Hi Michelle

You may hear from many on the forum who do indeed love real Thai food when you make a specific post but you would be surprised at how many can not tolerate or even do not want to try because they can not take or they do not like spices at all.

It's understandable when I meet families with kids here and they tell me their kids will only eat Western food so they eat the food at the hotels or usual fast food places that can be found back home. I'm told by many that when they order Thai in restuarents that the kids (and adults) order basic and non-spicey stuff like fried rice and noodles just changing the kind of meats in the dish so they have some kind of variaty and do not get too bored untill their next Big Mac or Pizza fix.

I know it's difficult at many real Thai places with limited English menues or just pictures on the wall too order from without getting something that could be a tripple suicide dish by accident and nobody at the table can eat it.

Well I guess that with the shopping, nightlife, staff comunication skills and availiable non-spicey Western food this is why so many prefer to stay within the "comfort zone" of Patong. I can not believe how many posts I read from multiple return guests to Phuket who say they are bored with comming here yet they never venture outside of the main tourist areas and no real idea of what Phuket realy has to offer. I hope nobody gets offended but my Dad used to say "Only boring people get bored"

Enough of my rant about Patong as this post is supposed to be about food. If you like Thai food but have problems with the spices then spend some time and money at the better Thai cooking schools learning how to make the wonderfull dishes Thailand has to offer and at the same time learn how to cook them, adding or reducing the herbs&spices according to your own personal taste.

Happy Dining and Regards From Phuket

Richard & Megumi

Hi Richard
Thanks for taking the time to post a recipe,you may now consider yourself a fully fledged member of the club your merit badge decoder ring and xray glasses are in the mail (or not) as for the secret hand shake we can work on that over a few beers next time I get back there.Have just had a quick look at the link you posted looks great should keep me busy for quite a while.
Thanks again Regards RED

Thanks Richard
I do get it, and I do understand those with kids who wont eat "strange" food, but I must say every time I come back I get more horrified with the ever multilping "Fast Food" in Patong. I thought last year that 1 McDonalds was bad enough in Patong but to discover 3 there this year blew me away. I can honestly say that I have never eaten "Western" when I have been there to that end I also have not eaten Italian, Indian or mexican. Not that there is anything wrong with them but for me it "when in Rome do as the Romans do" Eat Thai!!!! Its funny that whilst we too get our dishes "less Spicy" (my stomach just does not survive) I love the food there, and interestly I am not overly fussed with the Thai we get here in Sydney (well western Sydney anyway).
Thanks for your imput

Michelle

Hi Michelle

The link that I posted is in responce too "Red's" earlier post here about hooking up with a Thai university dietary and cooking program. You will note that the university now has several of these Thai food cooking e-books published and availiable to download using the link I provided.

It would be an interesting thought to get a group together for a day of Thai cooking, eating & socializing over a few cold ones if we could ever get a group of forum members out there at the Thai Cookery School at same time.

Regards From Phuket

Richard & Megumi

Wouldn't that be a blast to have a day cooking with the forum members.........but yes not sure about the legistics of getting us there at the same time, but hey. My votes for Oct 2009!!!!

Michelle

Hi Michelle

I also think it would make for an entertaining day and a great social activity. Shoping at the market, learning how to make your favorite Thai dishes, a day of trying to chow down on the 6 daily dishes with a few cool drinks and have a bit of a lark with people from the forums. Keep chatting to your friends on the forums between now and your next holiday and maybe we can put something together for next October.

Regards From phuket

Richard & Megumi

Hi Michelle, Richard, & Red,
Now that sounds like a great idea and i am sure we could kick off something for the die hard foodies!!! We are in Patong next October for Queensland Aussie School hols so we will be in that if others are interested!!!!
Cheers, Pete.

Hi Pete

Michelle also travels during the school holidays and it looks like a forum member cook-off and social may be in the making.

Plenty of time between now and then to find more who would want to join in on the fun for a day of feasting and I guess it's just a question of refreshing the post every now and then. If enough guests could be rounded up I could go talk with them and see if we could organise just a rivate funtion for forum member?

Regards From Phuket

Richard & Megumi

Unfortunately I might put a spanner in the works at least for me for Oct (but we are not usually there during QLD Holidays anyway Pete) There is talk about July for us this year. Maybe we can get a few of these off the ground if others are interested. Maybe if we get a July one Cathy and Gary will join us!!! lol

Michelle

Could someone give me a recipe for Phad Thai, a good Thai version, and are the ingredents easy to get hear in Australia
Thanks Lorraine