Thailand is known for its amazing treats and flavor combinations. The popularity of food is shown as you walk down the street, with a restaurant around every corner. In fact, you can find one about every two hundred feet, the Thai cuisine served at each may be the same, but will not always taste exactly alike. This is because they seldom measure anything; each cook will enhance their dishes to their tastes, leading to subtle differences in the same food. What’s even more interesting is the popularity of food has gone beyond just eating; there are touring companies that specialize in taking tourists through restaurants in Bangkok.

There are many dishes attributed to Thailand, but not everyone realizes how many of the amazing Thai cuisines truly originated here. Most coffee and tea drinkers through the world combine their drink with Biscotti, but seldom realize this is a well known Thai treat. Fried bread is another, once falsely attributed to American Indians. All in all, Thailand has borrowed some dishes from other countries, but given each a unique blend with their own spices, adding or subtracting things others may use to make them theirs. Fried rice is a perfect example, though originating in India, Thai recipes use curry, soy and oyster sauces mixed with pineapple or even coconut to give this easy dish a totally different flavor.

Rice is a common ingredient in Thai cuisine, and is included in pasta recipes as well. In fact, pasta in Thailand are made with rice, beans or eggs, making them not only tasty, but healthier than the yeast and flour noodles relied on in other parts of the world. Recipes calling for noodles have more flavor than you might expect, helping to add to Thailand’s reputation for great food, and each dish looks as good as it smells and tastes.

Not all Thai dishes are complicated blends; some of the more simple dishes can be just as delicious as the more difficult ones. A perfect example, steamed rice with a coconut milk drizzle and half a mango make a delectable dessert. Another simple, but delicious dessert is small cakes made with cashews and almonds. Nuts are a widely used in Thai cookery, not just desserts, as well as condiment toppings.

With the sea so close, Thai cuisine takes advantage of nature’s bounty, mixing fresh seafood with rice or noodles. A favorite delicacy, shrimp is often used in both salads and fried rice dishes. In Thailand, a chef would seldom use salad dressing; they would prefer fish sauce on salad. A good example of both traditions would be Tom Yum Goong. It is a clear soup made with lemon grass, hot pepper, lime juice, kaffir lime and fish sauce, the main staple being the shrimp.

Thailand is infamous for powerful curries and stronger then usual spices, though coconut milk can be used to ease the heat in some of the spicier foods without losing the flavorful experience you’ll come to expect. Naem is one of these volcanic dishes; it is made with pork sausage, and served during a kantoke dinner at a low table. Kantoke dinner is basically a dinner theater, with nightly performances reminiscent of royal galas held in the past.

Still skeptic about how important food is in Thailand? Bangkok boasts a whole sixty-three restaurants, while Thailand has claim to over four hundred eating establishments. While touring this amazing and culturally rich land, tourists are guaranteed a great dining experience, with many taking memories and perhaps even some great Thai cookery recipes from the visit.