I miss Lao/Thai Cuisine
My friends often ask me if I miss my mom’s cooking? That’s like asking me if I miss my mom. If it’s not because of Darly’s food blog, I might not remember what a real Lao/Thai food look like. I think Tum Buk Houng (papaya salad) is the only thing that I’m fixing that qualifies for real Lao/Issan food, anything else that I’m cooking is a combination of Lao/Thai/Chinese/Vietnamese or might even have a hint of American food.
When I read what Ed, Laoplanet’s visitor from Thailand wrote “…Even though I’ve seen Pong Lang Sa On here I’m jealous of you all! They put on a great show.” I’m thinking to myself, that’s nothing to be jealous, I should be the one jealous of him living in Thailand, if nothing else, definitely the food.
Do you know what a Thai Restaurant is like here in the town that I’m living? You’re eating at an Authentic Thai Restaurant, the menu is in English, you order your meal in English language because some of the server can’t speak nor understand Thai language, and sometimes you might get an American server, in a Thai Restaurant of all places.
One of my American friends once asked for American food because she saw it on the menu, the server didn’t even bother to look at me nor notice my black hair/Asian looks, she said “you know, they can’t really cook American food here.” Well, when I got my Thai food that they can cook, because it’s Thai cuisine, it tasted more like Chinese food. I think it’s somewhat comical, but when I got my bill, it’s not funny anymore because they over priced their food, I guess they’re charging me for what is printed on the menu ‘Authentic Thai Cuisine.’
But not all was bad, when I opened the door; the atmosphere was somewhat there, the aroma of the spices of Thai cuisine, the decoration of Thai Artworks, photos of the King and his family were hanging on the wall, and also the Thai country music was humming a song about a broken heart or something, which I’m not too fond. I used to like Thai country music when I was little; I wonder when did my taste in music change.
As for one of my American friends that went with me, she said “That’s a cool song,” I looked at her, somewhat amused by what she said, but she has that look of sincerity and that innocent look of a child, either like it or don’t, sort of look that you don’t need an approval from other people if your music is cool or not. I think as I got older, I sort of lost that innocent feel or look, might be because I’m hearing or seeing too much of the world.
Back to the atmosphere of the restaurant, I guess the smell, sound, sight and somewhat of the taste were all there, it somewhat helps to alleviate the feeling of homesick…I can’t wait to go back home.
Ginger that's funny about them "charging" you for the authentic Thai cuisine! I hate going to restaurants that claims they are authentic because usually it's not! This is horrible, but I have to admit that when I go to an "authentic" place I ask them two things: who is cooking and how is the food prepared. When I ask who's cooking I'm trying to ascertain if it really is a Thai cook! Then I ask about how the food is prepared to make sure it is done properly. Like if fish sauce is supposed to be used then I don't want any substitute like salt. This is horrible to admit but I always stress to the waiter that I don't want my food to be Americanized! I want it authentic!
The Thai restaurants in our area are owned and operated by Laotians on the most part. Even my aunt runs a Chinese restaurant and brought cooks from Laos, for the authenticity part. They are Chinese people living in Vientiane so you get close to having a real Chinese restaurant. But most of the dishes have been altered for the American people.
As for the Thai Restaurants. They are over-priced because there are only three in the area at the most. My parents hardly took us out to restaurant because they think it is a waste of money. They can cook at home for less and for better food. The last time my siblings took my parents out to a Thai restaurant that is suppose to be like the best in Kansas City area, the food was horrible. It was too salty my brother said. Then the server asked if my parents wanted rice along with their food and was charged extra for it. I think that is too much to charge extra for the rice, especially when the price is so high to begin with.
I have been to this restaurant a couple of times. First time with my teacher because she loves Thai food. I didn’t agree with the price either. The second time I went there the food was not that great either, too salty and too spicy. I didn’t read between the fine prints and didn’t see that they included tipping in the bill for party of three. There were four of us but I went ahead and gave extra tips. I used to be a waitress for a few months during my first year of college so I know how hard it is to wait on people and even give tip to people that don’t deserve it.
One funny thing is that we could hear the cooks talking in the kitchen in Lao. I think it is Lao people in the US that make Thai cuisine famous. Someone should write something about this. In the end we were too ashamed to admit where we come from and took an easy way out and say that we are Thai since people know about Thailand.
