Kap klaem
Aahaan kap klaem or gap klaem or aharn glam lao is the Thai term for foods commonly eaten while drinking.[1][2][3] The term "gap klaem" can also refer to Thai drinking culture.[2]
Thai drinking culture
According to chef Andy Ricker, "In Thailand, you almost never see people drinking without something to eat."[1]: 2 According to Haaretz, a typical gap klaem meal can last three hours.[2]
Gap klaem is served in homes, on the street, and in specialty restaurants that open in the late afternoon and are open until very early morning.[2]
Foods
Many foods commonly eaten while drinking are also served as snacks or parts of a meal, but some are seldom eaten outside the context of drinking, and these are usually salty, chewy, crunchy, sour, and/or spicy, but generally not heavy or rich.[1]: 3 [2] Strong flavors and heavy spicing are typical.[2]
There are few foods specifically defined as drinking foods, and many dishes can be turned into drinking foods by adjusting seasonings and portion sizes.[2] Drinking foods are seldom served with the rice that typically accompanies actual meals in Thailand.[2]
Gap klaem is common throughout Thailand, but the foods typically eaten while drinking vary regionally.[2][4] According to chef Kris Yenbamroong, the foods typically are “something a group of people can share, which is an important aspect of it".[3] Vogue described the foods as "irresistible food that's somewhere in between a snack and a meal."[5]
Drinks
Lagers such as Singha are common in Thailand.[2] Whiskeys such as lao khao are common distilled liquors.[2]
See also
- Anju, Korean term for food eaten while drinking
- Hors d'oeuvre, French term for food often served with cocktails
- Meze, snacks served in the Mediterranean, often while drinking
- Sakana, Japanese term for snacks served while drinking
- Tapas, Spanish small plates which originated as bar snacks
References
- ^ a b c Ricker, Andy; Goode, J. J. (2017-10-31). POK POK The Drinking Food of Thailand: A Cookbook. Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale. ISBN 978-1-60774-774-1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Vered, Ronit (10 April 2018). "Some like it hot: Try Thai bar food". Haaretz. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "The Culture of Thai Drinking Food". Imbibe Magazine. 2017-10-02. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ^ "The Secrets of Thai Bar Food, the Pok Pok Way". UrbanDaddy. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ^ Luckel, Madeleine. "Do You Know What Thai Drinking Food Is? Let Pok Pok Explain". Vogue. Retrieved 2021-03-07.