Friday, October 28, 2011

Thai Herb - Chili, Coriander, Cumin and Galangal in Thai Food

Thai Herb - Chili, Coriander, Cumin and Galangal in Thai Food

Thai Food

Chili

The popular species of chili used for cooking are hot chili, red, green and yellow chili, sweet pepper, etc. which are different in the levels of its spicy tastes. Chili can be used both fresh and dried or pickling in vinegar and to every dish that requires hot and spicy tastes. Some are used for smelling and reducing savory and as well to color the decoration.

Benefit

- Digestive

- To protect cancer

- Carminative

- Expectorant

- Relief pain

- Relief sickness

Chili Use in Thai Food

- Tom Yum Kung

- Tom Kha Kai

- Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai

- Beef Masaman

- Kaeng Liang

- Kai Phad Phed

- Phanaeng Kai

- Som Tum

- Phad Thai

- Khao Phad Kra Prao

- Nam Ya Pla

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Coriander

This plant can be used by every part; plant, root, leaves and fruits. Normally, the coriander leaves are sprinkled to season the food, while the coriander fruits are mixed in the soup and curry for good smell and its root is used together with garlic in soup and some kind of snacks and desserts.

Benefit

- Carminative

- Diuretic

Coriander Use in Thai Food

- Tom Kha Kai

- Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai

- Kai Phad Phed

- Phanaeng Kai

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Cumin

Cumin is roasted and pounded to make chili paste in some curries, Kaeng Phed and Kaeng Khiao Wan.

Benefit

- Carminative

- Expectorant

Use in Thai Food Cumin

- Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai

- Beef Masaman

- Phanaeng Kai

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Galangal

Galangal is used both its flowers as vegetables and fresh and hard rhizomes. The hard rhizome is very spicy and good to season many recipes of chili pastes; the fresh rhizome is found good in Tom Kha Kai.

Benefit

- Carminative

- Stops the growth of cancer

- Antifungal, bacterial and yeast

Galangal Use in Thai Food

- Tom Yum Kung

- Tom Kha Kai

- Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai

- Beef Masaman

- Kai Phad Phed

- Phanaeng Kai

- Khao Phad Kra Prao

- Nam Ya Pla

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Thursday, October 27, 2011

Introduction To Thai Food - Thai Curry, Pad Thai And Stir-Fry

Introduction To Thai Food - Thai Curry, Pad Thai And Stir-Fry

Thai Food

Think of the worst food you've ever tasted. Soggy, boiled vegetables springs to mind-the kind with all the taste and nutrition leached out of them. No spice or texture, no freshness or goodness. Now think of the opposite, and you have heavenly Thai food. Fresh, spicy, salty, sweet and sour, with a variety of textures and temperatures (crispy and soft, hot and cold), Thai food is a taste explosion in every bite. Once you've tried it, you'll never go back to plain old meat-and-potatoes cooking again.

Another way to describe Thai food? Imagine Chinese food, but with more intensity. With more flavors, more aroma, spices, and textures. If you like Chinese food, you're going to fall head-over-heels-in-love with Thai food!

Thai Curry

The roots of Thai cuisine can be found both in regional tastes and flavors as well as in the influence of cooking styles from nearby cultures. Despite the fact that Thailand is at least partially separated from its neighbors by water, it has never isolated itself from other nations. Indian and Malaysian spices and dishes (such as curries) were brought with travel and trade, and the Thais were quick to add these wonderful flavors to their own unique version of curry.

Thai curry dishes start with a very intense and fragrant curry paste or sauce, usually made by hand with pestle & mortar. Once the paste/sauce is made, Thai curry is extremely easy to create, simply by adding any variety of meat, seafood, vegetables, or tofu and cooking it in the oven (like a casserole).

Thai Noodles

Thailand is also famous for its fragrant stir-fried noodle dishes. Most Thai noodle recipes call for rice noodles rather than those made with wheat or egg, although these can also be found in Thai cooking. Noodles were first brought to Thailand by the Chinese, many of whom remained in Thailand and integrated with the local society. For this reason, Chinese cooking has been a major influence in Thai cuisine, including cooking styles (the Chinese introduced the wok) and key cooking ingredients, such as soy sauce.
Names of popular Noodle Dishes:

Thai Stir-Fry

From stir-fried local vegetables to dishes that combine meat, vegetables, tofu, or noodles, stir-fries are a common part of everyday Thai cooking. When creating stir-fry sauces, Thai chefs seek a balance of flavors-spicy, salty, sour, and sweet-by using ingredients like fish sauce, soy sauce, lime juice, lemongrass, fresh chilli (or chilli sauce), and a little sugar. Achieving this balance is not difficult, but it does take practice.

