March 29th, 2010
Thai Food
When I was in Thailand, I was quite struck by the fact that Thai people would not ask you “Do you like Thai food?” as people in most other countries ask foreigners. They would ask “Can you eat Thai food?” Because that stuff is spicy as hell.
Not everything, of course. Thai cuisine includes lots of fresh fruit. The single greatest taste treat ever is a Thai banana pancake served by a street vendor. It’s a show to watch them make it, delicious to eat, and cheap.
The one area where they fall down, surprisingly, is the tea. Chinese tea is weak but Thai tea is basically tepid water, slightly flavored with tea leaves, but only slightly. The concoction which is known in the U.S. as Thai tea is not Thai at all.
Anyway, I have not found a good Thai restaurant in Prague yet. The place that’s at the food court at Palac Flora is not only an offense to Thai cuisine, it is an offense to anyone who likes food at all. Their noodles are soggy and their vegetables are overcooked.
Which are hallmarks of Czech cuisine, but that’s probably why I’m not a fan of Czech cuisine.
It is impossible to have a good Thai restaurant in Prague for the same reason it is impossible to have a good Mexican restaurant or a good Indian restaurant. Czech people do not like spicy food. A little bit of pepper, and they’re bitching.
My wife tried the Thai restaurant in the mall where she works today, and she said it was pretty good. However, she is Czech. She was raised spice free and doesn’t know what she’s missing.
I don’t actually know why I like spicy food. Some of it might be the macho thing. Growing up in America, “I can eat Mexican food” was almost the same as “I can eat Thai food” is in Thailand. It means “I am not a wimp.” But also, I like the bodily cleansing effect. It makes you sweat, it makes your nose run and your eyes water. You probably lose enough in bodily fluids to make up for any caloric intake.
So, it’s good for you.
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