A wonderland of basic isaan food

Oh, here it is the last month of the year and it seems we're in the same old basic, but delicious rut here in isaan. Somtam, I probably have it 4 times a week and chicken just as much if not more. BBQ pork in one from or another is another staple. Vegetables in spurts , I really enjoy the grilled eggplant and even mixed grilled or boiled veg. Enjoy the album of some of the places and meals in ecember in isaan.

Menu Neua Restaurant an Isaan Food Moment

Menu Neau is just about 1 year old now, a new place on Beung Kaen Nakhon and I have been a customer since they opened. The thing, or one of the many, is it is family and local orineted. Some nights the old guys, my age will sit  for hours nibbling and si and otherspping from the bottle of Johny Walker or Thai whiskey.
During Songkran past it really became Isaan Live Headquarters. The Tourism Authority of Thailand directs westerners to what is called Soi Khao Ngiaow for the holiday  It is in Khon Kaen near the major hotels away from the beung where songkran is celebrated by families, sort of old style. The restaurant was a great place to watch cars and people and many many families taking a break for a meal as can be seen in this post and others like the video happy hips. The food is good and the service is Isaan style. So find out for yourself at Menu Neua on Beung Kaen Nakhon in Isaan

Isaan Breakfast, a real good cold weather start to your day in Thailand

Kwaiy Jaeb or any of the other spellings is right up there with Khao Tom and the rice soups on a cold morning in Isaan or anywhere in Thailand on a chilly morning.
This lady has been in business for years. On a Sunday morning she and her assistant go on non stop from 0600 to noon, or the early to bed folks to the truly hung over Thats and gg and a half, plus plenty of meet and noodles. 15 years ago the price was 15baht, it has now jumped to 25 baht for a huge portion.

October in Isaan in Food

there may be floods and whatever else might befall isaan, but there will always be food as well. Here is a tour of the foods I consumed and visited last month in Isaan click on the up arrow in the lower right corner to view full size

It might Flood, But I won,t starve in Isaan 20.10.11

I have been all over Isaan the Past month, chasing floods and whatever else. Here are a few of the foods I have eaten in the past couple of weeks And there is a lot not posted. Fine fine vittles there

Fine dining Mukdahan Isaan

got to Mukdahan had a quick meal on the quay, shot boat races, took a nap, watched the rain shower and then headed to the Mukdahan Ninght Food Market. I have posted, photographed and shot video there for years and never get tired of the best night food market in Isaan. Had a rib snack while I was there.

Faikid Hotal and Food Amnat Charoen, Isaan, Thailand

I arrived in Amnat to late too find a new place to stay so ended up at the Faikid. It's wifi has been borderline at best in my few previous stays. This time it was useless and I ended up on my GPRS, and no posts. After a beer in the room I really needed food and with great trepidation ambled out to their restaurant. There is nothing else in walking distance. I sat down ordered a beer and the waitress anxiously looked around for my business manager to arrive. Eventually beer, glass and ice arrived at the little table, not near enough by. I finally convinced someone that today would be an ideal time to open the beer. I then asked for the "Lai Gahn Ahaan".
I was told it was not in English and I pointed out that that would be fine as I assumed no one there could read any language. I ordered the "yahm thalee woonsen" and she just stared at me. The folks at the next table were starting to get interested and when I spelled yahm for her in Thai they lost it, she got embarrased, and was replaced by someone who could speak and read Thai. Dinner was Ehh at best and overpriced.
Breakfast, such as it was, came with the room. Toast, but no eggs. Coffee, instant, in a shot glass. And khao tom, rice soup in a coffee cup. I think it was weenie khao tom.
This is why I try not to stay in Hotels. To be fair the staff at the hotel are polite and as helpful as their training allows. I have also spotted some alternative places to stay and will be putting them in a map soon

Krua Pheun on Beung Kaen Nakhon in Isaan

This place features Karaoke, Dining-room and outside dining options.
It just finished it's 12th anniversary promotions. The staff is usually chirpy and helpful and I am sure there are more promotions going on. It has been tough around the beung with the rains and flooding and it looks like we are going to lose some good eateries around the are. So lets get back out to check out the places that weathered the storms

