Chiang Mai cuisineOne of the best things about Thai cuisine in Chiang Mai is the abundance of snack foods sold by street vendors.
In the 1998 Farrelly brothers cult-classic film There's Something About Mary, Cameron Diaz (while eating a corn-dog), mentions to Ben Stiller that "there are not enough meats on sticks." The two continue their conversation by concocting visions of waffle ice cream cones filled with chopped liver. Well, you might not find the cone full of chopped liver, but if Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz had spent much time in Chiang Mai, they would have found a whole new world of "meats on sticks" to satisfy their appetite.
One can stroll through the market and find moo bing which is grilled pork. The pork is marinated is special sauces with spices and grilled over hot coals. These cost a mere five baht per stick. Eat them with sticky rice and you have a fantastic late afternoon snack. These same vendors will also most likely have skewered intestines, pig's heart, liver and kidneys.
GREAT CULTURE TREAT
The customs and traditions of Lanna kingdoms are still observed in the northern regions. In Chiangmai, the cultures of different peoples survive and continue to flourish despite the onset of modernity. If there is one common trait, it is the hospitality of everyone in the city.
Visitors will also discover that "Khantoke", or Northern Thai cuisine, is really something else. It is a mix of Thai and Burmese recipes handed down from generations, resulting in a unique style of dining that is still practiced up to today in the region.
"Khan" is the common word up north for bowl and "toke" means small. In essence, Khantoke literally is the tray used as a small dining table by Thais. Made of teak and quite common in Northern Thailand, it is often used during weddings, parties and other special occasions.
During celebrations, the food is placed on the Khantoke. They usually include fried chicken, burned pork, pork curry, fried cabbage, pork tomato-chili paste, fresh cucumbers, fried bananas, fired rice crispy and sticky rice that's served from small bamboo baskets.
In many restaurants and hotels, a Khantoke dinner is accompanied always by local delicacies and desserts. Cultural shows often held afterwards feature several dances like the candle dance, fingernail dance, sword dance, hilltribe dance, drum dance and traditional Ramwong. During a Khantoke dinner, everyone sits on the carpeted floor.
Thai desserts are said to reflect the three most important institutions in traditional Thai society -- home, temple and palace.
Every year, several celebrations are held to mark religious holidays and other important events. One of the most widely celebrated occasions worldwide is Christmas. Families gather
Houses are decorated with red and green paper, candles and other knickknacks. A tree is placed at a strategic location and decorated with small light bulbs and colored balls. Children eagerly await the arrival of Santa Claus.
In Thailand, families buy or make desserts to be given away as gifts to relatives and friends. Candies, cakes and cookies are just some of them. During the Yuletide holidays, every street corner has a vendor selling sweets.
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In the past, people made desserts only during traditional and religious festivals such as Songkran, New Year, Buddhist Lent, as well as during special events and gatherings such as marriages, birthdays and other celebrations. Thai desserts are said to reflect the three most important institutions in traditional Thai society -- home, temple and palace.
The art of making Thai desserts was started by ladies in the royal court, or "chao wang". At that time, everything had to be prepared meticulously. For this reason, noble young girls were sent to the court to learn the art of cooking, flower arrangement and needlework.
The main ingredients used to make Thai desserts include rice, cassava flour, sugar and coconut. Sometimes, nuts, sesame seeds and seasonal fruits are added for flavoring.
Soon after, Thais learned to incorporate Western tastes into their desserts, resulting in the creation of "thong yib" [sweet egg petals], "thong yod" [sweet egg drop], "foi thong" [sweet egg shred], "moh kaeng" [sweet pudding] and "thong muan" [crispy roll].
KHAO SOIIt is great for breakfast, lunch or snack
Northern Thailand is known for its dialect, slow pace, climate, geography and cuisine. And one popular noodle dish that really stands out is khao soi.
