Chiang Mai Meals on Wheels:
Catering to Lazy Hungry Foreigners

by Deborah
(Chiang Mai, Thailand)

In Chiang Mai ,undoubtedly, there is a wide variety of places to eat and quite often you find yourself having trouble deciding between all of the choices. Almost every international cuisine can be found along with the usual abundance of Thai specialties in the country?s second largest city.

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Many people who visit the north are perfectly happy spending each day checking out different places to dine. Though I do love Thai food and often fit the mold of being a creature of habit, ordering from the same Thai street food stalls in my neighborhood, that serve noodle soup and different curries night after night, occasionally, about once a month, I like to splurge.

For someone as lazy as I am, at times, when it comes to shopping for food, Meals on Wheels is the greatest addition to my life in Thailand, after high speed internet. In America, this infamous delivery system refers to the organization that offers meals to those in need, for a host of reasons, including disabilities and poverty.

In Chiang Mai, Thailand, however this service has taken on a whole new meaning, as a business catering to lethargic, spoiled people such as myself who cannot be bothered with facing the traffic or prefer the ease of dining at home devouring pasta in privacy, without the hassle of cooking. With an online menu of restaurants to choose from and a simple phone call, your food arrives at your doorstep, as tasty as if you were in the venue where it was cooked, about 30 minutes later for a meager couple of bucks extra for delivery.

In countries like America, where my friends use home delivery service for everything, from internet purchases, to business transactions, to Diet to Go online coupons and BistroMD promo codes, I am primarily interested in one thing in Thailand when it comes to ordering-in; cheese, cheese and more cheese.

Dairy is hardly part of the Thai diet and it is one ingredient many westerners find difficult, if not impossible, to leave behind after moving to this Southeast Asian nation.

I used to struggle with my weight when I lived in the US. I would go on a diet, lose some weight and then gain back all of it. But since I came to Asia, I lost weight and have never gained back any of it. This probably is the result of cutting my dairy intake to practically nothing. Nonetheless, my monthly order from Meals on Wheels will always include some form of cheese.

While my friends back in America are envious of my life in Thailand for so many reasons, not the least of which includes this idea that each day consists of a spa treatment ,followed by massage and the Thai diet, I find myself constantly consumed with visions of real butter on loaves of freshly baked bread, oozing melted cheese over anything and real cream foaming in my espresso.

Although Meals on Wheels primarily caters to foreigners, Thais, also occasionally use its service, though I must imagine most would find it rather bizarre to need such a service if they are able bodied.

During rainy season I never worry about a downpour ruining my plans for a favorite meal. As long as I have my phone in hand I am always rest assured the food will arrive. As so many foreigners who live in Thailand have difficulty with the language, have no fear.

All of the operators at Meals on Wheels in Chiang Mai speak English. While many taxi drivers often have problems finding certain locations, the drivers of this establishment must go through rigid courses navigating the entire city because no matter where I am, they never seem to get lost.

Whether you are craving Italian, Indian, French, Japanese, Mediterranean, Mexican, vegetarian, Thai or you name it, your food is a simple phone call away. Whether you are dining alone or entertaining guests, Meals on Wheels takes all of the stress out of picking up food on a Friday evening during rush hour traffic. From morning until night, they are at your service rounding up your favorite dishes seven days a week.

While many tourists vow to eat only local cuisine from the land in which they are traveling, sometimes it is nice, especially when you are living in another country to enjoy a familiar meal. While food is usually seen as a social event in the Kingdom, some of us who are not Thai find serenity in a quiet meal at home in the comforts of our surroundings.

Though it is often a pleasure to dine out in one of the many restaurants in Chiang Mai, you can always opt to order-in with a tasty selection from Meals on Wheels, a welcome alternative for the lazy foreigner who is hungry in beautiful Chiang Mai.

About the Author:
Deborah is an American writer who moved permanently to Chiang Mai, after meeting and marrying her Thai husband. She loves writing about the beautiful Thailand people and the Thai culture.

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