Shopping / Food
Of food there are in Thailand two categories: Thai food and what is called Euro food. The former is in general cheap, the latter expensive. This is the case not only with Euro food imported from the West but also often with that produced in Thailand.
Euro food that is consumed by Thais but only in very small amounts includes all kind of cheeses, cold cuts and even bread. For these items one may not only expect just a limited selection but also less than top quality.
In Bangkok and provincial cities, all Western style supermarkets, those independent and those of large department stores, such as the Central on Bangkok’s Ploenchit Rd have a selection of Euro food. A number of shops that specially cater to foreign residents and visitors from the West are found in Bangkok around Soi 33, Sukhumvit Rd. There is a fairly good supermarket (Villa) as well as a French butcher and a Danish bakery.
Fresh produce is bought cheapest at markets. Especially for vegetables, the price differences in comparison to supermarkets can be substantial. Meat is very cheap in Thailand. Prices for chicken are between 50 and 70 Baht per kilo, for pork 70 to 100 Baht per kilo, and for beef 80 to 110 Baht for ordinary cuts per kilo. Steaks can cost double to triple, depending on the quality and on whether they are local meat or imported.
Thailand is an incredible bargain for tropical fruit. Reigning supreme is the Durian, occasionally called cheese fruit as its edible parts are similar to a very soft cheese or cheese spread. Its smell also resembles cheese at least in so far as many people find it equally repugnant. Durians weigh some 2 to 4 kilos (4-8lbs) and have a shell with spikes like nails. (The chance to survive injury if a fruit falls on one’s head from the tree are said not to be very high.) Fruit is best bought at markets or from street vendors. Durian, for example, costs about 50 Baht per kilo. For details on fruit, please see the chapter Cuisine in this book.
Supermarkets
Central Department Store
Ploenchit Road
A very well stocked supermarket, good variety of meats and all kinds of Euro foods. Many stalls selling prepared foods. Open 10:00-21:00
Villa
Soi 33/1, Sukhumvit Road
Very good selection of Euro foods; frequented by at least as many Western people as Thais; upstairs book shop.
All Day
Supermarket 217/1 Asoke Towers
Soi 21 (Asoke), Sukhumvit
Open 24 hours.
Jumbo Supermarket
Sukhumvit Road (between Sois 41 and 43)
Robinson’s Supermarket
Sukhumvit Road
Silom Road
Good selection of meats, including homemade English and Italian sausages. At the corner of Silom Road and Rama IV Road open until midnight.
Seven Eleven
Many outlets. One on Surawong Road and one on Silom Road, near Patpong. Open 24 hours.
Bakeries, Delicatessens
First-class hotels in Bangkok and provincial cities usually have their own bakeries and/or delicatessens. Some chefs who originally arrived in the country to work in hotels or restaurants have opened own shops. If compared to Thai fare, breads as well as delicatessen foods such as cold cuts are expensive in Thailand. Some well established delicatessens and bakeries are:
Be Lucky
Soi St Louis 3, off Sathorn Tai Road
Bei Otto
1 Soi 20, Sukhumvit
Tel 258-1496
German owner, deli items as well as cakes and bread
Capri (Pan Pan)
45 Soi Lang Suan, Ploenchit, Tel 252-7501
pizzas and pastries to take away, fresh pasta, grated Parmesan cheese, ice cream
Cheesecake House
7/1 Soi 39, Sukhumvit, Tel 258-8344
cheesecake, cakes (including birthday cakes), pies, cookies
Choice Foods
591/10 Soi 33/1, Sukhumvit Road
imported meats (including lamb), smoked fish and cheese, bakery and coffee shop, takes orders for baking turkeys and hams as well as catering for parties, packs and delivers or sends to the provinces
Danish Bakery
Soi 33/1, Sukhumvit
behind Villa Supermarket
excellent pastry, one may have breakfast or a snack at the shop; there are two tables and they serve coffee
Little Home Bakery and Restaurant
413/10-12 Soi 55, Sukhumvit Road
Tel 390-0760
Sathorn Thani Building
North Sathorn Road, Tel 233-7038
58/18-20 Soi Thaniya, Tel 233-3796
Mah Boonkrong Center
Rama I Road cor Phaya Thai Road
breads, cakes, pastries; Philippine owner
Sailer’s Bakery
Sukhumvit Rd
Neil’s Bake Shop
58/5 Soi Ruam Rudi, off Wireless Road
Tel 251-3603, 251-5644
bread, cakes and pastries
Pan Pan
Soi 33, Sukhumvit, Tel 258-5071
Italian owner
Saigon Bakery
Silom Road corner Convent Road
Tel 233-3184, 233-5502, 235-8483
French bread and pastries
Vilat
Rajadamnoen Rd (behind Lottery Bldg)
imported cheeses and sausage, Italian dishes to take out
Dairy Products
In spite of the fact that Thais themselves are no great consumers of dairy products, a wide selection and good quality is available at least in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. In British tradition, most dairy companies deliver to homes. Fresh milk as well as yogurts are of surprisingly good quality. While fresh milk is substantially more expensive than in most Western countries, yogurts are not. Dairy companies are:
Foremost
Tel 588-300 to 4, 588-2336 to 7
Thai Dairy
Tel 255-9040 to 51
home delivery: Ext 181 (Khun Ananya)
Thai Danish Dairies
Tel 281-9998, 282-9221
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