All posts filed under: THAILAND

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Recipe | Thai Fried Rice with Fermented Fish ‘Pla Som’

  Today’s recipe is an interesting fried rice dish contributed by Utchi – owner of the popular cafe ‘Little Sunshine’ in Bangkok, which is known for its delectable healthy homemade dishes.  Utchi’s version of the popular fried rice is made using ‘Pla Som’ fermented carp fish – a star ingredient according to Utchi “Fermented fish is one of my favorite ingredients. Besides the probiotics found in fermented food, it’s also bursting with flavors, especially in this fried rice.” Let’s start cooking! Ingredients: 2 fillets of  ‘Pla Som’ – Thai stinky fish, fermented with salt and glutinous rice. (You can add more as per your preference) 2 cups of cooked rice 1/2 teaspoon of chopped ginger 1 teaspoon chopped garlic 1 teaspoon chopped green chilies Oil for frying Salt and Pepper as per the taste 1-2 eggs 1-2 teaspoons of fish sauce Mixed green vegetables (used here, local veg from Chiang Mai called Chiang da veggie) Chopped scallions (optional) coriander for garnish 1-2 squeeze of lemon ‘Pla Som’ – Thai Fermented Fish | Source : mgronline …

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A Chat With Utchi, Founder of Little Sunshine Cafe in Thailand

As we continue to explore local cultures around the world to grow this community, one of our friends from Chiang Mai introduced us to this charming cafe in Bangkok and recommended it as a must-visit on a trip to Thailand. This cafe called ‘Little Sunshine Cafe’ and managed by its founder Utchima Sriprachya or Utchi, is known among the locals for its menu full of Healthy and Delectable dishes. And not just the food, this cafe is also loved for its warm homely environment – an important USP of ‘Little Sunshine’ Cafe. “We want our customers to feel like they are at their friend’s place, having home-cooked food – creating a familiar warm ambiance that is hard to find in a restaurant.” ~Utchi, Founder, Sunshine Cafe We chat with the founder Utchi to know more about her journey, her food philosophy, inspiration behind her cafe, and more. Hi Utchi, so nice to be having this chat with you! Please introduce yourself. I’m Utchi, founder of Little Sunshine Café. I’m actually a dietitian, graduated from the …

Faces | A Day Spent at Chok Chai Farm,Thailand

“Me and my friend were passing through the Khorat province of Thailand, when we accidentally spotted a farm and decided to pull over and check it out. We discovered that it was the popular Chok Chai Farm – that houses in numerous animals like cows, sheep, horses, chickens and more. We decided to stay back there for a while. Most surprisingly, we even got to experience milking the cow, feeding the sheep, riding horses and basically watching the animals being on their own. We had an amazing time!” @t.prang  

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Faces | Traveling Like a Local In The City of Chiang Mai, Thailand

  “On a hot afternoon in Chiang Mai, my friend and I were wandering about and exploring the old city area of Chiang Mai. All we needed after walking around in the sun for a while was definitely a cold and fresh coconut drink. On our way, we spotted an alley with lots of graffiti wall art and a phone kiosk along the lane. To the locals, this phone kiosk might look vandalised, but to me, it was this super cool spot with an amazing aesthetic appeal to take a nice photograph in! Plus, my coconut drink seemed like the perfect prop to use in this picture to blend in with the city and get a real sense of the life out here. Why not travel like a local but take pictures like a tourist, right?” ~ Manki Lai, @ohmanki

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Amelia takes us to the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

See elephants as they should be seen at the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai. R&L’s newest contributor Amelia from the UK (and based out of Thailand), takes us on a virtual tour to this beautiful elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand. She shares how she enjoyed her day out in the wild, spending quality time with the rescued animals in their natural habitat, and relished her Thai vegetarian buffet lunch. Thailand’s Northern Province of Chiang Mai is an incredible place to see wildlife, boasting an array of exotic animals that are specific to the region. But what separates the Elephant Nature Park from the rest is its commitment to the welfare of the elephants – a movement against keeping elephants in confinement for human amusements. There is no riding here and each elephant’s needs are individually assessed and prioritised. For those intending to visit the park, the itinerary, travel details, and cost set out below is what you can expect from a one day tour. Itinerary: The day begins with elephant feeding, visitors stand on …

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Recipe | Thai Green Papaya Salad (Som Tum Thai)

