Pad Thai: The Noodle of a NationHow a beloved street food was born from a political campaign.

From the show

Food History Unpacked

Pad Thai is not the ancient dish many believe it to be. It was invented in the 1930s as a tool of political propaganda by Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram. As part of a nationalist campaign, the government created and distributed the recipe to forge a distinct Thai identity, reduce Chinese cultural influence, and encourage eating noodles over rice during shortages. The dish was a delicious and deliberate piece of nation-building.