Chicken Pad Thai – A staple on the menu at Siam Pad Thai.

What does Pad Thai have in common with Haunted Houses? That’s easy. A Food Adventure, celebrating today’s nationwide DVD release of local horror film “Haunted House on Sorority Row.” Want to win a free autographed copy of this scary ass movie? All you have to do is comment below, and one winner will be chosen at random.

The Food Adventure Crew recently sat down with the film’s director, Henrique Couto and cast members Erin Ryan and Joni Durian..

The Food Adventure took place at Siam Pad Thai on Wilmington Pike, a favorite spot of both Big Ragu & Henrique Couto. We ate and talked about the film, various favorite foods and favorite horror flicks. Everyone was very excited about the release of the DVD. We let the noodles and the comments fly!

First, let’s start with the film HAUNTED HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW…… now available on DVD ! Want a copy?

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Locally filmed thriller, with suspense, blood, guts and boobs.. check out the intense trailer HERE !

— Dayton’s own, Henrique Couto is making a name for himself in independent movie circles.

“Haunted House on Sorority Row” was filmed locally. The DVD is now available on Amazon.com, or win one by commenting below !

MUST SCREAMS:

— The DVD may be bought at these retailers: Amazon.com, Game Swap at the corner of Dorothy Lane and Woodman Dr. and FYE at the Fairfield Commons Mall.

— If Amazon needs to restock, you may have to wait a few days, but in the meantime order our favorite film, by Henrique, last year’s dvd Babysitter Massacre !

— You can find more of Henrique’s items HERE.

You may recall that The Big Ragu went to the theater showing of “Haunted House on Sorority Row” earlier this year at Englewood Cinemas.

What makes this film so special? Henrique says it is his scariest movie of all time. Joni believes the scenes of pure survival in the house, comes across strongly in the film. Erin thinks the psychological, role driven aspects of each character, gives the film its frightening feel. As for you the viewer, well you gotta a pick up a DVD and see for yourself.

We also got a chance to ask the group some questions about their favorite scary movies, restaurants and more !

See how you stack up to their answers:

Hope you didn’t eat any popcorn during the flick, we are about to eat. We also hope we didnt scare you with the spooky, locally made, must see movie.. if we did, just relax.

Coconut Soup – delicious and unique. Click to enlarge

Now let’s talk Thai – Oh yeah, we talk Thai.. we talk Thai gooooddd. *** SIAM PAD THAI *** to be exact!! Now can you deal with this?

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Since 2008, owner “Fon,” has brought her recipes from past restaurants she owned like Ban Thai, and Yummy Burger

— Seating is limited to about 30 people in this little spot, located at 3027 Wilmington Pike

— Attractions include Thai Specialties and Sushi !

With our many visits to Siam Pad Thai, we have developed some favorites, we list as “must eats.”

MUST EATS:

— THAI TEA: Feel free to send us thank you cards for this tip. A mix between an iced tea and a milkshake, this is one of those “you gotta try this” items.

— COCONUT SOUP: Warming to the soul, this soup contains lime leaves, tomato, mushroom, lime juice and of course coconut milk. Perfect for a cold day, actually perfect for any day. A delicious taste of Thai.

Deep Fried Terminator Roll: Try it and “you’ll be back”

— SOFTSHELL CRAB: One of the only places we know of that serves this delicacy year round. It is a delicacy and dare we say Food Adventure on a plate. Get over your fear, because this crab is edible, shell and all !

— THE PAD THAI: It doesnt matter if you get chicken, shrimp or vegetable, this is the real deal and some of the best stuff in town. Our filmmaking pal Henrique Couto agrees and pegs this his favorite dish at his favorite restaurant.

— THE DEEP FRIED TERMINATOR SUSHI ROLL: Sushi roll with Cream cheese, cooked salmon, eel sauce, sesame seeds, then deep fried in a light batter. They must call it a Terminator Roll because once you try it… “You’ll be back.”

Honorable Mention: The Mango Dessert served with sticky rice and coconut milk is a good one. Also, seafood lovers will love the Seafood soups in a Clay Pot for a nice Food Adventure. There are a few variations of seafood,noodles, etc. so choose your interest.

****PRIZE CONTEST****

ONE lucky fan who comments and shares the story will get a free DVD copy of “Haunted House on Sorority Row,” autographed by the director Henrique Couto !
The winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday.

Thanks to Henrique, Erin and Joni for joining us on an official Food Adventure!

Had enough to eat? After seeing the film and eating at Siam Pad Thai, you will know the difference between a Columbian Neck Tie, and a Pad Thai.

If you want more of Food Adventures, then you MUST CLICK LIKE on Facebook HERE !!!

Until then, check out our sexy, scary and scrumpious photos from our visits over the years to SIAM PAD THAI !

[flagallery gid=96]

Our best Food Adventures often come when we least expect it, and some of these impromptu meals, end up being the most fun. A perfect example of this was our visit to Tik’s Thai Grille which is located in a strip shopping mall on the Bellbrook-Centerville border. The owner, Tik has been a successful restaurateur for years. Big Ragu stumbled upon this place on his way home and decided this was a spot that he and the Food Adventures Crew would have to try. All he had to do was mention the words “Thai Food” and “Close to home” and our foodies were on their way.

