One of the best ways to get me out of my apartment on a chilly, windy Sunday is with the promise of a great meal. Paired with an intriguing atmosphere, it’s practically a guarantee I will be there. And that is exactly what happened a couple of Sundays ago, when I eagerly and excitedly left the warmth of my apartment and commuted to Lowcountry’s South Loop location for their joint event with James Beard Award-nominated chef and author Arnold Myint. This collaboration was aptly named “Thai Seafood Sunday” and it featured a host of dishes from Lowcountry, Chef Arnold’s sauces, sides, and salads, Thai-fried chicken wings, and a beignet station.
Walking into Lowcountry, I was greeted by a bustling, clamoring environment, excitement bouncing off the walls. The dishes were laid out in a buffet style, and people were lining up eagerly to fill their plates. As I made my way through the space, which was decorated with beautiful twining green vines and pops of bright, red, white, and pink flowers, I found myself right by the musicians, who were vibrantly playing remixes of Thai music with contemporary sounds, which easily stirred up some dancing and kept the energy up throughout the event. Tables and chairs were aligned in the center of the space, red and white checkered tablecloths spread, and MAMA packaged instant noodles were laid out for guests to take home or enjoy in the moment. Guests chatted excitedly, catching up at their tables and pausing conversations to enjoy the music and watch the performance.
I helped myself to a hefty serving of the dishes, with some of my favorites being the crispy rice ball, cucumber achare salads, Thai-fried chicken wings, and honey jalapeño cornbread. There was a slew of sauces to drizzle upon the dishes, and while I tried almost every one and enjoyed each thoroughly, my two favorites were Chef Arnold’s Thai sriracha sauce and Nam Prik Pao Chili Jam sauce, which is a Thai chili paste. I also really enjoyed Lowcountry’s signature sauce, which was aptly named “Everythang” and was a mix of garlic, lemon pepper, and Cajun seasoning. I also cannot go to an event and not try the dessert options, and when I saw that the dessert of choice for this event was beignets, I was ecstatic. The beignets were fluffy and soft, drizzled with powdered sugar, and paired with various sides, such as chocolate sauce, jelly, condensed milk, and Thai Pandan custard, also known as Sangkaya.
Chef Arnold, who is not only a Thai-American chef but also an author, released his debut cookbook, Family Thai: Bringing the Flavors of Thailand Home, last fall, and it garnered immediate praise, with the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Southern Living naming it one of the best new cookbooks of 2025. During his event at Lowcountry, the chef signed a plethora of copies of his cookbook, eagerly posing and snapping photos with attendees throughout. He also graced patrons with a display of his skills, grinding ingredients together with a mortar and pestle in front of us, which is a culinary technique used to crush ingredients together in order to simultaneously release and mix flavors. Chef Arnold's excitement and willingness to interact enthusiastically with his guests made the environment that much more electric.
All in all, this was a terrific event and definitely ranks high on my list of favorite Sunday activities. Lowcountry and Chef Arnold and his team put on a great, guest-centric experience, producing a lighthearted environment where people could unwind, relax, and eat well. And who knows, maybe I’ll try my hand at a recipe or two from Chef Arnold's cookbook!
Lowcountry South Loop is located at 1132 S Wabash Ave. You can order Chef Arnold Myint's cookbook Family Thai at major retailers and online.
This coverage was made possible by a promotional invitation. Our opinions and editorial choices remain entirely our own.
Support arts and culture journalism today. This work doesn't happen without your support. Contribute today and ensure we can continue to share the latest reviews, essays, and previews of the most anticipated arts and culture events across the city.
