butterisbetter

Well, this is good news. Someone told me that the place had gone out of business. I don't get over to Nimmanheiman as much as I used to. Whoever the chef is at La Genoise, she knows what she's doing. It's a beautiful little place, too. If you're thinking of conning someone into believing you have a refined and civilized character, that's a good spot to take him or her to.

There's also Heritage Brand almond flour. I'm surprised it's not for sale in Villa Supermarket. It's packed in nitrogen so it's won't go rancid as long as the seal is intact. That's an important consideration, especially for almond flour.

"How do I let others know not to go there -- not that anyone WOULD go there really, but you never know, I don't usually go in places like that either.:

I think Pillion got it right on this one. This is a competitor playing troll.The last few lines from the OP are overkill. Don't think a genuinely aggrieved party would write that.

and just to confirm......it's 6.75% sodium nitrite to 93.25% salt, right?

I know a successful local German sausage maker that says he simply adds 5 grams to a kilo of salt and he has been in business for years, sending his products all over the Kingdom.

5 grams per kilo would be about 0.5 %, or 13 times less concentrated as a 6.75% solution - that's a big difference!

Usually you would take that mixture and then dilute it further with salt.

Anyway, I get my sodium nitrite (reagent grade) from Union Science. It's on Doi Suthep road almost slightly to the east of where it intersects with Nimmanheiman. Here are the GPS coordinates: 18.789886,98.963792

Here's the GPS for a health food store that sells yogurt makers. Can't recall the name. Or at least has sold yogurt makers in the past. 18.794482,98.995804

I've also seen them for sale at Bakersmart on occasion. GPS18.755293,99.00822

Yes I have an update... 2 shops in the area of worrot market sell linoleum.

Thanks. That gives me an excuse to malinger in one of my favorite parts of town.

Any updates?

No

One down, ten thousand to go.

Any updates?

Just to mention the best Sausage and Bacon sandwich in the world can be readily assembled from products sold in Rimping.

G&M Nerberger sausages (4 for 31bht)

Hapico Dry cured smoked bacon (300g for 105bht)

Dannie Butter Salt Added (227gm for 75Bht)

JJ Bakery White Wholemeal Delsing English Bread (720gm loaf 58bht)

The bread is very solid and firm, you can spread the butter on it straight from the fridge with no danger of breakage.

The sausage should be fried for slightly longer than the bacon (2 sausage + 2 bacon). Best to cut the sausage lengthwise before insertion.

Now the only debate is unspiced, HP sauce or Colemans Mustard as the final additive ...... I can go either way.

Just to mention the best Sausage and Bacon sandwich in the world can be readily assembled from products sold in Rimping.

G&M Nerberger sausages (4 for 31bht)

Hapico Dry cured smoked bacon (300g for 105bht)

Dannie Butter Salt Added (227gm for 75Bht)

JJ Bakery White Wholemeal Delsing English Bread (720gm loaf 58bht)

The bread is very solid and firm, you can spread the butter on it straight from the fridge with no danger of breakage.

The sausage should be fried for slightly longer than the bacon (2 sausage + 2 bacon). Best to cut the sausage lengthwise before insertion.

Now the only debate is unspiced, HP sauce or Colemans Mustard as the final additive ...... I can go either way.

First off I have to acknowledge that I am being surrpetitiously paid by Rimping to respond to this posting. My commission is one standard Lindt chocolate bar per reply. So everyone should take what I say with a grain of cocoa.

That said, if you lose your Rimping card, all you have to do is tell the cashier the phone number you filled in on the form to get the card. So no need to repurchase. If you lose your Tops card, you can do the same.

vagabond... Lots of helpful posts here, but if you have never been to Puan Krua (Friend of the Kitchen), you need to hop on your bike and check it out. To be honest, I am not sure they have what you are looking for but it is one of THOSE PLACES you have to know about in Chiang Mai. Head down Lamphun Road and about a hundred meters after you cross under the Super Highway, look for a building on the left with a parking lot out front. They have all kinds of cooking supplies in there.

I spend way too much time at Bakersmart so I am familiar with their inventory to a degree which is bizarre. Unfortunately they don't carry cast iron pans. But you'll probably see a lot of other stuff you haven't been able to find elsewhere. They do carry stainless steel pans, though. Both Meyer and Seagull have stores on Chang Klan Road where you can find plenty of stainless steel pans.

