Good Evening, Sir - Care for some Rat Fricasee?

[Gaybutton]

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST:

_____

 

Rodents Remain Tempting Treat

 

Outbreaks of Leptospirosis in Flood Areas is Not Enough to put the Locals off their Dinner

 

Story by SONTANAPORN INCHAN

 

Despite outbreaks of leptospirosis in the wake of major flooding in many areas of the country, the trade in roasted farm rats in Chachoengsao seems to be unaffected.

 

The 30 or 40 makeshift shops selling roasted farm rats along the Chachoengsao-Onnuj Road in the eastern area of the town remain very busy, with vendors struggling to meet demand.

 

The 10-km road stretches between Chaochoengsao and Samut Prakan provinces.

 

Boonta Sumthong, a vendor aged 30 in Bang Bo district of Samut Prakan, said the leptospirosis outbreak, covered by the media for the past several days, had not affected local farm-rat consumption.

 

Many customers continued to visit her shop to buy the meat for consumption. More surprisingly, she said, the daily supply of farm rats was now insufficient as hunters were finding it difficult to find the large rodents due to the flooding.

 

Currently, her shop is only open for half of the day due to limited stock. The roasted rats sell for 120 to 140 baht each depending on size and weight.

 

Kaesorn Sumthong, 49, a resident of Bang Bo, said farm rats remained a popular product despite the leptospirosis risk.

 

The number of customers had never been affected by the almost annual outbreaks triggered by flooding, she said.

 

She said she had never suffered from leptospirosis, even though she regularly peeled the skin from the rodents.

 

In the rainy season, she said, farm rats were so scarce that many shops were forced to close temporarily. But Mrs Kaesorn's shop was still open because she purchased farm rats elsewhere, selling them for 160-200 baht for two.

 

Sanoh Boon-oui, 55, a resident of Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri province, said roasted farm rat was one of her favourite foods. She preferred to purchase the rodents from shops in the Bang Bo district because they were reputed to be the most delicious.

 

She said she had eaten roasted farm rat since her childhood and was not afraid of contracting leptospirosis. Properly roasted meat should be free of any disease, she said, adding she always fried them first before eating them, just to be sure.

 

 

[Bob]

Hmmm.....160 baht for a pair of rats. Aroy mak!

 

I wonder what she charges for the house wine? (and would that be a red or a white with rat?).

 

 

[Guest namjai]

 

A Thai Wine to Match Thai Food

 

 

 

In our February 2002 issue, I introduced the readers to Chatemp, a new Thai made by Siam Winery. Based on that success they launched their premium cuvee Monsoon Valley. Winemaker Laurent Metge-Toppin was determined to make a different style of wine, a new style of wine, a blend of Thai varietal, especially created to complement spicy Thai food. With the worldwide popularity of Thai cuisine it was first launched overseas and exported to Germany, UK. Holland, France, Japan and the United States. But why overseas first? It

[Gaybutton]

Hmmm.....160 baht for a pair of rats. Aroy mak!

 

I wonder what she charges for the house wine? (and would that be a red or a white with rat?).

 

Red, of course. Didn't you know that? How gauche! If you didn't know that you probably are uncouth enough not to insist they also chill the salad forks.

 

Years ago I visited a Thai friend's fruit farm near Chiang Mai. My friend is quite well to do and speaks English fluently. His farm workers are Burmese immigrants with no education whatsoever. One of them had been ill and was taking medicine. When my friend asked him what kind of medicine he was taking, he didn't know. He didn't realize that there is such a thing as more than one kind of medicine. He thought you simply swallow a pill and you get better. Lord only knows what he was taking.

 

When we arrived, they had captured fruit-eating bats and were grilling them, head and all. They hadn't even gutted them, but at least they had been skinned. Of course they offered us some and it would be a major insult if we refused. My friend didn't want to eat it any more than I did. I said, "How are we going to get out of this?" He said, "I don't know." Oh, great! I'm going to end up having to eat bats!

 

Then he got an idea. He said, "I'm so sorry. If we had known you were going to have food we wouldn't have had such a big lunch on the way out here. We couldn't possibly eat another bite."

 

That's how we got out of it. Whew!

 

Well, unfortunately you won't find grilled bats on the menu at Manhattans.

[Guest wowpow]

Almost any post can be tied to the new airport or the Coupd'Etat.

 

Both Chiangi and Chap Lock were infested with rats shortly after opening. P M Taksin was asked if Suvarnhabhumi would have the same problem as there were many 'country' rats in the area. He said " Oh no the Isaan workers have eaten them all".

 

 

[Gaybutton]

He said " Oh no the Isaan workers have eaten them all".

 

I suppose that beats "Let them eat cake."

 

[Guest pete1969]

When we were driving from Chiang Rai to BKK, we saw a number of fried bat food stalls by the road. Even the BF didn't want any fried bats.

 

Pete

[Gaybutton]

When we were driving from Chiang Rai to BKK, we saw a number of fried bat food stalls by the road. Even the BF didn't want any fried bats.

 

Pete

 

I never saw those stalls, thank goodness, but I wouldn't be surprised if my BF would eat it. He eats things sometimes that I can't even look at. I hope he never does eat them. I'd hate for him to start looking like Bela Lugosi.

[Guest stef]

I never saw those stalls, thank goodness, but I wouldn't be surprised if my BF would eat it. He eats things sometimes that I can't even look at. I hope he never does eat them. I'd hate for him to start looking like Bela Lugosi.

 

I wonder if I could kiss him after he eats that kind of thing

I was bringing someone home once and we stopped to get something to eat. Well the desert wasn't what I was having in mind.. fried crickets ( what I thought it was )..

Anyway I could not kiss him as I had that image and noise still in mind that same night.. Noise of croucggsss crouchnn crouchnnnn.. yuck

[Bob]

I never saw those stalls, thank goodness, but I wouldn't be surprised if my BF would eat it. He eats things sometimes that I can't even look at. I hope he never does eat them. I'd hate for him to start looking like Bela Lugosi.

 

 

Hmmmm.......is he a neck nibbler?

[Gaybutton]

Hmmmm.......is he a neck nibbler?

 

That depends on whose neck . . .

[Guest wowpow]

If Tui's Restaurant on Dongtan beach served rat it would be

 

Ratatouille!