Today’s Takeout: Som Tum from Chao Baan

Since the Prapaisilp family – who first brought Thai food to St. Louis with King & I on South Grand – debuted their newest restaurant last year, they’ve introduced many St. Louisans to regional Thai cuisine well beyond pad thai and red, yellow and green curries.

If you’re looking to pick up some takeout tonight – and looking to take your love of Thai food to the next level – consider ordering the som tum from Chao Baan. 

Som tum is a dish from northern Thailand with papaya, a common Thai ingredient, as the star. Pounded, shredded papaya is dressed with tomatoes, chile, peanuts, dried shrimp, lime and fish sauce for a funky and fresh flavor that is bound to leave you feeling full without feeling weighed down. 

Looking to add a little extra something to your meal? You can’t go wrong with the classic tom kha, a creamy and spicy Thai soup, but if you’re looking for something that feels more like an appetizer, opt for the mieng kham. These green leaf wraps serve as a vessel for dried shrimp, ginger, coconut, onion and lime, bringing complex flavors into every bite. 

Chao Baan is offering its menu daily from 4pm to 9pm for curbside pickup and delivery. 

Chao Baan, 4087 Chouteau Ave., The Grove, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.925.8250, chaobaanstl.com

https://www.feastmagazine.com/st-louis/article_7260a96c-a035-11ea-8e0e-a3e0c929d7f9.html