A favouNortheastern food reflects the influences of neighbouring Laos in a number of dishes. Glutinous rice is the staple, and the food is highly seasoned, like larb, made with spicy minced meat or chicken,. som tam (green papaya salad), and kai yang (barbecued chicken). Meat was once scarce in villages, and freshwater fish and shrimp are the principle source of protein, sometimes fermented.