Rialoves2cook: I'm making a Thai and foreigner favourite, Mango Sticky Rice. I'm no stranger to sticky rice, as my sister would live off biko if possible, but I discovered our cooking methods are slightly different from Thai ones. My awesome coworker, Prae, lent me a steaming basket and cloth, and she's helped me figure out the technique so I can share it. I hope you enjoy coconut cream, melt-in-your-mouth mangos, and sweet rice! I'm falling in love with this place more every day <3.
#mangostickyrice #thaidessert #sweettreat #steamingrice #canthelpfallinginlovewithfood
Posted October 17th, 5:30 PM
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"We're almost there!" Becca's heels clicked down the unfamiliar street with energy ahead of Mitch, Maria, Shawn, Tom and Emma.
After turning down earlier invitations for after-work drinks, Maria gave in on Thursday since her contest post had been quick to prepare, and Sunshine had been bugging Maria about her reclusive nature. While her first four days with the kids were filled with laughs and smiles, it also took a lot of energy between teaching and preparing her Gourmet Adventures posts in a country she was still discovering.
"Here it is! Margarita Bar!" Becca gestured to an open-concept building with high ceilings and a busy patio.
She greeted the staff in Thai with big hugs and smiles, her dark hair billowing behind her like a shampoo commercial. She led their group to a table half in the three-walled bar and half on the sidewalk. Inside, Thai women performed a karaoke ballad very similar to a top-40 dance song Maria liked.
When the waitress came, she plunked down three large plastic pitchers, suited to serving water in diners, full of an icy cocktail. The bright blue margaritas had long spoons inside. Were they supposed to drink all that between the six of them? Emma laughed and filled Maria's shot glass.
As Maria finished her drink, icy tendrils coursed through her brain. "This is like an endless supply of mini booze Slurpees."
With a laugh, Emma dished up another shot for Shawn. His hands rested on her back or shoulder or played with her hair when he wasn't using them to speak animatedly. It was funny Emma had mostly talked about Shawn in a professional way. The two acted closer than friends. Maybe Emma's vague warning about Mitch, Becca, and Shawn earlier in the week had just been jealousy. They'd helped and welcomed Maria without any issues.
Tom tapped a spoon against his shot glass, sending blue ice crystals through the air. "To Maria, who survived her first week, or almost the whole week!" Tom raised his glass.
Everyone chorused "to Maria" and downed their shots.
It was crazy October camp was nearly half over. Even though she feared she wasn't doing enough to help or engage her students, Emma disagreed, as did Becca, who'd stopped by her class as a floater to manage the kids and assist with crafts.
Tom leaned closer to Maria, his spicy after-shave cutting through the nearby cigarette smoke. "Your students tell me they love your class."
She chuckled and played with the rim of her empty glass. "They're four, so their love is easily attained."
"But they're also painfully honest at that age."
She laughed, thinking about her cousins. "You make a good point."
"So other than—" The loud chorus of the Thai crowd bellowing the Cranberries' 'Zombie' overpowered Tom's words for a moment. "—what is there to know about Maria?"
She bit her lip and went with her gut instinct. "Family is important to me."
Tom grinned. "Me too. Missing them is the hardest part of being out here."
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