Living Like a Thai Day 16: Beer & Vegetables

Thai Electricians

Apparently beating on the electric bits with a large pole is optimal for fixing power outages.

Between the internet and power problems I’ve been lucky just to get online for 5 minutes anymore and answer an e-mail or make a few blog comments. Luckily there was a crack team of electricians and internet people to fix everything yesterday. Why the lateness of this post you ask? Because this is Thailand and when something is fixed correctly it breaks again just so you are sure it was actually fixed.

Beer and smokes

When I last left you I was lamenting the fact that I had one cigarette left and a budget that wouldn’t tolerate another cigarette purchase and then I left the above picture as a teaser. Well, as luck would have it I didn’t have to make any phone calls because my buddy Julie called and asked me if I wanted to hang out and watch a movie and have a beer or two, I said “sure, and could you pick me up a pack of smokes on the way?” she said yes :)

When Julie arrived she brought with her 2 large bottles of Heineken plus 2 bottles of San Miguel and the Hangover 2 movie ( Good things come in 2′s ), she then proceeded to let me know that she didn’t buy cigarettes because they are bad for me and I should quit. After she poured some beer she relented and gave me a pack of Marlborough lights she had bought. I don’t really care much for Heineken but I didn’t want to seem rude to my guest so I had a glass or two :P   We settled in and watched Hangover 2 which I very much enjoyed.

Living Like a Thai Day 16

Today was going to be a day of very little spending and much cooking. For breakfast I waived down a fruit cart in front of the condo and bought a very nice ripe mango for 20 baht ( $.68 ). I warmed up some rice I had cooked the day before and ate my mango on a bed of warm rice mmmm.

For lunch I headed to the Buakow night market ( they are semi open during the day ) and got a bit of fried tofu for 20 baht ( $.68 )as well as picking up a small onion and red pepper for 20 baht ( $.68 ), they would be used for dinner. I needed some coconut milk and didn’t want to go to the supermarket so I asked one of the merchants if they had any and a small bag of coconut milk was then purchased for 5 baht ( $.17 ).

A lovely Meal

As dinner time rolled around I started my cooking. I split all of my vegetables and chicken in half and put half back in the fridge for later. The other half I chopped up as I started cooking rice and steaming cauliflower. I sauteed the onions and pepper and as they were finishing up I added the chopped kale. I removed this from the burner for a bit as I cooked off my chicken and then added back in the vegetables. To this I added a dollup of chili paste, some hot basil sauce, a little soy sauce and coconut milk.

After reducing a bit I added in the cauliflower and dinner was served. I’m not sure how Thai the dish is but it was definitely spicy and although it didn’t have that restaurant presentation I assure you it still tasted great. Luckily it went very well paired with the one leftover San Mig from the night before, I might have to marry Julie :P The best part …it’s enough for two meals so it looks like I have lunch settled for tomorrow.

Observations today: At the Thai markets if you don’t see what you want or need ask and you shall receive, someone has it and wants to sell it.

Living Like a Thai Day 16 Expences

Purchace Amount Cost Total
Mango 1 20 baht 20 baht
Red Pepper 1 10 baht 10 baht
Onion 1 10 baht 10 baht
Coconut Milk 1 small bag 5 baht 5 baht
Fried Tofu 1 bag 20 baht 20 baht
Today’s Total 65 baht ( $2.21 )
June Totals 2350 2415 baht ( $82.22 )

The following is Chef Talen’s instructional pictures for making Thai Stroganoff:

Thai Stroganoff Step 1 Thai Stroganoff Step 2 Thai Stroganoff Step 3

Thai Stroganoff Step 4 Thai Stroganoff Step 5 Thai Stroganoff Step 6

Thai Stroganoff Step 7 Thai Stroganoff Step 8 Talen's Thai Stroganoff

talensig
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

12 Comment(s)

  1. If your Internet/power problems continue you might want to do a little wardriving.

    ChuckWow | Jun 17, 2011 | Reply

  2. Talen, as you continue to try to live like a Thai, I continue to live like a Thai, less and less. With the count down to our inevitable return home in 4 months, I’ve been loosening the money belt, a bit. I’ve also been neglecting your posts because they’re usually about food…and I’ve had some minor stomach troubles lately. Let’s just say, food is not my favourite topic right now.

    Snap | Jun 17, 2011 | Reply

  3. So is this the start of a new career? I see you selling Thai stroganoff for 20 baht in the near future to pay for that nasty smoking habit. In fact maybe I’ll even stop by to try a few bites next time I’m back on other side of the planet…

    Rambone | Jun 19, 2011 | Reply

  4. Rambone, Yes, I could see myself being a chef and selling my Thai Stroganoff but falang have to pay double :)

    Talen | Jun 20, 2011 | Reply

  5. Snap, You can’t leave…you just can’t! I can sympathize with your food troubles…been there, done that…not fun. Hope you feel better soon.

    Talen | Jun 20, 2011 | Reply

  6. Chuck, Kinda hard to wardrive on foot in the rain :) I could get a motorcy taxi to wardive me though…

    Talen | Jun 20, 2011 | Reply

  7. Someone forgot to plant that money tree in our backyard :(

    Snap | Jun 21, 2011 | Reply

  8. Yea, I forgot you don’t have any type of conveyance, yet.

    I have a Toyota Tiger and a Fino that my wife could drive me around in/on if I ever chose to do a drive-by.

    ChuckWow | Jun 21, 2011 | Reply

  9. Chuck, if you ever get the wife to help you wardrive you have to use the Fino…you can put an antenna on your helmet and make a cool rack to hold your laptop but you have to sit backwards on the Fino :P

    Talen | Jun 21, 2011 | Reply

  10. Snap, be nice if we all had a money tree wouldn’t it…at least I ca dance in the bar, I have that going for me :P

    Talen | Jun 21, 2011 | Reply

  11. I don’t see that happening – I already look like a Geek !

    The last time I used Wi-Fi out in town was at the Starbucks at TukCom.

    Too bad one of the iced chocolate things I get there would blow your budget for the day. Pang mak mak !

    ChuckWow | Jun 22, 2011 | Reply

  12. Chuck, Don’t remind me…would love a Chai tea latte about now :(

    Talen | Jun 22, 2011 | Reply

Sorry, comments for this entry are closed at this time.