If you have ever travelled to Bangkok then you will know that there is more to Thai cooking than many people think. It isn’t just noodles and spicy curries; there is a whole culture to discover, so let’s take a look at what you might have been so far missing.
To experience both the taste and scent of Thailand you need to try the national dish of Tom Yam Goong. This soup really sums up Thai cooking in one dish, the fantastic aromas of lemon grass, lime, galangal and shallots will seduce your nostrils whilst the fish sauce and chilies give you the kick that you come to expect from tastes from this part of the world. Eat it on its own as a starter or order it with rice and it becomes a cracking main course, the hot and sour spiciness is a perfect treat wherever it features during a meal.
Although the taste might differ depending on the region that serves it, Pad Thai is another dish that is synonymous with Thai cuisine. You should find yourself with noodles that are given a makeover with tofu and bean sprouts along with some onion. Then the peanuts which have been ground to dust and really make this meal unique are added with fish sauce and chili powder as well as a small amount of sugar to finish things off to perfection.
Kuay Tiew or Noodle Soup is another dish that never seems to be the same twice. Easy to come by and very quick to make, this is one of the staple meals for Thai people and has become a firm favorite around the world with everybody who has been lucky enough to try it. Basically you get thick or thin noodles cooked up in a broth with whatever meat is available at the time. This could be pork, chicken, beef, duck or even seafood. It can really be a lucky dip, but as they are all absolutely unbelievably great you will never have to take the booby prize.
Chicken with Cashew Nuts or Gai Med Ma Moung is anther food that has tickled the taste buds of lots of lucky punters over the years. You might think that the name gives it all away but there is so much more to this dish than chicken and nuts. There is the sweet soy sauce and garlic that is added along with honey, then there are the fiery chilies that you know have to be in there somewhere, no pain no gain and all that. This is where you suddenly discover that eating chicken without nuts is something that you never want to do again although the locally sourced nuts that are used when you eat this dish in Thailand do make something of a difference over the taste of the dish you will experience when you return home.
And that is really a point to make about Thai food, because if you thought that the stuff you are eating now is good you really need to travel to Thailand and sample what is served in the restaurants there. Thai food is amazing all over the world, but to really appreciate it you need to try it in its home environment. So, don’t hesitate but book a nice Bangkok hotel, book your flight and you can have any of the above mentioned meals as soon as you land.