Once inside the restaurant, we were instanty struck by the stunning interior. The restaurant was spotless and beautiful artwork adorned the walls. This would make a perfect date place. We were greeted by Tik who showed us to our nice, “Romantic” table. It was a late weeknight, so we had the rare opportunity to talk to Tik and the staff.

Before you can understand Tik’s Thai Grille on 725, you have to know what makes it tick.. whoops, we mean Tik. Who is Tik? She is a very animated person who is originally from Thailand. Since her arrival in America, Tik has become a self taught chef who used to own a few restaurants including Yummy Burger and what is now House of Thai in Beavercreek. An unlikely career for someone who as a child in Thailand, could not stand the chore of cooking. Well, look at her now. She currently owns and helps operate two Thai restaurants, Tik’s Thai Grille in Bellbrook and Tik’s Thai Express across the street from Wright State University.

The Spicy Tom Yum Soup was.. well, YUM !

Very proud of her menu, Tik was eager to share many dishes with us. The kitchen offers traditional Thai food and lots of options for carnivores and vegetarians alike. We decided to grab an appetizer and went with the Mango Fresh Rolls. Tik brought out our appetizer, but also decided to accompany the mango fresh rolls with Tom Yum Soup, Fried Butterfly Shrimp, and Crispy Thai Spring Rolls. We instantly noticed how beautifully the food was presented. The Big Ragu immediately went for the fried Butterfly Shrimp and munched on the Mango Fresh Rolls. This food was not only gorgeous, but delicious as well. The Mango Fresh Rolls were incredible! They are loaded with Avocado, Mango, Vermicelli Noodles, Carrots, Mint and rolled into Rice Paper. The Big Ragu who is the “King of Fried Foods,” thinks that the Fried Butterfly Shrimp was one of the best appetizers that he has ever tasted. This could be because of the spectacular Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce which accompanied the shrimp. We enjoyed the Thai Cripsy Spring Rolls as well and our sinuses were pretty much drained because of the Tom Yum Soup. We are still sweating from this flavorful soup!

Your Food Adventurers will admit that we were starting to feel a little full from the arsenal of appetizers, but out comes Tik with our entrees. We decided to go with is usual staple of Chicken Pad Thai and also decided to try the Bourbon Chicken Noodles. The Pad Thai was excellent…..full of big chunks of chicken, soft egg noodles, eggs, carrots, cabbage, and that wonderful Thai Peanut Sauce. This dish did not disappoint! The Big Ragu was equally impressed with his selection of Bourbon Chicken Noodles which contained Egg Noodles, Chicken, a mix of vegetables, egg, and the housemade Bourbon Sauce. Our pants really started to feel quite a bit tighter due to all the food. We moved slowly so we would not split any seams.

The Flavorful Bourbon Chicken Noodles

Thai people are known for their excellent hospitality and Tik is a perfect example of this. When we were about finished with our entrees, she came into the dining room carrying a Tin Foil Statue that resembled a stork or bird of some sort. We didn’t know what to expect. If this was a film, this would the be the grand finale. Tik suddenly pulled out a giant butcher knife and carved into the tin foil. She made this into an event and inside housed a wonderful Seafood, vegetable, and Jasmine Rice combination. We would find out that this was called the Seafood Bouquet. It was loaded with shrimp, scallops, mussels, pieces of fish, and squid. We were so full that we wanted to take a nap, but we couldn’t let our graciuos host down. We dug into the Seafood Bouquet and finished it off. Surely we were finally done with the parade of tasty food, right?…Wrong..

At this point, the spirited Tik decided that we needed dessert. We asked her “Do either one of us look like we need dessert?” She brought out a sliced Mango on a bed of Sweet Sticky Rice and she wrote the words “Thank You, Tik” in Chocolate Sauce. We decided to climb over the “Food Wall” we had hit and finish this dessert off. It was absolutely amazing! It was a wonderful way to top an excellent meal.

Tik sat down with us and explained to us how it took her a year to create this beautiful restaurant. She wanted to get it just right and she succeeded! Tik was especially proud of the beautiful artwork that hangs on the restaraunt walls that was created by her son. Before we exited the restaurant, Tik brought out a framed article from the Dayton Business Journal showcasing her newest establishment. This Food Adventure summed up why we love dining and supporting local restaurants……the owners take pride in what they do.

Amazing Mango Dessert Served on Top of Sweet Sticky Rice

The restaurant also has a bar inside where you can use the line, “your pad(thai) or mine?”(groan). Tik’s also has a drive-up carryout window! Does it get much better than that? The wonderful thing about this restaurant is that it can be a nice, casual place or a romantic, “Date Night” place. The prices are reasonable, the decor is beautiful, the food is artfully created, and the owner is a pretty special person as well. We highly recommend that you use your noodle and give Tik’s Thai Grille a chance. Tell them the Food Adventure Crew sent you!

Have you been to Tik’s Restaurants? Feel free to leave a comment below!