But the fact is that people know a great deal about Vietnam and the Vietnam war. We could have used this to our advantage and spread Lao identity and culture because all you have to do is to relate Laos to Vietnam.
I forgot to add that I am homesick at the moment. Not so much homesick of the second home in the US but the first home in Laos. I keep thinking about Lao dishes that I didn't get a chance to eat or the fruits that I used to love as a little kid.
I can see myself going to Laos every year for a visit to recharge my energy. Now that I have found my Grand-Mama and my aunts I have more connection to Laos. Before all I have were relatives from my mother's side of the family.
The food still tastes the same, like the French bread with all the good stuffing or what I know as Khao Ji Pate. Narm Varn Lod Chong is still delicious like I once ate it as a kid.
Maybe I'll go work or volunteer in Laos for a year. At least I can have all the Lao food I want to eat, the real Lao food that is.
Hi Karmadiva, I’m not very fussy about my food, but I do miss my mom’s cooking. I often meet one of my former co-workers there for lunch, might be 4 times a year or something like that. I think if I ask that many questions, I’m afraid that the cook might get piss off and spit in my food (because I’ve known of people that had done that), so I normally get my food as is, might just ask them to make it extra spicy, plus the town is very small, you know the cook and owner.
Hi Darly, I’m wondering if your Grand-Mama (I’ll even try to call her the way you do, with you Lao Northern accent) and Aunt would adopt me, I’m not a very fussy person and can sleep anywhere. I need to go back to Laos to recharge my *Lao* energy also; for 1 month stay, I’ll have materials to blog for 1 year
I always long to go back and as I get older the feeling seems a lot stronger.
Lao family also runs one of the Thai Restaurants in this area. I think the Lao name is not well know, so people tend to shy from it, it’s a business decision that they made which I don’t blame them for it, if they’re successful in what they’re doing then I’m happy for them.
One thing that I’ve noticed about Lao people running a Thai Restaurant is that it’s not as prosperous as the Thais running it, I’m not sure if it’s the authenticity and variety of the food, or just that we’re walking a step behind them all the time (sort of walking in their shadow), and also borrowing the Thai name for something that should’ve been ours. My 74 years old boss loves Thai food, he eats there all the time and said, “Its Lao food, you know that, I eat there because she is a sweet lady.” (I’m hoping that he’s not trying to hit on her *cross my fingers*)
Hi Ginger,
Better yet, why don't we go together? We can spend two weeks in Vientiane and then two weeks in Champassak Province with my uncle's family, the one we are helping building their school. It's not so far from the Lao-Thai border.
In Vientiane there are two houses we can stay at I am sure. We should stay at the one with my single cousin. The other house there are only my aunt and my uncle-in-law and Great Aunt. The kids are working and studying oversea so it is too strict for us, hehehe. We have to be with people our age so we can stay out late.
Hi Darly, I will definitely take you up on this one. Right…we’re party animals; definitely need to stay at a place that we’d have our freedom…lol.
Start saving. Who knows I might make you a few batches of tum mak houng or in your case tum buk houng, hehehe. Trust me, we need our freedom and wanted to be out past 10:00 PM.
I sense a lot of jealous people out there…boy-o-boy I feel so special.
I don't know about that. You might have to share a room with me. I bet
my niece in Champasak will want to sleep in the same room with us too.
Last time she wanted to sleep with me but since I slept in the same
room with my parents, her father won't let her. She's only four and a
half but such a bright kid. She talks so much though. I hope the two of
us can keep up with her. I know I can't.
My uncle can cook and you saw his works at Laocuisine.net. Wink, wink. We will be fat for sure.
I have to warn you though that I talk in my sleep, according to my siblings and my parents. My youngest sister said one time she asked me what I was giggling about and I told her not to wake me up because I was in a middle of a good dream.
It's going to be an interesting road trip through Laos for both of us. Too bad I have never seen Thelma and Louise but I bet we will have a better adventure. Let's see if we can blend in like Lao Nai (Lao inside Laos).
We can stay over night at the fish farm if you are not afraid and can help my cousin fish the fishes in the morning. Make sure to get a good camera and enough memory cards.
