The Tufts Daily
6
Arts & Living
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Porter Square’s Tamarind House makes an impact with duck, chicken dishes TAMARIND
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let the tacky font and the garishly colored logo dissuade you: Inside you will find a classy restaurant featuring cloth napkins and leather seats. The first thing you notice at Tamarind House is that the service is excellent. Although the waiters were not completely comfortable with their English skills, they were extremely courteous and made sure you never saw the bottom of your water glass for more than a moment before it was filled again. The menu at Tamarind House is divided into dishes featuring a protein (poultry, seafood, etc); noodles and rice, where you find the standard Pad dishes and the fruity fried-rice dishes; and “Classics,” where they feature various other traditional Chinese and Thai dishes. We got a plate of steamed
dumplings to share as an appetizer, and then — banking on the idea that a restaurant’s namesake is likely to be delicious — we ordered both the Tamarind Chicken and the Tamarind Duck, as well as the Pad Thai, for dinner. The dumplings were small but numerous: nine dumplings for $6. The dumplings themselves were decidedly average, but they were served with a delicious sweet sauce for dipping. The Pad Thai featured both shrimp and chicken, and was available with anything from zero to three peppers-worth of spiciness. Adventurously, we ordered the twopepper level of spice. On this they delivered: Indeed, one of us was still feeling the heat 10 minutes after taking just one bite. However, the dish could have been hotter, temperature-wise. When the Pad Thai’s rice noodles cool, they get kind of sticky
and lump together, which could have been avoided if it was served warmer. The Tamarind Chicken was also advertised as “2 Pepper Spicy,” but it was actually much less so than the Pad Thai. Its name was misleading because it was actually a curry sauce with tamarind in it, served with red peppers, green beans and onions. The vegetables themselves were a little tough, but the chicken was moist and flavorful and the sauce was delicious. Indeed, the sauce alone served over rice would have made for a scrumptious side. It was the Tamarind Duck that really stole the show. To make it, the chef deboned half a duck and fried it in pieces, served on a bed of broccoli, mushrooms and other vegetables, and covered in a sweet tamarind sauce. The sauce was sweet and tangy, without any spiciness at all — perfect for people with misgivings about Thai food’s spicy
reputation. The vegetables were all cooked very well, and served as an excellent saucedelivery service. The duck was, of course, the star of the dish. Duck is a very flabby bird, and it often ends up fatty and unappealing when cooked improperly. Not so at Tamarind House: The skin was crisp and golden, and the inside was tender and juicy without being greasy. My two friends agreed that it was the best duck they’d ever tasted and joked with each other about coming back the next weekend to order the same thing. The meal at Tamarind House exceeded all expectations, but on a college budget it was a little pricy ($45 for three people). However, this included the dumpling appetizer, and we all had leftovers to take home. Tamarind House was well worth the price and the minor trek, and I highly recommend it.
Smart cinematography and strong acting bolster sci-fi thriller ‘Limitless’ LIMITLESS
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sion of other characters. This exclusive focus, however, is necessary for the viewer to be drawn into Eddie’s world, and drawn in they are. Arguably the most engaging scene in the entire film unfolds when Eddie first takes NZT. Shot from Eddie’s perspective, the viewer can practically feel his euphoric, genius rush of invincibility and feel his thrill of success as he navigates a prickly social situation. The cinematography also mirrors this mental transition, as the scene’s colors change from muted grays to warm, gold-based tones. In his discovery of NZT’s powers, Eddie thinks mostly of his new mental agility, as does the viewer. He is fascinated when he discovers his new productivity and is understandably horrified when he starts to realize the side effects of the relatively untested NZT: memory lapses and mania
when he is on the drug, then nausea and perpetual attention deficit if he stops taking his ever-increasing daily dose. The viewer’s full involvement is necessary to understand the psychological nuances of Eddie’s increasing fear as a combination of the drug’s side effects, an abstract and incredibly dangerous conglomeration of hit men and the rising pressures of his new high-flying careers start to take their toll on Eddie’s well-being. Indeed, “Limitless” goes so far as to probe a few philosophical questions that haunt our modern society: How far does one have to go to get ahead? Is the game ever completely honest in high profile, lucrative careers? Though a fair amount of the science in “Limitless” is dubious at best, the movie certainly succeeds in conveying a relevant, thought-provoking message to its audience while garnering plenty of heart-pounding and laughs along the way.
www.iamrogue.com
Legend Robert De Niro stars opposite Bradley Cooper in Neil Burger’s new thriller.
Now accepting JumboCash
Medford’s Best Italian Food and Grocery
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Delicious Subs and Sandwiches On Main St. close to the Alumni Fields
April 16, 2011 Store Hours: Sunday 8-7 Monday-Thursday 9-8 Friday-Saturday 8-8 324 Main Street Medford, MA 02155
Phone number: 781-395-0400
Website: www.bobsfood.com
10am – 3pm Meeting
4/12 OR 4/13
@ 9pm in Eaton 202
If interested, contact
lcs.kidsday@gmail.com