To Butterisbetter:

You accuse me of cherry picking on prices and then go on to name one item (local cold cuts by Germans) as if that is dispositive of the issue. Can't you see how illogical your position is? You're happy to get the knives and the pots and pans at Rimping through their frequent buyer card? Fine. Wonderful. Kudos for you.

I prefer cash (and suspect most people do) and meaningful discount prices. Tops actually gives you money back based on your amounts of purchases and they give you not only coupons for reduced prices on lots of items, they give you a general discount like 5% or 10% on purchases over 600 baht. I prefer that to whatever is behind "door number one".

You need to study the difference between costs and very effective marketing. Rimping is excellent at marketing in the farang community. I think no one here would question that Makro has significantly lower prices than either Tops or Rimping, yet they probably have fewer customers. Get the drift? Many of the people who shop at Rimping simply do not care about costs. They'd rather shop in a clean, attractive store that plays Mozart and that has highly trained staff and pay more for it than shop elsewhere where prices are cheaper.

On local products, Dacheso products are horrible: nearly the same price you pay for much better imported cheeses and dairy products. They are not cheap and they are not good. And this is not just my opinion but that of other posters here too (it came up on another thread; check it out if you don't believe me). Despite your assertions, I find that most of the markets (Tesco; Big C; Rimping; Makro; and Tops) all pretty much stock the same things with minor variations (face it, they all buy from the same huge wholesalers/producers). If you want local things, go to a local market where you will find hundreds and hundreds more local products than those you've listed.

Tops stocks Yolanda brand yoghurt and it is much better than Dacheso's product line of yoghurt. It is also made in Thailand. And they ROUTINELY charge less for this exact same product than Rimping, and when it is on sale (as it has been twice in the last 3 months) it is even cheaper than the same thing at Makro.

If you read my above statements, you'd realize that I like Rimping for their bakery and cheese and wine sections. They have a horribly overpriced produce section, much more expensive than Makro and Makro has such fresh produce, it's got to be local. Rimping has very, very few items on sale store-wide ever; Tops has hundreds of products on sale that change weekly or so and it has a card for frequent buyers that gives back cash or a nice discount. Rimping doesn't. Rimping has excellent service but of course the customer is paying for that. I can speak enough Thai to get along with the very friendly Thais over at Makro so I don't need to show a picture of a product to someone and ask in English if they have it. If you need that kind of service, and many farangs here do, then go to Rimping but don't ever doubt you are paying for that service. So, there are pros and cons to all these stores; it depends on the customer and his/her needs and budget.

I've got nothing to gain financially or business wise by saying that Makro is my go to store where I spend most of my money and that I split the other business between Tops and Rimping. Can you say the same?

Just to put a little different light and reality on the subject. Both tops and Rimping sell G&M German sausages at 110 per 100 mg. Tops has a better cheese selection. Now these are cherry picked items that a lot of people cherry pick. Makro has some excellent prices the thing is a lot of them you have to buy in bulk for instance the G&M German sausages have to be bought by the kilogram, But this is cherry picking for over all shopping I will pick Rimping. If I want bulk I will go to Makro.

Tops gives money back and that allows them to buy you.

Rimping gives product and that allows them to attract you. To me they are one and the same. When I get enough points for an item I get it for free. When I get enough points at Top's for the amount of money I cash them in and go buy the item I want. Pretty sad argument when you have to compare the reward systems. One other thing people tend to do is sell them selves short. There time is worth money. Makro is a large store to be going thorough looking for items. Money wise I don't recall ever seeing any thing on sale. And as has been stated here when you see some thing on sale at the other two look at the best by date.

It would be interesting to here from some people who only shop at one store. I shop at all three because I live walking distance to Rimping I go to movies at the airport and go through the Tops there and some times I want bulk and will go to Makro. They are all OK none is better than the other it is just a matter of what the individual person wants.

First of all I'd just like to note the rational, humane, and temperate way that you, hellodolly, have approached this issue. In other words, what is your problem, dude? We're not talking about relatively uncontroversial topics like politics and religion here. The topic at hand is SUPERMARKET PRICING, ground zero in the battle for civilization. Topics like this demand not the standard 22 caliber dose of rancor but a magnum at least, with an additional charge of wrath. I'm very disappointed in you.