It's a Non-Vegetarian Festival in Khon Kaen, Isaan for now 30.09.11

I have been reading about the Vegetarian Festivals going on. So far in Khaon Kaen the Chinese and everyone else are munching on whatever we like. I have been told that there is a festival starting on the 27th at the Chinese shrine. We shall see

Korean BBQ in Khon Kaen, Isaan

All you can eat for about 100 Baht, depending on which place you patronize. And some are huge. You can also get a set-up delivered to your hose or for a party. At the restaurants the BBQ burner, a clay pot  full of charcoal with a circular grill on top. The outside ring is indented to to hold water\soup and the center convex for meat and seafood. Once you see it it's as easy as how am I going to eat all this?. At home the pot of charcoal sits on the floor or on a table.
It is great for groups and kids love it because ice cream usually comes with the deal at the restaurants. All this and music too.

A sad Eat Isaan Post 27.09.11

Yep, Rain again, Thanon Rohp Bueng flooded. Death to Civil Engineers in Thailand. It sort of like the heavenly chorus are all on diuretics.

An a man gotta do what a man gotta do. So out the street in flip-flops (not pictured, get ice and "Khao Man Gai" and beer in front of the TV.

Sad so Sad in Isaan

Dinner in Sakon Nakhon Isaan, Thai Food 15.09.11

Of course I stopped had a beer caught up with Hans, who gave me a couple locations where wax candles were being constructed and then went out to the road to see what was on offer, food wise, and wisely I chose. A number of places seemed to be doing a pretty good business. I spotted one about large enough and about half full. Families, couples and some take away going on. Sat down and waited to see whowould get stuck serving me. It turned out to be young son in his scouting uniform that was quite relieved when I ordered my beer Chang in thai and asked for the "lie gaan ahaan".  I can spot yaams, and somtams, and this and that and decided to give this little neighbourhood place the big test- Yaam Thaleean Woon Sen. Would the squid bounce?

It was brilliant, everything cooked to perfection and just the perfect HOT.
Beside the squid were goong and hoi and a large portion it was. So once again starvation beaten away in Isaan.

PS beer, ice and food Baht 120.

sunday suki in isaan

A lovely couple enjoying the music and the food and the art at menu neua restaurant in khonkaen isaan

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Sunday Dinner in the Jungle in Isaan

It's amazing that much of the hot spicy food of days gone by is no longer as prevelant on the dinner tables in the villages, town and cities of Isaan. AS the people I know get older and older, pretty much over 50 or more they are being told by doctors to lay off the hot and spicey fare.
Somtam and some of the other hot foods will never disappear and is seen throughout the day. A kilo of khao ngiaow and a large bowl of somtam make a very inexpensive meal for a large family.
Anyhow last night meal of fish, pork, veg, a soup and an omelet along with a number of beverages was a fine way  to celebrate the weekend end.

Food at the OTOP Fair in Khon Kaen, Isaan, Thailand

No Fair, Festival, or event of any type can take place in Isaan without food and the OTOP Fair at Queen Sirikhit Convention Center is no exception. If you are in the area, enjoy the stuff and stuff your face. If you can't make it you can join the Isaan Live Podcast on Saturday 3 September at about 0600 Khon Kaen time. Click on the up arrow in the lower right hand corner of the album for a full screen view

Wednesday Dinner in isaan 31.08.11

Laap moo, somtam, khao ngiaow and Chang

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Fish and Somtam in Khon Kaen Isaan

Never starve in Isaan and a little background music. 

