Thai Restaurant – Jhanthong Banbua

A family birthday dinner brought us back to Jhanthong Banbua. The beautifully decorated interior of this Thai restaurant glistens with gold accents, a shrine to the Buddha, a pristine tropical fish tank, and many artifacts from Thailand adorning every nook and cranny. The wait staff is friendly and service is prompt. We like to linger here for some time talking and taking in the many visuals, aromas, and general ambiance.

Green Curry

We order Thai iced tea all around and some Singha beer.

Appetizer: Curry Rolls – Crispy yellow curry rolls with chicken, vegetables, and Thai herbs served with red chile cucumber salad. A delicious combination of crispy, spicy, and sweet with the raw crunch of cucumber. Just enough to tempt us as an appetizer should.

Soup: Tom Kha – Spicy coconut soup with lime juice and chicken. Just like mother’s milk. Delicious and smooth. A sweet comfort to all. (pictured at top of this post)

Salad: Somtam Thai – shredded green papaya with crushed peanuts and lime dressing. Tart and crunchy. Our son recalls a huge tray of this salad being served to his Navy buddies while visiting Thailand some years ago. A fond memory.

Curry: Gang Keiw Wan – Green chili paste with coconut milk, chicken, and squash. Served over rice. Excellent! I would be happy with this dish anytime. (pictured above)

Entree: Pla Pao Banbua – spicy whole grilled fish with Thai sauce. Tangy, hot, bitter. Only one person could actually eat it. Nice for them. I mistakenly eat a slice of raw jalapeno and am forced to drink copious amounts of ice water to subside the burning sensation in my mouth.

Noodles: Pad Thai – traditional style sauteed rice noodles with Thai seasoning and vegetables. Nutty, sweet, satisfying. I would prefer wider rice noodles in this dish.

Pad Thai

We linger talking as the server checks on us several times asking if everything is OK. We just want to stay in this little corner under the Buddha’s gaze where we feel the love of family all around. We sip the rest of our iced tea and reluctantly leave this haven to the world of Mendocino Ave. Hugs to all. Peace.

Some say this is the best Thai food in America. We aren’t expert enough to know, but we are certain this is incredibly good and authentic food. Jhanthong Banbua Menu.

2400 Mendocino Ave
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 528-8048

Indian Food

Indian Food

I don’t know why Indian food has to be so expensive. I know there are a lot of spices involved and of course, chopping and prep of all the ingredients.
Having tired to make the whole gamut at home several times, I know personally, that the purchase of the spices and measuring out of all the ingredients takes a hefty budget and full day of cooking.

But we’re talking restaurant prep here. They can buy in bulk and prepare in bulk, so what’s the big deal? I don’t understand why each dish that really only serves one person or two at the most should cost so much. We have never gotten out of an Indian restaurant for under $60 -80 for the two of us.  Still, we love what can be done with a simple vegetable when it comes to Indian food!  So, we keep going back.

Here are some of the dishes we like to order:

  • Samosas are gorgeous spiced lumps of cauliflower, potato, and spices wrapped in a tortilla-like covering and fried until golden and crispy. These are served with a variety of spicy sauces including; hot yellow curry, green mild herbs, and a hot sweet red sauce. Other appetizers might include skewers of lamb or spicy chicken, spicy garbanzo beans, or fried spinach in a crispy batter.
  • Naan bread is like a puffy wheat tortilla and usually made with garlic or ghee spread on top.
  • Mulligatawny soup means “Pepper Water” and is an English adaptation of a traditional spiced pea and lentil Indian peasant dish.
  • Dal is cooked yellow lentils in a broth and can be either mild or spicy.
  • Chicken Tandoor is marinated chicken in a spicy tumeric yogurt sauce and then cooked in a special clay oven. Don’t count on being able to recognize the pieces of chicken as they have a way of cutting up a whole chicken that makes it unrecognizable. This is usually served on a bed of onions, peppers, and lemon wedges sizzling hot!
  • Saag Paneer is my personal favorite. It is cheese curds sauteed with spinach, onions, and spices.
  • Chana Pindi is garbanzo beans, onions, peppers, spices, and tomatoes sauteed into a luscious, flavorful dish.
  • Vegetarian Korma Navratan is cashew cream with vegetables

The left overs make a wonderfully spicy snack the next day!

