Quite a selection

Here’s another interesting one. These are literally deep-fried flowers (dawk mai tawt [ดอกไม้ทอด]). Apparently these are a Hmong specialty and these particular ones were found on the island of Koh Kret. Koh Kret is basically in the middle of the Chao Phraya River as it runs through Northern Bangkok. As you can see from the vendor selling them, there is a vast variety to choose from. I have no idea what kind we chose although my friends that ordered them may have. I didn’t bother to ask them at the time. Despite the variety to choose from, I imagine that they all taste pretty much the same–just like their light batter coating.

I found another site with a list of edible flowers. There was probably a good number of these available at the stand I saw:

ดอกคาร์เนชั่น (Carnation), ดอกเดย์ลิลลี่ (Day lily), ดอกอิงลิช เดย์ซี่ (English Daisy), ดอกเฟนเนล (Fennel) ,ดอกนัชเทอฌัม (Nasturtium), ดอกคาเลนดูล่า (Calendula),ดอกบี บาล์ม (Bee Balm), ดอกคาโมไมล์ (Chamomile), ดอกไวโอเล็ต (Violet), ดอกกุหลาบ (Rose), ดอกโรสแมรี่ (Rosemary), ดอกลาเวนเดอร์ (Lavender), ดอกไลแลค (Lilac), ดอกแอนิช ฮิซซอพ (Anise Hyssop), ดอกการ์ดีเนีย (Gardenia), ดอกแพนซี (Pansy), ดอกเลมอน เวอร์บีนา (Lemon Verberna), ดอกทิวลิป (Tulip), ดอกพริมโรส (Primrose), ดอกรันเนอร์ บีน (Runner Bean), ดอกเบโกเนีย (Begonia) เป็นต้น

Flower Food

The ones I ate

Bucket of Toads

I had a post somewhere along the lines talking about eels.  Well toads are another ‘filler’ meat.  I say filler because I’m not aware of anyone actually eating the toads for the meat.  It’s more just a protein to put into a dish that will mask the taste of the toad meat.  An example, yet again, is the ubiquitous ga-prao [กะเพรา], or stir-fried with basil leaves.  Just chop them up into tiny pieces, throw it in the skillet, and cook up a tasty meal.