Delicious Thailand
You can buy whole sea bass perfectly roasted on a small stove on the street in Bangkok for $1.00 US. Oysters the size of your palm five off for about $2.00. They are so big you have to cut them in half or risk choking. They serve them up with a few side dishes including shredded crispy red onions, fresh red chilies chopped, garlic and lime mmmmm they are delicious.
Mobile food vendors with stalls attached to push bikes or motorbikes congregate in bundles at certain times of the day. Often they are fairly specialized in what they offer and cook it expertly. Roast chicken wings, pork meatballs, seafood balls, dried sweet squid, flavored rice pancakes, spicy salad, tom yam, fried noodles the list goes on. In some parts of the city and I am thinking of Sukhumvit from around 10.30pm the pavements come to life with food vendors. They appear out of nowhere and lay out tables and chairs. All kinds of people sit eating, drinking and talking in to the small hours while they watch the world go by. Some grab a barbequed skewered snack to nibble while they go their way. Some prefer fruit perhaps pineapple with its customary sugar and chili dip.
On every table you will find condiments or more precisely meal modifiers. They are sliced red chilies in vinegar “nam som” which are sour in flavor; dried flaked or powered red chilies “pirik pon” hot flavor; sugar “nam taan” sweet of course and fish sauce “nam blaa” which is salty. These additives are spooned on to noodles and in to soups in vast quantities until the mix is just right. More often than not cutlery comprises of a spoon and fork. The fork is used to select and move items of food and modifiers on to the spoon to create the required mixture before being put in to the mouth and savored.
Thai food is fresh, prepared quickly and full of flavors. Sometimes I’ve thought it is beyond flavor and more to do with an experience of ingredients. If you visit Thailand make a point of trying out the local street food. It’s delicious and you’ll find it on your doorstep.
Mobile food vendors with stalls attached to push bikes or motorbikes congregate in bundles at certain times of the day. Often they are fairly specialized in what they offer and cook it expertly. Roast chicken wings, pork meatballs, seafood balls, dried sweet squid, flavored rice pancakes, spicy salad, tom yam, fried noodles the list goes on. In some parts of the city and I am thinking of Sukhumvit from around 10.30pm the pavements come to life with food vendors. They appear out of nowhere and lay out tables and chairs. All kinds of people sit eating, drinking and talking in to the small hours while they watch the world go by. Some grab a barbequed skewered snack to nibble while they go their way. Some prefer fruit perhaps pineapple with its customary sugar and chili dip.
On every table you will find condiments or more precisely meal modifiers. They are sliced red chilies in vinegar “nam som” which are sour in flavor; dried flaked or powered red chilies “pirik pon” hot flavor; sugar “nam taan” sweet of course and fish sauce “nam blaa” which is salty. These additives are spooned on to noodles and in to soups in vast quantities until the mix is just right. More often than not cutlery comprises of a spoon and fork. The fork is used to select and move items of food and modifiers on to the spoon to create the required mixture before being put in to the mouth and savored.
Thai food is fresh, prepared quickly and full of flavors. Sometimes I’ve thought it is beyond flavor and more to do with an experience of ingredients. If you visit Thailand make a point of trying out the local street food. It’s delicious and you’ll find it on your doorstep.
© Gary Morga 2005
posted by Gary @ 2:49 PM
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