I am going to have to question some of the points you raised. I looked for an appropriate typeface -- one that had flames licking from it -- but so far no luck. Your imagination will have to supply the hellfire.

1) I doubt that either Tops or Rimping sell G&M sausage at 110 baht per 100 kilogram. That sounds more like the price you'd pay for imported Italian prosciutto. I'm pretty sure that Rimping sells most G&M sausages for 289 baht per kilo. I've never seen G&M sausages at Tops but I could have overlooked them.

2)Are you sure you haven't got the cheese thing reversed? The cheese sold at Tops are mostly pretty bland and limited. On the other hand, Rimping has on offer the kind of cheeses that require a license certifying that you can either sing the Marseillaise or do a goosestep as well as that you possess a gas mask in order for you to be allowed to purchase them.

In closing, I'd like to advise you to choose one supermarket and stick with it. In a war like this there are no civilians and you will just find yourself in the crossfire. I hate to think of what I'd have to do if I found you in my sights. We shoppers at Rimping have a well deserved reputation for ruthlessness.

So sorry some times I get carried away. At any rate I have always considered you as my protector from the wrath of the expert on every thing you know who.

That being said I did make a huge mistake in my post and your response to it was as misguided as my statement.

It is 110 baht per 100 gram that works out to 1,100 baht per kilo. How can you miss it at Tops that is all that is in the display case. Your powers of observation must be honed to a higher degree,

Now if we go to Makro G &M sausage is sold for 690 baht a kilo. Enough of a savings to have you know who dancing with joy only matched by a climax in certain unmentionable situations.

I must concede to you on the cheese I do not make that much of a study of it.

But as you say the arena is here and the lines are drawn. And I shall sit on the fifty yard line and enjoy the battle please do not let it be to the death as I wish to savoir it as a fine wine.

In war, truth is the first casualty. What with all that fog of war obscuring your vision, how could one expect anything different? So what you saw as G&M is actually TGM. You are, in fact, referring to TGM salamis. Which do retail at Makro for 690 baht per kilo. AndI think that they are sold presliced at Rimping and Lotus for 110 baht per kilo. And they are very good, too. I know this because I have a sad and useless life with way too much time to kill, so I had occasion to compare TGM salami to imported Italian salami: I thought it was just as good.

But I stick with my assertion that G&M sausages mostly retail for 289 baht per kilo.

As for "the expert on everything you know who", I'm beginning to suspect that she is really a fictional character, a ploy by the enemies of truth to make us attack each other and distract us from our real enemy: the mentally well!

To Butterisbetter:

You accuse me of cherry picking on prices and then go on to name one item (local cold cuts by Germans) as if that is dispositive of the issue. Can't you see how illogical your position is? You're happy to get the knives and the pots and pans at Rimping through their frequent buyer card? Fine. Wonderful. Kudos for you.

I prefer cash (and suspect most people do) and meaningful discount prices. Tops actually gives you money back based on your amounts of purchases and they give you not only coupons for reduced prices on lots of items, they give you a general discount like 5% or 10% on purchases over 600 baht. I prefer that to whatever is behind "door number one".

You need to study the difference between costs and very effective marketing. Rimping is excellent at marketing in the farang community. I think no one here would question that Makro has significantly lower prices than either Tops or Rimping, yet they probably have fewer customers. Get the drift? Many of the people who shop at Rimping simply do not care about costs. They'd rather shop in a clean, attractive store that plays Mozart and that has highly trained staff and pay more for it than shop elsewhere where prices are cheaper.

On local products, Dacheso products are horrible: nearly the same price you pay for much better imported cheeses and dairy products. They are not cheap and they are not good. And this is not just my opinion but that of other posters here too (it came up on another thread; check it out if you don't believe me). Despite your assertions, I find that most of the markets (Tesco; Big C; Rimping; Makro; and Tops) all pretty much stock the same things with minor variations (face it, they all buy from the same huge wholesalers/producers). If you want local things, go to a local market where you will find hundreds and hundreds more local products than those you've listed.

