Pork pies and ham were features of the presentations at the October 11 meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club. There were two guest speakers: Eileen Denning with Yorkies Pork Platter, famous for their pork pies, and Bob Smith with Pattaya Players (aren’t actors also sometimes called “hams”).
Eileen Denning related how she and her husband Norman established Yorkies, their butcher shop and restaurant on Jomtien Beach Road, in 1999. Both Eileen and Norman had been in the butchery business in the UK before coming to Thailand. Norman was a general master butcher with his own business in the UK and Eileen shared her butchery business with her previous husband, also in the UK.
Eileen Denning explains how Yorkies got its start 15 years ago in Pattaya.
Norman retired to Thailand in 1997, and in 1998 Eileen and her husband separated. Having stayed friends, Norman returned to the UK for a short period and helped Eileen wind down her business. A relationship grew and they decided to move to Thailand and set up their business together. From there Yorkies was born; starting with retail butchery and restaurant on Beach Road in Jomtien.
In 2011, they moved Yorkies to its present location on Soi Chaiyapruek, where they also managed to get a factory three doors down. Unfortunately, Norman passed away just days before they were to move into the factory. So Eileen decided to close the restaurant and focus on the retail business.
MC Roy Albiston presents Eileen Denning with the PCEC’s Certificate of Appreciation for her presentation about Yorkies Pork Platter.
Today, Eileen has a staff of 20, and Yorkies products are sold in supermarkets, restaurants and resorts in various locations around Thailand. In Pattaya, their products can be found in Tops, Villa, Friendship, and Big C Central. In Bangkok, they have recently added an outlet in the Emporium. Eileen recalled that the first delivery they made to Bangkok was Norman and her carrying 4,800 pies in two suitcases on the bus and the BTS. Now they have two vans.
Eileen said Yorkies carries a dozen varieties of pies and pastries, and a range of meats such as hams, sausage, and even hamburger patties. She said the pork pie is their best seller. All the recipes have been in the family for years, and all are closely guarded secrets. “We use only top-quality fresh ingredients,” said Eileen. “People expect the best from us, that’s what we give them,” she said.
PCEC Member Ren Lexander interviews Eileen Denning about her presentation. The video can be watched on YouTube at https://www.youtube .com/watch?v=HFepiAE3BKU.
Last year, Yorkies earned a second place award in an expat business competition in Bangkok, second only to an American ice cream shop.
Eileen said that because the business has been so successful, she and her staff wanted to give something back to the community. So they decided to rebuild Yasathon School, where the roof was literally falling in. They held numerous charity events, and Eileen produced a cookbook with recipes from around the world that various people donated to raise funds for the school project. As a treat, Eileen had brought some samples for PCEC members and guests to enjoy.
Eileen and Bob entertain their PCEC audience with a comedy skit.
Eileen has also been a staunch supporter of Pattaya Players, and has been involved in many of the activities associated with the group – acting, singing, public relations, sponsorship, props, costumes, set building – you name it and Eileen has ‘been there, done that, and got the T-shirt to prove it!
Club member Lawrie McLoughlin also assisted in handing out the samples. These Pork Pies were delicious.
So, after Eileen’s ‘Yorkie’ presentation, fellow Pattaya Players member Bob Smith treated the audience to a short comedy skit. Chris Harman also talked about the upcoming Pattaya Players pantomime performance. He explained that in the UK, pantomime is a traditional Christmas children’s show that primarily deals with fairy tales and involves audience participation. These days, the show is also geared toward adults, with lots of innuendos which hopefully go over the children’s head. This year’s show is Jack and the Beanstalk, and will include players dressed like animals. The performance will be held in several places, including a December 6 performance at the Tavern by the Sea. For more information and a full schedule, visit the Pattaya Players website.
Eileen brought some samples for the audience to enjoy. Here Bob Smith hands out a sample of Yorkies Scotch Eggs.
After the presentation, MC Roy Albiston brought everyone up to date on upcoming events and called on Judith Edmonds to conduct the Open Forum, where questions are asked and answered about Expat living in Thailand, especially Pattaya.
For more information on the PCEC’s many activities, visit their website at www.pcecclub.org.
