Chiang Mai News Clips - Friday 14th August 2009

* Northern Village (Handicraft Shopping Center):
Northern Village is a shopping section which is certainly worth a visit for an excellent source of high quality interior-decor products, furniture, jewelry, handicrafts, fabrics, ornaments, and art.

In contrast to the Night Bazaar ,all vendors display affordable goods of a high level of style and quality. It is an initiative to support the nationwide One Tambon One Product (OTOP) campaign to promote small business development in Thailand. Enjoy your free time shopping at Northern Village on the 1st and 2nd floor, Central Airport Plaza,Chiang Mai.

* Som Tam (Papaya Salad):
Som Tam means Papaya salad in English. This is popular in most areas of Thailand. It is made from unripened papaya sliced, green long beans, tomatoes, sugar, garlic, fish sause, peanuts, and of course hot chili peppers.

Then it is mashed up with a pestal and mortar. The two most popular types of green papaya salad have either dried shrimp or salted crab. Som Tam with dried shrimp and peanuts is called "som tam Thai". The green papaya salad with salted crab is called "som tam pbooh". But the majority of the ingredients are the same.

For a vegetarian version of som tam, omit the dried shrimp and substitute light soy sauce for fish sauce. Some people use tamarind in place of lime. Regular sugar can be substituted for palm sugar.

It is yummy dish but watch out... Because this is one of the spicier dishes in Thailand.

* Exclusive Night 21st Aug - Le Crystal:
Le Crystal, the fine French cuisine restaurant invites you for "Unlimited Exclusive Night Wine Dinner" on Friday, 21 August 2009.

Experience a degustation menu (a menu in which a series of small portions of unusual dishes is offered for tasting...) with a complimenting wine only 1,800thb net per person. The exclusive night starts from 7-10 PM.

Another promotion throughout August 2009, Free 1 bottle of French Wine when advance reservation of 4-10 persons. For more information please visit the Le Crystal Restaurant website.