Ah food glorious food. When you think of Thailand you probably think of noodles, Thai green curry and possibly even deep fried cockroaches. I only came across crispy creepy crawlies when I was in Bangkok and at a night market in Chiang Mai. I think they’re more for tourists than seen as an essential to the dinner table but when in Rome and all that, why not give them a go?
In a country where it costs very little to eat out and with an abundance of fresh juicy fruit, just caught fish and a myriad of fragrant spices there are so many delectable dishes to be discovered; it is worth the flight just to fill your face. Hungerlust is a real thing people.
Street carts are the place to be to try the freshest and most interesting variations of the classic dishes in this country. For the first time traveller you can feel a little wary huddling around a knackered looking cart as strips of chicken or plump prawns are cooked right in front of you just next to a busy road. That aroma of petrol is like the Colonel’s secret ingredient in KFC. Go with it, don’t over think it and always choose the stall that has the most locals queued around it; you know you’re onto a winner then!
Over on the islands you must try the many flavours of fruit smoothies that are offered in beach cafes lining the pure white shores. Packed full of vitamins these drinks not only help you reach your five a day but also replenish your liver, which will probably be calling out for a change from cheap Thai beer and infamous alcoholic buckets.
A popular breakfast dish to go with the healthy smoothies is a generous helping of muesli, cool yoghurt and chunks of watermelon or mango. I have very happy memories sitting with my bare feet in the warm sand, tucking into this sweet bowl whilst listening to the waves and flicking through my guide book deciding my plan for the day.
For all the walking and sightseeing you will be doing you will mostly be powered by rice. A staple in almost every meal you can have this steamed, boiled, fried or sticky to give you the energy you need to get around.
Pad Thai is one of the cheapest and tastiest dishes you can find in Thailand. Thin strips of rice noodles stir-fried with tofu, egg, fish sauce and sugar that you can add chicken or fish to. Cooked in a huge steaming hot wok in a matter of minutes you’ll be amazed at how fast the chefs can knock up a plate in front of your eyes.
To give your taste buds a real kick why not try a steaming serving of fiery tom yum soup. This red coloured sour-spicy soup is full of lemongrass, chilli and limes with succulent prawns and mushrooms that will both fill you up and give you a whiff of Thailand in a bowl.
One of my fave dishes is pad krapow moo saap also known as fried basil and pork. This is one of the most popular dishes in cafes or restaurants and I only discovered it after seeing a whole bunch of locals tucking into it. After the whole point-and-miming charade I was served a plate not sure if I was even going to like it. I then lost count of how many times I ordered this after that! A mix of basil leaves, pork, fresh chillies and soy sauce served on steamed rice topped with a fried egg and accompanied with slices of cucumber to help ease the spiciness. Deeeeeelish.
Freshly fried spring rolls may not be great for the waistline but when they cost so little and taste SO good it’s hard to say no! They are the perfect pick-me-up snack especially when dripping in sweet chilli sauce.
After all of this if you still have room in your stomach then you must try the king of Thai desserts: mango and sticky rice. Glistening yellow chunks of fresh mango is glazed in coconut syrup with sweet sticky rice that makes a delicious pud or snack if you need an intense sugar rush.
Eating is such a big part of your experience wherever you travel in the world. Whether you’re sharing a wonky picnic table with locals or fellow travellers, sat at a little plastic table in a street café in Bangkok or wandering the vibrant night markets eating out of a takeaway box, there are so many flavours for you to discover it is amazing you get anything else done during your trip!
In my debut novel Destination Thailand I talk about the food A LOT. Thinking back to the dishes I enjoyed was such a great way to evoke memories of my amazing trip to this country although it was hard not dribbling on my keyboard as I typed. If you fancy being whisked off to Thailand to share this with my main character Georgia Green who is desperate to go from lost to wanderlust, without leaving your home then you can pick up your copy here.
