The Culinary Delights of Thailand

I am back with another travel post that is all about the food.  I am slowly researching everywhere I want to travel on my bucket list, and sharing my discoveries with you.  Thailand seems so exotic…and that doesn’t stop at the food there!  So many flavors and delicacies that I can’t wait to try!

Thailand is a country sometimes known as a destination for young people taking that year off after graduating high school, to backpack around Asia.  But one of the greatest things about Thailand is the incredible food there.  The traditional Asian cuisine, blended with the western influence that has been introduced to the country by tourists, makes for some amazing dishes.  If you’re travelling to Asia and you’re a food lover, you absolutely have to go to Thailand.

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The best places to go are either Bangkok or Phuket.  Both have incredible street food to offer, so it depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for.  Bangkok is the vibrant capital of the country where you’ll find a bustling party atmosphere, but if you’re looking for something a little more relaxed, you might be better off staying at Marriott’s Mai Khao Beach in Phuket.  You’ll still find all of the same great culinary delights in Phuket, but you can relax on the beach and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.  Phuket is more my speed when I am on vacation mode!  But I will be sure to spend time visiting Bangkok when I go.  

The food!  That’s one of the main reasons why we travel, right?!  These are some of the best dishes to try when you’re in Thailand:

Tom Yung Goong  This incredible spicy shrimp soup is a blend of all of the classic Thai flavors. Fragrant lemongrass, lime leaves, hot chilli and fish sauce give this delicious soup a fiery kick and a deep flavor that will leave you wanting more.  It’s a very versatile dish and you’ll find it as a starter to a lot of meals you have over there. Everybody has their own unique take on the soup, and you can put all sorts of different ingredients in there.  It’s worth trying as many different versions as you can get your hands on to see what your favorite variety is.

Tom Kha Kai  If the Tom Yung Goong is a little too spicy for you, or you’re not really a big fish fan, the Tom Kha Kai might be a better fit for you.  It’s a delicious chicken soup made with coconut milk.  It still has all of the same classic Thai flavors (like lemongrass, chilli and lime leaves) but the coconut takes down the heat a little.  You’ll still get that characteristic fragrant Thai flavor without the kick of the chilli or the strong flavours of the shrimp and fish sauce.

Gaeng Daeng  This is the dish that you’re probably most familiar with at home.  If you have a favorite Thai restaurant you frequent, this dish is usually just called Thai red curry.  A delicious paste of chilli, ginger, garlic and lemongrass forms the base of the sauce, which is combined with coconut milk to make a delicious, creamy curry.  At home, it’s almost always made with chicken but over in Thailand, you’ll find all sorts of different versions made with different meats.  It’s a staple of their culinary tradition, and while you may have tried it before at home, you’re not likely to get one that is as good, or as an authentic, as the ones in Thailand.

These are just three of the incredible culinary delights that Thailand has to offer, but you’ll find amazing street food vendors on every corner, serving so many different kinds of amazing foods.  So get your passport out and book your flight, so you can travel to Thailand and try as many different dishes as you can.  It’s on my bucket list.  Is it on yours??

XOXO,

Kelly

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