Thailand Part 1: Bangkok & What I Cooked Last Week

Three days of eating in Bangkok, creamy mushroom meatballs, my favorite veggie sandwich

Hi everyone,

Hope you’re having a great week! Doug and I just got back from Thailand and had the best time. We spent the first three days in Bangkok and ate so many incredible things. It was my first time in Thailand (Doug had been once before), and I hadn’t realized just how massive Bangkok is. It felt like one of the biggest cities I’ve ever been to. We were so impressed by the infrastructure, the huge malls, and the elevated pedestrian walkways that make it easy to get around. Below, you’ll find the highlights from our itinerary, including our favorite noodle dishes, my obsession with mango sticky rice, and the best matcha I’ve ever had.

First night in Bangkok!

First, here’s a recipe for creamy mushroom meatballs that I love serving over mashed potatoes. They’re tender and perfectly moist thanks to panko breadcrumbs soaked in milk, a technique I learned from my mom. The meatballs simmer in a delicious mushroom sauce that pairs so well with the potatoes. I hope you give them a try!

As always, my cookbook Maxi’s Kitchen is now available for purchase at your local bookstore or online:

Thank you so much for your support 🤍

What I Cooked Last Week! ↓

Creamy Mushroom Meatballs

These meatballs turn out perfectly moist from breadcrumbs soaked in milk and grated Parmesan. They get simmered in a creamy mushroom sauce, which is so delicious served over mashed potatoes.

Creamy Mushroom Meatballs

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You can download the PDF recipe above and watch the video here :)

Three Days in Bangkok 🍜🥭

Bangkok feels incredibly alive, with so much energy, traffic, and movement everywhere you look. On our first day, we made the mistake of taking a taxi to our food tour. It was supposed to take 30 minutes but ended up taking an hour because of traffic, and punctual me hates being late. After that, we stuck to the trains, which are clean, efficient, and pleasant to ride. We also loved the elevated pedestrian walkways that let you cross busy streets without dealing with traffic lights. They make it so easy to get around on foot.

All the cars and scooters lined up and ready to go! I took this photo from one of the elevated pedestrian walkways.

Some of the best food is actually in the malls, which are filled with great restaurants and food courts and are also where many locals go to eat. The air conditioning probably helps too. We happened to visit during the hottest season, which we hadn’t realized when booking the trip, and I even bought a little handheld electric fan to survive the heat whenever we stepped outside.

We stayed at Rosewood Hotel, which we absolutely loved. The service was incredible and the breakfast was delicious. It felt like a true five-star experience. Because there are so many beautiful hotels in Bangkok, prices are quite competitive, and you can often stay somewhere luxurious for much less than you would pay in cities like New York or Paris.

We landed at 11am, dropped off our luggage, and immediately headed out for our first meal. The closest restaurant I had saved on my map was Thong Smith at Central Embassy, a mall right next to the hotel. We put our name down and grabbed a matcha while we waited.

Fantastic boat noodles and crispy wontons from Thong Smith 🤤