington, D.C.

[Jingthing]

OK, I found this incredibly bizarre and just have to share it.

I am well aware and highly approve of enthusiastically experiencing "exotic ethnic" foods in western countries but this is going to another level. Oh my!

It reminds me a little bit of the "girlfriend experience" but, never mind, won't go there!

In the United States, immigrant food is often treated like discount tourism — a cheap means for foodies to feel worldly without leaving the comfort of their neighborhood — or high-minded fusion — a stylish way for American chefs to use other cultures’ cuisines to reap profit. The dishes of America’s recent immigrants have become check marks on a cultural scavenger hunt for society’s elite. One conspicuous example is an upcoming eatery in Washington’s Petworth neighborhood that packages discount tourism and high-minded fusion into one menu. The as-yet-unnamed restaurant seeks to re-create Southeast Asia’s “expat experience” — not for Asian residents in D.C. but for D.C. residents who crave the feeling of visiting Asia with other foreigners.

“When you travel in Southeast Asia, you have two experiences: the cultural experiences with the temples, food, and people, and then a phenomenal traveler’s culture, too,” chef Alex McCoy told Washingtonian. “That’s the inspiration for this place. We want to introduce people to Thai cuisine, but frame it in the eye of a traveler.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/08/31/childhood-friends-called-my-food-chinese-grossness-how-did-it-become-americas-hottest-food-trend/

Edited September 2, 2015 by Jingthing

[StreetCowboy]

"the expat experience" is based on food?

I've been doing it all wrong...

[pgrahmm]

So it's pretend Thai food in a pretend faux asian enviroment...!!!!

The reason it's not for asians in the area is because the food sucks....

There are not that many good Thai places to eat in the US - the ones that are good are frequented and full of Thais.....

[pgrahmm]

So it's pretend Thai food in a pretend faux asian enviroment...!!!!

The reason it's not for asians in the area is because the food sucks....

There are not that many good Thai places to eat in the US - the ones that are good are frequented and full of Thais.....

[SoiBiker]

If they want to offer the true 'expat experience', they should serve them a bad pizza and a mediocre gassy beer in some kind of crappy imitation British pub.

[Alexmccoy83]

Hi Jinthing. This post is actually about my restaurant and i have to say that's an understatement that the concept has been taken completely out of context. In essence we are a Thai - Austrailian fusion restaurant that serves authentic (locally sourced product, made from scratch thai curry pastes, Isan dishes) as well as aussie burgers. We are not trying to become an expat bar, per se. or to promote a watered down "budget travel" experience in DC. The goal of the place was to be a place for all to be welcome, from all walks of life and all cultures. I had mentioned how i love the mix of people at expat bars in Thailand, citing personal experiences meeting locals and travelers alike and i thought it would be a great way to explain in short what we were trying to accomplish. Its seems that it has been taken another direction.

[Jingthing]

Hey, you know what they say, there is no such thing as bad publicity!

So you make your own curry pastes ... that is impressive.

To the haters who say it's impossible to get good and authentic Thai food in the USA ... you're totally wrong.

It actually is available in a number of USA cities, including the Washington D.C. area.

There is Thai community there (Silver Spring) and Thai grocery markets so most of the ingredients are there, it's just a matter of cooking them.

Go Redskins!

BTW, I am kind of disappointed that you're not actually doing what Washpo says you're doing! I'm having a hard time imagining what that would be like though, but if I was a repatriated expat, I would probably have to check it out to get a taste of expat home.

Edited September 3, 2015 by Jingthing

[pgrahmm]

Not hating here - it's a fact.....If in a Thai community area you are by and large OK.....But - it takes some searching or word of mouth.....

Even in the bay area where I was an advisor for the possible relocation of Thai town from the LA area and there are already a good amount of Thias and temples - per the Thais very few good places to eat - unless they grew/sourced the correct ingredients.....When substituted for/by/near something different you won't see Thais supporting it.....

[Jingthing]

I had no trouble finding very good Thai food in the Bay Area. It takes a bit of research, that's all.

Maybe the majority of Americans going to Thai restaurants don't really care, and that's fine if they're happy with what they're buying. "Free" country.

I haven't live in the U.S. in a very long time so any specific tips I might have are of course totally dated. But I'm certain there are still options in both D.C. and the Bay area.

Some other cities might not be so good and/or you've to to pay too much for it. Oh well.

Next ...

Edited September 3, 2015 by Jingthing

[pgrahmm]

Sadly - Thai food there is a bit like Pizza here......Hit and miss....

And true enough.....Without the litmus test of living/eating here or knowing/being with Thais there - the average American wouldn't know....

And it is anything but inexpensive there.....One reason Thais are very discerning.....

Edited September 3, 2015 by pgrahmm

[1BADDAT]

Sadly - Thai food there is a bit like Pizza here......Hit and miss....

And true enough.....Without the litmus test of living/eating here or knowing/being with Thais there - the average American wouldn't know....

And it is anything but inexpensive there.....One reason Thais are very discerning.....

I find it interesting that you use pizza as an example. In the US there are two major kinds of pizza, Chicago and NY. There are people from each group that swear by each. Neither of those resemble anything close to pizza in Italy. It you served authentic Italian pizza in the US, very few would eat it.

Good Thai food in the US does not have to be an exact replica of the food in Thailand to be considered good. For example I love curry, but I hate the vegetables they use for curry in Thailand. I prefer the curry I eat in California.

You can not find all Thai ingredients in the US, but you can find a decent amount. The meat in the US is generally better quality than in Thailand. Should I try and find tough and low quality beef to replicate an authentic Thai dish? I prefer the mix of good ingredients available locally cooked in Thai way. But I can also say that the longer I stay here, the more I like authentic Thai food. Mainly because I can tolerate more spicy food now.