| Every April it seems as though everybody in | | | | out of their offices into the restaurant. |
| Thailand is sweltering in the hot sun and | | | | |
| getting ready for the Songkran water throwing | | | | This rice is so special because it is a |
| festival. Gourmet Thai cooks are busy | | | | seasonal dish, something you have to wait for |
| preparing their special cool-off dish called | | | | and before you get a chance to get tired of |
| "Khao Chae". rice soaked in scented water and | | | | it the season is already over. Also, people |
| topped with ice. | | | | who like to try out different kinds of food |
| | | | realize that something as refined and |
| Eating rice in cold water may sound just as | | | | difficult to make as Khao Chae will |
| appealing to people, not so accustomed to | | | | eventually disappear from the eating scene, |
| eating rice, as eating bread soaked in orange | | | | leaving room for dishes that can be churned |
| juice. It is an acquired taste and one is | | | | out fast. In private homes, unless you have a |
| hardly expected to like it at the first try. | | | | fully equipped kitchen, nobody will bother to |
| | | | sit down and make it. What's more, if you |
| Connoisseurs, however, cannot wait to eat | | | | order it in - restaurants (hotel coffee shops |
| their first "Khao Chae" of the year. This | | | | don't have it) it is reasonably priced. |
| dish usually appears on the menu around the | | | | One set of Khao Chae which includes rice |
| end of March and disappears at the arrival of | | | | served in scented water with jasmin and rose |
| the rainy season. It is strictly a luncheon | | | | petals floating in it plus six or seven side |
| dish which makes it doubly popular because | | | | dishes fried onions stuffed with flaky white |
| lunch time in Bangkok is every working man's | | | | fish, green pepper stuffed with pork wrapped |
| and woman's highlight of the day. One can | | | | in a light net made of eggs, shredded crispy |
| almost feel the sweet state of anticipation | | | | beef, shrimp paste mixed with fish and ginger |
| in the restaurants that put up their signs a | | | | and formed into little balls then dipped in |
| week before, announcing the forthcoming | | | | batter and fried, fried salted egg, and |
| arrival of this summertime specialty. | | | | shredded preserved cabbage stir-fried with |
| | | | eggs -- costs only between 40 to 60 baht |
| As the preparation which goes into the making | | | | (US$2-$3) depending on how elaborate and |
| of the side dishes to be eaten with this rice | | | | generous the portion. |
| is very time consuming, few restaurants serve | | | | |
| it, and the ones that do can make only a | | | | Nobody knows for sure who actually thought up |
| limited amount a day. For this reason people | | | | the idea of eating rice in cold water. |
| who set their hearts and souls upon eating | | | | Perhaps someone accidentally knocked over a |
| Khao Chae usually reserve it in advance in | | | | glass of iced water into his rice, ate it, |
| order not to be disappointed should they | | | | and decided that it was quite refreshing |
| arrive at the restaurant and find it all sold | | | | after all. As far as I can remember, it has |
| out. Otherwise, the thing to do is to arrive | | | | always been there in the summertime just like |
| really early before the other customers spill | | | | the Songkran water festival. |