View Full Version : Food&Drug:May31SmokingD-Day
Still remember those goodies we used to love when we were kids, like the cat brand cigarette-shaped chewing gum or the parrot brand bubble gum or the stinks-and-tastes-weird balloon paste? Well, if you are 25+ years old and were born and raised in Thailand, you know what I'm talking about. Please follow this link (http://www.geocities.com/ttaaee/goodies/) to see some pictures of these goodies. I'm sure they will bring back your sweet childhood memories....
Please note: These pictures were forwarded to me by a friend of mine. The photographer and/or copyright holder of these pictures are unidentifiable.
I notice on 2Bkk frontpage today Forbes Magazine listed Chaleo Yoovidhya as the the second richest person in Thailand with estimated net worth of over $2billion. Now some of you might wonder who this guy Chaleo is and how come he's richer than PM Taksin (who, for crying out loud, owns a telecommunication empire, launches a few sattellites and even afforded money to buy Liverpool).
Well, it was the Yoovidhya family who founded the "Krating Daeng" energy drink, which eventually become known as "Red Bull" throughout the world.
Chaleo who is the founder, owns 49% of this Red Bull company, the other 49% is owned by the company founded by the Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz, who must be credited for the branding and marketing genius.
Needless to say Red Bull is a very successfull enterprise. The last I've heard they own an F1 racing team!! Dietrich is also the richest man in Austria - smart guy.
Here's an article I found in the Economist
http://www.economist.com/people/displayStory.cfm?story_id=1120373
I notice on 2Bkk frontpage today Forbes Magazine listed Chaleo Yoovidhya as the the second richest person in Thailand with estimated net worth of over $2billion. Now some of you might wonder who this guy Chaleo is and how come he's richer than PM Taksin (who, for crying out loud, owns a telecommunication empire, launches a few sattellites and even afforded money to buy Liverpool).
Well, it was the Yoovidhya family who founded the "Krating Daeng" energy drink, which eventually become known as "Red Bull" throughout the world.
Chaleo who is the founder, owns 49% of this Red Bull company, the other 49% is owned by the company founded by the Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz, who must be credited for the branding and marketing genius.
Needless to say Red Bull is a very successfull enterprise. The last I've heard they own an F1 racing team!! Dietrich is also the richest man in Austria - smart guy.
Here's an article I found in the Economist
http://www.economist.com/people/displayStory.cfm?story_id=1120373
Apparantly the remaining 2% is held by his son.
BBC World Service recently reported that Red Bull employed an ex- East German Sports Medical Advisor who most people believe was previously guilty of providing performance-enhancing pharmaceuticals and deliberately interfering with the metabolism and physique of female athletes. His usefulness to companies like this probably keeps him out of court.
The dubiousness of these kind of products' efficacy makes the name seem pretty appropriate.
Apparantly the remaining 2% is held by his son.
Probably true, I read a similar article in the Far Eastern Economic Review that says the Yoovidhya family owns 51% of Red Bull. However the Economist (above article) reports that the remaining 2% of the company is held in a "trust".
BBC World Service recently reported that Red Bull employed an ex- East German Sports Medical Advisor who most people believe was previously guilty of providing performance-enhancing pharmaceuticals and deliberately interfering with the metabolism and physique of female athletes. His usefulness to companies like this probably keeps him out of court.
The dubiousness of these kind of products' efficacy makes the name seem pretty appropriate.
But I thought they had the formula approved by the German & Austrian pharmaceutical boards. Plus the can version of RB has high content of Vitamin B - is that considered performance enhancing drug?
For all I know trucks drivers in Thailand have been taking them for years (the original Krating Daeng formula), apparently it keeps them staying awake on the roads!! :eek:
'Half awake and a fully loaded sawn-off blunderbus' might be closer. In fairness, most of the psychosis is probably due to the Yah Mah (in my book, Yah Bah is a political correctness used to save you-know-who's guilty embarassment) which Red Bull and other fairly innocuous stimulant drinks often chase down the hatch. Or is the Thai Whiskey?
I'm also proposing 'Thai Truck Driver' and 'Thai Bus Driver' Rankings as sort of 'untermensch' rankings for folk who commit heinous online blooters in forum.
I should take that back when i say it's high in Vitamin Bs.
Found the ingredients on its website:
http://www.redbull.com/extras/ingredients.jsp
One can of Red Bull contains:
1000Mg Taurine
Taurine is a conditionally essential amino acid. Taurine is a naturally occurring in our body, mainly in muscle, brain, heart and blood. A person weighing 70kg has approximately 70g of Taurine distributed throughout the body. Put another way, a 70 kg person naturally has in his body 70 times the amount of Taurine contained in one can of Red Bull energy drink. Taurine is also contained in the daily diet (Scallops, fish, poultry) and in most infant formulae. 'Conditionally essential' means that in some situations or under certain conditions it is necessary to supply the body with Taurine. Relative Taurin loos via the urine can occur in situations of high stress and physical exertion. In these situations the excrement of Taurine cannot be
synthesised in the body in sufficient amounts. Taurine is a non-protein building amino acid.
600Mg Glucoronolactone
Glucuronolactone is a carbohydrate, a kind of sugar. It is naturally occuring in our bodies where it is produced from Glucose. It is also present in different foodstuffs, such as grain or red wine.
80Mg Caffeine
Caffeine is contained in many foodstuffs such as coffee, tea or chocolate, one can of Red Bull energy drink contains 80MG of Caffeine. This is equivalent to a cup of filter coffee. Coke contains about 35Mg of Caffeine per 12 Ounce (about 350Ml) can. Diet Coke has a higher Caffeine content of about 47Mg per 12 Ounce can.
Also
Niacin 20 Mg
Vitamin B6 5Mg
Pantothenic Acid 5Mg
Vitamin B12 0.005 Mg
Sucrose 21.5g
Glucose 5.25g
more FAQs..
http://www.redbull.com/faq.action#2
I would be interested to hear what a medical practitioner think about this kind of product, in comparison to say..coffee :D
'Half awake and a fully loaded sawn-off blunderbus' might be closer. In fairness, most of the psychosis is probably due to the Yah Mah (in my book, Yah Bah is a political correctness used to save you-know-who's guilty embarassment) which Red Bull and other fairly innocuous stimulant drinks often chase down the hatch. Or is the Thai Whiskey?
