First Time Eating Thai or Indian Food?

I am frequently questioned about what to eat by people who have not had the occasion to try Indian or Thai food. My approach is to take the, "It tastes like chicken" approach of my mom by actually suggesting that they order chicken. It is my way of easing people into expanding their pallets.

For the not so experimental person, I take them to Surin for Thai as opposed to some of the other places in town. I recommend the BBQ chicken which includes fried rice. They may or may not try the coconut soup. If they make funny faces, I don't let them anywhere near my ginger soy scallops.

For Indian, I recommend Tandoori chicken which is available at most places I have been to. I also order bhindi masala which is sauteed okra with tomato, onion and spices. My southern friends are used to stewed okra which also includes tomatoes and onions. I actually brought bhinidi masala to a family dinner. Everyone loved it. I didn't mention it was Indian until dinner was over. They were pleasantly surprised.

All see, Soul Food in India, Japan...

How do you ease your friends into experimenting with different foods?

Surin West Cultural Center, and the Food is Great Too

In the previous post, I barely mentioned that Surin is a Thai restaurant. In addition to great food, what is the draw of Surin? For an interculturalist, the fact that one seems to step into an entirely different world within a few feet is transformative. The large photos of Thailand on the walls, the staff, the music and of course, the food, take me into another space.

If I am by myself, I sit at the bar and eat the usual. Since having my son, I usually grab 'to go' items. I frequently run into new-old friends meaning we developed a relationship after I graduated from college. One is often greeted by someone from Thailand, India or Nepal. I also meet new people from Birmingham, visitors who are residing at the Pickwick, or people who like Thai food. 'To go' often leads to eating at the bar from the 'to go' box as I attempt to multitask--eat and catch up on their lives.

Surin's Martinis and desserts were good enough for them to open a late night cafe where the Sushi Bar is now. Only one of my desserts remains--the ginger lime square. I love just about anything with ginger in it.

Although Surin pipes in satellite radio or something like that, I refer to all funky, electro, techno, fusion music as Surin music. I developed a love for Six Degrees compilations as a result of Surin's background music.

So for the people that have a Cheer in their lives, I have Surin. What is your favorite Birmingham restaurant or waterhole?

Surin West, A Staple of Birmingham's Southside

So one of my friends asked, where should we meet for lunch? Why Surin of course. When I used to say that, unless you lived in Atlanta, there was only one location-- Surin West on 11th Avenue South. I believe it was named Surin West since it is west of the location in the ATL. Then came Nirus, Surin Mountain Brook, Surin & Co. on 3rd Avenue North, Surin 280...Not familiar with Nirus? It was another Surin incarnation. It was Surin spelled backwards. It was located in the old Rube Burrows suite across from the old Texas Taco suite in the Pickwick Plaza. Yes, I am talkin' in 'Birminghampastspeak' again. I can't help it. I frequented both places back in the day.

Anyway, there was only one location. I discovered it when my colleague was the advertising director for the UAB student newspaper. I went with her to Surin to sell ad space and to try to develop a campaign to introduce the business. They wanted Surin to not just be a restaurant for people who liked Thai, but a restaurant and bar where anyone could meet and be comfortable. The 'buy one get one half off or get one free' coupon with your UAB ID was born. At the time, the catfish came whole. I miss those whiskers and little eyes looking at me as I tried to navigate the bones. Sushi was nowhere to be found. The berry crumble made me cry when I ate it.

I used to refer to Surin as the old Clyde Houstons and/or AJ's. When you are sitting in the window, to the left as you enter, you are sitting in the area that used to be a patio for previous establishments. Now, if the unspeakable happens and Surin were to move, I would refer to the space as the old Surin.

So what makes it so special? Since I am not there three times per week anymore, I don't see the owner and his family as much as I used to. However, the managers and the bartenders and some of the wait staff are familiar faces. I can still show up on certain days of the week and run into old friends. I can call in my order and most of the time, the person on the other line recognizes my number. I rarely have to identify myself when I pick up food.

Anyway, what makes Surin so special? Are you a Surin patron? Why do you like it? What is your favorite location.

In the next post, I will discuss Surin's South Asia connection.