Tops stocks Yolanda brand yoghurt and it is much better than Dacheso's product line of yoghurt. It is also made in Thailand. And they ROUTINELY charge less for this exact same product than Rimping, and when it is on sale (as it has been twice in the last 3 months) it is even cheaper than the same thing at Makro.

If you read my above statements, you'd realize that I like Rimping for their bakery and cheese and wine sections. They have a horribly overpriced produce section, much more expensive than Makro and Makro has such fresh produce, it's got to be local. Rimping has very, very few items on sale store-wide ever; Tops has hundreds of products on sale that change weekly or so and it has a card for frequent buyers that gives back cash or a nice discount. Rimping doesn't. Rimping has excellent service but of course the customer is paying for that. I can speak enough Thai to get along with the very friendly Thais over at Makro so I don't need to show a picture of a product to someone and ask in English if they have it. If you need that kind of service, and many farangs here do, then go to Rimping but don't ever doubt you are paying for that service. So, there are pros and cons to all these stores; it depends on the customer and his/her needs and budget.

I've got nothing to gain financially or business wise by saying that Makro is my go to store where I spend most of my money and that I split the other business between Tops and Rimping. Can you say the same?

Just to put a little different light and reality on the subject. Both tops and Rimping sell G&M German sausages at 110 per 100 mg. Tops has a better cheese selection. Now these are cherry picked items that a lot of people cherry pick. Makro has some excellent prices the thing is a lot of them you have to buy in bulk for instance the G&M German sausages have to be bought by the kilogram, But this is cherry picking for over all shopping I will pick Rimping. If I want bulk I will go to Makro.

Tops gives money back and that allows them to buy you.

Rimping gives product and that allows them to attract you. To me they are one and the same. When I get enough points for an item I get it for free. When I get enough points at Top's for the amount of money I cash them in and go buy the item I want. Pretty sad argument when you have to compare the reward systems. One other thing people tend to do is sell them selves short. There time is worth money. Makro is a large store to be going thorough looking for items. Money wise I don't recall ever seeing any thing on sale. And as has been stated here when you see some thing on sale at the other two look at the best by date.

It would be interesting to here from some people who only shop at one store. I shop at all three because I live walking distance to Rimping I go to movies at the airport and go through the Tops there and some times I want bulk and will go to Makro. They are all OK none is better than the other it is just a matter of what the individual person wants.

First of all I'd just like to note the rational, humane, and temperate way that you, hellodolly, have approached this issue. In other words, what is your problem, dude? We're not talking about relatively uncontroversial topics like politics and religion here. The topic at hand is SUPERMARKET PRICING, ground zero in the battle for civilization. Topics like this demand not the standard 22 caliber dose of rancor but a magnum at least, with an additional charge of wrath. I'm very disappointed in you.

I am going to have to question some of the points you raised. I looked for an appropriate typeface -- one that had flames licking from it -- but so far no luck. Your imagination will have to supply the hellfire.

1) I doubt that either Tops or Rimping sell G&M sausage at 110 baht per 100 kilogram. That sounds more like the price you'd pay for imported Italian prosciutto. I'm pretty sure that Rimping sells most G&M sausages for 289 baht per kilo. I've never seen G&M sausages at Tops but I could have overlooked them.

2)Are you sure you haven't got the cheese thing reversed? The cheese sold at Tops are mostly pretty bland and limited. On the other hand, Rimping has on offer the kind of cheeses that require a license certifying that you can either sing the Marseillaise or do a goosestep as well as that you possess a gas mask in order for you to be allowed to purchase them.

In closing, I'd like to advise you to choose one supermarket and stick with it. In a war like this there are no civilians and you will just find yourself in the crossfire. I hate to think of what I'd have to do if I found you in my sights. We shoppers at Rimping have a well deserved reputation for ruthlessness.

And the moral of highlighting that McVities, Cadburys Fingers and Weetabix were two for one.,,,,,,,..is.............

...proof that there is a God...or maybe that there's a Satan?

t abo

I'm fairly sure it was the 2x 100gm pack of Lindt 70% that I was buying for 70bht in Makro.

I may have mis-remembered (getting old), I'll take a photo next time I go in.

I go to Makro just about every day and I know that the price for the two 35 gram bars is 69 baht. At least that's what it's been for a while including today. I checked it today. But as I noted above, I've never seen the 70 percent or 85 percent dark chocolate bars there.

