Eating with Mom Part 14: Bang Bo Pickled Fish Sauce Plate, Boating on the Front Canal, Reliving Childhood

Eating with Mom Part 14: Bang Bo Pickled Fish Sauce Plate, Boating on the Front Canal, Reliving Childhood

If you ask me, mr.hotsia, what makes me feel the warmest and most connected to my hometown, the answer is very simple: eating with my mom at home in Bang Bo, Samut Prakan. This place is not only where I was born and raised but also a source of memories and flavors that have stayed with me all my life, especially the “Bang Bo Pickled Fish Sauce Plate,” which is like a symbol of my home.

Bang Bo, Samut Prakan, is not only known for its rapid development but also preserves the charm of canal-side living and its famous pickled fish farming, known throughout the country and even exported abroad. The pickled fish I used to swim with as a child in Ban Rakas Canal, a branch of Samrong Canal, is a waterway that has connected the lives of people in Bang Bo district since ancient times. That is why the pickled fish here are plump and have a unique sweet and rich flavor unlike anywhere else.

I clearly remember that when I was a child, our home had fish ponds at the lowest part of the rice fields called 'teen na' or ponds around the fields dug by villagers to provide abundant living space for fish. Red worms, the favorite food of pickled fish, easily thrive in the brackish water of Bang Bo, making the fish here plumper and tastier than elsewhere. This uniqueness is not just about flavor but also about the villagers' deep connection to the waterways and pickled fish.

On days when I return home after traveling to many provinces across Thailand or even Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, what I want most is to sit and eat with my mom at home, with the pickled fish sauce she prepares. The pickled fish sauce here is not just a seasoning but the heart of every dish. The carefully fermented sauce has a unique aroma and a balanced salty flavor that turns ordinary meals into special ones I will never forget.

Meals with my mom are not just about pickled fish but also fresh vegetables from the backyard garden, her special chili paste recipe, and inevitably, boating on the canal in front of the house. This activity takes me back to the past filled with laughter and simple happiness. Holding the paddle and drifting along the small canal fills the childhood memories that have long been absent.

Samrong Canal and Ban Rakas Canal, where I grew up, are not just waterways for transportation but also connect to ancient markets over a hundred years old, such as150-Year-Old Bang Phli Old Marketwhich reflects the canal-side community lifestyle that still retains its uniqueness and vibrancy. Like Bang Bo Market, which has many old shops and local foods, I often stroll, taste snacks, or try crispy fried pickled fish sold fresh from the ponds.

When talking about food here, you can't ignore pickled fish because it is a famous product known nationwide. Bang Bo pickled fish, raised in brackish ponds with red worms as their favorite food, results in high-quality fish with distinctive flavor. I have written several stories about Bang Bo pickled fish on hotsia.com, such asBang Bo Pickled Fishwhich tells the story of villagers' lifestyles, rice farming, and fish raising passed down through generations.

Another activity I love and recommend is boating on the canal at home, which feels like reliving youth and is very relaxing. On hot days, slowly drifting through old gardens and canal-side villages lets me see the community lifestyle that remains unchanged. You will see children swimming, grandparents paddling to the market, or villagers fishing traditionally, which I have tried inMr. Hotsia’s Fun Fishing Competition on Tour, Bang Bowhich is very fun and challenging.

I want everyone to truly experience and learn about this canal-side lifestyle, not just pass through. Spend time walking in the old market, boating to enjoy the canal views, and eating local food where pickled fish sauce is the heart of every dish. You will feel like coming home again.

If you follow my YouTube channel,Eating with Mom Part 14: Bang Bo Pickled Fish Sauce Plate, Boating on the Front Canal, Reliving Childhoodyou will see the real atmosphere where I express my deep love and connection to my hometown. I believe the best journey is returning to the place where we feel most ourselves, and Bang Bo is that place for me.

If you want to try the flavors I talk about and experience the canal-side lifestyle closely, I recommend visiting the old market in Samut Prakan. Or if you like holy basil stir-fry as I do, why not try the Spicy Holy Basil Sauce I created myself?Spicy Holy Basil Sauce by Mr.hotsiawhich I made with the intention for Thai people to taste the authentic holy basil stir-fry from Bang Bo.

Bang Bo and Samut Prakan are not only about pickled fish or beautiful canals but also full of stories and experiences that you will surely fall in love with, just like I did, when you visit.