Hey Darly and Ginger! I'm not fussy about my food, but if I've been good all week (I'm always watching what I eat!:) and I go to a restaurant to treat myself I want to enjoy my food! You are right I'm always scared people will spit in my food if I fuss too much, but I ask them sweetly and nicely. I don't want them to get all pissed off and stomp back to the kitchen to "fix my food" if you know what I mean. I used to be a waitress in college too at a Chinese restaurant and I would get mad at customers who were really picky. Since I know how hard it is as a waitress I too always give a tip even if the service is not up to par, but if they are downright rude then I don't. Hey you two I am jealous! I would love to go visit Laos and spend time with my grandma and relatives. I was born in Vietiane so I would love to go there. That would be awesome to submerge ourselves in our own culture! I could write a book! You guys might have to put me in one of your suitcases and take me along!:)
Hi there Karmadiva,
Don't be jealous. I am sure you can come along too. All we need is Salat and we can have some fun now. No guys allowed okay. Unless they want to sleep in the living room or something, hehehe. We can have like LP gathering in Vientiane. That is my home town too.
Hi Darly and Karmadiva, I think it’d be great if we could go together (including Salat if she wants to.) I do have to say that I don’t have any relative living in Laos, and I think that’s one of the reasons that deter me from visiting Laos all these years, bad excuse I know, lack of money might be a better excuse. It might be hard for me to blend in with the local, I kind of walk with an attitude sometimes, and a bit fast like New Yorker, you guys might have to give me a crash course on how to walk like a proper local because I don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb.
Also, you can’t blog about my sleeping habits because I’ll deny it, what ever it is that I’m not aware…lol. I’ve never watched Thelma and Louise , aren’t they a bit crazy? I hope that by then the school will be completed and I definitely want to visit the National Library of Laos.
You gals are very funny. Thelma & Louise drove their car off the cliff in the end, I doubt they survived. But it's a fun movie to watch.
I would love to go visit the school kids, see all these historical Lao sites, pretty golden temples, and eat as much fruits as possible. Not in any particular order.
But I don't think I can take a vacation for more than 3 days, I tend to miss my very comfortable bed and other creature comforts of home. I used to be a better camper, but I think age has caught up with me :) Plus I just might start sleep talking too!
Haha Ginger! I walk fast too. In fact I always leave people behind because they can't keep up with me. I'll be walking and when I turned around nobody's there and I'll be talking to myself because I've left them in the dust! My friends always say I walk fast for a short person. I think I'm just impatient!:) Hey you sleep in the foetus position like me! No wonder we get along! Similiar personality! Darly what about you what is your sleeping position? If we all could go together that would be great! Do you think Laos is ready for us crazy people with big mouths?:)
Hi Salat,
No taking economy bus for you then. I did that with my aunt on the way back from Pakse. I had to go "teye bao" on the side of the highway at midnight when they made a stop. My aunts and uncles in Laos said they were shocked to see that I was not picky about anything and ate whatever were put in front of me. They didn't think I would make it having to use the old fashion toilet and handwashing my clothes in Champasak.
I thought I would be put off by seeing all the flies at the market. But for some reason it didn't bother me one bit and I just went with the flow.
Of course I had to share a room with my parents and I didn't have to since there were more rooms in the house. But I just didn't make a fuss. The last time I slept in the same room with my parents were during the refugee years.
To Ginger and Karmadiva,
We will get along fine. When I was in Laos people said to me why do I walk so fast. My walk gave me away they said. Even though I talk and act just like most people there, I walk like the others that have been living outside Laos. They said when Lao students went to study abroad they walk faster than the average Lao because they don't want to waste time.
I also walk fast by the way for a short person. My boyfriend, Johan has to remind me at times to slow down a bit when we are out shopping around. I have learned to slow down a pace a bit so I bet you two are faster walkers than me.
As for sleeping position, I sleep in all the positions, except for the one with the face down at Nye's blog. It depends on the situations. During undergrad years, I slept in a soldier position becuase I was on top of the bunk bed and I didn't want to fall off so I laid flat.
Lately, I'm in a foetus position combine with yearning to hang on to a pillow. I also sleep in a star fish position so I don't have to put pressure on my arms. I'm a strange person.
Hi All, I’m late to a party, I’m not sure where to start. I guess our sleeping position tells a lot about our personality, it'd make sense as to why Karmadiva and I’d think a long the same line. I also share something in common with one LP members also
(it’s a secrete, I can’t tell, hehehe) and surprisingly our personality is very similar. I’m sure we all have something in common. I don’t know if Laos is ready for us, but I know I’m ready for Laos, ready or not, we're going there! 