Dispatches from the Void: Food for Thought

One of the first things we heard about Thailand was that it’s all about the food. That’s proving to be entirely true, and it’s something we’re both thrilled about. If you’re planning a trip and wondering what to eat in Thailand, the answer is simple: everything you can. Food really is the heart of this place.

At the same time, moving here has given me space to grow, both as a person and as an artist. My biggest goal is to land an artist residency in Thailand and eventually show work in galleries. Visual art has always been my first love, but for years I didn’t have the room to breathe and create. Since arriving in Bangkok, I’ve been painting again, making images, and even setting up a Printify art shop where my designs are available as prints, clothing, and home goods.

I’ve already applied to one residency and I’m working on a few more. I’m hoping the first one comes through, it combines art-making with teaching, which is exactly the kind of opportunity I want to pursue. It’s strange to think these are all things I could have tried back in the States, but it wasn’t until living in Thailand that I finally felt the freedom to do them.

But back to the food: because that’s what most people really want to know about when it comes to Bangkok travel.

Poe would like to interrupt the regularly scheduled programming to ask for salmon.

Mowgli would like to say that the variety of treat biscuts are still acceptable.

Akela would like it to be aknowledged that she is very brave and any yelling should be interpreted as battle cries.

For starters: sushi. Judging by the sheer number of Japanese restaurants and shops around, we’re clearly in an area with strong Japanese influence. Like every major city, Bangkok has immigrant neighborhoods that make the culture richer, and the food unforgettable. We’ve been especially impressed by 584homemadeJapanese food and  Ude Izakaya & Sushi Bar, where the freshness of every dish makes you rethink what you thought you knew about sushi.

We’ve had scallops that were nothing short of life-changing. I’d always avoided raw scallop, until I tried one here, fresh, delicate, and unlike anything I’d ever tasted before. Another revelation has been tamago, or egg sushi. Celia has always loved it, but I was never convinced, until now. Sweet, fluffy, salty: I finally understand.

Another must-try food in Thailand is Shabu-Shabu, Japanese-style hot pot. It’s become one of my favorite dining experiences in Bangkok. I love everything about it, the ritual, the slowness, the way the broth transforms from simple to rich as each ingredient cooks. It feels like magic, a game you get to play together, and the best kind of quality time spent with my love.

Some highlights to look for if you’re trying Shabu: cabbage at the very end, grilled kimchi, grilled pineapple, spinach and cheese wontons, and silky tofu skin. The meat is good too, but honestly, it’s really just there to deepen the broth and make everything else shine. For this, we’ve loved Akase Shabu and Shabu Chain, both offering slightly different atmospheres but the same rich, warming experience that keeps you coming back.

I’ve always had a complicated relationship with food, but here in Thailand that seems to melt away. Everything is so fresh, so vibrant, it makes you want to slow down and savor it. Eating isn’t just fuel, it’s a joy. I already feel more awake in my own body, moving through the day with a kind of energy I’d forgotten I had.

Of course, adjusting to life here hasn’t been simple. At first I was in a constant state of overstimulation, but after a few weeks my nervous system finally calmed down. Now, as we settle in, I can say with confidence: we love Thailand, we love the people, and we love each other. The rest we’ll figure out as we go.

And that’s the heart of it, this chance to live fully, to say yes to every part of the experience. Whether it’s tasting the best food in Bangkok, applying for an art residency in Thailand, or growing my Printify art shop alongside my painting practice, this feels like the beginning of something big.

If you’re considering travel to Thailand, my advice is simple: come hungry, and come ready to be changed.

We also have a poetry workshop happening September 13th! See the information here.

If this resonated, please give it a share on Bluesky (or anywhere folks still have an attention span longer than a moth after a sleepless night), leave us a comment, or check out our latest anthologies

Poetry Collection, ‘Is this all we get?’

Prose Collection, ‘ Fifth Avenue Pizza’