I woke up this morning and went straight to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee and looked out the window. And what do I see? FOG!It’s been chilly, wet and foggy the past couple of days, which makes me happy knowing that my favourite season has finally made it’s way! Just looking at wet ground gave me a cozy feeling. I was so glad for being home and not having to drag myself through the chill to go someplace. It was a treat to look forward to spending the next hour or two enjoying my hot cup over the books and magazines I’d gathered a few weeks ago to aid me in my impending writing assignments.

There’s something about Fall that just brings me to a good place. The lovely hues of orange and red in the trees, the crisp chill in the air, and especially the warmth from cranking up the stove and oven to begin a long period of rich comfort food. I always welcome the cooler weather by making an array of rich spicy curries, aromatic stews and tantalizing soups. Most of our dinners during these colder months are enjoyed on the warm comfy couch over our favourite movies, with the softness of a fleece blanket wrapped around us.

Of all things I enjoy cooking in the Fall, one of my most favourite meal would have be a big bowl of Chili with fresh rustic Italian bread on the side. This dish is such a hit in my home, that I almost always make a big batch and freeze it, to savour over the coming weeks. Like any rustic dish, it’s very versatile to work with. When I want to give it more depth, I always opt to add in a cup or two of mixed beans and meatier vegetables like mushrooms.

Although this may not be the traditional Chili recipe we Canadians are so used to, it definitely is worth trying! And for those with little time on their hands and a big craving for easy comfort foods, its definitely a winner. It hardly took me about 30-35 minutes to get done and doesn’t differ much from the original.

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A few weeks ago, our spice-craving tastebuds found Hubby Dear and I at a remote little establishment called Thai Cuisine Experts. Tucked away in the heart of the city of Mississauga, this fresh, fast food Thai restaurant took us by surprise. I was most intrigued to try it out after I heard that the owners, Celine and Naresh Sharma especially travelled all the way to Thailand to find authenthic and experienced help. They came back with Chef Jongkol Sringern, who worked at the prestigious five star Shangri-La Hotel. Accompanied by Celine herself, who has been trained in traditional Thai cuisine, the two promise to serve you the best of Thailand. And boy, did they deliver!

The ambience is very casual, and the place - bright, neat and tidy. Due to its small space, it’s serves as a perfect choice for take-out when you want something fresh and delicious. One of the best things I noticed, is how how they ask every customer their spice-tolerance level and any nut allergies they may have. Each dish is made fresh, as you order it, and catered to your requests.

We started with subtly flavoured Chicken Satay and side of Papaya Salad. I truly believe we hit a jackpot with the salad. Thinly shredded slices of papaya and mango smothered in a tangy lime dressing, this salad had to be one of the best I ever tasted. I’m not lying when I say that this salad has got me looking to try out papaya in other forms, something which I would have never thought of doing otherwise.

We then went on to the main course. We ordered the Garlic Chicken and the Chicken Pad Thai. Although much to my dismay thet Garlic Chicken tasted like any normal oriental stir-fry, the Pad Thai was simply delicious. It had the perfect blend of hot, sour, salty and sweet flavours, and was truly exceptional. Although we were stuffed to the brim, I couldn’t resist trying their special ice-cream for dessert. Boasting of traditional tropical flavours such as Mango, Coconut, Lychee and Pistachio, it would’ve been a shame to leave without so much as a spoonful. We had the pistachio, which was just wonderful.

If ever you’re craving from some good, authentic Thai food I would definitely recommend dropping in and giving it a try. And if you do, do not skip the Papaya salad!

* Image courtesy ThaiCuisineExperts.com