Where can I find . . . .?

[Gaybutton]

A question that pops up every so often is a "where can I find . . . .?" whatever question. For example, a couple of years ago I had been looking all over the place for a bread machine. I had one in the USA and greatly missed it in Thailand. I looked everywhere and finally gave up, assuming I'm just not going to find one in Thailand. Then I posted about it. Within a few hours someone had posted that he was sure he had seen them sold on the top floor of the Paragon in Bangkok. Next trip to Bangkok I went to the Paragon and bingo! There it was. Needless to say I was delighted and I've been using that machine ever since. By the way, I now see them sold at the new Central shopping mall in Pattaya, and for several thousand baht less than I paid at the Paragon too.

 

I thought I'd start a thread so that anyone who is trying to find anything, but can't, might post here and see if our board posters can help them find what they're looking for.

 

I'll start with five things I'd love to find, if they can be found in Thailand at all:

 

1. Either an affordable bread slicing machine or some sort of slicing guide. For those loaves of bread I make in my machine, I still have to rely on good eyesight and good manual dexterity to get the bread slices to come out right.

 

2. American style sausage. I know American sausage can be found at Villa Market, but it's very expensive there. I had hoped maybe one of the food companies in Thailand makes it, but if they do I've never found any.

 

3. Italian sausage. I see several stores that sell sausage labeled Italian sausage, but when I've tried them, none have even come close. Where I worked, Mrs. Marazzo, a lady who is as Italian as it gets, used to come in every so often with her home made sausage and peppers for the staff. Man, do I ever miss that!

 

4. Corned beef. I see just about every other type of cold cut in Thailand, but I've never found corned beef. If it's here, I'd love to find it.

 

5. A store that sells clothing for those of us who are . . . well, let's just say those of us whose waistlines are a little larger than the sizes found in most stores in Thailand.

 

Maybe someone knows where some of these items can be found. And, of course, if you happen to be looking for something, but can't find it, post about it here. Who knows? Maybe someone will know where you can find what you're looking for.

[Guest jtrack33]

GB, I was also recently in the market to buy a bread machine and found an excellent one at Bht2,990. It is a China-made Kenwood. The Paragon/Central ones, I think, are about Bhy4,000-6,000 each.

 

When you say corned beef, I assume you are referring to the American version and not Fray Bentos canned stuff! Is it something like pastrami?

One solution to the need for Italian and American sausage, could be for you to print a recipe of each from epicurious.com or similar and show to the owner/butcher at Yorkies on Jomtien Beach Road and ask his advice on sourcing/making such delicacies.

[Guest zzrichard]

1. Food dehydrator for making dried fruit.

 

1. Cheese that does not cost an arm and a leg.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I had a bread machine in the US. I find I can make better bread in the shape I want much easier. It only take 4 ingredients; flour, water, salt and yeast and it's as good or better than bread I can buy. I make bread on average once a week.

 

Italian sausage - At Carrefour they have what they call Country Sausage. It is quite like Italian sausage, but I take it out of the casing and add fennel seeds. Also Villa has Italian sausage that is frozen and not bad at all.

 

American breakfast sausage - I am still looking for it, but I make some that is not too bad, but not exactly what I want.

 

Sausage is so easy to make yourself unless you insist on links. Patties are the simplest solution.

 

To slice bread I use a serrated knife to get the best slices. As far as uniformity is concerned you could use a ruler, but I don't bother.

 

Corned beef - Forget it.

 

For clothes I either get them made or buy what I need whenever I go to KL or OZ.

 

I think I saw a dehydrator at Home Mart on Sukhumvit next to Big C.

[Guest kjun12]

Smoked sausage & Italian sausage are available at Bourbon Street Restaurant on Sukumvit 22 in Bangkok. They make it and sell the sausage at the restaurant.

[Guest kjun12]

GB, I was also recently in the market to buy a bread machine and found an excellent one at Bht2,990. It is a China-made Kenwood. The Paragon/Central ones, I think, are about Bhy4,000-6,000 each.

 

 

 

Where was the bread machine bought?

[Gaybutton]

1. Food dehydrator for making dried fruit.

I have an answer to that one. Last time I was in Bangkok I checked the top floor at Paragon. I was told they have them, but they're out of them. I was given a business card for a company called Verasu. Verasu makes them. If you look at their web site and call their customer service number, they can give you the locations where their products are sold.

 

http://www.verasu.com

 

If you need to ask for one in Thai, say: "KROO-ahng tahm polomai hang." The manager of the kitchen shop at Paragon told me that's how to ask for it. The literal translation is "machine make fruit dry."

 

I'm going to first have a look at the Home Mart lvdkeyes mentioned. Hopefully, that will save a trip to Bangkok. I'd like to have one too.

 

Where was the bread machine bought?

