Thai Meals
	Thai food has a very distinctive flavor.  Meals contain a pleasing blend of sweet, sour, salty and spicy tastes that is enhanced by the use of such herbs and spices as lemongrass, ginger, garlic and tamarind – as well as the popular chili.  Almost all Thai food is cooked with fresh ingredients and makes for a very healthy diet.  No dairy products are used, so the majority of dishes are low fat.
A typical meal involves a range of dishes, generally including rice, chicken, fish, soup, salad and meat (beef or pork, not lamb).  One portion will usually serve two people - order a selection and they will be served family style at the table and eaten together in one course.  It is considered unusual to order just one dish at a restaurant.  Thais eat with a spoon and a fork (spoon in the right hand, fork in the left hand) with the fork being used to direct food onto the spoon, and the spoon introduced to the mouth.  Meat is chopped before cooking, so there is no need for knives. A proper Thai meal should consist of a soup, a curry dish with condiments, a dip with accompanying fish and vegetables. A spiced salad may replace the curry dish. The soup can also be spicy, but the curry should be replaced by non spiced items. There must be a harmony of tastes and textures within individual dishes and the entire meal. Your food will be served with a variety of sauces and condiments, including naam plaa phrik (fish sauce with chilies - used as an alternative to salt), thua bon (ground peanuts), naam som phrik (vineger with chilies) and a range of spicy dips to match the meal.  Soy sauce is only served with Chinese food.