The origins of fruit carving are disputed. Did it start with the Tang (AD 618-906) or Sung (AD 960-1279) Dynasties in China? Or maybe in ancient Japan? Obviously the truth is hard to verify, but the popular theory for Thai carving origins is a great story in itself and worth telling…. It starts 700years ago, [...]

On a recent trip to Penang, Malaysia I got to enjoy LOK LOK – a particular delight! Lok Lok consists of colored sticks, with a large variety of foods and food types, from squid to beef, from fish balls to vegetables and many things in between. Most are put into boiling water for a short [...]

Although the summer season is incredibly hot in tropical Thailand it also means glorious mangoes are in abundance. Some of the most beloved dishes of Thai cuisine elevate the sweet and sour taste of the ripe and unripe mango, such as Sticky Rice and Mango and tart and spicy Thai Mango Salad. You can find the [...]

Across Southeast Asia, street vendors are dishing up steaming bowls of Laksa noodles, choose from rich creamy coconut curries or hot and sour broths filled with oodles of noodles, seafood or chicken, and fresh vegetables.

Today we are honored to post our long overdue interview of Chef McDang, who is perhaps Thailand’s most famous and outspoken chef. Actively involved in teaching The Principles of Thai Cookery, he is currently a cooking instructor at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Art. Chef has appeared with Gordon Ramsay, Anthony Bourdain and also [...]

Learn the fine art of fruit and vegetable carving at your own pace, in your own space, with the new “Creative Carving DVD, Lesson 1″. Professional Thai carving artist Chef Nuntana will teach you in clear, well explained steps how to create easy plate garnishes in time for this holiday season. The lesson begins with [...]

Karla visits the Nittaya Curry Paste factory in Rangsit, near Bangkok. This factory produces all of the delicious curry pastes sold by Nittaya. Their process is careful and labor-intensive, starting at 5 am when fresh herbs arrive at the factory doors . . .

If you are looking for an unusual dessert, how about a Thai-inspired cheesecake, a dessert which is not typically part of an Asian chef’s repertoire. Chef Ian Chalermkittichai has come up with an innovative new twist on this classic recipe, as consulting chef for New York City’s Spot Dessert Bar in lower Manhattan. Taking “Thailand’s [...]

Currently on newsstands, the September issue of Food Network Magazine visits the well-equipped kitchen of Chef Jeffrey Saad, host of United Tastes of America. Jeffrey’s stylish kitchen is prepared for cooking all sorts of cuisines, and he says tools like the Temple of Thai granite mortar and pestle get a lot of action, especially for [...]

The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) is hosting its Third Annual Watermelon Carving Contest this month, July 2012. To enter, carve a watermelon between now and August 4 and send an image of your melon carving and also a image of you posing with your carving to the NWPB. Judges will choose three finalists in [...]