Thai Cuisine Turned my Brain on
It was a sun-soaked summer day in 1997 when I first discovered the amazing taste of Thai food, which I mainly consumed at the street stalls or places where the locals went having their meal. Growing up, I had always been a picky eater, sticking to familiar dishes and flavours. Many of you guys probably ate the same dishes as I did. A meal always included (mashed) potatoes, some veggies and some meat. (This was before vegan food became popular) It was my first solo-trip to Thailand. I mainly explored the northeastern region, by the Thais known as Esarn. So, on this day, I was feeling adventurous and was willing to expand my narrow culinary mind trying something completely new.
As I strolled through the streets of Ubon Ratchathani City, my sensitive nose directed me to a tiny Thai establishment nicely situated in a quiet corner. The intense aroma of exotic spices and herbs wafted towards me as I approached the restaurant’s entrance, which seemed to be popular with the locals. Intrigued and curious, I stepped inside, eager to sample the flavours of Thailand. The customers all looked at me as if they were thinking “What is this crazy long-haired Farang (Foreigner) doing here, he probably needs to use the toilet.” They all looked surprised when I sat down on the only table that was still free. A few seconds later this petite young Thai girl brought me a glass of ice-cold water, which I washed away within 30 seconds. Four ceiling fans were on but it was still pretty hot in there. At first, I was truly overwhelmed by the myriad of options on the menu. How could a tiny joint like this prepare so many different dishes?
The menu was in Thai language but fortunately there were photos of the available dishes on the menu cart. I saw steamed fish, fried fish, fried rice with chillies and basil, rice with beef and ginger, various curries, soups and of course the Esarn region’s most popular dish, Som Tam (Papaya Salad), which, today, is popular throughout the entire country. I really didn’t know what to order. But with the help of the friendly Thai girl, I settled on a dish of Pad Thai, a popular street food made with noodles, veggies, and a mouth-watering, savoury peanut sauce. I also ordered Som Tam. I had to try this! Som Tam or Papaya Salad is a typical Esarn dish. That hot and spicy goodness that should bring a spicy, tingly and numbing sensation to my taste buds is quite literally, a hot favourite amongst foodies in Thailand.
And wow! As I took my first bite of the Pad Thai, my taste buds were transported to a whole new world of flavours. The combination of sweet, sour, and savoury all at once was unlike anything I had ever tasted before. The sensation was so delightful; I couldn't help to fully enjoy every bite of this culinary masterpiece. It was like a culinary orgasm! Then the girl served the Som Tam. She had a worried face and told me for the second time “You careful! This very spicy for farang.” I thought if everybody in here could eat it, I could eat it as well. While sticking my fork in the Som Tam, all eyes in the restaurant were watching me. When I put the Som Tam in my mouth a burning sensation immediately started to spread across my lips and to ignite my tongue. Holy Shit! This kind of spiciness was unbearable. The girl had warned me and even wanted to adjust the Som Tam to western standards. I insisted that the Som Tam should be original.
After that first bite it seemed that all people looked with a grin on their face at my face, which seemed to be exploding. After a minute or two I already got used to the hotness of this dish. I just had to get through that first feeling of having a bucket of ‘lava’ in my mouth. By now I started to taste the lemon, fermented fish, slices of papaya, cherry tomatoes and cucumber. The sweet, spicy, salty and sour elements all combined perfectly. From that day forward, I became a severely addicted Thai food junkie. I began experimenting with different dishes, from spicy curries to refreshing glass noodle salads. The mostly healthy ingredients used in Thai cuisine are local, fresh and vibrant, bursting with flavour and colour.
What I love most is that experienced haw Thai food brings the people together. Every meal is like a celebration of existence. Whether I'm dining with friends, family, or strangers, we are all united in our love for this delicious cuisine. It's the perfect way to break down barriers and build connections. In conclusion, my discovery of Thai food has opened up a whole new world of flavours for me. It has encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone, think out of the box and embrace new experiences. I am grateful for this delicious cuisine, which has sparked my love for food and brought me closer to the people around me.
Now I would like to tell you guys another great Thai experience. It is not really a culinary experience but more like an erotic one. There’s this root that grows in Northern Thailand known by the locals as ''Krachai Dum.'' Scientifically this plant is known as Keampferia Parviflora but mostly it’s called Black Galingale. I was exploring a huge spices and vegetables market in Sakhon Nakhon when suddenly a girl carrying a basket asked me ''You want strong? You like boom boom? This very good.'' I was shocked a little as usually you won’t hear the question, ''You like boom boom?'' at a food market. I looked in her basket and saw something that looked like pieces of ginger but the colour was more blackish. While looking at this herb she sold some of it to two customers. I asked what this herb could do for me. She giggled and answered that chewing on it is good for my whole body. ''You eat, you strong in bed.” She said. OK! Why not, I love new experiences and decided to buy one piece for 35 Baht (about $1.00). She gave me a mysterious smile while rapping the piece of root in brown paper.
Back in my guesthouse I cut the root in four parts. I did put one in my mouth and started to chew on it. The taste of the root was very bitter and after having chewed on it for 30 minutes I swallowed the pulp with a glass of water. It was evening and I decided to go see the small nightlife scene of Sakon Nakhon. I passed a bar with three girl playing pool on the same pool table. “Hey you! Welcome to Thailand.” It was a dark-skinned slim girl with beautiful long hair and her smile was absolutely irresistible. Normally I walk by but this night I had this urge to go and have a chat with her. She took a seat next to me on the bar and started to sing and move her body to a popular Thai song. And then it happened…that reproductive organ between my legs started to wake up! I never had this feeling or arousing sexual excitement before. I remembered the girl at the market telling me Black Galingale Root is good for ‘boom boom.’ Holy Moses! She was absolutely right! Around midnight the girl happily agreed staying with me for the night at my guesthouse. I could tell you the rest of the story but this isn’t a porn blog, so I rather won’t. The next morning we got up early to go to the fresh market buying some Longan Fruit and Dragon Fruit. Suddenly I saw the girl who sold me the Black Galingale and when she saw us, she just gave me a big smile from ear to ear.
If you want to know more about Keampferia Parviflora Root, we recommend doing some research online. This is a very good source to start with.
