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Thai Food
Enjoy................ Coconut curries... Try Geng Keowan
Kai (Chicken Green Curry).... and Tom Yum Gung ....the most famous
lemon grass soup. For lunch ...... Pat Thai - fried noodles with
peanuts and shrimps, fried chicken.....deep fried fish or fried
bananas often sold from vendors .........and Som tam, green papaya
salad, served with barbecued chicken.
 Thai
food is fast gaining a reputation as one of the world's most delicious
and creative cuisine's. The variety of dishes, from quick lunchtime
noodles to spicy salads, soups and curries, plus the ingredients
- coconut milk, lemongrass and ginger, make a make it a "must
try." Surprisingly it isn't always spicy! There are dishes
which are bland, and dishes which are Chinese influenced and considerably
toned down.
Thai food varies from region to region, depending on the local
ingredients. The South is famous for it's fiery curries and fish
dishes. Surrounded by the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand,
there is no shortage of tropical fish, prawns, lobster and crabs.
Curried, steamed, boiled, barbecued or fried, with different sauces
and dips. So while you're in Phi Phi, try to sample as much as
possible.
Some local dishes worth sampling On Phi Phi island, you
can sample local southern Thai food (often very spicy) as well
as food from other parts of Thailand or Chinese noodles. If you're
eating on your own or can't manage a full Thai meal with soup,
dips, rice and main dish (served all at once) try some noodles
like (Pad See yoo) or Khaow Pat (fried rice) These
are quick, non spicy and you can add your own condiments according
to taste. Below are a few suggestions to give you some food for
thought...
For Breakfast
Try Khanom Cheen, a popular Chinese breakfast of white
rice noodles covered with a spicy fish curry and served with plate
of fresh vegetables and herbs.
For Lunch
Hmm! steamed mussels fresh from the ocean with basil,
garlic and chilli.
 Som
Tam (Papaya salad) Affectionately known as " Papaya Pok
Pok" this spicy salad originally from the northeast, is now
a national favourite. Made from sliced green papaya, peanuts,
dried shrimp, and raw vegetables, it's usually eaten as with sticky
rice and fresh grilled chicken. Very tasty but spicy, so ask the
cook to make it "my pet" (not spicy) if you don't want
it too hot!
Khao Mok Gai - (fragrant yellow rice served with chicken)
A Muslim speciality consisting of roast chicken on a bed of saffron
rice, mixed with ginger and lightly fried garlic. Not spicy, but
accompanied by an optional sweet sweet hot sauce.
 Phat
Thai
Stir fry noodles with either shrimp, chicken or tofu and vegetable
in season and topped with roasted peanuts. Accompanied by condiments
such as sour pickle, chilli, sugar and limes. A great lunch dish.
Fish-Anytime. Always fresh. Try fish in 3 tastes, barbecued
fish with dips, grilled fish, or fish with garlic and ginger.
 Tom
Yam Gung
Thailand's internationally famous shrimp soup......Good at any
time. There are many varieties of the Tom Yam including an excellent
vegetarian version.
Geng Som - A southern Thai speciality - curry soup with
an unusual sour taste and Geng Keowan - a green curry which
always tastes good.
Useful tips
- Thais don't eat with chopsticks, except for certain dishes,
usually of Chinese origin. They eat with a spoon and fork,
especially useful for rice!
- The phrase "my pet" means not spicy.
A very useful phrase when you are ordering Thai food!
International Food
Thais are very good at adapting other dishes from different countries,
and with the increase in tourism there's a better knowledge of
European food and cooking methods. In the upmarket hotel restaurants
you are not likely to be disappointed in your choice. Don't however,
expect great European food at the local restaurant down the road
or on the beach. The taste will definitely be different from what
you're used to, apart from basics like European and American breakfast.
What to Drink?
Beer - goes well with Thai food. Local beers include Beer
Chang and Singha - both have claimed heavy hangovers on past visitors.
International and the occasional American beer is also available.
Wine is relatively expensive. Good wines are can be found in the
hotels.
Water
Tap water is NOT safe for drinking. Drink only bottled water or
from a flask supplied by the hotel. Water provided in restaurants
is safe for drinking,
Ice - Ice cubes in drinks are generally safe, especially
in the large international hotels. However avoid all shaved or
crushed ice, particularly from roadside fruit vendors.
 Thai
Fruit
Thais traditionally finish a meal with fruit and save the sweeter
Thai desserts for snacking between meals. Many tropical fruits
are grown on Phuket. pineapple, rambutan, a cute, small red oval
fruit with hair, bananas, papaya and many tropical fruits. Papaya
is also eaten green, and a major ingredient in Som Tam (papaya
salad). Durian is perhaps the king of tropical fruits, but many
find the smell offensive. Guava, similar to an apple, and green
mango are eaten dipped into a sugar, salt, chilli mix. Mango the
national fruit, is delicious, but generally only available between
January to June. One last note, eating fruit also helps take out
the fire of some of the more spicy dishes of Thai food!
Thai Desserts
Normally very sweet, Thai desserts form a balance at the end of
a meal. Ingredients like coconut, and vegetables, such as beans,
or pumpkin are used inventively in the Asian way, accompanied
by shaved ice, sweetened coconut milk and palm syrup.
Restaurants
Where to eat in Phi Phi? Click here
for info on local restaurants.
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