I'm also proposing 'Thai Truck Driver' and 'Thai Bus Driver' Rankings as sort of 'untermensch' rankings for folk who commit heinous online blooters in forum.
Exactly! I guess you could called it performance enhancing drug, but of course I'm referring to the bottle version of RB sold in Thailand, not the fizzy canned version sold in Europe, North America etc.
Yeh it's frightening that truckies or bus drivers take these (or other kind of drugs for that matter) to keep them awake on the road.
But dont you mean "Yaa Baa" not "Yaa Maa"? :eek:
The Enforcer!
14-03-05, 03:15 PM
I The last I've heard they own an F1 racing team!!
Sadly the Red Bull f1 Team is entirely owned by Dietrich Mateschitz thus runs as an Austrian team ... it would have been great if it had been 50% Thai!
The Enforcer!
bangyuk
10-01-06, 08:27 PM
Does 2bangkok have an interest in these? A friend of mine was recently charged nearly 18,000 Baht for a family meal at a seafood restaurant near Phyathai (I will name it if you wish). His Thai wife and family put up a fight, and he lobbied outside the restaurant deterring other peope from entering. In the end the bill was reduced to 3,500 Baht!
I am ashamed to say I got caught by the same scam myself a few years back - despite considering myself to be an old Thai hand!
Bangyuk
Khun004
10-01-06, 11:51 PM
Bangyuk -
Thank you for warning about seafood restaurant scam.
I've read many stories like this on many forums.
The seafood restaurant scam must take in far more money than the gem scam.
Why is it always seafood restaurants?
I never read similar stories about steak restaurants, Italian restaurants or noodle-shop restaurants.
Only seafood restaurants.
Is there any seafood restaurant in Bangkok that is clean, delicious AND honest in their billing?
You know, I am so happy that I hate seafood! :D :D :D
what's the name of the restaurant? it would be nice to see the original bill (what was listed)
bangyuk
13-01-06, 09:40 PM
One reason it happens in seafood restaurants is that they often advertise prices by the kilogram, or say that prices depend on the catch of the day. Not many people weigh their seafood before eating it!
jpatokal
15-01-06, 12:09 PM
One reason it happens in seafood restaurants is that they often advertise prices by the kilogram, or say that prices depend on the catch of the day. Not many people weigh their seafood before eating it!
Usually they quote by the 100g, no? Although I've seen one creative enterprise charge by the gram instead ("hey, it's only 5 baht!").
18,000 baht is still ridiculous by any standard though. I've seen a bill like that exactly once in a Thai restaurant, and it involved 12 people, platter after platter of crab and lobster, and lots of beer.
An, Min Gi
15-01-06, 11:25 PM
http://cafe3.ktdom.com/thailove/bbs/data/file/somboondee.jpg
Gutterflower
18-01-06, 03:08 AM
Hello all.
Nice to be a member here finally. long time watcher and first time poster.#
I hate for my first post to be about beer but its something thats been puzzling me for a while.
After i got home from thailand i looked into ways of importing food and beer as you cant get many of the proper ingredients or beers here at all. I've been using sites such as thai4uk.co.uk for a while now. but recently all importers of Chang beer changed from the 6.4% variety (http://www.thaibev.com/products/products_detail.php?ID=1) with the chang in thai on the label to the 5% version which says chang in english on the label. (http://www.thaibev.com/products/products_detail.php?ID=2)
to me it doesnt keep the same taste as the stronger version (although that might just be me)
on close inspection it appears to be every importer that has changed to this version. Ive checked on the Thai Beverages Coperation page and they still appear to brew both (although i cant read thai very well) is it a regulation put in by the thai government that stops the export of the stronger beer? or is it something more to do with the companies.
Thanks in advance
Just something that caught my eye.
Cheers
Dave
Don't know....but the first one says:
เบียร์ช้าง (ในประเทศ) - Beer Chang (domestic)
as opposed to the second one:
เบียร์ช้าง (ส่งออก) - Beer Chang (export)
Strange indeed. :confused:
jpatokal
31-01-06, 03:41 PM
Small but important correction: Rotiboy is Malaysian, not Singaporean! Singaporeans used to flock across to Causeway to get them from Johor Bahru (on the Malaysian side of the border), until Rotiboy wised up and opened a few franchise outlets -- but by that time Rotipapa and a million copycats had already hit the local market, and the boom fizzled out pretty fast.
But it's worth trooping down to Silom to check it out, they really are quite addictive. A Thai colleague of mine visiting KL went absolutely bonkers for them, eating them for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and I have no doubt that the Thai operation will also be a hit.
Wisarut
01-02-06, 02:25 PM
Opinions on RotiBoy from Thai Custombers is here:
http://webboard.mthai.com/7/2006-01-29/192559.html
Most said it tastes very good even though some of them want to THROW away since it comes from Malaysia :eek:
bangkapiboy
01-02-06, 04:09 PM
I want to try it. Where on Silom can I find Rotiboy? I seriously love Roti Canai.
Wisarut
01-02-06, 09:44 PM
Rotiboy is in Silom Complex (Central Silom), near Coffee World (Singaporean Franchise) ... It cost you 25 Baht for each Roti.
Look at this and you'll see:
http://www.pantip.com/cafe/jatujak/topic/J4040131/J4040131.html
http://www.norsorpor.com/go.php?t=pt&u=qxl27%3D7%3C%3A48F37%3D7%3C%3A48F3gmtsx3qspmw3ij eg3qsg2tmxret2%7B%7B%7B33%3Etxxll
Wisarut
02-02-06, 03:06 AM
It has opened the 2nd Branch at Siam Square Soi 4 ... Look at this and you'll see:
http://www.matichon.co.th/matichon/matichon_detail.php?s_tag=01pra03020249&day=2006/02/02
FYI Rotipapa is the same company as Rotiboy... only different names... gimmicks maybe!?
