Everyone who's not currently sitting in Madam Mam's Westgate location eating the Special Beef Massaman Curry needs to get off their ass and drive there immediately. No excuses. If you are currently at Madam Mam's but eating something else, dash your food to the floor, signal your (now angry) waitress and tell her you need a heaping helping of P50.
I love Thai food. Heck, I flew over there just to stuff my face. But when it comes to Thai food here in Texas I'm usually a bit on the disappointed side. Like many ethnic foods round these parts it often suffers from the General Tso's Chicken Syndrome. That is it's been dumbed down a bit or Whited up if you will. It's a lowest common denominator problem where they feel like the market can't handle all that wacky authenticity so they stream line it; cut out some ingredients, pull back from sour, bitter and heat, sweeten it up and double the portions.
God bless you Madam Mam. I knew we where in for a delicious treat as soon as I saw the large hunks of slow braised beef nestled up beside some whole golden potatoes and half a tender stewed onion. Big rustic chunks of food is almost always a good sign.
I felt like I was over at my aunt's house if my aunt were Thai and a great cook. The curry had a rich slightly sweet smell with toasted peanuts and tangy tamarind. The vegetables were perfectly done, holding their shape and texture but fork-soft all the way through. The beef was moist and flavorful with that great mouthfeel that you get from all of the connective tissues breaking down while being cooked long and slow. I wanted to hug somebody.
I will leave you with a warning though. Madam Mam's has two beef massaman curries. The one on their regular menu is the run of the mill standard version that gets cranked out all over town. While it may be perfectly serviceable, the one you want is on their specials menu (last listed as P50). It's $12.50 and worth every penny. Get out there and help me support the real food scene in Austin. If they take this off the menu I'm going to hold you personally responsible.
Madam Mam's Noodle & More II
4514 Westgate Blvd. 78745
(512)899-8525
