Thai cuisine is the national cuisine of Thailand. Thai cuisine places emphasis on lightly-prepared dishes with strong aromatic components. Thai cuisine is known for being spicy. Balance, detail and variety are important to Thai cooking. Thai food is known for its balance of the five fundamental taste senses in each dish or the overall meal: hot (spicy), sour, sweet, salty, and (optional) bitter (Wikipedia)

hai meals typically consist of either a single dish or it will be rice (khao in Thai) with many complementary dishes served concurrently and shared by all. It is customary to serve more dishes than there are guests at a table.

Thai food was traditionally eaten with the right hand but it is now generally eaten with a fork and a spoon; this was introduced as part of Westernization during the reign of King Mongkut, Rama IV. It was his brother, Vice-king Pinklao, who, after watching demonstration of Western dining etiquette by American missionary Dr. D. B. Bradley, chose only the Western-style fork and spoon from the whole set of table silverware to use at his own dining table. The fork, held in the left hand, is used to push food into the spoon. The spoon is then brought to the mouth. A traditional ceramic spoon is sometimes used for soups. Knives are not generally used at the table. Chopsticks are used primarily for the consumption of noodle soups, but not otherwise used.

It is common practice for Thais and hill tribe peoples in north and northeast Thailand to use sticky rice as an edible implement by shaping it into small, and sometimes flattened, balls by hand which are then dipped into side dishes and eaten. Thai-Muslims frequently eat meals with only their right hands.

Thai food is often served with a variety of sauces (nam chim) and condiments. These may include phrik nam pla/nam pla phrik (consisting of fish sauce, lime juice, chopped chilies and garlic), dried chili flakes, sweet chili sauce, sliced chili peppers in rice vinegar, sriracha sauce, or a spicy chili sauce or paste called nam phrik. In most Thai restaurants, diners can find a selection of Thai condiments, often including sugar or MSG, available on the dining table in small containers with tiny spoons. With certain dishes, such as khao kha mu (pork trotter stewed in soy sauce and served with rice), whole Thai peppers and raw garlic are served in addition. Cucumber is sometimes eaten to cool the mouth after particularly spicy dishes. They often also feature as a garnish, especially with one-dish meals. The plain rice, sticky rice or the khanom chin (Thai rice noodles) served alongside a spicy curry or stir-fry, tends to counteract the spiciness.

A Thai family meal will normally consist of rice with several dishes which form a harmonious contrast of ingredients and ways of preparation. The dishes are all served at the same time. A meal at a restaurant for four people could, for instance, consist of fish in dry red curry (Chu chi pla), a spicy green papaya salad with dried prawns, tomatoes, yardlong beans and peanuts (Som tam Thai), deep fried stuffed chicken wings (Pik kai sot sai thot), a salad of grilled beef, shallots and celery or mint (Yam nuea yang), spicy stir fried century eggs with crispy basil (Khai yiao ma phat kaphrao krop), and a non-spicy vegetable soup with tofu and seaweed (Tom chuet taohu kap sarai) to temper it all (Source: Wikipedia)

KENT, Wash. – April 13, 2010 – Emergency preparedness officials from the City of Kent will conduct a test of its CodeRED emergency notification system Tuesday, April 20, starting at 10:00 a.m. The day-long test is an effort to ensure the proper functioning of the system, as well as remind residents and business owners within Kent’s city limits to enter their contact information online at www.kentCodeRED.com.

Implemented in September 2009, the CodeRED system gives City officials the ability to deliver urgent pre-recorded telephone, cell phone, email or text messages to targeted areas, or the entire community, at a rate of up to 60,000 per hour.

Kent’s Emergency Manager, Dominic Marzano said if your contact information is in the CodeRED database, you will receive a test notification by phone, email and/or text message. “It’s a great way to notify residents with emergency information. While we want to test the system, we don’t want to cause alarm.”

The Cities of Auburn, Renton, and Tukwila, as well as King County will also test their emergency notification systems the same day.

In Kent, all messages will begin with “This is a test of the City of Kent emergency notification system.” If a phone is not answered, the system will try again, up to three times, leaving a message on the final attempt.

Marzano cautioned that the system is only as good as the database supporting it. “While CodeRED begins with an existing database of telephone numbers, no one should automatically assume his or her phone number is included.”If your information is not in the database, you will not be contacted.”

The following individuals are urged to add their information to the database.

* All businesses
* Residents with unlisted phone numbers
* Residents who have changed their phone number or address within the last year
* Residents who use a cellular phone as their primary phone
* Residents who have recently moved, but kept the same listed or unlisted phone number
* Residents who wish to receive text and/or email messages in addition to telephone calls
* Residents who receive their phone service over the Internet

CodeRED is a geographically-based notification system, which means street addresses are needed to select which phone numbers will receive emergency notification calls in a specific emergency. An associated street address is needed for cell phone numbers.

Requested information includes first and last name, street address (physical address—no PO boxes), city, state, zip code, primary phone numbers and additional phone numbers and an email address (optional). Residents and businesses may also choose to receive text or email messages about emergencies, in addition to telephone calls.

CodeRED gives those who want to be included an easy and secure method for doing so, and the information will only be used for emergency notification purposes. Residents and businesses may also opt out of the system entirely if they so choose.

Those without Internet access may contact Kent Emergency Management at 253-856-4440, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to request a registration form by mail.

KENT, Wash. — April 16, 2010— American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks Park has been chosen as finalist for grant funding in the 2010 Partners in Preservation program.

As one of 25 historic places selected, Herbert Bayer Earthworks will compete in a month long online contest that invites the community to cast votes for the historic places they would like to see receive funding. Now through May 12, the public is encouraged to go to www.PartnersinPreservation.com to vote for and to post personal stories and photos about Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks Park.

Participants may vote once daily. The site receiving the most votes is guaranteed to receive funding. At the end of the voting period, American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a special Advisory Committee comprised of Seattle-Puget Sound civic and preservation leaders will review the public’s votes along with each site’s preservation needs to determine how the $1 million in preservation grants will be awarded.

Funding from this grant would allow the City of Kent to restore the sculptural and artistic elements of the Earthworks to their original design. This includes restoring the channel that runs through the split ring and connects into the double ring pond. Also included are fixing drainage in the bowls of the park and repaving pathways.

The Earthworks is not only an internationally recognized artwork and popular public park but it also serves as a water detention dam, protecting the Kent Valley from flooding since its opening in 1982. This program provides an incredible opportunity to return Herbert Bayer Earthworks Park to its initial state, combining the functional and aesthetic qualities that make it one of the area’s most unique locations.

About Partners in Preservation
Launched in 2006, Partners in Preservation is a program in which American Express, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, pledged $5.5 million over a five-year period toward preserving historic places throughout the United States. American Express has already allocated $4.4 million in preservation grants and in support for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has allowed recipients to make significant progress in achieving their preservation goals.

In this partnership, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation seek to increase the public’s awareness of the importance of historic preservation in the United States and to preserve America’s historic and cultural landmarks. The program also seeks to inspire long-term support from local citizens for the historic places at the heart of their communities.

Contact:
Cheryl dos Remédios, City of Kent
206-437-8357