Wisarut
02-02-06, 09:47 AM
More opinion on Rotiboy
http://webboard.mthai.com/5/2006-02-02/193890.html
jpatokal
02-02-06, 04:29 PM
I want to try it. Where on Silom can I find Rotiboy? I seriously love Roti Canai.
"Roti" actually means just "bread", and Rotiboys are quite different from roti canai (a type of flatbread) -- it's more of a classical European-style bun with a lightly coffee-flavored crust and molten butter in the center. <drool>
Wisarut
23-03-06, 12:20 AM
Now, I have tried eatgn the buns from Rotiboy ... whcih tasted quite good
the Outer crust has cryspy and sweetened coffee while the innner section has salty butter inside ..... :p
I have to wait a logn line (about 30 minutes) before I got 2 buns from Roti Boy in this evening ...
RotiBoy in Siam Square is just next to noodle garden though ....
The Business of Rotiboy goes so well that the new branch at Central Plaza Lad Phrao will be OPENED very soon .... :p ;) :D :cool:
Neighbour
28-03-06, 04:17 PM
I know the person responsible for the original "rotiboy" recipe. The bun originates from the mexican pan dulce (sweet bun) which was altered by giving it the coffee crust and margarine filling. A Malaysian baker first came across this recipe in Taiwan sometime back. When he returned to Malaysia, he was broke and needed money. So, he sold the recipe to the Rotiboy owner. Rotiboy is a Singaporean-owned bakery operating in Malaysia. At that time, its business was not doing well. The Rotiboy owner bought the recipe and made the Malaysian baker sign a contract NOT to open any bakeries in Malaysia.
However, this did not stop him from teaching non-Malaysians the recipe ... which he did. In a roundabout way, the recipe returned to Malaysia and sparked off the so-called imitator shops. Actually, they all came from the same, original recipe. How good or bad they are depended entirely on the individual bakeries' skills.
You have a shop in Bangkok that's completely Thai and that bakes a very good version of the bun. The shop is called Magic Oven and they call their version of the bun Magic Bun. They opened ONE YEAR before Rotiboy came to Bangkok but, because of their business partners, they were forced to open in a small place in NgamWongWan. Even though I'm a Malaysian, I think you should support this shop instead of Rotiboy. This is because they were really played out by their Malaysian partners. This is their story.
A few Malaysians introduced the bun to this Thai guy. They said they knew the recipe and had some bakery equipment in Bangkok. They made a deal with the Thai guy that they would teach him the recipe and invest their equipment while he would have to cough up the money and built the shop and run it. According to the deal, the moment he had invested as much money as the Malaysian equipment was worth, BOTH parties would have to start investing more money to build the shop.
Then, when the Thai guy had invested his money, rented a shop space, renovated it, he found out that THE MALAYSIANS DID NOT HAVE THE COMPLETE RECIPE!
Since the Thai guy had invested everything he owned into the shop, he could not afford to give up. Although he was not even a baker to begin with, he started to learn how to make and bake buns. Over the course of several months, he reinvented and perfected the recipe for his version of the bun. It was pretty hard work cause he had another job.
And then, when the Thai guy's level of investment reached the amount that the Malaysians had invested (in equipment), the Malaysians chickened out and refused to invest a single cent more. So, the Thai guy put in his salary and got some friends to invest THEIR money in the bakery. His sister-in-law and a loyal baker employee continued to do their best to keep the bakery alive.
Eventually, they decided to close the shop in NgamWongWan. The Malaysians took back ALL THEIR EQUIPMENT. Luckily for the Thai guy and his team, he found a space in a canteen in Chulalongkorn University in Siam Square. He opened his MAGIC OVEN outlet here (a fraction of its previous shop size) and started again to build the shop. Business started to grow as customers learned about his Magic Bun.
Then, on the THIRD day after Magic Oven Chula Uni opened, the wealthy Singaporean-owned Rotiboy opened just streets away from Magic Oven.
Customers who know about Magic Oven still get their mexican bun from them. I believe it costs even less than Rotiboy. I also hear that Rotiboy shopowners are spreading rumours that the Thai guy is imitating them. This seems to me to be an ironic declaration of ignorance. Magic Oven opened ONE YEAR before Thai people even heard of Rotiboy.
Rotiboy (and probably most of the other players in this field) obviously has a financial advantage over Magic Oven. They have foreign investors and know-how. They are owned by rich people. Magic Oven is a modest set-up owned and run by a few Thais from humble backgrounds who were cheated by my fellow Malaysian businessmen and, against all odds, have managed to stay alive and produce Magic Buns that are at least as good as, if not in some ways better than, Rotiboy.
I am certainly not anti-Malaysian. Perhaps, I don't like the way Singaporeans are colonizing their neighbouring countries through business. But I guess I'm sentimental at heart and I believe in supporting the underdog.
You are probably thinking that I am somehow related to the Magic Oven people. Truth is, I was slightly instrumental in bringing the Malaysians together with your Thai guy. And I hate to see Magic Oven fail because I know they are good bakers and very good people.
If you have a craving for the pan dulce/rotiboy/magic bun and are in Siam, why don't you skip past Rotiboy just once and pop over to the Chulalongkorn University food court. Magic Oven is in a small corner of the food court next to the coffee counter. At least that's where they were when I visited a few weeks ago. The food court is next to a big university bookshop.
If you know of any other fans of this bun and they think Rotiboy is the only bun good for the money, I hope you'll help them to see that rotiboy and the magic bun are derived from the same recipe and Rotiboy did NOT come up with the recipe (despite all their fictional protestations). If these other bakeries are imitators, then so is Rotiboy. They just have more money to open more shops with bigger sign boards and larger numbers of staff.
