All The Food From Soi47

My favorite go-to Thai restaurant Soi 47 has closed down.

Literally.

Gone.

All around the island. 

No more. 

Am I devastated?

No.

Am I quietly sad, quietly disappointed? 

Yes. 

Soi 47 has had a very special presence in my life since the first time I had her food at Temple Street. I don't know how it is we found the restaurant right near the corner of Temple Street and South Bridge Road, but she offered a wide selection of favorite Thai street food at gorgeous downtown prices, and the food was authentically good.

So lovely this restaurant was for us that we patronized them a good long while, relishing in their green curry beef, green curry chicken, fried spring rolls, Pad Thai, and their variety of soups, including the spicy tom yum and the spicy but mellower coconut milk cream soup tom kha. 

It was a joy to eat there during the season of Chinese New Year

Which year, in particular, now I can't quite remember, but I think it were the Year of the Ox because I had bought a most adorable stuffed toy ox from one of the bazaar stalls nearby and brought it to lunch with me. 

What's funny is that I might not remember the year, but I certainly do remember us having- on account of the occasion- a bowl of their fish maw soup, and a platter of their steamed fish in soy sauce. 

When the outlet at Temple Street closed down, we began frequenting the outlet at Clarke Quay. There too are memories that I have with this particular outlet here. Many a time it has just been between my friend and I, but I have, too, met up with others at this one outlet, where, if I'm not wrong, we ordered a steamed fish, a plate of fried chicken, spring rolls, a plate of vegetables, and some other dishes that I now cannot remember. 

Between my friend and I, much of our meals centered around the omelets (fried Thai style), the fried chicken skin, the roast pork, and the Pad Thai. 

I can't find a picture of the Pad Thai even though I'm pretty sure I must have taken one. 

It wasn't just the Clarke Quay outlet we went to.

There was the Soi 47 at Orchard Central, a very sunny airconditioned place on one of the upper floors and where I think we have had lots of Moo Ping, green curry beef, tom kha, and other dishes. 

Think this was the first place I had Pad See Ew, or what they call as Beef Kuay Teow Fried.  

I haven't forgotten the delight I felt the first time I had it.

Was it the texture of the noodle? 

Was it the taste, or the way it was fried?

I can't remember now. 

But Pad See Ew remains one of my favorite dishes, and I try to have it whenever I can, whether here, or in Thailand. 

Perhaps what makes Soi 47 isn't merely the meals that we have had there, but also the memories that come associated with it. 

My friend's father said their noodles (I think it were Pad Thai, or maybe Pad See Ew) were one of the best he'd ever had. My friend had bought them from the outlet at St. George's, near Lavender. His father liked them so much that he texted his son to bring back the same noodles when he next came to visit at the nursing home. Sadly, only just a day before visiting day, my friend's father died. The old man never got to eat again the beef fried kuay teow that he'd tried for the first time, and said he liked. 

If it were already, as it was, sad, there are, thankfully, happier moments that come along with extended memories. 

An elderly lady I know stays at a nursing home in Toa Payoh. What's interesting is that- out of all the gorgeous locations they could have had in the Toa Payoh estate- Soi 47 would choose to be at a block just a short 3 minute walk away on Lorong 6.

So that's where a good number of weekend meals went. 

I'm pretty sure over here altogether I had at least a plate of Pad See Ew, a plate of Pad Thai, several bowls of green curry beef, tom yum soup, tom kha soup, lots of Moo Ping, a few plates of pandan chicken, several plates of fried spring rolls, a few platters of steamed fish, and, yes, I won't be forgetting the bowl of Red Ruby dessert that the staff offered us one time- in exchange of a Google review. 

A little pensive here, but I will miss the presence of Soi47. 

It don't matter whether she transforms as another brand. 

It is the name of Soi47 that holds importance to me.

So many memories. 

Sad that she won't be around anymore, but hey, Soi47, whatever s*** it might have been keeping things as they were, thanks for the time, thanks for the memories, thanks for the food. 

You kept the presence of Thailand close to my heart during the very long season when I wasn't yet able to visit there.