The Cuisine of North East Thailand [Isaan, Korat Plateau]

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Raw Crab and Green Papaya Salad


Larb (Spicy Minced Pork with Onion and Dried Red Chili)

Om Moo-very spicy prk soup with long bean, mini eggplant and mushrooms

Glutinous Hill Rice 

The food of the region is distinct from the usual Thai food that we are familiar with such as Tom Yum Kung and Pad Thai. It is much spicier. Few Thai restaurants in Singapore serve authentic NE food. Na Na at Aperia Mall Lavender St) does.
Photos below from left clockwise (1) Raw Crab and Papaya Salad.
(2) Lab: Spicy Minced Pork with Herbs and Dried Red Chili
(3) Spicy Pork Fillet, Mushroom, Long Bean and Mini Egg Plant Soup
(4) Glutinous Rice.
Thailand can be divided into 4 main regions. The central plains where Bangkok lies. The North where Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are, The South which borders Malaysia and parts of Myanmar. And the North-East ( known as Isaan or the Korat Plateau) with its arid climate.The region is the poorest part of Thailand which results in many male members of the population seeking jobs as migrant workers in Malaysia and Thailand, mostly in the contruction industry.
The region's largest town is Udon Thani. During the Vietnam War the airbase in Udon Thani was a strategic frontline location for the US Air Force and the CIA's Air America  to conduct operations in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Outside the airbase servicemen, lived in self-contained communities and enjoyed all the comforts of the American lifestyle. The region enjoyed a  period of prosperity with many shops, bars, niteclubs, minimarts and other small businesses set up to cater to the Americans. Inevitably there was inter-racial liasons with the local women, resulting in Thai-American children; and today in Isaan you can still see men and women with blond hair, fairer complexion and even Blue eyes. 








 

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