Thanks for your time.
jpatokal
28-03-06, 06:59 PM
Sorry, I don't understand how Singapore figures into all this -- did you know that all Rotiboy outlets in Sing (http://www.rotiboy.com/news_events_singapore.htm) are closing? :confused:
northcliffe
29-03-06, 08:40 AM
Bangkapiboy - You can get Roti Canai or at least Thai muslim equivalent from many of the muslim restaurants in the Bang Kapi area. In my opinion, less oily than Malaysia and certainly more tasty. The best by far that I have tried is "Ahamed" at Rama 9 soi 33. Ask for Roti gaeng xxxx (whatever they have going). Goat on Wednesdays, beef and chicken all days. Enjoy.
Rotiboy and other clones are nothing like Roti Canai.
Wisarut
29-03-06, 09:03 AM
Yep, I woudl recommend Muslim food in Chalina Hotel, near Hua Mark Stadium, just across Klong Saen Saeb ... the owner of this hotel is Muslimmin (muslim woman) though ....
jpatokal
29-03-06, 11:38 PM
Rotiboy and other clones are nothing like Roti Canai.
It's not supposed to be, because "roti (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roti)" just means "bread". In Malay, roti bakar is Western-style toast, roti canai/prata is the Indian-style flat bread, etc.
Neighbour
30-03-06, 08:25 AM
The owners are Singaporean. They are closing the outlets in Singapore because they are no longer profitable there. Instead, they are moving all their manpower and resources from Singapore to Thailand because the market in Thailand is still new and big.
Just because a brand or product is launched or first popularised in Malaysia doesn't mean it's Malaysian-owned. I know lots of Malaysians who failed miserably in KL and are now thriving in Indonesia. Similarly with farangs in Asia, if you think about it. Think locusts.
If you were to simply visit Rotiboy.com and click on the "contact" link, you will find NOT a Malaysian address, but a Singaporean one.
jpatokal
31-03-06, 10:58 AM
A Malaysian baker first came across this recipe in Taiwan sometime back. When he returned to Malaysia, he was broke and needed money. So, he sold the recipe to the Rotiboy owner. Rotiboy is a Singaporean-owned bakery operating in Malaysia. At that time, its business was not doing well. The Rotiboy owner bought the recipe and made the Malaysian baker sign a contract NOT to open any bakeries in Malaysia.
And this is "exploitation" how? :confused:
However, this did not stop him from teaching non-Malaysians the recipe ... which he did.
I mean, if anything it sounds like the Singaporean purchasers got ripped off!
Rotiboy pairs with PM's son - Bangkok Post, April 1, 2006
The popular Rotiboy franchise has announced plans for a partnership with Panthongtae Shinawatra, the Prime Minister's son.
... Although Panthongtae Shinawatra has no expertise in the retail food business, Rotiboy MD Achara Pongsai does not intend to object to him taking a stake in the business.
"Frankly, we hadn't planned this move and we have been quite successful on our own, but after we were approached, we felt it was wise to form a partnership."
...The new business entity will be rebranded "How Come Rotiboy" combining the Rotiboy name with Shinawatra's company How Come Entertainment.
Wisarut
01-04-06, 11:17 PM
Because of Ee Oak & Singaproe connection, I may consider Boycott Rotiboy .... :p :D :cool:
Go Fer it! 'Consider' is something sensible folk do.
I'm sure the common man's principles are a complete waste of time, but I didn't get where I am today by doing something wet like networking .... ;-)
bangkapiboy
02-04-06, 09:35 PM
I finally tried my first rotiboy last night. I walked down Silom to the Boots across the street and spotted the Rotiboy sign. I was dead tired after coming off my casino bus visa run, but decided to try it out. I had to wait a few minutes in line and ordered 2 at 25B each. It was decent. Nothing to write home about though. A Shinawatra owned Rotiboy? Wierd. But I could see some people were nuts about it. I saw one Korean lady getting back in line while on her mobile phone and buying up more Rotiboy. Anyway, the closings in Singapore should say something about the future... Sounds a bit like the Krispy Kreme bubble in USA.
The 'How Come Rotiboy' thing appears to be one of Admin's April Fool's Day windups.
I can't help but totally agree with bangkapiboy that the craze for Rotiboy (RB)mexican buns is nothing more than a flash in the pan ... it's a fad. It lasted just about 15 months in Singapore, and in its home-base, M'sia, the interest for RB buns has waned by at least 70%!
Moreover, it's artery-clogging .... triple whammy on the health-conscious or health-conscious hopefuls as RB's version of the coffee mexican buns offers the evil combination of eggs, double doses of sugar, shortening and butter-fat! Each bun is about 550 calories! To top that, the "coffee flavour" RB uses is 100% synthetic - ever noticed how plastic-ky the coffee aroma is while the buns are baking? It's nothing like natural fresh-ly ground coffee. This fact is confirmed by its own kitchen staff based in Kuala Lumpur!!
jpatokal
22-05-06, 02:07 PM
This is pretty far off-topic, but I figured somebody here should know the answer...
So people in Thailand eat a lot of khao phad kaeng kiow waan -- but I was just fairly shocked to find out that I couldn't find out a single recipe for the stuff on the Net (except ridiculous pap like this (http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1618,128181-255195,00.html), complete with curry powder, broccoli, olive oil and carrots!). Anybody have a real recipe lying around? Easier yet, can you tell me if it's possible to make it using just straight green curry spice paste stirred into the rice, or do you need to cook up the sauce with coconut milk first?
http://soohkinlens.blogspot.com/2005/12/pak-woon-sen-thai-foodz750.html
http://soohkinlens.blogspot.com/2005/12/pak-woon-sen-thai-foodz750.html
http://soohkinlens.blogspot.com/2006/05/fried-turnip-with-flours-and-eggs-z750.html
Fried turnip with beansprouts and egg, to which you can add curry.
Wot no Murtabak!?
Thai versions are too sweet. Penang street stalls are better!
http://soohkinlens.blogspot.com/
Yeap I think the Malaysian version of it taste better, I guess most likely due to my tongue which dislike sweet things. A lot of other food like the "Roti", Thai version if I am not mistaken, has milk on top of it. Malaysian is quite plain, eat together with curries.
