Thai Student Association presents food on the TSC patio
Thai food culture meets USU.
The Thai Students Association will be holding a Thai cookout on the Taggart Student Center patio Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sarawut Jansuwan, TSA president and a third-year doctorate student in transportation engineering, said students will not want to miss the cookout.
TSA members hope students will taste the Thai culture in each dish, they said. Thailand is the “land of smile” and is known for friendliness, kind greetings and hospitality, Jansuwan said.
Pad Thai, spring rolls, green curry, tom yum goong, and jasmine rice will all be served. Each has a specific ingredients and specific tastes, Jansuwan said.
Pad Thai contains stir-fried noodles with eggs, tamiarind juice, red chili pepper and any combination of bean sprouts and tofus garnished with crushed peanuts.
Spring rolls are a deep fried Thai appetizer containing a combination of chopped vegetables and noodles wrapped and deep fried.
Jansuwan’s favorite dish, he said, is tom yum goong because it tastes spicy but gives him a fresh and energetic feeling. Tom yum goong is a soup made with shrimp, lime, shallots and tamarind. It is one of the most famous dishes in Thais cuisine, Jansuwan said.
Jasmine rice, a signature rice of Thailand, will also be served with all of the dishes.
“We think (the cookout) will be a good opportunity for USU students and staff since Thai food is tasty, healthy and a bit spicy,” Jansuwan said.
Thai food is unique and not very simliar to American cuisine, Jansuwan said.
“Thai food is spicy with a secret natural ingredient,” Januswan said.”American foods are adapted and adjusted for American flavor.”
Members of the TSA come together not only to cook and eat but to share company and culture, Jansuwan said.
The TSA consists of 20 permanent members and 10 associated members or spouses of permanent members, and the TSA does many things together, Jansuwan said. Most of the TSA members are Buddhist, so the group sometimes travels to a Buddhist temple in Layton, Jansuwan said.
The USU TSA, Jansuwan said, also has sports competitions with the TSA from the University of Utah during the month of October. The TSA will also celebrate Chulalongkorn Day on Oct. 23, a Thailand national holiday, which is the birthday of a former king of Thailand who improved education, transportation and military in Thailand.
Whether a member of the TSA or just a student willing to try a new dish, Jansuwan said he hopes to see many students and faculty at the cookout.
“You will love our dishes,” Jansuwan said. ” Once a year for Thai food. Do not miss it.”