Khao Man Gai - Northern Thai Chicken and Rice

Every weekend for six years I ate khao man gai for breakfast. I would jump on my little motorcycle and drive down to the end of my road where a concrete building housed some small shops, one of them being one of my favourite "restaurants." They only served three dishes and only had three tables. It wasn't much to look at but they made delicious food.

I haven't eaten khao man gai since I left Thailand but I have thought about it many a day. The reason I never attempted recreating it is because of the elusive fermented beans that go into the sauce, a crucial ingredient. I would get overwhelmed with the choices in the Asian grocery store and come out empty handed. Things changed this past Christmas when I had a Thai friend (my former student) visiting from university. We went to the Asian grocery store together and she found the beans I needed. Here's what they looked like....