This is to try out "audioboo"

Food near Beung Kaen Nakhon in, Khon Kaen Isaan

Perhaps Episode 11 of the Isaan Live Podcast will be about food. Find out Saturday and if you not seen Episode 10 yet take a look.

lunch in mahasarakham isaan on the 17th

Khun biar the head if the computer department was kind enough to invite me to lunch

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

ides of august dinner. in isaan

Chicken soup, somtam, khao ngiaow and isaan champagne

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

and tonights special in khonkaen isaan

Nua nam toke, somtam khao ngiaow and a beer Chang apertif

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

sunday Dinner in isaan 31.07.11

Soup day jour, salad, khao ngiaow

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

geezer evening special Dinner isaan

When i was a kid i remember the "senior special" at 5pm and real people ste about 8pm.
At one of my locals i have a 200 baht special.2 large Chang, ice, and food, sort if my geezer deal

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

A simple meal in the Village, Nong Khai Isaan

It doesn't take much when a few friends get together in the village to put an outstanding meal together. Fried chicken, somtam, some vegetables and a couple tom yaam plaas

food again #bkkfatty 23.0711 isaan

A squid salad and somtam with hoi, beer on the side. Saturday evening graze

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Asalha Puja, That Phanom, Isaan, Gotta Eat

With all the folks arriving to make merit the local food stalls were ready to make sure no one staved. And one did not need to go far, these folks were set up just across from the front gate of That Phanom.

Friday Night Nibble-athon in Khon Kaen Isaan

Rain was heading this way Friday Evening, so I made my way over to my "local". Now this is a real local like in Ireland or England or in the old days in the USA. This is the place where everyone knows your name. This is a Thai local, and the odd westerner is more than welcome.Anyhow I just wanted to sit and graze and bullshit with the folks for a few hours. So anyhow for the next 3 hours I just sort of grazed and joked with my neighbors at "Menu Neua" in Khaon Kaen

friday evening isaan snacks

A little chicken, a little seafood, a bit of beer

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

tom yaam gai, khonkaen, isaan

The house tom yaam

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

Beung Kaen Nakhon, Khon Kaen, Isaan, Evening Food

Along the Northwest shore of the lake food and other stalls appear every evening to provide food and beverage to the starving isaan masses. The nice thing about this night food market is that it is off the street and sitting in the shade along the lake is a bit more pleasant than sucking carbon monoxide roadside.

It's Food not Foodies in Isaan

(click on thumbnail to view full size) I see Photos of Isaan and Thai food for that matter that in no way resembles the food I eat daily in Isaan. I see the "I Love Somtam" sites or whatever and wonder what would happen if some of those people ever visited Isaan, what they would say. Even here in Isaan there is a range of somtams on the table. In a given town or village there might be any number of somtam sellers and everyone in the village will have their favorite. If you are a regular the stall will know your preferences and "designer somtam" is on the way. In my case my locals know I like plenty of tomatoes and that's how I get it.
The same thing is true of most Isaan and Thai foods. Laap (click on thumbnail to view full size) another Isaan regular is different from shop to shop. You have to remember that Isaan people "Live to eat" not "Eat to live". (click on thumbnail to view full size) Food is a social event whether with family or friends or friends and family. (click on thumbnail to view full size) There are as many different marinades for gai yaang as there are villages in Isaan.
I don't know if there is a correct way to do any Isaan or Thai food, all I do know is I can enjoy meal at 1 place and find it completely unbearable at another.
If you come to Isaan learn to try the same thing at more than 1 place. What you might not like at restaurant, or food stall 1, you might find more to your liking elsewhere.
I've made myself hungry, Bye for now.

Decisions, Decisions and it's just Tuesday Food in Isaan

Okay, so I have to go 10 meters to look for food. Sorry mobile pictures and I am vibrating with hunger. No Khao Mun Gai tonight, and not another roti gai. Have fruit in the fridge and  and no fish or animal balls tonight. And the winner is-------- Laap Phed, duck laap ( duck laap)and khao niow and a bit of paak.
Good night Y'all.

Food in Isaan or I'm in Heaven

Phad Thai 30 Baht

I understand that there may be people that live more than 20 meters from a restaurant. There may even be people that do not have more than 30 places to eat within 100 meters.
I just don't understand how a person could live under such squalid circumstances. Just think, it's lunchtime and not having a choice of 30 or 40 things to eat would be terrible. And if those choices were more than 5 minutes away that could be dire.
I recently read an article online about the best places to drink a bear. How silly the best place to drink a beer is the one within 5 minutes. This is isaan and in 15 years I don't think I was ever more than 5 minutes from a beer.
And food phads, and phats and toms and yaams and yaangs and plaas. In Biology I thing we called it "TNTC" or too numerous to count.
You all stay in your Bangkok or Pattaya or Koh Whatever. It can't get any better than Isaan

My food month in Isaan, May 2011

Usually have my my phone cam with me and if you follow my blogs see plenty of food posts.
So here is a look back at food photos from the past month. They make hungry hope they do you too.

