One of my few basic handy Thai phrases I learned helped save my taste buds from being scorched off most meals. ‘Mai ped!’, or ‘not spicy!’, is crucial for those like me not used to the heat in cooking Thais seem to be immune to. I felt like I had a pretty high heat tolerance, oh how I was wrong!
Despite the intense spice level at times, I had some incredible meals in Bangkok and Pattaya City with Nath and his parents. I think I was most surprised to learn how much of Thai cuisine is seafood-focused, and that my favorite dish of tofu peanut curry is not really Thai (or available anywhere) at all!
Unfortunately, I don’t have any delicious southern Thai cuisine photos from my time in the southern islands because I didn’t consume much food – 2 days of food poisoning helped my budget recover but put a halt to my adventures in eating. I’m not sure what exactly caused the GI distress, but I’ve heard it’s basically a rite of passage into extended travels in SE Asia to experience some sort of food poisoning. Here’s hoping it’s the last time I have to experience it.
I labeled as many photos as I could with Location (Restaurant name): Food Item. If you know the names of the dishes, help me out and comment below!
Bangkok: street food in Chinatown! Spice level: 8
Sam Phran: pig knuckle soup
Bangkok (Huapla chongnonsea): cockles
Bangkok: snails. not my favorite.
Bangkok: whole fish, everywhere!
Bangkok: my first Michelin three-star restaurant experience at Nahm. I asked them to bring out whatever they recommended so I couldn’t tell you what this is.
Bangkok (Nahm): dessert of lychee and kanom buang
Bangkok (Unicorn Cafe): rainbow crepe cake
Bangkok (Samsara Cafe & Meal): pad thai
Pattaya City (floating market): squid!
Pattaya City (floating market): OCTOPUS!
Pattaya City (floating market): I didn’t actually try anything here. I’ve had meal worms fried before, I’m good.
Pattaya City (PuPen Seafood): Dried squid is AMAZING, trust me
Pattaya City (PuPen Seafood): not my favorite dish. Made with egg yolk.
Pattaya City (PuPen Seafood): fresh crabs
Pattaya City (PuPen Seafood): oysters
Bangkok (street food): pad thai for $1, can’t beat that
Bangkok (Cabbages & Condoms): spicy wraps
Bangkok (Cabbages & Condoms): tom ka soup
Bangkok (Cabbages & Condoms): soft shell crab. I’m obsessed with soft shell crab.
Bangkok (mall food festival): I’m not quite sure what I ate.
Bangkok (mall food festival): it was like a sweet meaty dessert with toasted coconut on top.
Bangkok (mall food festival): togo khao podd
Bangkok (บ้านไอซ์): look at this gorgeous salad!
Bangkok (บ้านไอซ์): bitter beans, I loathe you
Bangkok (บ้านไอซ์): Another spread of southern Thai food Nath’s parents ordered for me. I tried so many things thanks to them!
Bangkok (Nath’s home): Oh durian, I wish I knew why people loved you. You taste like an rotten oniony potato.
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Wait, there’s a restaurant called “Cabbages and Condoms”??
Does condom mean something else in Thailand?
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Hey Kari! It was an awesome restaurant- part of the restaurant profits go to supporting family planning services in Thailand and promoting a better understanding and acceptance of family planning. The place was decorated with condoms and I got a free rubber with my check!
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That is awesome!
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Beautiful work, Steph. Glad you are illustrating. Enjoyable to read and view!
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Aw thanks for the compliments, Angel!
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