The Pai Northern Thai Kitchen in Toronto ON is my vote for the finest restaurant in North America. I left that place in a state of nirvana previously unimagined, blissful and food coma-y and stumbling into friendly Canadians who offered approving shoulder pats. It’s the kind of experience that saves a tour, a “holy shit everyone got a 1920’s disease but jesus every loving christ that khoa soi” sprinkling of divinity.

I’m not a food critic, clearly, but you should go to this restaurant, sit Thai style, and embrace that every decision you’ve made, good or bad, led you to this moment, and life isn’t such a grim slog after all.