The70-85% Lindt dark chocolate bars are normally 118 baht at Rimping. Are they cheaper elsewhere?

two for 70bht in Makro

The bars being referred to here are 35 grams each - not the standard size of 100 grams. I've seen standard LIndt milk chocolate bars there for 148 grams for 2 but never the 100 gram standard dark chocolate - much less the 70 or 85 percent Lindt dark chocolate bars. Or any other brand, for that matter.

Well, that's as clear as mud. And who says that 100 grams is the standard size? 100 grams is the 100 gram size, that's all.

There's petty. Then pettier. Then pettiest. Then there's the above. It's almost awe-inspiring.

The70-85% Lindt dark chocolate bars are normally 118 baht at Rimping. Are they cheaper elsewhere?

two for 70bht in Makro

The bars being referred to here are 35 grams each - not the standard size of 100 grams. I've seen standard LIndt milk chocolate bars there for 148 grams for 2 but never the 100 gram standard dark chocolate - much less the 70 or 85 percent Lindt dark chocolate bars. Or any other brand, for that matter.

Only thing I've found with their deals is they tend to be near (or perhaps beyond) sell-by date and don't taste great; yep, Rimping even. One of those Mcvities' lines had suspicious-looking stickers with what looked like reprinted dates and really tasted old.

Ever noticed how little is 'given away' or genuinely knocked down in this part of the world?

Rimping, in my opinion, has very, very few items on sale.

Tops, on the other hand, has some excellent sales and they rotate the items on sale. I bought some Yolanda yoghurt there yesterday for B 49 (B 6 cheaper than at Rimping), and also some milk (B 41 vs. B 44 at Rimping). If you use their Tops card, you save even more because they send you discount coupons and money back coupons every couple of months. Rimping is nice but very, very expensive.

My "go to" store is Makro: great selection, great prices.

I'm sure you can always find a few items cheaper at Tops, but overwhelmingly Rim Ping has better prices. I think the objective evidence for this is really clear: Tops does much less business in areas where its and Rim Ping's customer bases overlap.

In addition, Rim PIng offer a much better selection of locally produced stuff, which isn't difficult, since Tops offers almost nothing local. Also, when it comes to service, Rim Ping is great. Not only is the staff really helpful, but the checkout lines tend to go quickly, too. Despite the fact that it has so few customers, checkout at Tops is usually surprisingly slow. Tops seems reluctant to actually assign staff to the checkout lines on the rare occasions when it's busy.. And, for what it's worth, if you have a Rim Ping Card, you also accumulate points to exchange for items in Rim Ping's catalog. All in all, I think it's a far superior store in every important respect.

1. Sorry, but I disagree. I like Rimping but it is far more expensive than Tops. I cited some examples above. There are hundreds of others. Rimping really doesn't have much of anything on sale, ever; and at Tops you can get money back, and discounts with their card (which you cannot do at Rimping which gives you meaningless points towards things you don't want).

2. Number of people in stores has nothing to do with cost. You are confusing marketing with sales. Rimping consciously has gone after the most upmarket people (and that includes most farangs who know very little about prices and many, don't care; most want the most modern and comfortable shopping experience and that is Rimping but it has nothing to do with cost, quite the contrary).

3. Local products? They both sell pretty much the same stuff; if anything, there is more European/American/Australian stuff in Rimping than in Tops which is out of Hong Kong. Especially in the wine and cheese departments. Neither store really has that much in the way of local products. If you want local products, go to an open air local market. There are plenty.

4. I agree with you that Rimping's staff is better trained; but then, they're charging a lot more and probably some of that goes for training too. I also like the classical music in the background (but they need to buy more than one Mozart CD). The friendlier staff at Rimping and the atmosphere are likely the two main reasons their stores are far busier than Tops; it has nothing to do with cost.

5. Most Tops have a cashier in their bakery section that is not usually too busy. Try it; it's fast. They also have excellent breads (and again, sometimes they are on sale which I have never seen for that product at Rimping). But if you want really slow service when checking out, shop at Big C. Awful!