I would like to suggest, that is if I am allowed, to have a Food as one of the main item in the forum. Personally I believe a lot of us farang or คนต่างชาติ find Bangkok food as one of the main attraction......:)
Note that this forum does have an 'Insert Image button. Look for this one above the text entry box:-
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/images/editor/insertimage.gif
Best used for your TINYPIC pictures. I note that your blog pics are a bit too big to let load inside a forum posting, unless editted for size. And I think your blog may not allow image links from other sites anyway. So, it might be best to just have page links instead
I love Bah Mee, anyone knows the best Ba Mee in Bangkok. I used to eat the Ba Mee found in Lai Lai Sap or Money dilutating lane at the back of Bangkok Bank in Silom Street. I love the Pork fat that they pull in, its crunchy.
Lets do a poll, if those who has taste the best Ba Mee ever. Post it here and lets see, if the shop get the most vote..by right that shop is the best Ba Mee shop in Bangkok...
I attached a link of a customize Ba Mee cooked by my wife. In case my spelling is not right. I am on a restricted diet hence no more the normal Ba Mee...
http://soohkinlens.blogspot.com/2005/10/fish-wan-ton-mee-z750.html
Khun004
07-09-06, 01:09 AM
I love Bah Mee, anyone knows the best Ba Mee in Bangkok.
Ah, yes, this is a very important question, I agree.
What is life, without good Ba-Mee? :rolleyes:
The best I've found in Bangkok is in Sukhumvit soi 38, underneath Thonglor BTS station.
The stalls open up around 19:00 and Ba-Mee is available until about 02:00.
Consistently delicious.
Includes the bits of crispy pork skins, but never quite enough.
If you become a regular customer, you seem to get extra crab. :)
Second choice -- and a very strong second -- is a franchise of Ba-Mee carts, hundreds of them, scattered all around Bangkok, and nearby cities as well.
Usually parked in front of 7-Eleven stores, yellow and red signs, Thai lettering thus, ชายสี่.
Transliteration: Chai-see
Translation: Four Brothers
Consistently very, very, good, Ba-Mee.
They never skip on the won-tons: kee-ow.
Now, I'm getting hungry.
.
Off on a slight tangent. I do like Ba Mee, but don't live in Bangkok. I also don't eat out much these days.
What's the best-tasting noodle in Thailand? Without a doubt, Mee Betong egg noodle. And the best source of it for your own cooking is the stuff they sell on the OTOP stalls from Betong District (Yala Province) itself. Carrefour sell some packets that are made by a company in Malaysia, and its definitely inferior.
After Soohk's recent foray into this subforum with a Malaysian/Thai food blog, here's another interesting food blog to both thrill and revolt, from Bangkok-based Austin Bush. Found this as a result of www.2bangkok.com winning the ThailandVoice.com 'Blog of the Month'. http://www.thailandvoice.com/content/view/398/76/
Austin's Blog appears to have been the August 'Blog of the Month': -
http://realthai.blogspot.com/
Just a quick preview of a Northern delicacy here.
A nearly fully developed buffalo fetus, known locally as khwaay awn. It is prepared by chopping it up, rubbing it with copious spices (to cover up the horrible smell) and steaming it, as shown below:
BEFORE COOKING: -
http://static.flickr.com/89/225035136_279702b857_o.jpg
AFTER COOKING: -
http://static.flickr.com/85/225034804_7509910631_o.jpg
Wow looks a bit eerie before its cooked. Wonder what is the taste like...
egeefay
12-11-06, 11:30 PM
If anyone is interested in teaching yourself how to cook Thai food at home, I've made a bunch of Thai cooking videos that you can watch online for free.
Just go to
http://www.thaifoodtonight.com/thaifoodtonight/recipes.htm
Pick out a Thai dish you like, click on the name and sit back and watch my wife and daughter show you how to cook it.
If you want to actually cook it yourself I have the ingredients and instructions there too
Enjoy and let me know if there are any dishes you 'd like to see that aren't on the list
http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/8146/1350/1600/150238/IMG_2606_Edited.jpg
There isn't much doubt that a much higher number of Muslim teenagers have recently taken to wearing a form of more traditional dress, but this article suggests that it is more than just a survival/security measure taken by those who live in or near volatile areas. The link to this Bangkok Post article has already expired:
READING WHICH CHANGES LIVES
Muslim teenagers are being given a new focus through the Roti-Mataba magazine
Story By Anchalee Kongrut
Davud Lawang shows the Roti-Mataba teen magazine he publishes. — KOSOL NAKACHOL
Roti-Mataba is famous among Muslim youngsters, particularly those in the deep South provinces. But this is not a Muslim snack; it is a teen magazine about religion.
Davud Lawang, publisher of Roti Book Publishing, said he never thought his business would survive. With an initial investment of only 500 baht, he opened a magazine, Deen Diary, or Diary of Religion, five years ago. He made 20 copies a month, which he sold for 50 baht. But his early shot at publishing flopped, said Mr Davud, a Chulalongkorn graduate. Next he tried something different. He followed his "gut instinct" in creating a magazine for Muslim teenagers. "To be honest, I just want a magazine where I can write or run stories I like. My credo is simple. You cannot please every reader but you can please yourself," said Mr Davud.
"Most Muslim literature is written by adults, for adult readers," he said.
Muslim literature here consisted mainly of texts on the Islamic religion and biographies of prophets, or stories of hardship and racial divisions in the deep South.
Mr Davud opened Roti-Mataba magazine two years ago. He cut the price from 50 baht to 20 baht, and sought the help of book distributors to sell it in the Deep South.
He hit the mark this time.
He now sells 3,500 copies per month, with about 3,200 sold in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla. Recently he started publishing his own short stories, called Ken Rak Keun Phu Kao, or Pushing Love Uphill, which looks at teenage love according to the Islamic faith.
Mr Davud would like the magazine to foster understanding of religion among youths and encourage peace.
"Teenagers read what adults want. Now they will have their own literature and they can exchange ideas," he said.
