Thai food is quite a favorite in Asian cuisine. Most dishes are masterfully balanced; they're hot, sweet, sour and spicy - all at the same time. The variety of vegetable and meat dishes is astonishing, and the presentation at better restaurants is a work of art, so pause awhile to take a look at the vegetable and fruit carvings before popping them in your mouth. Pork, poultry and some beef are used; seafood is outstanding. Try tom yum koong, a spicy shrimp soup. Those little green peppers floating in the soy sauce on most restaurant tables will bring tears to your eyes, so beware.
Thailand is a paradise for tropical fruits - and tropical-fruit lovers. There are more than 20 kinds of bananas. Definitely try rambutan, a reddish lychee with soft spines on the outside. The mangoes are good but remember that among the varieties for sale are some that are (intentionally) crisp and sour. Mangosteens are another great-tasting tropical fruit.
