Gap Khao: Family Style Thai Meal

Aahaan gap khao translates as “food with rice,” and indicates a communal meal of various contrasting dishes to be eaten alongside this central grain.

Thai cuisine lends itself to family style meals, so expect a table laden with plates of contrasting food. This is grounded in the idea of balance, not just in terms of the flavour of a solo dish, but with regards to the entire meal. Anticipate an array of plates featuring multiple textures, flavours, levels of spice, temperatures, and styles of cooking. You can expect a combination of cooked and raw foods, salads, fried foods, soups and curries.

How it works: A day or two before the event, I hit the Thai markets to see what fresh ingredients are available. From there I plan the menu to ensure the dishes served maintain a sensory balance between taste, texture, and seasoning. You can take a look at sample menus and photos at the end of this post.