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Living Standards
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"Please Sir, I want some more. "Oliver Twist was a boy who knew what he wanted and wasn't afraid to ask for it. Well now, Phuket has an Oliver Twist of our own, although I must say she is a lot more glamorous. Mrs. Angela Prajantabut, an English-woman and Sales Manager for Choice Foods Thailand, is causing quite a stir with her new gourmet grocery store. |
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Food Glorious Food, (FGF) is a retail outlet for Choice Foods Thailand, a wholesale company that imports fresh produce and groceries from Australia for hotels, restaurants and the FGF in Bangkok on Soi Sukhumvit 71. "We bring in produce on a weekly basis and we bring in things that even the hotels have trouble accessing. "Angela states confidently. "We are now amongst the top three suppliers on the island. I pushed for the retail outlet because I've been here 18 years, I know the area and I know what I have wanted. As we had all the food for wholesale anyway, we thought, why not put it in a showroom where people can have access to it in retail sizes. " The title, Food Glorious Food, is perhaps better known as a song from the musical version of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, about an orphan surviving the checkered streets of early Victorian England, in his own quaint, musical way. The decision to call the store by this logical, yet curious name, came from Mr. Robert Coombes, Director of Choice Foods, who reportedly does regard food as glorious! Mr. Coombes decided to import from Australia, as having lived there for many years he knew how assertive the Australian Health and Safety agencies are in regards to hygiene and export quality. Angela firmly agrees and adds, "Australia is a superb country and it has fantastic products. The attention to hygiene and quality has boosted the Australian export market. I've had French chefs stunned by the Tasmanian cheeses and people gasp at the range when they come in. "
FGF stocks all the foods that could previously only be obtained from one of the fine restaurants around Phuket. All the vegetables come from the Victoria Markets in Melbourne and arrive weekly, on Thursday evenings, so Friday tends to be a busy day. The store carries a range of fresh, pesticide free fruit and vegetables including unique items like artichokes, brussels sprouts, fennel and passionfruit. The delicatessen serves cheeses, condiments and all the ingredients for a first-rate antipasto. The meat includes beef, veal, lamb and Tasmanian salmon. The dry goods include a range of pasta, Lebanese flat bread, pesto, health bars, savoury crackers and most Aussies' favourites, Arnotts Biscuits. This is but a brief taste of the items available. FGF is located next to the Fisherman Way Business Center, which is under construction on Chao Fa Rd in Chalong. Angela received sincere warnings from her business associates to wait until the coming high season to open the shop. Against all their advice and with faith in her knowledge of the expatriate community, Angela opened FGF on the 3rd May 2002, an auspicious day chosen by a Thai monk. To everyone's surprise and Angela's delight, the store has been a remarkable success. While interviewing Angela on a Monday afternoon, at least seven different customers filed in and out within an hour. One man said it was his second visit in as many days. Angela feels confident that the success will continue and plans to improve the service and product base during the low season in preparation for Christmas, which she adds, will mean even more glorious food.
Part of this improvement process will incorporate wine and food tastings with guest speakers in a range of expertise, from Ayuverdic practitioners to hoteliers and Chefs. Angela is enthusiastic about this not only to advertise her shop but also to encourage more people to remember we are what we eat. "I like to think of us as a corner store, although we are gourmet-ish my staff are so friendly, they're just like the corner grocers back home. "May, is an experienced butcher and cook; she makes all the fresh salads and can advise customers on different cuts of meat and how best to cook them. Jeab and Chalao also work in the shop, Chalao has been assisting Angela in the wholesale business for three years and can address any queries on bulk purchasing. Phuket is becoming an even better place to live and Angela's 18 years here are evidence of her opinion, although she admits that she has missed her comforts from home, particularly in the culinary department. Now even the more obscure products are available at FGF and are putting smiles on faces and satisfying long held cravings. Some unique products include, dried figs, pickling spice, branston pickle, Sao biscuits, whitloaf, port wine cheese, chick peas and even Pontiac potatoes. FGF is open everyday from 8:30am to 7:00pm, I highly recommend a visit and I know you'll be pleasantly surprised. Food Glorious Food, 19/3 Chao Fa Rd.
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Tropical Living: August 2002, Volume 2 Issue 4 |
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