• The Khantoke Dinner • Thai desserts • Spicy Mexican food • Khao Soi • Japanese food • A taste of Middle East

The customs and traditions of Lanna kingdoms are still observed in the northern regions. In Chiangmai, the cultures of different peoples survive and continue to flourish despite the onset of modernity. If there is one common trait, it is the hospitality of everyone in the city.

Visitors will also discover that "Khantoke", or Northern Thai cuisine, is really something else. It is a mix of Thai and Burmese recipes handed down from generations, resulting in a unique style of dining that is still practiced up to today in the region.

"Khan" is the common word up north for bowl and "toke" means small. In essence, Khantoke literally is the tray used as a small dining table by Thais. Made of teak and quite common in Northern Thailand, it is often used during weddings, parties and other special occasions.

During celebrations, the food is placed on the Khantoke. They usually include fried chicken, burned pork, pork curry, fried cabbage, pork tomato-chili paste, fresh cucumbers, fried bananas, fired rice crispy and sticky rice that's served from small bamboo baskets.

In many restaurants and hotels, a Khantoke dinner is accompanied always by local delicacies and desserts. Cultural shows often held afterwards feature several dances like the candle dance, fingernail dance, sword dance, hilltribe dance, drum dance and traditional Ramwong. During a Khantoke dinner, everyone sits on the carpeted floor.