(This article first appeared online on 10th April 2024 on Live Mint, India https://lifestyle.livemint.com/food/discover/bangkok-quirky-weird-restaurants-cafes-111712676400972.html)
Showing posts with label BANGKOK. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BANGKOK. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
My Top 6 Indian Restaurants Outside India
(This article first appeared online on 8th November 2023 on Live Mint, India https://lifestyle.livemint.com/food/discover/best-indian-restaurants-in-the-world-111699413754781.html)
Friday, May 1, 2020
Friday, January 3, 2020
Serene Bliss!
Offering a host of tailormade wellness solutions and world-class relaxation facilities, the luxurious Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort is a fecund, tropical paradise, all set in the heart of downtown Bangkok.
By Raul Dias
A unique urban health retreat surrounded by 1.2 acres of lush greenery, the brand new Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok by the Accor Group of hotels is one of those ultra-rare properties in that it is a proper, full-fledged resort set in the buzzing center of Bangkok. A classically elegant retreat, the property stands below tree height, shaded by the canopy of the adjacent Nai Lert Park, famed as Bangkok’s only remaining private city center park.
Within the resort a refined, minimalistic décor meets every modern convenience to take your stress away, reflecting Mövenpick’s renowned commitment to genuine comforts delivered exceptionally well. “Bangkok is a bustling and vibrant metropolis that travellers from all over the world aspire to visit at least once in their lifetime. We are delighted to bring a hotel inspired by such a unique wellness concept into the heart of the city, where our guests can relax within lush green gardens whilst enjoying convenient access to the BDMS Wellness Clinic,” says Patrick Basset, Chief Operating Officer of Accor for Upper Southeast & Northeast Asia and the Maldives.
Urban Oasis
The one aspect of the resort’s setting that’s truly impressive is the range of accommodation options the resort has on offer. While the Deluxe Rooms extend 42 sqm of personalised comfort, the Executive Suite is a spacious 74 sqm with separate living rooms and bedrooms. However, irrespective of room category, each offers either city views across the capital, or serene garden views from their broad balconies. And yes, in-keeping with the Mövenpick’s wonderful world-wide policy of a free mini bar for the first day of one’s stay, here too one can enjoy a range of non-alcoholic beverages on the house.
And while the signature Wellness Suites are unique to the resort, encompassing 74 sqm of therapeutic comfort, the Presidential Suite and Royal Suite are the pinnacles of Mövenpick’s renowned standards of comfort and style, stretching across a mammoth 164 sqm with private entrances.
Perfect Blend
Speaking of wellness, the resort shares its property with the BDMS Wellness Clinic which is the latest of the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services group’s centres of medical excellence. It applies world leading therapies and technologies to treat an illness’ root cause in seven specialised clinics with individually trained nurses and administrators. “With travellers placing more value on health and wellness than ever before, we are very excited to bring this innovative new concept to the market. Increasingly, wellness is moving beyond the walls of the spa and fitness areas with guests also wanting greater access to personalised programming,” says Lindsay Madden-Nadeau, Director of Well-Being, Accor. “Our new offering in Bangkok is a perfect example of how we are meeting this need and delivering sustainable, approachable wellbeing concepts to visiting guests as well as local communities.”
Taking full advantage of the wonderful Fitness Centre, guests must make sure to factor in at least an hour every day to working out on the David Health Solution System machines, designed to aid spine and orthopaedic recovery. The outdoor pool surrounded by thick vegetation that drown out all ambient noises from outside makes it almost impossible to believe that one is truly in the heart of chaotic Bangkok.
Healthy Bites!
At the resort, international dining tastes are fully catered to at a range of venues and all in-keeping with the resort’s wellness leitmotif. So, one can dine at the Tamarind all-day dining restaurant offering healthy and organic produce, generous breakfast buffets and themed buffet dinners. The Rim Klong Café serves famed Mövenpick coffees and ice creams, international breads and pastries, including gluten-free options, healthy mocktails, slow-juice selections, tea-infusions and nutritious boosters. It is a great place to simply unwind.
The Sala pool bar is perfect for refreshments of local and imported beers, fresh smoothies and original cocktails under cooling tree shade. For live music, soothing daytime tunes or an evening aperitif, head to the Cinnamon Lobby Bar. Serving juices and coffees and with a complimentary chocolate hour for guests, it’s a daytime family favourite.
Fact File
Getting There
There are a number of daily direct flights from most major Indian cities to Bangkok. The easy to procure Thai visa can either be obtained in advance online or at the various Thailand consular missions across India or on arrival (free till 30th April 2020) at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Stay
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok, 2 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Telephone: +66 (2) 666 3333, E-mail: resort.bdms.sales@movenpick.com
www. movenpick.com
Things to do
The resort’s city center location places guests at the heart of shopping and entertainment with a host of things to see and do:
* The Ratchaprasong retail district is packed with designer boutiques and shopping centres.
* The nearby Erawan Shrine is a serene place of pilgrimage for many Asian travellers just five minutes away.
* The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, opposite the MBK Mall, offers quiet galleries of ancient and contemporary art as a refreshing respite from the bustling markets.
* The city’s famed nightlife welcomes visitors just ten minutes from the hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 11 and Soi 8.
By Raul Dias
A unique urban health retreat surrounded by 1.2 acres of lush greenery, the brand new Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok by the Accor Group of hotels is one of those ultra-rare properties in that it is a proper, full-fledged resort set in the buzzing center of Bangkok. A classically elegant retreat, the property stands below tree height, shaded by the canopy of the adjacent Nai Lert Park, famed as Bangkok’s only remaining private city center park.
Within the resort a refined, minimalistic décor meets every modern convenience to take your stress away, reflecting Mövenpick’s renowned commitment to genuine comforts delivered exceptionally well. “Bangkok is a bustling and vibrant metropolis that travellers from all over the world aspire to visit at least once in their lifetime. We are delighted to bring a hotel inspired by such a unique wellness concept into the heart of the city, where our guests can relax within lush green gardens whilst enjoying convenient access to the BDMS Wellness Clinic,” says Patrick Basset, Chief Operating Officer of Accor for Upper Southeast & Northeast Asia and the Maldives.
