Spicy facts about traditional Thai cuisine

~ The food we relish in Indian restaurants is actually the 'poor man's food' in Thailand.

~ It is very nutritious because of the herbs used; some of these even have therapeutic properties.

For instance, the Tom Yum Soup (a clear soup with lemon grass) is very beneficial for the respiratory system and is used to cure common colds. It is even used as a quick-fix for hangovers!

~ If you have ever travelled to Bangkok, you may find a pungent smell piercing the air. This smell comes from a fish sauce known as Nam Pla, a basic ingredient used as a substitute for salt in Thailand. Most restaurants in India, however, stick to salt.

~ Says Chef Solomon, "There is no concept of courses in a Thai meal. Soups, salads, curries and noodles are eaten together to create a combination of flavours. For the sake of convention, however, you may find the soups in the starters section and rice and noodles in the main course on restaurant menus."

~ "There is a 'Dip and Eat' concept in Thailand, where eating is a family/ community affair. There is soup boiling in the pot; different types of meat are kept alongside. You take the one you want -- fish, prawn, crab -- and dip it in the soup/ sauce and eat. Hence, there is a variety of food placed on the table together," says Chef Dias.

~ Thai curries, unlike Indian curries, are simple to make and cook very fast.

Thai versus Chinese food

Says Chef Solomon, "A common misconception among people is that Thai food is similar to Chinese food. That's not true. Thai food uses lots of herbs and, unlike Chinese food, is coconut-based. Again, unlike Chinese food, it also has a lot of curries. Thai food is, in fact, very close to Indian food because of its curries and rice components."

Flavours of Thai food

"Thai dishes are a combination of sweet, sour, spicy and bitter; these flavours run through almost all dishes," says Chef Solomon.

It make take you some time to develop a taste for it because its flavours are so distinctly different. Once you are hooked, though, the food is addictive!