Gourmet Produce From Thailand in Hua Hin

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Gourmet Produce From Thailand in Hua Hin

Hua Hin:-- ‘Golden Place’ Hua Hin is a City-based Royal Project offering for sale an extensive range of produce screened for quality, environmental friendliness and chemically free. If you are looking for the best of what Thailand produce can offer, this is ‘The Place’ to visit.

As you travel into the Hua Hin City area from the North just past the Royal Palace, you will see a building with a billboard featuring a large picture of his Majesty the King of Thailand, the Royal Insignia and the name GOLDEN PLACE.

The reason the King features so prominently on this building is that Golden Place is a Royal Project initiated by the King some 13 years ago. The purpose of this Project is to showcase Thai produce in a retail outlet resembling a modern supermarket.

Apart from Bangkok, Hua Hin Golden Place is the only such outlet in Thailand. As with all Royal Projects, the initiation and establishment of the enterprise comes directly from the Royal family. Throughout his reign, His Majesty the King has initiated more than 3,000 Royal Projects, aimed at raising the standards of rural life and helping farmers to be self-reliant.

Golden Place Hua Hin displays an amazing range of produce. Primarily produce of the edible variety, both fresh and packaged but also many personal care items are available. The focus of the produce is quality; tested to be chemical free and assessed for being produced in an environmentally and sustainable manner. Many items are unusual to the Western eye and are typically sourced from rural Royal Projects where the production of ‘boutique’ produce has been developed.

One example is the humble rice crop. However here you will find something like 50 varieties on offer, some vacuum packed with names such as Red Jasmine Germinated Brown Rice, Brown Hom Male Rice, 4 Grain Germinated Brown Rice and many others with only Thai script names. One section proudly displayed ‘Luem Phua Rice’. Translated this name means ‘Forget Your Husband Rice’. No-one could explain the origin or intention of this name but we couldn’t find another version called ‘Forget Your Wife’!

Mushrooms were another example of the varieties available; from the very small and delicate types through to more common shapes and sizes.

Fresh produce includes items not usually associated with ‘grown in Thailand’ such as apples, melons and various green leaf vegetables. You will also find some intriguing and, to the Western eyes, strange offerings. What about packaged ‘Roasted Fish’ (“healthy, with high calcium”), Chicken Pepper Puff, Dried Lady Finger Banana or Homemade Fish Puff? There is also a huge range of tea and other drinking options. Drinks infused with saffron, jasmine, pandan or senna as well as more mysterious herbal offerings.

Many of the items are packaged in way which invites purchase as a small and very unusual gift. When you are stumped for a gift with a twist for the next birthday party for someone who appreciates a gourmet experience, this could provide the answer.

During our visit to Golden Place, it was apparent that the patronage is largely well informed Thai people with only a smattering of other nationalities. There is no advertising or way of accidentally discovering this gourmet’s paradise. Many have been driving by for years without knowing what lies beyond the façade of the building.

If your knowledge of Thai language script is absent, there will be some items which will test your imagination. However knowing that you will not be exposed to health risks which may be an issue at less quality controlled or regulated street markets should give your confidence a boost.

If you are interested in discovering new flavours or just want to be reassured about the issues of health, food safety or want to see more of what produce Thailand can provide, this is the place! You’ll also be supporting small producers and Thai sustainable industries.

Our host Khun Mingkhvan Seedat, has been the Manager of Golden Place since the beginning. He is obviously passionate about this Project and takes a personal interest in what is on offer. We hope his wife isn’t too interested in ‘Forget Your Husband Rice’!

-- Hua Hin Today 2014-03-03