Consisting basically of wide egg noodles, corn flour, curry powder and spices, it is often served with meat, dumplings, meat balls or vegetables. A side of pickled vegetables, spring onions and lime are also part of the meal. While the dish in itself is not too spicy, those who want a little more bite should add nam prik or chili paste. It is considered standard fare in Chiangmai and in other northern provinces, and can be eaten for breakfast or lunch, or as a late afternoon snack.
Khao SoiOne restaurant that serves some of the best khao soi is located near the night bazaar at 24 Charoenprathet Road Soi 1. Khao Soi Islam, a family-owned establishment, uses only the freshest ingredients and homemade spices, including curry powder that's made fresh everyday.
Three common side dishes that go well with khao soi are sarabao, a steamed breaded dumpling; khanom jib, which is quite similar to dim sum; and satay, skewered chicken or beef with peanut sauce, pickled onions and cucumber. Try also khao mok gai, rice and chicken cooked in curry powder.
For inquiries, call 053-271484.
There's one restaurant where the menu includes not only Middle East food, but also Greek, Turkish and other Mediterranean delicacies.
Like every tourist town in Thailand, Chiangmai has a lot of restaurants that offer several kinds of cuisine, be it Indian, Italian or Chinese. Although most specialize in Thai and regional food, as well as seafood dishes, in general any foreigner will probably realize that there's at least one place that will have whatever he or she is looking for.
But there's one restaurant where the menu includes not only Middle East food, but also Greek, Turkish and other Mediterranean delicacies.
At Jerusalem Falafel, which has been in business for a decade, it's a must for guests to try a number of delicious treats that are unlikely to be found anywhere else in the country.
Start with the falafel platter that includes chick peas, hummus and fresh vegetables served with home-made pita bread. Then, there's meze, an appetizer that means "tasty morsels" in Greek. The meze plate can include baba ghanoush, a fabulous dip made of eggplant, garlic and olive oil; hummus, which consists of chick peas and garlic; and tzatziki, a yogurt sauce with cucumbers.
The restaurant also serves homemade feta, lebban and hamouli cheeses, salads, soups, chicken shawarma, fried schnitzel, grilled chicken breast and vegetarian dishes. It is open Saturday to Thursday from 9 a.m. - 11 p.m. and is located at 35/3 Mon Muang Road, just inside Tha Phea Gate.
Come of the most popular dishes are enchiladas, nachos and flautas.
One of the best attractions of Thailand is its cuisine. The combination of spicy, sweet and sour creates an incredible balance of flavors that can be sampled at every meal. While there's no doubt that Thai food is delicious, there comes a time when one desires something else. And fortunately, in Chiang Mai, there are several places that serve international cuisine.
A good alternative to Thai food that's also spicy and hot is Mexican food. Several dishes are based on rice and many recipes require the use of lime and cilantro, two common ingredients of most Thai dishes, the combination of which whets one's appetite even more.
Located in Chiang Mai are a number of Mexican restaurants where prices are reasonable and the atmosphere relaxing. One of them is El Toro Restaurant on Loi Kroh Road, which was originally a bar when it opened for business five years ago. As customers came, demand for food grew. Finally, after several months, the management decided it was time to learn the intricacies of cooking Mexican food. They began with a cookbook but eventually enlisted the services of a professional Mexican chef.
Some of the most popular dishes are enchiladas, nachos and flautas. Enchiladas are served with your choice of chicken or pork wrapped in a flour tortilla that is made more flavorful by cheese and special homemade enchilada sauce topped with cilantro. Nachos are smothered in cheese with jalapenos and refried beans. Served with fresh guacamole and salsa, they make a great appetizer. Flautas consist of corn tortillas wrapped with chicken or pork and cheese before being fried to perfection.
Other Mexican restaurants include The Art Cafe (opposite Thaphae Gate), The Apocalypse Cantina (Loi Kroh Road), The Chiang Mai Saloon (Loi Kroh Road) and The Drunken Flower (Nimmanhaemin Road Soi 1). The interiors of these restaurants are designed in the traditional Mexican way and diners will be serenaded by mariachi music.
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