Roti-Mataba contains articles written by Mr Davud and teenage writers. However, it avoids subjects such as sex, material wealth or outrageous fashion.
The content concerns Islamic faith, and religious practice in everyday life. It also has anti-western content, and stories critical of the role of the Jewish nation in the Middle East.
Although readers are residents of the restive deep South, the magazine avoids running stories about violence and local politics, he said.
"Muslim Thais are forming their own sub-culture. You will see more and more teenagers dressed in the Islamic orthodox way," he said.
Netchanok Pleng-pew, 19, a freshman at King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Lat Krabang, said reading the magazine changed her life.
Calling herself Farida, she said she hardly took Islamic culture seriously until a friend at the Muslim student club at the university introduced her to the magazine.
After that, she started practising the religion.
"The stories make me feel comfortable being a Muslim and practising Islamic rituals."
Miss Farida recently found a colourful hiyab to cover her head. She only started wearing the headress after reading the magazine.
Previously she felt embarrassed about adopting some Islamic customs, but reading the magazine gave her new courage.
"I used to be too shy to wear the hiyab. Now I hardly remove it," she said. She has now become a writer for the magazine. "This change surprised my parents and even myself," she said.
FarangBha
09-04-07, 01:23 PM
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/durian-quest-to-quell-hell-of-smell/2007/04/08/1175970942719.html
Durian quest to quell hell of smell
Thomas Fuller ,Tung Phaen, Thailand
April 9, 2007
AdvertisementAdvertisement
YOU can take the sugar out of soft drinks and the fat from junk food. But eliminate the pungent odour from what may be the world's smelliest fruit and brace for an uproar.
The durian, a spiky fruit native to South-East Asia, has been described by its detractors as smelling like mouldy cheese.
It is banned from many hotels and airlines, but durian lovers are convinced that, like fine French cheeses, the worse the smell, the better the taste.
Under the durian's hardy shell are sections of pale yellow flesh with the consistency of custard and a flavour that is nutty and sweet.
"To anyone who doesn't like durian it smells like a bunch of dead cats," said Bob Halliday, a food writer in Bangkok. "But as you get to appreciate durian, the smell is not offensive at all. It's attractive. It makes you drool like a mastiff."
Nevertheless, a Thai government scientist, who after three decades of research is one of the world's leading durian experts, now says he has managed to excise its stink.
Working at an orchard near the Cambodian border, the scientist, Songpol Somsri, crossed more than 90 varieties of durian, many found only in the wild, and came up with a fruit that he says smells as mild as a banana. He named it Chantaburi No. 1, after his home province and the location of the research centre.
It will please Thai consumers, he says, and might help broaden the acceptability of the durian, unlocking the door to new American and European customers who, like an increasing number of Thais, are likely to reject a fruit reeking of unwashed gym socks.
"Most Thais don't like too strong a smell, except some old people," Dr Songpol said.
The concept is mystifying to those who live in Malaysia, Singapore or Indonesia, where durians are prized for their odour and priced accordingly.
Dr Songpol says he has developed a separate durian that might please Malaysians and Indonesians. The pungent smell of that durian, Chantaburi No. 3, develops three days after the fruit is picked, allowing for odourless transport.
Durian lovers are at once disbelieving of and horrified by the prospect of a no-smell durian. They complain that the fruit is being homogenised like the insipid tomatoes bred to look pretty behind plastic wrap.
"I don't think it's possible to make a durian that doesn't smell," said Somchai Tadchang, owner of a durian orchard north of Bangkok. "Anyway, durians actually smell good. Only rotten durians stink."
Dr Songpol experimented with hundreds of combinations before discovering Chantaburi No. 1. This year's harvest is not yet ripe but those who have smelled and tasted last year's say the fruit has a faint odour.
Suchart Vichitrananda, director of the Horticultural Research Centre, said Chantaburi No. 1 did not smell but he hesitated when describing the taste. "I can't say it's better than the original durian, but it'll do."
Dr Songpol, 52, said his work was far from done. He is mapping out durian DNA and hoping to pinpoint the malodorous gene.
He is also trying to breed a durian — which gets its name from "duri", Malay for thorn — without spikes.
TheBeast
12-07-07, 09:34 PM
there are so many answers to this question, basically if there are dogs sitting around the bami stand i dont eat there, but anyway 'sen yai' noodles are the best in my humble opinion
sen yai means big noodle, and its also slang for 'the man in charge' or 'the man' or whatever
There is always a bit of a temptation to make fun of initiatives like this, but I live right next door to a large group of construction workers and it really is NO exaggeration to say that their alcoholic binges and fights are hugely destructive:
Health, wealth win over boozers
The Thai Health Promotion Foundation campaign against drinking is winning over people in the Northeast by emphasising the cost to health through pocketbooks.
Published on July 16, 2007
Foundation records show low-income drinkers in 203 households in five villages in Tambon Tra Saeng in Muang district of Surin spent more than Bt500,000 on alcohol in a three-month period last year.
The data showed 47 cases of battery and illness related to drinking in a one-year period.
Housewife and drinker Anong Sanusant said the statistics were an eye-opener.
"We would have gone broke if everyone still indulged themselves with vice, consumerism and materialism," she said.
Anong is one of 44 women and 159 men registered as alcoholics at the local Thai Health office.
Heavy drinking is common in Surin, so much so it is often commented on in other provinces. A local limerick translates to "if you go to Surin, drink or become a dog".
Anong's husband and village chief Rerm is angry at his drinking habits over the past 30 years. "I spent about Bt50,000 a year. If I hadn't, it would be a lot of money now."
Rerm viewed drinking as "tradition". His parents distilled moonshine. "There was always plenty of liquor and moonshine at village head and kamnan meetings," he added.
Thai Health is encouraging the villagers to replace alcohol with coconut milk at rituals and other celebrations and this has been accepted by the elders.
The drinking culture is fading at funerals, ordinations and merit-making events, too.
Suphaphorn Thongsuk, 70, said she could never have dreamed of a funeral without alcohol.
