Thai Cuisine

The Chance to sample some authentic Thai cuisine is one of the best reasons to visit Bangkok. Its astonishing variety of flavours and textures, which comes from a marriage of centuries-old Western (namely Portuguese, Dutch and French) and Eastern (think Indian, Chinese and Japanese) influences, ranks Thai as one of the best cuisines in the world.
The traditional Thai way of living unified people with their environment. Meals were communal events uniting families with the seasons. Rice is the main staple, accompanied by myriad curries and side dishes made from local ingredients. The pre-industrial custom of wrapping foods in natural materials persists today; labour-intensive desserts or savoury mousses are wrapped in banana leaves and the tops of coconuts are chopped off for a quick and refreshing elixir. Eating is a communal and social affair in Thailand. Once Thais sit together, they automatically take care of one another. No Thai dish is an independent one; they're all meant to be shared.