Surin restaurant in Ramsgate is named after Damrong’s hometown in Eastern Thailand.
Surin town is on the edge of the Isaan (North East Thailand region), the Mekong river border with Laos and Cambodia (Khmer).
The region has been fought over for centuries by the Thai, Lao and Cambodian kingdoms. In the ancient past it was part of the Khmer Empire with Angkor Wat temple as the capital.
More recently, the Vietnam wars have meant a huge influx of Lao and Cambodian refugees to the area.
This cosmopolitan border region is famous throughout Thailand and Cambodia for the richness, quality and diversity of its silk, music and most importantly food.
Surin people grow the best rice: Jasmine rice, Red rice, Black rice and Sticky rice.
Given Cambodian influences some dishes are cooked with coconut milk and more vegetables and fish.
This use of chillies, tumeric and other spices is also more typical of the Indian influence on Cambodian cuisine.
