Travel Log: Thailand, The Land of Thousand Smiles

Salty, sweet, sour, spicy, bitter.
Not many other cuisines in the world consist of all these tastes in a single dish, except for Thai food.

My buddies and I had made such frequent trips to Bangkok that we knew how to get around the city by BTS (Bangkok Subway System), but we also managed to avoid usual tourist traps like temples and floating markets. Our main mission is to hunt for Glorious food! Here’s our typical feast fest

Brunch

We headed to Siam station. There’s a mini food court right beside the Novotel Siam Square that sells classic Thai dishes such as Thai chicken rice, braised pork rice, and fish-ball noodles, and lastly, washing all these with Thai iced-tea. Yuh!

Tea Time

Within walking distance from the food court is Siam Paragon mall. The mall
houses a gigantic food hall integrating a food court, restaurants, and individual vendor stands. Our favorite list includes Thai-style sausage lathered in sweet chilli sauce and Thai crispy crepes (sweet and salty).

Dinner

I caught up with a local Thai friend, Fai, who brought us to local best kept secrets. We went to Sam Yan market near Chulalongkorn University, a large food court. Our Thai friends do the
ordering since the vendors rarely speak English. You know they serve great food when they speak only local language. A few dishes that we love include deep fried kangkoong, stir fried eggs in curry sauce, fried pork with garlic, tom yum soup, and ground chicken with basil.

There’s more to Bangkok beyond the usual tourist traps. Open your mind to try new things, you will definitely have a good time. Till our next trip, take care!

Regards Stefan Pratama

FLIGHT

AIR ASIA (KNO to BKK)

via CGK approx. IDR 2,000,000

STAY

5* Shangri-la Hotel - IDR 2,000,000

4* Novotel The Square - IDR 1,300,000

3* Lemontea Hotel - IDR 700,000

Chef's Diary: Professional Chef's Salary

Considering career as professional cook as career, but doubted the amount of salary you will earn? Well, think again. The fact below will surprise you!

Meet Jamie Oliver, a Briton crowned as the wealthiest chef in the world. Jamie's made his fortune from his TV shows, cooking classes - Recipease, Restaurants - Jamie's Italian, Barbecoa, Jamie's Diner, etc, cookbook, personal label products (pasta, olive oils, spices mix, dips, ready to eat food, food containers, and many more).

INFOGRAPHICS

Kitchen Guide: PASTA!

Legend has it that pasta was first introduced to Italy by Marcopolo, who brought it over from ancient china. Since then, pasta spread across Italy. Each region in Italy developed different shapes of pasta, ingredients, processing methods, and sauces.

The followings are nine popular pasta noodle that are widely consumed.

1. Spaghetti
shape : Noodle
variant : Bolognese (grounded beef & tomato sauce)

2. Fusilli
shape : Spiral
variant : Al-Pesto (fusilli tossed in pesto)

3. Macaroni
shape : Bend hollow tube
variant : Mac & Cheese (grilled macaroni in cheese bath)

4. Lasagna
shape: Sheet
variant : Beef Lasagna (grounded beef & tomato sauce)

5. Fettuccine
shape : Flat noodle
variant : Alfredo (cream & herbs)

6. Penne
shape : Hollow tube
variant : Napolitana (tomato sauce & herbs)

7. Ravioli
shape: Handbag pouch
variant : Four Cheese Ravioli (ricotta, mascarpone, pamersan & mozzarella)

8. Tortellini
shape: Ring pouch
variant : Tortellini Primavera (Tortellini tossed with carrots, mushroom, asparagus, & other veggies)

9. Gnocchi
shape: Cylindrical
variant : Gnocchi Gorgonzola (wheat flour, egg, cheese & potato dough in Gorgonzola cheese sauce)

 In your next visit to Italian eatery, you can impress your mates with know-what on Pasta!