Thai Cooking Tips

Banana Leaves Enhance Fish Dishes


Summer means serious grilling for many of us. Stores are filled with all sorts of barbecue gizmos and gadgets, but I think simple is better -- so how about an easy cookout this Sunday? You still need to man the grill, but you won't be stuck there all day.

Grilling fish in banana leaves has been around for centuries. The leaves not only look beautiful, but lend a subtle aroma and a taste of tea and anise that complement fish. The leaf protects the fish as it grills and keeps it moist.

If your fish is fresh and/or very delicate, either use an oiled fish cage or place a piece of banana leaf over your grill. Cook the fish right on the leaf (instead of tin foil). The leaf will turn fragrant and will brown as you cook.

You can go minimal and season the fish with salt, pepper and a dash of olive oil, or coat it with an exotic spice paste. Then just wrap the leaf around it. Wrap the packet in aluminum foil to keep the outer leaves from burning.

Banana leaves also make a beautiful background on which to serve various tropical dishes -- excellent for party platters or finger foods. To keep leftover leaves for later use, simply enclose in an extra-large, self-sealing plastic bag and refreeze. If you can't find them, aluminum foil may be substituted in today's recipe.

Sang Som Thai Rum

Back In Stock! Sang Som Rum (700ml)

Impress your friends with this famous Thai spirit – perfect in cocktails for those warm summer evenings!

Sang Som is a famous Thai rum, 40% alcohol by volume. It is also commonly referred to as Thai whiskey. SangSom was first introduced to the market in 1977 and since then it has grown to be the largest selling spirit in Thailand. Whilst known as a whisky in Thailand, Sangsom is actually a mollases-based dark rum.

Having been distilled and mixed with a secret blend of herbs and spices, it is left to age for 5 years in oak barrels. Perhaps most well known amongst those who visit Thailand as the vital component of the "bucket", Sangsom can be enjoyed in many other cocktails.

Do You Dream Of Running Your Own Restaurant?

Raymond Blanc is back and in this time of recession and gloom has an exciting opportunity for all aspiring restaurateurs! The series had huge success last year on BBC TWO. Featuring Raymond Blanc and nine couples who battled it out over eight weeks, the show is coming back for a third series.
Raymond Blanc will once again be giving couples the opportunity to try their luck as restaurateurs and seeing if they can rise to the challenges he throws at them. We are particularly looking to feature a Thai or Anglo-Thai couple living in the UK who are passionate about cooking Thai food and are seeking to promote their country's cuisine within the UK.
BBC 2 want to hear from any couples who think they too could run a restaurant. Married, friends, siblings, relatives, partners, colleagues – anyone over the age of 18 can apply. Experience of a restaurant or catering environment isn't necessary but whether you're a chef or a cleaner, a waiter or writer, Raymond wants to hear from people who are passionate about food and the dining experience.
People can apply via www.bbc.co.uk/restaurant or by emailing therestaurant@bbc.co.uk or calling 03700 104 515.

Health Benefits of Thai Food

Dining in the UK is, like so many aspects of modern life, sometimes a compromise. In days gone by, when gender roles conformed to long-established stereotypes, a housewife would prepare a full, cooked meal for the family to share in the evening. These days, when it is more likely that both partners in a relationship will have careers, time is at a premium and many begrudge time spent cooking after a busy day at work. Consequently, takeaway food and restaurant meals account for a larger part of our diet then ever before.

While many of us avoid the kind of fast food that we consider to be junky American imports, such as burgers and greasy fried chicken, we do not seem to be so aware of the health aspects of other cuisines which, although established, are also relative newcomers to our shores.

Health in diet and lifestyle is a modern obsession. We shy away from overdoing the very obvious unhealthy foods. We limit our intake of cakes, sweets, chips, but we are less wary of eating Indian and Chinese restaurant meals or takeaways – perhaps several times a week – even though, at the back of our minds, we know that these are often as full of fat, sugar and salt as the more obvious junk foods.

» read on

Fresh Thai sweets now available

You can now purchase these wonderfully tasty Thai sweets. They are freshly made in Thailand and imported in on a weekly basis.

These include:-

Kanom Chan, Layered Dessert: A steamed coconut layer rice cake eaten cold, cut into cubes. This keeps for a week or two in the frigde and can be made well ahead of time.

Kanom Luk Chub, Sweet Beans: Kanom luk chub are marzipan-like sweets made from a paste of steamed green beans mixed with thick coconut milk, sugar and water.

Khanom Kluay, Banana Pudding: Steamed banana pudding with coconut. As with many dishes in Thailand, this is less sweet than western desserts, making it quite a healthy dessert to eat.

Med Kanoon, Jackfruit seed in syrup: Made of mixture of mung bean or taro, coconut cream, sugar and egg yolk (Duck egg). Formed in an oval shape and dipped in egg yolk (Duck egg).

Thong Yip, Picking Gold: Thong Yip is popularly made on propitious occasions since its name begins with the word 'thong' which means gold and the Thais believe that gold, which symbolizes fame and wealth, will bring good luck to them.

Thong Yod, Golden Rain Drops: Thong Yod is an ancient Thai dessert served in auspicious ceremonies. It is in a popular family of desserts consisting of 'Thong' (meaning 'Gold') in their names.

A Guide for the Gastronomically Timid British Newbie

A surprising number of us Brits are still very wary of "foreign food". Despite claims that curry is now as much an English national dish as roast beef or fish and chips, there are still many people who are missing out on flavours they never dreamed existed. Whether we like it or not, the British palate is not renowned for its sense of adventure. Our indigenous cuisine is universally regarded as bland and, apart from the odd dash of mustard or horseradish sauce, hot and spicy are not qualities easily found in a traditional British meal.

Still a relatively novel cuisine to many British diners, Thai food offers a visually appealing alternative to the more familiar Indian and Chinese foods. With its wide range of flavours, Thai cuisine can cater to both the conservative and the adventurous palate. This article describes some of the flavours, and some of the heath and social benefits of Thai dining.

read on ...

Thai Food Online Facebook Group

Love it, or hate it, Facebook is here to stay. So we have now created our own Facebook group, where both customers and people who have an interest in Thai food can exchange ideas and recipes. You can also participate in discussions about Thai food and Thai recipes.

So this would be a great way for you to meet similar people like yourself who share a passion for Thai food!

» View the Thai Food Online Facebook group