ManDate gets so real at Joy's

I think it was Harper’s Magazine that originally coined the term gastroporn. They were referring to the thin line the Food Network was treading between ‘food as basic necessity’ and ‘food as sensual necessity’. Where do Chittlins and I stand? We’ve pitched our 2-man tent with the latter; all we need now is some peanut sauce and cherries.

On Wednesday, Chittlin’s, myself, Charades, Ms. Piggy, Principal Blackman, four gay friends and Fedora, all met up at Joy’s Noodle & Rice (3257 N. Broadway, BYOB). With all the new faces, the Principal suggested a name game. Unfortunately, this proved too high a hurdle for the group to complete. We got through three whereupon our food arrived and everyone I didn’t know became a blank “Hello my name is …” sticker.

We started off with fried tofu and spring rolls. The cream cheese in the spring roll crept up on me like, well, like cream cheese would in a spring roll. The spring roll was much better off with the sweet & sour peanut sauce we got with the fried tofu than it was with the tamarind sauce in which it was drenched. Regardless, passed around the table, neither plate made it back.

Pair your dish with the libation of your choice. For my neighbor, who’s name now escapes me, real or otherwise, that meant two Miller Lite 40s. I didn’t know Thai food to complement 80 ounces of beer but I sat corrected. He and I both ordered the Penang Curry. I topped mine with vegetables and tofu. The crispy wide rice noodles on which the dish sits (foundationally and formulaically) balanced the dish’s softer tones. Like my Goose Island Mild Winter Ale, the dish ages well. The noodles soak up the curry releasing bursts of cayenne pepper and sweet coconut milk. (hint: gastroporn). Seated to my right, Chittlins was disappointed by both his dish (Green Curry with Chicken and a side of noodles) in relation to mine, and the fact that he was stuck at the end of the table. His noodles were flaccid and the curry looked flat, combining the two he got a disappointing puddle. The curry may have been salvaged with a side of rice, but there’s only so much you can do.

As rest of the party moved on to bigger and better things, Chittlins and I took the long way home to make the night last a little bit longer. My next post will come to you from Stockholm. Table for one.

My final recommendation, at $8 a plate, skip your usual fare and try something new. Joy's is a sensual as it is necessary.

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