Love Thai food

This week all things Thailand descend upon Mumbai at Amazing Thailand Food Festival 2025 organised by Tourism Authority of Thailand Mumbai in collaboration with chef Seefah Ketchaiyo In its second year visitors will gorge on Thai delicacies at live food stations soak in live music and get entertained at the gaming zoneldquoItrsquos not just about food we are also introducing Thai products showcasing cultural performances including a Thai band named Khamvisedth Mumbaibased DJ Savio Drsquosouza will also present Isaan music which is the traditional music of northeast Thailand This year will see a wider variety of regional dishes that are not commonly found in Indian Thai restaurants Wersquore also collaborating with White Rabbit Bar from Chiang Mai for a special cocktail menu on March 1rdquo says KetchaiyoKhua klingThis year focuses on the rich flavours of all four regions of Thailand The festival also features food stalls by homegrown chefs who run Mea Aie Chaiyo and Khao Kaeng Factory in Thailand While northern Thailand brings you hunglay pork rice khao soi chicken and chiang mai sausages the northeast Esaan offers laab gai grilled pork skewers and esaan sausages Bold flavours from the south include kluy kling pork and deepfried southern chicken Bangkok dishes such as khao man gai and grilled pork ball skewers will also be part of the fareThis year the festival offers delicious vegetarian fare like spring rolls crispy tofu mushroom cake deepfried wontons and khao soi A kra prow station will dish out fragrant rice paired with Southern Thai curry and riceKha nhom jeenFor the popular chef mdash who has been running Seefah and newly launched Khao Man Gai in Bandra while serving Mumbai and India Thai food for a decade mdash research is the starting point ldquoItrsquos been a lot of eating and learning from the source When I return to Thailand my visits are centred on eating at local sometimes hidden spots that specialise in certain dishes I talk to street vendors oldschool restaurants and home cooks mdash because they hold the knowledge of true regional Thai flavours I also visit fresh markets to see what ingredients are in season as that heavily influences Thai cooking Sometimes I work with chefs in Thailand to understand how a dish has evolved over timerdquo adds Ketchaiyo who has handpicked the list of chefs from Thailand for the festivalKaeng HunglayldquoSome dishes need adaptation not just in ingredients but in perception to help audiences appreciate flavours such as fermentation strong umami or spice combinations that are different from Indian food Ultimately the process is about balance mdash staying true to Thai flavours while making sure the Mumbai audience connects with the dishrdquo she signs offChef Seefah KetchaiyoON February 28 to March 2 4 pm to 930 pmAT Amazing Thailand Food Festival Corona Garden St John Baptist Road Bandra WestLOG ON TO districtinCOST Rs 250 per day ticketSeefahrsquos top reccos to try at the festivalKaeng hunglay Northern Thai pork belly curry Kaeng hunglay is a slowcooked pork belly curry from northern Thailand influenced by Burmese cuisine It uses dry spices like cinnamon star anise and turmeric along with tamarind and pickled garlic giving it a unique sweet sour and mildly spicy flavour The dish has a rich depth of flavour with tender pork that melts in your mouth making it one of the most beloved northern Thai curriesKha nhom jeen kaeng tai goograveng Southern Thaistyle rice noodles with prawn curry This dish features fermented rice noodles kha bhim jeen served with a rich southern Thai prawn curry The curry is deeply flavoured with turmeric coconut milk and a paste made from dried chilies shrimp paste and lemongrass The combination of fragrant curry and soft fermented rice noodles creates a unique eating experience that is comforting yet complexKhua kling moo Southern Thai dry pork curry Khua kling is a spicy and aromatic Southern Thai dish Unlike traditional curries it has no coconut milk Instead the pork is stirfried with a dry spice paste made of lemongrass turmeric kaffir lime leaves and chillies Itrsquos fiery fragrant and packed with umami making it a favourite among those who love bold flavours ldquoIn Mumbai wersquove made sure to keep the original punchy flavours but are offering it at different spice levels so people can choose their comfort zonerdquo adds Ketchaiyo