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