Anna and I are just preparing for our trip back to Thailand at the end of the month and during the packing she said that the first thing that she wants to do when we get to Bangkok is to go out and eat a good Som Tam, because she has really missed it while she been here. Her Thai friend also confirmed that she has not had a decent Som Tam here either.

Does anyone know of a place in the Manchester / Bolton / Wigan area that does nice (i.e. would pass approval by a Thai person) Som Tam?

TIA

In our kitchen The Mrs makes her own.

Hi Kato.
I am Thai lady who is missing Som Tum.My husband and I will go to Thailand in Dec,then the first thing I might do that is eat
a lot of Son Tum.I understand her feeling.I been here for 6 months,,,I do want it.I tried to find a good Som Tum but have not.Som Tun in Thai restaurants in UK are difference flavour from Thailand.In Thailand is original flavour and good Phara.
Big AL

Yes I agree, the best is from my lady's fair hands...

Orn my girlfriend reckons the Chaophraya restauarant in Manchester does ok somtam but not in the restauarant - in the cafe bit and I think it's just a lunch time menu. Orn also wants to make her own at home but where to get the Thai mangoes?

Does anybody know where in manchester we could go for Loy Kratong?

Mark and Orn

Sorry - I didn't mean mango. I meant to say Pappaya but Orn also says balaaa???!!! (apparently it smells)

Al, yes Anna's the same - 8 months in and she's really missing it now. Tried a few places but the reaction is the same as yours "it not taste same as in Thailand". She is counting down the days now before our return on the 28th, so I guess she will just have to be patient !! (another thing difficult for her). Though I may give the Chaophraya a try.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Wankowicz:
Sorry - I didn't mean mango. I meant to say Pappaya but Orn also says balaaa???!!! (apparently it smells)

Pickled mudfish! Available in places like Wing Yip.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Wankowicz:
Sorry - I didn't mean mango. I meant to say Pappaya but Orn also says balaaa???!!! (apparently it smells)

Sea calls it "fermented" and gosh does it pong. Not to be consumed before "cuddles"

Richard

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Wankowicz:
Orn my girlfriend reckons the Chaophraya restauarant in Manchester does ok somtam but not in the restauarant - in the cafe bit and I think it's just a lunch time menu. Orn also wants to make her own at home but where to get the Thai Pappaya

Does anybody know where in manchester we could go for Loy Kratong?

Mark and Orn

You can buy Pappaya in Manchester in most Indian/Pakistani supermarkets in Rusholme (the curry mile) and around the Cheetham hill area.

------------------------
Dave

Thanks all. We're at Wing Yip tomorrow so we'll get the pickled mudfish!
I'll also drive via Cheetham Hill and try to get the hard Pappaya.

Does anybody know if there is anything going on in Mnchester for Loy Kratong. I think Orn is missing Thailand 'big big' and seeing some other Thais would make her happy I think...

quote:

Does anybody know if there is anything going on in Mnchester for Loy Kratong. I think Orn is missing Thailand 'big big' and seeing some other Thais would make her happy I think...

Woodford centre, Sunday 23rd November

I have looked Woodford Centre up on the web but it does not list this event. Could you tell us more please?

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Wankowicz:
I have looked Woodford Centre up on the web but it does not list this event. Could you tell us more please?

Loy KraTong Festival 2008
on 23th November 2008
At Woodford Centre, Chester Road, Woodford, Stockport,
Cheshire, SK7 1PS 09.00AM-06.00 PM (Near to British Aerospace Company)

poster here (warning slow to load)


Organized by:

WatSriratanaram 18 Paulden Avenue, Baguley Manchester
M23 1PD,UK.Tel: (+44) 0161 998 4427
www.watsriuk.net E-mail: watsri.uk@gmail.com

The wife has been here 7 years and every time we return to thailand,i head for the bar and she heads for the food stalls for her favourite foods,som tam being one of them.

my wife reckons that swede, although not an exact substitute, is a passable alternative to papaya. available from all good supermarkets.


and local greengrocers!

we sometimes use cucumber which can work too

Cucumber is the preferred substitute in this neck of the woods !

Papaya is what does it here

Carrot also works. But not the same.

Tai

Re: Woodford............

This even was a great success, great entertainment and food - all indoors. I had a great time and everyone that I spoke too (both khon Thai and farang) all had a good time.

Thank you to the organisers, each celebration gets better :-)

You can get perfectly good green papaya (In Manchester at least) if you go shopping where the Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi community go shopping. If in Manchester try Longsight.

... and in Chinatown.

Yes,
but Jit says considerably cheaper in Longsight.

Its not a really a case of not been able to get green papaya...its more the cost at about £4 a go...that why cucumber is sometimes used in this house...actually where people think the cheapest place to get rice in manchester is?