It was about seven years ago that I was fully introduced to the wonders and flavours of a truly authentic Thai meal. I had gone over to my friends house, and she had brought a load of ingredients from Paya Thai Market to make a Thai green curry - my first ever one. I watched as she laid out herbs that I had never seen - kaffir lime leaves, sweet basil. The vegetables too - I had never eaten baby aubergines, or seen them in supermarkets. The meal was so good that I can still remember the taste of the flavours in my mouth as I sit here.
Since then, whenever I have wanted to make a Thai curry, I have come here. My favourite discovery at Paya Thai is the red paste, sold in containers. There are no artificial ingredients in it whatsoever, just chilli's and herbs. I still get the baby aubergines here, as well as big bunches of herbs that are always cheaper then in other supermarkets.
It is a well stocked market, and does ingredients from all different regions of Asia, so this place can be visited for plenty of culinary reasons. The food is always reassuringly inexpensive, and on my way out, I always make sure I pick up their jumbo sized bags of Thai crackers! read more