The best way to present a Thai meal is to sit all you friends around a big table then serve all the starters, mains and side dishes all at once, and let every person try all the different taste at their own pace.

For a feast like this, consider the following dishes as commpaniments to the salad and curry: Tom Yum soup, Rare beef , Yellow coconut curry with pork and green banana, Spicy red duck curry with pineapple, Prawns with citurs and chilli, and stir-fried chicken with basil and chilli.

There are two essential side dishes that will make your Thai food extrodinary

1. A plate of fresh vegetables like  cucumber, leafy vegetables, tomatoes, green beans etc, roughly chopped or whole so it can be taken with the hand - compliments the passionate flavours of the Thai food.

2. Prik Nam Bplaa - 3 chillies sliced into rings, 3 cloves of garlic sliced thinly, 1 shallot sliced into thin rings, 1/2 lime sliced into slivers and quatered.  Divide these equally into two small sauce bowls, add a good glug of Fish sauce and 1/2 teaspoon of honey or sugar, stir to mix.  Invite your guests to drizzle 1ts over their rice to flavor it before they start with any of the other dishes.