Taking a trip to Bangkok? Here's a guide to help you pick & relish the culinary delights of Thailand

Bang Rak, Bangkok: Three days ago, wrapped in a white silky wrap I was enjoying a mild breeze and an extra slow fifties Thai song while an extraordinarily soft spoken Thai barber struggled to shave off my rough 9 days old Indian beard. The shop was full of the aroma of Bang Rak streetfood and right at this moment Sunilji (name changed) came to my mind. While I politely declined his offer to feed me paneer and Rajma in Bangkok, I remembered Mr. Manchanda, a co-passenger whom I met during my last visit.

It is so difficult for Indians to survive on Thai food though you find the best Indian Thalis in Pahurat. People here do not understand English at all and unable to understand their food, we practically starved. They do not have a concept of a vegetarian food in kitchen.

Hence dear readers, this space is dedicated to help ordinary Indian travellers understand and enjoy the beautiful culinary delights of Thailand. Any time of the day when you are hungry, you must keep your eyes open and you are sure to find twenty four hour convenience stores like 7 Eleven or Family Marts. If you are a vegetarian, look out for the red sign (J) which looks like 17 on the packaged food. These places are a one stop solution with sandwiches, complete meals, boiled eggs, bakery items ,steamed baos and cakes.I love their chicken with basil leaf meal and footlongs (spicy long sausages).

Few Street Delights
Freshly ground lemongrass, galangal, birds eye chillis and kaffir limes always achieve a sense numbing aroma. A perfect harmony of different tastes (sour, sweet, heat) derived from fresh chillies, salt and freshness of ingredients and herbs is an indicator of any successful Thai dish. And once you know a bit about Thai food the street of Bangkok is the place for you. It was my 8th time in Bangkok and streetfood in Thailand have never failed to astonish me with their authentic flavours and cleanliness.

Pad Gaprao Kai(chicken) or Moo( pork)
One of my personal favourites--this beautifully spiced dish is a stir fried meat cooked with holy basil and eaten with hot jasmine rice. A fried egg on top completes the meal.

Fluffy Thai omlette Khai Jiao
The omelette is often cooked with ground chicken or pork and is a beautiful combination with rice.

Khao Kha Moo
Braised to a delightful perfection, and cooked with egg, this sweetish pork dish is Chinese inspired and cooked with Chinese five spice.

Khao Man Kai
Mild boiled chicken with ginger chilli sauce in a clear soup and a few pieces of cucumber is another soul satisfying dish.

Roasted duck
Roasted duck with soft skin is cooked in a dark sauce and occasionally eaten with rice or noodles.

Tod Mun Pla
Fish cake flavoured with lemon grass is cooked with Knief fish which is a Bengali favourite Green mango salad with Crispy fish as another popular delicacy on the streets. But street food is incomplete without the meatballs made with various meats and fish.

Moo Ping
For pork lovers this grilled pork dish is a way of life. A version of Vietnamese Pho, noodle soups are everywhere in their many avatars.

Khao Neeo Mamuang or sticky rice with mango
A traditional dessert, the dish is cooked with sticky rice and coconut milk. This beautiful Thai mango dish never ceases to amaze me. And every street corner is full of fruit carts with the most amazing dragonfruits, mangosteens, ranbutans papaya and gauvas to satisfy your hunger in the humid heat.

Coconut delights
Flavourful homemade coconut ice-creams and jellyies served in a coconut shell and the sweetest coconut water wth tender coconut meat are a must try.

Khanom Bueang
Thin, tiny crispy and flavourful Kanom Bueangs are Thai crepes made with egg yolk, rice flour and coconut.

Thai Banana Egg Roti
It’s a deep fried sweet egg Parantha (Mughlai Parantha) with the fillings of caramelised banana and drizzled with condensed milk on the top.

And now if you ask me why I have not spoken a word about somtum, curries, Tom Yum soups or seafoods, I suggest you watch this space for more.