Al Tara Halal and Vegetarian Restaurant
at the Chaophya Park Hotel is due to open this month.
Andrew Wood
Islam is the fastest growing religion with an
estimated global Muslim population of two billion. In many European
countries, Muslims are poised to become the most significant minority
population. And that population isn’t the same as it was 20 or 30 years
ago.
Today, Muslims are as cosmopolitan as anyone else and
travelling in greater numbers (particularly in Asia). These travellers
expect certain services to be available where they go and wise
businesses that want to tap into the market had better take notice.
One area is Halal food. The growing culinary trend is
in direct proportion to the growing population and mobilisation of the
group. Adding menu items and even entire outlets dedicated to this
unique style of food can go a long way in helping you capture some of
those travellers.
What is Halal food?
Halal food simply means food permissible to be
consumed by Muslims. It is not difficult to find or prepare (vegans and
vegetarians have stricter rules on food consumption). Alcohol and pork
(or anything derived from it) are not permissible. Meats must come from
animals slaughtered according to Islamic regulation and ingredients
derived from slaughtered animals must come from Halal sources. A large
variety of fish and seafood are permissible.
The following products are common in Halal menus:
milk (from cows, sheep, camels, and goats), honey, fish, plants (non
intoxicant), fresh or naturally frozen vegetables, fresh or dried
fruits, nuts such as peanuts, cashew nuts, hazel nuts, walnuts, etc.,
grains such as wheat, rice, rye, barley, oat, etc. The meat from cows,
sheep, goats, deer, moose, chickens, ducks, game, birds, etc., can also
be Halal, but they must be Zabihah (slaughtered according to Islamic
Rites) in order to be suitable for consumption.
Chef Manit Laemit of Bangkok’s newest and possibly
only fine dining Halal venue in Bangkok, at the brand new Al Tara Halal
& Vegetarian Restaurant of the Chaophya Park Hotel, stated that, “There
are many things to keep in mind regarding Halal food, even when you wash
the meat and ingredients. We have to let water pour through it three to
seven times. Fish is easy as it has little blood but for things like
beef, which is bloody, it can take some time. For food to be Halal, the
person who handles food and its preparation must be Muslim. A Muslim
will only trust a Halal food restaurant that is controlled by a Muslim
chef.”
Chef Manit went on to add, “I think that when a hotel
has Halal food, it’s a good way to attract guests. Especially Muslim
guests. Sometimes they will choose a hotel because it offers Halal food
for them.”
Al Tara Halal and Vegetarian Restaurant will open in
April 2010 and will provide a delicious array of pan Asian cuisine
including Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai, Indian and Middle Eastern. All
food items are prepared to strict Halal standards and at-home or outside
catering menus are available on request.
The newly-elected THA-E management board for 2010-2012 (Left to right):
Chatchawal Supachayanont, second vice-president; Bundarik Kusolvit, THA-E
president and Thanet Supornsaharungsi, first vice president.
After successfully completing two consecutive terms as
THA-E president, Chatchawal Supachayanont recently relinquished his position
but was later elected as one of the two vice-presidents to serve the
2010-2012 tenure of the new THA-E management board.
The eastern chapter of one of the key tourism
associations in Thailand held its annual general meeting and voted for its
new chairman as well as new board members during elections participated in
by 62 member hotels held on March 24 at the Napalai Convention Hall of Dusit
Thani Pattaya.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome (left) and Niti Kongkrut (right)
read out the votes.
Contenders for the presidency came from two parties, led
by Supachayanont who is also the general manager of Dusit Thani Pattaya and
Panga Vathanakul, managing director of Royal Cliff Beach Resort Hotel.
Initial counting of the ballots indicated a neck and neck
competition but the final results declared former THA-E vice president
Bundarik Kusolvit as the newly-elected THA-E president defeating Somchai
Rattanaopat, general manager of A-One Royal Cruise Hotel by a margin of 33
votes to 29.
Ms. Kusolvit, managing director of City Hotels Sriracha
represented Supachayanont’s party while Rattanaopat was under the wing of
Mrs. Vathanakul.
In her victory speech, the new THA-E leader took the
opportunity to outline the programs and projects for the next two years
including campaigns to reinvigorate the tourism industry in the eastern
region. She expressed optimism that with the support coming from everyone,
especially from her two vice presidents-elect, Thanet Supornsaharungsi and
Supachayanont, the association will be able to realize its plans and
objectives.
THA-E holds elections once every two years for new
management board members and the chairmanship term can be extended for
another two years after which fresh voting will be held. The event was also
attended by Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, who acted as the chairman of
the election committee, Niti Kongkrut, director of TAT Pattaya Office,
Sampan Panpat, THA advisor and Pratheep Malhotra, managing director of
Pattaya Mail Publishing Company Limited.
