The curry of my life

I’m not sure why I waited 27 years to try Thai food.

menu

I’ve heard good things about it, but never got into it for some reason. Well now that I’ve finally crawled out from under my rock, I finally understand what the hype is all about.

We were looking for somewhere casual to eat last night, and walking down Mission, we stumbled upon a tiny Thai restaurant. I wish I would have snapped a photo because it was so cute, cozy, and packed to the brim <—a sign of a good restaurant. The Pilot said “Does Thai sound good to you?”

“Sure, I’ve been wanting to try it.”

He couldn’t believe that I’d never had it before, especially since I love Indian food so much.

So Thai it was 🙂

We got a few appetizers to try:

Fresh rolls with shrimp, tofu, veggies, peanut dipping sauce and another sweet dipping sauce

fresh roll

[These were so good. It was my first time trying a rice paper wrapper too, and I liked it. Chewy, and not too dense. I only wish these would have been a little spicy, as they were very sweet]

The Pilot got some crab wontons:

wonton

and we shared some salad.

salad

[egg, tofu, greens, cucumbers, and tomatoes]

I want to swim in peanut sauce forever and ever.

Entrees:

curry

Red curry chicken and yellow curry shrimp

with brown rice for me, jasmine for him:

rice

My plate (x2 ish)

plate

The verdict?

Incredible. Thai food reminded me of Indian food in the sense that it’s so flavorful, but by using so many fresh herbs, Thai food feels really light and fresh. It wasn’t the least bit greasy and with how much food I ate, I didn’t feel gross afterwards. The broth in the curries was like a glorious blanket- I told the Pilot that this is the food you want to eat when it’s cold outside and you’ve had a bad day. And that I was henceforth addicted 😉

After our feast, we came back to the hotel the lay on the lounge chairs,

feet

drink cocktails and mocktails

us

listen to the ocean and hang out. It was a very good night <3

This morning, we ordered room service for bfast and I’m off to yoga. Something about practicing yoga by the beach… there’s nothing like it.

See ya later today with a family post!

xoxo

Gina

Something to read:

Marge Simpson becomes a food blogger <—did anyone catch this episode last night?

10 ways to have a happier life

Top 100 workout songs

Low-calorie cocktails for fall

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88 Comments

  1. Kathy on November 14, 2011 at 4:31 pm

    Wow Thai is going to be a real find for you! I think many of us would have suggested it if we knew you had not tried it before. Fresh, light and bold and spicy all at once…soon we’re going to get this Gina-fied tweet: “Thai food > Indian food”

    We’ll see.

    AND Happy Belated Bday…I’m late because I was off celebrating my own bday which is 3 days before yours. Scorpios rock!

  2. Jaime on November 14, 2011 at 4:48 pm

    Thai red curry with chicken is in my top 5 fave comfort foods. Sooooo delicious.

    I’ve only ever taken one cooking class in my life and it was for basic Thai food. She demystified some of the fresh herbs and ingredients for me and now it’s so easy and fun!

    Glad you enjoyed.

  3. Suzanna on November 14, 2011 at 4:54 pm

    Oh gosh, Gina, when you said that you wanted to swim in peanut sauce I laughed out loud because I think I’ve said the very same thing to my guy every time we eat Thai food. The last time we had Thai, the waitress asked me if I was sure if I liked peanut sauce or not because she didn’t want me to not like it- and I assured her that I was a huge fan. 🙂

  4. Drisana on November 14, 2011 at 5:47 pm

    I <3 Thai curry! Green curry with veggies is my favorite and yellow curry is probably my second 🙂

  5. Ashley on November 14, 2011 at 5:55 pm

    That Thai food looks delicious. Have you tried Vietnamese? There’s a great restaurant called Ha Long Bay on the corner of Broadway and Wilmot next to El Charro. It’s DELICIOUS and has THE most perfect peanut sauce and fresh summer rolls. Yum!!

  6. Nikki on November 14, 2011 at 6:04 pm

    Thai food is soooo good! My favorite summer meal is green papaya salad. Sweet, salty, tangy, crunchy….just so good!
    BTW your hubby reminds me of Quagmire from Family Guy. 🙂

  7. Ali on November 14, 2011 at 6:10 pm

    NO way! First time??? Haha, ya I am obsessed with our local Thai place. It’s amazing!!!!

  8. happy corredora on November 14, 2011 at 6:53 pm

    Oh my goodness you are going to love thai food. It’s delicious. Next time you have to try Pad Thai with chicken or shrimp. And a dish i really like which is pretty healthy- brown rice, vegies, tofu (optional) and a bit pot of peanut sauce for your vegies to swim in 😉
    In Australia- every second restaurant is a thai place but here in mexico sadly I haven’t seen any. Your photos made me hungry 🙂

  9. samantha on November 14, 2011 at 6:55 pm

    Not sure how long you’re in San Diego but I Thought I’d share this

    “lululemon La Jolla-So you think you can dance? Join us every Tuesday evening in November at 6:30 for a complimentary in-store Latin Salsa or Zumba class lead by Ooh La La Dance Company! All-levels welcome!”

    Enjoy your trip!

  10. Carmel on November 14, 2011 at 7:11 pm

    I love thai food too but I’ve found that almost all of the good stuff (like the peanut sauce and most of the other sauces) have gluten in them. Did that not bother you?

    • Fitnessista on November 14, 2011 at 7:47 pm

      nope, i was totally fine! small amounts of gluten don’t bother me.. i’m just intolerant, not full-blown allergic or with celiac. if i have it more than one day in a row, though, my stomach hates me

  11. Kathleen on November 14, 2011 at 8:07 pm

    I love San Diego. I went there in May of this year and fell in love.

