Rally site food

Protesters at Democracy Monument need not go hungry even if they have no money to pay for their food. Here is a glimpse of what's on the menu.

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Protesters have a wide variety of free food to choose from at the Democracy Monument site and they seem quite satisfied with what's available. Photos by Pornprom Satrabahya

This is an excerpt from a longer story found in the Life section of the Bangkok Post today by Vanniya Sriangura. (Link to full story at the end.)

Ringside Cuisine

Vanniya Sriangura

The honeypot of the PDRC's gastronomic retreat is around the main stage right next to Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue. It's a melting pot of regional Thai cuisines where gourmets can find southern fare and northern delights being offered alongside Chinatown favourites and Isan classics – at no cost.

Here, several food stations have been set up by sponsors and groups of private supporters to provide fine quality meals and nibbles for protesters and visitors.

Sheltered in plastic tents, these stations are named after the origin of their operators, mostly from the South, including Khrua Chumphon (Chumphon Kitchen), Khrua Samui (Koh Samui Kitchen), Khrua Surat (Surat Thani Kitchen), Khrua Krabi (Krabi Kitchen), Khrua Pathum (Pathum Thani Kitchen) and Khrua Chao Nuea (Lanna Kitchen), with ever-smiling operators acting as guest relations officers gently urging passers-by to sample their food.

Among the permanent food providers at the Ratchadamnoen site is Khrua Chao Tai (Kitchen Of The Southern People). Located on the southwest of the monument's roundabout, the station offers the pungent and fiery cuisine of the South every day from 9am to 10pm.

Although menus change daily, several choices have become staples due to their popularity, including khua kling (stir-fried minced meat with herbs and spices), nam phrik (chilli dip) and gaeng tai pla (fish stomach curry). Other dishes that can also be found are red curries of various recipes such as red curry with bamboo shoots and pork, red curry with cabbage and grilled chicken, and red curry with heart of palm and prawn.

When I enquired how much food they prepare on a daily basis, a server at Khrua Chao Tai, who was busy serving scoops of the fragrant curry to a queue of diners, answered with a cheeky grin: ''I don't know how much exactly. All I can tell you is that I've been scooping so much food that my hand is about to fall off.''

''I don't know how much (food) exactly. All I can tell you is that I've been scooping so much food that my hand is about to fall off.''

Fish maw soup (the quality was unbelievably good), Chinese-style stir-fried noodles with brown gravy, Muslim chicken rice, pork fried rice and phad Thai noodles are common offerings at other food stations operated by the likes of district offices and independent benefactors.

Meanwhile, desserts are never forgotten by more discerning types.

Over the months, protestors have cleansed their palates with the likes of black grass jelly and ginkgo nuts in chilled syrup, coconut milk ice cream and French bakery items.

One of the regular contributors at the Ratchadamnoen protest site is Kitmanoch ''Khru Lily'' Rojanasupya.

Since the start of the rally, the famous Thai-language tutor-turned-media personality has supported the PDRC by speaking on stage and donating money. Over the past month she decided to do something different by lending culinary support.

Twice a week Khru Lily's energetic team, consisting of family members and friends, has fed more than a thousand people, serving ready-to-eat delicacies, prepared and cooked at her residence by her family, or setting up a small on-site kitchen to cook simple dishes – savoury and sweet – for the demonstrators.

For those who have the money, there is a huge variety of eating places in the area, including the famous restaurant Methawalai Song Daeng.

Apart from the free food, there is a huge selection of dishes available from nearby restaurants and food stalls. You can read about them here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/food-features/388845/a-moveable-feast-feast

สามารถฝึกอ่านออกเสียงและดูคำแปลได้ที่ : http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/388901/rally-site-food