Names of popular Thai Stir-Fry dishes:

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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Washington State Has Everything

Washington State Has Everything

Thai Food Spokane

Located between Canada and Oregon State, the state of Washington is known mainly for being home to Seattle. Seattle is absolutely a city worth visiting and is quickly becoming one of the most popular destinations on the West Coast. But what do you do if you live here and have started taking Washington State for granted?

First things first: what time of year is it? If you live on the Washington coast, and it is between the months of October and June, it is probably raining like crazy. The rain is fun and cozy for the first few days. Then it quickly becomes miserable cold and loses its novelty. Head toward the sunnier and drier climate of Eastern Washington!

Here are a few places to visit in Eastern Washington:

Spokane! Located in eastern Washington, Spokane is the third largest city in the Northwest, after Seattle and Portland. It is home to a five star resort and a fantastic independent bookstore called Auntie's books. It is a lot drier in Spokane than it is anywhere on the coast of Washington and when the water gets to be too much, head inward for a stay at one of the poshest hotels in the Northwest!

If you want to fully embrace the wetness, you could go Whale Watching. Whale Watching is best done off the coast of Washington with a guided tour on a big and safe boat, but the more adventurous readers might try paddling out beyond the breakers in their own kayaks. Some companies offer guided kayak tours. Killer whales migrate right by the Washington coast and it isn't uncommon to see five or six in a single trip!

Aberdeen: Rock and roll music lovers cannot visit Washington State (or live here) without visiting Aberdeen at least once. What, exactly does Aberdeen have to offer? Well, it is a quaint little town in Southern Washington that doesn't have a lot to do...but it is the former home of Kurt Cobain. Kurt Cobain was the founder and lead singer of a little band called Nirvana and serious music lovers must make at least one pilgrimage in their lifetimes to pay their respects for the man who almost single handedly created Grunge and Alternative music.

Northwest Trek: If you love nature and local wildlife, especially the kind you will find in Washington, you will love the Northwest Trek. The trek is a wildlife park that spans more than seven hundred acres and is home to two hundred indigenous northwest animals. Trekkers will be able to spot different types of bears, wolves, bobcats, owls and eagles (among others). This is a walk through park that is dedicated to educating visitors about all of the beauty that the Northwest has to offer (and that must be protected). Better than any traditional zoo, this offers visitors the chance to see wildlife in an up close and personal way.

These are just a few of the things that Washington has to offer. Many people don't realize just how entertaining this state can be!

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Introduction to Thai Food - Khao Soy

Introduction to Thai Food - Khao Soy

Thai Food

When you talk with anyone who has taken a holiday in Thailand, it takes no time at all for the conversation to turn to the great foods that are a "must try." For the adventurous traveler who wants more than just the beaches of the south or the Bangkok mega-city experience, the choice is Chiang Mai in the northern mountains and the "must try" food is Khao Soy.

Every region has local specialty dishes but when you say Khao Soy you are talking about Chiang Mai and the old Lanna Kingdom. It's not surprising that this noodle and curry soup dish may be the most delicious food of your stay in Thailand. What is surprising is that it will usually be the least expensive food on the menu.

I remember a travel writer describing the dish as Thailand's answer to fettuccine Alfredo but I think of it as the world's best chicken noodle soup. It's rich and creamy but not at all heavy, spicy but not hot. The soft texture of the flat egg noodles and stewed chicken is contrasted by the crispy fried noodles and crunchy vegetables garnishing the top. The pale orange/yellow color from the curry base is pleasing and the addition of some standard condiments can give a slightly sour or salty or acidic bite as preferred.

Khao soy was invented hundreds of years ago when Chiang Mai was a wealthy capital city and well placed to be a crossroads for trading. The noodles came with the traders' mule caravans from Yunnan, China in the north. Curry is believed to have come from India and across Burma to the west. Limes, shallots, lightly pickled cabbage, the richness of coconut milk and the talent for making deliciously balanced tastes were the local additions. The descendants of the Yunnanese traders still make some of the best Khao Soi in Chiang Mai ( especially on the small streets near the Ban Haw Mosque and across the Ping River next to Wat Faham) but it is also available in just about every other restaurant in the city with a Thai menu.