6. I'm not endorsing one store over another. I shop for most of my things at Makro which is significantly cheaper than either store and also cheaper than Big C (and much better organized). Makro has a good cheese/deli section and maybe the best produce in town at the best prices (including the local markets). After that, I go to Rimping for their breads and wines usually and also check out what is on sale at Tops. Try it. They do have some excellent sales and there are hundreds of items store wide. Yolinda yoghurt for 49 baht (large size) is by far the cheapest in town, B 6 cheaper than at Rimping which is a 12% saving. It pays to check out several stores and not be tied to one.

1)” I cited some examples above.”

This is mere cherry picking. What about good quality cold cuts? The stuff produced by local Germans is much less expensive that what’s on offer at Tops. And not just by a few measly baht. But by several hundred. Plenty of other examples I could cite, but statistically this kind of back and forth is not dispositive

1 “Rimping ‘’’gives you meaningless points towards things you don't want”

Among other things I apparently don't want which I got through Rimping points were Staub cast iron enamelware pots and Haenckels' knives. And I have my eye on the top-rated pressure cooker from Kuhn Rikon. Gee whiz! I thought I wanted them and I still think I do want them. Apparently not

2. "Number of people in stores has nothing to do with cost."

Absolutely nothing? 0 percent? Wow! I've seen lots of outlandish assertions onThaivisa.com. In fact sometimes I think Thaivisa.com should take as its slogan “The home of outlandish assertions”. But I've never ever seen one to approach this. Yes, of course, most farangs know and care very little about prices. That's why on thaivisa.com people display a shocking indifference to prices. Because they don't care. Of course, I'm talking about the thaivisa.com and farangs who exist in an alternate universe. On this one, farangs generally display an enthusiastic interest in finding bargains and an acute appreciation of prices. What’s more,8 years ago there were 3 Rimping supermarkets here. Before the influx of wealthy farangs and HiSo Thais . Doubt there were enough of them back then to sustain 3 stores. Or even now, for that matter.

3“Local products? They both sell pretty much the same stuff”

Absolutely not the case. For example, the new varieties of potatoes that were on offer at Lotus. Rimping has had a couple of new varieties on offer for months now. And always offering new things like locally grown ruby grapefruit. And a huge selection of locally grown herbs such as sage, tarragon, rosemary, etc. Even fresh bay leaves. And Charcuterie from Giraud and from the local Germans. Fresh dairy products from Dacheeo. Plus lots of locally produced Thai delicacies that Tops does not offer. And if there are local markets offering the produce I listed above,, can you please direct me to them? I go to lots of them and I haven’t seen any of this stuff at any of them.

The fact is that Rim Ping is a local company and they buy or offer lots of locally made products. Tops is an international company and in Thailand its purchasing is obviously very centralized.

4. “it [respective number of customers] has nothing to do cost”

Again with the dubious assertion about the effects of pricing on attracting customers. It’s you against microeconomics and common sense. There’s something almost heroic (or at least Quixote-esque (is this a word? If not it is now)) about your assertions.

Only thing I've found with their deals is they tend to be near (or perhaps beyond) sell-by date and don't taste great; yep, Rimping even. One of those Mcvities' lines had suspicious-looking stickers with what looked like reprinted dates and really tasted old.

Ever noticed how little is 'given away' or genuinely knocked down in this part of the world?

Rimping, in my opinion, has very, very few items on sale.

Tops, on the other hand, has some excellent sales and they rotate the items on sale. I bought some Yolanda yoghurt there yesterday for B 49 (B 6 cheaper than at Rimping), and also some milk (B 41 vs. B 44 at Rimping). If you use their Tops card, you save even more because they send you discount coupons and money back coupons every couple of months. Rimping is nice but very, very expensive.

My "go to" store is Makro: great selection, great prices.

I'm sure you can always find a few items cheaper at Tops, but overwhelmingly Rim Ping has better prices. I think the objective evidence for this is really clear: Tops does much less business in areas where its and Rim Ping's customer bases overlap.

In addition, Rim PIng offer a much better selection of locally produced stuff, which isn't difficult, since Tops offers almost nothing local. Also, when it comes to service, Rim Ping is great. Not only is the staff really helpful, but the checkout lines tend to go quickly, too. Despite the fact that it has so few customers, checkout at Tops is usually surprisingly slow. Tops seems reluctant to actually assign staff to the checkout lines on the rare occasions when it's busy.. And, for what it's worth, if you have a Rim Ping Card, you also accumulate points to exchange for items in Rim Ping's catalog. All in all, I think it's a far superior store in every important respect.