"Now, alcohol-free funerals end up without the families getting into debt like before," she said.
Thai Health has successfully used "family love" as a tool to combat domestic violence in the five villages. A total of 130 participating men have received certificates.
In Tambon Chiang Khrua of Sakhon Nakhon province, Thai Health is battling a tradition where every household provides a bottle of whisky at funerals.
Thin Jaila, a former village head of Na Kham Hai who started the idea of the "liquor fund", wants it abolished following fights and crime in the aftermath of funerals.
Village head Aphaiwong Hardsaikarn is always busy driving drunks home and settling fights after funerals - and he is growing tired of it.
Aphaiwong suggested giving money instead of whisky, but men opposed his idea. "Then I turned to the housewives and their girlfriends for help. And it worked."
A funeral a few months ago saw just four bottles of whisky on offer. Aphaiwong believes he will soon succeed in having alcohol-free ceremonies.
Aphaiwong has also seen success in programmes dealing with youth misdemeanours - ranging from gaming addiction and smoking to motorcycle street racing. All of his programmes are funded jointly by Thai Health and the To Be Number One project.
Suphada Tami, a programme supervisor, said Aphaiwong uses his expertise in fishing craft to encourage youths to compete in boat races.
"Victories have given us unity among families and community members, as well as prize money and a cabinet full of trophies," she said.
A "Massage for Desserts" initiative sees children learn traditional massage and practise on their parents or elders in exchange for dessert or money. "This project builds closeness between parents and children," Suphada said.
Residents of Na Kham Hai village are now turning to non-chemical farming using herbal insecticides and organic fertilisers, with funding from Thai Health.
Na Kham Hai and Aphaiwong recently won a regional To Be Number One competition and will now introduce a development plan based on the sufficiency economy theory.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/07/16/national/national_30040976.php
Herbal medicines list
1.ยาแก้ไข้ 5 ราก Ya Kae Kai Har Rak ( Five roots for fever )
2.ยาเขียวหอม Ya Kaew Horm
3.ยาเหลืองปิดสมุทร Ya Learng Pid Samud
4.ยาจันทลีลา Ya Chantaleela
5.ยาถ่ายดีเกลือฝรั่ง Ya Dee Kleua Farang
6.ยาธาตุบรรจบ Ya Tard Bunchob
7.ยาประสะกานพลู Ya Prasa Karn Plu
8.ยาประสะไพล Ya Prasa Ploai
9.ยาประสะมะแว้ง Ya Prasa Mawaeng
10.ยาหอมเทพจิต Ya Horm Teappachit
11.ยาหอมนาโกท Ya Horm Nawa Kod
12.ขมิ้นชัน Tumeric
13.ขิง Ginger
14.ชุมเห็ดเทศ Candlelabra brush
15.บัวบก Kotu Kola (Pennywort) [Mod: Bua Bok]
16.พญายอ Payayor
17.พริก Chilli
18.ไพล Plai
19.ฟ้าทะลายโจร Fa Ta Lai Jone
Push on for local medicine
Published on August 30, 2007
The Public Health Ministry plans to increase the use of Thai traditional medicines to make up 25 per cent of drug items in hospitals, after finding that doctors did not prescribe herbal medicines that were added to the national drug list eight years ago.
Deputy minister Dr Mora-kot Kornkasem said the plan would be implemented in all hospitals under the control of the ministry.
The ministry hopes the plan will reduce drug imports and save Bt120 billion per year.
Morakot was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 4th National Herb Congress at Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre, Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi.
He said Thailand had to be self sufficient and produce its own drugs as prices over the next 10 years would rise by up to Bt200 billion per year.
Herbal medicines have the potential to be used more widely in hospitals because they require lower investment to produce and are potentially safer than western drugs, said Morakot.
"We need to conduct more research into herbal medicines and prove they can be use to cure diseases like diabetes and cancer.
"If it can be done we could save a lot of money on importing drugs," he said.
Since 1999, 19 herbal medicines have been added to the national drug list but only a few of them are prescribed.
Suppaporn Pitiporn, head of the Pharmacy Department at Chaophya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, said most doctors are not familiar with traditional medicines and do not prescribe them to patients.
They were not educated in the use of traditional medicine when they were students.
She said most Thai traditional medicines lack research to back up claims of their efficacy.
A source from a hospital in Ubon Ratchathani province said Thai traditional medicines made up only 5 per cent of drug prescriptions in hospitals because most doctors did not know how to prescribe them and did not believe herbal medicines could treat diseases as well as western drugs.
Most patients ask to be prescribed western drugs rather than Thai traditional drugs because they believe the efficacy of modern medicine is better than traditional medicine. Herbs can only relieve symptoms like fever and stomach ache.
They cannot treat serious and complicated diseases such as diabetes or coronary heart disease, said the source.
"The other problem is that we do not even have enough herbal medicine to prescribe to patients," he added.
Thai traditional medicines prescribed in hospitals were mostly ordered from the Chaophya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, which is a main manufacturer of herbal remedies.
Others were ordered from local manufacturers in the provinces.
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/30/national/national_30047045.php
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/54/Krating_Daeng_Red_Bull.jpg/100px-Krating_Daeng_Red_Bull.jpg
[Photo: Wikipedia - An Indonesian form of the drink carrying English language labels as both 'Krathing Daeng' and 'Red Bull'.]
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=17236&postcount=41
jpatokal
Registered User
User rank - Transport Minister
Offtopic, but...
Quote:
...Red Gaurs and other army-sponsored vigilantes that slaughtered hundreds on Oct. 6, 1976 at the heart of Bangkok.
Red Gaur as in Krating Daeng? What's the connection, if any, to the energy drink?
I have also often wondered if there was a connection too.
