I ordered dinner from Long Grain the last week I was in Camden, mid-November 2020, and it was a treat. Long Grain is extraordinary Fusion Thai, smack dab in the middle of midcoast Maine. Read that again. You are not in LA or Flushing Queens. You are in a small coastal Maine town. Before COVID, people drove from as far away as Boston for dinner.
As you might imagine, I ordered a ton of food for one person. I wanted to experience as many different dishes as I could because who knows when I'd be in Camden next.
My order, from starters to mains (including noodles):
* Pan-fried garlic chive rice cakes w/ sautéed bean sprouts*
These were simple fried rice cake squares. I couldn't discern the "garlic chives" flavor. Maybe five bean sprouts. Came with a super delicious soy-based dipping sauce. At $11.00 for six smallish pieces, this is a simple starch option if one feels flush. If you're into repurposing your order, you'll be fine, don't fret. I sliced up the leftovers, tossed them into sautéed kale, with a fried egg for breakfast. Next time, I'll order the fried rice, glowingly reviewed by other Yelpers.
* Magic Oil*
I think it's called magic oil. This is a little container of "spicy" oil that acts like chili crisp--crispy fried garlic, chili, maybe some other whole aromatics, hard to say?--but is mostly oil. It's quite mild and not terribly aromatic. It's a $1.00 so if you feel like trying it, you should.
* Steamed mussels in spicy coconut lemongrass broth*
Wow! Okay. Let's go. The broth has a definite, luxuriant smolder. Lemongrass, lime & basil keep the flavor fresh, herbaceous & sharp. And, if it reminds you of Thom Kha Gai but w/ mussels, surprise! YES! You're in Maine! Mussel lovers, get this. Sort-of like mussels? Order this to ignite your obsession. Sometimes a quiet, simple dish will point to the Chef/kitchen's remarkable hand, care & prowess. This is that dish.
* Spicy, stir-fried, house made wide rice noodles w/ Thai basil, organic greens & mushrooms (Long Grain's take on pad kemao), w/protein choice or extra veg*
Delicious, 100%. I was knocked out by the wealth of fresh foraged mushrooms--definitely oyster, maybe trumpet?--and fresh farm greens in this dish. The vegetables are chopped coarsely, into large segments; an invitation to appreciate their textures and tastes. Not only super flavorful & elegant, Long Grain's pad kemao is an innovative midcoast Maine iteration of a dish made half a globe away. This is the mark of good fusion for me: creating a dish built of traditional components & technique as well as local-to-the-chef ingredients.
Final thoughts on the kemao: I ordered it with pork belly. I would have preferred the pork belly to have more structure, perhaps a bit of chew/crunch. Next time I order this dish I will stick to all veg. For me, that's where this dish shines.
*Beef Panang curry w/ roasted red peppers, bamboo shoots & Thai basil
This is superb. Like, outstanding. The mouthfeel of the "curry" is plush yet sharp, redolent, round and fiery. By this I mean its complex taste unfolds in the mouth, blooms and balances salty, sweet, sour, astringent and funk. The beef, cut a little larger than stew-sized pieces, is tender & velvety. Don't order this if you can't spend time with this dish, savoring each bite. And, basil lovers, rejoice. This is for you.
I ate this for two nights straight. Then, with what was leftover over, I made some "kitchen noodles" with steamed shaved Carnival squash and udon. Even that tasted amazing.
I think the strategy for a Long Grain food order is to order a bunch of dishes, enjoy it thoroughly, and be delighted to have leftovers to repurpose or simply reheat as is.
A few words on Long Grain's vibe.
First, they take sourcing very seriously here. Local, organic, line caught, pastured--thorough and careful sourcing that they honor by preparing carefully considered food, priced to reflect ingredients & labor.
Second, they are a community mainstay. When I went to pick up my food, the individual who was packing orders in coolers* knew each customer by name. Except me, because it was my first time there. Still, she wished me a good night & warmly invited me to enjoy my meal.
*ps: Long Grain's COVID takeout policy is available to read on their website. It's a little old skool as one has to call in an order in the late morning for a dinner pick up & the phone line is often engaged. That's okay. Keep trying. It's very worth it. The labor you will expend is nominal.
Also, please don't expect that you can call in an order of food & pick it up 30 minutes later.
That's not the way this system works.
Learn the system & work it to your advantage.
Or, order from another lovely establishment.
TYFCTMTT read more