23 Dec 2020
For many people, pad Thai—the delectable sweet, sour, and spicy stir fry of rice noodles, tofu, eggs, veggies, bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, and an umami-rich sauce that can be found on the menu of virtually every Thai restaurant in the US—is their first taste of Thai cooking.
So, it’s interesting to learn that the dish that most Americans think of as the quintessential Thai food didn’t even exist until the mid-20th century.
In her book Materializing Thailand, nutritional anthropologist Penny Van Esterik says that the dish was born out of prime minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram’s campaign throughout the 1930s and 40s to build a national identity for Thailand. Hoping to create a sense of pride in “Thai-ness” by uniting his country through culture, he changed the nation’s name from Siam to Thailand, commissioned a new national anthem, banned local languages and dialects from schools, and set out to create a national dish.
(Also Read – Tracing Tacos – A Journey Through Time)
Curiously, the main ingredient in the dish that Phibunsongkhram—who was known as Phibun—promoted isn’t even native to Thailand. Stir-fried rice noodles originated in China and were introduced to the kingdom of Siam by Chinese traders in the 1700s. But promoting a stir-fried noodle dish helped solve a serious problem that Phibun’s nation was facing: flooding and war had caused a severe rice shortage, and encouraging people to eat noodles helped preserve the country’s precious rice supply.2 Phibun’s administration took the basic recipe for stir fried rice noodles and loaded it up with nutritious bean sprouts, onions, peanuts, eggs, meats, and a tamarind-based sauce, then encouraged vendors to sell the dish from street carts all over the country. It was, Phibun’s son later pointed out, the first fast food in Thailand.3
Phibun’s efforts to make pad Thai a part of his country’s heritage succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. Today, it is a staple of the Thai diet. Beyond Thailand, it has become a beloved dish worldwide: In 2011, pad Thai ranked number 5 in CNN Go’s reader poll of the “World’s 50 Most Delicious Foods.”4 Wondering how this simple noodle dish became an international culinary superstar? Mark Padoongpatt, a professor of Asian and Asian American studies at the University of Nevada Las Vegas and the author of a history of Thai food, says this, too, was driven by the Thai government as an act of culinary diplomacy: in an effort to stimulate exports and encourage tourism, it established the Global Thai Restaurant Company, Ltd. to train chefs and send them around the world to open Thai restaurants5.
And now, CookinGenie brings this beloved classic noodle dish to your house. We offer three varieties of classic pad Thai—Chicken, Shrimp, and Vegetarian—cooked from scratch with wholesome, authentic ingredients like rice noodles, sweet-and-sour tamarind paste, spicy chile-garlic paste, and Thai preserved radish. Book your Genie to bring a true taste of Thailand to your very own kitchen.
15 Jul 2020
What is CookinGenie? CookinGenie is a service where delicious and healthy home-cooked meals come with only a couple of taps on your smartphone. The twist is that the food is cooked right in your kitchen.
It’s not catering. It’s not meal kits. It’s not food delivery. It’s not frozen 500 miles away.
It’s made fresh with ingredients from your neighborhood grocery. Enjoy it fresh for lunch or dinner, or as leftovers after. CookinGenie is ideal for you, your family & small parties of less than ten people.
How does it work? Go online to CookinGenie.com and select your dish and a time for our Genies to come to your very own house and cook JUST for you, your family & perhaps a few friends. Then all you have to do is sit back & relax.
Wait, who are our Genies you ask? They are experienced cooks who make delicious foods. Some of them have worked in restaurants before. How do we know about their cooking? Simple, we taste their foods before they cook for you.
A restaurant inside your home. The world on your taste buds (yes we have cooks from diverse backgrounds). More YOU time, while dinner is taken care of.
Check us out today. Book a time with one of our Genies – then sit back & watch us conjure up your dinner. Sounds too good to be true? Yes…. it’s magical. Visit Now: cookingenie.com
27 Jan 2022
One of the most amazing things that separate CookinGenie from visiting any restaurant is the variety of the available chefs and their menus. To help you narrow down your delightful choices, we’ll go over some of the best Valentine’s Day Menu we have available for your upcoming date night. To make your Valentine’s Day date night even better, we’re offering a limited-time complimentary dessert: chocolate mousse. The perfect finish for any of these great selections.
