When asked, “What’s your favorite type of food?” Thai food tends to be my first thought. Each dish comes with layers upon layers of flavor ranging from spicy to sweet to sour to salty to umami, making for top-tier flavor journeys that spiral you into culinary bliss.
I’ve been to Thailand several times, and the flight ain’t easy. Or cheap. But the great thing about living in NYC is that there are vibrant Thai communities where you can get the authentic flavors of Thailand without needing to travel too far.
On September 3rd, Thai food and culture took over Times Square with Ignite Thailand Fest.
The event had cooking shows, live performances, activities, Thai products for sale, and, of course, epic bites to be had. The selection of food stalls was carefully curated to represent Thai food from across the country. And each had the Thai SELECT mark of certification, which is “awarded by the Ministry of Commerce The Royal Thai Government to guarantee the authentic Thai taste of Thai food products and Thai restaurants in Thailand and overseas.”
Here’s everything we ate at Ignite Thailand Fest!
Vegan Curry from May Kaidee
I’m a little obsessed with Thai curries, and this vegan red curry from May Kaidee was exceptional. It had a slight kick of chili which was balanced out with the sweet coconut milk along with warm notes from the cardamom. Plus, May was there herself. She is a total firecracker with an intense passion for each dish she makes.
(Learn about the different types of Thai curries HERE!)
Curry Puffs from Pinto Garden
The curry puffs from the Pinto Garden stall were one of my favorite bites of Ignite Thailand Fest. The curry puff itself had an ultra soft, nearly melt-in-your-mouth texture that reminded me of a doughnut. And the filling was chocked full of spices without being spicy.
Som Tom Thai from Zaab Putawn
Som Tom Thai is a green papaya salad that’s popular throughout Thailand. It’s made with papaya, fresh chilis, garlic, beans, peanuts, and tomato with tamarind and fish sauce. The resulting flavor has zings of sour and sweet, and the heat levels depend on how much chili you ask for.
The Som Tom Thai from Zaab Putawn at Ignite Thailand Fest was made to order and was just $10. Expensive if you were on the streets of Bangkok, but mega reasonable in New York City!
Pork Skewers from Khaosan
Meat skewers are a staple of Thai street food, so of course we had to give the pork skewers from Khaosan a try. They were delightfully juicy with a nice charred flavor, and I was swept right back to sticky night air of the Chiang Mai night market.
Pink Mee from GOOG Thai Cook Shop
Mee noodles are crispy, fried rice noodles that are usually served with a sweet-and-sour sauce. GOOG dished up a unique twist on the dish by adding some sort of pink sauce. The noodles had a unique crunch and flavor, and it was my first time trying this dish.
Thai Iced Tea with Herbal Jelly from Charoen Krung
Traditionally, Thai tea is made with black tea, milk, and sweetened condensed milk. Charoen Krung added a unique spin on the drink with herbal jelly, and it tasted like cardamom and perhaps anise were brewed in as well. It wasn’t too sweet (like Thai teas can often be), and the herbal jelly added a nice earthiness and textural component.
Pandan Coconut Layer Cake from Pata Palean
Pandan is a green, tropical plant that’s found around Southeast Asia. It has notes of vanilla and coconut with a subtle grassy flavor.
Thai Tea Surprise from Sky Ice
This ice cream creation had Thai tea ice cream, sweet egg floss, Thai soft candy, crispy coconut rolls, and tapioca with coconut cream. It was heaven in a cup. There were crunchy, soft, and chewy textures with a tasty blend of Thai tea and coconut flavors.
Ignite Thailand Fest was a true treat.
There was great food, a fun atmosphere, and that unbelievable Thai hospitality. Cheers to another NYC foodie adventure!
