Somtam....

[davejonesbkk]

Ive had somtam a few times, it wasnt bad, did take me a good 20-30 mins to eat it tho!

I think I'd like it if it were not as spicy though, so I was wondering if someone could advise me on what types of somtam there and how to order it?

[Bangyai]

Ive had somtam a few times, it wasnt bad, did take me a good 20-30 mins to eat it tho!

I think I'd like it if it were not as spicy though, so I was wondering if someone could advise me on what types of somtam there and how to order it?

Try Som Tam Ponlamy ( made with apples, guava, pineapple, carrot and tomatos ) Makes a change from the usual som tam.

[davejonesbkk]

Ok thanks. But what exactly is in 'usual' som tam? Papaya, those little crabs....what else? And its just called 'som tam'?

[Bangyai]

Ok thanks. But what exactly is in 'usual' som tam? Papaya, those little crabs....what else? And its just called 'som tam'?

Well, good point. Everyone has their own ' usual ' . The most basic would be 'tam thai'

with just papaya,tomatoes, fish sauce , peanut and chilli.

Others would be ' som tam poo ' ( crab )

'som tam pla ' ( fermented fish ..... not for the faint hearted ) etc etc.

Best bet, find a restaurant that serves isahn food. They will normaly have a choice and hopefully a menu in English.

[Rionoir]

Go try the apple somtum at yamm saap! I'm so in love with that right now. The spicy mixed with the sweet of the apples is soo aaroy.

[ianwuk]

Go try the apple somtum at yamm saap! I'm so in love with that right now. The spicy mixed with the sweet of the apples is soo aaroy.

Completely agree

I really like Somtam except with crab. So I would just ask for Som Tam Thai?

Thanks.

Ian

Edited September 23, 2009 by ianwuk

[rgs2001uk]

Here in Bkk if I dont want the crab I order either somtam priaw wan or somtam krung thep.

Never tried the somtam ponlamy, sounds like one to try.

[davejonesbkk]

Here in Bkk if I dont want the crab I order either somtam priaw wan or somtam krung thep.

Never tried the somtam ponlamy, sounds like one to try.

somtam priaw wan - sour and sweet? whats in it?

somtam krung thep - whats in this one too?

[meadish_sweetball]

Go try the apple somtum at yamm saap! I'm so in love with that right now. The spicy mixed with the sweet of the apples is soo aaroy.

Completely agree

I really like Somtam except with crab. So I would just ask for Som Tam Thai?

Thanks.

Ian

In general yes, but ordering can still be a hassle sometimes - on occasion the person making it will still have their own ideas and put crab in there anyway (happened to me once or twice, and also to my 100% Thai wife - absent-mindedness perhaps? Similarly, we have experienced how to some, 'mâi phèd' (not spicy) means "oh, just 8 chillies" ).

To be on the safe side, add a "mâi sài bpùu" (don't put any crab [in it]).

[lordkamala]

Go try the apple somtum at yamm saap! I'm so in love with that right now. The spicy mixed with the sweet of the apples is soo aaroy.

Completely agree

I really like Somtam except with crab. So I would just ask for Som Tam Thai?

Thanks.

Ian

In general yes, but ordering can still be a hassle sometimes - on occasion the person making it will still have their own ideas and put crab in there anyway (happened to me once or twice, and also to my 100% Thai wife - absent-mindedness perhaps? Similarly, we have experienced how to some, 'mâi phèd' (not spicy) means "oh, just 8 chillies" ).

To be on the safe side, add a "mâi sài bpùu" (don't put any crab [in it]).

Definitely agree with previous poster Mr Sweetball, skip the crab.

You don't know how fresh the crab is.

I had an unpleasant experience after eating Somtam with crab last year in Phuket. Had very bad case of food poisoning, lasted ages and took two courses of anti-biotics to finally get rid of it.

Now I stick to Tham thai, still get the occasional dodgy stomach but that is because I like it spicy

[anothertorres]

som dtam

[sangfroid]

Go try the apple somtum at yamm saap! I'm so in love with that right now. The spicy mixed with the sweet of the apples is soo aaroy.

Completely agree

I really like Somtam except with crab. So I would just ask for Som Tam Thai?

Thanks.

Ian

That's right Ian, and if you don't want it too spicy tell her "Mai phet khrab" "Sai phrik met diaw khrab"

"Not spicy, just put in one chili"

[farangUSA]

Make sure they clean the crock(the bowl they make it in) or you may find it too spicey from the last order.

[Rionoir]

Make sure they clean the crock(the bowl they make it in) or you may find it too spicey from the last order.

That's pathetic if someone can't even eat it unless they rinse the bowl (which I've never seen done come to think of it)... LoLoL Actually, that would probably be my family if they came to visit me... hehe

[Harcourt]

There's another ingredient...some sort of fermented fish...or maybe it's the crab. Myy TGF doesn't like it (as she is suspicious of the freshness) and when I go to get it she tells me to tell the vendor, "mai palak, mai sai kratiem" (She doesn't like garlic either).

One the OP might like as it's not as sweet as the apple or fruit som tam..... tam taeng, made with cucumber, or tam carrot.

Go to the food forum...there's alot about som tam there.

[rgs2001uk]

Here in Bkk if I dont want the crab I order either somtam priaw wan or somtam krung thep.

Never tried the somtam ponlamy, sounds like one to try.

somtam priaw wan - sour and sweet? whats in it?

somtam krung thep - whats in this one too?

Apologies for late reply.

Its basically the same ingredients, its the sauces they use that give the differing flavours.

Had one the other day, way too sweet, was made using a plum sauce.

As mentioned by another poster, try out the Yam Saep chain of stores, the somtam ponlamy was excellent.