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Depending on where you're from, your favorite breakfast may consist of conjee, marmite on toast, a Full Monty English breakfast, maybe biscuits
and gravy, huevos rancheros, waffles, muesli, pancakes, Khao Dom, café au lait and croissants, Filmjölk, or even grits and eggs over easy. That
simply goes to show that you've never had Kai Gata. If there was a such a thing as a truck stop special breakfast in Thailand, it would be Kai
GaTa.
For many years, Kai GaTa could only be found in Essan, in provinces with a large Vietnamese population ie, those along the Mekong River.
For some reason Khon Kaen, though not near the river, has long had more than its fair share of Kai Gata restaurants. When I was doing a lot of
traveling in Thailand, I used to scout out the Kai GaTa shops in any NE province that I ventured through. Then, it was mainly a traveling
salesman's breakfast as it takes only a minute or two after you order to have it in front of you, it's filling, and inexpensive. The shops that
sell it are usually located near third class hotels or bus stations. On a recent trip to Essan, I found the old shops I used to frequent were
still open and new ones open and the customers were not just traveling salesmen like in the old days but now families and couples and
tourists. Kai GaTa has gone mainstream.
Kai GaTa has traditionally only been available in the early mornings and usually comes as a set breakfast. It is now available in Hua Hin at the
Hua Hin Naem Nuang shop near the Dinosour Market. As you can see, the small skillet, or GaTa, contains two fried eggs topped with Mu Yaw and Kun
Chiang, two types of Essan sausage, and green onion and black pepper. You also get a small glass of fruit juice and coffee; sometimes Coffee
Bolan, but all too often, just strong Nescafe. The toasted sandwich (Kanom Bang Sod Sai) also contains slices of Mu Yaw and Kun Chiang.
The sandwich pictured is what Ozzies would probably call a jaffle. Normally the bread is a mini baguette which are also common in those
areas with Vietnamese populations. In Hua Hin, the mini baguettes are hard to find so our host makes do with the jaffle when he runs short.
Not to matter. This is as good a Kai GaTa as I've ever had and this man, and his lady, learned from the pros in Khon Kaen.
In Essan the set meal goes for about 40-60 Baht and in Hua Hin is a bargain at 45 Baht. Additional GaTas of eggs or sandwiches can be ordered
at very reasonable prices.
OK, the bad news is that our Kai GaTa man suffered from his bad location and moved up to Nakhon Pathom. The good news is The 55th Corner at the corner of Petchkasem Rd. and Soi 55 has a restaurant, Caphe sua da, which also serves Kai GaTa which they've translated to Eggs In A Pan. The 55th Corner is a quite posh little place with other Vietnamese food and coffee and also has a Red Mango yogurt ice cream franchise. It's also much easier to get to than the old place and is a good spot for people watching. It's located in the lower right hand corner of the map below (just south or below of the Van to Bkk icon) and I'll be changing the map real soon now.
He also has a few other specialties up his sleeve and they will be the subject of our next update, when my son gives me a couple of hours to work
it up. Stay tuned. After that, we talk about Martabak...
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