Showing 1 - 10 of 29
Ministry of pests
Life, Suthon Sukphisit, Published on 03/08/2020
» I find it very hard to believe that the Ministry of Industry has listed 13 widely used herbal plants -- citronella grass, neem, turmeric, ginger, Chinese ginger, African marigold, Siam weed or bitter bush, tea seed cake, chilli, Chinese celery, ringworm bush, glory lily and stemona -- as hazardous substances.
Prices up, quality down
B Magazine, Suthon Sukphisit, Published on 23/06/2019
» Of late, news reports state that vegetable prices are rising. This must be true. Three months ago I could buy some coriander and spring onion with 5 baht. But a few days ago, I had to pay 10 baht for a lesser amount of the same veggies. Not only are coriander and spring onion going up, but so are prices of other vegetables.
The non-national national dish
B Magazine, Suthon Sukphisit, Published on 26/05/2019
» Chinese food served in Thailand can be divided by Chinese language groups. The Cantonese specialise in roasted and grilled dishes such as roast duck, grilled pork, bamee moo daeng (noodle with red pork), and bamee rad na naw mai (noodle topped with bamboo shoots in gravy). Hakka Chinese are very good at preparing noodles served with pork balls and tofu balls. The Hainanese are famous for khao man gai (Hainanese chicken rice) and stewed mutton while the Suchow Chinese (Teochew) are experts in boiled and stir-fried foods.
Smokin' hot
B Magazine, Suthon Sukphisit, Published on 14/04/2019
» Nowadays people rely mostly on stoves fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) when they cook. But more traditional methods like charcoal shouldn't be overlooked. For certain dishes, charcoal remains the best option.
Only a prawn in the game
B Magazine, Suthon Sukphisit, Published on 31/03/2019
» If you were thinking of treating yourself to some fine freshwater fare, then giant river prawn might well be high up on your wish list. Be prepared to get the wallet out, though, because if you've ever wondered what the most expensive freshwater creature in Thailand is, now you know the answer.
Water way to go
B Magazine, Suthon Sukphisit, Published on 03/03/2019
» There was once a time in Thailand when the population was small and the waters were full of life. Today, the country has nearly 70 million people, but the number of marine creatures is decreasing all the time. In the past, people had respect for the seas, lakes, rivers and their inhabitants. We are not so conscientious anymore. There isn't enough concern about what our activities could mean for the future.
Spice as religion
B Magazine, Suthon Sukphisit, Published on 24/02/2019
» An old Thai national dish that will continue to excite palates long into the future is nam prik -- or spicy dip. Every region in Thailand has its nam prik with its own unique characteristics. It can be consumed daily and it's affordable. It's quite nutritious, too, despite some seasoning to spice up the flavours.
The perpetual protein
B Magazine, Suthon Sukphisit, Published on 10/02/2019
» Thais are experts when it comes to eating fish. This has to do with people's lifestyle since the old days, as their lives have always intertwined with rivers and canals. A variety of fish is easy to find. People don't even have to buy them because they can catch fish themselves. From experience, people soon learn distinctive qualities about each fish and what sort of food should be made from it, including how to season it and what kind of vegetables would go with it. Another mindset is to not let the fish go to waste. If a lot of fish are caught, they can be preserved to eat later.
Sister act
B Magazine, Suthon Sukphisit, Published on 27/01/2019
» Thai people just can't stay away from khao gaeng, or rice-and-side-dish shops. It's like a relative they have to see everyday. Most Thai people eat rice with side dishes for at least one meal a day. This is why these shops are everywhere. A shop in a good location, close to the office and transportation hubs and that offers lots of options can quickly gain in popularity.
Don't have a cow, man
B Magazine, Suthon Sukphisit, Published on 06/01/2019
» Today, people aren't eating as much beef as they used to. There are many reasons for this. Some feel cows are noble creatures that help and live with farmers, and it would be a pity to eat them. Some feel that beef is too expensive, up to twice the price of pork or three times the price of chicken. It's tougher to chew and digest. If you worship Ganesh or Guan Yin, it's a sin to eat beef.