Bobby Flay’s Throwdown, Defeated
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, December 2nd, 2011
I know this is old news in NoVA, but ever since moving to the area I crossed-my-heart-hoped-to-die that I would try the pad thai that beat Bobby Flay’s on his cocky T.V. show “Throwdown: Pad Thai.”
The sign doesn't lie.
Not that I really doubted the ability of an authentic Thai chef’s pad thai to win hands-down over the pad thai of Bobby Flay, owner of Bobby’s Burger Palace.
Bobby Flay may be an American culinary hero, but Nongkran Daks of Thai Basil in Chantilly’s pad thai looked like something I obviously had to try.
Really, it was about dang time.
So on a cold, rainy afternoon, I called in an order for one pork pad thai to go. My favorite part of ordering? I was asked on the phone, after placing my order, “Spicy? 1, 2, 3, 4?” as the level of my preferred spiciness. Initially, I went for a “3,” but the voice on the other end of the phone informed me that it was “very spicy,” so I switched it to “2.” I have a high tolerance for spicy food, but to me, the “2″ was perfect — just the right amount of fiery heat to be complemented by the fresh acidic lime juice and crunchy peanuts.
This one’s a winner.
Thai Basil is located at 14511-P Lee Jackson Memorial Highway in Chantilly (703-478-3666).
-Julia Harbo
Tags: Bobby Flay, bobby flay throwdown, bobby's burger palace, Food Network, Gut Check, julia harbo, nongkran daks, Northern Virginia, Northern Virginia Magazine, NoVA, pad thai, thai basil, throwdown: pad thai