A TRIP FOR THE TASTEBUDS

#THAIFOOD #GASTRONOMY A trip for the tastebuds

Start musing about your favourite experiences in Thailand, and food will undoubtedly be high on the list. Make sure to try these heavenly dishes. By Deborah Dickson-Smith

THE NORTH A khantoke dinner is a northern tasting experience in which a variety of dishes are served, usually including sticky rice, chicken or pork curry, fried chicken, vegetables, soup, pork crackling, chilli dips and sai ua (pork sausage). Another iconic Chiang Mai dish, khao soi is a creamy yellow coconut curry soup with egg noodles and slow-cooked chicken, topped with crunchy fried noodles. NORTHEAST (ISAN) Northern-style larb is a spicy minced meat salad dish with a dressing of fish sauce, lime juice, chilli flakes, mint, basil, red onions and toasted rice. Another salad from northeast Thailand, som tum is a spicy green papaya salad that is widely consumed throughout the country. For something more indulgent, sai krok Isan is a garlicky fermented sausage made of pork and rice.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Som tum (green papaya salad) originated in northeast Thailand © Tourism Authority of Thailand

ABOVE, FROM LEFT: Khantoke dinner from Thailand’s north © Deborah Dickson-Smith; sai ua (Thai pork sausage) © Tourism Authority of Thailand THE SOUTH Few dishes say ‘southern Thai cuisine’ more than khao yam paktai, a tart and salty rice salad with carrots, long beans, sour mango, pomelo, roasted coconut, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass and chillies. Pla tod kamin (turmeric fried fish) is another popular dish from this region. The fish most commonly used is pla daeng, a type of threadfin bream, and this is cooked to slightly crispy. CENTRAL THAILAND In central Thailand, it’s all about curries: massaman, kaeng khiao wan (green curry) and kaeng som (sour curry) star. Massaman is a rich, mild curry uniting spices not frequently used in Thailand – think cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, bay leaves and star anise. Kaeng khiao wan is made with coconut milk, while kaeng som is a spicy fish curry with tamarind.

THE EAST The eastern province of Chanthaburi is famous for its fruit production, especially durian, which is used in an incarnation of massaman. Chamuang leaves are another popular ingredient used in dishes such as kaeng mu bai chamuang, also known as pork belly curry with chamuang leaves, and tom bai chamuang, which is similar to the worldfamous tom yum soup.

#ROOFTOPBARS #DININGWITHAVIEW

Such great heights

While Bangkok is known for its rooftop bars, there are equally dreamy vistas to be found at venues beyond the capital. Discover nine of the best places to wine and dine with a view. By Deborah Dickson-Smith

TREEPOD DINING AT SONEVA KIRI, KOH KOOD You’re seated in a bamboo pod that is raised gently into the ancient rainforest canopy of Koh Kood; meals are then served via zipline as you gaze out across the coastline. This one-of-a-kind experience at Soneva Kiri is certainly taking fine dining to new heights.

RIGHT: Treepod Dining at Soneva Kiri RED SKY BAR, BANGKOK On the 56th floor of Centara Grand hotel at CentralWorld, Red Sky Bar is a treat for the eyes as well as the tastebuds. With a dazzling 360-degree view across the skyline and a sea of twinkling lights stretching out before you, it’s the perfect place to relax and indulge after a busy day of sightseeing.

LONG DTAI, KOH SAMUI Perched on a hilltop at the private island hotel Cape Fahn, chef David Thompson’s Long Dtai has sweeping vistas of the Koh Samui coast, equally beautiful by day and by night. The green-thinking restaurant only serves line-caught fish, and plastic straws and bottles are banned on the island. SAFFRON CRUISE BY BANYAN TREE, BANGKOK Want to dine on the ‘River of Kings’? Jump aboard Banyan Tree Bangkok’s newest culinary journey to enjoy the timeless splendour of the Chao Phraya River on a cruise, alongside a menu of Thai cuisine with an innovative twist and vibrant cultural performances.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Celebrity chef David Thompson’s Koh Samui restaurant Long Dtai; sweeping city views from Mahanakhon Skybar, Bangkok; Hua Hin vistas and funky furniture at Gravity Bar on the 24th floor of the Novotel Hua Hin © Michael Spencer; take in the view from the Chao Phraya River on Banyan Tree’s Saffron Cruise © Manoo Manookulkit

Dine with a vista of the ‘River of Kings’ from the 76th floor, or take a dinner cruise on the river itself to view the sparkling city lights.

MAHANAKHON BANGKOK SKYBAR, BANGKOK Soaring high above Bangkok on the 76th floor of King Power Mahanakhon, SkyBar is Thailand’s tallest dining landmark, designed by renowned architect Tristan Auer. Expect breathtaking vistas, classic cocktails and a curated wine list.

GRAVITY SKY BAR, HUA HIN Offering unparalleled panoramic views of Hua Hin from the 24th floor of the Novotel, the Gravity Sky Bar is a funky rooftop hangout with graffiti murals by Bangkok street artists, eclectic custom furniture that you won’t be able to resist taking a picture of, and a soundtrack of fun pop music.

THE JUNGLE CLUB, KOH SAMUI Set high on a hill on an old coconut plantation with sweeping views of Chaweng Bay, The Jungle Club boasts a menu of traditional Thai, French, Italian and Mediterranean dishes. Relax on a beanbag or in a bamboo sala and watch the sun set across the lush island.

SKY BAR BY LEBUA, BANGKOK If you’ve scrolled through #bangkok Instagram results anytime in the last few years, there’s a good chance you’ve seen this showstopper. Sky Bar is legendary – the crowning jewel on the 63rd floor of the Lebua State Tower – suspended atop a precipice almost 250 metres above sea level.

BABA NEST AT SRI PANWA, PHUKET More inclined towards relaxation than partying, Baba Nest offers an awe-worthy outlook over the Andaman Sea and the surrounding islands. Wave goodbye to chairs and bar stools: here you’ll sit on floor cushions while indulging in cocktails and a tapas menu.

THIS PAGE, FROM TOP: Jungle Club © Unsplash/Robert Eklund; Sky Bar by Lebua © Wimut Thammakesorn; Phuket’s Baba Nest

OPPOSITE, FROM LEFT: Thai Farm Cooking School; Blue Elephant’s chef Nooror

#THAIFOOD #COOKING Cooking up a storm

Thai cooking classes have become increasingly popular in recent years, and what better souvenir could there be than acquiring the skills to prepare your favourite meals back home?

WATCH

the Blue Elephant cooking experience.

MANY HOTELS AND resorts throughout Thailand offer fantastic, and often free, cooking classes for guests.

However, if you want to take your skills to the next level, some cooking schools offer more advanced classes, from multi-day courses to programs spread over months. At these cooking schools, your tutors will take you to local markets where they will show you how to choose the best fresh produce, followed by a stroll through the garden to pick your herbs. Then in class, you can learn how to handle utensils typically used in Thai cooking: a mortar and pestle, sticky rice steamer, fruit and vegetable carving knife.

Some of our recommended Thai cooking schools include Amita Thai Cooking Class and Baipai Thai Cooking School in Bangkok; as well as Blue Elephant, which has outlets in Bangkok and Phuket; Thai Farm Cooking School and Pantawan Cooking in Chiang Mai; and Ya’s Cookery School in Krabi.