Asia is famous for its street food. It's delicious and cheap provided your stomach can handle it. Most times, the food is uncovered and it does attract flies and bees (yes, lots of bees on the sweet sticky yams and cakes). It is common to pack lunch at these places - get a polystyrene container from the stall owner, pile in the rice and select whatever dishes you like. An instant meal at a budget price. I guess in the West, lunches are sandwiches and hot dogs on the run. We have these too but, we love our rice and noodles. It is funny how our tummies can get use to specific "contamination." I call it "contamination" as the water and ingredients used to prepare the food is different in each country. I enjoy street food in Malaysia and happily sit by the wooden tables and chairs by the road side, but street food in Thailand or Indonesia will give me a "rumble in my stomach." 
Even with franchaise food where our taste buds may not detect the slight differences, the stomach knows what it is digesting. I will confess I am a McDonald's addict. I even have McD (as our family calls it) coupons in my wallet all the time. Some of you have shared your addictions to coffee and "pop drinks." But nothing makes me happier than my Happy Meals at McD. My 2 all time favourites - Bic Mac and the Fillet-O-Fish.
When I was in UK for a conference a few years ago, I happily tucked into the Fillet. The bun was just as soft and the fish warm and crispy on the outside and perfect inside. Tasted more delicious than the ones at home because of the cold winter. But a few minutes after finishing, my stomach protested. It just was not possible. Being a scientist, I had to do more experiments on this really unusual phenomenon. So I actually ate the Fillet-O-Fish thrice more at different times (lunch and dinner), a good scientist must test all variables. The same thing happened every time - stomach rumble. Conclusion - It must be a slight difference in the tartare sauce, maybe there is more lemon juice as I know my stomach is sensitive to acidic stuff. Anyway they were the most enjoyable experiments I had ever done. Does anyone else have a queer tummy like mine?
My tummy is oh so sensitive. All that street food looks amazing...but I can't handle fast food here...I can't imagine what it would be like there.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I cook so much at home :)
Good on you - cooking at home is so much healthier for you and the family. You get to eat fresh products and cut out all the preservatives. I will have to start this good habit.
ReplyDeleteThe food all looks so colourful, don't think my tummy would handle it. It doesn't handle the change in water throughout England let alone elsewhere LOL
ReplyDeleteEverytime I have gone to Asia for a holiday I have never had street food.....oh except the corn.
ReplyDeleteI adore spicy food and those pictures looked appetisingly good. Not sure about the flies and bees though, I think that would upset the tummy. You're right though, we all get used to contamination of some description. Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteOooh you've made me hungry just by looking at these photos! I much prefer Asian food to British food...Lucky you! x
ReplyDeleteNice post. Well what can I say is that these is an interesting and very informative topic on food good for your stomach
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