We’ve all tried Southern Thai food, and fallen in love with its tongue-numbing, sweat-inducing hot and spicy flavors. But apparently, there are cuisines from this region that don’t share the same flavor profile, especially those from the three southernmost provinces: Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat.
So what do the folks from these areas eat? Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat lie close to the Thailand-Malaysia border, were part of the ancient Islamic kingdom, and have citizens that are mostly Muslims. So it just follows that their food is heavily influenced by Malay culture and made with halal ingredients.
Many of us have not had a chance to visit Thailand’s deep south and experience its cuisine (and violent clashes in the area are not exactly encouraging). So it’s a good thing that Waldorf Astoria Bangkok has decided to bring the area’s rich and distinct culinary culture closer. One of the hotel’s chefs, Chareef Pattanakul, is from Narathiwat. He misses his childhood favorites so much that he thought to recreate them in Front Room’s kitchen. Even better, he’s willing to share them as a special lunch set.
The meal starts off with a crispy fish pancake and two amuse-bouche bites of panipuri (crispy round pancake) served with masala, curry powder and salted fish and khao yum (herbal rice salad) flavored with a salty budu sauce that’s made from fermented fish and topped with pickled rose apple. The main dish comes samrub-style (a Thai way of eating that involves multi-platters) and includes tender mackerel cooked in fish sauce, tupa sutong (squid stuffed with sticky rice), and crispy duck confit in korma curry. To finish off the meal, Chef Chareef Pattanakul offers a foamy southern-style Thai tea and baked roti.
The lunch set is priced at B1,650++ per person. Part of the proceeds will be donated to support charity projects in the three southern provinces. Available until 30 June 2023.