The meat is roasted in a clay oven until the meat is tender inside and hard outside. A balanced meal also includes rice, chutney and unleavened bread. Because Thailand was never colonized, its cuisine has remained culturally distinct. Thai food relies heavily on the flavors of coriander, chili peppers, coconut, garlic, ginger, citrus and fish sauce. The average Thai consumes a pound of rice a day, both to soften spicy flavors and to extend small portions.
Thai artisans practice the craft of fruit and vegetable carving.
Beautifully carved flowers and other shapes often adorn a Thai table. Mediterranean Region With seven mainland regions and a host of tiny islands, Greece boasts a variety of different food traditions. Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Greek food has been heavily influenced by the Turks. Other indigenous products are feta cheese, olives, honey, figs, yogurt and grape leaves. Mezes, or appetizers, are another delightful Greek tradition.