Klong Toey Fresh Market

Here we are for week 232 (06/11/2015)  of Travel Photo Thursday and a photo tour of Bangkok’s Klong Toey Fresh Market. I’ve been traveling in and out of Bangkok for years. Sometimes I stop for a few days, and other times I just breeze right through. Unusual for me, but this past Christmas found me in Bangkok. I did a fab cooking class, which I wrote about here. However, before we donned our aprons, we did a tour of the Klong Toey Fresh Market with Poo and her assistant. I’m not sure why I’ve never visited this market before and was thrilled to have the chance to wander through with my camera and an excellent guide. There is nothing that you don’t see at this market, and you may find that a couple of these shots leave you a tad squeamish.

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The Klong Toey Fresh Market is so large that it seems like a little village within Bangkok. Remember, it is the largest wet market in the city! Anywhere you walk in the Klong Toey district you will end up at the market. There is absolutely no way you can miss it. There is nothing you can’t find here; from fresh fruit and veggies to stationary and everything in between. Finally, the place is always packed with people. You’ll never be lonely here.

This first shot is in the outside area. Restaurant owners/employees roll those big wicker baskets around filling them up with their daily purchases. Everything is fresh, fresh, fresh. Don’t get in their way because they are on a mission!

The number of Thai dishes and food is mind boggling, but if you have an idea of what you’re looking for you will leave Thailand with some fantastic culinary experiences to talk about, and maybe even a dish or two that you can make at home to impress friends and family. When you’re in the Land of Smiles I highly recommend that you try each of these awesome dishes at least once.

1. Phad (sometimes spelled phat) Thai. This dish is a favorite among foreign visitors and when you taste it for the first time you’ll immediately understand why! Invented by a Chinese-Thai chef back in the 1930’s, you’ll find this in any Thai restaurant, but the best is almost always found in a street food stall or a small ‘hole in the wall’ restaurant that stakes their reputation on ‘their’ version. Usually available with a choice of chicken, pork, shrimp/prawn, or vegetarian. I don’t think I have ever seen it offered with beef.

Sometimes it even comes with an egg wrapping (like this one).  I had  this egg-wrapped shrimp phad thai (above) at the women’s prison restaurant in Chiang Mai. Well worth a visit if you’re in the city looking for a good, inexpensive lunch. The outdoor food court at Chiang Mai Gate (right on the moat) is also home to a vendor that makes the best seafood Phad Thai I have ever eaten. I don’t have a photo of the stall, but it’s on the outer edge, and it says something like “Seafood Phad Thai” on the sign. However, here’s a photo of the dish. I loved the fact that they served it on a glass plate with ‘real’ cutlery. The tablecloth was a nice touch too. I think this one sold for about 40Baht a plate.

Welcome to week 220 of Travel Photo Thursday. I spent this past Christmas in Bangkok doing one of my favorite things…cooking school! You may have done a double take at the title, but yes the name of the cooking school is Cooking with Poo, and the lovely owner and brilliant cook is Poo (short for “Chompoo” or rose apple). Poo takes any teasing about her name in good stride, and is always quick with a joke or a funny comment. Enjoy today’s tour of her cooking school and the delicious food that was made (some of it by me) last Christmas Day.

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Poo and her assistant waiting for the final students to arrive. We all met in the same place, so that kept any confusion to a minimum.

Welcome to week 219 (03/19/2015) of Travel Photo Thursday. Thais love their Khanom Wan Thai (dessert). This week I want to introduce you to one of my favorite Thai desserts, Ruam Mit. In fact, it could be my favorite! Sold from a family run stall in Chiang Mai’s Chinatown Wararot Market, I always make my way here every couple of weeks when I’m in Chiang Mai.

And…don’t forget to add your own link to the Travel Photo Thursday line-up…

Return here and place your link in the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post.

Please post a link to a post featuring a travel photo, not simply a link to your blog.

The Twitter hashtag for Travel Photo Thursday is #TPThursday.

As a courtesy, please post a link to Budget Travelers Sandbox.

Please, don’t forget to leave a comment below. 

Finally, if you have a few minutes, do visit and enjoy the Travel Photo Thursday posts from those who have linked. Share the love!

Ruam Mit is a (delicious) mixture of a variety of different sweets, and (YES) vegetables. Floating in this delicious concoction, which has a faint flowery aroma, you will find tapioca balls (boba), corn, red beans, chunks of sweet potato, strips of shredded coconut, and (very sweet) gelatin strips. The mother and daughter team who run the stall, which is located just outside the entrance to Tom Lam Yai Market make huge stainless steel bowls of ruam mit everyday. I have never seen the stall empty of customers. I am sure it must be one of the most popular food stalls in the entire market, and rightly so!

