Everybody knows the famous food of Thailand, which is a mix of spicy and sour tastes. Thailand is divided into four main area : North, Northeast, Central, South. Each area has its own culinary specialities.
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Rice is the basic aliment in Thailand. Rice
is eaten with most dishes. The word "to eat" in Thai language is
"KIN KHAO" (กินข้าว), which means "to eat
rice".
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| Grilled chicken |
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There are different types of rice. The steamed rice is called "KHAO SUEY" (ข้าวสวย). One of the most famous is sticky rice ("KHAO NIO" - ข้าวเหนียว) from "ISAN" area (อีสาน - northeastern part of Thailand). Thai people eat it with hands by making small balls. Central plains people often say that "Eating sticky rice make you lazy" so that's why before "ISAN" people have the wrong reputation of being lazy. Nowadays central plains people also like eating sticky rice. With migration of many workers to Bangkok, recipes from different regions of Thailand has come to the capital.
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Some famous Isan dishes include the spicy salad
("SOMTAM" - ส้มตำ - on top right), the grilled
chicken ("KAI YANG" - ไก่ย่าง - in the middle),
the sticky rice ("KHAO NIAW" - ข้าวเหนียว - on top left),
the beef salad ("NEUA NAM TOK" - เนื้อน้ำ่ตก - on bottom).
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| Delicious Isan food |
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During a Thai meal, all the food is served together. No entrée, main dish and dessert like in westerner countries. Meals are eaten together and shared. In most cases, Thai people don't eat dessert. Dessert (fruits, cakes) are eaten when going out for a walk. All food in the plate shall be eaten. Thai people don't like to waste food, especially rice.
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Thai food is famous for its small pimento
("PHRIK KHI NOO" - พริกขี้หนู).
Some are red, green and most of times pimento are cut in slices.
Most people think
they can get rid of the "spicy" taste by drinking water. That is false.
A good way is to eat rice.
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| Pimento |
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Thai people like to speak about food, about next meal. The sentence กินข้าวแล้วหรือยัง ("Have you already eaten ?") is same as "How are you ?" in everyday speech and is often used to start a conversation.
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In Thai markets,
meat is often sold in the open air. No refrigeration. Sometimes the vendor
moves a small broom to frighten the fly. But there is no problem
because meat is boiled and used in some meals like soup noodles.
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| Meat |
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Fishes are also sold in open air. No ice to refrigerate them.
The weather is so hot! Anyway fishes are always fresh. Fishes stay
in a bowl filled with water before being killed.
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| Fish |
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In "ISAN" area
markets, it is possible to eat bugs like scorpions, grasshoppers, larva,
beetles and even sometimes dogs. These days, farmers are making more by harvesting lice than
rice.
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| Bugs |
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Now Bangkok residents also appreciate eating bugs.
Canned grasshoppers, locusts, water
beetles, crickets, silkworm pupae and ant eggs are available at
the supermarket. Bangkok residents think of bugs as a healthy, low-calorie treat.
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| Bugs |
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Many people buy meals in the markets such as soup,
curry dish, grilled meat and eat at home.
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| Soup |
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All famous vegetables, i.e coriander
("PHAK CHI" - ผักชี),
ginger ("KING" - ขิง),
galingale ("KA" - ข่า),
green lemons ("MANAO" - มะหนาว)
that highlights the Thai taste
can be bought in markets.
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| Vegetables |
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Meat dried in the sun
("NEUA DET DIAW" - เนื้อแดดเดียว)
and ("SAI KROK" - ใส้กรอก)
are famous in Isan area.
Dog meat is popular in some towns of Northeast area, especially in
Sakhon Nakhon.
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| Meat |
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Flowers are also sold on local markets for people willing to go to
Buddhist temples and offer flowers to Lord Buddha.
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| Flowers |
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