Reviving Thailand: Street Food

[webfact]

video screenshot

 

In March of 2020, the Thai Government declared a state of emergency. Soon afterwards borders were closed to foreign arrivals due to the stringent measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

 

The number of foreign tourists dropped dramatically from nearly 40 million to 6,700. 

 

The tourism industry generated three trillion baht for the country which equals 20% of the country’s GDP. Two-thirds of that tourism revenue came from foreign visitors, but that was before the emergence of the coronavirus.

 

So far more than four million people have been forced out of work and millions more who work indirectly in the tourism industry have also been affected, especially street food.

 

 

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/reviving-thailand-street-food/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-12-13

 

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[DonniePeverley]

Even before the pandemic, the new regime in Bangkok was already stupidly cracking down on street food, for some misguided belief that trying to be like Singapore was the way forward. Despite millions of tourists flocking to Thailand for it's famous and colourfull street food, providing jobs for millions of people. But nope, these men in suits in Bangkok wanted more Burger Kings and KFC's and a sanitized city that people were started to get bored with. 

 

Shame on them. 

[RichardColeman]

37 minutes ago, webfact said:

So far more than four million people have been forced out of work and millions more who work indirectly in the tourism industry have also been affected, especially street food.

so potentially 6 million job losses, and some people on here keep saying keep the country closed ! The devastation of the disease is far worse than the disease itself to this 6 million destitute souls

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

So far more than four million people have been forced out of work and millions more who work indirectly in the tourism industry have also been affected, especially street food.

I thought the unemployment figure was only 2.7 million?

The trouble with lying is you need a good memory.

[Tropicalevo]

5 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

these men in suits in Bangkok

It's worse than that.

It is 'these generals in uniform' and they are going to be around for a very long time. ????

[mikebell]

Marinating meat in carbon monoxide for hours in 30+ temperatures surrounded by wild dogs licking the fingers of the chef does not sound like a healthy option.  Where does he go to relieve himself and/or wash his hands? The smoke from the broiling fat/coals merely adds to the flavour and the PM2.5 haze.

[steven100]

2 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Marinating meat in carbon monoxide for hours in 30+ temperatures surrounded by wild dogs licking the fingers of the chef does not sound like a healthy option.  Where does he go to relieve himself and/or wash his hands? The smoke from the broiling fat/coals merely adds to the flavour and the PM2.5 haze.

you forgot about the 300 flies that landed for an inspection

[jacko45k]

It all seems very sad until one gets stuck behind someone pushing their cart down the middle of the Main Rd, or that damned sam-lor doing 5kph.... or one is forced out onto the Rd by a street cart to be mowed down by a brat in a Ferrarai in the gutter!

[law ling]

The tourists and locals can keep their street food, I'm more with the "men in suits" on this one:

 

- food bathed in traffic fumes,

- no refrigeration but for some chunks of ice,

-  where do the vendors toilet and ablute,

- stuff fried in oil as black and as thick as tar,

- plates and utensils just rinsed off between uses.

 

(Yes, I know that restaurants may not be much better.)

 

Good luck to those who can make a living from it ... but not for me.

[actonion]

While you're reviving  it please make sure some basic hygiene rules are taught, especially the washing of hands after the Vendor has used the Toilet,  or have changed the Nappy of the baby in tow..   like it witnessed yesterday,  without hand washing   

[Pouatchee]

7 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Even before the pandemic, the new regime in Bangkok was already stupidly cracking down on street food,

Give the sidewalks back to the pedestrians. I ain't pro PM but one thing I despised was having to walk in the streets because of the hawkers, especially in rain season. Your post tries to make street food sound romantic. It is actually quite disgusting. I rather go to a cleaner Thai restaurant ... 

[khunPer]

I cannot see how the street food stalls targeting tourists will recover from the plan that replaces the old kind of budget tourism in high numbers with a limited number of wealthy quality tourists - of course apart from the single Michelin-star street food stall...????

[billd766]

4 hours ago, mikebell said:

Marinating meat in carbon monoxide for hours in 30+ temperatures surrounded by wild dogs licking the fingers of the chef does not sound like a healthy option.  Where does he go to relieve himself and/or wash his hands? The smoke from the broiling fat/coals merely adds to the flavour and the PM2.5 haze.

One of the nicest things about street food in Thailand is not only the vast amount of choices, but nobody forces you to eat any of it.

 

If you want to eat regulated portions of food in very sanitary places you can do that too, There are many fast food places in BKK to do so as well, and it will look and taste the same as any fast food chains world.

 

Part of the enjoyment of Thailand is/was street food. In their ways of "improving" Thailand's future, this government is trying to become more like Singapore and less like Thailand.

[Pouatchee]

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

Part of the enjoyment of Thailand is/was street food.

Spoken like a real low budget tourist. I rather pay more and get the same menu in a place that actually washes its dishes with clean water rather than the swill street hawkers use. But then again, maybe you have an acquired taste for boogers... I hear from other cheap charlie tourists that it is a great supplement to salt. ????

Edited December 13, 2021 by Pouatchee

[Hawaiian]

One food vendor that I patronized on a regular basis sterilized all utensils with boiling water.  He and his wife seemed very concerned about proper sanitation.  Flies were not a problem since he was only open after sundown. 

