The Search For "Exquisite" Food
Sketch of Kway teow shop @ Nak Korn Nai Rd
There’s this saying that when there is good food with good friends, there will always be good memories. Striking up a conversation among friends over a simple meal will definitely lighten up one’s mood. What’s interesting about Songkhla old town is the fact that it is surrounded by shophouses which holds the secret passsage to good food. In Songkhla, good food is not defined by the outlook of the place, but rather it is often associated with the history of the place itself. The best food in Songkhla is usually made from secret recipes past down from generations.
Neighbors sharing a meal together
As we were walking along Nak Korn Nok rd, we discovered a hidden passage to a coffee shop along the harbor. Upon interviewing the amiable shop owner, he offered to show us the process of traditional coffee making. From the traditional method of boiling of water to the roasting of coffee beans to the grinding of coffee beans, the process of watching him prepare coffee reminded me of how convenient it was for us to get a cup of coffee back in our hometown. It made me realized that a packet of instant coffee cannot be compared to that rich aroma that lingers from a cup of traditional coffee lovingly prepared by hand.
Hidden passage to the coffee shop along the harbor
Grinding of coffee beans
Sieving of coffee
Moving on from the craft of making coffee, we headed for some handmade ice cream near Nam Ngam Street. It’s always nice to treat yourself to some ice cream in a hot tropical country. Most of the ice cream shops are managed by Chinese Thais. Their best seller would be three ice cream scoops toppled with egg yolk. Perhaps it is the egg yolk that accentuates the texture of the ice cream. Other toppings include bread crumbs, green bean and glutinous rice. Also, we learnt that this traditional version of ice cream can no longer be found in other regions of Thailand, hence making it extraordinary. However, I feel that the art of making these traditional foods will slowly fade away in the next few years. This is so as I observed that there are many new cafes which are inclined to suiting the tastes of tourists. With the erection of new modern cafes, many of the local food shops will be eliminated. As much as I hope that the traditional food store will continue to reign in the future, but maybe its fate has already been decided… Soon, there would not be any search for “exquisite” food in Songkhla as it will be overwhelmed with fusion food instead of local food.
Ice cream @ Nam Ngam Rd
15