Takeout Thai and light, fruity wines are great for summer

I love authentic Thai food. Creating this cuisine from scratch is time-consuming and expensive. I also refrain from using the stove as much as possible in the summer. Instead, I'm a fan of take-out dining and pairing my prepared dishes with a delicious wine.

Jasmine Thai Cuisine, located at 195 Simcoe St. (Charlotte Mews), offers an extensive menu of outstanding and authentic Thai food. They also offer a large selection of gluten-free dishes, too. Call (705-743-9799) or order online at www.jasminethai.ca

The family consisting of Nutsara (mom), Toey, Bas, Tum, Ice, Jasmine (kids) and Peter (husband) own and run the restaurant. Mother Nutsara started cooking in the night market of Khon Kaen, Thailand when she was a little girl to help her family.

When she came to Canada more than a decade ago, the community soon discovered her talent, expertise and love of Thai food, which comes through in every bit.

On Trip Advisor, Jasmine Thai has 222 reviews with a 4.5 rating of excellence. I'm one of the reviewers. I ate at Jasmine Thai last weekend and loved the food, service, and family atmosphere. All their dishes can be prepared for takeout.

It's not at all surprising that Nutsara has a loyal customer base and great Trip Advisor reviews and ratings. Her dishes are perfectly balanced in the five taste sensations of tangy, sweet, salty, butter and umami (roundness and depth of flavour). This also makes her dishes suitable for an array of table wines. (And not expensive.)

If you enjoy real Thai food and you love pairing your Thai cuisine with wine, here are a few combinations you can enjoy at home this summer, paired with wine from the LCBO.

Appetizer: Sticky Rice with Peanut Sauce

Entree: Green Curry with coconut milk, bamboo, carrots, basil, broccoli, eggplant, bell peppers, and chicken.

Appetizer: Crab Rangoon with cream cheese, green onion, crab sticks, black pepper wrapped in wheat paper rolls and served with a sweet sour sauce.

Entree: Sweet chili seafood with shrimp, mussels, scallops, crab sticks, snow peas, basil, bell peppers, onion, and carrots stir fried.

Appetizer: Mango salad with mango, mint, red onion, carrots, peanuts, bell peppers, tossed with cashew nuts on a bed of greens with their Jasmine signature dressing.

Entree: Pad Thai with egg, tofu, bean sprouts, green onion, peanuts, rice noodles and chicken in a tamarind sauce.

Appetizer: Deep fried shrimp rolls with sweet and sour sauce

Entree: Chicken oyster with garlic, white onion, white mushrooms, broccoli, green onions, stir-fried in a Thai oyster sauce.

Appetizer: Crispy deep fried wontons with minced chicken, black pepper, sesame oil, and mushrooms, wrapped with in wonton wheat paper rolls and served with a sweet and sour sauce.

Entree: Jasmine's signature curry with grilled Thai chicken, red pepper, lime leaves and served in a curry sauce.

All entrees taste best when served with an order of rice.

Partner these combinations with Huff Estates Off Dry Riesling, (CSPC 155606), $18.15. Passion fruit and lime flavours come through on the nose and palate with zesty lime acidity and enough sweetness for balance. The wine's fruit and lime flavours are well suited to Nutsara's sauces.

Or ... Rosehall Run Pixie Sparkling Wine sparkling (Charmat), CSPC 492959, $19.95. The wine's nose and palate sing with flavours of peach and apricot. The palate is light and medium sweet, able to handle the gentle heat and spice and sometimes coconut sweetness in all the dishes. With refreshing effervescence, the wine can be served chilled and enjoyed outside on a warm, summer evening with your Thai cuisine.

Menu prices range from $5.50 to $20 per dish. Jasmine Thai is known for offering the best Pad Thai in the city.

I am addicted to their sticky rice boiled in coconut milk.

Shari Darling's books and other publications are available at understandpublishing.com