Aroy celebrating Thai New Year celebration of 'Songkran'

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The kitchen is a mother's domain at the tiny-yet-ambitious Aroy, in Ravenswood. Known for their authentic, regional cooking, during the New Year celebration of Songkran, they tend to make dishes that remind them of home - which would be the city of Sukothai in the North.

"You go back to your hometown and they cook and eat and drink a lot during the Songkran Fest," said owner Tee Kowcharoen.

One of the dishes on Tee's Songkran menu is an omelet, but it has nothing in common with the omelets you're used to. That's because this one begins with eggs, seasoned with a bit of Thai fish sauce, then spread evenly and wide in a large, well-oiled saute pan.

The filling is a combination of sauteed ground pork, along with a black paste of cilantro roots, garlic and black pepper. Palm sugar and dried shrimp are added to give it a bit of sweet and salt; also a mound of sweet radish to add a bit of crunchy texture, along with chopped peanuts.

The filling is spooned over some cooked bean sprouts, then the omelet is carefully folded into a square package, served with a bright and crunchy cucumber salad, and for dessert, a bit of bua loy: rice flour balls seasoned with things like pumpkin or carrots, boiled briefly to cook, then shocked in cold water, and finally, added to warm coconut milk on the stove, for a chewy, sweet ending to a New Year's feast. Keeping cool is usually the order of the day.

"Because during the Songkran, really hot and humid in Thailand, I think about 100 fahrenheit," said Kowcharoen.

The special Songkran menu here at Aroy is already underway and it runs until the 20th, if you really want to come in and get a flavor for what it tastes like to live in Thailand.

Aroy will be featuring about a half dozen New Year's specials all week long.

Aroy

4654 N. Damen Ave.

(773) 275-8360

Thai New Year's menu specials run until April 20th.