35 kilometers north of downtown Bangkok, the man-made island of Ko Kret is one of the area’s most popular weekend getaways. Viewed as a tourist, it’s a relaxing and charming place to spend an afternoon- but as a cook, it’s…confusing. The local food on Ko Kret doesn’t look like the everyday cuisine anywhere else- even right across the river on the mainland. So we set out to find out why that is, and who the people are who call this place home.
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0:00 – Introduction
1:28 – Contact
3:26 – Across the River
6:16 – Basics and the CBT
7:13 – The Start of the Island
8:54 – People Arrive on Ko Kret
12:47 – Lunch
14:58 – Khao Chae, Khanom Jeen, and Orchid Ginger
18:25 – The Ko Kret Market
22:17 – 1774 to 1993
25:30 – Lunch 2
30:30 – Sailing
32:30 – Khun Songsiri’s House
36:00 – Chef Nan and Dinner
41:24 – The Island’s Main Draw
44:20 – Credits and Post-Credits
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Video Credits:
50 Comments
A couple notes, then location pins:
1- First, we really try to make each video as good as it can be- to put all of our effort into trying to tell a story properly. I worked on this video for almost two years and I'm not sure we succeeded. We literally taped this twice, 16 months apart, because I still felt like the story wasn't complete and there were missing components (hell, the first time, we rented bikes and rode down every single path on the island and still came up empty enough on a narrative storyline that we ended up tossing the footage). But I guess that's the entire nature of Ko Kret- it kept its secrets for 200 years and doesn't give them up easily. In the end I decided to move forward with this video as the food and people very much deserve the spotlight, and the last thing I wanted was to be shown such hospitality and then not share the video. Sometimes you just hit that limit of "this is as far as we can take the story." We did our best and I hope you enjoy it, even if it's just a small snapshot of the island.
2- One thing to explain- the "Tod Mun Nor Kala" that I reference as the name of the fried flower dish is how it's referred to here, but in Thai, "Tod Mun" means fish cakes. Basically, these carts sell fish cakes made with Orchid Ginger, and sell a ton of other fried snacks as well, and it's all referred to on Ko Kret by this blanket term. I should have made this more clear on the final draft (I intended to segue into a fish cake segment but ended up cutting it).
Location pins:
1) Khao Chae Khun Daeng: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LAJJFDSrHvZV5U2c8
2) Lung Dang: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kuqU6wsi2S2ND94q8
3) Rorsor127: https://maps.app.goo.gl/u6z5XB6BrZRqHUX29
4) ChitBeer: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4RMmyPfkTMWuVz5Y9
Cheers all!
Cool episode 🤘
Wow ❤.
i loved how u guys did every appraisal from begining to end with details of history in every dishes! i am a hmong lao reside in the u.s for the last 45yrs.. have been in thailand dozen of times n didn't know about ko kret.. the last couple documents u did was about lao n hmong foods.. i am going to thailand this summer to leaves the jet there then going to visit laos for couple days b4 back to thailand. i would not wants to miss this ko kret place b4 heading back to the u.s! loves ur documentaries n thnx for sharing these unique places.. bravo to u guys… thnx again
Thai food take time to prepare but quick to cook.
OTR, the only channel that I watch EVERY video, thank you for another wonderful story about an amazing place. Aaaaaaand now I'm hungry!
Thai name of coconut cake with garlic is kha nom mor gang (ขนมหม้อแกง, Thai custard). It made from blend taro or blend green pea.
Citbeer
i watch all your episodes no sooner they are uploaded. this one literally blew my mind off the history, the research is out of this world..keep up the good work.
I was waiting for this one! It was nice running into you at the Chit beer pier 🙂
Koh Kret (Keāa ker̆d) 😁 🇹🇭
As a Thai, one thing I hate about this island is that you can't even access part of the island without taking a boat and go around the island to it. There's not enough road that connects everything in island.
Holy shit, that’s a wild story. How’d I not know about this ?!? Great video
the cake with onion table is one of our favorites at most fall and winter festivals. love you guys from Buriram.
Even as a Thai, this video is very educational and very well researched. This channel is one of the best food related historical content on youtube.
Dear OTR food team, I have a question and request, if its possible, because many of my SEA friends fight each other in every discussion, I would challenge otr food & history to make an independent research for CENDOL.😅 if not, thats also fine, still love the team.❤ please dont cause a war! 😂
I'm an early Gen Z Thai and this is the first time I'm learning the history of Ko Kret. My schools did not teach me this topic at all and no one in my life (not even local Nonthaburi people) have ever bring up the history of Ko Kret. Thank you for such amazing content! I got to try food there some day.
