Bangkok Cuisine Offers Some Peculiar Dishes

The menu at some of Bangkok's restaurants offers some dishes that you may never consider eating unless your friends have convinced you to consume more than your fair share of beer. It may take away the disgust of eating these wierd types of cuisine but for others these dishes offer a rare delicious delicacy.

Most of us saw the movie where Hannibal Lecter enjoyed pigging out on brains but for some Samong Moo Thai Tharn's famous Pig Brain Soup is a favorite. Located at 28/1 Phraeng Phuton Rd (02 221-7612), his little indiscreet eatery serves Shell-Chuan-Chim, a feast of pig brain, deep-fried fish skin, Chinese sausages, entrails, and deep-fried taro balls, all mixed in a peppered broth. For those westerners that say this is disgusting . . . I say "Did you know ti is served in the USA and Canada as well and Pig Brains in Milk Gravy is even available in the can. Another favorite variation of the dish is serving the brains fried with scrambled eggs.

The next dish COD SPERM is often a seasonal dish and before you squirm to much you should know it is considered a favored delicacy. Once this white blob is cooked with the tangy ponju sauce you will be in for a pleasant surprise. The texture becomes creamy and a bit like custard. Like so many other dishes, such as, shark fin it is more about texture and the novelty rather than taste. It is available from November to January at Kubpo Hanako at 113/1 Thonglor Soi 13 (02 712-6371).

Pow Tiem Heng, located at the 5th Floor food court at the Emporium on Sukhumvit Road, serves OX BALLS (Rocky Mountain Oysters, if you like). The Chinese believe that chomping on these ox testicles will enhance your sexual power. It is served as Kao Lao or with noodles, stewed with Chinese herbs in a terracotta pot.

This dish the locals may frown at as BLOOD SAUSAGE or black pudding is an authentic British dish. It is a sausage made from cooked pig's blood and usually comes with a typical English fried breakfast with eggs, bacon, and baked beans, Try this rich and spicy treat unless you don't have the b----.