My mom and step-dad arrived in Bangkok yesterday for a visit from the US. Here’s how their visit has shaped up, numbers-wise, so far:
Thai Foot Massages
Thai Cuisine Consumed
Kimchi Consumption Requests Made By Me
Bowls of Lot Chong Devoured
Shopping Achievements
Songkran Soakings
Remember the french fry-coated hot dog that I photographed in Seoul a while back? I mean, seriously, given the international acclaim that followed, how could you forget?
Well, in my ongoing quest to identify and consume hot dogs encrusted in all manner of incongruous snack foods, I bring you the waffle-coated hot dog.
In a feat of observation that would make Austin proud, I recently spotted — and subsequently scarfed down, lest I fail in my mission — this remarkably-executed example of Euro/American-Thai culinary fusion at a night market in Kanchanaburi, Thailand.
Per the vendor’s recommendation, I applied ketchup. The result was a flavor profile not commonly encountered in the west: The dish was doughy and sweet from the waffle, meaty and nitrate-infused due to the hot dog, and acidic from the ketchup.
After finishing my snack, I thanked the vendor — the man in the photo above — and asked him what this particular treat was called. He looked at me blankly, turned to his companions, and then took a deep breath. “Waffle…hot dog,” he said.
There you have it. The international language of snack foods, my friends.
LINK LOVE UPDATE, Dec. 16: The Thai waffle-coated hot dog, I’m happy to say, has struck a chord with lovers of silly foodstuffs the world over. It’s been featured on the following fine blogs: Coudal.com’s Fresh Signals, The Food Section, SuperSizedMeals.com, and Blog on a Toothpick.
Mark Hurst writes one of my favorite blogs, Good Experience. It’s all about customer experience and usability — essentially, how organizations can create products, services, and Web sites that are more helpful and easier to use. For the past five years, Hurst has put together Uncle Mark’s Gift Guide and Almanac. The 2008 edition is now available as a free PDF.
From his introduction:
If you’re not familiar with Uncle Mark, here’s the deal: I review all the major consumer technology products and give my ONE favorite pick in each category… not the “17 top digital cameras”, but the ONE camera that you should buy. The guide concludes with an Almanac section where I say whatever comes to mind, mostly tips and tricks that I can’t fit anywhere else.
I don’t agree with all of Hurst’s suggestions, but his approach to selecting the best gadgets is spot-on: When it comes to consumer electronics, simplicity is vastly under-valued by product designers the world over. Just because more features are possible doesn’t mean they’re a good idea.
Hey, ladies: looking for some modest swimwear? You might find Wholesome Wear to be of interest as you go about sprucing up your summertime bathing collection.
“CUP-A-CAKE was designed and patented by mothers to solve the age old problem of sending cupcakes to school or outings with their children. Before CUP-A-CAKE, taking cupcakes anywhere caused a mess.”