Kow Mun Gai

Growing up I ate a variety of foods. I feel that the Northwest is a region that is diverse and open to different cuisines. In Seattle immigrants from Asian countries have had a huge impact in the popularity that Asian cuisine has experienced. My mother is Thai. One look in any neighborhood and you'll probably find at least one Thai restaurant. I was fortunate enough to have my mother and grandmother cook Thai food for me on a regular basis. My favorite Thai dish is called 'kow mun gai'. It is boiled chicken, garlic flavored rice and a yellow bean sauce. The flavors explode in your mouth. This dish has become a comfort food for me. I feel closer to my Thai heritage every time I eat it. Eating this dish evokes my memories of going to Thailand and visiting my family over there. We often went to temple festivals and would eat at one of the roadside food stalls. Kaow man gae is one of the most common dishes that are available at the food stalls. I can almost sense the atmosphere that I felt when I was there, eating with my family. I would watch my mother cook this delicious meal that gave me a sense of uniqueness and set me apart from most of my classmates. I felt that I had a different perspective on the culture that surrounds the relationship that we have with food. Because of my mixed ethnicity I think that I have a greater appreciation for all cultures.