| Tourist restaurants will often serve up | | | | abundant. Influences are also found in |
| a spineless, tasteless version of what | | | | dishes taken from Indonesia, such as |
| should be a full flavour feast, and | | | | chicken kebabs with peanut sauce (gai |
| without anyone to tell you the food is | | | | sate), an international favourite, and |
| less than genuine; a visitor's | | | | rich curries such as kaeng masaman from |
| introduction to Thai food is often | | | | Malaysia. |
| tainted by these 'farang-ised' Thai | | | | Eating in Thailand is very much a family |
| dishes. Once you have had enough of yet | | | | affair. It is often thought of as odd to |
| another overly sweet, messy slop of phad | | | | see someone eating alone and most Thais |
| thai, it is time to explore the | | | | will wait to the point of starvation |
| never-ending possibilities of Thai | | | | until they find a dining partner. A |
| cuisine. | | | | typical meal will include a soup, fried |
| When asked what they like most about | | | | fish, spicy salad known as yam, a curry |
| Thailand, visitors often answer 'the | | | | dish and a dip with vegetables. Each |
| food'. The creation of Siam servings is | | | | member of the party will be served a |
| a masterful mix of salty, sweet, sour, | | | | bowl of rice and can take a bite from |
| spicy and bitter. The spice factor, | | | | the main dishes in the centre of the |
| often too much for most westerners, is | | | | table. Meals are eaten with a spoon and |
| used for medicinal purposes, combined | | | | fork, while chopsticks are generally |
| with the use of market fresh vegetables | | | | only used for noodle soups or Chinese |
| and the choicest local herbs for | | | | food. |
| bursting flavours and prevention of | | | | Thai 'fast food' is known as such, not |
| common ailments. The food is low in fat | | | | because of its enticing greasiness or |
| and high in fibre and most dishes, | | | | fat content as with the western |
| considering they taste so good, are | | | | equivalent, but instead as a range of |
| surprisingly nutritious. | | | | dishes that can be cooked up in a matter |
| But it is not only the unique and | | | | of minutes. These dishes such as phad |
| pleasantly pungent tastes that visitors | | | | thai, or fried noodles, khao phad, or |
| love, the cost of eating in Thailand is | | | | fried rice, or phad khrapao, or fried |
| as satisfying as the pleasure | | | | basil with pork or chicken, are commonly |
| experienced by the palate. One of | | | | ordered as a quick lunch, breakfast or |
| Thailand's major industries is | | | | evening meal, and often served with a |
| agriculture. Grains, meats, vegetables | | | | fried egg plonked on top. |
| and most importantly rice are all | | | | There are few countries that can offer |
| locally produced at minimal cost. The | | | | such a range of fruits like Thailand. |
| country also has rich waters filled with | | | | Its tropical climate and heavy rains in |
| fresh and sea water creatures, which are | | | | monsoon season mean that fruit is |
| shipped across the land, making seafood | | | | everywhere. The diversity of delicious |
| and fish dishes some of the most popular | | | | fruity sweetness to be found is so vast |
| choices. Add to this the natural | | | | and the cost so little, some health |
| innovation and long standing techniques | | | | conscientious rebels decide to diet |
| used by Thais in food preparation and | | | | solely on fruit as an internal body |
| there are few who visit who cannot be | | | | cleansing exercise. From the vibrant |
| satisfied. | | | | pinks of the dragon fruit to the prickly |
| Passing through different regions of | | | | looking shells of the rambutan, photo |
| Thailand, you may notice that the | | | | opportunities are an added bonus to the |
| dialect and sound of the language | | | | already particular delight of fruit |
| changes abruptly. When you think you | | | | shopping in Thailand. |
| have learned how to say sawdee kha in | | | | Thai desserts, in general, use five base |
| exactly the right tone, you move to | | | | ingredients: coconut cream, coconut |
| another place and find that they have a | | | | flesh, rice flour, palm sugar and eggs. |
| completely different method of | | | | Among the favourites are thong yip, a |
| utterance. The same goes for the food. | | | | sweet egg yolk cup; foi thong, shredded, |
| There are four main regions offering | | | | sweetened egg yolk, and tako, a jelly |
| cuisine adventurers a unique experience. | | | | served with creamy coconut. |
| Food in the northeast is influenced by | | | | Those interested in more than just |
| neighbouring Laos. Dishes are highly | | | | sampling the food fare on offer while |
| seasoned and among the most popular | | | | travelling in Thailand will be pleased |
| specialities are larb, a spicy, seasoned | | | | to know that in any mildly touristy area |
| salad made with pork or chicken; somtam, | | | | you are sure to find a local cooking |
| spicy papaya salad, and gai yang, | | | | school. Courses include trips to local |
| barbequed chicken. All are served with | | | | markets, ingredient preparation, cooking |
| glutinous rice, a northern favourite | | | | and best of all, an eating party after |
| widely known as sticky rice, or khao | | | | all the hard work. |
| neow. | | | | Top 10 Thai dishes among tourists |
| Burmese influences have bearings on the | | | | Tom yam goong: a spicy shrimp soup made |
| dishes of the central northern regions. | | | | with coconut milk, lemongrass, lime |
| Northern cooks generally are less heavy | | | | leaves, galangal and shallots. |
| handed with the chilli and the use of | | | | Kaeng khio wan gai: green chicken curry |
| ginger, tamarind and turmeric is common. | | | | made from green curry paste and coconut |
| Khao soi, a curry with egg noodles and | | | | milk. |
| pickled cabbage, is only found in the | | | | Phad thai: noodles fried with tofu, |
| north and should be number one on any | | | | spring onions, bean sprouts and ground |
| visitor's list of dishes to try. | | | | peanuts. |
| Tourists to the north should not miss | | | | Phad khrapao: chicken, pork or prawns |
| the opportunity to dine at a traditional | | | | stir-fried with basil. |
| Khantoke dinner, combining the best of | | | | Kaeng phet pet yang: roast duck curry. |
| northern specialities and traditional | | | | Tom kha gai: chicken in coconut soup |
| performances in a reconstructed wooden | | | | with galangal and lemongrass. |
| palace. | | | | Khao phad: boiled rice fried with meat, |
| Throughout the central plains of | | | | egg, onion, cilantro, garlic and |
| Thailand, the food combines mixes from | | | | tomatoes. |
| all regions, and many Chinese-Thai | | | | Moo/gai sate: pork/chicken kebabs served |
| fusions are common characteristics. The | | | | with peanut sauce. |
| south is the place to get down to spicy | | | | Gai phad met mamuang: stir-fried chicken |
| treats. Chilli-filled soups and curries | | | | with cashew nuts. |
| are common dishes and fresh seafood is | | | | |