| Thai cuisines are amongst the most varied and | | | | There are more servings than guests so that |
| most often misinterpreted foods in the world. It's | | | | everyone can share food with each other. This is |
| a common misconception to think Thai food is full | | | | a practice used in some Thai restaurants and thus |
| of curry and chili to dull the senses. Most recipes | | | | visiting a place in a small group of friends is |
| use all the four basic tastes, salty, sour, sweet | | | | advised. There is no such thing as appetizer or |
| and hot, but there are dishes without any of | | | | main course, everything is served at once and |
| those if you don't like sour and sweet or hot at | | | | everyone takes what they like. |
| all. Thai gastronomy is a balancing act that is most | | | | Sticky rice with dips can be consumed with the |
| probably originated from their rich and diverse | | | | right hand, but no one will give strange glances if |
| cultural heritage. | | | | you ask for cutlery, as fork and spoons have |
| Surrounded by many different countries Thailand | | | | been used in most families for decades. |
| developed a variety of cooking styles that change | | | | Thai people like hot food and they prepare their |
| with every part of the country. Laying 1000 miles | | | | dishes in a way to have at least one hot course |
| long the country has most different regions | | | | or sauce during the meal. They are used to chili |
| ranging from almost sub-tropical seaside to | | | | so if you were thinking about ordering something |
| footsteps of the Himalaya. Laos, Cambodia, China | | | | hot, think again. If you see hot, or very hot on |
| and western culture all influenced dishes, but one | | | | the menu it probably means devastatingly hot for |
| thing is persistent through all the recipes. Thai | | | | an average North American or European. A mild |
| food is all about balance and lightly made meals, | | | | to medium or slightly hot is definitely a safer first |
| using different spices to achieve harmony in a set | | | | bet. If you're not sure about the heat level in the |
| of courses. | | | | food, ask your server to advise you something |
| There is a fish sauce commonly used called nam | | | | that is more to your taste. |
| pla phrik. It's salty and usually clear fish sauce | | | | Vegetarians should ask before ordering, because |
| prepared through fermentation giving a strong | | | | Thai gastronomy uses small amounts of meat in |
| fragrance to food it is used in. | | | | lots of its recipes in the form of prawns or fish |
| A traditional Thai family meal will consist of rice | | | | sauce. |
| and several different sauces to dip the rice in. | | | | |