New Delhi, Apr 17: Delhiites are no strangers to cuisine from the Far East but the most popular has always been Thai for a variety of reasons. Some prefer it for the mild flavour with maximum use of herbs and sauces barring the use of powdered masalas. Then there are those who find it a healthy alternative to other forms of cooking and finally, it’s high on taste as anyone who’s hooked onto it will tell you.
It’s a form of cuisine that is ideal all year round, which is why the Hyatt Regency is presenting a ten-day festival of Thai cuisine at their multi-cuisine restaurant, Cafe. There are a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian salads to take your pick from. The Yam Taley (seafood) and the Yam Hed (mushroom) are enough to set the gastric juices flowing along with the all-time favourite SomTam (green papaya).
In the main course you can start with the Khao Phad Pak (fried rice), though Thai curries taste best with steamed rice. The Gaeng Kiew Warn Gai (chicken in green curry) is very delicious and a perfect accompaniment to the rice. The other non-veg items in the main course are not much to write home about so you can give the stir fried tenderloin (Nua Phad Prik Sot) and the deep fried fish (Pla Sarm Rod) a miss.
The other item that is a must-try is the Gaeng Kari Pak (vegetables in yellow curry). Since Thai cuisine is basically about their different curries teamed with rice, it’s best to stick with the basics and you won’t regret it. Chef Siriluek Lekkwan, who has been flown in specially from the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok, says their curries have always been the most preferred.

“Thai cooking is entirely about gathering the various items like fish sauce, lemon grass, galangal and the like. That is the time consuming part. After that the cooking is a quick and easy process,” she explains. The rice noodles and glass noodles, too, are typically Thai and can be had with the curries as well.



To end your meal with something sweet, try the Kluay Buad Chee (banana with coconut cream). As most lovers of Thai food will tell you, their desserts are not something that one would recommend but I was pleasantly surprised with the banana dessert. The other desserts like the Sankaya Fugthong (pumpkin custard) look like anything but custard and are better looked at, not eaten. The Thai food festival is on till April 20 and is priced at Rs 650 for the buffet plus taxes.