DISH OF THE WEEK: Durian & Rice Pudding at THAIMEE LOVE

Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City

I hope you like Thai food because there’s going to be quite a few Thai restaurants documented on this blog in the coming weeks.

Last year I was deep into studying Thai food for a series of virtual programs I hosted with Turnstile Tours. This year, I’ve just managed to eat at some really great new Thai restaurants in the city.

I’ll start with the sweetest one, which is in both the dish and the name. A dessert at Thaimee Love.

We actually came here for my wife’s birthday and had a really great meal in an intimate setting where the chef and owner was our waitress.

We had some delicious inventive meals that included a spicy, tangy mushroom dish (Pad Cha) with potent young peppercorn and ginger; very tender chicken Khao Soi; and a crab-stuffed omelette (Khai Jiaw).

But it was the trio of desserts that ended up on our table that left us singing. The lip-smacking Roti was warm and used for dipping into a decadent herbal pandan custard, the poached pear was over-the-top spiked with vanilla, and the rice pudding with a special fruit addition was even more exciting.

I have had durian many times in puddings and drinks, but never as the pure fruit. The smattering of the stinky fruit is cooked gently in coconut milk and is mild with a subtle onion flavor surrounded by tropical fruit notes. It played really well with the black jasmine rice pudding also thickened with sweet coconut milk.

It’s a luscious dessert with a potent garnish that was delicious and exhilarating.

And it left me and my wife in love. With each other, sure, but also with some great Thai food. Stay tuned as the love continues next week. Price: $16