Authentic Pad Thai in Southbank, Vietnamese Film Season

Hope you are enjoying the stretch of summer sunshine! ☀️

Pride Month may have wrapped, but the celebration rolls on: London Pride hits the streets this weekend. If you are in town, pop into Gay’s The Word in Bloomsbury, the landmark independent bookshop that has championed LGBTQ+ voices for more than forty years.

Food lovers, pay Pad + Sen Thai a visit at the Southbank Centre Food Market. Founders Kitti and Pop turn Pad Thai so bright with tamarind, you will feel like you're in Bangkok!

Get ready for Star Nhà Ease – Vietnamese Cinema Season 2 lands in London this week before touring to Bristol and Birmingham. I will be there and would love to bump into some of you.

Now, let’s dive into everything else happening over the next fortnight. 🌈

Christie

📣 FEATURED INTERVIEW: PAD SEN THAI

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Meet the Team: Pad + Sen Thai

When friends turned business partners couldn't find authentic Thai food that met their standards in London, they decided to create their own. Since 2019, Pad + Sen Thai has been serving up the real deal at South Central Food Market and Canopy Market, bringing a taste of home to London's Thai community and beyond.

What sets them apart? Their commitment to authenticity starts with their signature Pad Thai sauce, made entirely from scratch using real tamarind, no vinegar or tomato paste shortcuts here. "The taste of tamarind provides a much richer and more traditional flavour that's difficult to find in London," they explain.

But it's not just about the ingredients (though they do hunt down the freshest produce by timing their shopping with delivery days at local Asian grocery stores). It's about that moment when customers take their first bite and say, "Wow, this is great. This is even better than Thailand."

From their crowd-pleasing pad Thai to kid-friendly signature fried rice, every dish comes from a place of love, both for cooking and for sharing Thai food culture. The weather might be unpredictable, staff might be short, ingredient prices might rise, but their approach remains constant: "being calm and positive and understanding the situation... do my best!"

Their mission goes beyond just great food; they're committed to sustainability, supporting local suppliers, and making a positive impact on their community. Plus, with team members who grew up around Thai cooking (one partner's mom was always cooking and selling food), the authenticity runs deep

"We want to show them we do really Thai food, like Thai taste, and we like them to enjoy and come back."

👉 Follow @thai.padsen and experience their classic Pad Thai!

 Check the video of the interview at @nova.esea