Hi everyone,

Who always fancied to try new type of cuisine and broaden their horizon of "haute-gastronomie"? Here is your chance to taste and discover the wide range of laotian food in this traditional lao restaurant called "Lao Lanxang". What's good with this restaurant is that they do fantastic and affordable traditional laotian food!

You might not have heard of this "not so talked about country" called LAOS. Well, i would like to make people discover this unknown and beautiful country that is LAOS. I am originally from LAOS. I speak the language that is "Lao" and i have already been there many times! The capital of LAOS is called "VIENTIANE".

HISTORY

Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in southeast Asia, bordered by Burma (Myanmar) and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west. Laos traces its history to the Kingdom of Lan Xang or Land of a Million Elephants, which existed from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century. After a period as a French protectorate, it gained independence in 1949. A long civil war ended officially when the communist Pathet Lao movement came to power in 1975 but the protesting between factions continued for several years.

Laos is still ranked among the lowest countries in terms of economic and political freedom.

In the Lao language, the country's name is "Meuang Lao". Laos traces its history to the kingdom of Lan Xang, founded in the fourteenth century by Fa Ngum, himself descended from a long line of Lao kings, tracking back to Khun Borom. Lan-Xang prospered until the eighteenth century, when the kingdom was divided into three principalities, which eventually came under Siamese suzerainty.

In 1975, the communist Pathet Lao, backed by the Soviet Union and the North Vietnamese Army (justified by the communist ideology of "proletarian internationalism"), overthrew the royalist government, forcing King Savang Vatthana to abdicate on December 2, 1975. He later died in captivity.

Culture

Theravada Buddhism is a dominant influence in Lao culture. It is reflected throughout the country from language to the temple and in art, literature, performing arts, etc. Many elements of Lao culture predate Buddhism.

The country has two World Heritage Sites: Luang Prabang and Vat Phou. The government is seeking the same status for the Plain of Jars. Rice is the staple food and has cultural and religious significance. There are many traditions and rituals associated with rice production in different environments, and among many ethnic groups.

Laotian Cuisine

Lao food is distinct from other Southeast Asian cuisines. The staple food of the Lao is sticky rice. Galangal and fish sauce are important ingredients. The Lao national dish is "laap", sometimes also spelled "larb", a spicy mixture of marinated meat and/or fish that is sometimes raw (prepared like ceviche) with a variable combination of greens, herbs, and spices. Another characteristic dish is tam mak houng (som tam in Thai), a spicy green papaya salad.

Galangal is a cooking herb that is heavily favored in Laos. It appears in probably the majority of Lao dishes, along with the conventional herbs: garlic, shallots, lemongrass, etc.

Lao coffee is often called Pakxong coffee (cafe pakxong in Lao), which is grown on the Bolovens Plateau around the town of Pakxong. In more recent times, the Laotian state-owned brewery's "Beerlao" has become ubiquitous in Laos and is highly regarded by expatriates and residents alike.

Laotian Representative dishes

*laap: a spicy meat salad
*tam mak hung: green papaya salad
*ping kai: grilled chicken
*som moo: pickled pork ("ham")
*som phak kad: pickled greens
*khao poon nam jaew: rice vermicelli soup
*khoua my: fried rice noodles - similar to pad Thai
*khao nom maw keng: coconut custard cake
*mok kai: chicken steamed in banana leaf

Interested in?

Then please sign up for this event! For those who will sign up for this event, i will email you my french mobile number just in case if you need to contact me!!

I will be standing up between 19h and 19h15 right next to the main entrance of the Laotian restaurant. Then after 19h15, i will get inside the lao restaurant where i will book a table under my name and i will put on the table the big sign "MEETUP" so that you can find me more easily.

I hope to see you all then! The more The merrier!

Best regards,

David