When I made the commitment to eat local food, I assumed that my love of Asian cuisine would remain an exception. "No, I don't know where that meat comes from," I told myself, "but it's so darned good."
Somehow, this "ignorance is bliss" approach turned out not to be so blissful after all. I started paying more attention to Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Thai food menus, feeling less okay with eating meat whose source I couldn't track. There was no denying it: all of this talk about the cost of cheap food was making an impact.
Hatch-Surisook family photoWhich is why I was so grateful to learn about the handful of Asian restaurants in the Twin Cities that are commited to serving locally produced meat and produce - Ngon Vietnamese Bistro, Chin Dian Cafe, and Sen Yai Sen Lek among them.
Joe Hatch-Surisook, owner and Executive Chef at Sen Yai Sen Lek, cut his teeth at Chet's Taverna (now closed), learning the value of local food and farms by working with The Craftsman's Mike Phillips. With Sen Yai Sen Lek, Joe has brought his love for traditional Thai food together with his passion for bringing the finest ingredients to the table. Here's a look at the "guiding principles" from the restaurant's website:
- Family Ownership - Welcome to Sen Yai Sen Lek, an extension of our family
- Cultural Authenticity - Sen Yai Sen Lek offers authentic preparations of traditional Thai dishes
- Environmental & Social Sustainability - We believe in sustainable practices and make every effort to consider the social and environmental impact of our business decisions
- Community Orientation - We value our local community, celebrating the diversity of our neighborhood in a welcoming atmosphere
I'm thrilled to let you know that Sen Yai Sen Lek will be the location for our March local food event. Here are the details:
- What: March SGT Local Food Event at Sen Yai Sen Lek, with great food, community, and farmers
- When: Tuesday, March 23rd, drinks and appetizers at 6:30 pm, dinner at 7:00 pm.
- Where: Sen Yai Sen Lek, 2422 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 5541, 612.781.3046
- Cost: $25 for 3 courses and appetizers (served family style), not including drinks and gratuity. Vegetarian options will be available.
- Reservations: Email us at info@simplegoodandtasty. Space is limited, as always. We hope to see you there!
Lee Zukor is the founder of Simple, Good, and Tasty. Email him at lee@simplegoodandtasty.com.
