Kaeng Nang Loi (แกงนางลอย), or stuffed chili curry, is part of Thai court cuisine, which focuses on beauty, balance, and careful preparation. It’s a rare dish to find in restaurants today. Even though it looks simple, I love how it connects the Thai culinary traditions with the country’s rich literary and mythological heritage. This dish is inspired by the Thai epic Ramakien, where a demoness pretends to be Sita to trick Rama. This scene is unique to the Thai version and doesn’t appear in the original Indian Ramayana. In the Ramakien, Thotsakan (Ravana) makes a plan to upset Phra Ram (Rama) and stop him from reaching Lanka. He tells his niece, Benyakai (also spelled Benchakai), to change her shape and look like Sida (Sita). She pretends to be a dead Sita and is floated down the river near Rama’s camp. When Rama sees the body, he believes Sita has died and becomes heartbroken. The image of a beautiful woman floating on water may have inspired the name Kaeng Nang Loi (literal translation: floating lady curry). In the dish, stuffed chilies float in a tasty curry (sweet, salty and a little tangy ending), like the floating figure in the story. #foodstr #zapcooking #siamstr

The girls ran, chased waves and sticks, wrestled each other, swam, and dug holes. Now they’re all tired out and happy. Best kind of day. 😊

It rained all day today. The sky was gray, and it felt a little chilly, so I made something warm—chicken noodle soup with bitter gourd. 🍜 The soup has soft rice noodles, tender chicken, and bitter gourd cooked until it’s nice and mellow. The broth is slow-cooked with herbs and spices—deep and comforting. I know bitter gourd can turn some people away, but once you try it like this, you might change your mind. The secret of getting rid of the bitterness is boiling them for 5-10 mins a few times, rinsing it well each time. Then slow cook until it’s tender and soak up all the broth so you don’t have any bitterness left. #foodstr #zapcooking

It’s about to be mangosteen season!! Yayyyyyy!! 🤩🥳🤩🥳🤩🥳 #siamstr

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Happee Fridae! 🍕 #foodstr #sourdough #zapcooking

A mild beef Massaman curry served with homemade roti, steamed jasmine rice, and some soft-boiled duck eggs. 🍛 Yes, it’s a double-carb dish because I simply couldn’t choose between rice and roti 😅 Roti is such an underrated partner for curry: soft, chewy, a little flaky, and perfect for soaking up that rich, flavorful sauce. But Massaman curry isn’t overly thick, so steamed jasmine rice also pairs beautifully, absorbing all the flavors without overpowering it. So tonight, I had both. No regrets. #foodstr #zapcooking

The girls didn’t go to the beach today, so we asked Big Boy Alfie to come out and play. They had good time together 😊

I don’t know who named them oyster mushrooms, but to me, they look more like Marilyn Monroe’s iconic white dress blowing in the wind. 🤔

Buenas, señoras y señores! Es Taco de Martes 🌮 Tacos de pollo tonight with homemade sauce kinda BBQ flavor with a little hint of cumin and marjoram. The warm homemade tortillas always make the whole meal better! Buen provecho! 😋 #foodstr #zapcooking

The result of rains and shines: 🦪 🍄‍🟫

Moo Ma Nao (หมูมะนาว) 🍋‍🟩 is a Thai dish that means “Pork with Lime.”It’s a light, spicy salad made with (thinly sliced and blanched) tender pork and a tangy mix of lime, fish sauce, garlic, chilies, and coconut or palm sugar, usually served with fresh herbs and crunchy veggies. It’s a refreshing dish, often enjoyed as a shared appetizer or side dish—especially with an ice-cold beer. 🍺😌 #foodstr #zapcooking

I love watching her run full speed down the beach. She looks so happy, like she’s flying. It’s the best part of my day. 🥹

1. Jasmine 2. Hibiscus 3. Orchid 4. Plumeria 5. Thai eggplant 6. Dahlberg daisies 7. Chili 8. Blue butterfly bush 9. Dianthus 10. Torenia #flowerstr