Greg and Ed venture out into the real world to record the show on location to answer an age-old conundrum: Is it possible to find healthy, non-fried starch food at the famous vegetarian ‘Jay’ Festival in Thailand? The guys, being veteran expats, have experienced the vegetarian festival many times in the past, and both feel that while it has its benefits, the food itself is neither particularly tasty nor super healthy. But have they misjudged it? Only some new research can answer the question.

The boys head out into Talad Noi, perhaps their favorite neighborhood in all of Bangkok, and begin sampling some of the various vegetarian delicacies along the back sois. First up is an oatmeal bun, which is fairly yummy if not exactly delicious. Not a bad start. Next up is some deep fried taro, which both guys find crunchy and satisfying. Healthy? Maybe not, but tasty nonetheless. Then the guys stumble upon Greg’s favorite, ‘khanom toob-tub,’ a tasty candy-like snack made of a huge glob of caramel and peanuts that’s hammered into oblivion by two guys with giant mallets and folded into a bar of goodness. No complaints here. :) Last, Greg and Ed try a kind of pancake sandwich with soy paste in between, and while a bit dry, it also went down easy.

Unfortunately, further gastronomic experimentation was cut short by a rainstorm, but both guys conclude that their memories were a bit harsh and that it’s actually pretty easy to find a variety of tasty food at the Jay Fest. However, it’s the whole experience, along with parading Chinese dragons, temple offerings, and stage performances that make checking out the festival worthwhile. 

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