Kap klaem
| Course | Snack |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Thailand |
| Associated cuisine | Thai |
Aahaan kap klaem or gap klaem or aharn glam lao is the Thai term for "drinking food': foods commonly eaten while drinking. The term "gap klaem" can also refer to Thai drinking culture.
Thai drinking culture
In Thailand, drinks are almost always accompanied by food, no matter how simple the foods.[1]: 2 [2] The term gap klaem is also used to refer to the Thai drinking culture in general.[3]
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][3][4] According to Haaretz, a typical gap klaem eating and drinking session can last three hours.[3]
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 [3] Strong flavors and heavy spicing are typical.[3][5]
There are few foods specifically defined as drinking foods, and many dishes can be turned into drinking foods by adjusting seasonings and portion sizes.[3] Drinking foods are seldom served with the rice that typically accompanies actual meals in Thailand.[3][6]
Gap klaem is common throughout Thailand, but the foods typically eaten while drinking vary regionally.[3][7] According to chef Kris Yenbamroong, the foods typically are “something a group of people can share, which is an important aspect of it".[4] Vogue described the foods as "irresistible food that's somewhere in between a snack and a meal."[8]
Common aahaan kap klaem include laap muu thawt, phat khii mao, which translates to "drunkard's stir-fry",[9] thua thawt samun phrai,[6] and nam phrik.[2]
Drinks
Lagers such as Singha are popular in Thailand, although beer is relatively expensive in comparison to distilled spirits and is consumed primarily by the well-to-do and for celebrations.[1]: 11, 73–74 [3] Beer is typically poured over ice.[1]: 74
Rice whiskeys such as lao khao and ya dawng are common distilled liquors.[1]: 40 [3][6] A common cocktail is Whiskey Soda, which is a generic term for any brown liquor mixed with soda water.[1]: 162
Many bars in Thailand are BYOB; customers pay for their mixers and food.[1]: 162
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 d e f g h Ricker, Andy; Goode, J. J. (31 October 2017). The drinking food of Thailand. Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale. ISBN 978-1-60774-774-1.
- ^ a b "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown". CNN. 1 June 2014.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j Vered, Ronit (10 April 2018). "Some like it hot". 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) - ^ Thompson, David (2002). Thai Food. Ten Speed Press. p. 501. ISBN 978-1-58008-462-8.
- ^ a b c Ricker, Andy (21 December 2017). "Inside a rice whiskey distillery in Thailand". Eater. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Tomicki, Hadley (1 November 2017). "The secrets of Thai bar food". 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?". Vogue. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Ricker, Andy (2 November 2017). "Eating drunkard's stir-fry with Anthony Bourdain". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
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