>Isaan Dinner 25.05.11

Just a quiet dinner out with a couple folks, but not to shabby for a boring Thursday evening. Fish, laap, somtam, squid salan, khao ngiao and of course beer

Mukdahan Night Food Market 13.05.11

The night food market in Mukdahan has been an institution for many more then the 15 years I have visited. It is located on the road in front of sala klaang, the provincial office building. Some years back the road was under construction and the market was moved for some months and completely changed the face and feel of the city. Every evening 100s of food sellers long with lottery ticket, clothes and an assortment of other sellers set up an a couple hundred meters of road to provide the evening meal and assorted their needs to the ggod folks of Mukdahan. Last night was a quick fly through as intermittent showers have been passing through the reqion and I lost another umbrella.

Sticky Rice, khao niao, khao ngiaow a Users Guide

I thought everyone in the universe would know how to eat sticky rice, but have learned just how wong I am. Recently in both blogs and twitter posts I have read some amazing khao niaoodditiess. And most amazing I have actually seen a person eating khao niaow with a spoon.
Khao niaow geoes well in Isaan' poor soil and is realatively inexpensive and for years was a satple on the Isaan mat ( sit on the floor to eat). Now a days many middle class I saan folk have broken away from the humble grain for the more lofty beautiful rice, khao suay.
So here we are, no cheicken or fish tonight but both are fresh and delicious. Pictured below are somtam and Laap Moo. Now the somtam might look a bit strange to those of you who have not experienced Isaan or Laos. This is the real deal and "NO! it will not blow your socks, or sandals off. Laap, larp, laab comes in many flavors; duck, chicken beef an pictured here pork.
Now each food, whatever you are having comes on it's own plate while each diner gets their own plate and if soup were involved bowl as well.
Now a days some people will put a bit of food on their plate eat with the spoon and dip the khao ngiaow into the juice. The rice is take from the basket. Oh yes this is the way khao niaow is generally served, in individual baskets. Traditionally this was all done with the ball of rice and food in the same finger full.. My somtam I prefer traditional style, while the laap I prefer by the spoonful with the bite size ball of rice sopping up the bits.
But it all goes down quite well with your beverage of choice. Bon Apatite

click on the up arrow in the lower right hand corner of the album to view full page

breakfast in Nong khai, isaan

Kuai jab and more at third busy little shop

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

dinner with friends in khonkaen

Gai mun, Neua nam tok, somtam

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

isaan sunday brunch

Laap somtam gai mun perhaps I might be in a bit of a rut

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

light lunch in khonkaen

Tom gasm and somtam. Laying off the khao ngiaow go the day

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Yaam on the Lake

yep, back to Beung Kaen Nakhon and Yaam or spicy salad. Remember Tom Yaam Is spicy salad soup ( boiled) and a green salad is usualy calad either saalat or phaak saalat.
These folks are always great to have a chat wit, and very nice to buy food from. Not to hot just right

gai yaang khao suan kwang khonkaen

This is the recipe from gai yaang village north of naam. Pong. And now available in downtown khonkaen

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Songkran can make you hungry

Songkran is for families and after a few turns around Beueng Kaen Nakhon folks build up an appetite for a sit down and a bite to eat. Here are a few of the families taking on a bit of energy, before celebrating more songkran here in Khon Kaen.

songkran lunch gai mun somtam and Chang

Old MSN like me needs my energy

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

thaifood songkran break

In khonkaen isaan

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Prawns, shrimp goong other crushed asians and squid as well, thaifood in isaan

Here you see squid being turned into shoe leather.
Squid which takes about a minute to be cooked either on the grill or boiled is left to become the equivelant of rubber soles in either place after a few minutes. I love squid and when I see this I wince..
I have shown friends how to cook squid and once they have tasted something they can actually chew they quite enjoy it andwill try to cook it that way, especially at "Koree" BBQs wher each person is in charge of  creating the meal. There are restaurants in Isaan that do know how to prepare plaa meuk correctly and they are among my favorite Which brings me to my question for all you gastromes and cooking sites out there and it is all about tom yaam or according to wikipedia "tom yum".

