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Fruit and Vegetable Carving
Appears in
Published 1981
The Thai are a very artistic race and have a deep appreciation for beauty and ornamentation. This is evident in the elaborate costumes of the classical Thai dancers and the intricate adornment of their temples. The presentation and decoration of dishes in a Thai meal is innate to the culture. It is an adaptation of the magic Japanese art of Yasai. Their salads, fresh vegetable dishes and fruit presentations are works of art transforming humble harvests into incredible edibles.
They fashion banana leaves into baskets and cups for food and use them for platters. Pumpkins and other gourds, melons, pineapples and papayas are carved in traditional designs and hollowed out to become containers for fruit salads, fried rice or sauces. When assembling a platter of raw vegetables for a party, the Thai will carve them into flowers, leaves and even fish and crab shapes. With the occasional, discreet application of food coloring, the whole array will then be assembled with the loving care and artistry implicit in a formal flower arrangement.