THAILAND

The essence of Thai cuisine is contrast as well as harmony. Sweet, sour, spicy, and salty play a balancing act together where one flavor never supersedes the other. The diverse climates of Thailand, from the mountains in the north to the seaside in the south make for an equally diverse Thai menu. Influences that are centuries old come from both Eastern and Western countries. Coconut milk, seafood and fruit all play an important roll in this cuisine.

Eating and enjoying Thai food is easy to do. This cuisine has become immensely popular around the world in the past few years, to my delight, and there are many great Thai restaurants to enjoy across America. A typical Thai menu, like the one I've put together below, should consist of soup, salad, something crispy, something hot and spicy, and something sweet. Enjoy!

Appetizers
Thai-Style Aromatic Grilled Beef Salad
Sesame-Crusted Chicken Strips with Lemon Dipping Sauce

Soup
Coconut Lemongrass Chicken Soup

Entrees
Sea Scallops in Sweet Chili Sauce
Pad Thai Rice Noodle

Dessert
Sweet Sticky Coconut Rice

Lemongrass

Palm Sugar