Laos movie in a nutshell

Please view at :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77-GErZJM4k&feature=youtu.be

On youtube for better quality

Laos

4000 islands

As a pastry chef, being able to help make a cake in the middle of no where on sunset island was AWESOME. The place we ended up sleeping for the night also had a restaurant, which is where the baking kicked in. 

4000 islands is the place to do absolutely nothing.

Thats why people end up staying forever. 

Bring a book, a good iPod, and your set. 

Pimpin Omelet

I wanted a snack

I did not want soup when its 40 degrees outside, or scary looking items from the market, so my options were quite limited. 

I was biking past this place with 4 women eating there, this big fluffy vegetable stuffed omelet caught my eye. It was a nice change, and came with a sweet fish sauce (similar to what comes with spring rolls). 

I also met a really nice local lady who spoke great english since her son moved to America. Ah what a great day!

Luang Prabang

Laos

Market Meats

Like my "first meal in Laos"post, meat jerky is popular and fantastic in Laos. 

Another popular food was skewered meats. I am not sure if it was more for tourists, but everyone seemed to be happy with all the selection!

Luang Prabang

Laos

Mrs. Somchan's Kao Soy

In the touristy Luang Prabang night market, this was the only place I saw some locals eating at. The lady who runs the show had a massive array of stock pots, on this long picnic table, which seated about 5 customers.

After having gone to Vietnam, noodles and meat was nothing new to me, but Kao Soy... I had no idea.

For 10 000 kip (1$), it was worth to just point and eat. 

I would say Kao Soy is like Pho Vietnamese soup, with this added red peanut paste on top, that was surprisingly not as spicy as it looked. Otherwise, everything else was pho style with rice noodles, bean sprouts, green onion, and same side dish of lettuce, thai basil, long beans, lime wedges, chilli and sauces to add if desired. 

My Version of this mysterious red paste

2 tbsp shrimp chili paste

2 tbsp sweet soya sauce

2 tbsp fine chopped roasted peanuts

Mix and add to your soup! 

**goes well with any asian, simple chicken broth based soup**

Luang Prabang

Laos

Som Tam (papaya salad)

I first discovered this salad 2 years ago in Thailand. It is fresh, tangy from citrus, and usually loaded with chilli and garlic. The main bulk of it includes green papaya, and then whatever else you want such as carrot, long beans, tomato wedges etc. It seems to be popular here in Laos too, but they sometimes add shrimp paste, which makes it way too salty for my taste. 

 Luang Prabang night market stall. 

A better salad which I got in a restaurant in 4000 islands. 

Som Tam (serves 1-2)

1 cup shredded green papaya (best on the finest shred on a mandolin / or buy pre-shredded in asian stores)

1/3 cup shredded carrots OR 2 inch long cuts of long bean

1 tomato cut into 6 wedges

2 TBSP peanuts

1-2 hot thai chilli
2-3 gloves of garlic
1 TBSP lemon juice
2 tsp sugar
1 TBSP fish sauce
1/4 tsp salt

Mash chili and garlic in mortar or however you want, then add lemon juice, sugar, sauces, tomato and salt and mix together. Add everything else and dress with peanuts for presentation.

Oh! and don't discard the papaya seeds, but add them to the salad. They look great and have a bold pepper taste.

Luang Prabang 

Laos

Morning porridge

After arriving to drunken young people tourist hell of Vang Vieng, the tubing place, all I could see were americanized spots for eating. Irish pub (horrible food!!), pizza, baguette sandwiches, burgers, american breakfast, and even Indian restaurants (which were absolutely incredible). So one morning I ventured out through the alleyways in hope of finding something local, and I found this woman's stall, pointed to her large pot, and this is what I got.

It's just plain old rice porridge, with thankfully seasonings on top of green onion and crispy fried onions. 

Vang Vieng

Laos