Shaved Ice: Thai Nam Kang Sai

With so many Thai restaurants in Seattle, you'd think it would be easy to find Nam Kang Sai, Thai-style shaved ice. But whoever I spoke with about this icy Thai creation just laughed and told me they didn't know of anyone who served it.

Then, a few weeks ago, I called Sea Thai Restaurant. The woman I spoke with laughed too. I jumped the gun, "You don't sell it either," I blurted out. "No," said the voice on the other line, "but, we're buying an ice machine, and we'll be selling it at the Fremont Fair."

Sea Thai Restaurant is, in fact, selling Nam Kang Sai this weekend at Seattle's Fremont Fair, Saturday and Sunday, June 20th and 21st, so fair goers will have a rare opportunity to sample this popular Thai sweet.

I popped into the restaurant today to meet with owners David and Renoo Ramstad and get a sneak peak at that elusive dessert. (It was, coincidentally, the restaurant's 12-year anniversary.)

Unlike other Asian shaved ice desserts such as Japanese Kakigori, Filipino Halo-halo or Malaysian ABC, Nam Kang Sai's "toppings" are placed at the bottom of the bowl; the shaved ice is served on top. Sea Thai's version began with coconut jelly, palm seeds in syrup, sweetened yellow yams and white bread. Shaved ice was scooped over the toppings, then doused with either red sala (a tropical fruit) or green cream soda syrup and drizzled with condensed milk. In Thailand, I understand, dozens of mix-ins may be added to Nam Kang Sai, but Sea Thai's four toppings were exotic enough for me!

If you're late to the fair or miss it altogether, Nam Kang Sai will be available this summer at Sea Thai Restaurant with 24-hour advance notice.

--Tracy Schneider