A Foodie's Paradise

O the food in Thailand. Where do I begin? So many unique, amazing dishes we've had here so far. Thai food is internationally renowned of course and for good reason. Strong flavors clash with rich thick curries & bright spicy salads. Eating seems central to Thai culture as it's standard for Thais to have at least 6 meals in a day! For me, the underlying factor behind why everything is so damn tasty can be explained in one word : freshness. Everywhere we've been so far, incredible fresh, local ingredients can be found in bustling markets. Everything we eat is guaranteed to have been caught or picked a few days before. This dependence on locally ingredients translates into delicious, intense flavors. I also believe that this way of eating is much healthier because chemicals aren't used to preserve the food.

Influenced by centuries of eastern and western culture, Thai cuisine has emerged as something unique. Harmony is the guiding principle behind each and every dish. Balance, simplicity and the juggling of different elements is meant to create a harmonious finish. The four main flavors are present in everything we eat: Spicy, Sour, Salty and Sweet. As a matter of fact, we often find these four condiments sitting right there at the table waiting for us to personalize our meal.

Depending on where in Thailand you are, flavors are bound to be different. The regional & cultural influence can be seen in all corners of the country. That being said, wherever you are, you are bound to find rice. It's the main crop here. Most deep fried & stir-fried dishes are meant to go with rice.
 
Up here in the North, lots of the food has been influenced by the Burmese, Laotian & Chinese culture. I must say, I'm curious about the Chinese influence the most (maybe because I love Chinese food as well). In Chiang Rai, we can find early morning rice porridge's, stir-fried Chinese style pork noodles & steamed Chinese buns filled with sweet and savory fillings called hum bao. In fact, the wok itself (which is a crucial Thai cooking instrument) can be attributed to the Chinese.

I definitely have a list of favorite dishes but not all of them are totally Thai. One of our favorite Thai dishes is Khao Soi. This Burmese influenced soup-like dish is made with a mix of deep-fried crispy egg noodles & boiled egg noodles, pickled cabbage, shallots, lime, ground chillies fried in oil, & meat in a curry-like coconut milk sauce. Ridiculously delicious! Check out some of our favorite dishes:

Infamous Khao Soi Gai (w/chicken)

Tomato Based Pork Noodle Soup called Nam Ngeow (with congealed pork blood on top!)

Spicy Papaya Salad (Som Tom)

Chinese Pork Noodle Soup and Pork Dumplings (Shumai) with Condiments!

Salt Crusted Rotisserie Style River Fish & Fixings

Chinese Wheat Noodles with Roasted Pork and Kale

We Now Know How To Cook Thai Food:)