At this very scorching minute, khao chae, which in recent decades came to be seen as a rather old-fashioned gastronomic ritual, is all the rage on Thailand’s food scene.
From 5-star restaurants and hip cafés to street vendors and social media pages, the once obscure khao chae now turns up just about anywhere.
Perhaps it’s the heyday nostalgia of an ageing society. Or maybe the weather is simply too hot for anyone, young or old, to resist the cooling comfort of this delicacy.
Meaning “rice soaked in water”, khao chae is an example of Thai gastronomic wisdom from the time before ice cream and air conditioning systems, when diners desired a palatable escape from the…