Urban Oasis
The one aspect of the resort’s setting that’s truly impressive is the range of accommodation options the resort has on offer. While the Deluxe Rooms extend 42 sqm of personalised comfort, the Executive Suite is a spacious 74 sqm with separate living rooms and bedrooms. However, irrespective of room category, each offers either city views across the capital, or serene garden views from their broad balconies. And yes, in-keeping with the Mövenpick’s wonderful world-wide policy of a free mini bar for the first day of one’s stay, here too one can enjoy a range of non-alcoholic beverages on the house.
And while the signature Wellness Suites are unique to the resort, encompassing 74 sqm of therapeutic comfort, the Presidential Suite and Royal Suite are the pinnacles of Mövenpick’s renowned standards of comfort and style, stretching across a mammoth 164 sqm with private entrances.
Perfect Blend
Speaking of wellness, the resort shares its property with the BDMS Wellness Clinic which is the latest of the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services group’s centres of medical excellence. It applies world leading therapies and technologies to treat an illness’ root cause in seven specialised clinics with individually trained nurses and administrators. “With travellers placing more value on health and wellness than ever before, we are very excited to bring this innovative new concept to the market. Increasingly, wellness is moving beyond the walls of the spa and fitness areas with guests also wanting greater access to personalised programming,” says Lindsay Madden-Nadeau, Director of Well-Being, Accor. “Our new offering in Bangkok is a perfect example of how we are meeting this need and delivering sustainable, approachable wellbeing concepts to visiting guests as well as local communities.”
Taking full advantage of the wonderful Fitness Centre, guests must make sure to factor in at least an hour every day to working out on the David Health Solution System machines, designed to aid spine and orthopaedic recovery. The outdoor pool surrounded by thick vegetation that drown out all ambient noises from outside makes it almost impossible to believe that one is truly in the heart of chaotic Bangkok.
Healthy Bites!
At the resort, international dining tastes are fully catered to at a range of venues and all in-keeping with the resort’s wellness leitmotif. So, one can dine at the Tamarind all-day dining restaurant offering healthy and organic produce, generous breakfast buffets and themed buffet dinners. The Rim Klong Café serves famed Mövenpick coffees and ice creams, international breads and pastries, including gluten-free options, healthy mocktails, slow-juice selections, tea-infusions and nutritious boosters. It is a great place to simply unwind.
The Sala pool bar is perfect for refreshments of local and imported beers, fresh smoothies and original cocktails under cooling tree shade. For live music, soothing daytime tunes or an evening aperitif, head to the Cinnamon Lobby Bar. Serving juices and coffees and with a complimentary chocolate hour for guests, it’s a daytime family favourite.
Fact File
Getting There
There are a number of daily direct flights from most major Indian cities to Bangkok. The easy to procure Thai visa can either be obtained in advance online or at the various Thailand consular missions across India or on arrival (free till 30th April 2020) at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Stay
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok, 2 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Telephone: +66 (2) 666 3333, E-mail: resort.bdms.sales@movenpick.com
www. movenpick.com
Things to do
The resort’s city center location places guests at the heart of shopping and entertainment with a host of things to see and do:
* The Ratchaprasong retail district is packed with designer boutiques and shopping centres.
* The nearby Erawan Shrine is a serene place of pilgrimage for many Asian travellers just five minutes away.
* The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, opposite the MBK Mall, offers quiet galleries of ancient and contemporary art as a refreshing respite from the bustling markets.
* The city’s famed nightlife welcomes visitors just ten minutes from the hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 11 and Soi 8.
(A differently edited version of this piece was first published in the January 2020 issue of The Week's Smart Life magazine)
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Urban Oasis
Set in the heart of downtown Bangkok, the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort is a fecund, tropical paradise with a lot on offer. Raul Dias checks in for some much-needed R&R!
By Raul Dias
A great fan of both my home city of Mumbai and that of my ‘adopted’ second home aka. Bangkok, I always find myself drawing several parallels between the two. Yes, both are equally chaotic, traffic-saturated and supremely exhausting! But both also have an indomitable spirit that cannot be defined or quantified. A spirit that keeps drawing me back to Bangkok’s urban charms time and again…
It is also a well-known fact that I will never refuse an opportunity to head to the Thai capital, even if it means a short, three-day trip. So, when I was very kindly invited to join in on GoAir’s inaugural daily, direct flight from Mumbai to Bangkok (check out our Travel Bytes section below for more details) on a trip they had jointly curated with AccorHotels to experience both the new flight as well as one Accor’s newest properties, the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok, I jumped at the opportunity.
Plush Living
A unique urban health retreat surrounded by 1.2 acres of lush greenery, the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok is one of those ultra-rare properties in that it is a proper, full-fledged resort set in the buzzing center of Bangkok. A classically elegant retreat, the property stands below tree height, shaded by the canopy of the adjacent Nai Lert Park, famed as Bangkok’s only remaining private city center park. Within the resort a refined, minimalistic décor meets every modern convenience to take your stress away, reflecting Mövenpick’s renowned commitment to genuine comforts delivered exceptionally well.
Another aspect of its setting that literally took my breath away was the range of accommodation options the resort has on offer. While the Deluxe Rooms extend 42 sqm of personalised comfort, the Executive Suite where I was staying is a spacious 74 sqm with separate living rooms and bedrooms. However, irrespective of room category, each offers either city views across the capital, or serene garden views from their broad balconies. And yes, in-keeping with the Mövenpick’s wonderful world-wide policy of a free mini bar for the first day of one’s stay, here too one can enjoy a range of non-alcoholic beverages on the house. I sure did!
And while the signature Wellness Suites are unique to the resort, encompassing 74 sqm of therapeutic comfort, the Presidential Suite and Royal Suite are the pinnacles of Mövenpick’s renowned standards of comfort and style, stretching across a mammoth 164 sqm with private entrances.
Where Serenity meets Bliss…
Speaking of wellness, the resort shares its property with the BDMS Wellness Clinic which is the latest of the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services group’s centres of medical excellence. It applies world leading therapies and technologies to treat an illness’ root cause in seven specialised clinics with individually trained nurses and administrators.
Taking full advantage of the wonderful Fitness Centre, I made sure to factor in at least an hour every day to working out on the David Health Solution System machines, designed to aid spine and orthopaedic recovery and thus perfect for my chronic lower back pain. The outdoor pool surrounded by thick vegetation that drown out all ambient noises from outside makes it almost impossible to believe that one is truly in the heart of chaotic Bangkok.
