Food stalls, the icons of Thailand
Street vendors, such as food vendors, are one of the most common characteristics in the streets of Thailand. You see them on the street corners, along the side of the road or on the coast.
Food stalls are the main source for Thai people to buy food, it is convenient and economical. The range of food is wide and very varied. Whether it is offered from a moped with a sidecar or at a fixed location, it is never difficult to find a food stall.
One of them is Sijitra, a 28-year-old woman from Khon Kaen, a town in northeastern Thailand. When she was still a young girl, she came to this market with her family. The traditional Thai sweets she makes have been maintained by her family for generations. Her desserts are delicious.
What time does she start work? Sijitra usually starts at 8 AM. The first thing she and her family do is prepare the sweet (Khanom Tan dought) and divide the Khanom Tuay into small porcelain bowls. Once that's done, it's time to go to the market.
Usually she is ready at 16.00 pm, but sometimes on good days she is sold out and can go home earlier.
“I like this job because I am my own boss and earn about 1000 Bath per day. The costs for the ingredients are low and therefore the yield is high. We pay 300 Bath per month to the local government.” So far Sijitra in the vicinity of the fish market at Naklua.
My girlfriend hardly ever cooks. She says it is cheaper to buy food on the street. Sometimes to eat there, sometimes take away.
I'm always afraid of diarrhea with that street food and I'm actually a bit tired of it. Nothing creative about it. Always of the same.
I have now enrolled her in a cookery course in lecordonbleudusit.
I have been able to enjoy the food stalls for 3 years. and Patrick you shouldn't always eat from the same food stall. I have eaten many different soups that were basically the same but differed depending on the stall. The diversity in Thai food is enormous, you won't find that anywhere in the world! And never had more diarrhea than in Belgium.
1000 THB per day makes about 25.000 THB per month.
That's a pretty high income.
So I think it means 'turnover' and not 'profit'.
A lot of work is done with flavor enhancers, and there is always sugar! So I cook more and more myself. More than enough vegetables and herbs can be found on the market and in street stalls. White rice is way too high in calories, so I cook mixed or brown rice. Some stewed beef, roast kai or pork: healthier, tastier, more varied.