Still shopping for your holiday gift list? We have suggestions for the Thai and Asian food lover with a sweet tooth, the coffee and tea fan, or anyone who would enjoy making quick and delicious Thai food at home. Happy Holidays!

Around October time, the Chak Phra Festival is held in Thailand which celebrates a Buddhist holiday and signals the end of the three month rains retreat for monks. As with any Thai festival food plays an important part. Enjoy our photographs from the southern island of Koh Pha-Ngan.

Pad Thai is Thailand’s most famous food export, but the history of Pad Thai might be a bit of a surprise. Pad Thai exemplifies the balance of sweet, hot, salty, sour, and bitter flavors that is key to Thai cuisine, while creating an interesting mix of textures from the cooked noodles, crisp bean sprouts, and crunchy dried shrimp. Some stands are even creating new Pad Thai varieties out of green papaya!