Sips and Bites
At the resort, international dining tastes are fully catered at a range of venues and all in-keeping with the resort’s wellness leitmotif. So, one can dine at the Tamarind all-day dining restaurant offering healthy and organic produce, generous breakfast buffets and themed buffet dinners. The Rim Klong Café serves famed Mövenpick coffees and ice creams, international breads and pastries, including gluten-free options, healthy mocktails, slow-juice selections, tea-infusions and nutritious boosters. It is a great place to simply unwind.
The Sala pool bar is perfect for refreshments of local and imported beers, fresh smoothies and original cocktails under cooling tree shade. For live music, soothing dayime tunes or an evening aperitif, head to the Cinnamon Lobby Bar. Serving juices and coffees and with a complimentary chocolate hour for guests, it’s a daytime family (and my personal!) favourite.
Things to do around the resort
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok’s city center location places guests at the heart of shopping and entertainment with a host of things to see and do:
* The Ratchaprasong retail district is packed with designer boutiques and shopping centres.
* The nearby Erawan Shrine is a serene place of pilgrimage for many Asian travellers just five minutes away.
* The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, opposite the MBK Mall, offers quiet galleries of ancient and contemporary art as a refreshing respite from the bustling markets.
* The city’s famed nightlife welcomes visitors just ten minutes from the hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 11 and Soi 8.
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok
2 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Telephone: +66 (2) 666 3333 | Fax: +66 (2) 666 3334
E-mail: resort.bdms.sales@movenpick.com
www. movenpick.com
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the 17th August 2019 issue of The Free Press Journal newspaper's Saturday Great Escapes section on page 21 https://www.freepressjournal.in/travel/this-bangkok-resort-is-a-tropical-paradise)
By Raul Dias
A great fan of both my home city of Mumbai and that of my ‘adopted’ second home aka. Bangkok, I always find myself drawing several parallels between the two. Yes, both are equally chaotic, traffic-saturated and supremely exhausting! But both also have an indomitable spirit that cannot be defined or quantified. A spirit that keeps drawing me back to Bangkok’s urban charms time and again…
It is also a well-known fact that I will never refuse an opportunity to head to the Thai capital, even if it means a short, three-day trip. So, when I was very kindly invited to join in on GoAir’s inaugural daily, direct flight from Mumbai to Bangkok (check out our Travel Bytes section below for more details) on a trip they had jointly curated with AccorHotels to experience both the new flight as well as one Accor’s newest properties, the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok, I jumped at the opportunity.
Plush Living
A unique urban health retreat surrounded by 1.2 acres of lush greenery, the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok is one of those ultra-rare properties in that it is a proper, full-fledged resort set in the buzzing center of Bangkok. A classically elegant retreat, the property stands below tree height, shaded by the canopy of the adjacent Nai Lert Park, famed as Bangkok’s only remaining private city center park. Within the resort a refined, minimalistic décor meets every modern convenience to take your stress away, reflecting Mövenpick’s renowned commitment to genuine comforts delivered exceptionally well.
Another aspect of its setting that literally took my breath away was the range of accommodation options the resort has on offer. While the Deluxe Rooms extend 42 sqm of personalised comfort, the Executive Suite where I was staying is a spacious 74 sqm with separate living rooms and bedrooms. However, irrespective of room category, each offers either city views across the capital, or serene garden views from their broad balconies. And yes, in-keeping with the Mövenpick’s wonderful world-wide policy of a free mini bar for the first day of one’s stay, here too one can enjoy a range of non-alcoholic beverages on the house. I sure did!
And while the signature Wellness Suites are unique to the resort, encompassing 74 sqm of therapeutic comfort, the Presidential Suite and Royal Suite are the pinnacles of Mövenpick’s renowned standards of comfort and style, stretching across a mammoth 164 sqm with private entrances.
Where Serenity meets Bliss…
Speaking of wellness, the resort shares its property with the BDMS Wellness Clinic which is the latest of the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services group’s centres of medical excellence. It applies world leading therapies and technologies to treat an illness’ root cause in seven specialised clinics with individually trained nurses and administrators.
Taking full advantage of the wonderful Fitness Centre, I made sure to factor in at least an hour every day to working out on the David Health Solution System machines, designed to aid spine and orthopaedic recovery and thus perfect for my chronic lower back pain. The outdoor pool surrounded by thick vegetation that drown out all ambient noises from outside makes it almost impossible to believe that one is truly in the heart of chaotic Bangkok.
Sips and Bites
At the resort, international dining tastes are fully catered at a range of venues and all in-keeping with the resort’s wellness leitmotif. So, one can dine at the Tamarind all-day dining restaurant offering healthy and organic produce, generous breakfast buffets and themed buffet dinners. The Rim Klong Café serves famed Mövenpick coffees and ice creams, international breads and pastries, including gluten-free options, healthy mocktails, slow-juice selections, tea-infusions and nutritious boosters. It is a great place to simply unwind.
The Sala pool bar is perfect for refreshments of local and imported beers, fresh smoothies and original cocktails under cooling tree shade. For live music, soothing dayime tunes or an evening aperitif, head to the Cinnamon Lobby Bar. Serving juices and coffees and with a complimentary chocolate hour for guests, it’s a daytime family (and my personal!) favourite.
Things to do around the resort
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok’s city center location places guests at the heart of shopping and entertainment with a host of things to see and do:
* The Ratchaprasong retail district is packed with designer boutiques and shopping centres.
* The nearby Erawan Shrine is a serene place of pilgrimage for many Asian travellers just five minutes away.
* The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, opposite the MBK Mall, offers quiet galleries of ancient and contemporary art as a refreshing respite from the bustling markets.
* The city’s famed nightlife welcomes visitors just ten minutes from the hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 11 and Soi 8.
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok
2 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Telephone: +66 (2) 666 3333 | Fax: +66 (2) 666 3334
E-mail: resort.bdms.sales@movenpick.com
www. movenpick.com
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the 17th August 2019 issue of The Free Press Journal newspaper's Saturday Great Escapes section on page 21 https://www.freepressjournal.in/travel/this-bangkok-resort-is-a-tropical-paradise)
Saturday, July 6, 2019
Starry, Starry Bites!
A food safari taking in Bangkok’s ultra-humble and low-key Michelin starred eateries is the perfect way to get a taste of the Thai capital.
