Food: Thai and all things glorious

Having been back to Korea for a few days now, I thought it'd be about time I blogged about the trip to Bangkok. Not having any experience with the Thai culture and its culinary offerings, I did what made the most sense... I asked.

Eating Asia is a blog I read regularly, if not on a daily basis. Robyn has certainly done a tremendous job at documenting all foodstuffs that is Asian. Being enthusiastic as she is about food... I got me a 4-page email about things to eat.

The treasure hunt began on the afternoon I arrived, where I ventured down Wireless Road in search of some roast pork and Polo chicken. Instead, I was greeted by wisps of Pandan leaf sweetness, while exploring a little lane ~ Soi Polo (Polo Road), off Wireless. There she was, the little lady on the side of the road throwing bits of dough into boiling sweet water.

She was preparing Bua Loy ~ A dessert with boiled tri-colored dough, served in coconut milk, corn and yam chunks. I suppose the next closest thing, would be the Malaysian/Singaporean Bubur Caca.

*Cost: 18 Baht = USD$0.50

Soi Suan Phlu was my next destination. This is another diplomatic area where embassies, including that of Malaysia, reside. Further down the road, were two rows of shops running alongside the single carriageway road, with markets and places selling all kinds of goods and services. Just in front of the market, was where I found the Khanom Jeen curries that Robyn recommended to me.

Sure... adventurous Vincent definitely went for the fish INNARDS curry (Gaeng Tai Plaa) served with rice noodles and any choice of raw greens, fried fish cakes (Tawtman Plaa), and not so traditional Coke.

As much as I would like to claim to be macho... man was it spicy! But I enjoyed it, being that I have never tasted anything quite like it.

*Cost: 55 Baht = USD$1.40

Topping off the meal with dessert, I bought me a fried banana off the side of the road. What I was impressed with was the fact that the Thais really do pay so much attention to detail, even with the smallest thing such as a fried banana!

It's not any ol' friend banana, as it as encrusted in a layer of what I could only figure out to be yam (??), and fried to golden perfection.

*Cost: 50 Baht = USD$0.15

Life is good like that.

Unfortunately for me, after downing 3 dishes in a span of a mere few hours, I had no capacity for more food hunting. Thus I went in search of other things to see that night.

But that will be a story for tomorrow... :)