Fit for a King

We went to the Chinese Restaurant for dinner, there were a few people in the back room, plus us and another couple in the front room.  There were more staff than customers.  Once again we enjoyed a beautiful meal, chicken and cashew nut accompanied by spinach and rice.  We started off with prawn cakes.  We ordered fresh fruit for dessert.  The owner had been telling us about a very special dessert that he had planned for the weekend.   It is a four hundred year old recipe that had been devised for Rama II.  ( who reigned from 1809 to 1824)  As he had already prepared a few of these very special desserts he brought one each to sample.  They consist of small oranges that are only found in Thailand.  The oranges are peeled and the center removed , so they are hollow,  they are then marinated in the orange juice.  They are then served over ice along with the juice and topped with mint, finely chopped ginger  and sprinkled with dried fried onion.   Yes you did read that correctly dried fried onion.  It was absolutely delicious.  This dessert will be served to his family on Saturday.  His sister who works with her brother was rather jealous of us. She will get to enjoy her dessert along with her other brother and sister soon.   Our friend also explained that most Thai desserts are served over ice due to Thailand being so hot and obviously when they were being devised there were no refrigerators.