I bought mine in Bangkok on the top floor kitchenware shop at Paragon.

 

In Pattaya, at the new Central mall, the top floor kitchenware shop in the department store carries them, and as I said, much less expensive than the one I bought at Paragon, and it's the same brand!!

 

lvdkeyes, do you have a recipe for those sausage patties?

[Guest thaiworthy]

The neat thing about bread machines is that they have a timer, so you can dump the ingredients in, set it and forget it. When you come home, there's freshly baked bread! Maybe that's why GB wanted one.

 

Thais are not big bread eaters so that doesn't surprise me if it was hard to find.

 

Can't you just order the bread slicer on-line? I have one and it's a dandy. Takes about a minute to slice a loaf. They are all perfectly uniform slices. You have to wait to let it cool down.

 

These days, bread is a big no-no for me.

[Gaybutton]

Can't you just order the bread slicer on-line? I have one and it's a dandy.

Can you tell me a URL for ordering one? I can't find anything.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

lvdkeyes, do you have a recipe for those sausage patties?

American Breakfast Sausage

 

2 pounds ground pork, not too lean

1 Tbsp brown sugar

2 tsp. dried sage

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

1/4 tsp. dried marjoram

1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1 pinch ground cloves

-Combine all ingredients by hand in a bowl.

-Form mixture into 1/4" thick patties.

-Brown patties in a large skillet over medium high heat for 5 minutes on each side.

 

NOTES: Makes great sausage gravy!

 

After you mix it together, cook a small amount and adjust seasonings to your taste.

[Guest jtrack33]

Kjun12, the Bht2,990 fine bread machine I bought at The Mall, Thapra on the top floor near the Verasu section. You will get another 5% off if you have a Mall/Paragon/Emporium card. For the comprehensive manual and bread making instructions specifically for Kenwood(and hence this unit). use:

http://martinvinje.com/file/serve/8662/recipes-BM200.pdf

as a guide. The actual manual with the machine only has very basic instructions.

It is very well made and makes bread ten times better than you(I) can make by hand.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I would take that challenge.

[Guest Oogleman]

 

 

1. Cheese that does not cost an arm and a leg.

 

 

Amen to that - i cant eat tons of the stuff if the price isn`t too crazy!

[Guest lvdkeyes]

The problem is most cheese is imported and Thailand has a high import tax.

[Guest thaiworthy]

Can you tell me a URL for ordering one? I can't find anything.

 

PRESTO!

 

http://www.homebreadmaking.com/bread-baking-supplies/homemade-bread-slicer/

 

This is what I have. I use an electric carving knife and slice in between the guides. Now you can have your bread any way you slice it.

[Guest thaiworthy]

The problem is most cheese is imported and Thailand has a high import tax.

 

Another problem with cheese is that intestinally it acts as a binder and can cause elimination problems. Don't eat too much cheese!

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I love cheese and eat plenty of it and it never affects my elimination.

[Guest thaiworthy]

I love cheese and eat plenty of it and it never affects my elimination.

I love cheese too, but my doctor gave me this advice. I guess it depends on the person.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Exactly

[Guest]

I love cheese too, but my doctor gave me this advice. I guess it depends on the person.

 

I think it depends on what else you eat as well. Follow the cheese up with some prunes & psyllium husks & the cheese will be successfully eliminated.

[Gaybutton]

PRESTO!

That's exactly what I've spent two years trying to find! Thank you very much.

[Guest fountainhall]

The problem is most cheese is imported and Thailand has a high import tax

 

I am curious why such a simple food as cheese attacts such a high tax! Most of my Thai friends enjoy it, and most Thais seem really into pizza. I'm lucky that I visit Hong Kong quite regularly and always bring back several different cheeses which the delicatessen nicely vacuum wraps for me.

[dapitt]

I am curious why such a simple food as cheese attacts such a high tax!

And likewise, I wonder about the very high tax on wine. Is it considered a luxury? Surely not! For me it's a necessity....a glass (or two) of red every night --- for my heart, you know. B)

[Guest fountainhall]

And likewise, I wonder about the very high tax on wine

 

If I recall correctly, the tax on wine was raised to astronomic levels during the 1997/8 recession. To qualify for major IMF loans, Thailand had to raise interest rates to over 20% and increase taxes on a wide range of imported goods. Unfortunately, the wine tax has never come down. I guess that maybe this is also one reason for a cheese tax still being in place.

[dapitt]

Ah, I see. Thanks, fountainhall! That explains it. It just seems so odd --- with so many, many other things at a much lower cost than what you'd fine in farangland, those very high wine costs can sneak up on you. Often after a glass, out with friends, I say, "oh, yes I'll have another, and..." Then, the check-bin can be a bit surprising.

 

Thanks for the info.