The true taste of Thailand

THERE’S NO better time than the hot season to check out some of Thailand’s best-loved treats and CentralWorld and Central Chidlom are now offering foodies the opportunity to savour such delights as mango and sticky rice and khao chae in their annual food-hall event “Taste of Thai”.

Running through next Tuesday, the festival also aims to celebrate Thai culture and traditions.

“We help to preserve the value of Thainess and our cultural; heritage through royal Thai cuisine and desserts from the country’s most famous restaurants,” says Phattaraporn Phenpraphat, vice president of marketing and public relations of Central Food Retail.

Those restaurants include Jim Thompson, which offers khao chae (cooked rice soaked in ice water and eaten with condiments), khao yam jazzberry (spicy rice salad with vegetables) and mee krob (sweet crispy noodles). Mangkud Cafe by Club Arts presents look chub ob kwan thien (imitation fruits smoked with a candle), bu lan dan mek (Thai traditional dessert), chor muang (steamed dumpling), kleeb lam duan (Thai shortbread cookies), khanom jeeb Thai tua nok (steamed bird-shaped dumplings), and woon krob nam matoom (crispy jelly made of dried bael juice).

For its part Khrua Chom Suan features khao krieb pak mor (steamed rice-skin dumplings) and guichai paeng sod (garlic chives folded with new-milled flour), Blessing Thai Desserts in Nonthaburi serves khao niew kloy (sticky rice with yams), and Poomhiran with 13-colour herbal sticky rice.

“Khao chae is one of my favourite dishes,” says MR Nibhanophadara Yugala. “Formerly, Thai people enjoyed it as an appetiser during the summer and were refreshed by the jasmine-scented water and such side dishes as deep-fried shrimp paste balls and American stuffed chilli as well as exquisitely-crafted vegetables. These days, khao chae is a rare dish so it’s great to find it here.”

“I love Thai desserts very much, especially khao niew moon (sticky rice with coconut cream),” says Suwara Sanitwong na Ayutthaya. “It’s especially nice topped with coconut custard and mango or mixed with jackfruit.

“I love Thai fruits and also enjoy delicate Thai desserts like chor muang and kleeb lam duan,” says transgender net idol Mussamont "Mezs" Chansiri.

In addition to the taste of royal Thai cuisine and desserts, the food halls are handing out a Bt1,000 voucher from Jim Thompson Restaurant to 10 people who come to the event in traditional Thai dress and post their photos on Facebook, Instagram @tops_thailand then hashtag at #centralfoodhall #topsthailand #topsmarket before April 30.