Fresh from the farm
Local restaurants mark Her Majesty the Queen's birthday with a food fest that showcases the ingredients from her model farm project
The Support Foundation along with several well known restaurants, among them the S & P chain, Lee Cafe, Patara, Red Sun, Harvey, Triplets Brasserie, Siew Long Pao, Baan Mae Yui-Mae and the Inn Chan Restaurant at Sampran Riverside Hotel, are marking Her Majesty the Queen’s 80th birthday anniversary with a special food festival on the theme “Make a Dish…Make a Wish”.
The culinary spectacular, which kicked off early this month and continues until Wednesday at more than 100 eateries nationwide, features the very freshest of ingredients from the Model Farm Project, which was initiated at the instructions of Her Majesty during a visit to Chiang Mai’s Chom Thong district in 1987.
The project has expanded over the years and today there are 90 such farms in many parts of the country.
Each farm has its own story but all were born out of the kindness of Her Majesty the Queen to give villagers a better life and generate sustainable food supplies.
The model farm in Ang Thong’s Sawaengha district, the 46th, farm, covers 720 rai and was set up in 2007 to serve as a food bank for the local communities.
However, not all the model farms turn a profit, causing concern for their managers and workers. Her Majesty has been quick to offer comfort, her message stating that the model farms themselves may not make money but they are profiting the country as a whole.
In 1999, the Chinese government donated two pairs of Jinhua pigs followed a year later by Yiliang ducks, the only time it has permitted these specific varieties of breeding stock to be propagated overseas.
At the recent press conference for the food festival held at Ladawan Palace, the headquarters of the Crown Property Bureau. S & P’s president, Patra Sila-on, expressed thanks to the project on behalf of the participating restaurants.
“This exciting project was conceived with our deepest gratitude for Their Majesties’ endless dedication to improving the quality of their subjects. Together we have initiated the ‘Make a Dish…Make a wish’ festival featuring special dishes made from fresh ingredients from the Model Farm Project.
Among the dishes on offer as part of the festival stir-fried Jinhua pork with garlic, spicy roast duck, smoked duck salad, “baked rice with shrimp curry and sweet pepper, spicy smoked trout in chilli paste, in addition to a wide variety of international dishes.
Food photo contests are also being organised with the winners being invited to tour the model farms.
Find out more at Facebook/makeadishmakeawish.
