Sawaddii!
Our convention is only 8 months away! Close enough that you can start to feel the warm sunshine on those Thai beaches – but with plenty of time to get it into gear to qualify! You’ll want to be there and we want you there.
Thai Food
If you love food like me, I will make a promise, Thailand will be your favorite convention yet. And Thailand has something for everyone, no matter what type of “foodie” you are. The popularity of Thai food is hard to miss these days. It doesn’t matter if you live in a small town or major metropolis, there seems to be a Thai restaurant in every strip mall or city block. This is for good reason – Thai food is delicious. Most of you already know this, and I’ve talked with many of you that have a favorite local Thai restaurant, but I have a secret: Thai food is even better in Thailand!
Thailand’s food culture is very different from the United States. In general, housing in Thailand is smaller than in the United States and does not have a kitchen centric focus. By in large Thai people don’t cook at home as often as their American counterparts. In Thailand, the street food culture dominates. Most meals are purchased outside the home and eaten on the spot or taken home to eat. Because of this you will simply be amazed at the number of food vendors on the street offering a dizzying number of dishes. From vendors wok frying pad thai, boiling bowls of noodle soups, to mixing som tom (papaya salad) with a mortar and pestle, you can find it all on just about every street corner in Bangkok. And don’t forget about the fresh fruit and desserts (mangoes and sticky rice!). The rainbow of smells and sights is a distinctly Thai experience and one not to be missed. And the best part (other than the food itself) is that the typical meal from a vendor will cost between $1 to $3 US dollars! I would encourage each of you sample a little (depending on your adventurousness level) or a lot of what the street has to offer. I promise you will not be disappointed.
But street food is far from Thailand’s only culinary offering. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the fine dining scene in Bangkok is literally one of the best in the world. If you want to get off of the street and into a beautiful restaurant you’ll have plenty of opportunities. The last time I was in Thailand, I was fortunate enough to eat at Nahm, a restaurant that comes in at number 22 on what is widely consider to be the most prestigious list of the best restaurants in the world. Simply put it was one of my favorite meals I have ever eaten. And Bangkok has two restaurants in the top 50 on the list – for comparison there are six total restaurants in the United States on the list. In addition to the great food, there are also restaurants that offer unique one of a kind dinning experiences, like Vertigo, an open air restaurant on the 61st floor of a Bangkok skyscraper – the views are unbelievable. The time to get your reservations will be just around the corner!
Finally, once you’ve had your fill of Thai food (if you ever get to that point) don’t worry, you’ll never be far from an American restaurant and some good comfort food. Bangkok is an international city and McDonalds, Starbucks, TGI Fridays, Outback Steakhouse, Pizza Hut, etc. etc. are all easy to find and enjoy. Plus, our hotels have a great selection of American fare.
So if you love food, you will love Thailand. If you don’t love food, I’m sorry I can’t help you. See you on the street in Thailand!
Sincerely,
Andrew
