Foods of Thailand

If I really posted what I ate on my trip to Thailand this year, it would look an awful lot like last year's food post because the conversation this time often sounded like this...

Mom:  What would you like me to order for you?
Me: Som Tum
Mom: But what else?
Me: Som Tum
Mom: You need protein, what about chicken....
Me: No, just Som Tum
Mom: That's not food.  They have chicken pad thai.  Chicken laab? Chicken fried rice?
Me: Som Tum please, and some fruit and veggies.  No chicken please.
Mom: grrrrrrrrrr. 

What I learned from spending all this time with my parents is that mothers are mothers forever--even if you are 37.  Truly, I never experienced that prior to the trip because here, I can order my own food.  And do you know who won the above conversation?  Of course.  I ended up with chicken of some kind or another on my plate. 

Those who know me well may be saying, "But you eat chicken Mary"  Ha.  Maybe American sterilized, mass-produced, tasteless but toxic chicken that has all bones, skin, fat chunks and reminders of its former animal state removed.   And after watching Food Inc, even that is up for future re-evaluation.  Here's the thing I learned.  Naturally raised, non GMO chicken, tastes like, well a chicken I suppose.  Much healthier I am sure, but not so much a fan. What I am a big fan of though is Italy and tomatoes. 

I met Guiseppe about 5 years ago when I went out to visit him and my aunt and cousin at his house on the Italian Riviera.  Lucky, lucky man.

And now that he's living in Thailand, he brings a little slice of his home with him.  Am I embarassed that I ate a bit of Italian and drank vino every night?  Not really. OK, maybe just a teeny, tiny bit but look...

And check this out...who in their right mind could turn down DQ when presented with these flavor combos?  You have to try right?

It wasn't even close to as good as the real thing.  One of the biggest culinary delights of the trip was by far one of the simplest....