Taste of Thailand Food Tours

Wherever travelers wander in Bangkok, they’re surrounded by amazing food and local culture. However, the two aren’t always that easy to bring together, especially if you only have a few days in this fascinating city. Don’t despair, Taste of Thailand Food Tours are experts at uniting real food, real people, and a real community. You’ll be amazed at how much food, culture, community, and fun can be packed into four short hours. In this week’s Travel Photo Thursday (our 209th) photo essay I share my food tour experiences as we navigated Bangkok’s historic Bang Rak neighborhood; “The Village of Love.” On a side note: In case you’ve ever thought of getting married in Thailand, Bangrak is the most popular neighborhood for issuing marriage licenses, which peaks annually on Valentine’s Day 🙂

To join in the Travel Photo Thursday fun simply post a photo on your blog.

Return here and place your link in the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post.

Please post a link to a post featuring a travel photo, not simply a link to your blog.

The Twitter hashtag for Travel Photo Thursday is #TPThursday.

As a courtesy, please post a link to Budget Travelers Sandbox

Taste of Thailand Food Tours

Booking and paying for your tour is easy with Taste of Thailand’s online booking system. All tours begin at Saphan Taksin BTS Station (Exit 2). Tee, our guide for the morning, was ready to start promptly at 10 am. After a few quick pointers, our group of 10 was eager to savor our first tasty morsels.

Curry puffs were the first item on our tasting menu, and we didn’t have far to go. Six flavors are on offer, and we each chose two. Decisions, decisions! I ended up sampling a mushroom and a coconut. Both were mouthwatering good, surrounded by melt-in- your- mouth homemade puff pastry that rivals your mama’s and grandmamas.

Curry Puff Vendor/ Open 7am-12pm/ Saphin Tasksin/ BTS – Exit 3

This is my contribution to Foodie Tuesday, hosted by Inside Journeys. If you missed last week’s Foodie Tuesday, have a peek! 🙂

The Ping River divides Chiang Mai, and many visitors never make it over to the “other side”. However, it’s easy to get there, and well worth the trip. You have a choice of  one of several bridges, or you could probably even swim. Swimming would not be my first choice!  The Ping River does not look particularly appealing! I generally walk (a pleasant 30 minute stroll from the old city), and then I can justify eating more! However, I’m sure any tuk-tuk or songthaew would get you close.

Quite a number of  lovely restaurants line the banks of the river, and there are also a number of local shops selling antiques, and traditional Thai products. Really though, I am digressing. I am not taking you shopping today, or to a restaurant along the river bank. We’re going to a charming restaurant just in behind the main (and very busy) street that serves up some of the best curry in Chiang Mai…Hinlay Curry. I have been eating here for years, and it’s always high on my “to visit” when I arrive in town.

You can choose sit in the open air restaurant or among the greenery in the garden. I love the garden area, but have just realized that I have never sat in the garden and eaten a meal. I have no idea why! This is a very good reason to go back…EAT IN THE GARDEN!

As you can read, the prices are excellent!

Closed on Sunday

Hinlay’s relaxing garden setting.

Dishes are cooked as ordered, so remember this is not MacDonald’s. You may have to wait a few minutes, and when your curry does arrive…hmmm. You can read a book, or entertain yourself with your phone or tablet. Free WiFi is available. Of course, if you’re dining with someone this is the perfect opportunity for some scintillating  conversation!

Read a book while you’re waiting.

Like most restaurant menus in Thailand, there is a lot on offer. I tend to waffle over the main dish before making that all important decision. I often like to try something new, but then my favorites start whispering… I’m here, I’m here…

The Massaman curry is one that I have a difficult time resisting. Teeming with potatoes, cooked just right, and the sweetness of the curry is just so yummy. This is the perfect curry for anyone you can’t tolerate a lot of spice. I’m thinking of my friend Suzanne 🙂

Hinlay’s awesome Massaman Curry.

At the other end of the spicy spectrum is the vindaloo curry. I remember the first time I ever ordered it. The server looked at me in disbelief … “You know that’s really really spicy?” “I sure do. Bring it on!” was my happy response. I could tell by the look on her face that she was doubtful I could pull it off.
I devoured the entire bowl, and lived to tell about it. The spice level was high, but not as hot as I thought it would be. The spice combined with a hint of sweet was a delicious assault to my taste buds, but definitely not a curry for those who flush at just the thought of spice!

Hinlay’s spicy beef vindaloo curry.

Did you notice that there is no rice on the table? Rice is good, but I find that I always end up in a carb coma afterwards. All I want to do is sleep. That’s the first reason that I opt out. The second reason is that Hinlay’s make the best garlic roti and naan. I switch it up. Sometimes naan, sometime roti; always garlic. Their out of this world yogurt and cucumber riata is the second reason. Combined with the garlic naan or roti, you have perfection. The riata is just a little tart, and that is a great complement to the garlic.

Location and Map

8/1 Nha Wat Kate Road, Soi 1, Chiang Mai/Phone 053-242621

“B” marks the location, right next to the luxurious 137 Pillars Hotel

Hinlay Curry House on Facebook