Baan Aram, Bankok

While the poor Australian football ( soccer ) team were losing up to 5 kilograms of bodyweight during the Asian Cup games, I was putting on about the same amount feasting in the shady alley off Ratchaprarop Rd.

Rat features in many Thai names, but not in many dishes, and certainly not in the synergy of perfection that was the Kale leaf wrap at Baan Aram. A square fresh and shiny leaf for you to assemble the freshest and most simple ingredients upon. Including peanuts (whole), Dried shrimp, 1cm cubes of ginger and onion, small lime wedges with skin on, pork crackle and small whole green chillies. YUM. Simple stuff, but with a taste far greater than the sum of its parts. With a sweetish brown satay-like sauce to bind the ingredients it had it all. Crunchy, juicy and bursting with flavour.

Fried Beef curry was also delicious but the green mango salad a bit less so. Overly sweet and overly spicey ( for my palate ) leaving a sickly sweet aftertaste behind.

Usual Thai service and value gives this streetside stall a big thums up. And not a rat to be seen.

Food 8.5 Service 7 Atmosphere 4 ( 9 if you like car fumes and rabid mangy pregnant dogs )