 Drunken noodles, a dish commonly eaten with alcoholic beverages | |
| Alternative names | Ahan kap klaem, ahan klaem lao |
|---|---|
| Course | Snack |
| Place of origin | Thailand |
| Associated cuisine | Thai |
Kap klaem (Thai: กับแกล้ม, pronounced [kàp klɛ̂ːm]), also known as ahan kap klaem (Thai: อาหารกับแกล้ม, [ʔāː.hǎːn kàp klɛ̂ːm]) or ahan klaem lao (Thai: อาหารแกล้มเหล้า, [ʔāː.hǎːn klɛ̂ːm lâw]), is the Thai term for "drinking food": foods commonly eaten while drinking. The term kap klaem can also refer to Thai drinking culture.
Thai drinking culture[edit]
In Thailand, drinks are almost always accompanied by food, no matter how simple the foods.[1]: 2 [2] According to Haaretz, the term kap klaem is also used to refer to the Thai drinking culture in general.[3]
Kap klaem is served in homes, on the street, and in specialty restaurants that open in the late afternoon and are open until very early morning.[1][3][4] According to Haaretz, a typical kap klaem eating and drinking session can last three hours.[3]
Foods[edit]
Many foods commonly eaten while drinking are also served as snacks or parts of a meal, but some are seldom eaten outside the context of drinking, and these are usually salty, chewy, crunchy, sour, and/or spicy, but generally not heavy or rich.[1]: 3 [3] Strong flavors and heavy spicing are typical.[3][5]
There are few foods specifically defined as drinking foods, and many dishes can be turned into drinking foods by adjusting seasonings and portion sizes.[3] Drinking foods are seldom served with the rice that typically accompanies actual meals in Thailand.[3][6]
Kap klaem is common throughout Thailand, but the foods typically eaten while drinking vary regionally.[3][7] According to chef Kris Yenbamroong, the foods typically are “something a group of people can share, which is an important aspect of it".[4] Vogue described the foods as "irresistible food that's somewhere in between a snack and a meal."[8]
Common aahaan kap klaem include lap mu thot, phat khimao (which translates to "drunkard's stir-fry"),[9] thua thot samunphrai,[6] and nam phrik.[2]
Drinks[edit]
Lagers such as Singha are popular in Thailand.[3] Beer is typically poured over ice.[1]: 74
Rice whiskeys such as lao khao and ya dong are common distilled liquors.[1]: 40 [3][6] A common cocktail is Whiskey Soda, which is a generic term for any brown liquor mixed with soda water.[1]: 162
According to Andy Ricker, many bars in Thailand are BYOB; customers pay for their mixers and food.[1]: 162
See also[edit]
- Anju, Korean term for food eaten while drinking
- Hors d'oeuvre, French term for food often served with cocktails
- Meze, snacks served in the Mediterranean, often while drinking
- Sakana, Japanese term for snacks served while drinking
- Tapas, Spanish small plates which originated as bar snacks
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g Ricker, Andy; Goode, J. J. (31 October 2017). The drinking food of Thailand. Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale. ISBN 978-1-60774-774-1.
- ^ a b "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown". CNN. 1 June 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Vered, Ronit (10 April 2018). "Some like it hot". Haaretz. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ a b Bass, Penelope (2 October 2017). "The culture of Thai drinking food". Imbibe. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ Thompson, David (2002). Thai Food. Ten Speed Press. p. 501. ISBN 978-1-58008-462-8.
- ^ a b c Ricker, Andy (21 December 2017). "Inside a rice whiskey distillery in Thailand". Eater. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ Tomicki, Hadley (1 November 2017). "The secrets of Thai bar food". UrbanDaddy. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ Luckel, Madeleine (31 October 2017). "Do you know what Thai drinking food is?". Vogue. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ Ricker, Andy (2 November 2017). "Eating drunkard's stir-fry with Anthony Bourdain". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