Sizzling Tandoor
409 Mendocino Ave
Santa Rosa, CA
707-579-5999

Sizzling Tandoor
1280 Healdsburg Ave #101
Healdsburg, CA
707-433-2954

 

(updated 2/29/12)

Gary Chu's Restaurants

Gary Chu continues to lead the way

If you haven’t eaten at Gary Chu’s eponymous (definition: named the same…Gary Chu) restaurant on Fifth St in Santa Rosa, you have a rare treat waiting for you. Nobody uses fresher ingredients or greater care in the kitchen, and the hard work pays off in the taste and the presentation. His two other restaurants in Sonoma County are excellent as well, but his flagship operation really sets the standards for other Asian restaurants to match.

I can’t begin to praise Gary Chu enough. He is a brilliant chef and engaging personality! If you have spent any time with him at the
sushi bar of Osake near closing time, you know what I mean.

For the twenty plus years our family has been frequenting his
establishments, the service and quality of the food has been of the
highest quality. We have had New Year’s Eve family parties, date
nights, birthday and anniversary celebrations, and lots of take out
over the years. I never tire of his creative style and the freshness
of the ingredients he uses.

The one poor little take out menu we keep in the front of our family telephone book has been scribbled with notes and highlights of the dishes we enjoy most. We have probably tried nearly everything he has to offer. The short list would have a list of twenty items.

Wor Won Ton Soup, Kung Pao Chicken, Sea Scallops, Black Mushrooms and Bean Curd, Imperial Seafood, Spicy Long Beans, Mongolian Beef, Five Spice Pork, Shrimp and Snow Peas, and Gahn Shaw Whole Fish would be among our favorites.

The addition of his Japanese restaurants have added another element to his brilliance. Sashimi, Poke, Nigiri and Maki Sushi, along with Udon, and Tempura add to his repertoire of culinary delights. I LOVE Gary Chu!

PS My favorite server works during lunch at Osake. Her name is
Satsuko. She pays special attention to details and she will make
your lunchtime enjoyable.

Three locations to choose from:

Gary Chu’s Gourmet Chinese Cuisine
611 Fifth St
Santa Rosa (Downtown)
707-526-5840

Osake
2446 Patio Court
Santa Rosa (Montgomery Village)
707-542-8282

Sake'O restaurant HealdsburgSake
‘O
505 Healdsburg Ave
Healdsburg
707-433-2669

Stella's Cafe

Lots of stars in Sonoma County

Whether you judge by the New York Times, Fodors, or the Michelin Guide, Sonoma County has a food tradition to be proud of.

Stella’s Cafe
at Russian River Vineyards

Foodies will love the new setting and the familiar menus of local renowned Chef Gregory Halihan. Here in his new location at Russian River Vineyards (formerly Topolos), he creates his popular seasonal dishes immersed with the flavors of local ingredients combined with the world at large. I could order sixteen different things on the menu without even blinking an eye, but I can’t eat that much at one time even if it is small plates.

5700 Gravenstein Hwy North
Forestville, CA 95436
707-887-1562

Ca'bianca

Ca’ Bianca

This is regarded as everyone’s current favorite. It is truly a “hidden treasure of warmth and charm”. An enticing menu features dishes from varied regions of Italy. Leave the kids at home and enjoy a romantic evening.

835 Second St
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
707-542-5800

Property Search

Advanced Search Map Search

Transaction Guide

Home Buyer’s Guide

Recent Posts

Dave Roberts reviews

Sonoma.net Sites

Dave Roberts - Artisan Sotheby's International Realty
Don't forget to check the "not currently recommended" results.