Partying Swiss-style in Bangkok: Ricola Rolls Out the Herb Carpet

As a blogger in Bangkok, sometimes you get invited to events that run the gamut from huge to intimate, celebratory to somber, memorable and forgettable. I rarely go to these, usually due to a combination of being lazy and busy (I'm complicated), but a few weeks ago I was invited to an event by a company that was both familiar - hearkening back to my childhood - and vague, in that it wasn't a company you'd expect to be throwing shindigs: Ricola.

Petition: Let’s Rename the Thai Vegetarian Festival

It's that time of year again - the vegetarian festival is upon us. This is the time of year when observant Thais eat only vegetarian food for ten days as a sort of penance for all the suffering that meat-eating causes for the rest of the year. It's a good idea, if you're of that mindset, but I usually spend those ten days actively seeking out shops, stalls, and restaurants that don't have that annoying yellow flag that says jae (เจ), which means vegetarian.

2017-10-19T04:14:39+00:00Bangkok, Culture, Food|3 Comments

You’ve Probably Bought Fake CDs But Have You Ever Eaten Counterfeit Food?

I’ll be the first to admit that in the past, from time to time, I have bought counterfeit things. You know, in moments of extreme weakness. Taken a shortcut to save a few bucks. Usually it was for things that were pretty low profile – DVDs (back when people still bought those), shoes, sunglasses, and the like. But as I got older, I started to appreciate that, generally, you get what you pay for. When it’s a DVD it’s not a huge deal, but when you start to realize that the world of counterfeits extends to more serious […]

Meanwhile, in Bangkok: The Cutting Edge of Coconut Technology

As the world’s 9th-largest exporter of coconuts, it’s no surprise that they’re available pretty much everywhere in Thailand. But recently I’ve noticed something interesting – it seems that the resourceful Thai coconut industry has melded the humble drupe (I looked it up, it’s a drupe, not a nut) with some pretty crazy technology to produce some very weird and unique consumption possibilities. […]

Taste-Testing Those Weird Little Health Drinks in Thai 7-11s

Anyone who has spent any time in a Thai 7-11 has probably seen those little bottles of…drink…stuff. Everything from bird’s nests to collagen to essence of things. They’re peddled on television, usually by alarmingly young women wearing tight clothes who seem to be having just a wonnnnnnderful time hanging out and laughing together. Anyway, every time I walk by there seems to be another type of colorful little box, so I decided to find out what the hell they were. Also, it’s a long weekend and I have a new baby, so I’m stuck at home. Don’t let it […]

Taste of Home: A Serious Homemade Sandwich

If I were to stand up in a crowd and say “Thai food is the best food in the world,” I probably wouldn’t get too many people telling me I’m wrong. Thai food is awesome, and anyone who says otherwise is evil. But every once in a while, I get a strong craving for a good taste of home, and nothing says “Alberta farm boy” like a good ol’ fashioned sandwich. Or sammich, as I prefer to call them. Bangkok has some pretty badass sammich places, but nothing says homemade like…uh, homemade. So, during a weekend where I didn’t […]

2017-03-07T09:32:55+00:00Food, Fun Stuff|0 Comments

Red Cliff Coffee: The Best Brew in Thailand?

When I tell people that I’ve never once tried a cigarette or a hit of weed or any type of drug, I’m often met with disbelief. That’s fine by me, I’m not saying it to impress anyone, it’s just the truth. But there’s one drug that, in my adult life of late nights and early mornings, I simply need to get into my system, and that’s caffeine. I know, I’m a rockstar. Caffeine…hold me back. At any rate, over the past few years I’ve gone from a total coffee n00b to a huge fan, and while I can’t […]

2016-11-17T15:47:57+00:00Food, Thailand|0 Comments

The Mechanics of Moving to a New ‘Hood

This post isn't about finding a place to live in Bangkok, but I wanted to write about what can change when you do move to a new apartment or house in Bangkok, which often goes several layers deep. Finding a new place here can be a hell of a task, as we covered in our podcast on the subject. Oh, you can find a great place if you're willing to pay a ton for it, but finding a great place for a good price is hard and time-consuming. In western culture, moving to a new neighborhood is largely an easy process. Sure, the driving and transit routes change and you have to look into where the schools and hospitals are, but the strip-mall pervasiveness of western development largely takes any real surprise out of the operation. Not so in Bangkok, where a move to a new place in the city can have some drastic effects on your wallet, your commute, you social life and even your diet.

2016-11-17T15:48:19+00:00Bangkok, Food, Transport|0 Comments

Bangkok Podcast: One Year In

Well, that was a long stretch with no updates – again. Freelance assignments are taking most of my time these days (not to mention a video game I downloaded against my better judgment), but it was a memorable week for another reason too – the one-year anniversary of the Bangkok Podcast. If you don’t know about that, well, click on the little box to the left and check it out. My buddy Tony Joh and I recorded our first show on May 17, 2010 and have done a show every week since then. It’s been a good time and we’ve had some pretty interesting guests. To celebrate, we decided to have a party, and with the help of some friends and sponsors, it was a great success.

Indian Gastronomy Explosion

I know what you're thinking: Indian Gastronomy Explosion would be an awesome name for a rock band. While I would definitely pay good money to see a dude from IGE rock the sitar, you are incorrect. It's actually a description of a badass meal I had the other night at a new Indian joint in Bangkok called Gaggan. Indian food in Bangkok is pretty easy to find; Thailand's Indian community is very vibrant, and the food I've tasted here is probably the best Indian food I've ever had - outside of India, of course. But at Gaggan, Indian food is being pushed to the limits and being combined with some truly bizarre and awesome techniques.

2016-11-17T15:48:24+00:00Bangkok, Food|0 Comments
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