1/24–Khao Soy

Another quiet day in Chiang Mai.  We’re reading a lot!  And the weather is perfect – not too hot during the day and nice and cool at night.  Tonight we are going to try the Khao Soy place we walk past on our way to Rimping market.  It’s called Just Khao Soy or The Art of Noodles – don’t really know which one, because the sign has both. We had met the owner this morning on our walk – British – he came outside while we were talking to one of the waiters. He gave us a whole long story about how they make the Khao Soy and wanting to franchise the concept but people told him there was not way to do that in Thailand. Basically because Thai chefs won’t follow anyone’s direction – just their own. So you could tell them how to cook your recipes, but they’ll just do it the way they have always done it!  Pretty funny!
So – at any rate – we head back there for dinner.  The place is deserted – just a big party in the Air Conditioned room. What? Why would you be in there? It’s really nice out, cool, and no bugs to speak of – so – well – whatever. Makes it quieter for us sitting in the “outside”.  Which is really not “outside” – it’s under roof with great bamboo decorative walls.  Quite nice actually.
Ordering is easy Choose in the following order:
1) Chicken breast, chicken wings, mixed free range chicken, beef or veggies
2) Chiang Mai style (with coconut milk) or Lanna style (no coconut)
3) Mild, medium or hot
4) Flat or round noodles
Done!
I have Chicken breast with flat; Ed has beef with round.  Then you get it on a palette with all the additions! How cool!

You get tons of things to spice up the Khao Soy – shallots, lemon, pickled cabbage, hot chilis, fish sauce – and stuff to calm it down – sugar, coconut milk, bananas. It’s fun doctoring it up to make it to your liking!  Plus they give you an apron so you don’t mess up your clothes slurping down your concoction. Fun!

After dinner, we wander through the “original” night market – the one in the buildings down the road from Ansuran (the market we typically go to).  There’s some different stuff, more wood and traditional stores, and artists who are just really fabulous, doing black and white drawings.  We also stumble on the food court which will definitely be a dinner place!  Any type of food you could want, including Sushi for 10 or 15b each (that’s 30-45cents each.  Yes. CENTS!)  You know where I’ll be headed!
After making the rounds, we head back to The Roadside bar, where another singer is plying the American tunes. We sit at the bar with the adorable bartender girls and learn more Thai – well you know – only the drinking words – like 1 glass, 2 glasses, big beer, one more, etc.  But hey – we’re learning! We manage to take one of the few selfies that work…

…then head back home for another night cap on the balcony.