Category: Food

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Food in Vietnam

one option available in this restaurant

Food in Vietnam is not as spicy and is often more oily than in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Food in Vietnam seems to be more expensive than in Thailand or Laos. Soups tend to be very delicious.

the typical wrap with either lettuce or rice paper to do the wrap.
natural colors added to rice and cooked to a thin layer around the metal pan to make a nice, crispy rice snack
I am rolling out rice paper which is later put through a slicer to make rice noodles. Again, natural colors are added.
the completed noodles with the natural coloring bases in the basket, vegetables and herbs
a nice beer, not as well promoted by the country as Beer Lao is promoted in Laos. Drinking seems to be done in much more modest portions than in Laos.
interesting tea variety
almost anywhere you can find this tin sifter set to put coffee grounds and poor coffee to get a nice single pour. However, the holes are a little small and the grind also very small so the coffee tends to coagulate in the holes and the drip slows to something you may not want to wait for. It isn’t a fool proof system like a french press.
well, international food is available in big cities and tourist areas.
it is called a Vietnam Pizza but very different ingredients you can select from street vendors.
the Vietnam Pizza in the making
a typical broth/meat/herb dish; one of the nicest varieties.
rice/chicken dish with a delicious soup and pickles.
the top of this building has speakers squaking out sparrow songs to attract sparrows to come and create nests in the building holes so they can harvest the nests, held together by bird spit and excrement, the makings of bird nest soup.
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A Typical Thai Dinner

While there are so many kinds of food in Thailand some stand out as almost stereotypical. In foreign countries many people know these foods. These are extremely popular in the Northeast part of the country, IISAN.  Along with Horse Piss Eggs you get these pictured here. Lab is minced meat, often pork and sometimes chicken, cooked with peppers, lime juice, fish sauces and some coriander.  It is semi spicy which means it is suited for westerners who can tolerate what they consider VERY spicy food. 

SOMTAM, LAAB, grilled chicken and wine

The second one is Somtam also lovingly called “papaya Pok Pok”. Slices of green papaya are mixed with smashed (the sound is “pok pok”) pepper, lime juice, garlic and some fish sauce and a few other things. In the end the papaya is also pok poked with the smashed ingredients. Some will add shrimp meat or whole tiny river crabs, shell and all. The level of spiciness of  Somtam can often be considered a serious stomach burner even for Thai feasters. Try the Thai original only if you are prepared for stomach issues.

The 3rd one is grilled chicken but this time it was done in an air fryer. And of course a tasty white wine like a Gewurztraminer adds to the tastes. 

Of course rice is always beside the rest of the food and dogs waiting for scraps might linger nearby. Enjoy typical thai food. 

Oh, just after i finished proofing this post my Yam Plamuk (spicy squid salad) arrived. Here it is with my bottle of Singha Beer. 

While there are so many kinds of food in Thailand some stand out as almost stereotypical. In foreign countries many people know these foods. These are extremely popular in the Northeast part of the country, IISAN.  Along with Horse Piss Eggs you get these pictured here. Lab is minced meat, often pork and sometimes chicken, cooked with peppers, lime juice, fish sauces and some coriander.  It is semi spicy which means it is suited for westerners who can tolerate what they consider VERY spicy food. 

The second one is Somtam also lovingly called “papaya Pok Pok”. Slices of green papaya are mixed with smashed (the sound is “pok pok”) pepper, lime juice, garlic and some fish sauce and a few other things. In the end the papaya is also pok poked with the smashed ingredients. Some will add shrimp meat or whole tiny river crabs, shell and all. The level of spiciness of  Somtam can often be considered a serious stomach burner even for Thai feasters. Try the Thai original only if you are prepared for stomach issues.

The 3rd one is grilled chicken but this time it was done in an air fryer. And of course a tasty white wine like a Gewurztraminer adds to the tastes. 

Of course rice is always beside the rest of the food and dogs waiting for scraps might linger nearby. Enjoy typical thai food. 

Oh, just after i finished proofing this post my Yam Plamuk (spicy squid salad) arrived. Here it is with my bottle of Singha Beer. 

YAM PLAMUK AND SINGHA BEER