Thai Food In Chiang Mai
Unique, memorable and highly enjoyable, Thai food is verymuch a reflection of Thailand itself. Thai food is an expression of the values of Thai culture: tradition, family and enjoyment. The intricate flavours of Thai food have become rightly popular around the world and the chance to sample this delectable cuisine is one of the main draws for many visitors to the Kingdom. Although the enterprising Thai people have brought their cuisine to the four corners of the earth, there is still no better place to sample the diversity and deliciousness of Thai food.
When you eat food With Thais in a restaurant they will ask you if you want to eat "Thai Style" or "Western Style". Western style would be where you order your own dish and eat it. Thai style is where they order several dishes and everyone shares the food and eats it on their own separate plate. A typical Thai meal would include soup to start and appetizers and the main meal followed up by some fresh fruit at the end. The portions on each of these will be small since Thais do not generally sit down to three main meals during the day, they will eat some at meal time but will also snack during the day and during the evening, in fact Thais love to eat! Thais also love to share their food with everyone around them, that is Thai style. The Thai food from the central part of the country (Issaan) is generally street fare and VERY spicy. Foods include "somtam" and "papaya salad", this food is not for those without very strong stomachs. Issaan food will usually not be sold in Thai Restaurants and is usually sold by street vendors. Southern Thai food has curries and other spices and is more influenced by Malaysia. Northern Thai food (lanna cuisine) is also subtly different than traditional Thai Food. Traditional Thai Food is more similar to the food you will find outside of the country, minus some of the cheaper noodles (pad thai).Any meal in Thailand will include White Rice or Jasmine Rice. In fact the Thai word for eating (ghin khao) is literally translated as "eat rice". Thai food will have a heavy emphasis on fish and vegetables, there are dishes with meat and chicken also but the Thai diet will usually involve lots of seafood and rice. One good thing about ordering Thai food in Thailand is that you can usually order anything you want in any restaurant. If the food that you want or like is not on the menu, just ask the waiter if they can make it. You will be surprised how many Thai Restaurants are flexible in making things not listed on the menu. |
Chiang Mai Food and Northern Thai Food
At its most basic, Thai food consists of meat and vegetables in some kind of sauce served over rice. From this simple formula a seemingly endless combination of foods is derived. The four basic flavours of Thai food are sweet, sour, creamy and salty with plenty of spice on top. The secret to Thai food is finding the right balance between these four flavours and then making the whole thing as hot as you can stand.
Thais love their condiments and no Thai restaurant is complete without the standard array of four on every table. The four Thai condiments that every visitor learns to know and love are sugar, salty Nam Pla (fish sauce), spicy Prik Pon (crushed chilli pepper), and a sour and spicy vinegar with chilli peppers. There is no right or wrong way to season your food as everyone's taste is a little different. If you feel completely lost simply turn to someone at the nearest table and ask for help. It's not considered rude and Thais are happy to help. In fact, don't be surprised if they invite you to join them for a meal.
Rice is proverbially the staple of all Asian cuisine and it is of vital importance to Thai food. Eating is never mentioned without assuming that rice is involved somehow. Whether it's been steamed, fried or pounded into noodles, if you're eating a Thai meal, there's most likely rice on your plate. Usually Thai meals will be accompanied by a plate or pot of kaao (steamed rice), over which the dishes are served. In the North, however, kaao niao (sticky rice) is more popular. Kaao Niao is rolled into a ball and eaten with the fingers, often with a dipping sauce.
Chiang Mai Specialties
The cuisine of Thailand varies greatly from region to region. Most of the better known Thai foods come from the central plains, the area that surrounds Bangkok. As with its art, language and heritage, Chiang Mai food is distinct from its cousins to the south and east. A much more pronounced influence from Burma and China is evident in northern cuisine, resulting in milder curries and the heavier use of ginger and turmeric
Khao Soi in Chiang Mai
The signature dish of Chiang Mai is undoubtedly Khao Soi, a mild yellow curry soup that is as much a symbol of the region as Doi Suthep. Khao Soi, usually made with gai (chicken), is a rich and savoury broth filled with soft thin noodles and topped with crunchy Chinese egg noodles that are crushed into the soup, providing a toothsome texture. Khao Soi is traditionally served with spring onions, pickled cabbage and slices of lime.
Traditionally all Thai food was eaten with the fingers and many northern specialties are still made to be eaten this way. Kanom Jeen Nam Ngeow is a popular dish that consists of small spaghetti-like noodles (the Kanom Jeen) served with fresh vegetables and a pork-tomato curry (Nam Ngeow). Kaeb Moo (pork rind) is often served with this and many other northern finger foods. Nam Prik On, too is an appetizer that originates from the north. Similar to Nam Ngeow, it is a curry sauce made from ground pork, tomatoes and vegetables. It is usually scooped up with Kanom Jeen or Kaeb Moo
Chiang Mai Sausages
Chiang Mai is the home of two distinctive styles of sausage: Naem and Sai-ua. Naem is hand rolled sausage with a strong garlic flavour. You can find it being roasted over an open fire on food carts across the city. For a steaming wake-up call try it with fresh chillies. Sai-ua is a pickled pork sausage made with chillies for an added kick. Either sausage is popular as a snack or an appetizer.
There are several curries and main dishes that are unique to the northern region, many of which made their way to Chiang Mai from Burma during the period when that nation occupied the northern city. Although the Burmese were driven off much of their culinary legacy remains. Northern curries tend to be much milder than their more southerly cousins. Gaeng Hang Lay is a popular dish made from pork, tamarind and turmeric. No chilli peppers in this recipe, so dig in. For maximum watering of the mouth enjoy it traditional style-a ball of sticky rice, meat and curry all in one bite.
Noodle in Chiang Mai
Noodles are a perennial favourite of the Thai menu and the national dish is Pat Thai, stir fried noodles with peanuts and shrimp, garnished with lime. Other popular noodle dishes are Pat Sii-Yew, wide rice noodles in soy sauce, and Pat Kii Mao or 'Drunken Noodles' which is a spicy dish of wide noodles with vegetables. Noodle soup is also very popular, and is eaten anytime of the day. Hot broth is served with a variety of different noodles and meats including several kinds of meatball.
Vegetarian Thai Food
Vegetarian Thai cooking that is authentic and delicious. These Thai vegetarian recipes have been especially chosen or developed with the discriminating vegetarian in mind. Try these real vegetarian thai recipes for all the taste, flavor, texture, and fragrance of authentic Thai food.
