Hi, Hivers! Today, let's talk about some Thai dishes you might not have heard of before. This spot in Chiang Mai is quite famous, 'Tong Tem Toh ต๋องเต็มโต๊ะ', offering several locations where they specialize in Northern Thai cuisine. Many of the dishes I'm sharing today are rare finds, not commonly available. Even in Chiang Mai, you'll only find them in specific places. (Like one of the dishes I'm going to share today)
One such dish is Earth Star, a unique type of fungi, or mushroom, with an interesting, even peculiar texture. It's crunchy on the outside and inside, with a taste and texture reminiscent of dirt, yet surprisingly buttery and enjoyable. Its rainy season and places to find it (up in the mountains) makes it a rare find, often expensive and not widely used in cooking. This time, I tried it in a Northern-style curry soup, which was yummy with rice or sticky rice.
Additionally, I ordered the chili paste, essentially chili transformed into a paste. It's typically eaten with pork rinds, but it pairs so great with sticky rice too. They serve it with a semi-hard boiled egg. The chili paste isn't overly spicy. it's a flavorful mix of spices, salty with a hint of sourness.
The most common dish I tried this time can be found throughout Thailand (different styles tho!), each region adding its unique twist. In the North, they often include blood in it. Sometimes, this dish is even consumed raw, with raw pork meat and blood, which I find a bit dubious and not really to my taste. If it were beef, maybe, but I generally prefer my meat just a little more cooked than raw.
This place has an extensive menu, boasting over 100 dishes, mostly the Northern Thai dishes. All are flavorful, and the restaurant has several locations throughout Chiang Mai, both in and outside the city, catering to various dining preferences. Conveniently located near my cannabis dispensary, The Spot - They got 2 locations so close to each other. One on Soi 13 and the other on Soi 17. Well, a little tips, the 17 one is better!
It's my go-to for authentic Northern Thai food at a reasonable price. Most dishes are under 100, with only a few exceptions slightly more expensive (The one with earth star for example :D), but still reasonable. I highly recommend checking this place out for its cool decor.
Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos of the setting for this post, but it's definitely worth a visit. The vibe is fantastic!
For the best experience view this post on Liketu
Coagulated pork blood is really nice and nutritious, great for hot pot, but raw isn't for me either. How do they are serve it? As a broth?
Raw is out of the question for me too.
:D
I love blood cake too! & also blood soup! - But up north they eat it like this...
Actually #raw
Eghh... Pass
Everything looks amazing. I love the presentation of the dishes 😍
So yummy!
wow... you're a real chef... I see the quality of presentation and you leave me speechless, this is definitely an art.
I can't make it this pretty but thank you!