Chips, French Fries, Fried Potatoes, etc.

[Big Boy]

I've often expressed my disgust with Thai chefs who can spend hours carving vegetables, fruit etc., but when it comes to chips or French fries, their culinary skill is so often limited to opening a frozen pack from Makro.

Making a chip isn't hard, even I can do it. Why do top chefs not have the ability to peel and slice a potato? Is it laziness, or are they just incapable.

When ordering food here in Thailand, fortunately many menus have photographs, and the chef's potato preparation skills can be determined before any order is made. If a chip looks as if it may be frozen, I'll find something else on the menu. Don't get me wrong, some frozen chips may be an acceptable substitute, but many a good meal is ruined in Thailand because chefs are just too lazy to peel a spud.

Why am I ranting about this now? Well, I've just come back from a meal where I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I saw Potato Wedges on the menu, and chose them. OK, some people can't stomach the potato skin, but this was the best sliced potato offering that I've ever had in Hua Hin. Best bit, it a a big portion for only 60฿. They were Gert Lush. Of all places to find this offering from heaven, it was Ga Hanoi.

Prior to that, I'd always considered the best offering of fried potato in Hua Hin to be served with breakfast at Pat's Place, and Meow at T&M's Café does a very good real chip, although you have to request it.

What other recommendations do you guys have for a decent portion of real potato, served as a chip, wedges or just fried potato. I've been at a few decent restaurants in Thailand, where a really good meal has been accompanied by frozen chips - even the half decent versions degrade the meal.

[STEVE G]

I must admit, my partner does all the cooking and food shopping at my place in Thailand so it's Thai food only.
Are suitable potatoes readily available?

[Lost]

Are suitable potatoes readily available?

Suitable potatoes? Suitable POTATOES!? For chips!

And I thought BB was a fussy eater.

[STEVE G]

^I don't cook except to stave off starvation but I believe you need certain potatoes to make chips.

[PeteC]

My experience is that the Thai grown potato is a smallish, thin skinned, rather sweet thing only good for making mashed. In years gone by, long before Hua Hin had a Makro, they used to import potatoes from the US and Europe, and the shopper had a selection of about half a dozen varieties. Perhaps they or someone is importing again giving restaurants a better choice?

[Lost]

^I don't cook except to stave off starvation but I believe you need certain potatoes to make chips.

I go off on a little Internet tangent with stuff I'm curious about. Here's a nice little clip of ye olde potato being raised in Thailand (or man farang 'foreign yam' as they call it in those there parts). It's not a very interesting clip but it's here now.

[STEVE G]

^ I've got to admit that the only chips I've ever cooked started life like this:

[Lost]

^ I've got to admit that the only chips I've ever cooked started life like this:

Have you ever risked doing yourself a jacket potato? To be fair, you do need the right spuds for those.

[Lost]

BB's gonna be fuming when he sees this, he just wanted to know where to get some decent chips.

[Dannie Boy]

Most of the potatoes available in Thailand have a high water content making them not good for chips or roast potatoes - previously I’ve seen imported potatoes at Village Market, but at very high prices.

One of BB’s hates, is why they don’t serve chips made with fresh potatoes in Thailand - obviously it’s not beyond the skill of the chef or that they’re specifically lazy, but opening a freezer and pouring a handful of frozen chips into hot oil is a very convenient option, especially where many restaurants don’t get a call for lots of chips.

[HarryVardon]

There are still some restaurants in Hua Hin using fresh potatoes. Gary at Sabai-Sabai offers the choice between fresh or frozen chips. The Little Mermaid and the Swiss Butcher serve very good fried potatoes as do Morning Breakfast (although their chips are frozen). All German restaurants serve good fried potatoes as this is a national dish of Germany.

[Big Boy]

^ I've got to admit that the only chips I've ever cooked started life like this:

Bloody Hell Steve, I didn't realise you were a qualified Thai chef as well

[buksida]

Could be a cost issue, everyone is trying to skimp and save money with food price inflation still rampant. Is it cheaper to buy frozen than decent spuds?

[Big Boy]

Interesting comments about the Thai potato, and it's suitability for making chips (or roasters) I agree about the high water content, but with a little practice, you can make a decent chip (or roast potato) here. If a chef has the ability to learn how to cook a variety of culinary masterpieces, surely the mastering of a Thai spud should be beyond his capabilities.

My son's ex was a fantastic cook. I agree, it wasn't just peel, cut and fry, but she used to be able to make a pretty good job of chips. My gripe is if these Thai chefs can spend an eternity decorating their plates with carved fruits, flowers, etc., why cant they learn how to cook a decent chip or roast potato. OK, he's a good chef, but Gary at Sabai Sabai makes a good roaster - I've never tried his real chips.

I agree, chips don't go well with Thai food, but if a chef is going to cook you a decent steak, or make a bit of batter to coat fish, why not spend an extra 30 seconds to peel a spud?

German Restaurants - good point. I rarely frequent German Restaurants here in Hua Hin, but looking back at my Pattaya days, that was nearest thing you could get to real food - I tried a few. They did used to do a pretty good job considering the unsuitability of the Thai potato.

[Big Boy]

Could be a cost issue, everyone is trying to skimp and save money with food price inflation still rampant. Is it cheaper to buy frozen than decent spuds?

I don't think so. If you're going to buy frozen, you need to buy a freezer as well, plus the constant electricity. I don't think its anything less than laziness.