Anyone for Pad Thai ?

Traveling has its perks. First, you get to travel to a place that you’ve always dreamed of going to. Second, you get to interact with the natives and maybe learn something about their culture and society. Third, you get to taste the local food and wine.

Traveling to Thailand is a “must do” if you want to experience first-hand Thailand’s exceptional food culture, especially Pad Thai as this is one of Thailand’s national “signature” dishes and is considered one of the most popular Thai foods internationally. Yes, I say food culture for Thai dining is a far cry from the typical Western dining. As a general rule when eating out, Thai’s order the same number of dishes as the people present. The more people there are, the more dishes there will be. The food will be shared between everyone. For this reason alone, it is best to eat with more people than a few, so you get to sample the widest range of dishes.

In Thailand food culture, the food is a very important part of any social event as more often than not, the food itself is a cause for celebration. A typical Thai meal would consist of four main flavors: salt, sweet, sour and spicy. Each dish should more or less represent one of the four flavors or a combination thereof. Anything less flavorsome is considered unsatisfactory.

Rice is a staple in Thai dining so is a noodle dish like Pad Thai. Pork, beef, chicken, fish, or any other seafood could be cooked the Thai way. Delicately and meticulously prepared, Thai Food is an explosion of subtle yet very distinct flavors. As with other Asian countries, a meal is not complete without the numerous little bowls of condiments: herbs, chili oil, spices and sauces.

One of the more popular dishes you will find in your travels to Thailand is Pad Thai. The word literally translates to – Thai style frying. It is a stir fried dish of Thai rice noodles, egg, and tamarind extract, red chili pepper, and shrimp, bean sprouts, tofu and banana flower. The dish topped is with roasted peanuts, raw bean sprout and squeezed lime.

The dish has evolved over the years as Thai Street Food vendors have added & changed a few ingredients. Even today the Pad Thai you will sample on the streets of Bangkok is markedly different from the dish served in Thai restaurants in the United States and other temperate continents.

One recommendation though when eating the noodle dish: eat at once when served. The literally hot dish flavored with red hot chili peppers is one dish-to-die for! Try twisting some lime on it for added flavor.

Your travel to Thailand and exposure to its wide & varied food culture will almost certainly satisfy the gourmet in you!.