Desiree Koh:
August 25, 2011: A late landing in Chiang Mai means prowling the Night Bazaar for food as stalls are shutting down. Against all culinary principles, we had to eat at a tourist trap, but the first pad thai of any jaunt to Thailand is always very significan
Desiree Koh:
August 26, 2011: We missed the buffet breakfast at the Dusit D2, but they very graciously allowed us to order off the menu instead. This is my omelet with potatoes and a grilled tomato.
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Even better, blueberry pancakes with apple butter - diced snakefruit, watermelon and banana to scatter atop. I am with their pancake philosophy.
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At Wat Chedi Luang, Chiang Mai's most ancient temple, chomping on fried banana that Deer, our driver, so nicely bought for us.
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A 600-year-old temple, a great chedi in the style of Burmese stupas that you also see in Ayuthaya and Bagan, Burma.
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Lunch on the outskirts of Chiang Mai at Satesinlp Restaurant. Khao tung nah tung, which is rice cakes with a pork and peanut dip.
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Khao khlook ka pi, which is Thai rice tossed with shrimp paste and fried with dried shrimp, served with mango, shallots, chili, sliced onions, sweet pork, and special house seasoning.
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Pad khee mao. Gone in 10 seconds.
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It's the rainy season in the northern region of Thailand, and several areas were flooded. Deer expertly steered us through one of them.
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My cashew obsession.
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Not helping my cashew obsession.
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Phallusy.
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Along Highway 118 on the Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai highway is Charin Homemade Bakery. Owner Charin Singkarat, who is 87, learned how to bake while living in L.A. for 18 years and opened this little place - her dream - when she saved enough money to move home.
Desiree Koh:
Clockwise from top left: fresh mango pie, toddy palm pie, honey-banana pie, pineapple meringue pie.
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The toddy palm pie has a sponge-cake like crust, with toddy palm in its translucent glory.
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The honey-banana pie is wild - wild honey, banana from renegade plantations, pie that breaks the rules.
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Even my dad will forgive me for cheating on the mangoes from his tree - this mango gets so fresh on you, you might want to think about a restraining order. A restraining order from others getting to the pie, that is.
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The pineapple meringue pie could have done better with crackly meringue, but I'm fine hanging out with any pie that's tart and sassy at the same time.
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Strong coffee brewed from beans harvested by local hill tribes.
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Charin also has bungalows for rent on her slice of heaven.
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So, we bought more pies to go. More on that later, but here's an avocado cake.
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Dinner in Chiang Rai at a Teochew coffee shop. J. Chaereonchin.
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Roast pork belly. Gorgeous.
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The very famous fried eggplant. Belongs on a red carpet.
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Glass noodle salad, braised duck with pig's blood, fried fish with garlic and pepper, spicy Chinese sausage salad, The Famous Fried Eggplant, veggie stir-fry, braised intestines (lined with fat).