By Raul Dias
‘Sister Mole’ seems a lot grumpier since the last time I saw her which was almost a year ago. Her trademark ski goggles—that have earned her the aforementioned moniker—shield 73-year-old Supinya Junsuta’s eyes that blaze with the same intensity as the flames that emanate from the propane-fueled stove she commands. Over this, she deftly coaxes together the egg and crab meat slurry in a huge wok filled with smoking oil. Legendary for its deep-fried crab omelet, her tiny street side, dinner-only stall Raan Jay Fai that’s located at Mahachai Road in the Phra Nakhon area of Bangkok is the only Thai street food eatery awarded 1-Michelin star. A feat that it accomplished in late 2017.
It was last year in August while tucking into a plate of the fluffy, generously ‘crabby’ omelet (800 Baht) and a side of her equally scrumptious jumbo prawn-redolent drunken noodles (400 Baht), that I got my very first taste of her edible brilliance. And that’s also perhaps why Junsuta—who’s known by all simply as ‘Jai Fai’—finds herself toplining the new Netflix show Street Food which is a spin off of the popular Chef’s Table series. This time too I find myself in culinary ecstasy as I wolf down my omelet, spiced with Jai Fai’s acerbic sarcasm as she smirks at my non-existent chopstick skills.
Mission Michelin
I’m on a mission on my current trip as I try to navigate my way through a handful of Bangkok’s 217 Michelin starred eateries that have more than a few things in common—from easy, no-reservations-needed access to that all-important factor being affordability. Speaking of which, the next day I find myself standing in line with my Thai friend Patchanee waiting for a table (that we end up sharing with a Taiwanese couple) at the iconic Go Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice on the busy Phetchaburi Road in Pratunam where a plate of khao man gai will set you back by a mere Rs 90 (40 Baht).
This signature chicken rice dish is a simple preparation of quivering, almost gelatinous slices of chicken breast meat set atop a bed of moist, garlic-flavoured rice and served with rounds of cucumber and a bowl of thin chicken broth. Started in 1960 as a nameless pushcart stall manned by a Hainanese immigrant to Bangkok, the brick and mortar eatery has today earned its first Michelin star. But that seems to have made scarce difference to the infamous brusque service. Though the serpentine lines for a table seem to say otherwise.
Meat Jaccuzi!
It’s very hard to miss the 1-Michelin starred Wattana Panich, which is where I find myself seated—amidst assorted restaurant detritus like sacks of onions and crates of beer—for an early dinner. And I’m not just alluding to the sweet Chinese spice mixture aroma that permeates almost the entire Ekkamai Soi 18 neighbourhood in Sukhumvit where this modest sized, old-school Chinese shophouse can be found. It is the sight of the almost pool sized, Jacuzzi-like cauldron of its famous kuay teow neua Thai beef noodle stew (100 Baht a bowl) that will serve as a shock to your senses.
Using a master stock that has been in the family for the last 70 years using unique Chinese ingredients like goji berries, and astragalus root along with the ubiquitous star anise and cinnamon, the dish can be customised to one’s taste. You could order a bowl of kuay teow neua stew with my favourite sen yai (thicker rice noodles) or sen mee (thin, almost vermicelli-like noodles), either with less broth or more for a soup-y consistency.
Hidden Gem
Ruean Panya is perhaps one of those few places that not many local Bangkok residents had ever heard of until a few months ago. It was only when the latest 2019 Michelin guide book to Bangkok bestowed upon it a single star did people sit up and notice this seafood haven. Located in the Bangkok suburb of Samut Sakhon, about an hour’s drive from the center of the city, this family run restaurant, expertly blends food and art—both of which will stun you silent.
Spread across a cluster of four quaint little cottages, the relaxed mood gives one the impression of dining at friends, while the painting-filled interiors add a gallery-like feel. Owner Pannee does all the cooking herself, which means that you can expect a hugely staggered meal service. But it is Pannee’s attention to detail and the complexity of flavours make her dishes like the sublime lhon pu mud crab dip (300 Baht) and the toasted giant prawns with salt (price varies as per catch) worth the wait and their weight in gold!
(A shorter, differently edited version of this article appeared in the 6th July 2019 issue of the Mint Lounge newspaper, India on page 16 https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/starry-starry-bites-1562408294747.html)
By Raul Dias
‘Sister Mole’ seems a lot grumpier since the last time I saw her which was almost a year ago. Her trademark ski goggles—that have earned her the aforementioned moniker—shield 73-year-old Supinya Junsuta’s eyes that blaze with the same intensity as the flames that emanate from the propane-fueled stove she commands. Over this, she deftly coaxes together the egg and crab meat slurry in a huge wok filled with smoking oil. Legendary for its deep-fried crab omelet, her tiny street side, dinner-only stall Raan Jay Fai that’s located at Mahachai Road in the Phra Nakhon area of Bangkok is the only Thai street food eatery awarded 1-Michelin star. A feat that it accomplished in late 2017.
It was last year in August while tucking into a plate of the fluffy, generously ‘crabby’ omelet (800 Baht) and a side of her equally scrumptious jumbo prawn-redolent drunken noodles (400 Baht), that I got my very first taste of her edible brilliance. And that’s also perhaps why Junsuta—who’s known by all simply as ‘Jai Fai’—finds herself toplining the new Netflix show Street Food which is a spin off of the popular Chef’s Table series. This time too I find myself in culinary ecstasy as I wolf down my omelet, spiced with Jai Fai’s acerbic sarcasm as she smirks at my non-existent chopstick skills.
Mission Michelin
I’m on a mission on my current trip as I try to navigate my way through a handful of Bangkok’s 217 Michelin starred eateries that have more than a few things in common—from easy, no-reservations-needed access to that all-important factor being affordability. Speaking of which, the next day I find myself standing in line with my Thai friend Patchanee waiting for a table (that we end up sharing with a Taiwanese couple) at the iconic Go Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice on the busy Phetchaburi Road in Pratunam where a plate of khao man gai will set you back by a mere Rs 90 (40 Baht).
This signature chicken rice dish is a simple preparation of quivering, almost gelatinous slices of chicken breast meat set atop a bed of moist, garlic-flavoured rice and served with rounds of cucumber and a bowl of thin chicken broth. Started in 1960 as a nameless pushcart stall manned by a Hainanese immigrant to Bangkok, the brick and mortar eatery has today earned its first Michelin star. But that seems to have made scarce difference to the infamous brusque service. Though the serpentine lines for a table seem to say otherwise.