I suspect it is not an official connection, but perhaps we could term it 'animistic marketing' in line with a local tendency to brand things with plant & animal identities. I imagine, though, that the original manufacturer may well have wanted to show his nationalistic and pro-monarchist views with this brand. What would be politically incorrect in some other places is probably almost the complete opposite here. I don't know much about the ownership, but it wouldn't altogether surprise me that it was some militaryman's project. For example, the local Coca-Cola bottling plant in this region is owned by a military man, who doubtless flaunted his power to get the concession in the first place - possibly way back in the Vietnam War Era as part of a project to serve American troops based here and on R&R.
krathing (กระทิง)
Thai. 'Gaur'. The largest known wild bovine animal with the Latin scientific name bibos gaurus. It lives in the hilly woodlands of India, Burma, Thailand and Malacca. The animal has an enormous thrust power and the in Thailand manufactured vitamin drink Krathing Daeng (red gaur), which gained international fame under the name Red Bull, has as logo in fact two red gaurs rushing towards one another, to show the power of its product. Within the scope of its wildlife conservation activities Wildlife Fund Thailand offers a gaur watching programme in Khao Paeng Ma, at Wang Nahm Khiauw district in Nakhon Ratchasima. It is also the name of a freshwater fish and of a tree.
http://www.thailex.info/THAILEX/THAILEXENG/LEXICON/k.htm
The above is part of a rather tourist-orientated website, but I can see it has its uses in looking up Thai cultural stuff. Especially since it also includes some Thai script for the defined terms:
http://www.thailex.info/THAILEX/THAILEXENG
Note that Wikipedia says not to confuse the two, but fails to consider whether there might be some informal connection:
Red Gaurs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Red Gaur)
The Red Gaurs (Thai: กระทิงแดง), not to be confused with an energy drink of the same name, were a paramilitary anti-leftist paramilitary organization active in Thailand during the 1970's. Many were veterans of the Vietnam War or former mercenaries in Laos and thus fanatically anti-communist. King Bhumibol Adulyadej played a key role in both the Red Gaurs as well as the Village Scouts, another anti-leftist paramilitary organization. The Red Gaurs played a key role in the 6 October 1976 massacre of students and activists at Thammasat University, since it viewed them as communist sympathizers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Gaur
30 December 2007
Public Health Ministry warns of food poisoning
Deputy Chief of the Ministry of Public Health Doctor Pachit Warachit (พจิตร์ วราชิต) revealed that the ministry has found that holiday seasons throughout the year have coincided with increases in cases of food poisoning. The ministry has predicted that food poisoning figures will be highest during the New Years.
Doctor Pachit stated that as during holidays citizens are more apt to dine outside their homes, food poisoning is easier to occur. Nonetheless, the ministry has marked that in recent years, cases have increased 1-2 fold and have thus suggested the public to be more careful of dining outdoors.
The ministry ask that citizens carefully inspect utensils and cutlery before dining. Citizens should also eat properly prepared food and also watch their hands before dining. Statistics from last year's research showed over 100 thousand cases of food poisoning with 8 fatalities.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255012290020
40,000 young Thais victims of additive inhalant
BANGKOK, JAN 25 (TNA)--At least 40,000 young Thais, mostly from poor families, are addicted to breathing inhalants, with the use of inhalants ranking third among additive drugs in Thailand, an anti-narcotics official said Friday.
Deputy Director General of the Narcotics Control and Suppression Board, Pitaya Jinawat, said young people are easily lured to inhalant use due to its cheap price and the authorities' ignorance to crack down on illegal inhalant trading and consumption has resulted in the widespread distribution of the substance.
He called on traders to help control the distribution of inhalants to young people. At the same time he appealed to the private sector not to reject employing inhalant addicts who are rehabilitated.
Mr. Pitaya said police usually ignored arresting inhalant addicts to avoid the burden of having to send them for rehabilitation while some rehabilitation centres or hospitals would not admit the young people for treatment.
However, a law amending the Inhalant Prevention Act which will be in force in July this year will impose harsher punishment against those selling the substances to young people and allow addict to undergo medical treatment before an indictment, he said.
The law also raises the age of young people allowed to buy inhalants from 17 to 18 years of age, Mr. Pitaya said, admitting that young addicts can easily ask their older peers to buy inhalant for them. (TNA)
General News : Last Update : 14:54:07 25 January 2551 (GMT+7:00)
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=2485
25 January 2008
Ministry of Public Health to issue complete smoking ban on February 11th
Minister of Public Health Doctor Mongkol Na Songkhla (มงคล ณ สงขลา) revealed that his ministry will be issuing its 18th declaration which was previously featured in the December 28th edition of the Royal Gazette with an additional stipulation to protect non-smokers inline with the Non-Smokers Protection Act.
The new stipulation will completely ban smoking in pubs, bars, restaurants, all types of markets both indoor and outdoor including Chatuchak market, flea markets and all publicly accessed area’s both air conditioned and non-air conditioned. The clause will take effect on February 11th. Establishment operators who resist the law will be fined 20 thousand baht and individual transgressors will be fined no more than 2,000 baht. Doctor Mongkol states that the law was not designed to restrict smokers but is to guard non-smokers of which Thailand has an estimated 53 million.
The Ministry of Public Health will be promoting the new regulation to the public prior to February 11th. Public Health officials will be dispatched across the country to allow citizens to understand zoning for smokers and various signs.
Reporter : RTI-Reporter01
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255101250002
May 31st to mark D-Day for smoking ban
Minister of Public Health Chaiya Sasomsup (ไชยา สะสมทรัพย์)made known that this May 31st, which coincides with the World Anti-Smoking day, will be the beginning of serious crackdowns on smoking in public venues. He stated that this year's Anti-Smoking day theme is "Tobacco-Free Youth".
Mr. Chaiya said that the nation has taken serious measures against the smoking problem and has issued 18 laws concerning the issue. The latest was instated on February 11th of this year and banned smoking in public venues such as markets and restaurants both air conditioned and non-air conditioned. The law allowed for venues to modify their structures to accommodate new regulations by May 30th, with serious crackdowns taking place the following day.
Transgressors stand to face a fine of no more than 2 thousand baht, while venue owners will receive a maximum fine of 20 thousand baht. In all instances transgressors and establishment operators will be fined.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255105270004
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