Thai Food Koh Lanta
Thai Food Koh Lanta
AN OVERVIEW OF THAILAND’S CUISINE
Thai Food Koh Lanta
Thai Food Koh Lanta. You are falling in love…with the Thailand and the Thai people; and what better way to get to know someone than to share a meal. One of the strong suits of Thai people is their ability to absorb the influences of other cultures without losing their character. Nowhere is this skill more evident than in their cuisine.
Contrasting Flavors
Thai Food Koh Lanta
The Chinese influence is seen in the five flavors concept as stated in the ancient poem The Summons of the Soul, which extols the virtues of using contrasting flavors —bitter, salt, sour, spicy and sweet, harmoniously.
Many Thai dishes wed these seemingly contradictory flavors such as hot and sour in the favorite Tom Yum Gung (shrimp soup), or Som Tam (green papaya salad with chili, fish sauce and sugar). Indeed, the overall balance of a classic Thai meal strives to represent all five flavors in perfect accord.
Exotic Ingredients
India’s influence on the Thai table can be found in the ubiquitous satays and curries. Thais have made these dishes their own by adding the tropical essences of coconut milk, kaffir lime leaves, lemon grass and ginger to the aromatic spices of garam masala used in Indian versions.
The Thai people did not shy away from innovations in their inherently improvisational cuisine as Arab, Indian and finally European traders brought “exotic” ingredients such as coriander, coffee, and in 1511 the heat loving Thais readily adopted the wonderful “new fruit” – The chili.
What else can we learn about this gracious people from their food? Thai recipes are passed down by word of mouth and every cook is encouraged to improvise and make each cherished recipe their unique creation. With this approach they embody creativity and individuality while honoring tradition.
Thai Food Koh Lanta
Attention To Detail
There is no culture that pays more attention to the beauty of their food. Even the simplest salad is garnished with treasures; an intricately carved rose radish, melon lotuses and pineapple spires. This practice is not only about beauty but care, bestowed on simple everyday tasks.
The Thai philosophy, Sanook, translates to: the resolve to enjoy and seek joy in life, to enjoy every day existence. Dedication to this practice can be seen in their meals.
Thai Food Koh Lanta
A meal for guests will also have no less than three desserts, a gorgeously carved fruit platter, the sensory thrill of caramelized fried bananas plunged into ice water and cracked between the teeth, cooled with lush coconut cream tapioca. Your hosts will not measure this meal in serving sizes. They will serve and serve some more, and even prepare more dishes if need be, with genuine hospitality until everyone is satisfied.
This is what you will see in the Thai people at their tables: their regard for beauty and the rituals of everyday life, a profound understanding of how to please the senses, creative natures, and generous hearts. What more could one want in a romance?