[jacko45k]

3 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

One food vendor that I patronized on a regular basis sterilized all utensils with boiling water.  He and his wife seemed very concerned about proper sanitation.  Flies were not a problem since he was only open after sundown. 

When the roaches are out.....

[billd766]

21 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

Spoken like a real low budget tourist. I rather pay more and get the same menu in a place that actually washes its dishes with clean water rather than the swill street hawkers use. But then again, maybe you have an acquired taste for boogers... I hear from other cheap charlie tourists that it is a great supplement to salt. ????

Thank you for assuming that I am a cheap charlie tourist and for making the normal mistake of assuming that you know me.

 

To correct your stupid assumption I have been living in Thailand full time since 2004 and I am married with one child. I started working here in Thailand back in 1993 and I haven't missed a year since then.

 

If you want to throw your money around then by all means do so, but without the holier than thou attitude as it shows that you are sadly biased against Thais trying to make a living.

 

If you quit the insults, and wound your neck back in. you might even post some sense.

[Meat Pie 47]

23 hours ago, billd766 said:

One of the nicest things about street food in Thailand is not only the vast amount of choices, but nobody forces you to eat any of it.

 

If you want to eat regulated portions of food in very sanitary places you can do that too, There are many fast food places in BKK to do so as well, and it will look and taste the same as any fast food chains world.

 

Part of the enjoyment of Thailand is/was street food. In their ways of "improving" Thailand's future, this government is trying to become more like Singapore and less like Thailand.

And what is wrong with Singapore?

[billd766]

25 minutes ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

And what is wrong with Singapore?

I was based there from 1968 until 1971 and it was a great fun place. The last time I was there in 1994 it was changing towards up market.

 

I used to eat at a Chinese place on Albert street on my first trip and in the 1990s the same place was there but in Albert Plaza. The food was still good and the toilet was no longer a hole in the floor. Bugis street had vanished along with the worst toilet I had ever seen. There were no pirate or pick up taxis anymore and you had to go to a taxi stand to flag down a taxi.

 

You could buy almost anything in Change Alley. Gone for ever.

 

Having said that, Singapore was a good place (a bit expensive though) for a holiday.

[Don Chance]

There a lot of sad faces with some sad looking carts these days.  I am very cautious not eat anything suspicious.  Desperate people do desperate things, means substandard food and practices.

[Screaming]

Street food is very unhealthy and unsanitary. There is no reason to support this industry.

[billd766]

17 hours ago, Screaming said:

Street food is very unhealthy and unsanitary. There is no reason to support this industry.

Strange how millions of Thais and hundreds of farangs eat street food daily and enjoy.

 

You don't have to eat it but many others do and enjoy it.

 

One good reason to support it is because thousands of Thais make a living from it and if it is banned then they will have no job and no income, however I doubt that you care about that.

[djayz]

On 12/13/2021 at 8:48 AM, mikebell said:

Marinating meat in carbon monoxide for hours in 30+ temperatures surrounded by wild dogs licking the fingers of the chef does not sound like a healthy option.  Where does he go to relieve himself and/or wash his hands? The smoke from the broiling fat/coals merely adds to the flavour and the PM2.5 haze.

You forgot the nose picking. 

[The Hammer2021]

In Bangkok The rotten BMA and junta destroyed Thai Street food, street life and culture..Sadly this cultural vandalism was supported by some mainly white foreigners...Suk 3 to 19 used to be great till the grubby, mindless unelected administrators closed it down. A punishment of poor people for not supporting the military..One reason I left Bangkok and moved to Pattaya..

Edited December 15, 2021 by The Hammer2021

[The Hammer2021]

On 12/14/2021 at 12:37 PM, Meat Pie 47 said:

And what is wrong with Singapore?

Signapore is Anodyne, plastic, neurotically controlled and totally lacking in authentic energy. A safe space for the fearful, timid and unadventourous.. Anal retentive drug laws, a dictatorship in all but name with the dullest citizens in the world living a cultural desert..

[tjintx]

On 12/14/2021 at 7:05 PM, Screaming said:

Street food is very unhealthy and unsanitary. There is no reason to support this industry.

True story.   I eat and enjoy street food everywhere and am quite careful as to picking vendors who are healthy and sanitary.   My work colleagues were always aghast that I would seek out and enjoy street food in India...until over two or so years, every single one of them got food poisoning eating at the restaurants in the most famous, posh and expensive Mumbai hotel. 

[tjintx]

48 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Signapore is Anodyne, plastic, neurotically controlled and totally lacking in authentic energy. A safe space for the fearful, timid and unadventourous.. Anal retentive drug laws, a dictatorship in all but name with the dullest citizens in the world living a cultural desert..

Yeah, but do you like it?  ????

[Lite Beer]

More Street Food.

Good news for the sugar and palm oil companies. 

[The Hammer2021]

1 hour ago, tjintx said:

True story.   I eat and enjoy street food everywhere and am quite careful as to picking vendors who are healthy and sanitary.   My work colleagues were always aghast that I would seek out and enjoy street food in India...until over two or so years, every single one of them got food poisoning eating at the restaurants in the most famous, posh and expensive Mumbai hotel. 

Posh restaurants and hotels have hidden kitchens and are not subject to public gaze

[MrJ2U]

On 12/13/2021 at 2:57 AM, DonniePeverley said:

Burger Kings and KFC's

Probably better than street food.

 

But I get your drift.