Here is a special salad recipe from Thailand – a Green Papaya Salad called as ‘Som Tum Thai‘. It has a sweet and spicy taste, and is made of dried shrimps but can be prepared with fermented fish or crabs too. Usually served as a side dish and is equally mouth-watering for a savory snack! Ingredients: 1 whole green papaya (shredded) 4-5 red chillies 1-2 cloves of garlic 1 tsp of palm sugar (you may also use brown sugar) 2 tbsp of dried shrimp 1-2 long beans 1/2 cup of cherry tomatoes 1.5 tbsp of lime juice 2 lime wedges 2 tbsp of tamarind juice 2 tbsp fish sauce Roasted peanuts Preparation: Wash and peel the papaya and shred it finely. Keep it aside. Now, in a mortal and pestle (hand grinder), put the chilli and garlic and grind them finely. Add in the dried shrimp, long beans, cherry tomatoes and grind it again. Next, add the lime juice, the lime wedges, tamarind juice, fish sauce and mix it all together. Add the shredded papaya …

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Using Art To Heal | Meet Artist Phatchara Pantanakul From Thailand

Art has many purposes. As one of the greatest goods of human experience, art is used to teach, to urge, to challenge, to serve, and even to support a revolution! 29-year-old Thai Chinese artist Phatchara Pantanakul uses art to heal herself. This is her story.  What inspired you to turn to art? I went through a lot of stress at work. I had been relentlessly working in front of a computer, day after day, for six years. I couldn’t focus on anything, and that’s when I finally decided to quit my job. And suddenly, there was a lot of time on my hands.I decided to give myself some rest. I also began to draw again to treat my Major Depressive Disorder symptoms. I spent my time reading and going out for long walks. Gradually I picked up my interest in drawing again, and so began my journey towards healing my heart. Art was the best thing I did for myself.  I remember that I was always interested in drawing and coloring since I was in pre-elementary school. …

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Happiness and Health in a Loaf of Bread | Meet the Couple Behind Craft Bread, Bangkok

  Haven’t we all heard the saying: big cities harbour bigger dreams? So then, what made this couple set up a beautiful bakery in a tiny village about 30 kms away from Thailand’s biggest business hub, Bangkok? We’ll let Angsumarin Lauruengtana ( age 35 ) and Nikorn Sripongwarakul ( age 35 ), founders of The Craft Bread, speak for themselves. Tell us how it all began : how you met, and how you guys started Craft Bread. Angsumarin : We met at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand, where we both majored in Film and Photography. After we graduated, Nikorn worked in the film industry  as director of photography, and I joined the airline industry as a flight attendant. We were friends for many years before we became lovers, and we finally got married in 2010. My husband Nikorn, later joined me to build ‘Craft Bread’ together. It all started when we began making bread with our own hands. We enjoyed the learning process and got better at it, loaf by loaf. Like all handcrafted products, we think that making good …

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Lady Behind ChanChalee’s Embroidered Crafts | Natchalee Kongcharoen from Thailand

Our foray into discovering Thai entrepreneurs never ceases to amaze us. From innovative cafe owners to passionate bakers, and even baristas making a big difference in their local communities, we have just scratched the surface. Every new story tells us something more about the Thai brand of resilience and patience. Today, we bring a new face into the mix. Meet designer Natchalee Kongcharoen, who is the founder and designer of ChanChalee. What is ChanChalee all about? ChanChalee was founded in 2016 as a clothing store.  At present, I am a graphic designer by profession. My work on ChanChalee works as a secondary source of income. But it’s my primary source of inspiration in life. I am also inspired by natural fiber fabrics. Most of my design ideas come from just touching the natural fabric and thinking about the kind of embroidery that will look the prettiest on it. It also feels good to adopt a clothing material that has been manufactured in an environmentally conscious way. “I am also inspired by natural fiber fabrics. Most …

Of Kindness, People and Food | Meet the Founders of Barefoot Cafe in Chiang Mai, Thailand

We have been stumbling upon quite a lot of pretty little cafes and coffee houses in and around Thailand. We especially love the small cafes and  coffee shops, as they have the most interesting offerings and stories. So today, we are having a chat with the founders of ‘Barefoot Cafe’  – a quaint little cafe in Chiang Mai. Meet Sathita and Tasasin, owners of the Barefoot Cafe in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Before we talk about your cafe, enlighten us a bit about yourselves. Sathita : I’m 27, originally from Bangkok, but moved to Chiang Mai when I was pretty young. I graduated from Chiang Mai university majoring in Literature. I have been selling homemade (baked) stuffs ever since I was in high school. After graduation, I began working as an assistant for a Japanese artist for a year before opening this restaurant. I was also an exchange student in Germany for a year. I then attended a self-reliance course at PUNPUN organic farm and that’s where I learned about nurturing the deep connection between humans and nature. I like traveling …