I love thai food, especially coconut curries. Thai curry is a good simple dish found at every thai restaurant. Because of this, I believe how well a restaurant's curry is made reflects the quality of their other dishes. My favorite is green curry, named obviously from its green color. The rich color comes from green chillies and herbs. This dish is usually made very spicy and prepared with meats and vegetables. Luckily, for those with weak stomachs - like me, you can make this dish mild at home.
The basis of green curry comes from a curry paste. Many stores sell ready made pastes, so all you need is to add coconut milk. The pastes, however, come VERY spicy and contain wheat, along with msg. When you make the paste yourself, you use fresh herbs and know what's going in. The end product is refreshing. The flavors are subtle and not overpowered by spiciness and msg. You appreciate your senses more and can taste how the herbs play upon each other.