---

CHIANG RAI, THAILAND - Today we’re traveling to the mountains of Chiang Rai and harvest, cook, and eat garlic chive roots - known in Thai as rak chu with the Akha people - but before we arrive, we’ll enjoy a dish you can’t leave without trying.

Part 1) THAILAND’S HIDDEN DISHES, with Tourism Authority of Thailand - This is Part 1 of a series of 5 videos where we’re traveling across Thailand to eat 5 hidden dishes to support local communities and highlight their unique food. Today we’re in Chiang Rai to eat pork fried with garlic chive roots .

Nam Ngiaw Mor Din Pa Aeed - Immediately after landing in Chiang Rai, we got the rental car and drove straight to Nam Ngiaw Mor Din Pa Aeed to eat a bowl of nam ngiaw, a northern Thai dish including noodles and a tomato stew. It was as good as it always is. Something you don’t want to miss when you’re in Chiang Rai.

Pha Hee Coffee - The main destination was about an hour drive from Chiang Rai into the mountains to meet Pa Luang Aran, the head of the local Akha community. After a quick coffee we continued to harvest garlic chive roots and they made 3 different dishes, pork fried with garlic chive roots , chili dip with garlic chives, and laab Akha It was an exceptional meal, everything fresh and dedicated to garlic chive roots.

Locus Native Food Lab - To complete this northern Thai food tour we went to the best gourmet northern Thai dining experience, led by Chef Kong of Locus Native Food Lab. Along with a full course of dishes, Chef Kong also cooked a dish using his own complete interpretation of garlic chive roots. An absolutely spectacular meal.

Part 1 / 5 Chiang Rai), Stay tuned for Part 2 - 5.