Like any food that's been around for centuries there are lots of variations in the preparation and closely guarded family recipes. Some can be complicated but the ones that always taste the best to me are the simple and quickly prepared home cooking style dishes. The ingredients are basic, it's the proportions that are the secret. In all of the methods, chicken cut into reasonable sized pieces is boiled in enough water to make a good stock. In a separate pot, fresh wide egg noodles are boiled for a very short time, drained and placed in a bowl. A thinner noodle has been fried crispy and set aside for garnish.

The soup begins with a prepared red curry paste that is heated in a pan until the paste begins to separate and become fragrant. As the pan heats, chopped garlic is thrown in and sauteed in the oil from the curry paste. When the garlic is cooked soft, coconut milk is added and stirred until the spices are fully dissolved. As the coconut milk becomes fully heated, pour in the stock from the boiled chicken to thin the soup to the desired consistency. At this point you can serve or hold everything at temperature until needed. When ready, pour enough of the hot soup to cover the noodles in a bowl and add pieces of chicken for a small serving. Garnish the top with the crispy noodles.

If you are faithful to the original, there are required condiments for individual use. Small wedges of fresh lime that can be squeezed into the soup are a must. Also standard are small amounts of coarsely chopped shallots and small pieces of cabbage that has been lightly pickled in sugar and salt. Although used very sparingly, Thais usually expect the table to have a bottle of fermented fish sauce, dark soy sauce and a chili sauce. Begin slowly and savor the richness, don't over use any of the sauces. They can add a little extra individual taste but they just aren't needed.

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Monday, October 24, 2011

Vacationing in the Beautiful Pacific Northwest

Vacationing in the Beautiful Pacific Northwest

Thai Food Spokane

When it comes to great places to go on a vacation to for those that want to go a little off the beaten path, one of the top destinations out there is the beautiful Pacific Northwest. The Pacific Northwest includes the states of Washington,Oregon, Idaho, and also Western Montana. The beauty and natural scenery attracts many of the visitors that come there, but each part of the region also offers a great many things to do and see too.

Washington State

Washington sits in the northwest corner of the contiguous United States and is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States. Some of the popular things to see and visit in the state include the Olympic National Forest, Mount Rainier, Lake Chelan, Mount St. Helens, Eastern Washington wine country, Grand Coulee Dam, the San Juan Islands, plus the cities of Spokane, Tacoma, and Seattle.

Oregon

The state of Oregon is located just south of Washington and features a very popular coastline and good amount of cities that are fun to visit. The Oregon Coast attracts a ton of tourists all looking to partake in the sunbathing, beach combing, fishing, whale watching, and general relaxing that can be had there. Some of the other popular places to travel to in Oregon include the Oregon Sand Dunes National Recreation Area, the Columbia River Gorge, Crater Lake, and the communities of Bend, Portland, Newport, Coos Bay, and Salem.

Idaho

Located just east of Washington and Oregon is the state of Idaho. Idaho is often overlooked by vacationers, but it has a number of great things to offer those that come its way. The popular cities in the state include Moscow, Coeur d'Alene, Boise, and Twin Falls. Some of the other places that are great for visiting are Lake Coeur d'Alene, Lake Pend Oreille, Hells Canyon, and the Silverwood theme park. Idaho has a great deal of beauty in it and the wide variety of landscape available to view there is stunning.

Western Montana

The Western Montana region is literally made up of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The communities of Missoula and Kalispell are very welcoming and offer a number of fun diversions to those that come there. One of the biggest draws in the area is Glacier National Park which features one of the most stunning drives in the entire country, Going-to-the-Sun Road. Other great places to visit or see in Western Montana include Flathead Lake, the Lolo Pass area, the Bitterroot Valley, and more.