Meat Jaccuzi!
It’s very hard to miss the 1-Michelin starred Wattana Panich, which is where I find myself seated—amidst assorted restaurant detritus like sacks of onions and crates of beer—for an early dinner. And I’m not just alluding to the sweet Chinese spice mixture aroma that permeates almost the entire Ekkamai Soi 18 neighbourhood in Sukhumvit where this modest sized, old-school Chinese shophouse can be found. It is the sight of the almost pool sized, Jacuzzi-like cauldron of its famous kuay teow neua Thai beef noodle stew (100 Baht a bowl) that will serve as a shock to your senses.
Using a master stock that has been in the family for the last 70 years using unique Chinese ingredients like goji berries, and astragalus root along with the ubiquitous star anise and cinnamon, the dish can be customised to one’s taste. You could order a bowl of kuay teow neua stew with my favourite sen yai (thicker rice noodles) or sen mee (thin, almost vermicelli-like noodles), either with less broth or more for a soup-y consistency.
Hidden Gem
Ruean Panya is perhaps one of those few places that not many local Bangkok residents had ever heard of until a few months ago. It was only when the latest 2019 Michelin guide book to Bangkok bestowed upon it a single star did people sit up and notice this seafood haven. Located in the Bangkok suburb of Samut Sakhon, about an hour’s drive from the center of the city, this family run restaurant, expertly blends food and art—both of which will stun you silent.
Spread across a cluster of four quaint little cottages, the relaxed mood gives one the impression of dining at friends, while the painting-filled interiors add a gallery-like feel. Owner Pannee does all the cooking herself, which means that you can expect a hugely staggered meal service. But it is Pannee’s attention to detail and the complexity of flavours make her dishes like the sublime lhon pu mud crab dip (300 Baht) and the toasted giant prawns with salt (price varies as per catch) worth the wait and their weight in gold!
(A shorter, differently edited version of this article appeared in the 6th July 2019 issue of the Mint Lounge newspaper, India on page 16 https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/starry-starry-bites-1562408294747.html)
Sunday, June 9, 2019
All ‘Thai’d Up!
The humble Thai street food staple of phad Thai—a dish
that evokes childhood memories of quotidian vacation gluttony—is actually neither
humble or even entirely Thai for that matter.
By Raul Dias
Like most of our mothers, mine loves to embarrass me
with her highly dramatised versions of stories from my growing years. But then
there is also one that is told in its purest, unexaggerated form. That’s the
one where she would leave a 10-year-old me at a Bangkok street food market (with
a couple of hundred Thai baht tucked into the pocket of my shorts) to eat my
way through the better part of an hour or so. Alone.
All this, while she shopped at the next-door kitchen supplies market for her food and confectionary business back home in Bombay. And mum recounts this particular one without an iota of shame or fear that she might very well be judged as a grossly negligent parent in retrospect by those who lend their ears to her “amusing tale of desertion”.
But for one perpetually-hungry, overweight boy, those bi-annual supply runs to Bangkok meant just one thing: a feeding frenzy like no other. Temporary abandonment be damned! One, where the humble stir-fried noodle dish of phad Thai took top billing, above all the other cuttlefish skewers, spicy fish cakes, crunchy papaya salads and other yummies that make up the smorgasbord of Bangkok’s famed street food.
All this, while she shopped at the next-door kitchen supplies market for her food and confectionary business back home in Bombay. And mum recounts this particular one without an iota of shame or fear that she might very well be judged as a grossly negligent parent in retrospect by those who lend their ears to her “amusing tale of desertion”.
But for one perpetually-hungry, overweight boy, those bi-annual supply runs to Bangkok meant just one thing: a feeding frenzy like no other. Temporary abandonment be damned! One, where the humble stir-fried noodle dish of phad Thai took top billing, above all the other cuttlefish skewers, spicy fish cakes, crunchy papaya salads and other yummies that make up the smorgasbord of Bangkok’s famed street food.
Noodle
Quest
Essentially a quick fix road-side snack made with opaque rice noodles, tofu, bean sprouts, peanuts, and egg, among other things, a good phad Thai, I learnt early on, will always have a taste that bears hints of that typically smoky, slightly caramelised flavour that is dubbed the “breath of the wok” or wok hei. All this is doused in the indispensable phad Thai sauce, where the tart tamarind pulp trumps its supporting acts of fish sauce (soy sauce for vegetarians) and palm sugar.
Everywhere we’d go in Thailand, I made sure to sample their version of phad Thai. Discovering that the fresh herb-centric north of the country threw in a hand full of the fragrant kaphrao or sweet basil. Or that banana blossoms were a particularly favourite ingredient in the phad Thai of Phuket along Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast.
Some of my best friends in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit neighbourhood where we’d stay were the phad Thai vendors who’d make sure to lovingly toss a couple of extra prawns onto my plate. I’d remember the area’s side streets—or soi as they are called in Thai—not by their numbers, but by the phad Thai carts that inhabited them. Such was my obsession with the dish.
Essentially a quick fix road-side snack made with opaque rice noodles, tofu, bean sprouts, peanuts, and egg, among other things, a good phad Thai, I learnt early on, will always have a taste that bears hints of that typically smoky, slightly caramelised flavour that is dubbed the “breath of the wok” or wok hei. All this is doused in the indispensable phad Thai sauce, where the tart tamarind pulp trumps its supporting acts of fish sauce (soy sauce for vegetarians) and palm sugar.
Everywhere we’d go in Thailand, I made sure to sample their version of phad Thai. Discovering that the fresh herb-centric north of the country threw in a hand full of the fragrant kaphrao or sweet basil. Or that banana blossoms were a particularly favourite ingredient in the phad Thai of Phuket along Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast.
Some of my best friends in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit neighbourhood where we’d stay were the phad Thai vendors who’d make sure to lovingly toss a couple of extra prawns onto my plate. I’d remember the area’s side streets—or soi as they are called in Thai—not by their numbers, but by the phad Thai carts that inhabited them. Such was my obsession with the dish.
Austere
Beginnings?
But despite its prima facie simplicity, phad Thai has a complex back story with a bifurcated culinary history to match. To begin with, there is nothing traditionally Thai about the dish. One school of thought believes that somewhere in the mid-19th century phad Thai evolved organically out of the Chinese immigrant stir-fried noodle dish of kway teow. Only here, Thai ingredients like tamarind, palm sugar, and bird-eye chilies substituted oyster sauce and Sichuan pepper.
