That's not surprising in a country as big as India that has so many ethnic subcultures both within its borders

and in neighboring countries, not to mention the enormous number of dialects spoken.

One of the better known styles of cooking is tandoori, which originated from the northern areas of New Delhi, Kashmir, Simla and Punjab. This method of cooking requires the use of the tandoor, a large clay oven, where bread, meats, seafood and other delicacies are cooked. This cuisine is believed to have been pioneered by the Mongol invaders led by Ghenghis Khan who made their first foray into India in the 13th century.

In those days, indulgence in food reached unbelievable heights of opulence by today's standards. It was quite common for imperial banquets to last for days and feature hundreds of dishes, with prestige and wealth determining the quantity served. Because of this custom, the chefs of the rulers were paid exceedingly well and were rewarded for their skill and innovation. Life for them became a culinary competition as they attempted to best the chefs of other dignitaries in order to bring prestige to own employers. And in order for any chef to ingratiate himself with his employer, he created unique dishes that were guaranteed to impress guests.

As a result of this situation, the master chefs during this period invented some of the most remarkable dishes in this cuisine. All of this information has been handed down by word of mouth as nothing was ever written down.

The tandoor oven, when used properly, can create some amazing results, particularly with chicken, fish, prawns and lamb. You won't find beef or pork on Indian menus because Muslims do not eat pork and Hindus do not eat beef.

The secret of the tandoor is that the ingredients are cooked very quickly, sealing in the juices and creating a tender, moist result. Adding to that is the fact that most tandoor dishes use ingredients that have been marinated in different mixtures of herbs, spices and juices to both increase the flavor and keep the final product from drying.

In Pattaya, there are several restaurants that serve several variations of Indian cuisine. Even better, they are all located right in the heart of this resort destination.