When my tom yaam goong arrives absolutely perfect I  easily extract the meat from the shell and pop it in my mouth. The same with other crustaceans, fish and cephalopods. But 5 minutes later, suprises suprise I cannot get the damned thig out because it is overcooked. Now some time ago I started taking whatever seafood was in the soup out after arrival and re-insrting a bit as I ate. The goong are perfect through the whole meal as are the squid or whatever else is in there that should not be over cooked.. Now a Thai friend whose restaurant I was sitting in asked me what I was doing and I gladly explained. He has now tried my system as well as some of his friend and they swear by it.
Now my question to all you ffod blogs, thai food sites and thai food cooks is why do you want us eating over cooked crustaceans and other seafood. And why have you never brought this up. And why does the secret to perfect tom yaam or yum have to come from some plonker in Isaan.
Never mind my squid is tender and I have no trouble sucking my goong out of it's shell.

lunch after a very long morning

In Baan phue enroute return to tha bo area 6hours and a bunch of sites

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Village Lunch in Nong Khai, Isaan, Thailand

When someone who owns a fish farm and also raises chickens and pigs invites me to lunch the first thing I do is find out what time and where, before picking up a few beers. The fried fish was delicious and the pork, but so was everything else. Life is sure a bugger when you have to eat Isaan style. Nap time now. It's dirty work but someone has to do it.
mobile photos from HTC Legend

a tom yaam evening in khonkaen

My run amuck weekend before songkran

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Restaurant Chem Gai Yaang Khao Suan Kwaang, Khon Kaen

This new place is located on Ammat next to the Chan Tour bus park.
Simple menu with Gai Yaang, Khao Suan Kwaang a famous chicken type in the area. The recipe comes fom a village north of Naam Pong on Mitthraphap Hoghway, know as Gai Yaang Village. Also served Laap Moo and somtam. The Laap was one of the best I have had, not salty. The somtam is not for sissies, but is not hot, note the crab parts in the photos. Beer is available. It is now 1 of my regular stops.

Sunday lunch 3/4/11 khonkaen

Map location an write up soon. The laap moo is brilliant, and I am not getting thrown out

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Saturday penang and Leo

Back at krua sri saard even though it'd 4k not 400 meters

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

out of khao tom and joke

So It's noodles Saturday warm up to laap and Leo day

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

much needed sunshine for sun dried pork and beef dhet diaow

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

simple village fare

Late lunch in Mancha Khiri

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

maa muang maa

Or you might say the mango is in season. Here 35 baht a kilo

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Thai Breasts, Size Matters

The King of breasts in Isaan is Gai Muun (rotisserie Chicken) Juicy big succulent breasts attached to golden brown bodies heated from the in and outside

There is nothing wrong with Gai Yaang, aka chicken on a stick , aka BBQ chicken if you are not into hot succulent golden breasts that Gai Muun provides.

Gai Yaang in pieces or half or whole chicken consists of the usual tiny little brown breast found all over Thailand. Nothing wrong with nibbling on a little breast,but Gai Muun gives a man a breast he can truly wrap his lips around and enjoy with a friend or alone any time of day or night, with his beverage of choice.

moo manaow

A new dish at menu Neua restaurant in khonkaen kaen

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Food at Wat Pa Baan Tad 03,21,11 album

today marks the 50th day since the death of Luangta Maha Bua and I was told the crowd was nearly as large as it was Saturday and Sunday.As always those who knew Luangta best are there to feed whoever arrives.

service center at khao suan kwaang

Has good food
And no shortage of chicken in a village nicknamed gai yaang village

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7