Another, more widely believed theory is that post World War II, the then prime minister of Thailand Plaek Phibunsongkhram laid out an elaborate, well-crafted plan to create a dish that epitomised the new Thai identity. He also wanted to wean the population away from an exclusive diet of the expensive-to-grow rice, making them consume rice noodles instead that needed just 50% rice to be produced. And thus, phad Thai came to the fore, successfully becoming the de facto dish that defines Thai cuisine today.
But despite its prima facie simplicity, phad Thai has a complex back story with a bifurcated culinary history to match. To begin with, there is nothing traditionally Thai about the dish. One school of thought believes that somewhere in the mid-19th century phad Thai evolved organically out of the Chinese immigrant stir-fried noodle dish of kway teow. Only here, Thai ingredients like tamarind, palm sugar, and bird-eye chilies substituted oyster sauce and Sichuan pepper.
Another, more widely believed theory is that post World War II, the then prime minister of Thailand Plaek Phibunsongkhram laid out an elaborate, well-crafted plan to create a dish that epitomised the new Thai identity. He also wanted to wean the population away from an exclusive diet of the expensive-to-grow rice, making them consume rice noodles instead that needed just 50% rice to be produced. And thus, phad Thai came to the fore, successfully becoming the de facto dish that defines Thai cuisine today.
Iterations
Aplenty
Over the years that have seen me travel to Bangkok at an alarming rate for both work and pleasure, it has been this one dish that has consistently won me over with its wholesome appeal and not to mention, startling ubiquity. There’s probably ne’er a street corner in downtown Bangkok that doesn’t have at least one food cart vendor hawking an iteration of phad Thai. From ones with seafood, to others that revel in their porcine umami-ness, there’s a phad Thai to suit all tastes.
On a recent trip to the Thai capital, I found myself chowing down on a bowl of phad Thai made with the latest international ‘noodle’ sensation, that isn’t even a noodle! Yes, the ‘paleo phad Thai’ is all the rage these days in Bangkok, where the traditional rice noodle find itself replaced by the ‘zoodle’ which is the hipster-chic name for the spirals made from zucchinis. Back home in Mumbai, a rather brutal phad Thai-related salvo was fired at me the other day when I sat down to review a health food café that had on its menu a phad Thai made with tender coconut strips.
I wonder what would my 10-year-old self make of that?
Over the years that have seen me travel to Bangkok at an alarming rate for both work and pleasure, it has been this one dish that has consistently won me over with its wholesome appeal and not to mention, startling ubiquity. There’s probably ne’er a street corner in downtown Bangkok that doesn’t have at least one food cart vendor hawking an iteration of phad Thai. From ones with seafood, to others that revel in their porcine umami-ness, there’s a phad Thai to suit all tastes.
On a recent trip to the Thai capital, I found myself chowing down on a bowl of phad Thai made with the latest international ‘noodle’ sensation, that isn’t even a noodle! Yes, the ‘paleo phad Thai’ is all the rage these days in Bangkok, where the traditional rice noodle find itself replaced by the ‘zoodle’ which is the hipster-chic name for the spirals made from zucchinis. Back home in Mumbai, a rather brutal phad Thai-related salvo was fired at me the other day when I sat down to review a health food café that had on its menu a phad Thai made with tender coconut strips.
I wonder what would my 10-year-old self make of that?
SUNDAY RECIPE
Veg Phad Thai
Veg Phad Thai
INGREDIENTS:
Medium-sized rice noodles 100 gms
Vegetable oil 3 tbsp
Chopped shallots 1 tsp
Chili flakes 1 tsp
Firm tofu (soy bean curd) cubes 10 gms
Egg 1
Spring onion (cut in 1-inch batons) 50 gms
Bean sprouts ¼ cup
Crushed roasted peanuts 2 tbsp
Lime wedge 1
Medium-sized rice noodles 100 gms
Vegetable oil 3 tbsp
Chopped shallots 1 tsp
Chili flakes 1 tsp
Firm tofu (soy bean curd) cubes 10 gms
Egg 1
Spring onion (cut in 1-inch batons) 50 gms
Bean sprouts ¼ cup
Crushed roasted peanuts 2 tbsp
Lime wedge 1
(for phad Thai sauce, mix together)
Dark soy sauce 1 tbsp
Palm sugar or yellow jaggery 1 tbsp
Tamarind pulp 1 tbsp
Dark soy sauce 1 tbsp
Palm sugar or yellow jaggery 1 tbsp
Tamarind pulp 1 tbsp
METHOD:
1. Soak the rice noodles in cold water for 3-5 minutes until soft, then drain and set aside.
2. Heat the oil in a wok over medium heat and stir fry the shallots and a pinch of the chili flakes until fragrant and a little brown.
3. Add the tofu, mix well and set to one side of the wok (add a few prawns for a seafood version).
4. Add the rice noodles and phad Thai sauce and toss well with the tofu-shallot mixture.
5. Break in the egg, stir well until done and mix with the noodles. Then throw in the spring onion batons and bean sprouts.
6. Cook for a minute and then transfer to a serving dish, garnishing the phad Thai with the roasted, crushed peanuts, the remaining chili flakes and a wedge of lime on the side.
1. Soak the rice noodles in cold water for 3-5 minutes until soft, then drain and set aside.
2. Heat the oil in a wok over medium heat and stir fry the shallots and a pinch of the chili flakes until fragrant and a little brown.
3. Add the tofu, mix well and set to one side of the wok (add a few prawns for a seafood version).
4. Add the rice noodles and phad Thai sauce and toss well with the tofu-shallot mixture.
5. Break in the egg, stir well until done and mix with the noodles. Then throw in the spring onion batons and bean sprouts.
6. Cook for a minute and then transfer to a serving dish, garnishing the phad Thai with the roasted, crushed peanuts, the remaining chili flakes and a wedge of lime on the side.
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the 9th June 2019 issue of The Hindu newspaper's Sunday Magazine section on pages 26-27 https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/thai-streetfood-the-breath-of-the-wok/article27618910.ece?fbclid=IwAR3g04yvUI1oNBzCTY_g0XqTn7DG44h4hd6c1Yj-0IppETmuDHDt3nSGd20)
Thursday, May 3, 2018
Thai Yourself Up!
