Wimitja reading the menu...

Sweet roti!

This man was moving so fast it was really hard to get good photos!

He was amazing - stocking his fire with coal, keeping his ingredients stocked, preparing the next one, selling, taking orders and more and more - about 10 things at once.

I remember these from when we were in SE Asia last time and so even though we were late and all tired we stopped and watched and joined his huge queue to see and taste a little of his magic...

Watch his hands...

First he rolls the dough with a rolling pin from a tiny ball into a round...

...then he flipps and spins and turn and donate in on his oiled bench too to stretch the dough as thin as air...

...then on the oiled pan it goes..,

.., crack an egg in..,

...mix the egg...

...turn the edges in - his fingers must be made of asbestos!!

...all four edges in...

...add a bit of butter...

...begin packing the one you just took off - paper down, add roti, butter...

...condensed milk (did I mention it isn't a health food?!)...

...roll up and sell for 6000 kip...

...begin again!

He was truly amazing to watch - speedy and careful. His line up was big and grew constantly.

We all talked about the loveliness of how patient everyone is in Laos. No annoyance, no huffing and puffing, no complaining, just quiet and smiling while people wait patiently.

Hopefully this wonderful quality - among other beautiful Laos qualities - is soaking in to us to bring home.

We shared our sweet roti as we walked on through the gathering dark.

Food everywhere...

At our little guest house we didn't realise straight away, but like every where in Laos, there is food every where!

Over you head...

...and under your feet...

Beautiful star fruit!

And loads of chilli drying!

Really loads!

The longer we stay, the more we realise every plant seems to be food or useful in some other way. Even plants I would have sworn were decorative are eaten. 

I haven't a picture but a few days ago they pruned the front hedge here at the guest house.

Once again - sure it was totally decorative - but into the kitchen it went!

So wonderful.

We came across this lady on the way home one day and the smell was amazing. With limited common words we think it is medicinal - for you stomach and heart. From a street tree.

The most lovely smell...

Such wonderful food knowledge and use in everyone's daily lives.

Lost in a forest Laos style...

We are sat at Pizza Phan Luang which appears to be like our gorgeous local at Uraidla - Lost in a Forest but totally Laos style!

We are celebrating the end of our first month!

If you can't join us here you should book at http://lostinaforest.com.au.

Happy pizza folks!

Nam Khao for breakfast...

Our very first breakfast and still a firm favourite! It is called Nam Khao which I think is actually the name of the mixture that goes inside.  

First a liquid of rice is poured on a cotton cloth that is tightly bound on a drum over coals. The mixture is spread around. Then a lid is put on and it steams into a kind of glutinous pancake.

Admittedly that doesn't sound great so far! 

Here you can see the liquid being spread and the silver lid behind.

The liquid is as runny and thin as water and it seems impossible that it will set but it does!

The cook then loosens the pancake of sorts from the cloth with a piece of bamboo and cuts it into pieces as it is quite fragile. 

She uses a fat piece of bambo to drape the pieces over so she can lift them to her preparation area. Then she adds the filling which you can see in the silver bowl and folds them up to make small soggy packages a bit like cold spring rolls but much thicker skins and more glutinous.

You can have them with an egg cooked on as well. 

You eat them with toppings sprinkled like lime juice, chopped peanuts, special sauce that I don't know how to describe, chilli...

I'll try and take some more photos to show them being made and then eaten!

Super yum!

The beginning...

It all started with a hair cut...

 

...and picking your hair cut when you don't speak the language is a tricky business!

There were some pictures on the wall to choose from and all things considered, everyone was happy!

Haircuts shortly followed by second breakfast of a firm favourite - morning bananas covered in coconut flour and cooked...