Hungry? As already mentioned, in Pattaya there is everything a Farang needs. Those who don’t want have “Wiener Schnitzel” or eat by Mc Dirt every day (there is a 24 hour Mc Donalds on the Beach Road) should try something else, Thai food!!! Apart from the cooking and soup kitchens, the food markets, or having something brought to your room by the girlfriend…
…There are definitely new culinary surprises to be discovered in Thailand. Recently I tried a “Moo Kata“ (pronounced Moo Kataa, which means so much as “Pig Pot” or “Pot Pig”). Actually it originates from Korea but is well known, liked and widespread in a slightly modified form in Thailand.
The main part is a large pot heated from below by means of glowing charcoal. Depending on the version, this is all within another pot situated in a cavity in the table. Thereupon is our “Pigs pot”. Its surface in the middle is convex with many small holes. A small piece of bacon is placed on top in the middle. The fat which slowly comes out of the bacon makes sure that the pieces of meat (beef, chicken, liver, pork, quail) placed on top by those eating, does not burn whilst barbecuing. Apart from that, on the outside is a ring-shaped recess which is first of all filled with a clear meat stock, this is followed by a raw egg, rice noodles and various leaf vegetables. The fat from the bacon and pieces of meet continuously runs into this mixture, which in time makes the soup a lot tastier. Everyone has a small dish and drinks some of the stock or soup together with the pieces of meat. If needed the Stock is topped up.
Together with all this it is possible to order a variety of Thai dishes such as lukewarm but very hot spicy rice noodle salad with raw onions and Patchi (Yam Wun Sen), stripes of pork or beef with Thai basil (Nam Tok), or the minced variation (Lab Moo/Nüa/Ped). Khao Niao (glutinous rice) should by no means be absent; it’s loved by the Isaan girls (and myself). Neither should the various home made dressings (Nam Tim), or dips and hot spices. Sound quite complicated, but it’s not. Your girl friend will look after you… Those who like eating will get their moneys worth, that’s a promise, all this for very moderate prices, even in the better restaurants which are normally only visiting by Thais.