A perfect marriage of sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy flavours, Thai food has been basking in its much-deserved worldwide popularity for the last decade or so. So, why not immerse yourself in the wonders of this beloved cuisine, by signing up for a cookery class at these five top culinary schools on your next Bangkok jaunt?
By Raul Dias
Blue Elephant Cooking School
Run by the indomitable mother-daughter team of Chef Nooror Steppe and Sandra Steppe, the
Blue Elephant Cooking School was established in the year 2000 at the historic Old Thai
Chine Building. All cookery classes at the school start with a guided visit to the local
morning market to purchase the ingredients that you’ll need for the class. This is followed by
a hands-on instructor-led class, ending with eating the meal cooked by you at the onsite
restaurant of the same name. From learning the secrets of ancient royal Thai cuisine to the
more contemporary fusion style, there’s something for everyone here. And for those with a
yen for leaning the intricate art of vegetable and fruit carving, the school also has a special
carving class to add on to your time table once you’re done with the cookery component.
233 South Sathorn Road, Kwaeng Yannawa,
Khet Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
+66 (2) 6739353-8
blueelephantcookingschool.com
Chef Leez Thai Cooking Class
Though this cookery school was established only in 2011, what’s better than learning home-
style Thai cooking from someone who has been cooking since the age of five? Yes, the multi-
lingual Chef Leez has culled recipes from her grandmother’s restaurant repertoire and curated
an exhaustive list of dishes that include everything from starters and curries to salads and
desserts. This means that you can pick a whopping 12 family recipes from the list to learn in
a single class. What makes Chef Leez’s classes most interesting is the fact that she even
caters to the needs of vegans, vegetarians, those with allergies and even children. Known for
her very precise instructions and fun approach to cookery, the journey chez Chef Leez
doesn’t end once you’re done with your day of class. All alumni members have unlimited
access to her online recipe book that also has videos and additional tips to get you going.
4/1206 Seri Thai 57 Alley,
Khet Bueng Kum, Bangkok 10230
+66 865681311
chefleez.com
Silom Thai Cooking School
One of the most basic, yet authentic schools on our list, the Silom Thai Cooking School is for
the serious learner. With an outdoor kitchen, the classes at this cooking school are held only
in the mornings, following a dawn market visit to procure fresh ingredients. Also, the focus here is on small numbers. Preferring to limit their classes to just eight students at a time, in order that each one gets enough one-on- one time with the instructors. This is one school that believes in doing everything from scratch which means, detailed instructions on the cooking techniques, ingredients and utensils used. Here, even the curry pastes are prepared fresh by the students themselves. And while all the herbs used are freshly picked, only whole spices go into the dishes rather than packaged ones. Once done, students and instructors sit down to a home-style, five-course meal in the school’s beautifully appointed traditional Thai garden.
68 Waiti, Khwaeng Silom,
Khet Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
+66 847265669
bangkokthaicooking.com
Baipai Thai Cooking School
Though a good half hour out of Downtown Bangkok, near the weekend shopping wonderland
called Chatuchak Market, this school is located in a paradisiacal setting of a traditional two-
storied Thai wooden house in a lush garden. All this making for a great day trip out of the
city for a spot of culinary education Thai Style! Established in 2002, the Baipai Thai Cooking
School offers a mind-boggling array of cookery classes that range from private classes to
team building classes to the very popular and much recommended half day classes.
Accredited by the Ministry of Education of Thailand, the focus at Baipai is very much on the
food, its preparation and presentation—all in an ideal home-style learning environment. In
fact, the food and cooking techniques here are so authentic, that it’s not surprising to see local
Thai food professionals come here to further hone their skills.
8/91 Ngam Wongwan Road, Soi 54,
Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
+66 896606535
baipai.com
May Kaidee
Ignore the incessant din of the backpacker-infested Khao San Road nearby and immerse
yourselves in all things delectable and Thai at this cute little cookery school located slap bang
in the heart of the city. Akin to a rarer than rare find in a city obsessed with meat, this school
that was established 30 years ago in 1988 is an all vegetarian affair, folks! Yes, recipes taught
here substitute non-vegetarian staples like the unavoidable fish sauce with a fermented soy
sauce etc. Catering to beginners and experienced chefs alike, the most popular Thai cooking
class is the half day program beginning at 9am in the morning and again at 2pm in the
afternoon. But for those with limited time, the school offers an express cookery class of just
two hours. Taught at 3pm and 5pm daily, you will learn to whip up three recipes and a
dessert. Taking the whole vegan thing a notch higher is the unique one-day introduction to
raw vegan Thai recipes class. Fancy a raw Thai ice cream sandwich, anyone?
59 Tanao Road, Watsamphraya,
Phranakorn, Bangkok 10200
+66 (2) 6294413
maykaidee.com
The Essential Thai Larder
No self-respecting Thai recipe would be complete without a pinch here, a dash there and a
generous splodge of at least one of these five larder staples:
1. Nam pla or fish sauce- This amber-hued nectar that’s made from fermented, salted
anchovies serves a dual purpose of not only imparting to the dish a delicate fishy hint,
but also steps in as the de facto salting ingredient, thus eliminating the need to add
any salt whatsoever to the dish.
2. Palm sugar- Used in lieu of sugar for thousands of years in Thailand, the almost
caramel-tasting palm sugar isn’t just limited to the making of khanom or Thai sweets,
but also finds itself generously used in curries, and stir fry dishes like pad thai and as
a dressing for salads like larb.
3. Curry paste- Be it the mild yellow, the deceptively hot green or the medium hot red
varieties, curry pastes are the lynchpin of Thai cuisine. An amalgamation of
lemongrass, chilli, galangal, sweet basil, kaffir lime leaves and garlic, curry pastes can
be found in fish cakes, soups and the ubiquitous plethora of curries, of course.
4. Coconut- Milk, cream, flesh, desiccated, juice—the coconut in all its wondrous forms
is a crucial element of Thai cuisine and there’s probably ne’er a day in the life of a
Thai cook when they won’t encounter the coconut.
5. Rice- After India, Thailand is perhaps one of the only countries in the world that
offers such a mind-boggling variety of rice. From the perfumed jasmine rice and the
gooey wonders of sticky rice to the nutty flavour of black rice, this grain is a much-
revered staple. And rightly so!
