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