Meal Selections
Restaurants and catering venues will need to take into consideration important aspects of Thai cuisine before launching a new business or adding choices to the menu. Thai food successfully balances four flavors of spicy, salty, sour, and sweet in one meal, and often within one dish.Appetizers are not a Thai custom, but snacking is, so many finger foods and small bites work for an American version of starters. These popular snacking foods include spring rolls, coconut shrimp, crab cakes, lettuce or banana leaf wraps, and raw veggies. Most of these foods are accompanied by dipping sauces, which add satisfying flavor and a fun way to serve and eat food. Common sauces include the four sensations of salty, sour, sweet, and spicy. Favorites include chili sauce, peanut sauce, fish sauce, and barbecue.
Main meals include soups and salads full of flavor. Lemongrass, coconut milk, noodles, carrots, chicken and limes are some of the ingredients found in favorite soups. Salads are refreshing with cucumbers, carrots, and a combination of fresh tropical fruit such as mango, papaya, and pineapple. Chicken and seafood are dominant in meat dishes such as curries, stir-fries, noodle combination, and barbecue. There are three different types of curries identified by color: red, green, and yellow. Each has its own distinctive flavor based on a combination of spices. Some of these differences are based on the region where the recipes originated. Southern curries, for example, contain coconut milk and fresh turmeric, while northeastern dishes often include lime juice. Vegetarians will find a wide selection of choices on a typical Thai menu. Many dishes come with a meat option, which makes ordering a treat for those who wish to choose their meat or go meatless. Main dishes also include a serving of rice, which is a staple of the Thai diet. Besides plain white rice, other common varieties include coconut rice, sticky rice, and rice with veggies or shrimp. Thai desserts include rice, fruit and puddings including servings of mango sticky rice, tapioca mango pudding, coconut banana pudding, and custard. Whatever food is selected, it is important to keep ingredients fresh. Thai food gains its reputation based on the freshness of the herbs and spices used in preparing each delicious dish.
Atmosphere and Service
In the West, patrons of restaurants are used to ordering one dish for themselves, which is different from Thai custom. Typically, Thai diners order dishes to share. The different dishes blend in such a way as to enhance the enjoyment of each individual dish, so sharing selections makes sense. Dining this way also encourages a sense of community and sharing that adds to the dining experience. When eating, Thai diners do not combine various foods on their plates, but sample one dish at a time, always eaten with a mound of rice on the side.Many people mistakenly ask for chopsticks at a Thai restaurant. Although most establishments oblige, chopsticks are not often used in Thailand. Thais prefer to use tableware that generally consists of a fork and large spoon. The spoon is held in the right hand and used in place of a knife.
Formal restaurants might also consider the presentation of the food. Traditionally, Thai food presentation is among the most exquisite in the world. Serving platters are decorated with all variety of carved vegetables and fruits. This artwork adds a special flare to a special meal or catering platter.
It is important to consider atmosphere when serving ethnic food. Thailand is rich in traditional arts, crafts, and architecture painted and patterned with colorful designs and floral decorations. Plants, statues, figures, paintings, ceramics, and textiles add much to the ambience of a Thai restaurant or take-out.