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EARTH TO PLATE: Ultimate local food experiences in Thailand

Thailand has a punchy food scene ranging from scrumptious street food to fresh, hyper-local fine dining. There are many authentic food experiences on offer from local Thai cooking classes to […]

Thailand has a punchy food scene ranging from scrumptious street food to fresh, hyper-local fine dining. There are many authentic food experiences on offer from local Thai cooking classes to living at a homestay.

Here are some of the best earth to plate food experiences that true foodies will want to sink their teeth into on a trip to Thailand.

 

HOMESTAYS

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If you want to go right to the source of where food is produced in Thailand, try a homestay.

Siam Rise Travel, which has a community-based tourism ethos with a goal of preserving the Thai lifestyle, offers a number of homestays.

Just North of Chiang Mai in Ban Pha Mon, you can discover what life is like as a Karen farmer.

During your stay, you’ll tour the rice fields and terraces and learn about rice cultivation. You’ll also take part in a traditional cooking lesson with your host family.

If you’d prefer to be near the water, the company offers another homestay on the North Andaman Coast. Here you can immerse yourself in the local culture at a traditional Islamic fisherman village. You can soak it all up with local barbeque dinner on the beach.

TakeMeTour also offers a great range of local stays and tours.

 

HYPER-LOCAL EATS

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Thailand is home to some great hyper-local earth to plate style eateries that are a must for any dedicated foodie.

TAAN Restaurant in Bangkok, for example, prides itself on working closely with independent local farmers, whose high-quality, seasonal ingredients provide the inspiration for their ever-changing menu.

TAAN’s kitchen team, led by chef Monthep Kamolsilp, is dedicated to seeking out unique ingredients from across Thailand.

There’s also a special restaurant on Koh Kood Island called Benz’s. Chef Benz’ creations are inspired by ingredients grown on Koh Kood and neighbouring Koh Chang. The seafood all comes from local fishermen.

Another truly special local dining experience is the Michelin Starred Bo.Lan in Bangkok.

At Bo.Lan you can enjoy food inspired by Thailand’s fiery street food, home-cooking traditions and more refined ‘palace-style’ cuisine. Only the tastiest organic, locally sourced products are used.

 

MAKE YOUR WHOLE TRIP A FOOD ADVENTURE

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Intrepid offers an eight-day ‘Real Food Adventure’ packed with exciting and diverse experiences of Thai cuisine.

Highlights include eating ‘boat noodles’ in Ayutthaya to chowing down khao soi in Chiang Mai.

There will also be a chance to live Thai life from a local’s perspective with a homestay. Plus immerse yourself in the surprising world of Thai food markets.

The markets are filled with unpredictable tastes and found in unusual places like floating on rivers or on a railway track.

There is also a hands-on masterclass in central Thai cuisine in Kanchanaburi where you will browse the market to pick fresh produce before feasting on your creations.

 

GASTRONOMIC TOURISM

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Cause there are so many delicious places to mention in Thailand, HelloTaste is now an e-book that highlights those quirky exotic and frankly weird restauarnts and cafes you can enjoy. This includes Isan-style restaurants (where everything is cooked from nose to tail), a fruit cafe (fruitachino anyone?), fine dining establishments (for the modern thai taste), flower cafes where everything made is from flowers including cupcakes…YUM… I think.

This handbook will tickle your taste buds. No seriously, it will as there is a place in the book that serves up insects from the backyard.

Do your research and plan ahead as there are many places you do not want to miss out on. The new HelloTaste e-book is here for more ideas and inspiration on where to dine in Thailand.

What’s your favourite earth to table food experience in Thailand?