About Suan Nam Suk Suan Nam Sook garden is nearly as old as “Art” Manop Amornachara. His father was a Chinese immigrant who arrived in Chanthaburi around 1945. He purchased some land and began planting watermelons. Planting watermelons is hard work, and doesn’t make very much money. Around 1970, before Art was born, he decided […]
Chanthaburi History: Durian Chok Loi
We met Mr. Prayuth Punsri at a coffee shop in downtown Chanthaburi and followed him through a rainy morning to the family farm near Phliu Waterfall. Mr. Punsri is the grandson of a local celebrity named Poon Poonsri, known more commonly by his honorary title, Luang Rajamaitri. Luang Rajamaitri’s gorgeous 150-year-old, dark-wood mansion on the […]
The 10 Best Durian of 2017 – My Year in Review
When I tell you where I ate my 10 best durians of the year, I’m telling you a story about me. “Best durian” are deeply personal. They’re where I was and what I was doing and what was important to me when I ate them. This post, The 10 Best Durian of 2017 is essentially […]
A Guide to the Chanthaburi Durian Festival, Thailand (with map)
2019 Update: This year’s dates are May 19-27. The 2017 Chanthaburi Durian Festival is June 3-11th. It’s the biggest durian festival in the world, and one of the only ones that deserves the title “Durian Festival” instead of “Collection Of Durian Sellers in a Parking Lot.” It’s a big, crowded country fair with lots to […]
Four Ways To Cook Durian At Chanthaburi Fruit Festival, 2015 | Chanthaburi, Thailand
This year, the Chanthaburi Durian Festival moved away from it’s old comfy if squishy headquarters around King Taksin Lake Park to a new location about 12 km from the city. There it sprawled into something not quite recognizable as a durian festival.The most fruity part of the festival was the enormous Free Fruit Buffet, a […]
Massaman Durian Curry and Salad at Chanthorn Restaurant | Chanthaburi, Thailand
What can you do when a freak rainstorm knocks durian fruits off the tree before they are ripe? Or when unscrupulous Thai vendors sell you fruits that will never ripen properly, and remain as dense and white and appealing as a raw potato? Make Massaman Curry. Or go to a restaurant that makes Vegan Durian […]
2013 Chanthaburi Durian Festival in the Rain | Photo Essay
The Chanthaburi World Durian Festival is probably the most famous of the durian festivals, although there are actually no less than 6 durian festivals in Thailand. (Count ’em and weep with joy, durian fans). The festival attracts hundreds of visitors from Bangkok and neighboring provinces, and a fair number of foreigners too. Despite the heavy […]
Durian Porn | Chanthaburi, Thailand
I’m starting a new weekly post featuring my favorite durians. I ate this one yesterday. It was awesome. I’ve got a little secret to reveal: I have a hard time finding durian I really, really, really like in Thailand. It’s a matter of personal preference, and doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with how people in […]
Chanthaburi One Year Later
I arrived in Chanthaburi, Thailand too early for the Chanthaburi Durian Festival but just in time for a gathering of durian freaks. My friend Grant Campbell hosts a shindig for raw foodists every year, usually during the festival. Grant is the two year reigning champion of the durian speed eating competition. This year’s festival was […]
Easter in Thailand’s Durian Capital
On Easter last year Rob and I had just arrived in Chanthaburi, Thailand, the site of the World Durian Festival. We were on the look out for durians, but kept finding bunny rabbits. I’m serious. Rabbits run amok in Chanthaburi. The furry little guys share real estate with durians throughout the old city on road […]
