What: Steaming Baan Thai
Where: Baan Thai, The Oberoi Grand
On till: July 31
Timings: 12.30pm to 2.45pm, 7pm to 11.45pm
Meal for two: Rs 4,000-plus
Rs 1,050-plus.
For all those who think steamed food is bland and Thai food is all about spice, the Steaming Baan Thai, the steamed food themed festival at The Oberoi Grand will be a reality check. Thai specialty chef Klae Somsuay, who has whipped up some dishes steamed to perfection, took us through the menu.
Apart from helping us pronounce the names of the dishes correctly, Venus Asawapoom, the acting deputy consul-general of the Royal Thai Consulate in Calcutta, also gave us insights into the different facets of Thai food.
Tell us about Thai food back home...
I feel it is very similar because India and Thailand are in easy proximity that makes a lot of ingredients easily available. We eat rice with fish in Thailand and I guess the same happens here as well, so it isn’t much of a difference.
What in Calcutta comes closest to Thai Food?
What reminds me of home the most is mango, as the fruit is used here massively in desserts, and is very popular in Thailand as well.
Do you cook?
I am into very simple cooking, that, too, at home. Generally I would whip up a simple Thai fried omelette and have it with some rice. It can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. For a busy city lifestyle kind of a person, you can make an easy, one bowl Thai dish, but if you have a family then you generally make a few dishes to be shared with a plate of rice.
Your top cuisines apart from Thai food?
I am fond of Asian cooking, so if Indian food is a must-have, as it is spicy and I love spice. I also enjoy the simplicity of Japanese and Vietnamese food.
Text: Zeba Akhtar
Pictures: Arnab Mondal