Man, you are telling the story that most Thai people dont even know about it.
One of my favorite things about this channel is that you tend to have made yourself quite the fandom in Thailand and your Thai fans seem to largely really enjoy the videos too. That's a pretty good endorsement of your research and presentation, and that you don't come off as inauthentic or insincere or misguided. You actually handle some quite deep cultural stuff too so that's not nothing. I think the video turned out incredible by the way, and if it feels like it's lacking anything to you, you may just be too close to the project. What you produced here is pretty great.
As always, great video! Thanks bub! 🍻
🙌✨️😎👍
The history documental related. Love it
Another amazing video! Thank you for sharing this unique island and its history.
Your time and effort are very much appreciated! 🎉
Good information
Welcome to Thailand everyone
Khao Chae can also be found year-round in Bang Lum Pu district on Krai Sri Alley, Pra Sumen Rd.
Thank you for another wonderful video
Excellent and very interesting video. You produce high quality content and we learn a lot of interesting things. This island is on my list to visit next time I'm in Thailand soon.❤❤
Ko Kret
https://maps.app.goo.gl/cCgvgJnJWsf96uNj7
50 customer in that kitchen?? that basic man. What you so amazed about that?
I used to work with that size kitchen and took 100+ customer a day. From the look the food also modern and small which make it easier to cook.
I live in Bangkok since forever, I have been to Ko kret but I didn't have a slightest knowledge about history of the island let alone knowing they're descendent of Mon people. Quite mindblowing knowledge.
But come to think again, I should not be surprised. My country built from people with many ethnicity anyway. I wish they taught us at school more like this 😅
Man this channel deserves so many more views. Been watching you for a long time now and I'm furious that the views haven't grown! Come on YouTube, this channel is GOLD!
OTR, Thai government should acknowledge your contribution. God bless all of you for your amazing, engaging, immersive storytelling. Definitely one of the best in this field; interesting, eye-opening & extremely educational. Always look forward to your videos 🙏🏼
I love the fact that everything about this seems so important to you. As a viewer I really get the sense that you deeply care about this place and it‘s cuisine. I can tell by the video of course, but the fact that you felt it necessary to clarify things in your long-ass pinned comment, by the intent with which you listen to the ladies talk about their food and the look of excitement and wonder as you‘re eating it. I can practically SEE you thinking „this food is so awesome“ and „how is this real?“.
Thank you for this video. But above all else, Thank you for CARING. A lot of other online content does seem empty and meaningless. This means something – if not for everyone watching this video, it at least does to you.
It's funny that her name speaked fastly is a really delicious Dutch snack
Impressive research and I always learn something from these videos, but can ya improve the pronunciation a bit. the word for island is" Got", without the T, not Co- or anything like that.
Hi guys, we love to watch your videos. Please tell me that cake with fried garlic or fried shallots. I am Thai, and that cake is one of my favourites. But when you said with fried garlic, it made me confused.
I've been visiting Thailand since '91 and never knew anything about this place. That was an excellent video.
It took me a few min to know that Ko Kret means เกาะเกร็ด 😅
Great video as always w one small correction. Yr 1993 flood video shows the BTS which did not open until 1999.
Most of them on that place their trib is "Mon" the same tribe in Mon State inMyanmar.คนเกาะเกร็ดส่วนใหญ่ ลูกหลานน่าจะเป็นคนไทยเชื้อ "มอญ"
great video. your consumption schedule may allow you to compete with professionals like "Beard Meets Food". I'd like to see that collaboration lol
A longer interview with the chef would be good
it's a day visit only …perfect !!
Love watching your channel almost as much as eating in the places you showcase in your videos. Keep up the great work!
I had not expected to be so uplifted inspired and filled with awe by a food video as this. What a wonderful cuisine and scene. Thanks so much for all the work you put in to it.
Commenting about five minutes in but I’m dying “in Fahrenheit… idk a couple hundred” I’m just imagining everyone chilling and it’s 300 degrees outside 😂😂😂
Looks like a very classy cuisine
‘Cococut cake with fried garlic ‘ is not !!!!!!
It is coconut custard with crispy shallots called
Kanom More Kaeng
Sweet dessert with fried shallot is not uncommon in Malaya and Sumatra too. Penang's Tau Sa Pia (Dousha Bing) mixes sweet mung bean filling and fried shallot. Such is also the case with Penang's Muar Chee(Mochi), sweet sticky rice cake pieces with peanut and shallot topping. Sumatran Malay Azida, mixed wheat flour with spices, sugar and fried shallot.
This channel is maybe the best one in the field. You give a great amount of context and humanity to your videos.