The Pacific Northwest is a gorgeous place to travel to. One of the best ways to explore it is either by driving Interstate 5 which traverses north to south through Washington and Oregon, or by driving Interstate 90 which begins in Seattle, travels east across the state of Washington, crosses the panhandle of Idaho, and then cross through the central area of Western Montana. A great vacation awaits those who decide to spend their time away from home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

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Bridge River Kwai Hotel - Based In Thailand

Bridge River Kwai Hotel - Based In Thailand

Thai Food

Bridge River Kwai is a grand hotel based in Kwai, Thailand. It is a classic and country style hotel with old among the hills, gardens and paths. The hotel offers venues for functions such as weddings, conferences and other events. It also offers great food at one of the award winning family restaurants as well as stay accommodation for families and couples.

The hotel, Bridge River Kwai, offers high quality accommodation services. They are comfortable and luxurious with the enchanting design of the classic country time to renew the traditions and culture. It offers great function venues and specializes in wedding services. Its restaurant offers a number of different food items and beverages with delicious taste and healthy ingredients.

There are total 10 accommodation rooms. They offer all the facilities and requirements for the stay that the guests can ever wish for. Six of these family suites are located in the historic inn while the other 4 are located in the School Master's Cottage. All these family suites have queen size beds and complimentary breakfast is provided to guests in all the accommodation rooms. Each of these family suites have arm chairs, a bundle of interesting books, lounge with TV, open fire place and grand piano.

The hotel offers wedding venues for perfect traditional weddings. There are about 4 choices for wedding venues that include the garden, the verandah, Georgian building and even the oak tree premises. The hotel management helps to make your special day even more special and perfect with such romantic sites and classic touch.

The inn is ideal for different private, social and corporate events. The inn has conference rooms for organizing private talks, lectures and meetings. The delegates can then enjoy in the lounge, play tennis, golf or walk in the garden. The restaurant is the only family restaurant in the town that offers all the tasty cuisines of the world. It offers food and beverages even for parties and event held at their function venues.

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Sunday, October 23, 2011

Understanding Thai Food and Menus in Thailand

Understanding Thai Food and Menus in Thailand

Thai Food

Menus in Thailand

The most common words on the Thai menu include kai (egg), gai (chicken), moo (pork), nua (beef), and pet (duck). Dried beef and pork have a particularly strong flavor.

Thailand is particularly renowned for its fish and seafood dishes, though if you are dining some distance from the sea, bear in mind that river fish might be fresher. Popular seafood includes gung (prawn),pla (fish),plakapong (sea bass, a great favorite),plamik (squid), hoi (shellfish), hoi kreng (cockles), aharn taley (seafood), and boo (crab).

Among the vegetables you will find ham (onion), (mushroom), pakad ham (lettuce, which should be avoided unless you know it has been washed in clean water), makeyatet, tomatoes, and prik (chili). If you want food that is not too highly spiced, say, "mai sai prik"-"don't add chili.".

Typical Thai Dishes

Thai dishes use all the ingredients specified above, to which they add various flavors, notably garlic, coriander root, black pepper, lemon grass, ginger, and chili. Here are some of the most common dishes. Geng ped (curry), and geng ped gai (chicken curry). You may need to differentiate between geng pet kiau (green curry) and geng pet deng (red curry). Geng mussaman will be a Malay-type curry common in the extreme south of Thailand. Geng jert is soup. Again, you need to specify. Geng jert nua is beef soup. It is often served in metal vessels with charcoal underneath to keep the soup hot.

Tom yam is a hot, spicy soup. This is one of the most popular dishes in Thailand, especially tom yam gung (spicy prawn soup). Kau pat (fried rice) is a popular one-dish meal, and can be served with almost anything. Kau pat moo is pork-fried rice. Cucumber and spring onions usually accompany the dish. Kwitiau (noodle soup) is of Chinese origin and found on many a noodle stall. It is sometimes eaten with chopsticks. Bami are noodles, and come in various shapes and sizes. Bami lad na gung is prawn cooked with noodles, and is a meal in itself. Meekrob (crispy noodle) is also worth trying. Tawt man pia or tawt man kung (fish or prawn cakes) are interesting, chewy dishes. Yam (salad) is much spicier than the Western type of salad, and should be sampled only by the more intrepid visitor. Kau sooay (plain rice) is usually steamed, delightfully fluffy, and of high quality. This is the staple food of Thailand, and the Thais eat it with virtually every meal. Kau niau (sticky rice) is a speciality of the northeast, where it is sometimes cooked in banana leaves. Potatoes (man farang) do not feature in Thai cooking, being rather expensive, though they are served with Western- style food or sour fish).

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