While Asia and the Far East have so much going for it in terms of food, if you’re looking for an authentic approach to exploring a country purely by its food, you’ve got to give Thailand its credit.
While places like Singapore have provided Chinese food to the masses, Thai food is still the unsung hero of Asian cuisine. And if you’re going on vacation, Thailand can give you a great opportunity to explore the country through its food.
With this in mind, what sort of foods are you in for, and where should you go?
The North
Because Thailand has five primary culinary regions and each one has its own style of cooking based on the available ingredients in that area, you’ll find a smorgasbord of taste.
You can head to the north if you are a vegetarian or vegan. And in northern Thailand, a great northern curry is the Thai jungle curry. A lot of places have spice, but there’s still an abundance of raw vegetables in play. If you’re looking for a healthy crunch to your food, with a little bit of spice, head to Chiang Mai.
The Northeast
As the northeast is the poorest region, there aren’t as many readily available foods, like coconut milk. But there’s a lot of beef, as well as chicken and pork. Curries are another dish in abundance here, but you’l also eat a lot of sticky rice. But the dish to try here is the green papaya salad {shown below}.
The Central Plains
This region is famous for Pad Thai, which is a mainstay of many restaurants these days! If you’re looking for different rice and noodle dishes with an abundance of fragrance, you won’t be disappointed!
Bangkok
Bangkok is the biggest region, and it’s been said that there are more food establishments per square mile than anywhere else on the planet! If you’re looking for a place to go and experience culture alongside the food, you can’t get better than Bangkok!
I loved watching Chrissy Teigen devour the boat noodles when she visited Bangkok on The Getaway, on Esquire Network.
You can head to the more tourist-friendly regions. If you want to stay in one of the hotels set up by Kurt Svendheim, Pattaya provides an abundance of accommodations. Also, the sheer scale of tourist attractions and food will mean you’ll have a very full belly! There’s a lot of street food, and Thai home cooking is a very refined approach that needs to be witnessed on one of the many food vendors you’re sure to bump into.
But while spice is the main flavor, in Bangkok, there are plenty of great desserts. Sweet blackened jelly, made from the brown hair on the outside of the coconuts, highlights the unique approach to desserts there.
The South
As fishing is the major industry in Thailand, especially in the southern region, there are plenty of fish dishes. There are also plenty of coconut milk assorted curries. And if you’re up for a delicious dessert, there’s plenty of fresh tropical fruit to go around.
The many famous islands here, such as Phuket, provides plenty of culinary excursions, but also has many tourist attractions. Phi Phi Island is more known for being the main attraction in the The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, but don’t let this put you off! It’s a beautiful sight, and naturally, there’s plenty of beautiful food.
So Many Tasty Spots on the Map!
Thailand may be known for its opulent royal palaces and tropical beaches, but don’t forget that there are so many tasty spots on the map when visiting this Southeast Asian country. You won’t be disappointed.
Yours Truly,
Vanessa
{Featured Image borrowed from 500px.}