They Gave You Some Sauce, Right?

An important point, because Jaew dipping sauce is vital to vaulting Thai Grilled Pork Skewers (Moo Ping) past excellent all the way to legendary.  Already, the thinly sliced meat ribboned onto skewers allows the flavorful marinade to permeate every square millimeter.  Then, dunking it in the jaew after grilling enacts some new kind of magic. …

Not Even in Restaurants

For the longest time, Thailand kept its secret.  For centuries, in fact.  There is a plant, called the pandan locally, that, when cooked, infuses food with a subtle and uniquely herbal sweetness quite reminiscent of vanilla.  Pandan adds a soothing taste to candy and sweets; predictably, it is used for this purpose.  However, it also…