Kap klaem
Aahaan kap klaem or gap klaem or aharn glam lao is the Thai term for foods commonly eaten while drinking. The term "gap klaem" can also refer to Thai drinking culture.
Thai drinking culture
According to chef Andy Ricker, "In Thailand, you almost never see people drinking without something to eat."[1]: 2 The term is also used to refer to the Thai drinking culture in general.[2]
Aahaan kap glaem, also known as gap klaem or aharn glam lao, is served in homes, on the street, and in specialty restaurants that open in the late afternoon and are open until very early morning.[1][2][3] According to Haaretz, a typical gap klaem eating and drinking session can last three hours.[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. (31 October 2017). 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 Vered, Ronit (10 April 2018). "Some like it hot: Try Thai bar food". Haaretz. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Bass, Penelope (2 October 2017). "The Culture of Thai Drinking Food". Imbibe. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Tomicki, Hadley (1 November 2017). "The Secrets of Thai Bar Food, the Pok Pok Way". UrbanDaddy. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Luckel, Madeleine (31 October 2017). "Do You Know What Thai Drinking Food Is? Let Pok Pok Explain". Vogue. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
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