Wow. Damn those aliens.

Or Cylons.  Or whatever has kept me away from this blog for almost three months.

Must get back to writing.  And eating.

I have been reading Mark Bittman’s latest book, Food Matters.  It’s very interesting and realistic.  I’ve been doing it for two days now (I need to lose weight.  I will not say how much, because it’s embarassing.  What?  My five-year college reunion is this fall, and I’m on the reunion committee!)  Not only that, but I am riding in the MS150 next month.  (Think of it.  Reviews of Gu, Camelbak Elixir and bad ride food.)  Plus work is crazy, as usual.  In other words, a normal time.

BUT!  On the plus side, I found my dream dish.  Finally.  I am obsessed with a Thai beef dish that is served on the lunch buffet at Patu in Rice Village.  I have hunted for it on the regular menu, to no avail.  But finally, I found it.  I ordered it with shrimp, but it’s it!

Basically, it’s basil beef with a savory, spicy sauce and lots of basil and veggies.  The shrimp was nicely cooked, the veggies were crisp-tender (mmmm…) and the sauce has a nice balance of sweetness, saltiness (from the nam pla, no doubt) and spice from the chiles.  It starts out sweet, then turns salty and spicy that stays on your tongue and lips after you finish.  Jasmine rice is lovely for sopping up the sauce.  Matt had pad thai (of course; I can rattle off his order for him).  And cucumber salad, with carrots and red onion in a sweet sauce, served with pork-topped fried toast.  Mmmm.  Comfort food at its finest.

Also on my to-try list: Feast (NO, I haven’t been there yet.  Quiet!), the mussels at the Black Labrador, and Little Big’s.  And I may have to grab a burger after the Tour de Houston this Sunday in Discovery Green.