Souperchefanna Travels | Celebrate Thailand
“Every trip, whether you board a plane or travel vicariously….., should have an element of surprise and discovery. What new foods have you fallen in love with while traveling?” says author Emma Christensen.
Her beautiful words are a constant reminder for me to celebrate all experiences, to rekindle old love for familiar favourite foods and to open my heart to new tastes. I could still remember vividly my first visit to Bangkok, it was in 2006, a surprise trip planned by the hubs for our 5th wedding anniversary. Bangkok certainly lived up to its reputation as a travel hotspot in Southeast Asia, boasting a plethora of night markets and floating markets offering tourists and locals numerous varieties of street food. The streets marry the traditional and the modern as ramshackle buildings crouch next to magnificent holy shrines, overlooked by modern skyscrapers and offices.
- Snapshot of street foods at the Chatuchak Market
Fast forward to 2015, we were back again, this time to celebrate my 40th birthday. It was memorable, a mix of the old and new. Time seem to have stood still at some of her famous eating neighbourhoods with the best duck noodles, or pad thais served in shophouse restaurants and street vendors. The mushrooming of many hipster cafés definitely added a twist to their modernization, which further reinforces Bangkok as a magnet for food lovers. During this trip, I was reminded of why Thai food is one of the most popular foods in the world, colourful and very varied in tastes. To me, thai food is always and forever food for the soul, tickling our tastebuds with contrasting flavours-sweet, sour, spicy, very spicy and extra spicy sometimes all at the same time in one dish.
- Snapshots of traditional Thai food, always spicy, sweet and savoury !
Snapshots of popular Thai food ranging from red curry to oyster omelettes to coconut icecream. All comfort foods!
Scene at one of Bangkok’s eating streets
- Hipster cafes and third wave cafes, hidden well curated spaces with vintage decor and furniture and are now the rage in Bangkok
- Cakes, coffee and cafe food in well curated spaces contrast with the traditional comfort food of Bangkok sold in shophouses and back alleys
This April, Thailand celebrates their new year, traditionally with the Songkran Festival. Everyone greets one another with the traditional greeting ‘Sawadee Pi Mai’, which means ‘Happy New Year’! We join them in their celebrations, with food! The souperinspirations I have created are but a few snapshots of what I had experienced, freshness, its magical flavours and contrasting textures, its vivid colours. The process of putting them together is like collating a personal culinary diary. It is also a celebration of traditions inspired by my food experiences and travels bringing Thailand to your table. It is a blessing and joy to bring this part of the world to our kitchen, to you. We proudly present The World In One Kitchen – Celebrate Thailand.