I had fish and chips at The Original Fish and Chips Restaurant for the first time yesterday and I must say I am an instant fan of both the food and the hospitality!
The fish (I ordered Cod) and chips were the best I've had in Thailand. The place is right beside the railroad tracks near the old bus station. To my surprise, even thought it looks like a small almost temporary building, it had air conditioning and a toilet. The owner, Richard, a long time English ex-pat and Hua Hin resident, is a real character and I really enjoyed listening to the stories of the many adventures of his life. The place is owned by his Thai wife and run (at least when we were there) by his charming sister in law who herself is well traveled (years in Germany and Japan and speaks those languages as well as English and Thai). She even bought us a beer as did Richard when he arrived after we were finished with our meal.
It will be my first stop whenever I have a hankering for fish and chips anytime in the future.
hhfarang wrote: She even bought us a beer as did Richard when he arrived after we were finished with our meal.
I'll never understand the logic here. 10 free beers per day to new customers = 300 Baht per day, = 9,000 Baht per month, = over 100,000 Baht per year.
I would spend less than 25% and a web site and still have plenty left over for fliers. etc etc.
Another one that I can't quite figure is the Cod lust. In the North Atlantic countries it was around 8 pounds per kilo when I was there. Tropical Sea Bass was more like 12 pounds per kilo. Sea Bass was always in short supply so not over priced. Here, Sea Bass is 1.20 pounds per kilo and Cod is a similar price to what it is in Northern Europe.
Still, people here want Cod. IMO it is like coming here and importing Sainsbury's own brand Danish Lager at 300 Baht per bottle.
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Surely, because of its European price, Bass is more of a treat there, so you don't eat it so often.
In Thailand, Bass is cheap enough to eat it every day if you wish. However, Cod at it's inflated Asian price becomes both a treat and offers a taste of nostalgia.
I didn't see Sea Bass on the menu although they did have local snapper. I just chose Cod because I was under the impression that it was the usual fish used in the classic meal and I wanted to compare it to other places I've eaten it. When I go back I will probably try one of the other choices they offer.
Good F&C and good mushies and curry sauce. Batter could be better though (needs some strong ale in the mix I think)
Richard is a real character that I've known since we met when he first came here and spins some great tales. I prefer his fiction to his non fiction though. He used to be a salesman!!
YORKS reunion there soon (mid October) when Maggie and Billy come back
More about that nearer the time
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
Big Boy wrote:
In Thailand, Bass is cheap enough to eat it every day if you wish. However, Cod at it's inflated Asian price becomes both a treat and offers a taste of nostalgia.
I reckon that's it.
I don't know anything about fish except I like eating it. I am generally confused about the sea bass, snapper, pla ka pong relationship. I have seen pla ka pong deang named red snapper in Thai restaurants but also have seen pla kapong gow as sea bass. Snappers and Sea Bass are surely different families of fish.
Have we got a sea fish expert, Terry?
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I'm not an expert on the saline varieties unfortunately, but I totally agree with you re the internet & the Cod lust comments - never really understood the 'thing' about Cod.
In our restaurant we use Red Snapper and Cotton Fish (Pla Samlee) - when we can get it.
Another thing that weighed into my decision on Cod was that the lady doing the cooking told me that Cod or Halibut would take about 15 minutes, the other fish on the menu would take at least twice as long to prepare. Didn't say why, but I suspect that because they are more popular, the Cod and Halibut were thawed and the others maybe were frozen???
Anyway, turned out that it wouldn't have mattered because I ended up hanging around for three hours drinking beers.
Sod the economics Guess! If its free beers thats OK by me. As for the 'Cod' thing - well as a Yorkie it really should be haddock. But beggars can't be choosers, when in Rome and all that. Cod Is Good for the traditional fish 'n chip dinner.
As Richard says, we will be there. Any pickled onions?
Terry wrote:Red Snapper and Cotton Fish (Pla Samlee) - when we can get it.
My two favorites. I had never knowing had Cotton Fish before going to Hua Hin. I would order that in preference to Red Snapper or Pla Kapong (Sea Bass).
margaretcarnes wrote:.......If its free beers thats OK by me.......
Well, if it works for you nthan I won't knock it.
margaretcarnes wrote:
As for the 'Cod' thing - well as a Yorkie it really should be haddock.
I have never heard that before but it explains something to me. My grandfather who died before I was born had spent some time in the army in Yorkshire. My dad would only eat Haddock. I was told that the spell in Yorkshire was the reason why we got Yorkshire puds every Sunday but I did not realized there was a Haddock connection before.
I think the reason why Cod takes less time to prepare than Snapper is that with Snapper you have to gut it and trim it first, with Cod you just have to take of the polythene wrapping.
Why is there no cynical emoticon?
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'I think the reason why Cod takes less time to prepare than Snapper is that with Snapper you have to gut it and trim it first, with Cod you just have to take of the polythene wrapping.'
To all u fish eaters out there u need to visit The Land Down Under to get the best quality fish either Dhu Fish or Red Emperor leaves everything else for dead.
Yes and have tried most fish species in Hua Hin.Sorry Aussie fish the BEST by Far
I don't doubt you have some great fish there, what with all that water of different temperatures surrounding you.
I love fish of all kinds and prepared all ways but I do wish the Thais would de-bone them first.... nearly choked on a fishbone, (seriously, had to go to the clinic to get it removed from my throat) on my first visit to Hua Hin.
Two of my favorite pla dishes here are actually of the fresh water variety.... Yam Pladuk foo and Larb Pladuk... ummmmm!
