Lamphun: A 27-year-old entrepreneur whose roast hogs and calves have long been popular among diners particularly in this northern province and neighbouring areas has now decided to add a new delicacy to the menu — a roast whole crocodile.
Freshly roasted, a whole crocodile is on offer as a new delicacy in Lamphun. It has been added to a menu at a local roast meat delivery shop at 1,800 baht. It is cooked and sold by a well-known maker of roast hogs and veal. CHEEWIN SATTHA
Natthaphak Khamkas, who inherited the business of selling roast calves from his parents seven years ago, said he wanted to offer something new to his customers who regularly ordered dishes from his "Wau Han Inter Lamphun" kitchen which provides delivery services.
Mr Natthaphak said he raises the reptiles at his private farm and mainly feeds them on the leftover parts from the roast hogs and calves he cooks.
He bought his first batch of crocodiles five years ago and he now raises 117 of them.
In recent years he has begun selling crocodile skin, meat, and innards as well to make sure he gets a return from raising the reptiles.
The crocodiles he keeps and roasts are of a freshwater breed indigenous to Thailand. They were supplied to him by a crocodile farm in Nakhon Pathom.
They only need to be fed once a day and since the food comes from unwanted parts of the other animals he sells, raising the crocodiles has proved cost effective, he said.
As he had witnessed a steady demand for crocodile meat, the thought crossed his mind of putting a new culinary delicacy on the menu.
He decided roast crocodile would be an interesting and tasty meal for his customers.
Normally, crocodiles used for roasting and eating range in age from three to five years.
They are slaughtered, stripped of their skin, marinated in Mr Natthaphak's own special sauce, before being roasted in a large oven for three hours during which time herbs and butter are smeared over them to keep the meat juicy.
A roast whole crocodile goes for 1,800 baht, a discounted price which he is offering only during the launch of this new menu, said Mr Natthaphak.
For the customers who want to taste the head of the roast crocodile as well, they have to pay 300 baht extra, he said.