Everyone loves something to nibble on, so why not explore this excellent fruit and cheese board with a selection of fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and jam? The variety of tasty morsels on this board will keep you happily snacking as you enjoy your evening.
Are you looking for a tasty vegetarian dish? Don’t skip spring rolls because you think it’s a side dish. They make a great entree, especially when they’re jammed full of tasty ingredients. You can’t go wrong with these crispy spring rolls that are just packed with flavor.
When you’re looking for a wholesome meal that will tickle your tastebuds, you can’t beat chicken marsala. A rich flavorful chicken dish is sure to warmly fill your stomach just like the love in your heart. The chicken pairs perfectly with a rich wine sauce, mushrooms, nutty brown rice, and broccolini.
A classic favorite, the rack of lamb, is sure to please. The thick-cut fondant potatoes and roasted carrots round out this delicious meal. The elegance of this meal is sure to please even the most discerning diners.
Is your Valentine sticking with their resolution to eat healthier this year? You can’t go wrong with a beautiful salmon dish that’s sure to please. This glazed fish dish comes with rice and veggies that complement the flavor.
There’s an unspoken rule that Italian dishes are the height of romance for some people, so checking out this Sicilian favorite is sure to please. The pan-seared chicken matched up with yummy tortellini will make your kitchen smell amazing, leaving you excited for your meal.
Seafood is one delicacy that you can’t ignore. If you and your partner love a taste of the sea, mussels may make for a flawless dining experience. Plus, who doesn’t love a meal where you can savor every drop with delicious toasted baguette pieces?
When you’re looking to go all out for your Valentine, there’s something to be said about the classics. Steak and lobster is the perfect pairing for a fancy dinner. Add in the creamy garlic mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus, and you’ll create the ideal extravagant meal for your sweetheart. It might be the exact meal you need to set up a pristine evening to pop the question.
Also, don’t forget that for a limited time, you and your date will enjoy a complimentary chocolate mousse to enjoy after your main course when you book for Valentine’s Day. Just our way of saying thanks for using CookinGenie for your special events.
New to CookinGenie? This Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to give CookinGenie a try. Experience all of the luxury of having a personal chef cook in your kitchen at an affordable price and skip all of the problems that come from going out to eat on Valentine’s Day. You’ll be wondering why you waited until a special occasion to enjoy a professionally cooked meal at home after you’ve experienced the difference CookinGenie provides.
You may have avoided using a personal chef in the past because it’s completely different from what you’ve experienced. But, once you book your Valentine’s Day meal, you’ll be able to sit back and relax while the magic happens in the kitchen. There is no shopping for ingredients or having to clean up. Instead, your chosen chef will arrive, prepare the meal using your kitchen, and you’ll be able to enjoy a professionally cooked meal right in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
These are some of our most requested dishes. Of course, once you find a suitable dish for your Valentine’s Day dinner, you’ll want to book your spot before it’s not available. But, don’t miss out on the perfect dining experience by waiting. Are none of our featured Valentine’s Day dish selections working for you or your special someone for one reason or another? All of our other dishes are available for you to choose from to help personalize your personal chef experience.
Skip the hassle of going out to eat this Valentine’s Day. You may worry that you’ll let your loved one down by not going to a restaurant like you do every year. It’s time to switch things up. You may surprise them with an even better way to spend the holiday. CookinGenie is here to help create a lovely Valentine’s Day for you. Check out some of our featured selections for this very romantic occasion to find the right menu for your date night. Don’t forget about the special complimentary chocolate mousse that’s being offered for a short time to round out the perfect evening. Start scrolling through the different dishes offered today to find the right one for your next celebration of love. You won’t regret not having to deal with parking, long waits for tables, or other Valentine’s Day fails.
