Isan Cuisine

“The food tends to be quite simple and spicy. Sticky rice is the staple. They favour something called pla ra or padaek, which is the fermented freshwater fish that’s quite funky. They make a fish sauce out of that. Probably the most iconic dish that comes out of there is som tam, a papaya salad, or tam som as they call it there too.” — Andy Ricker

Food Guide: Chiang Mai Street Food

Nicholas Ng
Chiang Mai Street Food | A Food Guide | Food For Thought

Chiang Mai is home to the ancient kingdom of Lanna, and is situated in Northern Thailand. With its very distinct culture, comfortable climate, unbelievably mountainous scenery and exotic food, you can see why it is known as the Rose of the North. The food in Chiang Mai is known as Lanna Cuisine, a type of food which is very distinctively different from the rest of Thailand. Because of its bordering of Myanmar and China, you see a very distinctive food culture which borrows from its northern neighbours and how all these amalgamate and produce what we know as Lanna cuisine. Continue reading →

Cooking Class: 137 Pillars House, Chiang Mai

Nicholas Ng
Pad Thai Result | Cooking Class | 137 Pillars House | Food For Thought

People today seek uncommon experiences when they travel, and what better way to explore a foreign culture by learning their food. Thai cuisine has become internationally recognised as one of the best cuisines, and what better way than to immerse yourself in the Thai culinary world. 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai is one such boutique hotels that offer this experience as part of their offerings, simply named The Kitchen. This however, is not just a cooking class where you are simply taught a dish, but actually take you to a local market where you explore yourself. Continue reading →

Tamarind Springs

Nicholas Ng
Prawn in Tamarind Sauce | Tamarind Springs | Food For Thought

Located on a secluded hill in Ampang in the greenery of the forest is a temple like surrounding, with a façade that is unmistakeably Thai sits Tamarind Springs Restaurant, an Indochinese restaurant in the middle of paradise. Not only is the surrounding marvellous for its serene setting, the intercultural Indochinese cuisine from Thai, Cambodian, Laos and Vietnamese cuisine gives it that South East Asian touch that is a breath of fresh air. Continue reading →

Tamarind Hill

Nicholas Ng
Tamarind Hill Exterior - Tamarind Hill - Food For Thought

As you take a walk up the layered concrete steps laden with bamboo guiding your path and Chinese lanterns over your head, you are overwhelmed with a sense of serenity. You walk continuously towards the top reaching the entrance whilst being greeted with wooden awnings and a pond. This is Tamarind Hill, one of the most exquisite Thai and Burmese cuisine restaurants you will find in Kuala Lumpur. Continue reading →