With all due respect I do know what I am talking about and I refer to the Bible as the Jewish Book of Fairy Tales.

Funny that

I guess that's the little entertainment present from the Jewish people, who concentrate on the Talmud (first 5 books of the Bible)

Think you had a slight slip of the tongue (hand?) here. It's the Torah that is the first 5 books of the Bible.

I miss Scharffen Berger chocolate nibs, Trader Joe's pound plus bars (dark chocolate 70% and dark chocolate almond) and Teuscher pralines and truffles, Sees CALIFORNIA BRITTLE and CASHEW BRITTLE (always load up on chocolate when I go home).

The last time I came back the customs agent checked my luggage as one of the random searches. He asked if I was selling chocolate in Bangkok. I said no this is my personal consumption for at least a year. He just laughed.

Like the other poster, I don't usually buy chocolate in Thailand due to different formulation for heat. Royce chocolate (from Japan is good $$$ at Paragon-used to have a neighbor who was a flight attendant who brought some back from Japan for me).

Don't see how the top grade chocolates would have a different formulation for hot climates. They would have to change the fat used from cocoa butter to something else. I read labels pretty compulsively and whether it's Lindt's or Freys or Callebaut or Carmona or etc., they only use cocoa butter for fat.

Cooking is an art like writing verse which also share poetic license so using what is available due to season, region or just what's in the fridge or one feels like adding is acceptable unless for instance it's in a restaurant and one's customers expect the same each time. True if cooking a dish one should not add different ingredients and still consider it the classical recipe but so much is up to opinion. So when having Italian food in Thailand there are many gourmets who would not consider it authentic just because of the source of the food stuffs.

gosh you are do deep talking about verse. I'm sure it must impress a lot of the monosyllabic readers however the more that you validate was is or what is not acceptable in a recipe will clearly eventually dilute the original intent of the chef

What Chef are you referring to Chef Bolognese or Chef Boyardee? Glad you impressed but I'm only trying to share some of the expertise of this Chef to contribute something to this topic

The only big or highfalutin' words I saw in this exchange were "monosyllabic" and "validate". 5 syllables in "monosyllabic". Impressive.

Scotland does not have a franchise on Burn night. It is going on in many parts of the world. A great way to celebrate. He died at age of 28 after publishing a complete book of great poems. Ode to the haggis is one of the best. Burns had lived a life of a 60 year old when he died. Sheffield was as close as I was working on that Feb. night. It was an enjoyable evening but I felt like hell the next day. It was the haggis that caused the hangover and I shall leave it off at my next Burns party menu. A shortage of sheep stomachs in Thailand is a problem. Maybe you could substitute a buffalo stomach and with enough single malt scotch you might not know the difference.

I agree the Robert Burns was a great poet. And it doesn't make him any less great that he died at the age of 37.

You got it right, I've been making Ragu or Bolognese for a long time and there's only one way to do it if you want to call it Ragu Bolognese not just meat sauce. (Ground veal or) ground pork or both and ground beef, no garlic and optional milk or minced pancetta, simmer at lowest setting allow only bubbles for 6 hours (or at least 3 hours) is THE ONLY WAY to cook Ragu Bolognese there are no other recipes. Otherwise it's just called a meat sauce. Marcella Hazan popularize a lot of Italians stuff to the world via her recipes including Balsamic vinegar and Bolognese with a dash of milk.

If there is such a thing as an official source for Italian food, it's the Accademia Italiana Cucina.. Here are the ingredients it lists for Bolognese sauce (slightly defective translation courtesy of google). You'll notice there's no mention of ground veal or ground pork anywhere in it. So apparently, neither of those 2 ingredients are considered essential.

300 g of lean beef (or folder fesone belly or shoulder or spindle) minced large,

150 g of pancetta,

50 g of yellow carrot,

50 g celery,

50 g onion,

300 g of pureed or peeled tomato,

½ cup dry white wine

½ cup whole milk,

a little broth,

olive oil or butter, salt, pepper, ½ cup of whipping cream (whipped cream?)

For the complete recipe, here is the link

http://www.accademiaitalianacucina.it/ricetta.php?id=2097