Overview

Thai food has become in recent years one of the world's favorite cuisines. When we speak of "Thai food", we are talking of four distinct regions in the country: North, Northeast, Central and South, each with their own culinary traditions. We are speaking too of the dishes created in the royal courts and palaces of Old Siam, that have been passed down through many generations of chefs, and finally into public domain. Moreover, Thai cuisine also combines the best of Chinese and Indian culinary traditions while retaining its own special character. All these different factors come together under the label "Thai food", and you will find them at any Thai restaurants you visit, anywhere in the world.

Thai Food and the Use of Herbs and Spices

One of the most distinctive aspects of the cuisine is the use of plants, herbs and spices. With regard to the spices, some Thai dishes are very hot. The herbs functions in providing flavor, coupled with its low-fat qualities and its essential freshness, they all have to varying degrees various medical and therapeutic benefits. This helps make Thai food one of the healthiest cuisines. In Thailand , good food also comes up from the street level, and many of Thailand 's most popular dishes can be found at the smallest food stalls and restaurants.

Today, visitors can both relish classic Thai menus and the benefits of a natural diet, and study the art of Thai cooking at several specialist schools in Bangkok and major beach resorts .




Thai food

The staple food in Thailand is rice, khao . Most people in central and southern Thailand eat khao jao (plain rice) every meal. In the north and northeast, people eat khao nieow (sticky rice) with their hands. The sticky rice is rolled into a small ball and is then dipped into different sauces. A Thai meal will generally consist of a soup; curry dish or spiced salad; vegetables, meat or fish with a dip; and rice.  Deserts are sometimes served. 

Most important to a Thai meal is the harmonious blend of tastes and textures found in both the individual dishes and the Thai meal as a whole. There are four main tastes in each Thai dish: hot (spicy), sour, sweet, and salty. The combination of these tastes is what makes Thai food so unusually delicious. If you can't eat spicy food, you can ask for “ mai phet “(not spicy) or “ mai sai prik ” (do not put in chilis)

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Indian food

Indian food consists of products passing through clean production processes in conformity with Islamic dietary principles. Consumers of Indian food are not confined only to Indian people. A great number of health conscious consumers are interested in this kind of food as well, as its production process focuses on hygienic standards.

Most Thai Muslim are of Malay descendent, reflecting the common heritage Thailand's southern most provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, Songkhla, and Satun share with Malaysia. There are many forms of Halal food produced in Thailand, including frozen food, processed, seafood, fresh, canned, and processed vegetables and fruits, rice products, processed meat, various kinds of sauce, and ready-made food. Thus Halal restaurants are also widely available in Thailand as well.

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Vegetarian food

If you are a vegetarian, you are in luck with Thai food. Most Thai dishes consist of rice or noodles with vegetables, meat and sauce on top. Meat is viewed as just one part of a dish and not the main focus of the meal, so you can frequently substitute Tofu or other protein based ingredients for the specified meat. In general, just b e sure to say no fish sauce or other animal products whenever you order a meal.

Finding vegetarian restaurants and vegetarian dishes in restaurants is very easy in Thailand . The best places to find a true vegetarian meal is in Bangkok , or anywhere else in Thailand . Several can be found in the Indian districts, of which most seem to be located on the western side of the Bangkok .

Alternatively, one can always have a proper vegetarian lunch or dinner at one of the many international 4 or 5 star hotels that the city holds. These large hotels' kitchens cater to vegetarians from many countries around the world and thus have to ensure that all ingredients are 100% free of animal products or derivatives

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