    You have to check out Peace Pies in San Diego. Foodgasmic raw vegan food. I had their food at the farmer’s market in Little Italy but they had their own storefront and go to other farmer’s markets.

    I also had the best Thai food of my life in San Diego. La Jolla to be exact. Shrimp like I never tasted, ohmygod.

    I would also check out Old Town and see the hand gliders at Torrey Pines.

    I am so jealous, enjoy your time there!

  12. Haley @ Fit, Young, and Fabulous on November 14, 2011 at 8:27 pm

    Mmmm that all looks SOO good! I have never had Thai food!! I want some SO badly!! I love love love Ginger Salad!!! (:

  13. Brenda M. on November 14, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    Oh, Gina. My 3 favorites are Indian, Thai and Veitnamese. And I am a born and bred girl from Kansas/Nebraska. But of the 3, Thai is my favorite. I am so excited for you! If you ever want to check out a great Thai cookbook, Try “Thai Home Cooking-Quick, Easy, Delicious Recipes to Make at Home” by Robert Carmack & Sompson Nabnian.

  14. Amber on November 14, 2011 at 8:37 pm

    Massaman curry. Try it, you will love it. Welcome to the addiction.

    • Fitnessista on November 14, 2011 at 8:41 pm

      thank you. i’m happy to be here. haha

  15. Abby @ Abz 'n' Oats on November 14, 2011 at 8:45 pm

    Your orders remind me of myself and the pilot’s remind me of my man. lol. We always used to have Thai date nights before he moved! It is one of my favorite cuisines! So glad you tried it!

  16. Melissa (MelissaLikesToEat) on November 14, 2011 at 8:45 pm

    Welcome to my neck of the woods! 🙂 I definitely don’t eat Thai food often enough. Mmmmm

  17. Heather @ For the Love of Kale on November 14, 2011 at 8:55 pm

    I can’t believe you never tried Thai food – but I’m so incredibly happy that you did! It is uh-may-zing indeed. You two are lovely. 🙂

  18. Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin on November 14, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    I’m so jealous! I’ve never had real Thai food because all those peanuts would not be a good time for my allergies. 😛 I love making my own curries though!

  19. Brittany on November 14, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    We’re lucky and have 3 Thai restaurants within walking distance from our house. This works our wonderfully because Thai is one of my favorite ethnic foods! I never had it until I went to college and I quickly became addicted. I love fresh springs rolls and they’re super easy to make at home as well. I also really like green papaya salad and tom yum soup.

  20. Jaimie on November 14, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    The November issue of Cooking Light features an article on an American cook taking an immersion cooking class in Thailand. The article (and food pics) were amazing and after reading it and your post, I definitely want to try Thai food! There are also some recipes included and seem like a good way to start cooking Thai at home : )

  21. kaila@ healthy helper blog! on November 14, 2011 at 10:15 pm

    Thai food is INCREDIBLE!!!!!! SOOOO YUMMY!

  22. Kiah on November 14, 2011 at 10:22 pm

    First Thai food?? Girl, you crazy! Glad you’ve finally found out what all the fuss was about 🙂

  23. Ali on November 15, 2011 at 1:46 am

    I feel that peanut sauce is the single greatest culinary contribution, ever. I am so glad that you had such a good experience! My friend went to Thailand, and now she is addicted to the food too!

  24. Abbey @ twohaolesexcellentadventure on November 15, 2011 at 9:08 am

    My husband and I live in Singapore and travel to Thailand quite often. I’ve come up with some healthier versions of my favorite Thai dishes and have posted the recipes on my site. Would love for ou to try them out!

    • Fitnessista on November 15, 2011 at 12:16 pm

      can’t wait to check them out!

  25. courtney @ cupcakedynamite on November 15, 2011 at 9:41 am

    I recently tried Thai food, too!! heck yes to being adventurous 🙂

  26. Diana on November 15, 2011 at 10:11 am

    I cannot believe that you of all people had never tried Thai! Sooo good, right?! I am obsessed with Thai salad dressings and curries – I could bathe in them for the rest of my life!

  27. sarah on November 15, 2011 at 3:13 pm

    “The broth in the curries was like a glorious blanket- I told the Pilot that this is the food you want to eat when it’s cold outside and you’ve had a bad day. And that I was henceforth addicted 🙂 ”

    Hear, hear. Whenever I am stressed out, feeling lazy, or cold, I crave Thai food like no other. Specifically, panang tofu with sides of steamed broccoli and steamed wide rice noodles. AMAZING!

    My friend ate sundried beef from a Thai restaurant at least twice a week during her pregnancy, and that is what made her baby kick the most while she was in the womb. Now, my friend’s daughter will only eat sundried beef, and no other type of meat (she is 14 months). Hilarious. Goes along with the NPR story you referenced awhile back. 🙂

  28. Carrie on November 17, 2011 at 12:23 am

    Thai food is, as you would say, utterly “foodgasmic”. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that can’t be improved with Thai peanut sauce. We only have a few good Thai places in my part of the county, and they’re mixed, i.e. Japanese and Thai, etc. These places usually have a few fresh, flavorful, and healthy dishes that are just gorgeous.

    When we lived in Miami, there was a Thai place that I went to three times a week…it got a weeeee bit expensive lol…best to have “Thai Food Friday”, in the Fitnessista tradition of “Indian Food Wednesday.” !!!

  29. Carrie on November 30, 2011 at 10:51 pm

    House of Tsang Peanut Sauce is my absolute favorite off-the-shelf peanut sauce. They can go so wrong, and this is tried and true. And spiceh!

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