Dont have to be careful - ask up front mate - 500 Baht shortime - 1000/1500 longtime so thats about a tenner shortime - and 20 squid all night long - value for money
This is one of the great things about Thailand - calling at a road side place and getting Duck and rice for less than a quid and getting half a duck for about 4 squid - great dinner - with soup and extra dim sums - AWESOME ! Best, Rich
Readily available ingredients - the LARGEST obstacle you will ever try to over come !
I have had the same problem for years - its a headache !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For the fortunate people that can go to the Asian shop like i did back in the day and get off the shelf anything i wanted - in most UK areas - taken for GRANTED when you have to wet your feet and replicate dishes without the ready on hand ingredients - substituting things a different ball game altogether and that is when recipes become more guarded !
We buy from Aus so im sure you should be able to source most of your ingredients...
As for making a Madras powder there are many versions on the internet and this forum if you look at the recipe list.
Firstly what type of restaurant is it ? And where is it - Country etc - different ball game if not in a western type country.
Why a restaurant ? Have you many years of food experience under your belt or is this a good idea on the to do list and you are going to make a couple of quid.... wish you all the best on that one !