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the May 2018 issue of Jetwings Domestic in-flight magazine of Jet Airways http://www.jetairways.com/EN/IN/jetexperience/magazines.aspx)
By Raul Dias
Blue Elephant Cooking School
Run by the indomitable mother-daughter team of Chef Nooror Steppe and Sandra Steppe, the
Blue Elephant Cooking School was established in the year 2000 at the historic Old Thai
Chine Building. All cookery classes at the school start with a guided visit to the local
morning market to purchase the ingredients that you’ll need for the class. This is followed by
a hands-on instructor-led class, ending with eating the meal cooked by you at the onsite
restaurant of the same name. From learning the secrets of ancient royal Thai cuisine to the
more contemporary fusion style, there’s something for everyone here. And for those with a
yen for leaning the intricate art of vegetable and fruit carving, the school also has a special
carving class to add on to your time table once you’re done with the cookery component.
233 South Sathorn Road, Kwaeng Yannawa,
Khet Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
+66 (2) 6739353-8
blueelephantcookingschool.com
Chef Leez Thai Cooking Class
Though this cookery school was established only in 2011, what’s better than learning home-
style Thai cooking from someone who has been cooking since the age of five? Yes, the multi-
lingual Chef Leez has culled recipes from her grandmother’s restaurant repertoire and curated
an exhaustive list of dishes that include everything from starters and curries to salads and
desserts. This means that you can pick a whopping 12 family recipes from the list to learn in
a single class. What makes Chef Leez’s classes most interesting is the fact that she even
caters to the needs of vegans, vegetarians, those with allergies and even children. Known for
her very precise instructions and fun approach to cookery, the journey chez Chef Leez
doesn’t end once you’re done with your day of class. All alumni members have unlimited
access to her online recipe book that also has videos and additional tips to get you going.
4/1206 Seri Thai 57 Alley,
Khet Bueng Kum, Bangkok 10230
+66 865681311
chefleez.com
Silom Thai Cooking School
One of the most basic, yet authentic schools on our list, the Silom Thai Cooking School is for
the serious learner. With an outdoor kitchen, the classes at this cooking school are held only
in the mornings, following a dawn market visit to procure fresh ingredients. Also, the focus here is on small numbers. Preferring to limit their classes to just eight students at a time, in order that each one gets enough one-on- one time with the instructors. This is one school that believes in doing everything from scratch which means, detailed instructions on the cooking techniques, ingredients and utensils used. Here, even the curry pastes are prepared fresh by the students themselves. And while all the herbs used are freshly picked, only whole spices go into the dishes rather than packaged ones. Once done, students and instructors sit down to a home-style, five-course meal in the school’s beautifully appointed traditional Thai garden.
68 Waiti, Khwaeng Silom,
Khet Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
+66 847265669
bangkokthaicooking.com
Baipai Thai Cooking School
Though a good half hour out of Downtown Bangkok, near the weekend shopping wonderland
called Chatuchak Market, this school is located in a paradisiacal setting of a traditional two-
storied Thai wooden house in a lush garden. All this making for a great day trip out of the
city for a spot of culinary education Thai Style! Established in 2002, the Baipai Thai Cooking
School offers a mind-boggling array of cookery classes that range from private classes to
team building classes to the very popular and much recommended half day classes.
Accredited by the Ministry of Education of Thailand, the focus at Baipai is very much on the
food, its preparation and presentation—all in an ideal home-style learning environment. In
fact, the food and cooking techniques here are so authentic, that it’s not surprising to see local
Thai food professionals come here to further hone their skills.
8/91 Ngam Wongwan Road, Soi 54,
Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
+66 896606535
baipai.com
May Kaidee
Ignore the incessant din of the backpacker-infested Khao San Road nearby and immerse
yourselves in all things delectable and Thai at this cute little cookery school located slap bang
in the heart of the city. Akin to a rarer than rare find in a city obsessed with meat, this school
that was established 30 years ago in 1988 is an all vegetarian affair, folks! Yes, recipes taught
here substitute non-vegetarian staples like the unavoidable fish sauce with a fermented soy
sauce etc. Catering to beginners and experienced chefs alike, the most popular Thai cooking
class is the half day program beginning at 9am in the morning and again at 2pm in the
afternoon. But for those with limited time, the school offers an express cookery class of just
two hours. Taught at 3pm and 5pm daily, you will learn to whip up three recipes and a
dessert. Taking the whole vegan thing a notch higher is the unique one-day introduction to
raw vegan Thai recipes class. Fancy a raw Thai ice cream sandwich, anyone?
59 Tanao Road, Watsamphraya,
Phranakorn, Bangkok 10200
+66 (2) 6294413
maykaidee.com
The Essential Thai Larder
No self-respecting Thai recipe would be complete without a pinch here, a dash there and a
generous splodge of at least one of these five larder staples:
1. Nam pla or fish sauce- This amber-hued nectar that’s made from fermented, salted
anchovies serves a dual purpose of not only imparting to the dish a delicate fishy hint,
but also steps in as the de facto salting ingredient, thus eliminating the need to add
any salt whatsoever to the dish.
2. Palm sugar- Used in lieu of sugar for thousands of years in Thailand, the almost
caramel-tasting palm sugar isn’t just limited to the making of khanom or Thai sweets,
but also finds itself generously used in curries, and stir fry dishes like pad thai and as
a dressing for salads like larb.
3. Curry paste- Be it the mild yellow, the deceptively hot green or the medium hot red
varieties, curry pastes are the lynchpin of Thai cuisine. An amalgamation of
lemongrass, chilli, galangal, sweet basil, kaffir lime leaves and garlic, curry pastes can
be found in fish cakes, soups and the ubiquitous plethora of curries, of course.
4. Coconut- Milk, cream, flesh, desiccated, juice—the coconut in all its wondrous forms
is a crucial element of Thai cuisine and there’s probably ne’er a day in the life of a
Thai cook when they won’t encounter the coconut.
5. Rice- After India, Thailand is perhaps one of the only countries in the world that
offers such a mind-boggling variety of rice. From the perfumed jasmine rice and the
gooey wonders of sticky rice to the nutty flavour of black rice, this grain is a much-
revered staple. And rightly so!
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the May 2018 issue of Jetwings Domestic in-flight magazine of Jet Airways http://www.jetairways.com/EN/IN/jetexperience/magazines.aspx)
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