‘Hedonistic as Caligula’ at Le Farfalle; ‘Funky and Bright’ at Thai Palm

Writer Vanessa Wolf declares her big crush on Italian newcomer Le Farfalle in this week’s City Paper. The octopus carpaccio makes for a “veritable work of art,” funghi fritti is “Hedonistic as Caligula,” the sorghum pappardelle comes out “luxuriant and balanced,” and the chicken picatta “may threaten your very sanity, with a turducken-esque take on the Italian-American classic.” In the conclusion, Wolf praises chef Michael Toscano’s restaurant for its “offhandedly chic vibe and near-perfect food.”

Former Pattaya owner Noch Lor opened Thai Palm in North Charleston last year, and this week, Post and Courier critic Hanna Raskin takes a look. She explains, “For eaters who’ve lamented the state of Pattaya since Lor sold it, or were never privy to the fuss surrounding the restaurant, Thai Palm is a fine place to know.” She finds fine examples of the cuisine, including sauces “a notch more complex than their counterparts at lesser Thai restaurants,” a “dignified” chili-garlic sauce, and a “toasty red curry, silky with coconut milk and orange as a pumpkin, is simultaneously funky and bright.” She concludes by urging readers to seek out the “shredded papaya salad, glossed with fish sauce and prickled with salted crab.”

• All Le Farfalle Coverage [ECHS]
• Chef Michael Toscano Serves Near-Perfect Food at Le Farfalle [CP]
• Thai Palm Shows What It Tastes Like To Be a Cut Above [P&C]