Can Issan food be avoided?

[phinik]

Moving soon from the U.S. to live in an Issan village, and very concerned about food. One of the first things I plan to buy will be a freezer so I can go into the city to find foods that suit me.
I will be living with my Thai wife, and near all of her family, who enjoy certain insects, frogs, etc. I want to assimilate but I seem to have an irrational fear of what I consider "strange food". Has anyone else living in a village in Issan had this experience, and been able to avoid "Issan food"?

[Pragmatic]

If you publish your intended village of stay it may assist someone as to informing you where and what is available near to you.

[Yasojack]

Op they have shops in Thailand that sell western foods. Tesco lotus and Big C there selection is not the best but there are many farang outlets as well.

Saying that some of the Isaans foods are worth a try.

Watch that home produced Nam pla your wife's mother makes.

[bowie]

Phinik;

Wow, you did pick a tough row to hoe.

Living in Isaan, I don’t see how you can possibly avoid eating “Isaan Food”. However, your plan with the freezer may help you meet most of your objective.

In your shoes I would resign myself to eating Isaan food, although I would be a “picky” eater. Not knowing your current eating habits, I expect that you will lose some weight if you are adverse to “strange” foods and expect to live in Thailand.

Good luck with your relocation. I would suggest that you slowly assimilate your taste buds to enjoy some of the creative Thai dishes that will be made available. Slowly work through your irrational fear. Keep the freezer stocked with standby “regular” food so you don’t starve.

Good Luck.

[peterpan]

Why move here if you want things to be same as in the west? its different adapt or wither away

[Yasojack]

Another idea for the OP, try doing what many farangs do, drink copious amounts of beer and smoke lots of cigs.

[Yasojack]

Peter look around us Farangdom is what many of them like and hold onto.

Why move here if you want things to be same as in the west? its different adapt or wither away

[bankao dreamer]

When you crave Somtam if you haven't had it for a week you are home and dry. Cricket's are great beer snacks just don't look at them and frog is great when minced up. Good luck with your move.

[thaimeme]

Why move here if you want things to be same as in the west? its different adapt or wither away

Indeed, Peter.

Don't throw simple logic out there - just confuse them more than they already are.


This type.....a very strange lot.

[bowie]

Cricket's are great beer snacks just don't look at them

Best advice I ever got from my father-in-law was "don't eat the grasshoppers, you don't know what insecticide they used to kill them"

[Yasojack]

^ they catch them alive.

[bankao dreamer]

^^
Get them from a cricket farm.

[bowie]

yep, and, double yep.

[bankao dreamer]

To the OP
Go to a fresh market and taste the different buckets of NamPla then stand there pondering which tastes best. The look on the locals faces priceless.

[sabang]

Somewhere, within commuting distance, there will be a Big C or Lotus. Enjoy copious amounts of frozen, imported food, and vegetables. Heck, why not stick to Bud too- don't want any of that Isaan crap (Leo comes from Khon Kaen).

If you weaken, and try some of that obnoxious, festering Isaan crap from the markets, such as deep fried chicken, or grilled pork neck on a stick, pad ka pao, stir fried veges etc, the parasites will slowly invade your brain and next thing you know you will be sitting down and having a morning Isaan beer at the local markets while the wife shops, and actually enjoying it. That is surely a fate worse than death itself.

[Pragmatic]

they catch them alive.

You mean they cook them alive.

[Yasojack]

LOL they have to catch him first to cook em

[bowie]

I want to assimilate

How to assimilate;

Go to a fresh market

try some deep fried chicken, or grilled pork neck on a stick, pad ka pao, stir fried veges etc,

[toslti]

Any shopping mall will provide you with the American balanced diet.... McDonalds for breakfast, KFC for lunch and Pizza Hut for dinner. You won't have to eat savage food.

[Yasojack]

So true and you can get to be more of a Fat bstard.

Any shopping mall will provide you with the American balanced diet.... McDonalds for breakfast, KFC for lunch and Pizza Hut for dinner. You won't have to eat savage food.

[sabang]

Perhaps the world should develop a new Mcdonalds index (we already have the big Mac index, courtesy of the Economist). This being comprised of ones distance to the nerest Mcdonalds gourmet outlet, as a proxy for integration into the modern world.

When I first moved to Ubon province, a mere five years ago, It was about 400km to the nearest Mcdonalds- take yer pick, Udon or Korat. Now it's a mere 30km, and there are a choice of 2 in Ubon- and wow, they even offer drive through service too, you don't even have to get out of your automobile. Really impressive suff that. I think Mcdonalds make more efficient missionaries than Mormons really.

[Yasojack]

Sabang Where's the other one seen the one in the new shopping area.?

I always wondered why they hadn't of opened one in Ubon considering the amount of Uni students around.

[palexxxx]

Somewhere, within commuting distance, there will be a Big C or Lotus. Enjoy copious amounts of frozen, imported food, and vegetables.

You forgot about Macro.

[piwanoi]

Moving soon from the U.S. to live in an Issan village, and very concerned about food. One of the first things I plan to buy will be a freezer so I can go into the city to find foods that suit me.
I will be living with my Thai wife, and near all of her family, who enjoy certain insects, frogs, etc. I want to assimilate but I seem to have an irrational fear of what I consider "strange food". Has anyone else living in a village in Issan had this experience, and been able to avoid "Issan food"?

When you buy your Freezer I suggest you buy one with a strong locking mechanism on the lid, other wise the food you buy will be regarded as your familys too ,here they do not regard it as blatant theft just "sharing" as is the norm when living with "the family" its a give and take arrangement ,you give and they take !

[Yasojack]

Pi always gives ration coupons for his wife, and has a video camera watching his belongings